Anime/Manga: Bankai Starting with Demon Slayer

"We humbly request Your Excellency to unleash divine punishment... and let them vanish in silence. This would be beneficial for both of us..."

Upon hearing this, the man holding the talisman, referred to as the priest, paused for a moment, then coldly spoke:

"Why is there another list? We haven't settled the accounts from last time yet."

He picked up the roster and tossed it onto a low table, his tone slightly displeased, "Do you think I'm your dog? Always meddling in your affairs?"

"No, no, no! Your Excellency, please forgive me! It's just that rice prices have been soaring lately, these bastards are having a hard time, constantly causing me trouble, so I..."

"Hey! Sasaki, what kind of talk is that? You didn't benefit from the rising rice prices? And you're complaining about that?!"

The man who spoke out was Ichiro Nakajima, a rice trading tycoon. The other men with gleaming eyes beside him were Takahashi, a money exchange owner; Shingo, a clothing dealer; and Morii, a broker.

This small Japanese-style room houses the capital power that almost represents the group behind them, a group that controls most of Sendai City.

However, among these people, Sasaki from the dyeing and weaving company was the most greedy.

Morii nodded. "Lord Nakajima is right. This is the fourth time this month that you, Sasaki, have asked the High Priest for help! Don't you know any other management methods besides killing people?!"

"Why don't you give me some profit? You're so stingy I can't stand it. A steady, long-term approach is the right thing to do..." The money exchange manager, Takahashi, didn't even look at him, only mocking him with cold words.

Listening to their arguing, the priest felt a surge of irritation and simply closed his eyes to rest, waiting for them to reach a conclusion.

Click...

A slight cracking sensation came from the priest's hand, causing his brow to twitch.

He looked down and found that the jade talisman he had been playing with had suddenly shattered without warning, and the aura it contained had also disappeared.

Hmm? The priest frowned and checked the other three jade talismans in his pocket, finding nothing amiss.

"Someone shattered my Blood Demon Art?" The priest was somewhat surprised, his half-open eyes darting around uneasily, revealing the patterns and numbers inside.

[Part Two]

That's right, he's not a priest.

It is the Lower Moon of the Twelve Demon Moons, the second one, the Lulu!

The jade talisman in Lu Lu's hand is actually the true form of his Blood Demon Art: Shadow Puppet.

The shadow puppet can move independently and hunt prey in nearby villages according to his will, which was once an important guarantee for his survival as a timid and steady man.

However, he soon realized that instead of relying on shadow puppets to capture and eat humans, it would be better to cooperate with some ambitious people with ulterior motives and do some shady things for them, while they would simply provide him with food.

From robbing and looting to hiring murderers, and finally, by sheer chance, becoming a priest at the Osaki Hachiman Shrine... things have taken an unexpected turn, but things are going more and more smoothly than expected.

Furthermore, the Shadow Puppet's killing is not just simple slaughter; it can also absorb the opponent's life force to nourish itself. Even if the Ghost Hunter discovers it, it won't affect him. This deal is profitable no matter how you do it.

Later, he was chosen by that person and became one of the Twelve Demon Moons, creating chaos and disasters for that person in the northeastern region, keeping those hateful demon hunters busy.

But now, his Blood Demon Art has been broken...

"Either they saw through the Shadow Puppet's weakness, or they used their power to tear apart the ghostly energy I left inside..." Lu Lu quickly judged, no longer paying attention to the discussion among the greedy merchants in the arena.

If it's the former, that's fine, but if it's the latter... that means you've been targeted by a "pillar," which is definitely not good news...

Should we run? Or find another place to move around?

Thinking about it carefully, I realize that I have indeed been a bit too high-profile lately.

He also played a part in the escalating riots in Sendai, and since he killed three ghost hunters who came to investigate the anomalies, he may have already been exposed.

"Tch... I should have just hidden away. I shouldn't have gotten involved with those lowly laborers and the ghost hunters!"

"Priest? Priest?"

"What are you doing, you idiot!"

