Gesturing toward the figures who had stepped forward, Gan'an Shinomiya said calmly,
"These individuals are powerful jujutsu sorcerers from the Time Vessel Association. If anyone still doubts what I've said, we can show you a cursed spirit shortly—and they will personally demonstrate how such entities are exorcised."
Allow people to see cursed spirits?
Yukino's eyes widened.
The situation tonight was clearly moving in a very dangerous direction.
Gan'an Shinomiya continued.
"The Time Vessel Association may be familiar to some families in Tokyo, but in truth, it is a thousand-year-old religious order that worships a legendary jujutsu sorcerer known throughout the jujutsu world—Master Tengen."
"Now, the Shinomiya family has reached an agreement with the Time Vessel Association."
"We will select suitable candidates from the families willing to join and train them to become jujutsu sorcerers."
"In return, depending on the resources you provide, the Association will offer assistance—whether in treating terminal illnesses or extending human life."
He paused slightly.
"What you must offer in exchange is simple."
"Resources."
"And loyalty."
Just as Yukino suspected—
Gan'an Shinomiya intended to unite the resources of powerful families and gather even greater influence.
In return, the Time Vessel Association would gain unprecedented expansion, building authority outside the traditional Jujutsu Association.
However, their deeper motives remained unknown.
Many families present already understood the existence of the jujutsu world.
And from Gan'an Shinomiya's words, they could already guess his intentions.
The Shinomiya family was clearly choosing not to rely on the Jujutsu Association.
They wanted to establish their own power.
But to most of the families present, those political implications mattered far less than something else—
Protection.
Power.
And the promise Gan'an Shinomiya had just mentioned.
The ability to cure terminal illnesses.
And extend human lifespan.
Longevity had always been one of humanity's greatest desires.
Who wouldn't want to live longer?
Almost immediately after Gan'an Shinomiya finished speaking, several family heads raised their hands excitedly.
"Mr. Shinomiya! Can human life really be extended?"
Gan'an Shinomiya nodded calmly.
"Of course."
"For example—myself."
Under everyone's watchful gaze, he slowly rose from his wheelchair.
The frail, elderly appearance he had shown earlier vanished instantly.
The weakness had clearly been an act.
In the Fujiwara family's corner, Mr. Fujiwara narrowed his eyes.
"They truly have great ambitions…"
He then looked at his daughter.
"Chika. From now on, try to limit your contact with Miss Kaguya to school only. Do not visit the Shinomiya estate."
"Eh?"
Chika blinked in confusion.
But seeing how serious her father looked, she obediently nodded.
"…Okay."
Many families present had heard the news that Gan'an Shinomiya was gravely ill.
Some had even speculated which of his sons would inherit the Shinomiya empire.
Yet now—
The man was standing again, healthy and strong.
Could cooperation with the Time Vessel Association truly grant such benefits?
Almost everyone present felt their hearts stirring.
Several families immediately declared their willingness to join the Time Vessel Association.
Gan'an Shinomiya nodded in satisfaction before turning to a woman standing beside him.
She wore a black monk's robe.
Her short white hair framed a cold, emotionless face.
"Lady Uraume. I will leave the rest to you."
The sorcerer named Uraume glanced briefly at Gan'an Shinomiya before stepping forward.
She produced a small black object shaped like a droplet and crushed it gently between her fingers.
A strange ripple spread outward through the air.
Then Uraume gestured toward the backstage area.
Moments later, attendants pushed out a massive iron cage from behind the curtain.
The cage was covered with countless talismans.
As the mysterious ripple filled the banquet hall, every guest gasped in shock.
Inside the cage—where nothing had been moments earlier—
A grotesque creature suddenly appeared.
Its limbs twisted unnaturally.
Four eyes rolled in different directions as it scanned the room.
"Th-that's a cursed spirit?"
"These things… actually exist?"
Shocked voices echoed throughout the hall as everyone stared at the creature.
But that wasn't the only change.
Standing beside the three sorcerers now was another figure.
A tall man with long blue hair.
Black stitching-like markings ran across his face like grotesque seams.
Hearing the whispers around her, Yukino's unease deepened.
That man…
No one had noticed him earlier.
Was he not human?
A humanoid cursed spirit?
What kind of level would that even be?
On the stage, the blond-haired sorcerer Haruta Shigemo laughed while looking toward the stitched man.
"Just as expected of you, Mahito. That cursed spirit is really ugly."
Mahito smiled faintly before turning to Gan'an Shinomiya.
"Mr. Shinomiya, it seems an informant slipped into the banquet. Your investigation wasn't very thorough."
His smile widened.
"Shall we deal with it now? It will be a perfect opportunity to show everyone how terrifying cursed spirits truly are."
Gan'an Shinomiya nodded expressionlessly.
Mahito walked toward the cage and placed one hand on the latch.
Then he turned toward the guests.
"Everyone stay where you are."
"If you move and die… don't blame me."
Click.
The cage door opened.
The cursed spirit—over a meter tall—crawled out.
Under Mahito's invisible control, it suddenly lunged forward.
In an instant it pounced onto a man in the crowd who had been secretly sending messages on his phone behind his back.
"AAAAAAH!"
Screams erupted.
Blood splattered.
Panic spread across the hall as guests scrambled backward in terror.
Mahito watched with a pleasant smile.
"Please remain calm."
"I'm just dealing with a small problem."
He tilted his head.
"We're simply hosting a banquet. Was it really necessary to send messages outside?"
Moments later, the cursed spirit tossed the man's phone toward the stage.
Mahito caught it casually.
Looking at the screen, he chuckled.
"Oh my… someone connected to independent sorcerers."
"You were trying to notify people from the Jujutsu Association?"
"How interesting. Looks like we'll have more entertainment later."
Soon the man stopped moving entirely.
The cursed spirit licked its mouth before suddenly turning its head.
It stared directly toward Yukino.
"…Hm?"
Mahito followed its gaze.
Then he noticed the faint aura leaking from Yukino due to her tension.
His expression immediately became intrigued.
"That little girl… how interesting."
"I didn't expect the first non-ordinary person here to appear so quickly."
Gan'an Shinomiya also turned his gaze toward her.
"The Yukinoshita family, correct?"
"It seems you truly qualify to join the Time Vessel Association."
He spoke calmly.
"Come forward later. We will discuss the details of your family joining."
He looked directly at Yukino.
"Especially your daughter."
"She should come to Tokyo afterward and join the Time Vessel Association directly for training."
There was no hint of negotiation in his tone.
It sounded less like an invitation—
And more like a command deciding the Yukinoshita family's future.
Yukino's mother stared at her daughter in surprise.
Then she glanced nervously at the cursed spirit still watching them before turning toward Gan'an Shinomiya, clearly considering how to respond.
But before she could speak—
Yukino's voice rang out firmly.
"I refuse."
"I have no interest in your Time Vessel Association."
Even though she was trembling with tension, Yukino did not retreat.
Standing beside Gan'an Shinomiya, the second son Qinglong Shinomiya looked at her with disdain.
"How foolish."
"Being allowed to join the Time Vessel Association is an honor for your family."
"And yet you dare refuse?"
His eyes turned cold.
"Does the Yukinoshita family no longer wish to exist?"
At that moment, the sorcerer Uraume raised a hand slightly.
Her gaze slowly settled on Yukino.
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