Chapter 355

"I have fought him before."

""That's impressive, you." Shajin's eyes lit up. "Let me cut to the chase… This Infernal Fire Duke is a fire demon from Tuofeite, an elemental lifeform; it's said his origins are somehow linked to a certain genius… He and his followers formed the Eternal Fire Manor, regarding Nanuke as their benefactor—in fact, they burn, kill, and plunder everywhere under this duke's leadership, carrying out the will of Destruction.""

"I don't know what's wrong with the family's heads, or if someone is meddling, but this bunch actually got an invitation too. The Eternal Fire Manor certainly won't refuse; they come in force, vowing to burn the star of the gathering into a sea of fire…"

"But don't worry, they won't show up for the appointment. Do you know why?"

Shajin said calmly: "—Because Afurite is dead."

""What's going on?" Xing stared at him in disbelief."

Shajin slowly walked up behind Xing: "They were wiped out on the way to the appointment. The killer, in an almost godlike manner, brutally murdered Afurite and seized the invitation received by the Extinction Gang. The Eternal Fire Manor also fell apart, scattering like birds and beasts—"

"And after that, a mysterious Sea‑Wandering Ranger arrived at Pinokangni, checking into the hotel with a music box… Do I need to go on, friend?"

——

Meanwhile, across the myriad worlds.

Mei Mei, Sairai, Nezha, Jingliu Chunshui, Fire God Mavika, and so on…… their pupils contracted, lips slightly parted as if they wanted to speak but couldn't make a sound; their facial expressions almost without exception froze, and after a long while they all simultaneously uttered……

?

——

Jujutsu Kaisen.

"Wait, that… I, I need to calm down a bit……"

In the meeting room of Jujutsu High, all that was heard was a "crack" as Mei Mei's fingers unconsciously snapped the teacup handle, tea spilling over the edge of the table. Her usually composed and elegant face rarely showed a crack, her red lips trembling: "How could this be……"

"Shouldn't that guy be hatching some Destruction plan? He's got plenty of offspring, so how could he die so…… nonchalantly?"

Upon hearing Afurite's death from Shajin, it felt like he died too easily—so easy that Shajin didn't even blink an extra time.

"Ahahaha!" Hige suddenly burst into laughter, nearly falling off his chair: "What the hell! We've been guessing all this time that he's pulling the strings behind the scenes, but the guy didn't even make it to Pinokangni before kicking the bucket?!"

Yuji silently shifted closer to Hige Tatsumi, feeling that Mei Mei's cursed energy was about to run wild; he leaned in and whispered: "Hige-sensei, maybe you shouldn't laugh—I've never seen Mei Mei-senpai this unhinged……"

"Tsk, no big deal—who here hasn't been intimidated by the Infernal Fire Duke? Honestly, I initially thought that fire demon would descend on Pinokangni in some unexpected way—but it turns out he never came to Pinokangni at all."

"But I think, although the duke's death was a bit hasty, that doesn't mean he was weak—against an Envoy, I doubt anyone in Pinokangni could stand against him." Yui Itto said seriously, "Strangely, Shajin said Yomi is an Envoy… but given the power she's shown so far, has she really reached Envoy level?"

——

Death God.

"Pffhahaha——"

Jingliu Chunshui spat out a mouthful of wine, then slapped his thigh and laughed hysterically: "We're actually being played for fools by a dead man—you gave him a thirty percent chance, and now there isn't even ten percent left, hahahaha!"

Jingliu Chunshui lifted his straw hat slightly, his cheeks flushed from laughter and drink: "Byakuya, it looks like you overestimated the Infernal Fire Duke—no, we all overestimated him."

"No." Byakuya's brow twitched almost imperceptibly: "It's not an overestimate. Rather, we all underestimated Yomi. That woman's strength…… is something we oversimplified."

Jingliu Chunshui's laughter cut off abruptly.

He recalled Shajin's earlier remark that Yomi is an Envoy, and that only three Envoy‑level individuals have appeared so far. Besides the never‑active Black Tower Lady, compared to Phantomy and Jingyuan…… Jingliu Chunshui rubbed the pattern on the wine pot, a flash of sharpness in his eyes: "Her strength probably isn't up to par, right? Otherwise, in the dream he should have been able to slay Sam."

"No." Byakuya lifted his slightly cool tea: "You should know she's never drawn her sword. I guess she, like us captains, has an ability akin to Bankai—releasing the true power of her Zanpakutō. Of course, I don't know what her sword is called, but… she should have something similar, a power that strengthens herself."

"But why doesn't she use it?"

"I don't know." Byakuya lifted his gaze to the sky: "Perhaps, in her eyes, she hasn't yet encountered an opponent truly worthy of drawing her sword."

——

Frieren.

"Lady Sairai, do you think…… the Infernal Fire Duke could possibly be faking his death?"

"Faking death?"

Sairai narrowed her eyes, beginning to seriously consider her disciple's guess.

"The Infernal Fire Duke is an elemental lifeform—do you still remember the Suiyang of the Luofu Astral Express? Although Suiyang and Afurite aren't the same kind of being, both are elemental lifeforms, so I think they share some traits…… such as being hard to kill."

Jianze finished speaking softly, swallowed nervously, and awaited the teacher's answer from the throne.

"Go on."

"……Yes."

Jianze said calmly: "The Infernal Fire Duke has the ability to teleport through space—unless Miss Yomi can kill him in one strike, it's hard to slay him; even if he and his offspring aren't strong, escaping should be no problem."

"Escaping." Sairai repeated thoughtfully, then suddenly broke into a smile: "Jianze, do you think the Infernal Fire Duke is the type to run away?"

"I……"

"Jianze, don't insult the Infernal Fire Duke." Sairai said coldly: "... Don't bring up such a boring assumption again next time."

——

""Is there any other evidence?" Xing asked."

""The Sea‑Wandering Ranger comes and goes without a trace, and they rarely interact with each other; this outfit is so easy to wear that as long as she doesn't slip up, there's simply no evidence against her. The company does have ways to investigate, but it also takes time.""

Shajin looked at her seriously: "So, friend, it's up to you to decide… you can leave right now, immediately, without looking back, forever giving up the chance to get closer to the truth."

""On the contrary, you can also accept my invitation and learn a fact—a fact capable of overturning the entirety of Pinokangni.""

Shajin's demeanor gave Xing time to consider, but he wouldn't wait too long—she needs to make her choice here.