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Early spring.
The streets of Rukongai were covered with melted winter snow, and in the shady areas behind houses, one could still see snow piles continuously melting.
"As expected, our Rukongai can't do without your Everything Store."
Watanabe, the owner of the Junrinan tavern in West 1 District, chuckled and pulled out the prepared payment from his in my arms. "I heard from the elder that you've been studying with Kukaku for the past three months. What exactly are you learning? Is your Everything Store going to sell fireworks now?"
"No."
Ishikawa Katori took the payment and, after tidying his tools, said, "I just took advantage of the slow winter season to learn some things from Big Sister Kukaku." With that, Ishikawa Katori glanced into the store and smiled, "Your tavern, Uncle Watanabe, is as bustling as ever."
"Bustling, my foot."
Watanabe shook his head, "Don't let the number of customers fool you. If it weren't for your Everything Store, my daily income wouldn't even be enough to repair the house; those Shinigami in Seireitei are like grandchildren, but once they come to Rukongai, they all act so arrogant."
"Haha, if you need me to, I can teach them a lesson." Ishikawa Katori chuckled, "Of course, for a fee!"
"Forget it. I don't want you to get beaten up by them again because of my old bones."
Watanabe sighed, "Those bastards hit harder than each other. Last time, a customer said a few words because he didn't like something, and that bastard Shinigami almost beat him to death. Fortunately, other customers were quick-witted and, seeing things go south, immediately went to invite Lord Jidanbō."
"To Seireitei, how we live doesn't matter to them at all."
Watanabe sighed, "Even though you can freely enter and exit Seireitei, it's still better to be careful and never provoke those Shinigami."
Ishikawa Katori nodded, not continuing to solicit business for himself.
If Watanabe issued a request, Ishikawa Katori wouldn't mind helping him deal with those Shinigami. After all, most Shinigami who come to Rukongai to show off are students from the Shin'ō Academy or Shinigami who have just joined the Gotei 13. Some are just as Watanabe said…
Because they are timid and cautious in Seireitei, they come here to relax.
When dealing with these people, as long as you don't kill them, no one will interfere. Even if someone does, it won't be Ishikawa Katori who gets caught, because… the Patrol Corps led by Ōmaeda is responsible for these matters.
However, it is precisely because of these people that the residents of Rukongai generally dislike Shinigami, and Junrinan, which is closest to Seireitei, is no exception.
"Oh, by the way, Uncle Watanabe, could you do me a favor?"
Ishikawa Katori pulled out a stack of flyers from his satchel: "I've reopened for business, you see, and I want to send out notices. Would it be convenient to post them in the tavern…?"
"Small matter!"
Before Ishikawa Katori could finish, Watanabe snatched the flyers and laughed, "You've helped me so much, what's inconvenient about this small matter? Give me a few more, and I'll go to the elder's place later and find a few people to help you distribute them around Junrinan."
"Haha, thank you very much then."
Ishikawa Katori chuckled, then as if remembering something, he pulled out a flyer, left a mark on it with his Reiatsu, and said, "Next time someone causes trouble in your tavern, you can show them this mark. If they recognize it, they won't cause trouble again; if they don't… just bear with it for now, and tell me when I get back."
"What is this?" Watanabe was stunned at the remark.
"Nothing."
Ishikawa Katori shook his head, offering no explanation.
The symbol he drew at the bottom of the flyer was the mark of the Patrol Corps led by Ōmaeda. Although the Patrol Corps only deals with Shinigami causing trouble within Seireitei, this mark still holds significant deterrent power over ordinary Shinigami Squad Members.
Normally, if a Squad Member of the Gotei 13 doesn't kill anyone, and merely beats or bullies people in Rukongai, Seireitei generally won't intervene.
But if they still cause trouble after seeing the Patrol Corps' mark, the nature of the situation changes. As long as Ishikawa Katori tells Ōmaeda about it, the Shinigami who caused trouble will be 'invited' to the Onmitsukidō for tea the next day.
Don't let Ōmaeda's appearance fool you; he seems like a simple-minded fat man who only knows how to eat all day, but in reality, that guy is ruthless and holds a grudge.
After bidding farewell to Uncle Watanabe, Ishikawa Katori did not return to West 38th District but instead walked directly towards Byakudo Gate.
After returning from training with Big Sister Kukaku, Ishikawa Katori only allowed the Everything Store in Rukongai to resume accepting requests. He spent three days completing all the requests in Rukongai and, while doing so, spread the news of the Everything Store's reopening to various areas of West Rukongai.
Next, he plans to reopen the Seireitei branch.
Originally, Ishikawa Katori intended to rest for a while, but after finishing his training and staying home for half a day, he couldn't help but go out and look for work.
Resting is impossible, this life is impossible to rest, staying in the store has no income and no friends, only by constantly working can he maintain his life and social connections!
Of course…
Mainly, he just couldn't sit still. Years of Soul Society life had made him accustomed to using constant work to relieve his stress.
