Entering the colony

"Got shot down?"

Yue Liusi rolled his eyes at her in exasperation.

"I was only trying to help..."

Yuki Tsukumo felt deeply hurt.

"Yue, aren't you going to comfort me? I was doing all this for your sake..."

Yue Liusi couldn't even be bothered to entertain this drama queen anymore.

Before long, everyone had arrived, with Itadori and the others bringing Kinji Hakari along.

"How should we split up to tackle these ten colonies?"

Once they had gathered, Maki Zenin was the first to turn to Yue Liusi and ask.

Actually, there was another question she wanted to ask more: how was Mai doing now? She hadn't seen Mai anywhere around Yue Liusi.

"Simple."

"Fushiguro, go to Tokyo No. 1 Colony and look for Angel. Remember to bring megaphones. Send your Shikigami out in different directions and have them keep shouting, 'I'm Megumi Fushiguro. I'm looking for Rika.'"

"Once you find her, have her take you to unseal Satoru Gojo right away."

Yue Liusi waved a hand and spoke very casually.

Huh?

Megumi Fushiguro's eyes widened, his head full of questions.

What kind of way was that to look for someone?

"Rika? Is that Angel's name? Angel's in Tokyo No. 1 Colony?"

Itadori asked in confusion. Hadn't Tengen said Angel was in Tokyo No. 2 Colony?

"Rika is the name of the incarnation's host. Angel's arrangement with her is similar to Itadori's."

Yue Liusi explained.

He wondered whether the whole elephant-versus-house scene would happen again this time.

Although he had changed quite a few things, who could say for certain when it came to fate?

"Even so, would she come out if I looked for her like that?"

Megumi Fushiguro remained skeptical.

With the Culling Game going on, even if Angel knew someone was looking for her, she wouldn't necessarily come out.

"Rika is an old flame of yours."

At those words, everyone immediately turned to look at Megumi Fushiguro.

"Who would've thought? A closet romantic like you actually has an old flame..."

Nobara Kugisaki was genuinely surprised. After all, she had always seen Megumi Fushiguro as the cold type who would never fall for any girl.

But then she turned to Yue Liusi.

Seriously, you even know that?

Even the newcomer, Kinji Hakari, was surprised. No wonder Itadori had said Yue Liusi knew everything. Now it seemed that might actually be true!

His intelligence network was downright terrifying.

He just wondered how strong Yue Liusi actually was.

"Wait, how come I don't know anything about this?"

Megumi Fushiguro, the person in question, was struggling to keep his composure too. He had been single since birth. Since when had he had an old flame?

"Would I lie to you?"

Yue Liusi couldn't be bothered to explain. Just then, Itadori suddenly raised his hand with a suggestion.

"How about I go with Fushiguro?"

Going alone would be a little dangerous, after all. With Fushiguro's strength...

"No. Sukuna can't be allowed to stay with Megumi Fushiguro yet."

Yue Liusi rejected the suggestion outright.

It wasn't that he didn't want to face Sukuna head-on. He was already strong enough. It was just that they ought to deal with the Culling Game first.

Come to think of it, Satoru Gojo had suffered because of his privileged upbringing. When he saw Sukuna opening his mouth and shaking his head, he actually thought Fushiguro was fighting for control of the body.

Even wearing height-increasing shoes would have been enough.

If he could dodge the World-Cutting Slash, wouldn't things be much easier afterward?

"For the first colony, Panda and Kinji Hakari, go with Megumi Fushiguro."

After thinking it over, he added that instruction.

After all, he still had to watch out for the suicide bomber.

"As for everyone else, just follow me."

Yue Liusi gave everyone those simple instructions, then got up to leave.

"That's it?"

Kinji Hakari raised an eyebrow, a little surprised by his arrangements.

"That's it."

"It's that simple?"

"It's that simple."

"Good!"

Kinji Hakari shot to his feet.

Great, that's how it should be. Just get out there and do it. Why bother with all the twists and turns? That's passion!

Soon, everyone split into two groups, with most following Yue Liusi straight to Tokyo No. 2 Colony.

As for why it was Tokyo No. 2 Colony, that was naturally because of the distance.

"Once you enter the colony, everyone will be randomly transported to different locations. Don't rush to act. Just wait for my instructions."

Before they entered the colony, Yue Liusi gave them a reminder to prevent any mishaps.

Everyone entered the colony one after another, but Yue Liusi called Yuki Tsukumo aside and had her stay behind.

"What, is there something else you need me to handle personally?"

Yuki Tsukumo looked at Yue Liusi curiously, a little puzzled.

He didn't rush to answer her, looking in another direction instead.

Before long, two figures approached.

"Shoko, you're here."

Shoko smiled faintly and said softly,

"I never thought you'd actually need my help."

Operations like this usually required a certain level of strength. As a doctor, she wasn't quite suited to them.

Come to think of it, it had been a long time since she had been on the front lines.

"We need someone to coordinate everything. Sorry for the trouble."

Yue Liusi offered an explanation, then turned to Yuki Tsukumo and told her why he had kept her alone behind.

"You don't need to do anything else. Just protect Shoko."

Yuki Tsukumo's eyes widened at that.

"Wait, couldn't you just leave that sort of thing to me?"

Hearing her words, Yue Liusi merely gave her a helpless look, his expression saying, "Don't you know what you're like?"

What's with that look, you bastard!

"Then what's this girl here for?"

Yuki Tsukumo looked at Mai Zenin beside Shoko.

Yue Liusi didn't explain, merely saying softly,

"Just think of her as a mascot. Train her more when you have time, preferably in actual combat. That'll be useful to me."

"Oh, Shoko, I have something good for you."

A moment later, an intricate microscopic barrier appeared inside Shoko's body as well.

Unlike the one inside Mai Zenin, however, this barrier's primary function was to supply power from the Demon Eyes Power.

In other words, Shoko could now use some of the Nine Tails' and Sharingan's power too.

This was his gift to her.

Naturally, Shoko could feel the changes inside her body. After all, the barrier had been constructed within her perception.

She raised her hand, and power like flowing golden fire slowly covered her arm, forming a translucent cloak. Her vision suddenly grew clearer as well.

Her perception and insight were rapidly improving.

"It's for your safety."

"With this barrier, I'll be able to sense it if you're in danger."

Hearing those words, Shoko glanced at Yue Liusi. After a brief moment of surprise, she couldn't help smiling.

"Don't worry."

"Hey, do you have that little faith in me?"

Yuki Tsukumo was a little unhappy. He had already asked her to protect Shoko, yet he was still setting up precautions.

Could she really fail to protect someone she wanted to protect?

Yue Liusi looked at her helplessly.

I'm doing this precisely because I don't trust you!