Throughout Heaven and Terra (Arknights x Jujutsu Kaisen)

Chapter 19: Negotiations

The negotiations went as anybody would have expected, Gojo simply stood there, listening to the three main speakers as they made their points.

Apparently, Lungmen's policies of quarantining the infected would be a faulty one, leading to letting Reunion make the first move and recruiting more members. Kal'tsit even insulted Ch'en, calling her naive, much to Gojo's surprise as he regarded her with a glance.

Ch'en felt insulted by this, of course, thinking Kal'tsit had doubted the Lungmen Guard Department's capabilities.

Clang!

The sound of Wei Yenwu's pipe hitting a metal object filled the air, as the arguing had ceased. Ch'en paused, as she straightened her posture to the sound, and Amiya let out a short gasp.

Was it that dramatic? Gojo stared boredly at the scene, not wanting to pull himself into politics. Now if it were him... He would just fire a Purple at Reunion and be done with it, but obviously that was a joke.

Gojo didn't think he could completely repel what was basically an entire small army attacking a city, he would have to resort to attacking their highest chain of command before picking out the small folks, which was easier said than done to be honest.

Trying to defeat every single member of an army while they were spread out would be only one word: Tedious.

Unless he had an open domain like Sukuna... It was something he didn't feel like delving into the subject for too long.

"...And what makes you think Reunion has their sights on Lungmen?" Chief Wei asked.

Gojo couldn't help but internally raise an eyebrow, they were a group of infected, and because the people of Chernobog are rushing to Lungmen, the infected in the slums of Lungmen are bound to increase...

The perfect chance for them to snag new recruits. Gojo deduced that he was being ignorant on purpose, or he truly didn't know.

Kal'tsit had elaborated on Reunion needing new recruits and resources would increase as a result of that, pointing to the Lungmen as being one of the best places they could go for right now.

Chief Wei nodded to her explanation, as she presented the main point of her negotiation: Rhodes Island is more knowledgeable about Reunion than Lungmen, and thus could help them repel the battle and move it in the city's favor.

The man looked contemplative as he took another round of his pipe. "Advice huh? Your offer is a contract, you're not offering advice out of the goodness of your hearts If you are looking to secure this contract and form a partnership, shouldn't you first offer information that would benefit us, Ms. Kal'tsit?"

Gojo perked up at the last line, fingers slightly twitching in his pocket as he stared at Kal'tsit.

But when the Lynx said that everything came from combat experience, Gojo could feel the tension in his chest deflate as he lightly clenched his mouth.

What was she talking about? That Lungmen had no choice to sign the agreement, because without Rhodes Island's involvement, it wouldn't be seen?

Where was the evidence? The facts? Gojo realized they couldn't just state whatever happened in Chernobog and expect Ch'en and Chief Wei to eat it up and believe what they say.

Ch'en was angered at the remark, leaving it to the dragon man to calm her down.

"When I choose who to fight alongside, I care about one thing only. And that is whether they have the strength to stand with me," the words left Wei's lips, as if he were reciting a quote.

Now that caused Gojo to perk up, a sense of wanting to butt into the conversation became more and more imminent.

But was cut off, when footage of the group's entrance into Lungmen was shown, and how they had fended off the Reunion members attacking them... Bringing him back to a certain memory.