Chapter 48: Bustling City

Tokyo, the most prosperous city in Japan. As a port city, it served as Japan's名片 to the outside world. The power of industrialization drove the city's development, creating a stark contrast to the agricultural life in the countryside.

Li Mo didn't particularly like this city. The environmental pollution brought by industrialization was something he couldn't get used to. A hundred years later, factory pollution wouldn't be this severe.

Even in such a city, there were things happening in the shadows that most people were unaware of. Compared to rural areas, weaker demons found it easier to survive here. A few homeless people dying on the streets was a common occurrence.

In a narrow alley, Li Mo looked at the victim's body lying before him. The demon's corpse had just turned to ashes and disappeared from sight.

He carefully stored his Nichirin Blade in a wooden box designed to conceal it. During the Taisho era, Japan had already implemented the "Sword Abolishment Edict," which prohibited non-official personnel from carrying swords. The Demon Slayer Corps was an unofficial organization, so they couldn't openly carry swords in the city.

With long strides, Li Mo left the scene of the crime. By the time the sun rose tomorrow, this would likely become another unsolved case.

Following the road to a less crowded area, he found a wooden cart where a vendor was selling ramen.

Ordering a bowl of ramen, Li Mo lost himself in thought amidst the aroma of the noodles.

After meeting with Oyakata-sama, he had officially become one of the **Nine Hashira**. Additionally, Oyakata-sama had given him a mission in Tokyo.

The current Flame Hashira was responsible for Tokyo. Combining these two tasks, Li Mo had come to this bustling metropolis.

Meeting the Flame Hashira wasn't the main point. The main point was the mission Oyakata-sama had given him... Why had Oyakata-sama asked him to find Tamayo at this time?

Oyakata-sama, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, had assigned him a mission that only he could accomplish—to communicate with Tamayo and bring her into the Demon Slayer Corps' camp. In gaming terms, it was like turning a neutral NPC into an ally.

The problem was, Tamayo was a demon.

The members of the Demon Slayer Corps all had deep-seated hatred for demons. Asking them to communicate and form alliances with demons? They'd be lucky if they didn't immediately try to cut off the demon's head. If Li Mo hadn't watched the anime, his first reaction upon encountering Tamayo would have been to draw his sword.

Thinking about it, he was indeed the most suitable candidate. Just like Tanjiro a few years later, but the question was, what had prompted Oyakata-sama to invite Tamayo to cooperate several years earlier?

Was the timing right?

There were many vacancies among the current Nine Hashira. In the future battle at the Infinity Castle, only Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira, had become a Hashira. Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira, was only ten years old, and her sister Kanae Kocho hadn't yet become the Flower Hashira.

Slurping the last noodle and drinking the delicious broth, Li Mo decided to stop overthinking. He had accepted the mission and would do his best to complete it.

He couldn't just go back on his word, could he?

"Sun Hashira."

After paying for the ramen, Li Mo left the stall. As he blended into the crowd, a member of the Kakushi appeared beside him.

Unlike in the countryside, the Kakushi in Tokyo dressed more like ordinary people to blend in.

"Do you have any news about the Flame Hashira?"

"The Flame Hashira is currently pursuing a Lower Moon and doesn't have time at the moment."

"Thank you. You can go about your business now."

"Yes."

The Kakushi member left. Li Mo walked out of the city and into a quieter slum area, raising his hand to let his Kasugai Crow land on his shoulder.

The Kasugai Crow, a completely black crow, could speak human language and had the intelligence of a human child. Information within the Demon Slayer Corps was often relayed through these crows. This mission to contact Tamayo was a secret task. Communicating and forming an alliance with a demon would be a shock to the worldview of ordinary swordsmen. With Oyakata-sama's current authority, this could only be done in secret.

In a few years, when all the Nine Hashira were swordsmen promoted by Oyakata-sama, such matters could be discussed openly at Hashira meetings.

Through the crow, Li Mo learned how to contact Tamayo. Simply put, he needed to go to a designated location and wait.

"Meow—"

Arriving at the designated spot, Li Mo expected to wait for a long time. But just a few minutes later, he heard a cat's meow. A cute calico cat appeared before him, carrying a small wooden box on its back, likely used to transport items. On its chest was a white cloth with a pattern resembling a magic circle.

These features clearly indicated that this was the contact.

Li Mo crouched down and scratched the cat under its chin. The cat purred contentedly. The Kasugai Crow flew back to his shoulder and cawed, "Focus on the mission, focus on the mission."

"I know, I know. Don't rush me."

"Kitty, take me to see your master."

The calico cat, as if understanding human speech, turned and led the way with a proud demeanor, showcasing the arrogance of a feline. Li Mo didn't mind. Cats were naturally proud, weren't they? Of course, if his stupid crow acted this haughty, he'd pluck its feathers.

Yes, he was being biased.

Wasn't a cat cuter than a crow?

Moreover, this cat was no less useful than a Kasugai Crow. Following the cat, Li Mo arrived at a remote wilderness. There were no signs of people or buildings here. But suddenly, right in front of Li Mo, a Western-style house appeared out of nowhere, as if it had always been there.

"An illusion?"

A spatial manipulation-type Blood Demon Art could achieve this, but Li Mo preferred to believe it was some kind of illusion. With his knowledge, he wasn't alarmed and walked straight in.

Inside the house, the host had already prepared to receive guests. It was a woman who appeared to be around nineteen years old. She wore a kimono, her mid-length black hair tied up, and her purple eyes slightly dull, lacking luster. Beside her stood a green-haired boy.

Li Mo's attention was drawn to the boy. The boy's facial expression management wasn't perfect—it was nonexistent. His smug expression made it clear he wasn't pleased.

"Hello, Demon Slayer."

"Hello, Miss Tamayo. I'm here on behalf of Oyakata-sama to meet with you. This is a letter from Oyakata-sama."

Li Mo took out the letter from his pocket and handed it to Tamayo. During the exchange, he accidentally brushed her hand, earning a "death glare" from the boy.

—Unfortunately, it had no effect.

Holding a teacup, Li Mo sipped the tea, ignoring the boy's gaze, and waited for Tamayo's response.

"I see. I understand your intentions. Are you really willing to cooperate with a demon like me?"

Tamayo asked the crucial question.

Would the Demon Slayers, who hunted demons, be willing to cooperate with a man-eating demon?