Mei Mei's axe remained at her side. Not lowered. Not raised. Balanced.
She had stopped viewing Mahito as prey, at least for the moment.
The curse tilted his head slightly, watching her with a thoughtful expression.
"I do have information," he said at last. His tone was smooth. Polished. A touch playful. "But not for free."
That made her smile, faintly.
Of course. He'd learned her language in seconds. Well, he already knew who she was and had already worked as a sort of mercenary before.
Money was a language that all mercenaries spoke.
'She should be able to fix any funding issues I may have in the future...'
"And why," she asked, "would I pay for something that could be made up on the spot?"
Of course, there was always the issue of credibility. One that couldn't ever be easily surpassed.
Mahito gave a low chuckle. It echoed off the stone walls, soft and smooth like water sliding over glass.
"Because money is easier to trust than people and even curses," he replied. "And with enough payment, I'd have no reason to lie."
He took a step closer, keeping himself just at the edge of reach. Still composed. Still unreadable.
"You'll be able to verify plenty of what I say about that unregistered volcanic curse with Gojo too... You don't have to make the payment in full right away either." Mahito knew better than anyone else that trust could be earned with time.
"Besides," he added with a shrug, "I doubt you'll be at a loss even if you pay me a pretty sum~ I bet the Elders would sell their firstborn for some intel right now...'
Mei Mei's eyes narrowed. Not in suspicion. In consideration.
"Fine," she said. "Start talking."
_
_
_
The sun was low above Tokyo Jujutsu High, casting pale yellow beams through a cracked corridor window. Inside a sparse, paper-strewn office, Satoru Gojo spun slowly in a rolling chair, his blindfold tugged halfway up to expose brilliant blue eyes.
A file sat on the desk in front of him, freshly opened. Reports lined the margins, handwritten notations in red pen, and a wax seal from Mei Mei's personal signature on the front.
Nanami stood nearby, arms folded, a familiar crease between his brows.
"So," Gojo said between spins, "Mei Mei met our mystery sewer rat."
"Mahito," Nanami replied, tone dry. "That's the name he gave."
Gojo stopped spinning. He blinked, leaned forward, and propped his chin in one hand.
"Bit on the nose, don't you think?"
"She also said he talks like a salesman," Nanami added. "Smart. Polite. Knows how to make a deal with people."
Gojo flipped to the second page of the file.
"He gave her the technique breakdown of the volcanic curse you fought, his name as well... Jogo. Specialised in speed amongst his peers, it seems, quite fragile otherwise, at least for a Special Grade Curse." Nanami scowled a bit as he read through the reports.
He was very much interested in the recent appearance of Special Grade Curses, he knew that many of the people he knew and cared about could be in danger because of them.
"Heh, I could tell as much. He was still weak, though~" Gojo was less worried. His absolute strength provided him with assurance in all situations.
"It's safe to assume the information is accurate then... Same with the Special Grade that rescued Jogo, named Hanami." Nanami slowly read over the report, before Gojo snatched it from him with a smile.
"Hoho~ Interesting! Cursed buds that can leech off of Cursed Energy, a flower field that takes away one's desire to fight momentarily, masterful area control using roots, every small detail, even confirmation that both curses possess a domain."
Nanami tilted his head slightly.
"Did she believe him?"
Gojo smirked.
"She paid him. She's also paying me a bit to verify the information on Jogo~ I believe she'll juice out a lot from the Elders for this."
Nanami raised a brow. "How much?"
"Enough to buy a city at least~ Special Grades moving about and scheming is something they would be desperate to know and keep in check."
Gojo leaned back, resting his boots on the edge of the desk.
"She says he appears trustworthy to her. I cross-referenced it with my own firsthand experience, seems pretty legit. Techniques were described with the kind of clarity you can only get if you were there."
"Then the bigger question is why," Nanami said. "Why sell us this information?"
"Because," Gojo said, grinning beneath his blindfold, "he's trying to look trustworthy."
"Ulterior motives, huh..." The salaryman readjusted his round glasses with a sigh.
"Of course he does. He's not a blessing. He's a curse."
Gojo tapped the file.
"He's clever. You can feel it in the report, he even managed to gain Mei Mei's trust, something which can only be bought with lots of money usually... It isn't just that he wants to talk. He enjoys talking; he's good at it."
Nanami nodded slowly.
"Then he's not like Jogo or Hanami. Not part of thier organisation in spirit."
"No," Gojo said. "Doesn't seem like it~"
He tossed the file onto the desk and stretched his arms overhead.
"And here's the kicker," Gojo said with a light laugh. "He hinted at something strange. Said the curses are being led by a Jujutsu Sorcerer, one that is, oddly enough, dressed like a monk."
Nanami frowned.
"That!... It can't be him, right?"
"... I saw him die with my own two eyes. But at least we know it for sure. Someone else is pulling the strings, and they have big ambitions."
Gojo rose from his chair and paced toward the window. His spiky white hair caught the light, gleaming against the dark collar of his high-collared jacket. He folded his arms behind his head and stared at the horizon out the window.
"You know what I hate most about people who lie?"
Nanami didn't answer.
Gojo grinned.
"When they also tell the truth."
Nanami stepped forward.
"Do you want me to track him? Find out more about this 'Mystery Monk'?"
Gojo shook his head.
"No. Not yet. Let Mei Mei handle the next few steps. She's already made contact. No need to rush things."
Nanami glanced back at the report.
"He's trying to insert himself into the system. It won't be long before the elders try to use him."
Gojo laughed.
"Let them try. Maybe this special grade will distract them enough, and they'll annoy me less."
Nanami allowed himself the smallest smile.
"What about the students? Should we warn Yuji?"
Gojo turned back, smile still lingering.
"Mahito's already seen him. Didn't strike. Didn't pursue. Which means he likely doesn't want to fight or capture him. He would have done that back then if he truly wanted to."
"That still means his intentions are unknown..."
"That in itself can be dangerous~"
Gojo tapped his temple lightly.
"But we'll keep watching. I want to meet him myself."
Nanami raised an eyebrow.
"You want to meet a curse? Not instantly exorcise it?"
Gojo walked past, grabbing the report with one hand and slipping it into his jacket.
"He talks like a person."
He pushed open the office door, stepping into the hall.
"I want to see how human he is."
He paused at the threshold and glanced back over his shoulder, that familiar confident grin sliding across his face.
"And who knows," he said. "Maybe I'll get myself a new ally~"