97: Meeting

Kasumigaoka Utaha, being injured and a witness at the scene, was taken away by the Special Affairs Department to assist with the investigation. Furuhashi Fumino, however, was kept behind by Lin Luo.

Lin Luo raised his hand and gently flicked her forehead, his tone carrying reproach: “I told you to hide properly. How dare you run out on your own? You've got guts.”

Furuhashi Fumino didn't mind at all. Instead, she intimately hooked onto his arm, looking up with a bright smile: “Because I know Mr. Lin Luo will definitely protect me. With you here, I’m not afraid of anything.”

She tilted her head, her hair swaying slightly in the evening breeze, her tone softening: “Besides, I couldn't just stand by and watch Senior Kasumigaoka fall into danger, could I?”

Lin Luo laughed: “What if I couldn't beat him? You have that much confidence in me?”

Furuhashi Fumino immediately started gesturing dramatically: “The situation was completely one-sided! That guy was no match for you at all; you just waved your hand and turned him to ashes.” Her eyes sparkled, filled with admiration.

Lin Luo couldn't help but raise an eyebrow: “You girl... you weren't scared seeing that kind of scene?”

“Why should I be afraid?” Furuhashi Fumino held his arm tighter, her voice soft yet firm, “I know Mr. Lin Luo was protecting everyone. And besides...”

Her ear tips quietly turned red, and she added in a small voice: “A serious Mr. Lin Luo is especially handsome.”

Lin Luo suddenly stopped, turned to look at Furuhashi Fumino, whose eyes were full of admiration, and deliberately put on a stern face:

“Fumino, your teacher knows that his charm is indeed hard to resist. But—” A hint of cunning flashed in his eyes, “Teacher-student romance is forbidden, you know.”

Furuhashi Fumino's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, like a ripe apple. She angrily let go of his arm and stomped her foot in embarrassment:

“W-who has a crush on you! Shameless!”

However, her restless hands and shifty eyes exposed the girl's panic at having her secret exposed. She quickly walked ahead, muttering softly, “Conceited maniac...”

Inside the Special Affairs Department Headquarters, all the Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps gathered.

This meeting was rarely not presided over by the Master, Ubuyashiki Kagaya—due to the intensifying curse linked to Kibutsuji Muzan's Bloodline, he was bedridden and unable to attend in person. Even with the numerous methods employed by the Special Affairs Department, they could not dissolve this evil curse originating from the Bloodline.

To show respect, Ubuyashiki Kagaya's wife, Amane, attended on behalf of the family for this emergency summons initiated by the Special Affairs Department.

When the Special Affairs Department representative announced that “demons no longer fear the sun,” all the Hashira-level members present were shaken. The demons' strength already far surpassed ordinary members, and now that their biggest weakness had been overcome, would the nichirin blades they relied on still be effective?

“According to our research,” the head of the Special Affairs Department Research Division displayed the analysis report, “the demons haven't developed an antibody to sunlight; rather, a special substance is secreted internally, forming a protective layer on the body surface to resist UV damage.”

Kochou Kanae keenly grasped the key point: “In that case, can the nichirin blades still inflict fatal damage on them?”

“Experiments show,” the researcher adjusted his glasses, “that when this substance is depleted, the nichirin blade can still kill with a single blow. However, if the protective substance is sufficient, the lethality of the nichirin blade will be greatly reduced, achieving less than thirty percent of its original effect.”

A heavy atmosphere pervaded the conference room.

The Wind Hashira, Shinazugawa Sanemi, crossed his arms and snorted coldly: “If that's the case, then we'll just keep cutting until their substance runs out...”

“namu amida butsu...” The Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyomei, pressed his palms together, tears silently streaming down.

The Flame Hashira, Rengoku Kyojuro, had blazing eyes, and his booming voice broke the silence: “May I ask if this substance can regenerate? Demons already possess extremely strong regenerative abilities; if this substance can also recover, the situation will become even more disadvantageous!”

The researcher adjusted his glasses again: “Experiments show that without the replenishment of high-grade energy substances, they cannot recover.”

“High-grade energy substances?” Kochou Kanae softly pressed for details.

“This is our general term for a category of special energy.” The researcher pulled up a data panel. “Energy that cannot be observed by conventional means but can grant carriers special abilities. For example, high-energy Ore containing Spiritual Qi, natural plants possessing Spiritual Power, and...”

He paused, scanning the people present: “The blood of Cultivators.”

Ubuyashiki Amane sat upright in the representative seat, her voice clear and firm: “May I ask how the Special Affairs Department requires the Demon Slayer Corps to cooperate?”

The high-level official at the head seat nodded slightly, his expression solemn: “This matter has exceeded the capacity of the Rapid Response Force. The Special Affairs Department does not have many currently deployed personnel that can be reassigned, so we hope the Demon Slayer Corps can voluntarily take on the main task of demon extermination, while coordinating joint action between the two teams.”

Amane's gaze shifted, and she exchanged a look with Himejima Gyomei, who was seated at the head of the Hashira seats. This strongest Stone Hashira pressed his palms together, his voice like a bell:

“namu amida butsu... This is inherently the duty of the Demon Slayer Corps, and it is our thousand-year-old, unchanging earnest wish.”

As his voice fell, the remaining Nine Hashira uniformly straightened their backs. Shinazugawa Sanemi cracked a manic smile, Rengoku Kyojuro's eyes ignited with fierce flames, and even the usually gentle Kochou Kanae quietly gripped her sword hilt.

