Unlike Aiba Asagi's misunderstanding, Kenmyo getting into that Maybach was for a legitimate reason: it concerned the qualification assessment for Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerers!
"Due to some special circumstances, the other Jujutsu Sorcerer at the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association are unavailable, so Isayama, your mission this time will be with me."
A mature woman skillfully drove with one hand on the steering wheel. Her long braid was woven from several delicate strands of hair. She wore a dark ink-colored women's shirt paired with a horse-face skirt, looking serene and dignified.
However, compared to Kenmyo's initial impression, her eyes, though still tired, were much better than when they had looked lifeless.
"Speaking of which, this should be our second meeting, shouldn't it?"
She looked at Kenmyo in the rearview mirror, who was sitting in the back, and slowly said,
"Thank you for last time."
"It's nothing, Miss Mei."
Kenmyo's partner this time was Mei Mei, the unfortunate soul who dared to observe the untouchable, unseeable Red Letter Warrior with her bare eyes using her Cursed Technique. She was a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer and an assistant at Tokyo Jujutsu High.
This was actually Kenmyo's third meeting with her. The last time he went to Tokyo Jujutsu High, he helped Mei Mei save a first-year student who almost died at the hands of a Grade 2 Cursed Spirit.
"Please take care of me this time as well, Miss Mei."
His impression of Mei Mei was still fixated on her enormous two-handed axe, nearly three meters long, which even a strong man would find cumbersome to wield.
Kenmyo leaned his head back against the soft seat, a rare opportunity to criticize vile capitalism; he had to make the most of it.
When he received the phone notification earlier, Kenmyo was quite surprised to hear that his partner was Mei Mei. After all, the last time he saw her, she looked like she was on the verge of death, but now she seemed much better.
"Oh, right, you can just call me Sister Mei."
"Isayama, you're in the same year as Gojo Satoru and Suguru Geto, aren't you?"
Mei Mei asked. She remembered seeing Kenmyo having a good relationship with her two junior classmates last time, and their addresses were as equals.
"Yes, that's right."
After receiving Kenmyo's confirmation, Mei Mei continued,
"Last time, things almost got troublesome. It was really thanks to you."
She shuddered at the memory of the scene. Jujutsu High already had few students, and if an accident occurred during an examination, many people would be held accountable by the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association.
As the primary person in charge, Mei Mei truly couldn't escape responsibility. At worst, she would be fined, and a large chunk of her bonuses and allowances would be cut.
For Mei Mei, who loved saving money, this was worse than death. Kenmyo had done an excellent job of preventing such losses.
So, when she saw the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association post a mission for all active Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerers to assess a Second-Grade Sorcerer for promotion to First Grade, Mei Mei was the first to accept it.
"Okay, Sister Mei, then you can also call me Kenmyo, like Suguru Geto and Gojo Satoru do."
Kenmyo smiled, taking the easy way out.
Coincidentally, the way to address Mei Mei and Kenmyo's cousin, Isayama Mei, was identical, but Kenmyo was not one to be overly particular; there was no need to dwell on such trivialities.
When you're out in the world, you have to be bold. Calling someone by a certain name is a small matter.
"Kenmyo, there should be a document in the box to your left."
Kenmyo followed Mei Mei's Guidelines and saw an unsealed, brown paper-wrapped document in the storage basket on the left.
"Then I'll open it."
"Mm, before you open it, remember to break the Jujutsu seal on the document, otherwise the entire document will spontaneously combust."
"There is no second copy to replace it."
Kenmyo opened the bag and took out the highly confidential document. It was densely covered with strange Jujutsu, seemingly for encryption.
"Is this the first test?"
Jujutsu Sorcerer often encounter various intricate Jujutsu effects from enemies. A qualified Sorcerer must quickly find the weakness and defeat the enemy.
Mei Mei did not answer Kenmyo's question, only a slight smile playing on her lips as she focused on the road ahead.
"What's with this stuff? Who does it look down on?"
Kenmyo transmitted his spiritual energy through his palm to cover the document. The haphazard Jujutsu encryption was violently dismantled in an instant.
It didn't even trigger.
