Tokyo, Asakusa.
Inside a massive mansion.
BANG—!
A crisp shattering sound rang out, startling Hashimoto Rei, who was preparing dinner.
Stopping what she was doing, she hurriedly ran towards the study, following the direction of the noise.
"Tsukihiko! Are you alright?"
Looking at the shattered teacup in the study and the man with veins bulging on his forehead and a gloomy expression, Hashimoto Rei paused for a moment before walking over to ask.
"Did something happen? You..."
"Shut up! Did I give you permission to speak?!"
Thorny vine whips formed from blood rose up, and in the blink of an eye, Hashimoto Rei was shredded into "Hashimoto Rei-chan."
After disposing of the wife who had accompanied him for several years, the rage in Muzan's heart didn't diminish in the slightest; instead, it grew even more intense.
"Nakime!"
"I am here, Lord Muzan."
A woman with pale skin and long black hair appeared out of thin air beside him.
"I'll give you three minutes."
Muzan slowly raised his head, an unprecedented killing intent surfacing in his crimson pupils.
"Summon all the Upper Ranks to me!"
"Yes, Lord Muzan!"
Sensing Muzan's foul mood, Nakime didn't dare to delay and immediately began to strum her biwa.
Strum! Strum!
Amidst the rapid sounds of the biwa, the surrounding scenery shifted, and Nakime and Muzan arrived within a chaotic and disordered space.
Like a child's graffiti, twisted corridors tilted at odd angles, walls spread haphazardly, and doors floated in mid-air, shattered into pieces.
Standing at the top of this chaotic space, Nakime continued to play the biwa, summoning several figures radiating powerful auras to the Infinity Castle.
"Oh my~ it's been quite a while since we were all summoned by Lord Muzan together."
A monster with its body fused to a pot and fins growing from its head glanced around before finally fixing its gaze on Muzan at the very top.
"It has indeed been a long time. The last time we saw such a sight must have been over a hundred years ago."
Doma waved his fan, echoing the sentiment while looking upward along with the others present.
"Lord Muzan, you seem to be in a rather foul mood. Did something happen?"
"Did something happen?"
Facing Doma's inquiry, Muzan subconsciously recalled the images of the three Lower Ranks being slain and Daki and Gyutaro being captured alive not long ago.
And at the end of all these images, Lynn's mocking laughter rang in his mind like a sharp blade.
[Regret what? Is that trash Muzan going to suddenly jump out and punch me? ]
Boom!
The ground beneath Muzan's feet shattered with a bang, and a vast, terrifying aura rose from his body.
"Doma, I remember it was you who recommended Daki and Gyutaro to become Upper Rank, wasn't it?"
"Yes, Lord Muzan."
"Then let me ask you, have you found the blue spider lily?"
"The followers of the Eternal Paradise Cult are working hard to find it."
"Then have you wiped out the Ubuyashiki Clan?"
"The followers of the Eternal Paradise Cult..."
"Shut up!"
Muzan's figure blurred as he appeared before Doma, twisting the other's head off with a distorted expression.
"The blue spider lily hasn't been found! The Ubuyashiki Clan hasn't been wiped out!"
"Even the Upper Rank you recommended was captured alive by the Demon Slayer Corps, becoming a disgrace to the Upper Ranks!"
"Tell me, Doma! What use do you have! What is the value of your continued existence!"
"Gyutaro was captured alive?"
Doma blinked, appearing somewhat surprised, but in reality, his heart remained completely unmoved.
As an anomaly who couldn't understand emotions even when he was human, Doma felt no fear even when faced with Muzan's interrogation.
His rainbow-colored eyes met Muzan's for a few seconds. Having roughly understood what the other was thinking, a smile appeared on Doma's face as he spoke in a calm tone.
"Lord Muzan, since Daki and Gyutaro were captured alive, that means you know their current location, right?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"Please give me their coordinates. I will personally take action to help you clean house and bring the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps before you alive."
"Lord Muzan, please calm your anger."
Beside him, Hantengu also spoke up: "I am willing to take action alongside Lord Doma to capture the Demon Slayer Hashira alive and wash away this humiliation for you!"
