"Uh..."
"You jest, sir."
"This price seems somewhat unreasonable."
Urgent voices emerged from behind several paper-screened doors.
The old men had all been caught off guard by his words.
Step down for the worthy?
In other words, have one of them resign from their position as an Elder in the Jujutsu Headquarters, withdraw from the organization, and surrender their status and official titles to him—only then would he agree to join Japan's jujutsu society?
What nonsense!
While they certainly desired a powerful foreign sorcerer like Roy, whose strength rivaled that of a Special Grade, the cost of sacrificing the status they had spent their entire lives building would directly threaten their personal interests!
"Won't you reconsider?"
At this moment, Roy pressed further, as if deliberately provoking them.
"If I join Japan's jujutsu society, a combatant like me could exorcise countless high-level cursed spirits. Just imagine how many lives that would save—it would be a tremendous boon for the nation and its people, something worthy of historical recognition... Could it be that among you, there isn't a single noble official willing to sacrifice for the people?"
It's not like he was asking for their lives—just their positions.
Weren't they always so eloquent with lofty rhetoric?
But when it came to themselves, suddenly it was impossible?
"Well, unfortunately, the position of Elder isn't something we can decide on our own."
"Indeed. Lower-ranking positions are within our authority, but appointments at our level require the Chief's personal approval."
"Yes, yes! It's simply beyond our control!"
From behind the paper screens came the old men's disingenuous replies.
The highest authority in the Jujutsu Headquarters was the Chief, followed by the six Elders—these seven individuals formed the decision-making core. Below them were mere functionaries who carried out policies.
The Chief was appointed directly by the Prime Minister, while the Elders were appointed by the Chief, though still subject to the Prime Minister's approval.
Though the old men used the Headquarters' regulations as an excuse, treating the system as a shield, the truth was that they were simply unwilling to let anyone encroach on their privileges. They were trapped in the whirlpool of power, with no intention of climbing out.
"It seems I overestimated your resolve."
Roy sighed with exaggerated disappointment, his expression conveying utter disillusionment.
"In that case, I'll lower my conditions—create an additional seat outside your current structure for me to occupy. If you agree, I'll join you."
An additional seat?
Meaning adding another Elder?
The voices behind the paper screens fell silent for a moment.
Gaining a Special Grade combatant in exchange for expanding the council—that was indeed a favorable trade.
Every Special Grade was a monster in their own right, existing in a realm entirely separate from ordinary sorcerers.
Fundamentally, each Special Grade sorcerer possessed the power to single-handedly devastate a small nation!
With such nuclear-level strength at stake, what country wouldn't covet it?
No matter how power-hungry or stubborn the Jujutsu Headquarters' Elders were, even they understood the immense value of a Special Grade sorcerer.
They could boss around any first-grade sorcerer, but they wouldn't dare offend a special-grade sorcerer lightly!
Even if just for appearances, they would maintain good relations with special-grade sorcerers, tolerating some of their eccentricities—something these old fossils found utterly inconceivable.
After all, in the eyes of these politicians, who were completely immersed in power games and had forgotten how brutal the disparity in sorcerers' strength could be, sorcerers of any rank should merely be their subordinates, obeying their commands without question. That they could tolerate the quirks of special-grade sorcerers at all was already proof of their broad-mindedness and value for talent.
If adding one Elder seat could secure the allegiance of a special-grade combatant, it would indeed be a highly profitable deal.
But suddenly increasing the number of Elder seats from six to seven would inevitably require them to relinquish some of their privileges to the newcomer.
So, whose privileges should be sacrificed?
"This request might be somewhat unreasonable, don't you think?"
One of the Elders rasped in a low voice, his aged tone betraying his advanced years.
"I don't see any issue with it."
"Indeed, exchanging a seat for the addition of a special-grade sorcerer would better prepare us against even the strongest cursed spirits. Though it would be a shame for someone of your caliber to waste time on political affairs."
"In that case, why not establish an honorary Elder position? You could assume this seat, with status equal to ours."
When it came to their own interests, these old men's minds worked remarkably fast.
Honorary Elder?
A title with prestige but no real authority.
Wasn't this just an empty promise?
"I refuse."
Roy rejected this utterly foolish proposal without hesitation.
"Are you looking down on me? Do you think a hollow title will make me obedient? I demand a seat with the same authority as yours—this is the bare minimum. Not an inch less!"
"Otherwise, you're welcome to test how sharp my blade is!"
His words carried a subtle undercurrent of threat.
If they didn't comply, he might just take action right here and now.
The moment he spoke, an unfamiliar presence seemed to slip free, dispersing briefly through the vast, shadowy chamber before vanishing again—yet Roy caught it all the same.
It was the aura of a seventh person, distinct from the six Elders.
The instant he sensed it, Roy narrowed his eyes.
A seventh person was hiding here?
No wonder the auras of these old men were so indistinct—they must have employed some method to obscure their surroundings. He'd assumed it was standard for such meetings.
So it was actually to conceal this seventh presence?