Frustrated by being called repeatedly, Lulu's anger surged, and she glared fiercely at the incessantly chattering Sasaki.

The other party was, after all, a greedy human merchant. When the roar from the ghostly Lulu was so loud, he was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground. Even the expressions of the other merchants changed several times.

Seeing the fishy smell, A's originally irritable mood actually calmed down a bit.

Yes...that's it, be afraid of me...I'm not some nobody...

He composed himself and regained his calm and leisurely demeanor:

"Sorry, sorry, I remembered what I was angry about... How should I put it, have you made up your minds?"

"...Yes, Your Highness," Sasaki bowed respectfully, his voice trembling slightly, "Putting everything else aside, we would like to request that Your Highness kill one person first..."

"name?"

"Harada Chuichi!"

When he said that name, Sasaki's teeth itched and his eyes were filled with hatred.

"That damned worker! I don't know what kind of evil influence he's picked up from the anti-democracy movement in Lucia! He's actually promoting rebellious views in my factory!"

"His sour poems written in those Red Party publications—'Our lives have been brightened'—are utterly absurd! He said that workers can also take over the world! This has brought great trouble not only to me, but to the entire city of Sendai!"

The other business leaders nodded in agreement, expressing the same view.

Takahashi added, "These days, Harada has gathered a lot of radicals, and even the cabinet ministers can't stand it anymore... Sir, if you can get rid of Harada, we will definitely give you the most generous tribute!"

"...I need two-thirds of it now!"

Before the group had finished kneeling and bowing, Lu Lu spoke first.

He darted around with his demonic eyes, looking disapprovingly at Sasaki and the others:

"I need to collect my payment before I start working, including the last portion and this Harada thing!"

"...at least twenty girls around sixteen years old, you can distribute them yourselves!"

Sasaki's face drained of color instantly, his fingers holding the prayer beads froze, Nakajima's face twitched, and Shingo and Takahashi instinctively held their breath, staring at Lulu in disbelief.

Twenty! That's twenty lives!

Although they treated ordinary people no differently than they treated cattle and livestock, and had previously made offerings to them.

But twenty at a time... they were still a little hesitant.

"This... Your Excellency... I'm afraid..."

“Thirty!” Lulu’s voice was cold and resolute, his gaze growing increasingly dangerous.

"Okay! Okay! We'll figure something out!"

The shrewd businessman, Xing Si, believed that the current conditions were the best they could offer, and that things would only get worse later. So he quickly agreed to Lu Lu's request.

Lu Lu did not do this out of feigned arrogance; he knew that cooperation required building trust and taking a long-term approach.

There might be a "pillar" outside... He's thinking of running away... Maybe he should squeeze as much money out of him before he leaves...

Lu Lu, leaning back in his superior position, tossed away the shattered jade talisman and once again uttered a request that made them uneasy:

"Three days, I will only give you three days."

"If the offerings are not made properly in three days..."

Lu Lu revealed a set of sharp, menacing teeth, swept them over the ashen-faced capitalists, and said, enunciating each word clearly:

"...I'll go to your homes and collect them one by one!"

Chapter 24 The Unfinished Demon Slaying

At noon, Shi Ba carefully fed the worker, whose life force had been drained by the faceless ghost, warm water.

The worker's name was Fujikichi, and he was a man who had been working in the fields for a long time. He was a man who had been working in the fields for a long time ...

Although the "Shadow Disease" on his body has disappeared, his sunken eye sockets and ashen face make it uncertain how long he can hold on.

“Sheng…Brother Sheng…” Teng Ji’s voice was weak, and he tried to open his eyes wide to look at Shi Ba. He thought of Brother Mao…it was because of this monster…”

"Stop talking... Fujiyoshi, get some rest..."

Shi Ba, with a cold sweat dripping down his forehead, said, "Don't worry about getting better. My brother won't have died in vain. We will definitely get justice for everyone!"

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to the silent figure sitting at the doorway, Asuka.

Since rushing back to Shi'ao last night, the bird has not slept a wink, quickly and carefully investigating the ghostly situation inside and outside the town.

