The Demon Slayer Corps headquarters was not far from Tokyo.
After packing their belongings, Cain and Kochō Kanae set off and arrived in Tokyo within just a few hours.
Looking at the bright sun hanging high in the sky and the bustling crowds filling the streets, Kochō Kanae turned slightly toward Cain.
"Any plans?"
"Let's first go to the Kitajou residence mentioned in the intelligence report and check the situation."
Cain thought for a moment before replying.
It was currently noon, and demons would normally hide to avoid the sunlight.
Rather than wandering around aimlessly, it would be better to visit the location where the demon had appeared and see if they could gather any useful clues.
According to Ubuyashiki Kagaya, the abnormal situation in Tokyo began three days ago.
At that time, a guest of the Kitajou family came to visit their residence. After knocking for quite a long time without receiving any response, he noticed that the main gate was half open, and a faint smell of blood drifted out from inside.
Confused, the guest pushed open the courtyard gate and took a glance inside.
What greeted him was a pile of corpses that looked as if they had been devoured by wild beasts. Severed limbs and mutilated remains covered the entire ground. It was a horrifying scene.
The guest who had come to visit the Kitajou family lost his sanity on the spot, screaming and shouting until nearby passersby rushed over.
The passersby had never witnessed such a sight either, so they immediately reported the matter to the authorities.
Under the authorities' response, the Kitajou residence was quickly sealed off, and all civilians were prohibited from approaching the area.
Meanwhile, the Ubuyashiki Clan, which maintained certain cooperative relations with the authorities behind the scenes, also learned of the incident at this time and began sending personnel to investigate the situation.
"Here come two more."
At the entrance of the Kitajou residence, a middle aged man wearing a police uniform let out a quiet sigh.
"I'm Tohara Tetsusuke. Are you two also sent by the higher ups to assist with the investigation?"
"Yes, here are our credentials."
Cain took out a document and handed it over.
The Kitajou family was not an ordinary household, and the impact of their massacre was extremely serious.
In order to resolve this matter, the Japanese authorities had granted the Ubuyashiki Clan considerable privileges behind the scenes.
After Tohara Tetsusuke verified the credentials, Cain and Kochō Kanae quickly received permission to enter the courtyard.
"What a tragic scene."
Looking at the dried bloodstains scattered everywhere, Kochō Kanae frowned.
Three days had already passed, and the corpses that once filled the courtyard had long been removed.
Even so, Kochō Kanae could still imagine the horrific massacre that had taken place here.
"Let's go, Kanae."
Just as Kochō Kanae was about to step inside the residence to continue investigating, Cain's voice suddenly sounded beside her.
"I've already found a clue about that demon."
"Huh?"
Kochō Kanae was momentarily stunned.
She turned to look at the black haired young man beside her, a trace of confusion appearing on her face.
"You've found a clue?"
"Yes, a clue."
Cain repeated calmly.
Without offering any further explanation, he turned toward the courtyard entrance and called out.
"Mr. Tohara, could you come inside for a moment?"
"Coming."
Tohara Tetsusuke, who had been guarding the entrance, walked into the courtyard.
"What do you need from me?"
"Yes, I'd like to ask you about someone."
Cain thought briefly and described Uzui Tengen's appearance.
"Did you see this person yesterday?"
"White hair, tall, and dressed very flamboyantly?"
Tohara Tetsusuke frowned, thought carefully for a moment, then shook his head.
"If I had seen someone that conspicuous, I would definitely remember. He hasn't been here."
"No, he has been here."
Cain firmly denied it.
Looking at the man who seemed unaware that he had already been exposed, Cain pointed to his own nose.
"In case you don't understand what's going on, let me briefly explain."
"I possess a special ability that allows me to enhance my sense of smell to its limit for a short period of time."
The essence of the State of Selflessness lies in eliminating distractions from one's mind and focusing completely on a single objective.
After advancing from LV1 to LV2, Cain's physical abilities had improved once again.
With that foundation, activating the State of Selflessness and concentrating entirely on his sense of smell allowed his olfactory perception to reach an extraordinary level.
Although he could not, like naturally gifted individuals such as Urokodaki Sakonji or Kamado Tanjirou, identify an enemy's weaknesses through scent alone,
under the enhancement of the State of Selflessness, distinguishing the scent signatures of different individuals at close range was not difficult for Cain.
