Demon Slayer: Starting with the Kingdom

Since she'll eventually have to face Mitsuha Tsugikuni anyway, she might as well take this opportunity to have a match with her first!

If she succeeds, she can then take the opportunity to cut off one of Muzan's important arms.

Even if we fail, we can learn from the experience and treat it as a rehearsal for the formal battle against Muzan and Mitsuha.

Of course, she had clearly told Ubuyashiki about Mitsuha's information and Tamayo's concerns from the very beginning.

He is perhaps the only non-demon in the world who knows just how powerful Mitsuha Tsugikuni truly is.

Tamayo knew very well just how dangerous the plan to defeat Upper Moon One was.

If something goes wrong, the entire Demon Slayer Corps could be in danger of being wiped out again!

The last vestige of conscience in Tamayo's heart, already filled with hatred, prevented her from letting these demon slayers die without knowing the truth.

At least they need to know the truth and who they're going to be facing next.

Tamayo had even mentally prepared herself that if these demon slayers refused to participate in the extermination plan, she wouldn't force them, but would continue to lie low and wait for the right opportunity...

But to her surprise, after just one night of consideration, Ubuyashiki and his men unanimously agreed to cooperate with her plan.

Thus, the Demon Slayer Corps' plan to subdue Mitsuha Tsugikuni officially began.

"Ms. Tamayo, are you sure we really need to go this far?"

“I’m quite certain, Mr. Ubuyashiki.”

Late at night, inside the Ubuyashiki mansion, facing Ubuyashiki's question, Tamayo nodded gently and replied earnestly:

"The danger of Mitsuha Tsugikuni is so terrifying. Her Blood Demon Art can trace the past and future of humans."

It can even trace the cause and effect of a certain person back to any person or event that has had a causal relationship with them.

Faced with such terrifying capabilities, even the strictest preventative measures are not excessive.

As she spoke, Tamayo looked at the man before her, whose face was beginning to show signs of a curse, and said in an extremely serious tone:

“Mr. Ubuyashiki, let me remind you again, all the Pillar-level swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps already knew about our target.”

Therefore, in order to prevent Mitsuha from discovering our actions in advance through the karma associated with them.

Until the very last moment of our plan, they absolutely must not be allowed to show themselves outside. This is extremely important, understand?

Mitsuhachi was able to trace the cause and effect.

Therefore, no matter how secret the plan is, as long as she comes into contact with the people involved in the plan and sees the cause and effect on them, it will be possible to achieve anything.

Then she would definitely be able to discern the existence of this plan from these causes and effects.

In Mitsuha's eyes, there are no secrets in this world.

The only way Tamayo could think of to restrain herself from this was—

This would prevent Mitsuha from contacting anyone who knew about the plan to subjugate the enemy.

As long as she can't see any related causal clues, then naturally, she won't be able to know about the existence of this plan...

"Ms. Tamayo, please rest assured, I have already given instructions on this matter."

Despite Tamayo's repeated reminders, Ubuyashiki simply smiled and said in that reassuring voice:

"All the pillars who know about this punitive expedition plan are still secretly staying in this base, ready to be deployed at any time."

Those people we dispatched to carry out the mission of spreading information about finding the Blue Spider Lily were all commissioned by intermediaries from wealthy businessmen all over the country after being outsourced multiple times.

These intermediaries and wealthy businessmen had no direct contact with us and knew nothing about our identities or plans.

All they knew was to follow the instructions and search everywhere for information about the Blue Spider Lily.

There is absolutely no possibility that our plan can be traced back to us.

"That's good."

Tamayo nodded slightly, but the expression on her face did not relax.

"There's one last thing I need to confirm with you one more time, Mr. Ubuyashiki."

In your Demon Slayer Corps' past records, is it really true that every month there are demon slayers who, without any external injuries, are inexplicably drained of their flesh and blood?

"Indeed, in our past records, this has been going on for at least several decades, happening almost every month with a very consistent frequency."

We have always speculated that this is most likely an Upper Moon demon that enjoys eating demon slayers, and it is periodically attacking the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Unfortunately, this demon's whereabouts are extremely mysterious. For decades, through generations of the Demon Slayer Corps, no one has ever been able to catch a trace of it..."

"now it's right."

With an idea already in mind, Tamayo lowered her head, having completely filled in the final piece of the puzzle for the Upper Moon One subjugation plan.

Her gaze hardened completely, and her fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes.

[Muzan Kibutsuji, this time, I might really be able to eliminate your most powerful ally...]

(Thank you everyone, so I'm adding an extra chapter today, which also allows me to release the complete Tamayo part~)

Chapter 71 Geisha O-Ming

"Oh my, is Ah Ming finally done with work?"

Meanwhile, in the red-light district late at night, Mitsuha, still sporting Yan Sheng's face, finally spotted the geisha, A-Ming, who was on her way home after work and seemed to have had contact with the mysterious wealthy businessman.

"Young Master Yan Sheng?!"

Aming was quite surprised by Mitsuha's sudden appearance. Holding the pipa, Aming instinctively trembled, clearly startled.

"Excuse me, did you wait here specifically for me?"

Her voice was very soft, and she always kept her head down while speaking, habitually using her long bangs to cover her face.

It was easy to tell from her expression, demeanor, and tone of voice that the woman in front of him was very timid.

This is excellent; it's relatively easier to pry secrets out of people with this kind of personality.