The lifeless and fearful atmosphere of yesterday seems to have been largely dispelled by the wind.

"The shadow... seems to have really recovered?"

"Yes, I felt much more relaxed this morning..."

"Did you hear the noise last night? It sounded like someone was patrolling the village at night..."

When he returned, he saw several children gathered together, drawing lines on the muddy ground with twigs.

"Look! My shadow is so dark!" The children's smiles were innocent, completely unaware of the danger lurking within.

Just as he expected, after the ghost disappeared, everyone's shadow sickness was cured.

At this moment, he was taking advantage of the midday sun to fall asleep and rest, replenishing his energy.

"Hey... young man, oh no, samurai! What do we do next?"

The bird, however, did not open its eyes, but simply said:

"There's nothing 'us' about it. Next, I'll find the source of the ghost and resolve this."

"But you're all alone...don't you need any help?"

"Help?" Asuka slightly raised one eyelid, sizing up Shi Ba, who had regained some energy and was no longer a simple drunkard. "You should have seen what happened at Bai Gully; you can't be of much help."

He gestured with his chin toward Fujikichi, who was lying in the dilapidated house. "Your greatest role is to take good care of him."

...Although Asuka's words were quite impolite, Shiba and the others...

Last night's opponent... was clearly not human! Yet this guy handled it with ease. I really felt like I was useless, but...

“No, I can help!” he insisted. “If those monsters are targeting the workers at the dyeing company, like my brother and his group, who want to band together and cause trouble, I know where they’ll go next!”

The bird listened quietly, wanting to see what insightful opinions this drunkard might have.

"Tadaichi Harada! They're going to find this person!"

"...Who is this person? Why are you so sure?"

Shi Ba 20﹃艥M, with a stubbled chin, earnestly recalled, "I remember my older brother saying that Harada-san used to be a worker in a dyeing factory, but because he couldn't stand the workers' treatment, he was starting some kind of union? Basically, he wanted to stand up for my older brother and the others!"

"The ultimate target of these monsters must be Harada! He's in Sendai, I can take you to him!"

Sendai City...Faceless Ghost...Dyeing Factory...

The bird slightly opened its eyes, clearing its mind, and began to ponder its next plan...

Pfft!

Just as I was thinking this, Shi Ba Jiu Huang suddenly performed a standard "dogeza" (a deep bowing gesture), slamming his head heavily onto the cold, muddy ground!

"Please! Take me with you to Sendai!"

"I know I can't handle those monsters, but I know the roads in Sendai, and at least I know a few places where I can stay!"

"My brother's revenge cannot go unavenged! I must see those damned things eliminated with my own eyes! I beg you! I... I'll do anything for you, even be your slave!"

Turning her head to look at the man who kept bowing and whose voice trembled, Asuka didn't know what to say.

Suddenly he remembered his teacher's words:

Asuka, try cooperating with your teammates! Life is easier when you have companions to walk hand-in-hand with...

"A partner...?"

He murmured to himself, lightly standing up without looking at the fence.

"Follow."

The birdsong still lacked any discernible warmth, but at this moment, the air was filled with a heavenly sound.

He jerked his head up and thanked him excitedly, but Asuka didn't understand what was there to thank him for. He might be killed by a demon any minute now; she really didn't get it...

Without any unnecessary farewells, Shi Ba, along with a familiar auntie next door, quickly changed into a decent set of clothes, packed some dry food and water, and hurriedly followed the birds northward.

After a day and a half's journey, Asuka and his companion, traveling north along the Oshu official road, could see a huge city slowly rising on the horizon in the distance.

On the outskirts of the city, factory chimneys pierce the sky, billowing thick black smoke.

Along the industrial district, the rooftops of the castle town unfold like dark waves, interspersed with avant-garde and uniquely designed Western-style buildings—banks, tailor shops, or tea restaurants run by the wealthy.

"Sir, that's Sendai!" (The rest of the text appears to be a fragment and doesn't form a coherent sentence or paragraph.)