The Special Affairs Department leader showed approval: “Excellent. Thank you all for your profound sense of righteousness. To show our support, the Cultivation Notes collected by the Special Affairs Department will be open for you to borrow. Although the Cultivation systems are different, perhaps you can draw parallels and help yourselves enhance your strength.”

He looked around at the Hashira and continued: “The Cultivators within the Department will conclude their current tasks as soon as possible and return to Headquarters to fight alongside you.”

Himejima Gyomei bowed his head with palms pressed together: “namu amida butsu... We are extremely grateful.”

Rengoku Kyojuro's eyes blazed: “We will certainly not fail you!”

Shinazugawa Sanemi lightly stroked his sword hilt, a slight smile playing on his lips: “It seems the upcoming battles... will be quite interesting.”

After the meeting concluded, Amane specifically stayed behind to speak with Kochou Kanae.

“Kanae, I think we should invite Mr. Lin Luo to come over,” Amane said softly. “This major discovery is precisely thanks to Mr. Lin Luo's efforts.”

Kochou Kanae looked surprised: “Did he get involved in another demon-eating-people incident?”

Amane nodded slightly, then offered a comforting smile: “Everyone can see Mr. Lin Luo's strength, so Kanae doesn't need to worry. I heard he killed Lower Rank Four quite easily this time and wasn't injured.”

Rengoku Kyojuro, hearing that another member of the Twelve Kizuki had been slain, couldn't help but clench his fist, his voice booming: “That's wonderful! As far as we know, three Lower Rank Demons have been killed. This Mr. Lin Luo is truly extraordinary!”

The Sound Hashira, Uzui Tengen, laughed heartily upon hearing this: “He really is amazing! And Mr. Rengoku might not know this, but Mr. Lin Luo is a person with a flamboyant appearance, just like me!”

The Love Hashira, Kanroji Mitsuri, immediately had hearts in her eyes: “Eh? Is he a very handsome person?”

Amane's lips curved into a gentle smile: “It seems everyone is looking forward to meeting Mr. Lin Luo again. In that case, I'll entrust this task to Kanae.”

Kochou Kanae nodded lightly: “Understood, I will go and invite Mr. Lin Luo. However, wouldn't it seem more formal if the invitation was issued in the Master's name?”

Amane covered her mouth and chuckled softly: “That would make things seem too distant. We hope to become family with Mr. Lin Luo.”

“Family?” Kanae was slightly startled, a trace of confusion flashing in her eyes, but she obediently accepted: “I understand.”

Amane gazed at Kanae's compliant look, a meaningful ripple appearing in her eyes—Did you truly understand?

Kanroji Mitsuri deliberately slowed down, waited for Kochou Kanae to approach, and intimately linked arms with her, blinking curiously: “Kanae, what kind of person is that Mr. Lin Luo, exactly?”

Hearing this, Kochou Kanae stopped, turned her head, and pondered seriously for a moment, a gentle curve unconsciously forming on her lips.

“Hmm... he is a very good person.” Her voice was soft yet firm. “He's the kind of person... a very reliable partner whom you can completely trust to guard your back.”

Lin Luo, who was completely unaware of this, was currently standing in the Central Courtyard Garden, accompanying the others and listening to Furuhashi Fumino vividly recount last night's “Stalking Horror Story.”

She truly deserved the title “Sleeping Beauty of the Literary Forest”; her ability to weave stories was astonishing. The segments that were originally tense or even dangerous, when narrated by her, seemed like carefully choreographed dramatic scenes, making everyone present feel as if they were there.

Shiina Mahiru showed a look of worry: “Was last night really that dangerous? Mr. Lin Luo, why didn't you mention it to me when you got home...”

The moment her voice dropped, she clearly felt everyone's eyes simultaneously focus on her. Her cheeks instantly flushed crimson: “N-no, it's not what you think! We all occasionally visit Mr. Lin Luo's house, and Teacher Tōsu Mafuyu is often there too!”

Lin Luo chuckled: “It was actually fine, not too dangerous. If I hadn't needed to consider Fumino's safety at the time, I could have resolved it faster.”

Kato Megumi appropriately brought up the condition of the other person: “Then what happened to Senior Kasumigaoka afterwards?”

Lin Luo shrugged: “Most likely, her memory will be erased. Keeping that experience would be torture for her, and a hidden danger for the Special Affairs Department.”

Furuhashi Fumino's eyes shone with yearning: “Senior Kasumigaoka truly has deep feelings for that student, Aki Tomoya... She was willing to plead for him even in such a dangerous situation.”

Lin Luo clicked his tongue lightly, looking at her with a hint of teasing: “What, are you jealous? This kind of 'love' that crosses species?” He deliberately emphasized the last two words.

Furuhashi Fumino immediately pouted and turned her face away: “I was just... saying it casually.”

Lin Luo cleared his throat and adopted a lecturing posture: “In short, this incident tells us—remember to go straight home after school, don't linger outside, and definitely don't run off to deserted places.” He deliberately paused and lowered his voice: “After all... you never know if what's waiting for you in the dark is actually human.”

Fat Wave “swooshed” out from the side, puffing out its furry little chest with a proud look: “If any little demon dares to jump out, I'll gulp it down in one bite! There's absolutely no need to be afraid!”

Lin Luo glanced sideways at it, adding coolly: “Is that so? If I catch you slacking off again, I'll still hang you from a tree and beat you.”