Drawing a Big Pie

For the next three months, Muzan created almost no demons. He spent his time laying off subordinates, turning anyone he found displeasing into fireworks.

Jikou followed behind Muzan, silently noting down the subordinates Muzan had gotten rid of—that was over a hundred already!

He was growing more and more afraid. With his boss's peculiar habit of firing people, he'd eventually be fired too!

Muzan, considerate of his employee, would pat Jikou's shoulder whenever he read such thoughts: "Don't worry, I find you pleasing. I won't fire you!"

Jikou insisted he really couldn't relax!

There were only a little over two hundred demons to begin with, and you've gotten rid of more than half of them!

Besides, what exactly do you find pleasing about me? I'm afraid you'll find me displeasing one day!

Muzan couldn't be bothered to explain.

The two arrived at a place that had just experienced war.

Although they had arrived on the winning side, the scene was still one of utter devastation. All that could be seen were the old, weak, sick, and crippled.

As soon as Muzan entered the city, he saw a scene resembling a slum. Emaciated, barely clothed people were everywhere on the streets. Yet, bizarrely, a towering building could be seen in the distance, luxurious and extravagant, its candles burning so brightly they illuminated the massive structure.

The street was muddy and foul-smelling, reeking horribly, with flies and insects swarming everywhere.

Upon seeing the two, the beggars and refugees by the roadside acted as if they had seen saviors, mustering all their strength to cry out for help.

Muzan frowned. Honestly, he had seen such scenes frequently over the past few months. He used to give them money out of kindness, but once he gave money, they would all swarm him, as if helping one meant helping them all.

He suddenly looked at Jikou: "Let's start a revolution!"

Jikou: "???"

What did you say?

Well, Muzan couldn't be bothered to put in the effort.

His vision wasn't that grand anyway.

"Forget it, it's boring."

Muzan walked past, observing the refugees on the road, and noticed a young boy holding his sister.

Although he looked frail and weak, his eyes were clear. Muzan suddenly felt he could manipulate the situation.

"Jikou, take those two children."

Jikou: "???"

What does the boss want this time?

He understood now. While the Demon King Muzan ate people, he didn't eat them indiscriminately and would even help people along the way. But that wasn't important. What was important was that he always had ideas that others couldn't comprehend.

He didn't presume to guess the Demon King's thoughts. He walked over, said nothing, picked up the two children, and followed.

As for their struggles and pleas—they were useless.

They found an inn. Jikou followed behind Muzan. The innkeeper saw the two brazenly dragging two children along but said nothing.

After getting two rooms, Jikou glanced at Muzan's expression and threw the two children onto the ground before closing the door.

The two children were a bit scared. They hurt all over from being thrown down but didn't dare make a sound, huddling together in fear as they looked at the two people who seemed very wealthy.

These two didn't look like they were here to help out of kindness, and their actions were so rough. Could they be slave traders?!

Muzan tiptoed closer under their fearful gazes, crouched down to look at the two children, and patted their heads:

"Do you want the strength to eat and stay warm in this chaotic world?"

The two children curled up, trembling slightly, not daring to look up. They were somewhat surprised by his words. The boy cautiously raised his head: "Sir, you..."

A glimmer of hope clearly appeared in their eyes.

Muzan smiled:

"I can give you strength, but you'll have to pay a price. Are you determined?"

The little boy swallowed and looked at his sister, who was curled up in his arms, barely clothed and emaciated:

"Yes!"

Muzan's smile showed satisfaction. He seemed to confirm, "No matter the cost?"

The little boy nodded firmly.

"Good." Muzan smiled and patted his head, then his fingernails suddenly grew long. With a swish, he stabbed them into the boy's head.

Before the boy could react, his pupils filled with terror. His sister in his arms also bristled, opening her mouth to bite Muzan's arm.

But she too was impaled in the head with Muzan's fingernail.

The two children were engulfed in intense pain, thinking they were about to die. Their pleading eyes turned to Jikou, who stood behind Muzan, begging him to be merciful and save their lives.

But all they saw was a face devoid of emotion, watching the scene coldly.

In reality, Jikou was envious.

Muzan withdrew his fingers and watched the two writhe and scream in pain on the ground. He glanced back at Jikou: "I'll give you blood later."

Muzan had a high degree of control over his subordinate demons, and he had a certain understanding of how much of his blood they could withstand. Jikou could accept quite a bit of his blood.

The Scum Boss before hadn't bothered to improve the strength of his subordinate demons; he'd just give them a little blood to control them and then ignore them.

Now, Muzan felt it was necessary to improve the strength of his subordinates.

He didn't want any of the demons he valued to become achievements for the Demon Slayer Corps.

As for the wails of the two, even if the soundproofing wasn't good, no one would be idle enough to come and meddle in their business.

Soon, their pain subsided, and they lay on the floor like starfish, panting heavily, looking as if they were still in shock.

Muzan also learned their names from their thoughts: the older brother was Maruoka Masahito, and the younger sister was Maruoka Kinuko.

The blood Muzan had given them wasn't a lot, but it wasn't a little either. Being able to withstand it showed that their strength was already sufficient, perhaps enough to touch the threshold of a Lower Rank.

Although, the Lower Ranks weren't that strong either.

At this moment, the two also understood what had happened. They had already become demons who relied on eating humans to survive, and the identities of the two in front of them were self-evident.

But why them?

Muzan sat on a stool, drinking water that didn't produce a rotten smell. "Because I find you two pleasing to the eye."

The two were stunned, their faces showing undisguised surprise and panic.

He can read my thoughts?

"Yes, so stop thinking nonsense in your heads from now on."

Muzan looked down at them and continued, "Don't just lie there. You two becoming demons also comes with a mission."

The two stood up and stood before him, heads bowed, as if they had already sensed that their lives were now under his control. "What do you need us to do?"

Muzan smiled, a smile with a hint of ambition. "Do you want to play a 'Farming Stream'?"

"???"

"Do you want to change this world? Create a beautiful world where everyone is equal, without hunger and oppression?"

Muzan's words held great temptation for a child who had suffered greatly from hunger and cold.

The two couldn't help but show expressions of longing, but they couldn't believe that such a world could be connected to man-eating demons.

"You now possess strength that ordinary people do not have. Why can't you use your own hands to carve out a kingdom, a beautiful kingdom ruled by you, where everyone lives and works in peace?"

Muzan, like a cult leader, was wildly painting a rosy picture for the two.