It was as good as nothing.
"All this for show."
At that speed, Mei Mei's hands on the steering wheel trembled involuntarily.
"Three seconds, or five seconds?"
Her face was filled with disbelief. This thing should have taken at least five, maybe ten minutes.
But for this young man, he had deciphered a document bag encrypted with eighty-seven Cursed Techniques in less than ten seconds.
Kenmyo opened the document and took out several pages.
"Let me see."
"Note: This mission is not for Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerers and cannot be accepted."
Kenmyo saw the prominent red lettering on the document and inexplicably wanted to say that he was only a Grade 2 Cursed Spirit Sorcerer, when did he become a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer?
"Previously, three Second-Grade Jujutsu Sorcerers and one Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer have gone missing."
Such a big loss for the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association?
Kenmyo suddenly became interested.
"The Missing July Train? Possibly linked to the Star Plasma Cult's branch, the Vessel and Soul Society."
While Kenmyo was still reading, Mei Mei calmly composed herself after the storm in her heart. She said,
"You saw the heading of this mission, didn't you? Three Second-Grade Jujutsu Sorcerers and one Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer have gone missing, which is enough to elevate this incident to a Special Grade Cursed Spirit event."
The difficulty was considerably high, and it had been accumulating for a long time. (Because the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association had no Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer to handle it, it was delayed until now.)
"But don't misunderstand, we're not trying to make things difficult for you or hinder your promotion."
"Regardless of whether this matter is successful or not, Kenmyo, you will be a Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer."
The higher-ups of the Isayama Family in the Jujutsu World knew people, after all. Isayama Naraku had even personally visited, dragging his half-crippled body. How could old friends not give him face?
However, the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association's internal affairs were in chaos, with the radical and conservative factions long at odds, and too many eyes watching.
Especially when it came to the highly sensitive topic of promotion to Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer, it stirred the hearts of various forces.
That's why this scheme of deception came about. It was an impossible mission to begin with. The mission difficulty was high, and most people didn't hold out hope that Kenmyo could complete it. At that point, wouldn't bringing back a bit of embellished information be enough to complete the task?
"Kenmyo, your real mission is to go with me to an organization called the Star Plasma Cult. They've been making a lot of small moves recently."
"Especially its branch, the Vessel and Soul Society, which is openly defying the orders of the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association and seems to be getting out of control."
"The Jujutsu Sorcerer Association is sending us to give this organization a stern warning."
How could a dog that had been raised for many years not know who its master was?
"That's why the document you're looking at states that it's possibly related to the Star Plasma Cult's branch, the Vessel and Soul Society."
Therefore, it was not suitable for outsiders to be present, and even Mei Mei herself drove for this mission.
Kenmyo understood. This was a false accusation.
To pin such a big incident on a small religious organization's branch, just to openly deal with it.
The Jujutsu Sorcerer Association was truly dirty, but dealing with people was indeed Kenmyo's strong suit.
Kenmyo originally wanted to ask,
"To what extent should we 'warn' them? Can we kill them all?"
But when the Maybach drove directly into a pitch-black mountain tunnel, his eyelids twitched.
The Maybach's night driving lights automatically turned on, but strangely, the geometric multi-beam headlights could only illuminate the road for less than five meters ahead.
Kenmyo had a bad premonition and subconsciously extended his spiritual energy into the darkness ahead. Suddenly, his expression changed drastically.
"Sister Mei!"
Kenmyo leaned forward, grabbing the passenger seat, and said with extreme urgency,
"Quick! Quick! Turn around."
"Okay?"
Seeing his serious demeanor, Mei Mei quickly reacted, but as she turned the steering wheel, preparing for a drift-style quick U-turn.
However, a dazzling bright light suddenly appeared in front of her. After Mei Mei could see a little clearer, she was stunned.
"Why is there a train in a car tunnel?"
Literally, a steam train that looked like it was from the medieval period, its engine making a 'woo-woo' sound. Its massive mechanical body occupied all four lanes of the tunnel and was rushing straight towards Kenmyo and Mei Mei's Maybach.
No matter how sturdy the Maybach was, could it really withstand a train?