The Kasugai Crow perched on the carriage's window ledge, dutifully reporting the current situation to those inside.
To its surprise, a boisterous, spirited voice erupted from within the carriage. "Really!? That's fantastic!"
Startled by the voice, the crow flapped its wings and took flight. That tone and energy clearly didn't belong to Yoyoi.
Even more shocking, a fiery red figure leapt out of the carriage!
It wasn't Yoyoi inside—it was Kyojuro Rengoku!
The crow was dumbfounded.
As the art of war states: Make the real seem illusory, and the illusory seem real.
The person in the sedan of the final convoy wasn't Yoyoi. And now, it turned out the person in this carriage wasn't Yoyoi either!
The crow's mind reeled. Where was the Lord?
Kyojuro Rengoku's next move provided the answer.
Leaping from the carriage, Rengoku dashed toward the one behind it.
That carriage carried Yoyoi's wife and children. Judging by Rengoku's actions, could it be that Yoyoi was with his family?
Rengoku reached the second carriage and, with utmost respect, called out, "My Lord, did you hear? We've won!"
But no response came from within.
And then, something even more absurd happened!
The Hidden Corps member driving the carriage spoke up, addressing Rengoku. "I heard. We've won. Not only did we crush countless demons, but we did so without a single loss. This is an unprecedented victory."
The voice was calm and warm—it was Yoyoi's!
So, Yoyoi wasn't in the carriage. He'd disguised himself as the Hidden Corps member driving it!
As the art of war states: Make the real seem illusory, and the illusory seem real.
With the battle over and victory secured, Yoyoi had no need to maintain the charade.
He removed the disguise covering his head, revealing an exhausted face.
Lady Amane, Yoyoi's wife, leaned out of the carriage with concern. "My dear, are you alright?"
Though visibly weary, Yoyoi's spirits were high. He smiled. "I was just posing as a Hidden Corps driver. It's not like I was sitting in the carriage the whole time. I'm not tired at all.
"Now that my curse is lifted, I'm not as frail as I used to be."
Lady Amane clearly disagreed. She shook her head. "Even if your curse is gone, your body hasn't fully recovered. Driving a carriage all night must have exhausted you. Come rest. There's little left to do—Kiriya can handle it."
Yoyoi nodded and, with Lady Amane's support, climbed into the carriage.
Kyojuro Rengoku seamlessly took over, assuming the role of the carriage driver.
At that moment, the Kasugai Crow snapped out of its daze. It flapped its wings, flying toward Yoyoi just as he was about to enter the carriage. "My Lord! Lord Horitake asks where the new Demon Slayer Corps headquarters is. He doesn't know where it's been relocated! Please inform him!"
Yoyoi paused, then chuckled. "Oh, in all the chaos, I forgot to tell Horitake!"
He promptly relayed the new headquarters' location to the crow, instructing it to pass the message to Horitake.
Then, he added, "The first thing we'll do once the new headquarters is settled is hold a Pillars' Meeting.
"The other Pillars probably have no idea what's happened.
"Make sure Horitake attends the meeting. We need to review the gains and losses of this battle."
The crow nodded, signaling its understanding, then took off to find Horitake.
With everything settled, Yoyoi entered the carriage. Under Lady Amane's care, he rested, soon falling into a deep sleep.
By the time he awoke, he'd likely have arrived at the new headquarters.
But a question lingered.
The carriage behind was thought to hold Yoyoi—but it didn't. Instead, he was disguised as the driver.
The carriage ahead was also assumed to carry Yoyoi—but it didn't either. Yoyoi was in the carriage behind.
So, who was in the sedan in the final convoy?
It was poor old Goto, the perennial unlucky soul, dressed in Yoyoi's clothes and posing as him in the sedan—the first layer of deception.
If Goto was the first layer, then Kyojuro Rengoku in the carriage ahead was the second.
And, without a doubt, Yoyoi's family in the carriage behind was the third.
This elaborate ruse to deceive the enemy was Horitake's idea.
Horitake had proposed that the Lord's safety was paramount and required a triple-layered deception, blending the real with the illusory to ensure absolute security.
Who could possibly see through such a plan?
Who could unravel three layers of deception?
If you saw through the first layer, you might miss the second. If you saw through the second, you'd likely miss the third.
And if someone managed to see through all three layers, well, Horitake could only tip his hat in defeat.
Meanwhile, the Kasugai Crow flew a great distance, finally spotting Horitake lounging on a tree branch, basking in the sun, seemingly dozing.
It landed on a nearby branch, hesitant to wake him.
But Horitake wasn't truly asleep—just resting with his eyes closed. He'd heard the crow's approach and spoke without opening his eyes. "What's the situation?"
"Caw! The Lord is safe and sound.
"Also, the Lord will hold a Pillars' Meeting once the new headquarters is settled. He requests your attendance, Lord Horitake."
"Got it. Where's the new Demon Slayer Corps headquarters?"
The crow relayed the location of the new headquarters.
Horitake, eyes still closed, leaned against the tree trunk, lost in thought.
As expected of the Demon Slayer Corps, cunning as a rabbit with three burrows. The new headquarters' location was exceptionally well-hidden. Barring any surprises, it could remain undiscovered by demons for centuries.
But…
Horitake felt centuries of secrecy weren't necessary. A few years would suffice.
Within a few years, Muzan Kibutsuji's end would likely come.
As he pondered, the System's voice echoed in his mind:
Ding! Confirmed: The Demon Slayer Corps headquarters has been successfully relocated. The headquarters and all personnel are safe, with no losses. The host has successfully mitigated a negative butterfly effect, completing the mission and earning rewards.
Ding! Congratulations, host! You have obtained Thunder Breathing, Fourth Form: Thunderous Crescent Slash!
Friendly reminder: You don't need the System to tell you where this move comes from, right? Let's just say it's an incredibly powerful technique!
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