"You suggested we come to an izakaya, but you're not drinking? That's a real buzzkill."
Naobito Zenin wore an expression of disappointment.
"Are you sure you want to let a kid who hasn't even started high school drink?"
Eiji gave him a look like he was trash.
"Haha, fair enough. Wait until you've grown some fuzz, then you can learn the joys of alcohol."
With that, Naobito Zenin picked up his cup and downed the contents in one go.
The drinking vessels in this island nation, though resembling saucers, are called cups.
A cold smirk played on Eiji's lips.
While the words themselves were innocuous, they could also be interpreted as:
You're too young; the adult world is not for you yet.
He had, subtly, used age to put Eiji in his place.
"It's not your era anymore, old man."
Eiji tilted his head back to look at Naobito Zenin.
"Young people nowadays don't really care for alcohol."
"Oh?"
Naobito Zenin narrowed his eyes.
He could hear the dissatisfaction in Eiji's voice.
"That's a shame, but alcohol is a treasure passed down by our ancestors. They'll come around eventually."
This was, in fact, a normal phenomenon.
Those who want to gain something often have to lose something.
Just like how young people from the lower rungs of society must abandon much to ascend to the upper echelons.
The upper class has its own rules; to join, one must integrate into their circles and understand the "beauty of alcohol."
"Indeed, but that's for ordinary people. There are always geniuses who forge their own paths, aren't there?"
Eiji met Naobito Zenin's gaze without flinching, a confident smile on his face.
"Hahahaha, you're quite something, kid."
A moment later, Naobito Zenin burst into laughter.
Knock, knock, splash.
A waiter slid open the door and placed several brightly colored drinks on the table.
Afterward, the waiter bowed and left the room.
"What's this? Fruit juice?"
Naobito Zenin stroked his chin, looking intrigued.
"It's a new, popular type of alcohol. Want to try?"
"I wouldn't refuse."
Upon hearing it was a new brew, Naobito Zenin unhesitatingly picked up a cup and drank it down.
"Haa~"
He let out a burp and placed the cup back on the table.
"It's certainly a flavor I haven't tasted before. The texture is quite impactful, but ultimately, it only grabs attention for a moment with its novelty. Once the novelty wears off, it can't compare to aged liquor."
Naobito Zenin poured a glass of traditional sake into his empty cup.
"True, many new liquors don't last long. But there are many kinds of new liquors."
Eiji gestured to the colorful drinks in front of them.
"As long as one survives, it will have some impact on aged liquors. When enough new liquors survive, the old ones will naturally be forced to change."
Eiji poured a blue drink into Naobito Zenin's sake.
"Interesting, but the old breweries won't agree to that."
The "old breweries" naturally referred to the Zenin Family.
"It doesn't matter. Even among the old breweries, there will be those who like new liquors. We can poach them and work together. If the old breweries dare to interfere..."
Eiji's gaze fixed on Naobito, the meaning in his eyes clear.
"Hahaha, interesting, truly interesting. Those aren't the words of a young man."
Naobito Zenin chuckled as he drank the sake mixed with the blue liquor.
Seeing Naobito Zenin drink his concoction, Eiji's smile softened.
"Then I'll speak to you in the language of a young man."
Eiji relaxed his body, leaning back. His once inscrutable expression instantly shifted to that of an approachable young man.
"Times are changing. The Jujutsu World once said that the birth of Satoru Gojo changed the world's balance, but this era has more than just Satoru Gojo."
"I am stronger than Satoru Gojo."
A confident smile spread across Eiji's face.
The current Satoru Gojo was different from the Satoru Gojo at the start of the story; the power gap between the two was immense.
The current Eiji, if he went all out, was confident he could defeat Satoru Gojo.
Even if Satoru Gojo grew to be as powerful as he was in the story's future, it wouldn't matter.
Eiji wasn't afraid of Satoru Gojo getting stronger because he believed his own growth rate would never lag behind Gojo's.
"What an arrogant brat. But you certainly have the right to say that."
Naobito Zenin looked at Eiji with satisfaction. If nothing else, Eiji's personality alone surpassed Satoru Gojo's.
Plus, Mahoraga.
In the past battle between the former head of the Zenin Family and the head of the Gojo Family, the Zenin patriarch couldn't control Mahoraga.
But even so, Mahoraga had managed to kill the Gojo Family's Six Eyes.
