No matter what happens after we go back, I will be there.
Tu Bai's footsteps faltered for a moment.
He didn't look back, nor did he say a word.
He simply continued walking forward.
But his footsteps seemed a little lighter.
Chapter 45
On the morning of the departure, Tu Bai woke up very early.
But he didn't wake up naturally; he was woken up by hunger. That warmth in his belly was moving, as if urging him to get up and eat. He lay on the Bed, stared at the Ceiling for a few seconds, then slowly sat up.
Gojo Satoru was already awake. He was sitting on the bedside, holding a bag in his hand, rummaging through something.
You're awake?" He didn't even look back. "Are you hungry?
"Hungry," Tu Bai said, his voice still a bit hoarse.
Gojo Satoru took a dry piece of bread from the bag and handed it to him.
“Eat this to hold you over first. We'll eat something good once we get to Yorknew.”
Tu Bai took the bread and took a bite. It was dry and hard, with nothing to it, but at least it could fill his belly.
He ate the toast, watching Gojo Satoru continue to rummage through that bag.
Inside the bag were their only remaining belongings—a few changes of Clothes, a bit of spare change scavenged from Meteor City, those little trinkets Tu Bai had previously created through Construction.
"Um.." Tu Bai spoke, then paused.
Gojo Satoru looked up at him.
What's wrong?
Ears." Tu Bai pointed to the top of his head. "They're always showing; it's too conspicuous.
Gojo Satoru looked at those Black Rabbit Ears and nodded.
Can they be tucked away?
I've tried." Tu Bai shook his head. "My Demon Power is unstable; I can't pull it back.
Gojo Satoru thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
Then let's make something to cover it up.
Tu Bai blinked.
Gojo Satoru reached out his hand: "Come, give me some Demon Power."
Tu Bai grasped his hand and closed his eyes. The remaining Demon Power within his body slowly flowed into his palm, transferring over to Gojo Satoru.
Gojo Satoru's other hand made a few gestures in the air. Cursed Energy surged, intertwining with Demon Power, slowly condensing into two small objects.
They were a pair of earrings.
They were silver, small, had fine patterns engraved on the surface.
He handed the earring to Tu Bai.
Try it on.
Tu Bai took it and felt it. The stud was very light with a slightly cool touch, there was a faint energy fluctuation upon it.
He picked one up and put it on his right ear.
The moment the earring touched his ear, a warmth spread up from the base of his ear. Those Rabbit Ears, which had been standing upright, actually began to droop slowly, shrinking until they finally disappeared into his hair.
Tu Bai touched the top of his head. They were gone.
"It actually works." He was a bit surprised.
Gojo Satoru smiled triumphantly.
Put the other one on as well," he said. "It will stabilize your Demon Power, at least so it won't just pop out randomly anymore.
Tu Bai put on the other earring as well. On his left ear, symmetrical to the right.
He stood up, walked over to a piece of broken Glass, looked at his reflection.
In the Mirror, he looked like an ordinary person—Black Curly Hair, Red Eyes, no ears, no tail. Just like before his memory loss.
"Thank you," he said softly.
Gojo Satoru waved his hand and stood up.
Let's go, to Yorknew.
---
Yorknew City and Meteor City are completely two different worlds.
Skyscrapers, neon lights, crowds of people coming and going, streets lined with shops and advertisements. Walking through the streets, Tu Bai felt somewhat dazed.
He hadn't seen this many people in almost a month.
Gojo Satoru walked beside him, one hand in his pocket and the other hanging at his side, looking very relaxed. However, his aura was completely suppressed, making him not stand out at all while walking through the crowd.
"Was what you just used 'Zetsu'?" Tu Bai asked.
Yeah," Gojo Satoru nodded. "I made it by imitating this world's energy system. It's not exactly the same, but it's enough to fool an Ordinary Person without any problem.
Tu Bai looked at himself. The effect of the stud earring was excellent; no one noticed anything unusual about him.
The two of them found a small shop to have a meal—a real meal, hot, with vegetables and meat. Tu Bai ate two bowls of rice and even took the meat from Gojo Satoru's bowl before he finally felt full.
Gojo Satoru watched him eat, his eyes filled with a smile.
Slow down, no one is going to take it from you.
Tu Bai chewed his meat and gave a muffled response.
After finishing their meal, they followed the address provided by Chrollo and found the venue for the Auction.
It was a large building, with security guards in black suits standing at the doorway, everyone coming and going was dressed very elegantly.
Tu Bai looked down at himself—he was still wearing those clothes from Meteor City, tattered and out of place from his surroundings.
"Can I get in?" he asked, feeling a bit doubtful.
Gojo Satoru took out that Invitation and shook it.
This is enough.
The two walked to the Doorway, the Security Guard glanced at the Invitation, then looked at them with a strange expression, but he still let them through.
It was spacious inside and brightly lit. Many people had already arrived, gathering in small groups to chat. Tu Bai followed Gojo Satoru to a corner and sat down in an inconspicuous spot.
"When is that stone tablet being auctioned?" he asked.
It depends on the process," Gojo Satoru said. "It should be later.
They waited for over an hour.
They took photos of several items in between—antiques, jewelry, so-called mental tools with special abilities. Tu Bai grew bored and leaned against Gojo Satoru's shoulder, nearly falling asleep.
Gojo Satoru didn't move, letting his lean against him.
Finally, the Host announced the next auctioned item.
A stone rubbing from the ruins of an Ancient Civilization. According to research, it contains legends regarding 'Gates' and 'Mirrors.' The starting price is five million Jani.
Tu Bai immediately woke up.
Gojo Satoru held up a sign.
Five and a half million.
Someone nearby raised a sign: "Six Million."
Gojo Satoru raised his sign again: "Six and a half million."
Seven Million.
There weren't many competitors, but several people who looked like collectors had been continuously raising the bids.
The price rose steadily to Twelve Million.
Gojo Satoru held up a sign: "Thirteen Million."
The other party hesitated for a moment, then gave up.
Thirteen Million, deal.
Tu Bai breathed a sigh of relief.
Gojo Satoru stood up to handle the paperwork and pay. Tu Bai sat in place, his hand resting on his abdomen, where that warmth was pulsing gently.
Soon, Gojo Satoru returned, holding something that looked like a scroll in his hands.
I got it," he said. "Let's get out of here first.
The two of them walked out of the Auction Venue and found a Small Inn to stay at.
In the Room, Gojo Satoru unrolled the scroll.
It was a rubbing of a stone tablet, with black ink imprinted on white paper. The patterns on it were very clear—a circle with a humanoid in the center, surrounded by radial lines. There were also several patterns of shrines, exactly like the ones in Tu Bai's memory.
Beside it were dense Ancient Text, which they could not understand.
Gojo Satoru flipped the Scroll over.
There is also writing on the back.
It is Hunter Script; it is written a bit sloppily, but it is legible.
A physical object matching the description of 'Mirror' was once seen at a vanished ethnic minority sacrificial site within the Republic of Batorchia. Reports of abnormal Energy Fluctuation have been recorded at this site in recent years—Information rated two stars or higher on the Hunter Website.
Tu Bai stared at that line of text, his Heartbeat quickening.
The Republic of Batorchia," he said. "Isn't that the Zoldyck Family's territory?