The purpose of having someone hidden here was likely only one—to guard against him, a foreign sorcerer with special-grade strength!
Fair enough.
Old men like them, who wielded power, valued their lives the most. How could they possibly meet him without any precautions?
Considering the need for guards of at least equal strength, was the person lurking in the shadows Gojo Satoru, Itadori Yuji, or Tsukumo Yuki?
Or perhaps another sorcerer with extraordinary mobility, capable of rescuing them all the moment a fight broke out... Roy had never heard of such a person existing in this world.
Most likely, it was the former.
"Sir, a matter as significant as adding a new seat must first be approved by the Chief and the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister's opinion hardly matters—he has no authority over the Jujutsu Department. As for the Chief... if you agree to one request of mine, I can stand on your side and speak on your behalf to the Chief."
At that moment, one of the elders suddenly spoke up.
He had clearly deliberated for a long time, and as he spoke, his tone was as tense as a drawn bowstring, as if he were making a high-stakes gamble.
The figures behind the other windows seemed startled by his boldness and fell silent, choosing to observe his intentions.
"A request?"
"Indeed."
The man nodded gravely.
Then, without hesitation, he dropped a bombshell.
"This old man has a granddaughter. I ask that you take her as your concubine, ensure she bears you at least one child, and that this child returns to my family!"
"...Huh?"
Even though Roy had braced himself for many possibilities, he was still utterly bewildered by this old man's outrageous demand.
He had never heard of a condition for gaining power that involved taking someone's granddaughter as a concubine!
And the child would have to return to their family?
What the hell?
Were they expecting his child to inherit their family's leadership?
Wasn't this a blatant case of losing the wife and the army?
"You can't possibly be thinking—"
"So that's it!"
"How cunning!"
Before Roy could even react, the other elders erupted in protest.
"You're after his genes! No—more precisely, his innate technique!"
"Innate techniques are hereditary talents. The reason the Three Great Families remain unshaken is because each of them possesses several inherited innate techniques of varying power!"
"This bastard wants to pass down a foreign sorcerer's innate technique as his own family's legacy!"
Roy understood now.
But understanding only made his stomach churn.
Right—innate techniques were indeed hereditary. Techniques that had appeared in ancestors could potentially manifest in their descendants.
Especially those techniques that had demonstrated extraordinary power centuries ago. The direct descendants of those wielders still clung to the hope of inheriting that formidable strength.
Take the Three Great Families, for example. The reason they had so many descendants and still maintained the tradition of multiple wives and concubines was to maximize the chances of producing children who inherited their ancestors' powerful techniques.
At the same time, the Three Great Families would also absorb talented sorcerers, bringing them into their households through marriage. This way, those sorcerers' techniques could potentially be inherited by their descendants, becoming part of the family's treasured legacy.
Especially those powerful sorcerers who operate alone are like walking treasures in the eyes of the three great families.
Take Yuta Okkotsu, for example.
Or Roy.
Every sorcerer family wants them to marry into their lineage, to make their cursed techniques the family's inherited techniques, ensuring their prominence for centuries to come.
Even the elders of the Jujutsu Headquarters—though they chose the path of politicians—are all sorcerers themselves. Some hail from sorcerer families, and some may even be pawns placed in politics by the three great families.
They understand all too well that a powerful cursed technique is the foundation of a family's enduring prosperity.
They crave Roy and Yuta Okkotsu's genes so desperately.
Because they are so deeply entrenched in power, if there's even a chance to inherit the techniques of these special-grade sorcerers, they wouldn't hesitate to offer their granddaughters—no, even their daughters, daughters-in-law, or even their own wives.
But special-grade sorcerers like Roy and Yuta Okkotsu cannot be coerced by authority.
The freedom of special-grade sorcerers is so vast that they could easily inflict devastating losses on Japan itself. Even the Jujutsu Headquarters means little to them—if they refuse to do something, the Headquarters can't force them.
Though it's frustrating, even they can only resort to luring them with benefits, beauty, or transactions to secure their techniques.
"In that case, I have a daughter! If you're willing to take her, I'll put in a good word for you before the Chief!"
"I have two nieces—exceptionally beautiful, and twins at that… Surely even you must have heard of the Zenin name?"
The first old man's words seemed to flip a switch.
Among the six elders, two more stood up in quick succession, their tone as fervent as generals rallying troops.
But who could have imagined that the "troops" they were rallying were their own descendants' daughters and nieces, offering them up as concubines?
And those Zenin twins—could they be the pair he was thinking of?
You really don't care about your descendants' wishes at all, do you?
How do families like these even survive in modern society?
In the eyes of these elders, Roy's value had now surpassed even Yuta Okkotsu's.
Yuta was strong, yes, but still young and in need of more experience.
Roy, however, was already a fully matured powerhouse—capable of beating down three special-grade cursed spirits single-handedly and emerging unscathed. Even disregarding his technique, his sheer combat prowess was immeasurable.
If they could tie him to their family's cause, even sacrificing some influence within the Headquarters would be worth it!
As the three elders took turns tempting Roy—