What if someone could control it...
With Eiji around, the current generation of the Zenin Family could continue its glory and wouldn't be dominated by the Gojo Family.
"What do you plan to do with the old brewery?"
"What about Naoya Zenin?"
Eiji's words made Naobito Zenin's expression one of disbelief.
However, Naobito Zenin quickly regained his composure.
"Oh? Are you sure? He's far inferior to you."
"I'm not interested in that rotten old place. I'll take some young people who are willing to brew new sake and form a new brewery."
"As for that rotten old brewery, while Naoya Zenin can't compare to us, there's one thing: he's suitable to be a... blade. A obedient and useful blade."
Eiji initially wanted to say "dog," but the old man in front of him was so cooperative that he felt inclined to reciprocate his friendly demeanor.
Naobito Zenin laughed after hearing this.
Eiji's words were undoubtedly what Naobito Zenin most wanted to hear.
The imperial family is the most heartless; although the Zenin Family wasn't an imperial family, their essence wasn't too different.
Naoya Zenin was his son, after all. Who would want their son to suffer if circumstances didn't force them?
As for being a blade?
In the Zenin Family, not everyone was qualified to be a blade.
Some people didn't fear being a blade; they feared not having the opportunity to be one.
"What about Toji Fushiguro?"
The first time the two met, Eiji was with Toji Fushiguro.
"Toji will join me. And by the way, Toji's son, Megumi Fushiguro, also has the Ten Shadows Technique."
"Hmm?"
Naobito Zenin paused his drinking.
Two users of the Ten Shadows Technique?
One Ten Shadows Technique could threaten the Six Eyes. Two Ten Shadows Techniques...
"Haha, that's truly excellent. Gulp, gulp."
Naobito Zenin downed another drink.
The coming days would be good.
Although Eiji didn't intend to return to the Zenin Family, he had clearly stated his stance.
And this approach was actually much better than the answer Naobito Zenin had hoped for.
Eiji wanted a new generation of Jujutsu Sorcerers, while the older generation would remain under the control of people like them.
His son could also become the family head as he wished. Although the place he would be in might become a branch family of the Zenin Family in the future, the head of a branch family was still a family head.
This way, the transition of power wouldn't be too intense, and the Zenin Family's strength could be maximally preserved and utilized.
The new generation hadn't fully grown yet and couldn't be counted as part of the Zenin Family's strength for now. And even if they grew under Eiji, wouldn't they still be part of the Zenin Family's strength?
Before they could grow, Eiji and Toji Fushiguro would be enough to protect these new sprouts.
Thinking of this, Naobito Zenin felt immense joy.
Ever since the birth of the Gojo Family's Six Eyes, the Zenin Family had felt pressure.
Naobito Zenin's life became even more difficult after Satoru Gojo displayed his terrifying talent.
But that was no longer a problem. The Gojo Family had the strongest Six Eyes, and the Zenin Family also had Eiji, who could tame the strongest Summoned Spirit.
Furthermore, there might even be a Jujutsu Sorcerer in the future capable of taming Mahoraga.
Now, it was the Kamo Family's turn to feel uneasy.
Naobito Zenin broke into a triumphant smile.
"By the way, help me with two things."
"What?"
Naobito Zenin, who was feeling joyful, said that not just two, but twenty things would be fine.
"My friend and I are going to undergo the Jujutsu Sorcerer registration assessment. Help me find 4... 6 Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerers to act as recommenders."
"Hmm? You want the brat from the Gojo Family too?"
Before coming, Naobito Zenin had already investigated Eiji's connections and knew that the three of them were going to undergo the Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer assessment.
"It's not Satoru Gojo, it's someone else. I'll give you the details later. Go find them first."
Eiji didn't elaborate.
"Is that so? That will take some time."
Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerers aren't exactly common. Four would be manageable; he, Ogi Zenin, and Jinichi Zenin would already make three. But finding six would require some effort even for the Zenin Family.
"It's fine. There are still several months before Jujutsu High starts."
"The second thing is this."
Eiji pulled out several Fate/stay night posters from the shadows.
"Use the Zenin Family's influence to help me promote it."
After taking the posters, Naobito Zenin opened them directly.
"No problem."
Promoting something was a simple task. The Zenin Family could get someone to help with just a word, or offer some benefits if necessary.
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Translation by: randomtranslator.com
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