"That's right, I've been waiting for you specifically because I have a question for you."

Without hesitation, Miyako stepped forward and approached Amin, smiling as she pushed her into a deserted alleyway nearby.

"Come on, come on, there are too many people here, let's go to this alley and talk about it slowly..."

"Eh?! Young Master Yan Sheng, isn't this a bit... inappropriate?"

"It's suitable! How could it not be suitable? Don't worry, I won't do anything to you..."

The causal thread that Mitsuha saw on Amina previously only recorded the information that "seven days ago, he played the pipa for a mysterious wealthy merchant and caravan leader in a brothel," and nothing else.

This can be considered a minor drawback of the cause-and-effect relationship.

After all, the causal line isn't a real surveillance camera, so it's impossible to create a 360-degree "real-time playback" for Mitsuha without any blind spots.

The causal information it records is always very concise, often including only four elements: "who and who, when, where, and what did they do".

Moreover, if it can be remembered in one sentence, it will never use a second sentence.

This led to the situation where, although Mitsuha had already found Amin, an important figure who had witnessed the conversation between the mysterious wealthy merchant and the caravan leader, she still had to ask for the crucial information herself in the end.

However, it's not a big problem, since Mitsuha is quite confident in her ability to dig out secrets from others.

Moreover... she actually enjoys the process of doing this.

“That…Young Master Yan Sheng.”

In the deserted alley, Ah Ming leaned against the wall, clutching his pipa tightly, his body trembling slightly.

She cautiously raised her head, glanced at the tall, handsome, and wealthy young man before her, and finally mustered her courage to speak in a very low voice:

"I...I actually already have a husband, and I am...a performer, not a prostitute..."

The girl seems to have misunderstood something.

"Ah Ming, what are you thinking about?"

Looking down at the married woman in front of her, whose eyes flashed with determination as if she were ready to commit suicide at any moment to preserve her innocence, Mitsuha couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't worry, I don't want your body. I just want to ask you a few questions."

As soon as she finished speaking, her expression turned serious, and she asked earnestly:

"Seven days ago, did you entertain a wealthy merchant from out of town and a caravan leader at the brothel?"

"Seven days ago? Yes, yes, I think there was something like that..."

What did those two people say at the time?

"What did you say..."

A-Ming initially wanted to refuse to answer Mitsuha's blatant attempt to pry into the guest's information.

But for some reason, when she saw Mitsuha's eyes, her thoughts suddenly changed.

[Anyway, it's not anything important. Telling this Young Master Yan Sheng quietly shouldn't be a big deal, right?]

Completely unaware that his thoughts had been influenced by Mitsuha's manipulation of causal threads, A-Ming struggled to recall what had happened seven days ago and began to speak:

"I don't know the specifics, but that night the wealthy merchant came to the brothel and asked me and several other geishas to play music for him."

Shortly afterward, the caravan leader came to the room, and then the wealthy merchant told us all to leave…

"So you don't actually know what they talked about that night?"

"Yes... Ah, but when I left the room, I overheard them talking about something called the Blue Spider Lily."

They seem to be looking for this flower that sounds really strange…

"Hmm... Besides that, A-Ming, do you know anything else about that wealthy businessman?"

"The relevant intelligence..."

Guided by Mitsuha, he quickly searched his memories. After a brief moment of contemplation, A-Ming hurriedly looked up and replied:

"Yes! There's another one! I remember that seven days ago wasn't the first time that wealthy businessman came to our brothel!"

About twenty days ago, I saw him once from afar; at that time, he had an appointment with other guests…

It happened more than 20 days ago, and again 7 days ago, and each time with different people...

"In other words, this wealthy businessman would arrange to meet a new client at your brothel every so often."

Then he asked the other party to help him find information about the Blue Spider Lily, is that right...?

This means that he might invite other people to your brothel again in the future?

"That's...that's how it should be..."

Having roughly grasped the current situation, Mitsuha raised her hand to touch her chin and subconsciously nodded.

[Excellent, we've found a clue. Now we just need to wait patiently for this mysterious wealthy businessman to reappear.]

[Oh dear, all of this was so easy. It seems I'll be able to report back to Lord Muzan soon.]

Beside him, A-Ming looked up at Mitsuha, who had suddenly burst into laughter. After a moment's hesitation, he cautiously asked:

"Um, Young Master Yan Sheng, may I ask what you want to do by asking that wealthy merchant for information?"

"Oh, it's really nothing serious, he just owes me money."

"Huh? You owe money?"

Completely unaware of Mitsuha's lie, A-Ming was taken aback upon hearing this.

It's unbelievable that someone who seems so wealthy could also owe money to others!

Acting mode activated, Mitsuha, now sporting Yan Sheng's face, immediately placed her hands on A-Ming's shoulders, gazing at her earnestly and pleading:

"So! I'd like to ask you for a favor!"

"Ah! Yes! Please, please speak..."

Startled by Mitsuha's sudden action, A-Ming tensed up instantly and instinctively leaned back.

[So close! Young Master Yan Sheng is standing so close!]

She looked up and stared blankly at Mitsuha in front of her, her cheeks, which were hidden by her long hair, gradually becoming flushed.

[Upon closer inspection, Young Master Yan Sheng is truly handsome... I've never seen such a dashing man before...]

【No, no, Ah Ming! What are you thinking about?! You're a married woman! How can you think about such nonsense!】