This meeting ultimately concluded without reaching a unified result.
Any decision that could determine the future of a large organization could not be made in a single morning.
Fortunately, although the Demon Slayer Corps had now reached the brink of destruction, they were not so pressed for time that a few days would make a difference.
Everyone still had time to think slowly.
"Miss Butterfly."
Inside the inner room, after the Demon Slayer Corps members had gradually left, Tamayo—who remained seated—suddenly spoke, calling out to Kanae.
"Sister, I'll head back first."
Seeing that the two seemed to have something to discuss, Shinobu Kocho did not stay, choosing to leave first instead.
"Mm."
Nodding gently, seeing Shinobu off, Kanae then walked over and sat beside Tamayo, asking:
"Miss Tamayo, is there something you wish to ask me?"
"I heard that you have personally seen Tsugikuni Mitsuba?"
Tamayo looked at her, asking very directly.
"Yes, the first time was during a night in Tokyo not long ago..."
"Can you tell me what she is like now?"
Tamayo continued asking.
Hearing this, Kanae's expression showed slight confusion.
"Miss Tamayo, may I ask how this relates to our extermination operation?"
"Mm, because the Tsugikuni Mitsuba I knew was from hundreds of years ago. I am unclear about how much she has changed now.
Considering that you may ultimately still choose to confront Tsugikuni Mitsuba, I believe I may need to understand her current personality in advance."
"I understand..."
"..."
At the same time, outside, the sun was shining brightly.
In the mansion's courtyard, Gyomei Himejima, the Shinazugawa brothers, and Muichiro Tokito were leaving together.
"Speaking of which, Gyomei, I saw in this intelligence that among the Upper Rank Six you encountered last night, there was apparently a demon that could use Breathing Techniques, and it was even using Moon Breathing?"
With both hands behind his head, Sanemi Shinazugawa suddenly spoke up.
As he spoke, he also glanced at Muichiro.
"Indeed."
Gyomei Himejima pressed his palms together, nodding gently.
"A demon capable of using Breathing Techniques—that is truly unprecedented. This恐怕..."
"No no no, I'm not trying to discuss that with you. What I want to ask is, why do you think it was using Moon Breathing?
Or let me put it this way—who do you think taught it that Breathing Technique?"
"What do you mean?"
Muichiro finally turned to look at him, speaking with that cool, clear voice.
"Amitabha, what is the problem with this?"
"Of course there's a problem!"
Meeting their puzzled gazes, Sanemi Shinazugawa immediately smiled triumphantly.
"You should remember that before, that female demon mentioned that Tsugikuni Mitsuba actually has another elder brother, right?"
Yes, Tsugikuni Mitsuba did not have only one elder brother.
According to what Tamayo said, the Tsugikuni family during the Sengoku period had three siblings in total.
Tsugikuni Mitsuba was the youngest sister, and the Child of God, Tsugikuni Yoriichi, was the second.
Above them, there was actually another elder brother named "Tsugikuni Michikatsu."
However, Tamayo did not know much about this individual.
During those brief days traveling together with Yoriichi, most of what she heard from him were words of praise.
Such as being composed and calm, heroic and extraordinary, possessing exceptional talent, having lofty ideals, caring for younger siblings... basically nothing useful.
Tamayo only knew that Tsugikuni Michikatsu was once the Moon Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, constantly trying to catch up to his younger brother Yoriichi in swordsmanship, and was ultimately persuaded by Mitsuba to become a demon as well.
As for what kind of strength Tsugikuni Michikatsu possessed, or whether he was still alive now, she was unclear about all of this.
"I'm telling you, that demon is definitely still alive! And it was absolutely him who taught Moon Breathing to that so-called Upper Rank Six!"
Sanemi Shinazugawa proposed a guess completely opposite to what everyone had previously speculated.
Based on the intelligence gathered from their previous encounters with Tsugikuni Mitsuba, he didn't think Mitsuba was the type to patiently teach others swordsmanship.
Coupled with the coincidence of Moon Breathing... this instantly made him think of Mitsuba's other mysterious elder brother.
He dared to assert!
That demon named Tsugikuni Michikatsu definitely had not died!
And he was definitely one of the Upper Rank demons. Based on the intelligence the Demon Slayer Corps currently possessed, if it wasn't Four, it would certainly be Five!
Considering that he could even teach Upper Rank Six swordsmanship and Breathing Techniques, his strength must be far superior to Upper Rank Six—so it was definitely Upper Rank Four!
Yes!
The unknown Upper Rank Four was Tsugikuni Mitsuba's other elder brother—
Tsugikuni Michikatsu!
Sanemi Shinazugawa felt proud of this sudden burst of inspiration.
If one were to ask whether he had any concrete evidence for all these guesses?
His answer would be: no evidence!
He was relying purely on that instinct of his!
His instinct told him that this was definitely the truth of the matter!
"Mm... somewhat reasonable."
After pondering upon hearing this, Gyomei Himejima nodded slightly.
"I will speak with Master about this later. Regardless, the fact that another demon skilled in using Breathing Techniques exists among the Twelve Kizuki is something we must be vigilant about..."
"Oh my~"
Suddenly raising his hand to pat the silent Muichiro's shoulder, Sanemi Shinazugawa suddenly laughed:
"If we're really calculating it this way, Muichiro, you have two ancestors over on the demons' side, don't you?"
Everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps knew that Muichiro Tokito's body carried the bloodline of the original Breathing Technique swordsmen.
This bloodline granted him top-tier swordsmanship talent among the modern Demon Slayer Corps, so no one had ever doubted this.
And now, with the revelation of demon intelligence, a rather absurd truth gradually unfolded before Muichiro—
His ancestors all seemed to be standing on the demons' side.
"Muichiro, my advice is, since it's like this, why don't you just leave the Demon Slayer Corps and go join those demons?
Anyway, your ancestors are all over there, and your talent is so good, using Moon Breathing and all...
I bet if you went over, they'd welcome you with open arms! How about it?"
"Sanemi, don't subject me to such crude provocations."
Fully aware of the true meaning behind Sanemi Shinazugawa's words, Muichiro expressionlessly raised his hand and slapped away the hand on his shoulder, speaking in a deep voice:
"This behavior is meaningless. You know I would never join the demons.
No matter who they are, no matter what relationship they have with me, as long as they are demons, I will definitely slay them."
"Hahaha! I knew you'd say that!"
Completely disregarding Muichiro's disgust, Sanemi Shinazugawa laughed heartily and stepped forward again, dragging him toward the training ground.
"Come come come! Let's hurry to the training ground and spar! Use your Moon Breathing to fight me, let me properly adapt to it..."