Chapter 85: Undercurrents in the Star Plasma Cult
In the corridor of the Star Plasma Cult's base, Rin's footsteps echoed steadily as he walked towards the conference room.
His fingertips held a pitch-black orb, its surface faintly pulsating with Cursed Energy. This was formed from a Cursed Spirit he had casually exorcised on the way; a mother and daughter were being harassed by it, and he didn't think twice before intervening.
Afterward, he condensed the Cursed Spirit's core into an orb and held it in his hand before continuing on his way.
When he pushed open the conference room door, it was already filled with people.
All the core cadres of the Star Plasma Cult were present, and among the familiar faces, the most noticeable was Miguel, who had been out on a mission two months ago.
He wore his signature white beret. Seeing Rin enter, he immediately sprang from his chair, strode over, and hooked Rin's neck with a familiar force that spoke of a long-awaited reunion:
"Hey, you brat! You live so close to the base, yet you're so late. Tell me, what were you secretly doing just now?"
Rin was slightly tilted by the choke, his tone still flat:
"I was delayed by something just now."
Miguel froze for a moment, unconsciously loosening his grip.
He knew Rin well, understanding that while the other man was usually reserved, he would always relax a bit more in front of him, and would never display such a distant coldness.
He frowned, about to ask, "Did something happen?" when the conference room door opened again, and Suguru Geto and Manami walked in.
Everyone's gaze immediately focused on them.
At this moment, Suguru Geto looked no different from usual; his long black hair was neatly tied back, and a gentle smile graced his face.
He even seemed more spirited than usual, with no trace of yesterday's confusion or vulnerability in his eyes, as if that struggle in the darkness had never happened.
"The time has come, my family."
Suguru Geto walked to the center of the conference room, his voice clear and powerful, with an infectious quality that could ignite people's hearts:
"We have waited so long for this day. Let us bring down the curtain on the era of 'monkeys' and establish a true paradise for Jujutsu Sorcerers!"
A low chorus of agreement immediately rose from below. Negi and Manami's eyes were filled with anticipation and excitement, and even Miguel temporarily forgot to question Rin, his attention drawn by Suguru Geto's words.
Suguru Geto raised a hand to quiet them, and the conference room instantly fell silent. He continued:
"The first step of the plan is to take over Jujutsu High."
"Take over Jujutsu High!" Negi couldn't help but shout in a low voice, his morale almost overflowing.
Throughout the entire conference room, only Rin remained calm. His gaze was fixed on Suguru Geto's eyes, trying to find even a hint of hesitation beneath that gentle smile, just like the wavering Suguru Geto had shown outside the iron gate last night.
But he failed.
In Suguru Geto's eyes, there was only pure excitement, and a trace of "relief" that Rin was unwilling to believe.
It was as if a long-held burden had finally found an outlet; as long as he took this step, all his struggles and pain would vanish into thin air.
That gaze was terrifyingly resolute, causing Rin's last shred of hope that "he would turn back" to slowly sink.
He squeezed the cursed spirit orb in his palm, his fingertips pressing slightly, causing the Cursed Energy fluctuations on the orb's surface to become erratic.
He suddenly understood that last night's fall into darkness hadn't made Suguru Geto give up; instead, it had made him completely "understand."
Perhaps in Suguru Geto's view, only by pushing the plan to the end could he atone for the sins he carried and give an explanation to his "kind," even if the end of this path was eternal damnation.
The discussions in the conference room gradually grew livelier. The cadres began to discuss the details of attacking Jujutsu High. Miguel also joined in, occasionally glancing back at the silent Rin, but was interrupted by Suguru Geto's arrangements.
Rin stood in the corner, looking at the scene of unity before him, feeling an inexplicable chill. They all thought they were heading towards "paradise."
But no one knew that this path was already covered with irreversible thorns... The sports room was empty, with only the crisp and rhythmic 'thump-thump' of a ping-pong ball hitting a paddle echoing back and forth.
Rin and Miguel stood opposite each other across the table, the small white ball darting quickly between them, sometimes grazing the edge of the table, sometimes slammed fiercely towards the opponent's side.
Miguel, while swinging his paddle, glanced at the calm-faced Rin opposite him and couldn't help but speak:
"Suguru Geto went to Jujutsu High to declare war, why aren't you going with him? At a time like this, shouldn't all of us core cadres be together?"
Rin lightly turned his wrist, steadily returning Miguel's full-force shot, his tone still faint:
"Do I look like someone who likes to be in the spotlight?"
Miguel snorted dismissively, then swung his paddle fiercely again, trying to catch Rin off guard.
But the small ball had barely crossed the net before Rin easily blocked it back, and with a spin, it grazed the edge of Miguel's paddle and landed, scoring another point.
Miguel threw his paddle onto the table in frustration and tugged at his collar:
"Alright, that's certainly your style. But I just feel like you're off today," he paused, then probed:
"What? We're about to go to war with Jujutsu High, are you scared?"
With that, Miguel pulled two bottles of ice water from a bag nearby, tossed one to Rin, and twisted open his own cap to take several big gulps.
Rin caught the water but didn't open it, only looking down at the water droplets on the bottle, remaining silent for a few seconds before speaking:
"Yes, I'm scared."
"Pfft!" Miguel nearly spat out the water he had just drunk. He stared wide-eyed at Rin, his face full of disbelief:
"What did you say? Scared?"
In his impression, Rin was never someone who would shy away from trouble; he would always rush to the front whenever there was a chance to fight. How could he be afraid of going to war with Jujutsu High? This completely went against his character.
Rin ignored his shock and continued, his voice soft but clear:
"I'm afraid that Suguru Geto will die in this battle."
As soon as these words left his mouth, Miguel instantly froze, forgetting to put down the water bottle in his hand.
He looked at Rin's face; there was no joking, no perfunctory attitude, only a seriousness that was almost heavy.
It took Miguel a while to regain his voice:
"How is that possible? Don't think nonsense.
Right now, there are only three Special Grade Sorcerers at Jujutsu High. One is missing, one hasn't fully mastered their power, and only Gojo Satoru is left to fight.
On our side? You and Suguru Geto are both Special Grade, and he has three Special Grade Cursed Spirits, plus over six thousand ordinary Cursed Spirits, and your Special Grade Cursed Spirit that can deploy a Domain... Our chances of winning are clearly very high!
Even if we lose, it wouldn't be enough to cost Suguru Geto his life, would it?"
The more he spoke, the more he felt he was right, but Rin only sighed softly, then looked up at him, his eyes holding a calmness Miguel had never seen before:
"Currently, in the entire Jujutsu World, including me, there are five Special Grade Sorcerers. But do you know? Even if the other four Special Grades all faced Gojo Satoru, there would only be one outcome—Gojo Satoru wins."
With a "boom," Miguel felt as if a clap of thunder had exploded in his mind.