Chapter 186: The Non-Negotiable Point
"We want the medicine to turn back into humans!"
When Shinobu spoke these words, not a trace of a smile remained in her purple eyes.
The room stayed silent for a few seconds.
Marcus leaned back against the chair and tapped the armrest twice with his fingers.
"Let’s go point by point. First: helping to wipe out the Upper Ranks, with Muzan as the final target. Is there any difference between this and my previous duties as a Hashira?"
Without waiting for an answer, he shook his own head. "There’s no difference. In terms of money, it’s the same thing I was already doing. You turned the deal that was rightfully mine into a condition." He looked at her with a playful smile. "That’s pretty unfair."
Shinobu parted her lips to speak, but Marcus waved his hand.
"But I accept it! Consider it the price I have to pay for making decisions on my own and not informing my allies."
Shinobu held back the words on the tip of her tongue and looked at him in silence.
"Second." Marcus raised a second finger. "Your so-called branch office. With the euphemism of calling it a ’branch,’ we all know it’s just surveillance. You intend to restrain me through direct supervision."
Shinobu looked at him with a faint smile. "You think it isn’t necessary?"
"From my point of view, it isn’t," Marcus answered calmly. "The ones I turn are people I trust. Not doubting my allies is my principle. Although I understand that, from your perspective, since we’re not the same species, you doubt our intentions. Therefore, I accept this point as well."
Shinobu was about to nod when she heard the turn in his words.
"However, I have my own demands," he continued. "Since you’re going to set up a branch, it has to be useful and avoid unnecessary conflicts. In other words, if you want to keep watch on me, the strength of the personnel has to measure up. Muzan has already set his eye on this place, and the danger is enormous. You can’t expect them to need my protection at all times."
Marcus leaned back again with a cunning smile.
"Besides, you know me: I’ve always been good-natured with the girls. To avoid friction between our races, my demand is that you don’t send any men."
Seeing a Marcus who was one step short of openly saying he wanted her, Shinobu took a deep breath.
"Our intention was to send Giyū. With the relationship you two have, you’d get along well."
"Giyū?!" Marcus opened his eyes with exaggerated surprise. "He’s my Senpai and dear friend! Does the Corps not know what it means to avoid conflicts of interest? Aren’t you afraid I’ll turn him and he’ll become my accomplice? I’ve already got my master downstairs."
Shinobu looked at him without a word and set the situation straight. "I can’t come! The Butterfly Estate needs me, and the Corps’ logistics can’t be left without direction."
"Nobody said it had to be you," Marcus smiled seductively. "Kanao could do it too. If she comes, I wouldn’t mind protecting her."
"If she comes..." Shinobu shot back, "she’ll become your accomplice even faster."
"You have that little faith in your own disciple?"
Shinobu sighed. "I know that in less than three days you’ll manage to bring her over to your side."
"Tsk..." Marcus clicked his tongue. "I don’t know whether you know her too well or you know me too well."
"I know both of you quite well," Shinobu’s smile stayed put.
"Fine, since you’ve seen through me, I won’t keep pushing," Marcus waved his hand. "If there really isn’t anyone, pick whatever female Hashira you want and I’ll do my best to cooperate."
"Pick whoever? A female Hashira?"
Shinobu took a moment to process the words, until the image of the cheerful and adorable Mitsuri crossed her mind. Her smile froze.
"In the whole Corps there are only two female Hashira, Marcus-kun!"
Marcus smiled. "Well~ if you really can’t come, then Mitsuri’s the only one left. She doesn’t have responsibilities she can’t detach herself from either. At most, this area of Tokyo will become her territory for hunting demons. It’s the capital, after all, it makes perfect sense. If she’s not keen on leaving her family, we can move them over here too."
Shinobu’s eyes narrowed more and more.
"You even thought about accommodating her family. So... your initial intention was always Mitsuri?... Looks like Kanao and I were just your excuses."
Feeling the cold flash in Shinobu’s gaze, Marcus denied it in a hurry:
"Not at all! You’re the one who said you couldn’t come and that I shouldn’t let Kanao come. I’m only making a suggestion."
"And what if the Corps doesn’t accept your suggestion?" She laughed lightly.
Marcus took on a serious air. "In that case, I’m afraid you won’t be able to set up a branch here."
"..."
Faced with the firmness of his words, Shinobu sighed once again. "I’ll try to request it from the Master."
"That’s the spirit," Marcus nodded. "That’s what negotiations are about: you give a step, I give a step."
"Then let’s talk about the third point: the medicine to turn back into humans." Shinobu wiped the smile off her face.
"The third point..." Marcus’s expression turned ice-cold in an instant. "Impossible."
"W-What?"
Shinobu was pure bewilderment. "A moment ago you said..."
"The first two points can be negotiated," he cut her off coldly. "The third one can’t."
"W-Why?"
"I stopped the human-reversion experiment."
Shinobu’s fingers tightened unconsciously. "You stopped it? Why?"
Marcus looked into her eyes in silence for a few seconds.
"...Because it no longer has any meaning."
"No meaning?" Shinobu tilted her head. "Turning demons back into humans—how could that have no meaning?"
Marcus stayed silent. He stood up, walked toward the window, turning his back to her.
"Shinobu, what do you think I am now? A human or a demon?"
"You’re a... vampire," she answered with a shade of doubt.
"Whether Vampire or Demon, I’m no longer a human," he said, looking outside. "And I don’t want to become one again either."
Turning around, he leaned against the window frame and crossed his arms:
"If someday the medicine to turn back into humans really does get created, are you going to stick a needle in me?"
Shinobu opened her mouth, but was silenced by the question.
Marcus smiled faintly, walked back, and sat down again.
"Don’t even bring up that medicine again. I’m not going to create it, and I’m not going to let Tamayo do it either."
Shinobu stayed silent for a few seconds before letting out a sigh.
"In that case, please hand over the Blue Spider Lily to us."
Marcus shook his head with a smile. "I can’t give you that either."
At this point, Shinobu stood up abruptly. "Marcus-kun?!"
"I can’t give it to you either," Marcus repeated. "Whether I research it or you research it, the final goal is the same: the medicine to turn back into humans. I don’t care if you want it to face Muzan or to keep a wildcard that can rein me in down the line. There’s no way I’ll ever allow that medicine to exist!"
Marcus stared at her fixedly:
"I’ll tell you even more clearly: if the Demon Slayer Corps starts developing the medicine to turn back into humans, then from the instant you begin, our relationship will stop being one of allies! We’ll be enemies!"
!!!
Shinobu looked at him in absolute disbelief.
It was the first time he had spoken to her with such an expression and such coldness.
The medicine to turn back into humans was Marcus’s non-negotiable red line.
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Throw your stones, drop them ALL! 💎
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