"Chinatsu-sama, as instructed, we have met with a number of high-ranking officials. Several have shown goodwill towards our Moriki Group. Furthermore, Councilman Fujirou from the Ministry of Internal Affairs let slip that many in the cabinet have had frequent contact with a mysterious individual named Kamaro. Apparently, the policy proposals from these council members have also been… unusual."
Listening to her subordinate's report in her private office, Ryukawa Chinatsu frowned.
"Kamaro? Have you investigated him?"
"Yes, but it's a dead end. No matter how deep we dig, we can't find a single thing. It's as if the man materialized out of thin air. No past, no records, no trace."
"Appeared out of nowhere?"
A cold, humorless smile touched Chinatsu's lips.
With the resources at her command, she could find out what the Emperor ate for breakfast.
The idea that some shady operator could remain a complete ghost was laughable.
"It's never that simple."
"However, Chinatsu-sama," her subordinate continued, "while we found nothing on Kamaro himself, we did find a recurring rumor connected to his circle of influence."
"And what is that?"
"It's something they call the 'Wine of Immortality.'"
"Hm?"
....
Zheng~
The final, sharp note of the biwa faded.
With a cold snort and a final, dismissive glare at the six powerful demons assembled before him, Muzan Kibutsuji vanished from the Infinity Castle.
In the vast, silent dimension, only the six Upper Moons remained, the oppressive tension left by their master slowly being replaced by something else entirely.
"Well now, hello to our new friends! It's such a pleasure to finally meet you," Douma, Upper Moon Two was the first to speak with a serene smile on his face as he sat cross-legged in the air.
"Ah, and the gentleman with the golden eyes who looks so much like Akaza-dono! I do believe we've met before, haven't we?"
He cheerfully greeted Maito, Upper Moon Four, and Lee, Upper Moon Five, as if they were old, dear friends.
Of course, Douma and Maito had met.
That meeting had involved a rather fierce battle, and it had not been pleasant for either of them.
Hearing Douma's cloying greeting, Maito simply shot him a look of utter disdain and sneered.
"Oh, how cruel!" A golden fan materialized in Douma's hand, which he used to cover his mouth in a gesture of mock hurt.
"Shut your mouth."
The enraged shout ripped through the silence.
Akaza, Upper Moon Three, had veins bulging on his forehead.
He jabbed a finger at Douma.
"Shut up, you disgusting creature! My pursuit of the ultimate martial path will not be tainted by your presence." He then turned to Maito, his eyes alight with a warrior's admiration.
"Your skill with that spear is magnificent. I did not expect to see you here. You are far stronger than the useless trash that came before you."
Maito met Akaza's gaze with a flicker of mutual respect.
They, too, had fought, and each had been deeply impressed by the other's dedication to combat.
"Likewise," was his simple, gruff reply.
"How wonderful—"
Swish!
Before Maito could say more, a sickeningly graceful figure appeared at Akaza's side.
A pale, slender hand came to rest on his shoulder, its sharp, blood-red nails gently scraping against Akaza's corded muscle.
A cold, hypocritical voice whispered next to Akaza's ear.
"So, Akaza-dono knows him too? Mmm, I thought I was the only one. What a shame. You must be so lonely Akaza-dono, to only have one friend. If you'd told me, I could have introduced you to Gyokko and Daki ages ago. Such a pity they're gone."
CRACK!
Akaza's fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Bloodshot eyes glared as a surge of fighting spirit began to boil around him.
He slowly tilted his head, locking eyes with Douma's handsome, smiling face.
"Take. Your. Hand. Off."
"Hm? What was that, Akaza-dono? I couldn't quite hear you," Douma cooed, tightening his grip and leaning in closer.
"Did you say you wanted to be my best friend?"
"I! SAID!"
PFFT!
Blood sprayed through the air.
A crimson spearhead had erupted from the front of Douma's face, piercing straight through his head like a skewer through a candied apple.
"He said," Maito growled from across the platform, holding the other end of his long spear, "to take your claws off him."
With a flick of his wrist—SWISH!—he ripped the spear back.
Half of Douma's head was torn away, flying through the air as a thick spray of blood rained down.
Douma staggered back, letting go of Akaza.
The grievous wound, however, was nothing to him.
Flesh and bone writhed and reformed, and in the blink of an eye, his head was whole again.
He licked a stray drop of blood from his lips with a serene smile.
"My, what a clean attack. A little exciting, I must admit. Can't win a fight on your own, Akaza-dono? Have to ask your little friend for help?"
BOOM!
The floor beneath Akaza's feet fractured, a massive snowflake-shaped crater forming from the sheer force of his rage.
"Keep talking, and I'll grind you into paste right here and now!"
"Oh dear," Douma sighed, fluttering his golden fan. "Akaza-dono says the most unrealistic things. If I had simply eaten you during our Blood Battle, you wouldn't be here to say such things at all."
"DO YOU WANT TO DIE!"
The air exploded with raw power.
"Technique Development: Annihilation Style!"
A terrifying volley of blue fists, forged from pure fighting spirit, rocketed towards the smiling Douma.
"Akaza."
The low, cold voice cut through the chaos.
A blade of impossible speed, shining with the cold light of the moon, slashed out of the void, aimed directly at Akaza's neck.
It was Kokushibo who's finally intervening.
"Blood Demon Art: Shield!"
CRASH!
A massive, blood-red shield shaped like a tortoise shell materialized just in time, blocking Kokushibo's blade.
A deafening roar echoed as the attack left a deep, sizzling gouge in the demonic shield.
At the same instant, a wave of profound cold washed over the area.
"Blood Demon Art: Crystalline Divine Child," Douma sang.
BOOM! BANG! CRASH!
The shockwaves from the clashing techniques tore through the Infinity Castle, causing Nakime to flinch in terror.
A cold glint of steel flashed in the hands of Lee, who had silently drawn several sharp weapons from beneath its cloak.
Seeing the all-out brawl erupting, Kamaro, the Upper Moon Six, simply smiled and took several dozen steps back, putting a safe distance between himself and the chaos.
It was always best not to get involved in the squabbles of his powerful, simple-minded colleagues.
After all, he was just a weak, intelligent strategist, wasn't he?
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