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Current Experience: 11542
In the early morning, Ishikawa habitually checked his current experience. When he found that there was no surprising increase, he couldn't help but sigh.
The experience was too little.
Once upon a time, ten thousand experience points were a huge sum in Ishikawa's eyes, but somehow... ten thousand experience points were no longer of much help to him.
Shaking his head, Ishikawa got up, washed up, put on his dusty black work clothes from yesterday, and left his small courtyard.
Anyway, he was going to continue with the repair work today, so even if he changed into new clothes, they would get dirty later.
Originally, he had planned to work through the night yesterday, but after returning from the Captains' meeting, he found that all the Squad Members of the Ninth Division were waiting at the edge of Squad Nine.
No matter how much Ishikawa tried to persuade them, these people were unwilling to leave, and even if they couldn't help much, they followed him.
According to Hisagi, they would never let their Captain work alone through the night here. Finally, unable to persuade everyone to go back and rest, Ishikawa simply took them all back to the Squad barracks.
"Still half a day to go."
If he had worked through the night yesterday, it would have been just about finished by now.
However, Ishikawa didn't care; he had nothing else to do at the moment.
After a simple breakfast in the cafeteria, Ishikawa dealt with some urgent matters, and then leisurely walked towards the construction site.
"Captain."
"Captain Ishikawa."
"…"
As soon as he arrived at the site, greetings entered Ishikawa's ears.
Ishikawa nodded in response to each one, then looked around and asked with some doubt: "Has Hisagi not arrived?"
"The Vice-Captain has departed for headquarters—" a Squad Member immediately replied.
"I see."
Ishikawa nodded, then smiled at everyone: "You actually don't need to be here; I can handle the rest of the work myself."
"How can that be?"
A female Squad Member said: "How could we let you work alone?"
"…" Ishikawa was a bit helpless.
Although he knew that the Gotei 13 had a strict hierarchy, only after truly taking on the position of Captain did he realize that these people's emphasis on rank far exceeded his expectations.
It even reached the point where if Ishikawa worked while squatting, these people wouldn't dare to stand and watch.
But...
You staying here doesn't help me, and the result is still me working alone.
Moreover, being watched by hundreds of people while working always felt like being supervised.
But looking at their determined faces, Ishikawa finally gave up on trying to communicate further with them and focused on his work.
On the periphery, many residents not wearing shinigami uniforms had appeared at some point.
These residents, without exception, were all from the Ninth Division's jurisdiction, including retired Shinigami, Shinigami family members, and more commonly, the families left behind by many deceased Shinigami Squad Members, who, through hundreds or thousands of years of inheritance, formed family-like groups.
The reason Shinigami are admired by the residents of Rukongai is precisely this point.
As long as a relative joins the Gotei 13, all their family members gain the right to reside in Seireitei and also receive priority reincarnation rights.
Furthermore, once a Squad Member becomes a Shinigami, these privileges are never revoked, as long as they do not act in a way harmful to Seireitei.
Because of this.
Within Seireitei, which covers an area of 133,000 square spirit-li, the population, while far less than Rukongai, has accumulated over thousands of years to reach tens of millions of ordinary residents, and this is even with the ability to freely reincarnate.
"Look, that's the new Captain who replaced Captain Tosen."
"Isn't that Mr. Ishikawa from the Commercial Street?"
"The Captain is personally repairing the street?"
"Are you kidding? Don't you know what Mr. Ishikawa used to do? He was a famous Everything Store owner on Commercial Street. Any job in his hands could be perfectly solved, from repairing buildings, finding people, investigating and collecting evidence, to cleaning house, taking care of children, emotional counseling… he was practically omnipotent."
"Yes, I also hired Mr. Ishikawa to renovate my house back then. Not only was the price cheap, but he also did an excellent job, and there was even a ten-year warranty."
"…"
Listening to the discussions of the surrounding residents, the Squad Members exchanged glances, somewhat hesitant about whether to disperse these residents as they had done yesterday.
After all, it wasn't glorious for the Captain to personally do such low-level work meant for servants.
Yesterday was fine, because before Captain Ishikawa fought the Ryoka, Vice-Captain Hisagi had already led the Squad Members to disperse all the nearby residents.
Coupled with the huge commotion Captain Ishikawa caused, nearby residents hadn't dared to return until today, when they gradually came back.
"Don't worry about them."
