Tom In The Multiverse

Tom and his party disembarked from the southern port and, under the guidance of a local partner, boarded a Ford Model T. The ride in the old-fashioned car, launched in 1908, was a bumpy experience compared to the future cars of the 21st century. However, for someone like Tanjiro, who had never ridden in a car before, the leap from horse-drawn carriages to internal combustion engine vehicles was a shocking experience that Tom couldn't fully comprehend.

"I bought this car not long ago. It only cost me around 700 dollars. When it first came out, it was priced at 825 dollars. Other cars are far too expensive, but Ford's model is affordable," said James, a strong white man who had come to pick them up. James owned five factories and, thanks to funding from the Ubuyashiki family two years ago, his business had developed much more smoothly.

Because of this, James was keen on making a good impression on Tom and his party. As he drove, he tried to strike up a conversation with Tomioka Giyu, who seemed like the most responsible one among them, holding a cat and sitting in the passenger seat with an expressionless face.

"Mr. Tom, I heard about you in Mr. Ubuyashiki's letter. He said you are a very special individual. Now that I've met you, I can see what he meant," James said in fluent Japanese.

Tomioka Giyu glanced down at the cat on his lap, then calmly placed it between himself and James, correcting him: "It's Tom."

"Eh?" James was caught off guard, confused by the situation. Glancing at the blue-and-white British shorthair cat sitting between them, he didn't expect the small creature to be the one addressed as 'Mr. Tom.'

Suddenly, Tom, wearing a suit and holding a lit cigar, half-closed his eyes and spoke in a Sicilian accent, "Great people aren't born great, they grow to be great, my friend."

James almost lost control of the vehicle. He stared in disbelief as the cat spoke. Startled, he accidentally stepped on the brakes and yanked the steering wheel, causing the Model T to swerve wildly on the road. The screeching sound of the tires echoed through the street as pedestrians scattered and other drivers honked their horns in alarm.

"Calm down, James," Tom said in a low, slightly hoarse voice, exuding an air of authority. "Men should stay steady, unlike women and children who can afford to be carefree. Stabilize your mind."

James took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Gradually, the car regained stability and continued on the road.

"Mr. Tom," James stuttered, still shaken. His hands trembled slightly as he gripped the steering wheel.

"Just call me Tom. That's my English name. And James, what's yours?" Tom asked, coolly imitating the demeanor of a mafia godfather.

"My name is Mark James. Nice to meet you, Mr. Tom," James replied, sitting up straight and focusing on driving.

From the back seat, Zenitsu whispered to Tanjiro, "Hey, Master Tom sure is putting on a show. I can't understand a word they're saying, but this feels weird. Tom's never this serious."

"Master Tom has always been this proud," Tanjiro responded absentmindedly, clearly impressed by the scene unfolding before him. His eyes were filled with admiration as he watched Tom take control of the situation.

Not long after, they arrived at their destination: a factory district. Tall chimneys spewed thick smoke into the air, and though it was broad daylight, the sky was gloomy, with the sun hidden behind clouds. James pulled up to the entrance of one of his factories, where several managers were already waiting. As the car came to a halt, they rushed to open the door, only to be beaten by James, who quickly jumped out and opened the passenger door for Tom.

The factory managers stared in disbelief as a well-dressed cat, holding a cigar, stepped out of the vehicle and strode confidently towards the factory. Tanjiro and the others followed behind him.

"Show me the goods. You know why we're here," Tom said calmly as he walked.

"Of course, Mr. Tom. No problem at all. I'm sure you'll be satisfied," James replied eagerly, leading them towards the warehouse.

The factory managers, still processing the sight of a talking cat in charge, looked bewildered. They began to doubt their sanity, wondering if they had inhaled too many fumes from the factory's smokestacks.

James led the group to the warehouse, where rows of ultraviolet lamps were lined up for inspection. He switched on a few of them to demonstrate their effectiveness. The UV lamps, commissioned by the Demon Slayer Corps, had been improved and were now more powerful and reliable.

Tanjiro sniffed the air and commented in surprise, "It smells like sunlight."

Tom nodded approvingly. "The lamps are good. We'll take them. What about the machine guns we asked you to acquire?"

"Yes, Mr. Tom. I purchased both the Hotchkiss M1914 heavy machine gun and the Maxim machine gun as per your request. But, as you know, they weren't cheap."

"As long as the quality meets expectations, you'll have your payment," Tom said. Despite his small stature, his calm and commanding presence made it clear he was in charge.

"One last thing," Tom added. "You mentioned something about a creature suspected to be a vampire. We're here for that. Any updates?"

"Yes, we've been monitoring its movements. It seems to be posing as an artist in Rhodes. Many other artists have disappeared during this time," James reported.

"An artist, huh?" Tom muttered, already piecing the information together. He knew who the demon in question was.

Satisfied with the outcome, Tom and his party prepared for the next phase of their mission.