Hayashi could already tell what Le Zhengwen was thinking based on his expression, even though the cracked glass obstructed a clear view of his face.
Le Zhengwen must have been utterly shocked, right?
Hayashi had actually held back his strength earlier. If he had used his full power with that slash, he could have killed the stunned Le Zhengwen on the spot.
Of course, that wouldn't do, especially with Zhang Yiyi standing nearby. He couldn't risk harming his ally.
After displaying these moves, there was no need to show anything more spectacular. But aside from his Domain Expansion, Hayashi didn't really have anything more stunning to show, did he?
The door to the testing room opened, and Le Zhengwen entered with a wide grin, continuously praising Hayashi: "As expected from a student of Jujutsu High! You're truly impressive. I must admit, I misjudged you before. With your level of power, you'd be welcomed anywhere. Please don't take my earlier comments to heart. I sincerely apologize."
Zhang Yiyi had never seen Le Zhengwen behave like this before. This was exactly why she disliked such environments—they were too fake.
"So, what's your decision regarding upgrading the division to first-grade?" Hayashi wasn't interested in pleasantries and got straight to the point.
"Oh, that's easy to discuss. Come back with me, and we can talk it over at length," Le Zhengwen said, determined to keep Hayashi on his side. Having such a powerful jujutsu sorcerer in the organization could bring him vast wealth. So, he had to secure Hayashi first.
In China, curse-related missions and payments were entirely different from those in Japan. In Japan, the rewards were controlled by the highest authority, keeping the pay extremely low.
However, in China, whether the mission was private or handled by an agency, the rewards were astronomically high. For example, exorcising a fourth-grade curse here could earn three times the amount Hayashi got for dealing with the cursed womb in Japan.
Sounds exaggerated, right?
But that's the reality. The curses in China, even low-grade ones, were vastly different and often traced back to ancient times, continuing to this day.
As a result, jujutsu sorcerers from all over the world risked their lives to take on missions here, drawn by the high rewards. But in reality, the missions were extremely difficult.
Even low-grade curses in China weren't easy to exorcise. A fourth-grade curse here could easily cost a jujutsu sorcerer their life.
Moreover, every sorcerer entering China, regardless of where they came from, had to register. In other words, the moment you set foot in China, someone was already aware of your presence.
Some might wonder, if the rewards were so high in China, why didn't more Japanese sorcerers come here?
It was due to certain restrictions. While all sorcerers wanted to earn money, Japanese jujutsu sorcerers were bound by rules. They couldn't leave Japan easily, and even if they did, they'd be quickly noticed.
No one could outright prevent sorcerers from traveling, but their departure would be recorded, and upon returning, they'd be investigated.
Hayashi was unaware of these intricate regulations and the hidden truths behind them.
Additionally, jujutsu sorcerers were still human. While they sought money, they also valued their lives and the safety of their families.
In the current age, nowhere was truly safe. However, in smaller countries or remote areas, life could be much safer. Some jujutsu sorcerers, after earning enough, would retire to these peaceful places and live out their days.
Others, who continued to confront curses and cursed spirits, did so either because they had no other options or because they believed in justice and couldn't bear to see innocent people suffer if they had the power to save them.
And, of course, there were the curse users, who traveled the world, seeking wealth by exploiting curses. Each curse user's motives varied, but most of them harbored ill intent.
Despite the passage of time and shifting eras, many rules remained the same. However, the current state of the world was becoming more dangerous and unpredictable.
"Yiyi, you don't need to come in. I'd like to speak with Hayashi alone," Le Zhengwen said as they approached his office.
Zhang Yiyi glanced at Hayashi, who gave a small nod, indicating she didn't need to worry. With that, she stayed behind while they entered the room.
Le Zhengwen's smile widened even more after closing the door. "Come, come, have a seat and some tea."
"No need, I'm not thirsty. Let's get straight to business," Hayashi refused politely but firmly.
Seeing Hayashi's unyielding attitude, Le Zhengwen didn't get angry. He sat down and began, "There's no problem upgrading your Tokyo division to first-grade, but there is one condition."
"And what condition would that be?" Hayashi knew there would be terms and wanted to hear them out.