Ishikawa smiled at the Squad Member who asked him: "As long as they don't affect my work, it's fine. Being watched a few times won't make me lose a… piece of… huh?" Ishikawa's voice suddenly faltered, and he abruptly turned his head to look in the direction of the Repentance Palace.
Almost at the same moment he looked, a terrifying Reiatsu descended abruptly upon everyone.
"What is this?"
"Hiss…"
Almost everyone present who possessed Reiatsu couldn't help but change their expressions. In contrast, most of the ordinary residents around them, who lacked the qualifications to become Shinigami, looked puzzled, not understanding why these Shinigami adults' expressions had suddenly changed.
"Is that Zaraki?"
Feeling the familiar aura within the Reiatsu, Ishikawa's brow twitched slightly.
"Kurosaki's Reiatsu?"
"It really is Kurosaki!"
Almost as Ishikawa's words fell, a conversation suddenly came from the long staircase at the entrance of Squad Nine, making Ishikawa's expression somewhat strange.
Ishida Uryū, covered in blood, stopped, supported by Orihime, and looked up towards the towering white tower.
"Did he get there first?"
Ishida Uryū gave a bitter smile. It seemed he wouldn't be able to rescue Kuchiki before him.
However…
Judging by the Reiatsu of Kurosaki's opponent, even if he had arrived before him, he wouldn't have been able to rescue Kuchiki.
Just defeating Kurotsuchi Mayuri, who had once tried to capture his grandfather Ishida Soken, had already left him utterly exhausted. If Orihime hadn't treated him in time, he might already be lying somewhere in Seireitei.
"Let's hurry over too."
Although he couldn't exert any strength now, he had personally experienced Orihime's healing abilities. If Orihime could reach Kurosaki, she would definitely be able to help him!
Orihime, beside him, looked at Ishida Uryū with concern, but there was also a hint of doubt in her worry.
Because she had already treated all of Ishida's external injuries.
But…
Ishida's face was still incredibly pale, not at all like someone whose injuries had fully healed.
However, Orihime did not refuse Ishida Uryū's suggestion and continued to support him as they walked up the stairs.
However, the moment the two climbed the stairs and stepped onto the platform, they both froze in place simultaneously.
Looking out, just a short distance in front of them, hundreds of Shinigami were squatting there, holding various tools.
And behind this group of Shinigami, stood a dense crowd of civilians.
Silence—!
An indescribable silence immediately enveloped the entire area.
Ishikawa looked at the two stunned individuals, his mouth twitching involuntarily.
Confirmed!
The other Captains might really be slacking off, otherwise, how could this group of Ryoka have so easily broken through to his final line of defense?
"…" Ishida Uryū.
"…" Orihime.
The countless pairs of eyes watching them made Ishida Uryū suddenly feel an urge to roll down the stairs.
Why are there so many Shinigami… squatting here?
Is it some kind of welcoming ceremony?
"Orihime, quickly…"
Despite his words, the moment he regained his senses, Ishida Uryū still pushed Orihime beside him, wanting to buy time for her to escape first.
But just then, the black-haired young man, who was squatting in front of the Shinigami, suddenly raised his hand and pointed at the empty space in front of him.
"Bakudo #4: Hainawa."
Where his fingertip landed, a golden-yellow rope, like a venomous snake that had been waiting, shot through the air and instantly bound Ishida Uryū in place.
Ishida Uryū instinctively tried to struggle.
"Give up. Without your Quincy powers, you cannot break free from Bakudo."
A soft whisper came from his ear. Ishida Uryū's pupils constricted, and he then realized that the black-haired young man, who had been squatting on the ground a second ago, had somehow walked past him and was now heading towards Orihime.
Without time to wonder why the other party knew he had lost his Quincy powers, Ishida Uryū's expression changed drastically:
"Orihime, be careful!!"
But his warning came too late, because as he spoke, the black-haired young man, still holding a plastering trowel, was already standing in front of Orihime.
"Don't be nervous."
Ishikawa showed a warm smile: "I don't intend to harm you; I just need you to stay with me for a while."
The gentle voice and words stunned both Ishida Uryū and Orihime.
"Let me introduce myself, I am the acting Captain of the Ninth Division, my name is Ishikawa."
Ishikawa looked at the incredibly well-endowed young woman in front of him, his gaze not wandering, so as not to make her uncomfortable. Instead, he stood about a meter away, maintaining a gentle demeanor that was neither too intimate nor too distant, and introduced himself.
If, among Ichigo's group, besides Yoruichi, there was anyone else who could interest Ishikawa.
