At the request of Ubuyashiki Kagaya, Tom revealed all his plans. Although demons are powerful, their weaknesses are also very obvious. It is 1914, the Taisho period in Japan, and the concept of science and technology is still in its infancy. Japan is greedily absorbing various technological advances from the West. While developed areas already have electric lights and cars, many people are still clinging to old traditions, unaware of the dramatic changes in the world due to technological development.
In ancient times, killing demons only involved using the nichirin sword and sunlight. But now, there's no need to be limited to those options. Looking to the West, ultraviolet lamps could be an excellent weapon against demons, and powerful heavy firepower could allow ordinary swordsmen to contribute meaningfully in battles that would normally require Pillar-level fighters.
This meeting lasted a long time. Tom talked so much that his voice became especially low and magnetic. He didn't want to speak for the next month. The Demon Slayer Corps seemed to have discovered a new world after this meeting. Most members of the Corps joined because demons had attacked their loved ones. They didn't seek revenge; they wanted to prevent future tragedies. They used breathing techniques and the nichirin Sword because these were the most effective and time-tested methods. But if there were more powerful ways to fight demons, even the proudest swordsmen would abandon tradition and learn new methods.
For them, the method of killing demons isn't as important as the goal: to eliminate them. Often, a simple shift in thinking changes everything. The Ubuyashiki family has been fighting demons for generations, and they pay for all the logistics of the Corps. Even the lowest-level swordsmen earn 200,000 yen per month, an astronomical sum during the Taisho period. The typical salary during this time was only a few dozen yen. This illustrates how wealthy the Ubuyashiki family is, meaning there are few obstacles to promoting Tom's scientific demon-killing plan.
Under Tom's advice, Ubuyashiki Yoya started sending people to the United States to explore the technological methods Tom suggested. Success was only a matter of time.
Meanwhile, Tom, after his impressive showing at the Pillar Meeting, began his daily practice of breathing techniques and sword forms under the guidance of the various Pillars. Although he preferred to sleep, he couldn't neglect his self-improvement. Thus, two and a half years passed quickly.
In that time, Tom mastered the Breathing of Rock, Wind, Snake, Flame, Water, Love, Sound, and Mist, along with the sword forms that accompany them. In addition to the Breathing of Flowers and Insects he had learned before, Tom had mastered 10 breathing techniques. Of the breathing techniques in the original story, he had yet to learn only the Breathing of Beast, Thunder, Moon, and Sun.
Looking ahead, there were also the Blood Demon Arts of the Upper Six, the Transparent World, and the Mark. If he could acquire all of these, his journey in the Demon Slayer world would be highly rewarding. Just thinking about it made Tom a little excited.
By now, two and a half years had passed since Tom sent Tanjiro to train at Mt. Sagara. Tanjiro had completed his training and passed the entry test for the Demon Slayer Corps. The current time is when Tanjiro and his companions, Zenitsu and Hashibira Inosuke, defeat Lower Rank Five Rui on Mt. Natagumo. This was their first encounter with the Twelve Kizuki, and all three were seriously injured. They were now recovering at the Butterfly Estate, undergoing further training to learn Full Concentration Breathing.
Full Concentration Breathing is an advanced technique where breathing is maintained 24 hours a day, maximizing training. Mastery of this technique is a basic requirement to become a Pillar. Tanjiro and his friends had made great strides thanks to their recent training and real combat experience.
"Hey, hey, hey! That cat is sleeping again!" Inosuke suddenly put down the boulder he was lifting and yelled at Tom, who had lazily wandered into the courtyard and laid down to sunbathe.
"Inosuke! Don't be rude to Tom!" Tanjiro rushed over, trying to calm the shirtless, wild boar-headed boy who was baring his teeth at Tom.
"That cat! I heard you're a Pillar too! Let's fight!" Inosuke, still wearing his wild boar mask, kept waving his fists and kicking as he shouted at Tom. Inosuke was a simple and direct boy who grew up in the mountains, more like a beast than a person. Tom liked him, but he wasn't about to let him disturb his nap.
Raising a paw, Tom extended his claws slightly, his narrowed eyes giving a clear warning.
"Ahh! I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Master Cat Pillar! We'll leave you alone!" The timid, yellow-haired Zenitsu immediately panicked, grabbing Inosuke and trying to drag him away.
As they argued, a crow flew overhead and began circling, shouting: "Cat Pillar! Cat Pillar! There is a demon in the United States! Someone has gone missing aboard the Infinity Cruise Ship in Tokyo Bay! Twelve Kizuki involvement suspected! Please move quickly!"
"A demon in the United States… it seems my presence here has caused some major ripples in this world," Tom mused as he yawned and stretched. The crow wouldn't have called him for an ordinary demon. Since Tom's side mission involved defeating the Twelve Kizuki, it seemed this might be one of them.
It had been more than four years since Tom arrived in this world. Tanjiro and his companions had grown strong, and the early groundwork was complete. It was time to take real action. Thinking this, Tom called to the three young demon slayers still fighting in the courtyard, "I've got a mission for you! Pack your things! We're heading to the United States!"