"You'll need to sign an agreement and, in three months, come to the headquarters to work for me. If you agree, your division will be upgraded to first-grade without any issues. Of course, I'll make sure you're well compensated. This is an opportunity many people would dream of," Le Zhengwen said, pulling a document from his desk and handing it to Hayashi. "This is the agreement, take a look."
As Hayashi read the agreement, he couldn't help but laugh inwardly. The contract wasn't explicit about binding terms, but it was full of conditions and stipulations.
If he signed it, he'd essentially become a part of the Night Owl organization and wouldn't be able to leave for three years.
The Night Owl organization was certainly ambitious. With Hayashi's current progress, he figured that in three years, he'd be unstoppable. Even if unforeseen circumstances arose, he'd still be one of the top jujutsu sorcerers. Did Night Owl think they could trap him with this agreement?
"So, what do you think, Hayashi? Will you sign? Don't worry, our organization will treat you well, and we'll nurture your potential. After all, jujutsu sorcerers are rare these days," Le Zhengwen, still unable to read Hayashi's expression, grew more anxious. The calm demeanor of this young sorcerer was unnerving.
Hayashi put the agreement down and smiled. "Sir, I've heard that the Night Owl organization has a vast collection of jujutsu manuals. Could you show me some?"
"Jujutsu manuals?" Le Zhengwen was baffled. At a time like this, Hayashi wanted to look at some old manuals? Did he think those were useful?
The manuals merely recorded techniques. You couldn't learn from them by just reading. They were practically worthless. The priority should be the agreement, not looking at jujutsu manuals.
Le Zhengwen wanted to smack Hayashi on the head. They were negotiating the terms of the contract, and now he was sidetracked by some dusty books? Still, he politely replied, "Of course, we have many manuals. Once you sign the agreement, I'll be happy to show you. There's no rush."
"But I want to see them now. We can come back and sign the agreement afterward. It'll also give me some time to think things over," Hayashi said, standing up.
"Fine, fine. I'll take you to see them now. Follow me," Le Zhengwen, exasperated, relented. What was the point of looking at those old things anyway?
As they stepped out, Zhang Yiyi gave Hayashi a curious look, sensing something hadn't been fully resolved yet. Hayashi's glance reassured her that there was nothing to worry about, though.
Le Zhengwen led Hayashi to a closed-off room lined with shelves full of books, some of which were old and tattered, while others were cheap reprints.
"They're all here. Take your time," Le Zhengwen said, thinking there was no harm in letting Hayashi browse. Once he was done, they'd get back to signing the agreement.
Zhang Yiyi couldn't understand why Hayashi was so interested in these jujutsu manuals. From her perspective, these books were essentially useless—just records of techniques that couldn't be learned from reading alone.
Most jujutsu techniques passed down through family lineages were sealed away, kept secret, and definitely wouldn't be found here. The manuals available here were basic at best, even if some had historical significance.
But Hayashi had his own thoughts. Seeing so many jujutsu manuals made his eyes light up.
"I have to find something powerful to learn. I should have enough points for it," Hayashi began flipping through the books. Some of the techniques he recognized from Jujutsu High, while others were new to him.
[Jujutsu – Fireball. Requires 100 points.]
[Jujutsu – Transformation. Requires 200 points.]
[Jujutsu – Bind. Requires 100 points.]
[Jujutsu – Lockdown. Requires 100 points.]
There were all kinds of techniques: forward techniques, reverse techniques. But Hayashi couldn't find the one he really wanted.
He was searching for something unique, something powerful that would truly showcase his genius.
"Hayashi, are you done yet? Can we head back now?" Le Zhengwen, watching from outside, was puzzled by Hayashi's persistence in searching through these old books. Did he really think they held some hidden treasure? They were no more valuable than the "adult" magazines Le Zhengwen kept stashed away.
These manuals had been sitting there for years, with hardly anyone ever coming to look at them. In fact, Hayashi was the first person to come in this year. Most people were too busy, and even those with free time wouldn't waste it here.
"Just a little longer," Hayashi replied, continuing to flip through the manuals. He wasn't leaving until he found something worthwhile.
Minutes passed, and Hayashi browsed through book after book. Most of the techniques were ordinary, lacking any real distinction.
What made a technique stand out?
The higher the point requirement, the more valuable it was. After half an hour of searching, he found one technique that required 250 points. Most of the others ranged from 100 to 200 points, which wasn't very exciting.