Compared to Kenpachi Zaraki, who relieves stress by seeking out fights, he prefers his current method: making friends, avoiding trouble, and earning money!!
And look at the Eleventh Division; they don't even have money to repair their barracks. Their annual Squad budget is basically spent on compensation for damages. Fortunately, Shinigami salaries are uniformly issued by the First Division, and they also receive free medical care and room and board. Otherwise, the Eleventh Division might only have Kenpachi Zaraki and a few loyal followers left…
Even so, Kiyone, who is in charge of managing the Eleventh Division's finances, often tears his hair out over it.
"Speaking of which."
Ishikawa Katori said with a somewhat strange expression, "After three months, that Lunatic Kenpachi wouldn't suddenly pop out, would he?"
At this thought, Ishikawa Katori couldn't help but release his spiritual sense, only letting out a sigh of relief after confirming that there was no Reiatsu from Kenpachi Zaraki nearby.
When that guy goes crazy, he doesn't care about prohibitions or anything. As long as he can fight to his heart's content, he won't even bother with Central 46.
Those high-and-mighty people fear such reckless madmen the most. So, as long as it's not too outrageous, anything related to Kenpachi Zaraki is handled by Captain-Commander Yamamoto of the First Division, and Central 46 doesn't even mention it during their meetings.
After entering Seireitei, Ishikawa Katori walked directly towards the Second Division.
Three months ago, before he went to train with Big Sister Kukaku, he had already sent the two employees of the branch store back to the Omaeda Residence to rest. To get them back to work, he would have to go find Ōmaeda.
"Sir Ishikawa?"
Just as he arrived in front of the Second Division, the two guards outside the gate were startled: "Have you finished your training?"
"Yes, just finished."
Ishikawa Katori smiled slightly at the two masked guards and asked, "Is Vice-Captain Ōmaeda in the Squad?"
He hadn't hidden the fact that he was going to train with Big Sister Kukaku; he had reported it to Captain Soi Fon beforehand. After all, he still had a long-term request to manage the Maggot's Nest, and if he suddenly disappeared… Captain Soi Fon might very well run to Rukongai to catch him.
"He's here."
"Then you two carry on. I have something to discuss with him."
He walked to the Vice-Captain's Office with practiced ease. After knocking twice, Ishikawa Katori pushed the door open and walked in.
Inside the office, Ōmaeda was sitting behind his desk, listening to a report from an Onmitsukido member.
Upon hearing the knock, neither of the two people in the room paid any attention. It wasn't until they realized the person outside had entered without permission that they both looked towards the door.
When Ōmaeda saw that it was Ishikawa Katori, his furrowed brows relaxed, and he said to the Onmitsukido member in front of him, "You may continue."
"Yes."
Seeing this, Ishikawa Katori did not go forward to disturb them. Instead, he plopped down on the sofa and began eating the snacks Ōmaeda had prepared, which were on the coffee table.
Ōmaeda couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Is this guy becoming less and less of a stranger?
"…According to our investigation, Squad Member Hasegawa Xiao, a Thirteenth Division Squad Member dispatched to the Human World, has been confirmed dead. Based on the remaining traces at the scene, it can be confirmed that he was devoured by a Hollow, and his Zanpakuto has been recovered."
"If it's not desertion…"
Ōmaeda nodded, casually scribbled on the document, and handed it to the Onmitsukido member in front of him: "Then it has nothing to do with us. Go tell the others to stop the investigation and just send the on-site investigation results to the Thirteenth Division."
"Yes."
The masked Onmitsukido member responded, then bowed again to Ishikawa Katori before leaving the Vice-Captain's Office.
After he left, Ishikawa Katori couldn't help but say, "A Shinigami dispatched to the Human World died, and you're just letting it go?"
"Otherwise?"
Ōmaeda stood up and plopped down on the sofa, directly bouncing Ishikawa Katori, who was on the other side of the sofa, into the air: "Do you expect our Onmitsukidō to avenge him? Don't forget, our duty is execution and assassination. If he lost contact in the Human World because of desertion, then that would concern us."
"A dispatched Shinigami being killed by a Hollow is an internal matter for each Squad. If the Onmitsukidō intervenes, it would be seen as meddling."
Ishikawa Katori was stunned by the remark: "Is this kind of thing common?"
"It's not very common, and most incidents of dispatched Shinigami dying occur in Karakura Town, which is overseen by the Thirteenth Division." Ōmaeda reached out and snatched the snacks from the coffee table, eating as he spoke: "However, I have heard about the Hollow that devoured the dispatched Shinigami a few times."
"Hmm?"
"It's a Hollow codenamed 'Grand Fisher,' estimated to be at the Low Level Seated Officer level."