"Hmph! A bunch of useless trash!"
Muzan snorted coldly and threw Doma's head back onto his body.
Although he found Doma very eyesore right now, the other was still Upper Rank Two regardless.
If he were to kill him recklessly, the remaining trash would only cause him more headaches.
"I'll give you one last chance!"
"Doma! If you cannot fulfill what you promised, there will be no need for you to come back and see me!"
With those words, Muzan walked into the passage opened by Nakime without looking back, leaving the Infinity Castle.
At the same time, the battle scenes of Lynn killing the Lower Rank Demons and single-handedly overwhelming Daki and Gyutaro appeared in Doma's mind.
"I see. This level of strength is indeed not simple; no wonder Gyutaro was captured alive."
Having finished digesting these memories, Doma gained an understanding of Lynn's strength.
He was strong, far surpassing any Hashira he had seen before.
However, if it was only to this extent, he had many ways to deal with it.
Stroking his chin thoughtfully, Doma looked toward the figure standing not far away.
"Akaza-dono, this time the target seems to be exactly the type you like most. Are you interested in coming with me?"
"Get lost!"
Akaza turned and left without looking back.
Perhaps Muzan did it intentionally, as Doma wasn't the only one who received the blood memories.
The other Upper Rank Demons present also saw the scenes of Lynn's battle.
To be honest, Akaza was indeed very interested in Lynn and couldn't wait to have a fight himself.
But at the thought that doing so would help Doma, he lost his fighting spirit again.
"Doma, don't be careless."
Just then, a calm voice came from a nearby corner.
"The strength that man displayed in the images is likely not his full power."
"Oh? What insights do you have, Kokushibo-dono?"
Doma turned his gaze toward the corner.
"Movements, expressions, attitude... from beginning to end, he was never serious during the battle."
Kokushibo's six eyes opened simultaneously as he evaluated the Lynn from the blood memories.
"He possesses strength comparable to the first generation of Demon Slayer Hashira. If you are careless, you will die."
"Then, if this Hashira named Lynn were to fight you, Kokushibo-dono? Would you win?"
"I will win."
Kokushibo's expression was indifferent as he left, leaving behind an overbearing declaration of victory.
"If I were to take action personally, I would surely sever his head within a hundred moves."
"As expected of Kokushibo-dono."
Doma clapped his hands in response.
After watching Kokushibo leave, his gaze turned to the finned monster standing nearby.
"Hantengu, hearing Kokushibo-dono's evaluation, are you so scared that you want to back out?"
"Lord Doma, I'm not tired of living yet."
Hantengu tilted his head as he gave his answer.
Setting aside how strong Lynn was, he had just made a military pledge in front of Muzan.
If he were to run away in fear now, even as an Upper Rank Demon, he wouldn't escape death.
"I'll help you deal with the other enemies."
"According to the memories Lord Muzan gave us, besides the man named Lynn, there's another Hashira named Kocho Kanae guarding Gyutaro."
"Oh~ that woman. Speaking of which, she's quite to my taste. I like her very much."
"Then I'll keep an eye out and capture her to give to you as a gift, Lord Doma."
"Sure, I'll leave it to you then."
Doma chuckled, waving his iron fan as he walked toward the exit of the Infinity Castle that appeared before him.
"Let's go. Let's end this farce as quickly as possible and not keep Lord Muzan waiting too long."
"I agree with that."
Compared to the consistently calm Doma, Hantengu was more concerned about Muzan's opinion.
Following Doma, Hantengu walked through the gates of the Infinity Castle and arrived on the outskirts of the Yoshiwara Red-Light District.
Looking at the fallen trees all around and the unusually conspicuous craters on the ground, Hantengu recognized this as the place where Gyutaro was defeated and captured not long ago.
"Lord Doma, do you know which direction the Demon Slayer Corps went?"
"That's something we'll have to ask Lord Muzan."
Doma chuckled and stood there, talking to himself.
"Lord Muzan, could I trouble you to help point the way?"
"..."