Then, without a doubt, it was this person in front of him.
He just wondered how much experience this young lady's favorability could provide him.
In terms of Reiatsu alone, her Reiatsu intensity was actually similar to Chad's, both at the Vice-Captain level, but her combat ability was not strong. She was the type who could barely defeat ordinary Squad Members with crude karate.
Of course…
The combat ability here refers only to fighting, not to say that her abilities are not strong.
It should be said that, on the contrary, the abilities she possessed were more terrifying than any ability Ishikawa remembered!
If calculated by ability, she should be able to provide him with a considerable amount of experience.
However, how to increase her favorability towards him?
To increase her favorability towards him, it's not difficult; just help them rescue Rukia.
But…
This was clearly not something he could do. He didn't want to be cut down by Commander Yamamoto before Aizen's conspiracy was exposed.
And besides that, what other way could he use to increase her favorability towards him?
"Ishikawa?"
What Ishikawa hadn't expected was…
Upon hearing his name, both Orihime in front of him and Ishida Uryū behind him were stunned.
Orihime subconsciously asked: "Are you the Ishikawa who runs the Everything Store?"
Hearing this, Ishikawa was first stunned, then his eyes lit up, vaguely realizing something, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear: "That's right, it's me. Did Kukaku mention me to you?"
[Orihime Favorability +1, gained 245 experience points. Current Favorability: 1]
[Orihime Favorability +1, gained 245 experience points. Current Favorability: 2]
[...]
[Orihime Favorability +1, gained 490 experience points. Current Favorability: 10]
[...]
[Orihime Favorability +1, gained 980 experience points. Current Favorability: 20]
Current Experience: 19627
Watching the string of system notifications in his mind, a hint of surprise flashed in Ishikawa's eyes.
Higher than Vice-Captain, but lower than Captain?
It seems even the system fully acknowledges the abilities of this young woman!
The moment he saw the dense system notifications, Ishikawa suddenly felt an urge to turn around and rush towards the Repentance Palace to help Ichigo take down Zaraki…
Fortunately, Ishikawa wasn't completely blinded by this unexpected windfall. Although the idea was tempting, he still suppressed it.
However, why did her favorability towards him increase so much in an instant?
Because of Kukaku?
Doesn't seem like it!
Because of Ishida Uryū?
Ishikawa wasn't surprised that Ishida Uryū knew him. After all, before he entered Seireitei, he had given the Denreishinki he used to communicate with Kukaku to Ishida Soken. It was impossible for him not to mention himself to his grandson.
And besides that…
Ichigo?
Ishikawa looked at Orihime's happy expression, and he vaguely understood why she had such a high level of favorability towards him.
Orihime's eyes lit up, and she almost instinctively asked: "Are you really the 'big brother who doesn't wear clothes' that Kurosaki mentioned?"
Ishida Uryū: "…"
Although Orihime usually gave off a somewhat dazed impression.
But he really hadn't expected Orihime to blurt out that nickname in front of Mr. Ishikawa, and with so many people watching.
"???" Ishikawa.
What the hell?
Ishikawa's mind was momentarily blank, but this blankness lasted only an instant before it turned dark!
Hmm—
I take back what I said earlier!
As a Captain of the Gotei 13, even if temporary, I should help Zaraki take down Ichigo!!!
Although he hadn't taken the incident from back then to heart at all, he had at least saved him and his mother, right?
This scoundrel introduces himself to people like that?
Besides, he was wearing clothes back then!
His only social death was that time he went to the Human World to find Nagano Kasyuu and the other two.
And after that, every time he went to the Human World, Ishikawa would change into the clothes Urahara Kisuke sent him, including the time he rescued Kurosaki Masaki from the Hollow.
Ishikawa really didn't understand where this nickname came from.
It couldn't be…
Ishikawa's expression changed. There couldn't be photos of him on the Human World's internet, and Kurosaki accidentally saw them, could there?
"No, you've got the wrong person!!" Ishikawa said with a dark expression.
"But…"
"You. Have. Got. The. Wrong. Person!!"
After Ishikawa's emphasis on each word, Orihime finally realized her slip of the tongue, quickly covered her mouth, and nodded vigorously.
Ishikawa suppressed his annoyance and said in a voice only the two of them could hear: "If you don't want to be transferred to another cell, don't act too familiar with me."
Hearing this, both Orihime and Ishida Uryū were stunned.
"As for Ichigo, you don't need to worry; with Yoruichi-sama accompanying him, nothing will happen to him."
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