At the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, clear tea poured from a teapot into a cup, a faint tea fragrance spreading.
Kanae Kocho picked up the cup, took a sip, and her eyes lit up. "Good tea!"
Amane Ubuyashiki smiled. "I know you like tea, Kanae. This is specially for you."
"Kanae, you said Mr. Aomura wants to meet me?" Kagaya Ubuyashiki said, smiling gently.
Kanae looked serious and put down her cup. "Yes, Master!"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki nodded slightly. "That's good. I have something to tell Mr. Aomura too. Kanae, when Mr. Aomura returns, you can tell him I'm free anytime."
Kanae asked curiously, "Master, is Mr. Aomura still on Mount Kumotori?"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki said, "Yes! Mr. Aomura seems to have something important to do. He's stopped taking missions for now."
Kanae was surprised.
She knew how eager Mr. Aomura was to kill demons.
She wondered what was so special about Tanjiro Kamado that made Mr. Aomura stop hunting demons.
Demon Slayer Corps members couldn't refuse missions.
But Aoki was just working with the Demon Slayer Corps. He was an unofficial member. The Demon Slayer Corps' rules didn't apply to him.
More importantly, Aoki had been working almost non-stop for months, without rest or injuries. He had killed more demons than all the Pillars combined.
No one could say anything if he wanted to rest.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki took out a picture. "Kanae, the real reason I called you here today is this."
Kanae took it, looking puzzled. She looked down, her expression serious.
The picture showed a strange eyeball with tentacles growing from below. The character "Six" was carved in the center of the eyeball.
"Master, what is this?"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki said slowly, "This is something that suddenly appeared a few days ago. It's definitely related to demons. They're all over the place, but they're fragile and have no attack power.
We don't know where they come from or what they do."
Kanae frowned slightly. "I think they're for scouting."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki said calmly, "That's my guess too. These eyes seem to be looking for something. They haven't paid attention to our members, so we had a chance to find them."
Kanae was silent for a moment. "The eyeball has the character 'Six.' It must be Upper Moon Six or Lower Moon Six. You said there are many eyeballs all over the place, so it's probably an Upper Moon.
A new Upper Moon Six? So soon?"
"And one with scouting abilities," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said.
Kanae looked serious. "Then our members need to be more careful, Master. No, not just the members, but your safety too."
The Demon Slayer Corps had always had the advantage in information.
But the new Upper Moon Six might change that.
From ordinary members to Pillars to Master, including non-combat personnel like the Swordsmith Village, everyone was in danger!
Kanae thought of many things. They were all bad.
Even though it was just Upper Moon Six, he might cause more trouble than Upper Moon Three or Upper Moon Two.
Kanae quickly organized her thoughts. "Master, I think the three most important things now are:
First, ensure your safety. Second, tell all members about the eyeballs and warn them to be careful. Third, find out how these eyeballs appear, so we can find the new Upper Moon Six!"
"Don't worry about my safety! I'll be careful. Even if I die, there's Kiriya," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said calmly, not giving Kanae a chance to argue. "The second thing is being done. As for the third..."
He shook his head. "We have no idea. We don't know where the eyeballs come from or how they appear. We know nothing about the new Upper Moon Six.
That's one reason I want to meet Mr. Aomura. He knows a lot about demons. He might know something."
Kanae said, "Should I go ask Mr. Aomura now?"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki waved. "Mr. Aomura wants to be alone with the Kamado family. He must have something important to do. Don't disturb him for now!"
Kanae took a deep breath. "Yes, Master. I was too hasty."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki smiled gently. "Kanae, don't worry. The Demon Slayer Corps has faced many situations more dangerous than this, but we always persevered.
This is just a demon with scouting abilities.
The last Upper Moon Six died. Upper Moon Two was killed recently. Countless Lower Moons have died. The situation is much better than it was a hundred years ago!"
Kanae remembered the past, listening to Master's words. "It seems like Mr. Aomura brought all of this."
"That's right!"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki nodded, smiling. "I had that feeling before, and it's stronger now. Mr. Aomura will be the key to defeating Muzan!"
"I understand."
Kanae said, "But Master, your safety is important too. We should assign two Pillars to protect you!"
She tried to persuade him, but he refused.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki didn't want Pillars protecting him.
...
Infinity Castle.
Muzan wasn't in a good mood.
He thought Nakime's power would increase and she would quickly find the traitor or the Ubuyashiki family.
But days had passed.
They had found many Demon Slayers, but none of his real targets!
A huge table was covered with equipment. Muzan picked up a test tube, drew a few drops of blood, and carefully dripped them into a beaker.
Nakime said, "Master Muzan, we found a Pillar."
Crack!
The test tube shattered, blood running down his hand. Muzan said expressionlessly, "I don't care about those ants. Don't be distracted. Search for the traitor and the Ubuyashiki family with all your power!"
He wouldn't mind sending an Upper Moon to kill the Pillar if he had nothing else to do.
But the traitor was the priority now.
He would focus all his power to eliminate the traitor this time.
"Yes! Master Muzan!"
Nakime said respectfully.
---
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