Under normal circumstances, when an ordinary demon was encountered,
the Demon Slayer Corps would first have its Intelligence Operatives and Headquarters make a preliminary assessment of its strength.
Then it would dispatch nearby swordsman squads of varying strength to surround and kill it.
If it was suspected to be a Lower Rank,
the force sent out would be a Provisional Hashira, or even one of the Nine Hashira.
And if the demon's strength had reached the level of an [Upper Rank], which very few people had ever encountered,
at least one of the Nine Hashira would have to be dispatched.
Or rather, one of those widely acknowledged as the strongest among the Nine Hashira.
"Kurumaji! Caw! Intelligence from a nearby station suggests an Upper Rank has been spotted! Please head over immediately to investigate and provide support!"
The Kasugai Crow flapped its wings and flew into the Butterfly Mansion.
At that moment, Kanae had already left the Butterfly Mansion on a mission.
And the Flame Hashira, Shinjuro, who was a little farther away, had yet to return to Tokyo.
Naturally, the mission fell to Xia Xi, who was a little farther away still.
That said,
according to Headquarters' assessment, only Xia Xi, Shinjuro, and Gyomei could currently carry out high-risk missions of this level effectively.
As for the other members of the Nine Hashira,
facing an Upper Rank alone would still be far too much of a struggle.
"The detector used by local intelligence personnel has already burned out."
The Kasugai Crow continued supplying details.
"Caw! Kurumaji, others have already gone to notify the [Waterfall Hashira] and the [Sound Hashira]. If it really is an Upper Rank, please do not act rashly!"
Hearing this, Xia Xi merely waved a hand casually.
Then he began packing his gear.
"I know, I