Daytime
Although bars typically operate in the evening, some quieter establishments remain open during the day for select clientele.
"Ryuu-kun, you're not interested in alcohol?" Mei Mei swirled the wine in her glass, watching him curiously. "This place has some excellent fruit wine pairings."
Ryuu took a small sip and set the glass down.
"I just didn't expect that your so-called 'treat' would take place in a bar."
"Is that so?"
Mei Mei leaned back against her chair, her posture relaxed yet exuding an effortless elegance. The way her long skirt clung to her curves added to her striking presence. After their brief exchange earlier, she had gauged enough of Ryuu's personality to ease up a little.
"I don't enjoy the quiet atmosphere of coffee shops," she continued. "I prefer something with a little more bite—something that reminds me I'm still alive in this line of work."
She took another slow sip before adding with a smirk, "And since it's my treat, shouldn't I choose a place I like?"
Ryuu chuckled. "You really are selfish, huh?"
"I won't deny that." Mei Mei shrugged. "After all, if you don't prioritize yourself, who else will?"
She placed her glass down, her eyes gleaming knowingly.
"I'm not on anyone's side. The only thing I serve is money."
She tilted her head slightly.
"You're the same, aren't you, Ryuu-kun?"
Ryuu smirked. "Is this your way of getting to the point?"
"Naturally."
Mei Mei finally set her drink aside, her playful tone shifting to a more businesslike one.
"Your actions in Shinjuku have thrown the entire jujutsu world into chaos."
She met his gaze.
"There is now someone stronger than Gojo Satoru. If you ever turn against Jujutsu High, the entire balance of power will be overturned."
That was the undeniable truth. The people at the top knew this, which was why they had sent her to negotiate.
Mei Mei continued, "The higher-ups want you to align yourself with Jujutsu High. They're willing to accommodate any request—even offering you a special-grade cursed spirit."
Ryuu raised an eyebrow. "That's quite the offer."
"After all," Mei Mei shrugged, "you are now the strongest sorcerer in existence."
"So… I can ask for anything?" Ryuu asked, amused.
Mei Mei's lips curved slightly. "Within reason, of course."
She paused for a moment before adding, "To be honest, they don't actually expect you to accept their first offer."
Ryuu leaned back. "So there's a second option?"
"Naturally."
Mei Mei's tone remained casual, but she was now watching him closely.
"The higher-ups already knew you'd refuse, so they prepared an alternative deal."
She lifted a single finger.
"You won't have to join Jujutsu High. Instead, they'll grant you priority access to any special-grade cursed spirits. If Suguru Geto makes another move, they'll double the reward."
For a moment, Mei Mei felt a slight pang of envy. She had to put in actual work to get paid, while Ryuu simply had to exist and benefits would be handed to him.
It was almost too good of an offer.
And just as she expected—
Ryuu smirked. "I don't see any reason to turn that down."
Hearing that, Mei Mei let out a small sigh of relief. His decision had nothing to do with her personally, but the success of this negotiation meant an even bigger payout for her.
"So," Ryuu mused, "where's the special-grade cursed spirit?"
"I already have it on me."
Mei Mei smiled.
"It seems the jujutsu high were confident I'd take the second option."
"Not the higher-ups—just me."
Mei Mei reached into her small satchel and pulled out a tightly wrapped parchment scroll, layers of barrier seals covering its surface.
"This is a special-grade cursed object," she explained. "Not only does it attract powerful cursed spirits, but it also causes whoever consumes it to temporarily reach special-grade levels of power."
Ryuu accepted the scroll, feeling the heavy concentration of cursed energy within.
Without hesitation, he lifted a hand and wiped away the seal.
Mei Mei's expression changed.
"Oi—"
She hadn't expected him to break the seal immediately. Not only did he ignore her warning—he clearly didn't care. But then again, this man had proven himself to be far more terrifying than Gojo Satoru.
As the seal unraveled, an ominous aura filled the air. Ryuu unrolled the parchment, revealing a severed finger.
A yellowed, decayed appendage—yet preserved by an incredibly dense layer of cursed energy.
Mei Mei's breath hitched. When she saw what it was, her eyes widened.
"This is… Sukuna's Finger."
As soon as the words left her lips—
The atmosphere shifted.
A surge of cursed energy erupted around them.
Ryuu clicked his tongue. "That was fast."
Mei Mei's expression tightened.
"Because of you and Gojo Satoru, the number of high-level curses has been rising at an unprecedented rate."
Darkness pooled around them. The air thickened with cursed energy, and grotesque, deformed figures began to emerge. Shadows twisted on the ceiling and walls, creeping toward Ryuu.
Mei Mei immediately assessed the threat level.
"One special-grade curse… three first-grade curses."
That's the kind of disaster this thing attracts?!
She clenched her fists, cursed energy surging in her palm.
But—
She didn't need to move.
FWOOOSH!
Black flames erupted. The cursed spirits instantly ignited, their twisted bodies shrieking as they were burned to nothingness.
The fire never wavered.
It burned until there was nothing left.
Mei Mei swallowed. Gojo Satoru had mentioned it—a flame that never extinguishes until its target is gone.
Even though the flames had vanished, the lingering traces of Ryuu's cursed energy were enough to make her break into a cold sweat. And he had done it with zero effort.
Ryuu turned his attention back to Sukuna's Finger. He smirked.
"A thousand years ago, the strongest sorcerer was a monster with two faces and four arms."
He rolled the severed digit between his fingers.
"After his death, his twenty fingers turned into cursed objects."
He let out a quiet chuckle.
"The King of Curses, huh?"
His crimson eyes gleamed.
"How interesting."
###
More stones = Faster Releases... (Ya know... I gotta revive this shi up if I wanna keep up at it since it's boring to publish for ghosts.)
P@treon // Kryzt for more chapters