Learning that Nelliel was also an old monster who had lived for centuries, Kokushibo immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
If Nelliel, like Nalan Sheng, were only a teenager yet could beat him without giving him any chance to fight back, Kokushibo would truly have to wonder whether he was useless.
"B-boss."
After struggling inwardly for a while, Kokushibo finally uttered that rather embarrassing title.
"Yes!"
Nelliel nodded in satisfaction. "From now on, you're my underling. I'll look after you."
Only then did Nelliel withdraw her delicate foot and return to the Meeting Hall with the thoroughly disheveled Kokushibo.
Seeing that even Kokushibo, the strongest among them, could not withstand a single move from Nelliel, the others naturally dared not question her strength again.
"All right, that's all for today's meeting."
Nalan Sheng waved a hand. "Tanjiro, Nezuko, and Akaza, stay behind. Everyone else, go attend to your own business!"
Although Tamayo and the others were curious, they obediently left upon hearing Nalan Sheng's instructions.
Only after Tamayo and the others had departed did Nalan Sheng ask, "Akaza, do you know why I asked you to stay?"
"This subordinate does not know."
Akaza frowned in thought, then finally shook his head in bewilderment.
"I just awakened a new ability that lets me communicate with the souls of the dead."
Nalan Sheng spun a tale of half-truths. "I asked you to stay because souls with powerful lingering attachments reside within you.
"Normally, when ordinary people die, their souls move on to reincarnate.
"But some people die with intense resentment or regret in their hearts, and they remain in the human world as ghosts.
"The souls residing within you should all belong to people who were close to you.
"I'll let those souls manifest now. If you have anything to say, tell