Ōmaeda swallowed the snack in his mouth and continued, "Whether it's the Thirteenth Division responsible for Karakura Town, the Tenth Division responsible for Naruki City, or the Squads responsible for other cities, the Shinigami dispatched to the Human World by each Squad are ordinary Squad Members; facing a Hollow of this strength, they simply stand no chance, so dying is quite normal."
Grand Fisher?
Ishikawa Katori frowned slightly; he felt that this code name sounded somewhat familiar.
"Then why not send a Seated Officer to take it out?"
"Easier said than done."
Ōmaeda said irritably, "Do you think Seated Officers are as idle as you? Each Squad only has 20 Seated Officers, and some individual Squads don't even have a full roster of Seated Officers. The Seated Officers of the Gotei 13 combined are less than 200 people, and these less than 200 people have to manage over 6000 Squad Members while also handling various affairs of Soul Society. How could they possibly be dispatched to the Human World?"
"So, unless the situation is extremely dire, it's basically impossible to dispatch a Seated Officer to be stationed in the Human World."
"Even if they are dispatched to the Human World, they won't be stationed for too long, and that Hollow codenamed 'Grand Fisher' is extremely cunning. Every time it devours a dispatched Shinigami, it immediately hides itself, not appearing for anywhere from a few years to over a decade; which Squad's Seated Officer can guard it in the Human World for that long?"
"Besides, its appearance location isn't fixed. You can't possibly assign a Seated Officer to every city, can you?"
Ōmaeda said indifferently, "So over these past few decades, several Shinigami dispatched to the Human World have been devoured by it."
"You guys have it tough too."
Ishikawa Katori nodded understandingly: "But is there no countermeasure?"
"There is, but it's not worth it!"
Ōmaeda shook his head: "If we were to enter a Level One alert state, the 'Communication Technology Research Department' and 'Radio Wave Measurement Research Department' of the Technology Development Bureau would operate 24/7, and the Gotei 13 would also maintain full mobilization. We would even dispatch the Kidō Corps to each Squad to maintain the continuous opening of the Senkaimon at all costs, instead of only the Thirteenth Division having a Senkaimon to the Human World as it is now."
"This way, as soon as an alert is received, support can immediately be dispatched to any location."
Ōmaeda finished speaking, then let out a strange laugh: "But entering a Level One alert requires permission from Captain-Commander Yamamoto and Central 46, and it consumes an enormous amount of resources. For a Hollow of Low Level Seated Officer caliber, it's simply not worth it; anyway, in all my years as a Shinigami, I've never encountered a Level One alert state."
"To defeat that Hollow, there's only one possibility: the Shinigami stationed in the Human World isn't immediately killed, requests support, and the Hollow doesn't re-hide before support arrives."
"Such situations have occurred a few times, but unfortunately, that Hollow is particularly cautious. It always escapes before support arrives."
Ōmaeda finished speaking, then looked at Ishikawa Katori strangely: "Why are you suddenly concerned about Hollows? Don't tell me you pity those dispatched Shinigami who died."
"That's not it."
Ishikawa Katori pouted. He wasn't a Shinigami, so the lives and deaths of those Shinigami had nothing to do with him, unless it was one of his female friends who died…
But the code name of this Hollow inexplicably bothered him.
However, Ishikawa Katori didn't dwell on it further.
He couldn't even move freely in Seireitei, so how could he possibly control what happened in the Human World?
"I'm reopening for business. When you get off work tonight, please inform Kanon and Jōze."
"Then let's go now."
Ōmaeda glanced at the time: "I happen to be going home for lunch."
"Captain Soi Fon actually allows you to go home for lunch?" Ishikawa Katori said with a somewhat strange expression.
"Why wouldn't she allow it?"
Ōmaeda chuckled, "Lunch break is free time. As long as I'm back before work starts, Captain Soi Fon won't care about such things."
"Uh, then the time… Oh, right, you have a transfer stake."
Ishikawa Katori then remembered that this guy, for the sake of easier commuting, had spent a fortune to acquire a set of transfer stakes from Captain Mayuri. He probably used the transfer stakes to go home for lunch.
"Then you go ahead. I'll go to the Comprehensive Relief Station to take a look." With that, Ishikawa Katori was about to get up and leave.
"Do you want to come along?"
"Huh?"
"Huh what? I asked if you want to come to my house for lunch?"
Ishikawa Katori looked at Ōmaeda in surprise: "Is that allowed? Your house is in the noble district, which is an area Captain Soi Fon absolutely forbids me from entering."
"What's wrong with inviting a friend to your house for a meal? Besides, we're teleporting directly there. As long as you don't leave my house, it's fine." Ōmaeda chuckled, "It's a good chance for you to taste what real cooking is like. You didn't believe me when I said the cafeteria food wasn't good."
"Uh, then I'll intrude."
Ishikawa Katori's eyes lit up. Although he didn't have a strong desire for food, he was still very eager to try the delicious dishes Ōmaeda had bragged about countless times.
"Let's go."
"By the way, when did we become friends?"
"…Don't come."
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