Ruined Reputation? / The Hashira Meeting About the Librarian

As a large family, the Shinri Family naturally had ways to quickly spread the photos.

Eating gossip is human nature, especially gossip about important figures, which can arouse the curiosity of most people.

Once Shinri Keito spreads the photos, it won't be long before the Scribe is caught in a media storm.

"Scribe really want to see what your expression was like back then."

With a sinister smile on his face, Shinri Keito called in his butler.

"Chieftain."

The steward was an elderly man who had served the Shinri Family since the time of the previous patriarch.

By now, he was the most trusted outsider among the Shinri Keito.

"Try to contact several newspapers and get these photos published as soon as possible."

With that, Shinri Keito put the photos on the table back into the bag and handed them to the old butler.

"Yes, is there anything else I should be aware of?"

The old butler took the bag without even glancing at it.

He knew that if it was something he should know, Shinri Keito would tell him directly.

If not, then I shouldn't ask any more questions.

As a servant, all I need to do is fulfill my master's duties.

"Try not to release information in the family name, and don't let outsiders find out that it's related to the Shinri Family."

"Understood, I'll take care of it right away."

The butler tucked the bag into his pocket, bowed slightly, and then left.

After watching the butler leave, Shinri Keito took out a piece of paper and a pen and wrote something.

"My esteemed sir..."

Not long after, a news story that shocked the whole country made the headlines of newspapers.

Various fancy and eye-catching headlines have also emerged.

"The head of Tsukishiki Pharmaceuticals, Scribe, is actually a murderer hiding among the masses!"

"Shocking! The true face of Tsukishiki Pharmaceuticals is actually an assassin group?"

"Major Event: The Truth Behind Tsukishiki Pharmaceuticals!"

Below these titles, hundreds of words were used to fabricate one story after another of the Scribe "massacring" humanity.

The story ends with the photos taken that night.

These photos were also specially processed to remove the words on the back of the Demon Slayer Corps' clothes, making them look more like a group of unarmed civilians.

Once the news was published, the related newspapers sold extremely well.

Tsukishiki Pharmaceuticals and Scribe were also thrust into the spotlight.

The Shinri Family, who were behind the scenes, secretly bribed a group of people from the lower rungs of society to spread the word everywhere.

"Have you heard about what happened recently?"

"Tell me what happened. It's about Tsukishiki Pharmaceuticals's Scribe, who turns out to be a serial killer."

"What? That can't be right. Tsukishiki Pharmaceuticals is a big company. How could its leader be a murderer?"

"That's not how it works. You can know a person's face but not their heart."

Thugs, hooligans, and even some minor nobles—people from all walks of life were spreading this news everywhere.

Those who want to learn more about this matter have already blocked the doors of Tsukishiki Pharmaceuticals.

In response, Tsukishiki Pharmaceuticals sent people to claim that it was just a slander, that the photos were artificially created, and even published a counter-attack in the newspaper.

Just as the situation was beginning to improve, some families or companies that had previously collaborated with Tsukishiki Pharmaceuticals announced that they would sever all ties with the company.

This even includes Hyakuya Family.

When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. At this point, Tsukishiki Pharmaceuticals has become known as a heartless company in the eyes of the people.

Some even clamored for the Scribe to come out, saying they wanted to act on behalf of Heaven and kill this demon on earth.

Of course, there were people who chose to trust Tsukishiki Pharmaceuticals.

However, these people are insignificant compared to other people who are being swayed by the crowd.

The effect it can have is negligible.

"That's pretty much what I expected."

Scribe lifted a corner of the curtain and looked at the crowded people outside.

"Shinri Keito really has a knack for this; he managed to make such a big fuss in such a short time."

"Can we confirm it's the Shinri Family?"

Inside the room, Tamayo sat on the sofa, away from the window, her beautiful brows furrowed.

"Could other forces have gotten involved?"

The Scribe shook his head.

"I don't know if other forces are involved, but the one who spread the photos must be the Shinri Family."

Shinri Masato, a former head of the Shinri Family, sensed the presence of a demon during a visit to the Shinri Family, as well as the clone of the Brain Food hidden in Shinri Keito's research lab.

This evidence has irrefutably established that the Shinri Family is connected to ghosts.

The only thing that puzzled the Scribe was that despite the magnitude of the incident, there was no news from the Emperor.

Logically speaking, after causing such a big incident, the Emperor should at least send someone to question him.

To date, Tsukishiki Pharmaceuticals has not received any notification.