"You carry both the scent of a demon and the scent of Uzui Tengen, and the concentration is extremely strong."
"What that implies probably doesn't require any further explanation, does it, Mr. Tohara?"
"...Sigh, what a troublesome situation."
Seeing that the truth he had concealed had already been exposed, Tohara Tetsusuke pulled a pistol out from inside his coat.
"I didn't intend to confront you directly, but since you've discovered the truth, I no longer have a choice."
"Mr. Tohara?"
Seeing this, Kochō Kanae, who had been standing quietly at the side, finally understood what was happening.
"Why are you doing this? Do you understand what cooperating with demons means?"
"I'm sorry, young lady."
Tohara Tetsusuke sighed heavily.
"If I don't help those monsters, they will kill me and my family. I truly have no other option."
"So good people are supposed to be held at gunpoint?"
Cain also let out a faint sigh.
"It seems I've been too polite, which gave you some unnecessary misunderstandings about me."
"Don't move!"
As if sensing something dangerous, Tohara Tetsusuke instinctively stepped backward.
"If you try anything, I'll..."
Ssskrrrt.
A crisp tearing sound echoed through the courtyard as Tohara Tetsusuke's right hand, the one holding the pistol, was cleanly severed at the wrist.
"Huh?"
Staring blankly at the scene before him, Tohara Tetsusuke froze for a brief moment before finally realizing what had just happened.
An indescribable pain shot straight into his brain.
Clutching the bloody wound, he let out a series of shrill, agonized screams.
"Dear Mr. Tohara, your favorite either or choice has arrived once again."
Cain watched the entire scene without the slightest change in expression.
He stepped forward and pressed the blade of his Nichirin sword against the man's throat.
"If you refuse to tell me the truth, I won't need those monsters you mentioned to finish the job."
"I'll personally send you on your way and reunite your entire family in the heavens."
"No. Please don't."
Tohara Tetsusuke immediately begged for mercy.
Gritting his teeth while enduring the intense pain from his wound, a pleading expression filled his face.
"Don't kill my family. I'll do anything you ask. Anything."
"Then tell me. Where is Uzui Tengen right now? And where are the demons you mentioned?"
"The Public Security Office. They're all at the Public Security Office."
"The Public Security Office?"
Cain raised an eyebrow slightly.
This answer was somewhat unexpected.
However, considering that Tohara Tetsusuke himself was an official who had been assisting the demons, it also made a certain amount of sense.
"Kanae, stay here and treat this man's wound. Don't let him die just yet."
"You're going to the Public Security Office alone?"
"Yes. I'll go and scout the situation first. There's still a possibility that this man might be lying."
"But..."
"Don't worry. It will be fine."
As if he had already guessed what Kochō Kanae wanted to say, Cain spoke first.
"If everything this man said is true, then the situation at the Public Security Office may not be as dangerous as you imagine."
"It might even be very safe."
"Safe?"
"Yes, very safe."
Cain nodded with absolute certainty in his voice.
Before Cain and Kochō Kanae arrived in Tokyo, Ubuyashiki Kagaya had already dispatched many investigators to look into the situation.
Originally, Cain had been puzzled as to why none of those people had managed to send back a report before disappearing.
But just now, that confusion had been resolved.
"The people who came to investigate the Kitajou residence before us were all taken to the Public Security Office by this man."
Cain glanced down at Tohara Tetsusuke.
"The Public Security Office holds the official investigation report regarding the Kitajou residence. If members of the Demon Slayer Corps were brought there, it wouldn't arouse any suspicion."
"And precisely because of that, they were unable to send any messages back. Because the moment they entered the Public Security Office, there was no escape."
"So that's how it is."
After hearing Cain's explanation, Kochō Kanae suddenly understood.
The Public Security Office had already been infiltrated and controlled by demons, turning it into their stronghold.
Caught in an ambush without any preparation, ordinary investigators would indeed have little chance to react.
Following that line of reasoning, the reason Tohara Tetsusuke had not taken them to the Public Security Office this time was because...
"The demons at the Public Security Office are currently being held back by Master Tengen, who was taken there yesterday."
At that moment, the truth finally became clear.
...
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