That Day When Suzuki-kun Wasn't the Mob-B! Chapter 492: The Invisible Mastermind (Patreon)

"But, don't you think this vessel is dangerous? This thing might endanger all of us. In the worst-case scenario, Sukuna might completely take over this boy's body, go berserk, and become a new terror that will haunt the entire world."

Gakuganji leaned forward and didn't give up trying to persuade Suzuki to change his mind about not killing Yuji. He understood why Suzuki had agreed to Gojo's whim to save the vessel. As he also knew that it was a good thing for a Gojo to owe Suzuki a favor, Suzuki gained two Elder seats for the Zenin.

While for others, Suzuki might appear cunning, Gakuganji appreciated this side of him, as this showed that Suzuki was a brilliant strategist, unlike Gojo, who just acted on selfish impulse.

So, instead of barking in anger as he did with Gojo, Gakuganji tried to appeal to Suzuki's sense of reason, telling him it wasn't worth saving Yuji. 

Still, Suzuki merely sighed inwardly. He knew he would have to face this exhausting debate again. He had already gone through this with Yuki and Gojo, but unexpectedly, he had to face Gakuganji, too. Picking up his porcelain cup, he felt the smooth, warm ceramic against his fingertips. He took a slow sip, wetting his throat, before setting it down with a soft clink.

"You should do it instead, Principal," Suzuki said lazily. "I am still young. I want to live a long, comfortable life. You, on the other hand, are already old, so..."

"..."

A heavy, stunned silence descended upon the room.

Everyone was utterly speechless. But the logic? It was flawless.

Gakuganji wanted Yuji Itadori dead. Suzuki, being young and pragmatic, had zero desire to provoke Gojo into a death match. Furthermore, Suzuki didn't even want to kill Yuji in the first place. So, if Gakuganji wanted the boy dead so badly, he should go do it himself. What if Gakuganji got killed by Gojo in the process? Well, at least the old man would die a martyr for his cause, right?

"...If I could, I would have done it already," Gakuganji muttered, his wrinkled face tightening. He was simply too weak to execute Yuji while the strongest sorcerer alive was standing guard.

"Why do you think he is so dangerous, Principal?" Suzuki asked, shifting slightly.

As he moved, Mai adjusted her position as well. The silk of her yukata rustled softly as she shifted her weight, practically straddling his thigh. Her robe slipped dangerously low off her porcelain shoulders, exposing the smooth curve of her collarbone and a glimpse of her cleavage to him. She pressed her soft, heavy warmth flush against his side, her fingers idly tracing circles on his chest. 

Gakuganji actively chose to ignore the brazen display, his fear of the King of Curses overriding his traditional sensibilities.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" Gakuganji's raspy voice cracked with genuine fright. "That's Sukuna! The King of Curses! You are a genius; you've read the ancient texts. You understand the absolute horror of that creature! He is a walking natural disaster! If that demon is unleashed, the world will be plunged into an era of terror!"

The old man couldn't hold back his emotions. Yes, Gojo might be able to handle Sukuna right now, but what if there were an accident? What if something happened to Gojo? Who would stop Sukuna then?

"You know what?" Suzuki's calm voice cut through the panic. "If Sukuna is as fearsome as you say, he would have already taken over Yuji's body and started to terrorize the world."

"Are you suggesting that Sukuna developed empathy and wants to live a peaceful modern life?" Gakuganji shot back, his tone dripping with heavy sarcasm.

"What I mean is, do you think there is something else behind this so-called accident of a young man like Yuji to be able to swallow Sukuna and live well till now?"

"...What do you mean?" Gakuganji frowned, his anger stalling.

Suzuki brushed off the sarcasm. He knew most people in the Jujutsu world were meatheads who only solved problems with violence, or intellectuals who also resorted to violence anyway.

"Do you honestly think that's normal?" Suzuki asked, his fingers moving away Mai's hand from his chest, as he tried to focus, as he knew well that Gakuganji wasn't so smart as to look at a broad perspective. "A random high school boy eats a finger belonging to the most toxic and powerful curse in history. Yet, his body isn't immediately being taken over, nor does he instantly drop dead from the poison. You know how dangerous those fingers are, right?"

Gakuganji froze. The rhythmic, hollow clack of the bamboo fountain out in the courtyard suddenly sounded incredibly loud in the suffocating silence.

