Deep in the sewers on the outskirts, blackish-green sewage trickled down mottled pipe walls, raising tiny, sticky bubbles in the standing water.
The pool at the end of the passage suddenly churned. A palm-sized figure clambered ashore against the slippery stone wall. It was Mahito, who had just escaped Qingxiao with his life.
"You came back later than I expected."
A muffled voice came from the side, carrying no mockery, only gravity.
Jogo leaned against a stone pillar with his arms folded, wisps of white steam rising from the crater on his head.
Hanami stood hidden in the deeper shadows. She gently swayed her branches.
"Guyue Qingxiao was far stronger than the intelligence suggested."
Mahito looked up and swept his gaze over the three of them. His usual flippancy was gone, leaving only lingering fear and irrepressible displeasure.
"Intelligence? All Kenjaku's intelligence said was that he was a Special Grade on par with Satoru Gojo. It didn't even mention that he had achieved soul and body united and could strike the soul directly!
"He nearly sent me to the great beyond!"
Mahito moved two steps forward, staring straight at Kenjaku in the center of the stone platform as he demanded:
"What about the Exchange Event plan we agreed on?
"The idea was for Hanami to infiltrate Jujutsu High and cause chaos while I stole Sukuna's Fingers and the Cursed Womb: Death Paintings.
"But Guyue Qingxiao's strength has already exceeded your estimates. If you send Hanami alone to stall him, she'll definitely die."
Four gazes landed on Kenjaku at once. There was no bickering to undermine one another, only tangible pressure.
Kenjaku stood in the center of the stone platform, the hem of his monk's robes resting on the dry stone without a single drop of sewage on it.
Rather than