This made the Scribe start to think about what exactly was going on.

Tamayo also realized this and put forward her point of view.

"Could the Emperor and his people have also received similar messages?"

"You mean to say that among those who survived that night were the Emperor's men?"

Following Tamayo's line of thought, Scribe felt that such a possibility was not impossible.

After all, the Emperor's faction's behavior is really too strange right now.

It gave me the feeling that they already knew what had happened that night.

"What are you planning to do next?"

"It's not about what I want to do, it's about what those guys want to see me do."

Sitting down next to Tamayo, the Scribe slowly took a sip of tea and said.

"They will only make me do what they want to see."

Upon hearing this, Tamayo's face showed a thoughtful expression.

After a long while, she nodded slightly.

"At worst, we can just leave here."

"It's not that bad yet."

The Scribe gently patted Tamayo's little hand and comforted him.

"Don't worry, they'll move on to the next step soon. Let's wait and see."

A meaningful smile appeared on his face, and a glint of light flashed in the Scribe's eyes.

He could sense that something big was about to happen.

After this, the centuries-long conflict between humans and ghosts will come to a complete end.

Chapter 521 The Hashira Meeting of the Scribe

Compared to the composed Scribe, the Demon Slayer Corps' side was much more "lively".

"Do you think what the newspapers are saying is true?"

"Are you referring to the matter concerning the Mister Scribe? I don't know."

"Sigh, I don't want to believe it either, but this photo doesn't look fake."

Various voices questioning the Scribe are circulating within the Demon Slayer Corps, severely disrupting its normal operations.

To this end, Ubuyashiki Kagaya convened a special Hashira Meeting.

Apart from Kanroji Mitsuri, who left with the Scribe, all the other Pillar-level members were present.

Tanjiro, Nezuko, Genya Shinazugawa, and Uichirou were also invited to the meeting as participants that night.

"Thank you all very much for attending this meeting."

The usually mild-mannered Yaozai was unusually serious as he addressed the dozen or so people below.

"The main reason I invited everyone here is to discuss three things."

"The first thing is, what are the arrangements for the swordsmiths and the others?"

As he spoke, he looked at Shinobu Butterfly and Kanae Butterfly, who were in charge of cleaning up the mess.

After that night, the first pillars to rush to help were the Butterfly Mansion sisters.

"The rescue and treatment of survivors has been largely completed, but there are still two serious issues that need to be addressed."

Frowning, Kanae Kocho said, "Besides the issue of resettling the people, Village Chief Tekchin hopes that we can rescue the young swordsmiths who have been kidnapped."

"What do you mean? The swordsmith has been kidnapped?"

Tengen Uzui, who was standing to the side, turned to look at Kanae Kocho and asked in confusion.

"Are you sure you were kidnapped, and not eaten or something?"

"I'm pretty sure that some of the surviving bladesmiths have confirmed this with me."

With a serious expression, Kanae Kocho nodded earnestly.

"According to them, it seems to be an Upper Rank that took away most of the village's young swordsmiths."

"Why did the ghosts take the swordsmith away? Do they want to forge swords too?"

After running his hand through his hair, Tengen Uzui volunteered.

"My Master, leave the rescue mission to me. I will definitely bring all those swordsmiths back."

"Idiot, you don't even know where they are."

Obanai Iguro glanced at Tengen Uzui out of the corner of her eye, a hint of disdain in her voice.

"The most important thing right now is not who to send for rescue, but to confirm the life or death of the victims and the specific location of the survivors."

Tengen initially wanted to refute this, but upon further reflection, he realized it was indeed as Obanai had said.

After that night, the Swordsmith Village was completely destroyed.

Originally, in response to this sudden situation, the Demon Slayer Corps had prepared several other hidden villages for survivors to evacuate to.

Unfortunately, before they could bring the swordsmiths there, the villages were discovered.

To ensure the safety of the swordsmiths and the secrecy of their work, Yaozai had no choice but to bring them to the base.

As for the young swordsmiths who were kidnapped, Yaozai couldn't understand why the demons would take them away.

It can't really be like what Tengen Uzui said, that the demons wanted to forge Nichirin Blade to fight them.

'I understand. I will send someone to discuss it with Village Chief Tekchin later.'

Nodding slightly, Yaozai then brought up the second matter.

"Recently, many team members have said that they have noticed something strange in their daily lives, as if someone is following them. What do you think about this?"

Not all members of the Demon Slayer Corps live at the base; many prefer to buy or rent houses outside based on their earnings.