He fell into deep thought, his eyes widening slightly. "D-Do you think... someone is behind this? Are you saying someone created that boy specifically to be a cage for Sukuna?"

"Well, do you think even you or Gojo would survive eating one of those fingers?"

"..." Gakuganji paled.

"Who?" Utahime suddenly asked, leaning forward, her sharp eyes wide with dawning horror.

"I don't know." Suzuki shrugged casually. "But whoever it is, they have enough influence to manipulate the Elders into doing stupid things—like declaring me a curse user."

"..."

A chilling realization washed over the two of them. The true threat wasn't just Yuji Itadori or Ryomen Sukuna. The real terror was the invisible hand pulling the strings from the shadows, treating the King of Curses like a mere pawn.

"W-What is their goal?" Utahime stammered.

"Dunno. I don't even know who the guy is, how would I know his goal?" Suzuki lied. He knew exactly what Kenjaku wanted, but explaining the Culling Games and forced human evolution was far too exhausting for a Tuesday afternoon. "What I do know is that if you try to execute Yuji, this mastermind won't just sit back. Or maybe you should try it, just to see who steps out of the shadows to save him."

His words were cruel, but Suzuki knew Yuji's life was already a tragedy. Having Kenjaku for a 'mother' was like being born purely to serve as a lab rat.

"So... is that the reason?" Gakuganji gasped, a look of realization washing over his aged features. "Is that why you seized the Elders' positions? To protect society from this hidden threat?!"

"..."

Suzuki stared at Gakuganji with a strange, perplexed expression. He had done it because he wanted money, power, and the luxury to do absolutely nothing. But seeing the sheer awe and respect in the old man's eyes, Suzuki just slowly nodded.

"Yes."

"Can you take the rest of the seats?" Gakuganji asked urgently.

"The other clans won't allow it," Suzuki sighed. "The Kamo Clan aside, Gojo refuses to see me at the top."

"That shitty bastard!" Utahime slammed her hand on the tatami mat. She realized Suzuki was the same kind-hearted student he had always been, sacrificing his own reputation to protect them all from a hidden mastermind, and Gojo was sabotaging him! "Is this really the time for his petty politics?!"

Compared to Sukuna, this invisible puppet master was a far more terrifying variable!

"Why did you tell them this, Onii-chan?" Mai suddenly asked; her tone was protective. She glared at the two teachers from her perch on Suzuki's lap. "Are you sure these two can be trusted with a secret this dangerous?"

"..." Utahime and Gakuganji straightened their postures, suddenly feeling as though they had to prove themselves to their former student.

"I trust them. Don't worry," Suzuki said, looking at the two. "Right?"

"I know I have been an obstacle in the past," Gakuganji said, bowing his head deeply. "But allow me to support you. I will use Kyoto's influence to help the Zenin Clan take the remaining Elder seats!"

It was a massive shift in loyalty, but Gakuganji preferred Suzuki's calculated predictability over Gojo's reckless chaos. Suzuki's so-called 'greed' was just a front for his noble burden.

"Good, then," Suzuki smiled, pleased. With Kyoto Jujutsu High backing him, he could easily lock down over half of the country's political power.

"By the way," Gakuganji suddenly asked, returning to a more normal tone, "would you like to visit the school and see the students before their Goodwill Event against Tokyo?"

"Yeah! Come with me to the school, Onii-chan~!" Mai beamed, pressing her chest flush against his arm. She wanted to show Suzuki around the campus, showing off her impossibly powerful, handsome man to all the other girls.

"Okay, sure," Suzuki agreed. He had nothing better to do anyway.

They left the estate and took a private car up the scenic mountain path to the Kyoto campus. The crisp autumn air was refreshing, a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere of the meeting. As they walked onto the main training grounds, Suzuki took a breath, enjoying the peaceful environment.

But suddenly, the peace was shattered.

A massive, towering figure ripped his shirt entirely off his torso, muscles bulging as he pointed directly at Suzuki with a terrifyingly intense glare.

"WHAT IS YOUR TYPE OF WOMAN?!"

"..."

Mai, Gakuganji, and Utahime all slapped their foreheads simultaneously. Despite all of their heavy talks before, they had completely forgotten that this muscle-brained dumbass was currently on campus.