Chapter 44: The Higher-Ups Are Furious
Amanai Riko immediately ran over, her gaze anxiously scanning back and forth between the two. Seeing that they were both relatively unharmed, she let out a long sigh of relief: "It's great that you're okay! The commotion over there just now was terrifying."
Kuroi Misato also clutched her chest, still shaken.
Geto Suguru's gaze was more profound. He carefully observed Gojo Satoru and Toho Hiroshi, especially the completely transformed, perfectly powerful aura emanating from Gojo Satoru, and the lingering, unsettling spatial distortion and immense Cursed Energy aftershocks from Toho Hiroshi.
He smiled faintly, his gentle smile unchanged, but with a hint of complexity that wasn't usually there: "It seems the outcome has been decided?"
"Well, something like that."
Gojo Satoru put an arm around Toho Hiroshi's shoulder and announced with a grin, "From now on, Toho is the officially recognized 'the strongest'!"
He said it casually and frankly, without the slightest hint of resentment.
A flicker of imperceptible emotion crossed Geto Suguru's eyes, finally dissolving into a light chuckle: "Is that so? That's wonderful."
His gaze turned to Toho Hiroshi, with sincere congratulations, "Congratulations, Toho."
Toho Hiroshi could feel Geto Suguru's momentary sadness and quickly hidden emotions. He nodded, saying nothing more.
Some knots cannot be easily untied with words.
"Alright, alright, everyone's happy."
Gojo Satoru broke the subtle atmosphere, waving his hand, "Mission accomplished. Riko-chan is free again, everyone's happy. Now it's celebration time, I know a super~ delicious dessert shop..."
Before he could finish, a sharp, urgent alarm suddenly blared from his, Geto Suguru's, and Toho Hiroshi's phones simultaneously.
It was an emergency communication of the highest priority from Jujutsu High.
The relaxed atmosphere instantly froze.
Gojo Satoru clicked his tongue, impatiently pulled out his phone, and glanced at it, his usual nonchalance fading somewhat: "Tch, those old geezers, their news travels fast."
Geto Suguru and Toho Hiroshi also saw the message content.
Concise, cold, and with an undeniable tone of command:
["Star Plasma Vessel mission personnel, return to Tokyo Jujutsu High School immediately. The Higher-Ups' emergency meeting, no delays."]
...Tokyo Jujutsu High School, in the conference room.
The atmosphere was so heavy it could almost drip.
At one end of the long table sat The Higher-Ups of the Jujutsu World.
Their expressions were all very serious, each face grim, eyes sharp as knives, exuding the oppressive aura of those long in power.
Leading them was an old man with a meticulously slicked-back hair and sinister eyes.
Toho Hiroshi, Gojo Satoru, Geto Suguru, and Amanai Riko stood in the center of the room.
Kuroi Misato was arranged to wait in the adjacent room.
"So..."
The Director's voice was dry and cold, breaking the suffocating silence, "You mean, at the very moment the assimilation ritual was about to begin, you unilaterally decided to terminate the Star Plasma Vessel assimilation ritual, which concerns the stability of Master Tengen and the balance of the entire Jujutsu World?"
His gaze, like a hawk's, swept over the three, finally landing on the slightly trembling Amanai Riko.
"Yes." Gojo Satoru spoke first, his hands in his pockets, standing casually, yet his tone carried an invisible firmness, "We judged that protecting a young girl's future was more important than that damned ritual. Besides, nothing has happened to Master Tengen yet, has it? Perhaps the old man doesn't care at all~"
"Gojo Satoru!"
The old Director slammed his hand on the table, roaring, "Do you know what you're saying! Master Tengen's importance is beyond doubt! The Star Plasma Vessel assimilation is the cornerstone of maintaining the Barrier and the order of the Jujutsu World! How can you juniors decide it arbitrarily based on personal preference!"
"Personal preference?"
Geto Suguru stepped forward, a gentle smile still on his face, but his eyes had grown cold, "We just thwarted a joint attack by the Star Plasma Cult and the Q Organization, killing and capturing countless Curse Users, including the 'tyrant of heaven' Fushiguro Toji."
"We also protected Riko's safety and ultimately allowed her to make her own choice according to her will. I don't think this is called 'personal preference'; this is precisely completing the escort mission and making the choice most in line with 'righteousness' — protecting the weak."
"Sophistry!"
Another Higher-Up Elder sternly said, "Your mission was to ensure the assimilation was completed. Not for you to decide the Star Plasma Vessel's will. Her being alive now is irrefutable proof of mission failure!"
"Oh?"
Toho Hiroshi finally spoke, his voice calm and even, yet it made the temperature in the conference room drop several degrees. "According to you all, we should have personally pushed her into the gates of the Tomb Chamber to complete the assimilation? That would be mission success?"
His gaze swept over the representatives of The Higher-Ups, and in the depths of his now normal black eyes, a scarlet light seemed to flash, carrying a heart-pounding oppressive force.
Several people held their breath, momentarily intimidated by this aura.
Yaga Masamichi spoke in a timely, deep voice: "It was sudden, and the situation was critical. Satoru, Suguru, and Hao made what they believed to be the most correct judgment at the time, and they indeed protected the Star Plasma Vessel's life and annihilated the invading enemies. Their merits cannot be erased. As for Master Tengen, whether assimilation needs to be carried out immediately, there might still be room for discussion."
"Yaga! You're condoning them!" Gakuganji glared at Yaga.
"I am merely stating facts." Yaga was expressionless.
The conference room descended into a fierce argument and stalemate.
The Higher-Ups insisted the mission failed, demanded severe punishment for the three, and immediate execution of Amanai Riko's assimilation ritual.
Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru refused to back down, rebutting strongly.
Although Toho Hiroshi spoke little, each time he did, he hit the nail on the head. The faint, almost imperceptible terrifying aura emanating from him, lingering from his intense battle with Gojo Satoru, made the old geezers of The Higher-Ups hesitant.
They then realized with horror that not only had Gojo Satoru become more powerful and unfathomable, but this newly appointed Special Grade Sorcerer, Toho Hiroshi, also seemed to have reached a level of strength they could not imagine or control.
Two, no, even three.
Including Geto Suguru, whose strength was equally unfathomable, these young Special Grades with disruptive power stood together, which had completely shattered the original power balance of the Jujutsu World.
In the end, the argument yielded no results.
The leading elder stood up with a livid face: "This matter will certainly not be dropped! The Higher-Ups will thoroughly investigate this. Until Master Tengen gives clear instructions, Amanai Riko must remain within the Jujutsu High Barrier, guarded by personnel dispatched from headquarters."
"As for you..."
His cold gaze swept over the three, and he merely snorted coldly before leaving with the other two elders, flicking his sleeves.
The conference room temporarily returned to quiet, but the oppressive atmosphere did not dissipate.
"A bunch of senile old fools."
Gojo Satoru pouted.
"They won't give up."
Geto Suguru frowned slightly.
Yaga Masamichi sighed, rubbing his temples: "You really stirred up too much trouble this time. However, now that it's done, protect that child first. As for The Higher-Ups, I will do my best to mediate."
His gaze turned to Toho Hiroshi and the other two, his eyes showing worry, but more so, protection for his students.
"Don't worry, Principal Yaga."
Gojo Satoru grinned, revealing his white teeth, "We are the strongest now."
His words were full of strong confidence and a hint of disdain.
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