England, London.
In a luxurious villa, Georg closed his magic book and looked up.
"Siegfried and Hercules failed."
"What? For real?!"
Jeanne poked her head out from the kitchen, her face shocked.
"Someone else intervened?" Cao Cao asked, opening his eyes from a feigned nap.
"When Hercules's projection magic triggered, only Roy and Satoru Gojo were nearby," Georg said, frowning as he recalled. "Hercules had already been dismembered by Roy with Gram."
"Gram?"
Cao Cao froze, a rare reaction.
He was no stranger to Gram, the legendary dragon-slaying demon sword.
Roy wielding it meant he'd defeated Siegfried first.
But more than Roy's unexpected strength, Cao Cao was intrigued by his eligibility to use Gram.
Before Siegfried, the Church's Sigurd Institute conducted secret human experiments and taboo test-tube babies.
After countless years of such madness, they produced Siegfried, Gram's sole host.
Gram's pickiness was clear.
For Roy, the Red Dragon Emperor, to gain its approval defied logic.
"Abnormal growth speed, plus the qualifications to wield Gram…" Cao Cao narrowed his eyes. "I see why that guy Kenjaku came begging for my help."
He was right.
Only Cao Cao, with the True Longinus, could reliably handle such an anomaly.
"What now? Avenge Siegfried and Hercules?" Georg asked.
Cao Cao shook his head. "No, we can't act again so soon."
Though the Khaos Brigade had Ophis, the world's strongest, as a figurehead, she was mostly a mascot, rarely acting.
The Old Demon King faction from the Bible held the most sway in the Brigade.
As the second-largest Hero Faction, losing Siegfried and Hercules made further moves risky.
"It's not time to take the stage. We need to build strength."
"Our plan stays the same—recruit Arthur Pendragon, the Holy King Sword."
"As for the Red Dragon Emperor…"
Cao Cao paused, an idea forming.
"I hear this generation's White Dragon Emperor is another anomaly, and very belligerent."
"Georg, contact him discreetly. See if you can pull him into the Brigade."
"If that fails, leak Roy's info to him. Let him deal with the Red Dragon Emperor."
…
Meanwhile, Tokyo Jujutsu High.
After testing Six Eyes' effects, Roy hoisted the unconscious Gojo and returned to the teaching building's ruins.
"Huh? What happened to Teacher Gojo?!"
"No way, I've never seen him knocked out!"
"Salmon."
"The invaders were that strong?"
Seeing Gojo's state, Yuji Itadori and the others approached, stunned.
Roy handed Gojo to Panda and clarified, "No misunderstanding. I took him out. Nothing to do with the invaders."
"What?!"
Yuji's eyes widened in shock.
"Roy, I know Gojo's personality can be grating, but did you have to hit him that hard?"
"Idiot, it's not about that."
Maki Zenin yanked Yuji back by his collar, her expression turning serious.
"Knocking out Gojo at a time like this—what's your goal?"
"Dealing with the mastermind."
Roy's gaze shifted to Gakuganji behind the group.
With Yuji and the others' efforts, a large section of the ruined building had been cleared.
Gakuganji Yoshinobu, caught in the mana torrent's aftermath and buried initially, had been dug out.
Noticing Roy's look, Gakuganji stood after a pause, speaking gravely.
"If you spare the others, I'll take full responsibility."
"Huh? What's going—"
"Yuji Itadori, silence."
Masamichi Yaga cut Yuji off, raising a hand.
After rescuing Gakuganji, Yaga had confirmed the situation with him.
He knew better than anyone how serious this was.
A misstep could earn the Gremory family's enmity.
The Gremorys, tied to the current Demon King Lucifer, weren't to be trifled with.
"Looks like you've already talked it over."
Roy's gaze flicked from Yaga to Gakuganji, a faint smile forming.
"Honestly, I planned to let you live."
"But while scouring Hercules's memories, I found some interesting stuff. Want me to recite it here?"
Gakuganji's calm facade cracked, his expression darkening.
Facing Roy, he was silent for seconds before speaking.
"No need. I understand."
"If negotiations failed and force didn't cow you, I planned to have Siegfried eliminate you quietly."
"You sure you're shielding the others?"
Roy tapped his head. "Hiding things is pointless. I can check your memories anytime."
"…Besides me, other conservative faction higher-ups were involved."
Gakuganji sighed, naming several prominent sorcerer figures.
"That's all?"
"That's all."
"Then you're done."
Roy flicked his finger, sending a Senjutsu-infused white light into Gakuganji.
It severed his life force.
In mere breaths, Gakuganji's aura vanished, leaving a corpse.
"For not lying, I left him intact. Take him."
Roy turned, walking out of Jujutsu High.
"Principal, what now?"
Watching Roy leave, Maki, sensing his intent, asked.
"…Prepare some coffins."
Yaga sighed, resigned.
Couldn't they just stay quiet?
They had to stir trouble, leaving him to clean up.
Thinking of the potential fallout, he added, "Clear a room. I'll need it to host Church representatives later."
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