"Hahaha, congratulations, Yoriichi!"
Tenth Division.
Shiba Isshin clapped Tsugikuni Yoriichi's back vigorously, a smile of relief on his face.
Promotions to Vice-Captain were not as complex as Captain promotions, which required a meeting of all Captains.
Under normal circumstances, the ceremony would be held within the original division.
Once the ceremony was complete, his name would be permanently recorded in Seireitei's historical archives.
This was why the former Inuno Yang had been so eager for the Vice-Captain position.
Everyone wanted to make their mark in history.
However, things did not go as planned.
Bang, bang, bang!
Yoriichi felt the strong, forceful pats but said nothing, simply maintaining a faint smile.
Then, he slowly walked to the side and put on the armband that symbolised the Vice-Captain position.
Not far away.
Seeing this, Inuno Yang's teeth nearly ground to dust from jealousy.
He was here first!
Damn Yamamoto Genryusai! Damn, Shiba Isshin!
Whoosh...
Inuno Yang slowly lowered his head, his eyes shadowed.
He recalled the mission Lord Aizen had given him, took two deep breaths with effort, and slowly emerged from his gloomy state of mind.
He looked up, a pair of bloodshot eyes silently fixed on Tsugikuni Yoriichi, the veins on his fists bulging...
—Just you wait!
...
"Hmm?"
"Who sent this bell?"
After his appointment, Tsugikuni Yoriichi was unpacking the gifts from various divisions when he suddenly saw an antique-looking, yet valuable, golden bell.
The golden bell was engraved with a blessing.
Looking closely...
Uh...Fifth Division, gifted by Aizen?
Looking up, Yoriichi looked at the Captain who had not yet left and couldn't help but ask, "Captain, is Fifth Division very rich?"
"This bell is worth at least a million rings, isn't it?"
Shiba Isshin examined it carefully upon hearing this, then stroked his chin and nodded:
"Roughly. Tsk, I didn't expect that Aizen fellow to be so willing to spend so much."
"A gift from a Vice-Captain is more expensive than some Captains' gifts."
"It seems he is intentionally trying to befriend you."
"I heard early on that he is a kind Shinigami, but I didn't expect him to be so generous..."
"You really can't judge a book by its cover."
"Well then, Yoriichi, you should accept it."
"The friendship of a Vice-Captain is more practical than the friendship of a Captain."
"I heard that the Captain of Fifth Division has been in office for almost a hundred years."
"Perhaps he will be transferred to another division after some time."
"When the Captain's position is vacant, Aizen, as the Vice-Captain of Fifth Division, will be the strongest contender."
Hearing this, Yoriichi nodded: "Understood."
It was nothing more than making a few friends; the more people, the easier things were to handle.
He had met Aizen three months ago.
How to put it, he was a bit strange, giving him a feeling very similar to Ichimaru Gin.
However, at that time, Yoriichi hadn't paid much attention.
After all, Shinigami in high positions were all "old people" around two or three hundred years old; a bit of cunning was normal.
Yoriichi had forgotten about him, but this gift made him recall him...
After pondering for a while, Yoriichi decided to observe for now.
Perhaps this gift had no other deep meaning, and the Captain was just overthinking...
Silently tidying the gifts, after finishing, Yoriichi sat back in his chair and began his daily routine.
Shiba Isshin quietly exited the room.
In the following days.
Time flowed silently like water, and Seireitei had been exceptionally peaceful during this period.
For Shinigami with long lifespans, their pace of life was always so slow.
Therefore, within Seireitei, only a few incidents would typically occur in a week, and most of them could be resolved by the squad members themselves.
As Vice-Captain, Yoriichi's presence would usually only be required when his subordinates encountered problems that were difficult to resolve.
One day.
The sun was bright.
As soon as Yoriichi woke up, he heard that the Twelfth Seat of the Tenth Division had gone missing while on a mission in West Rukongai District 1.
One of the Districts...
For Yoriichi, it was a sensitive number.
He went straight to the Captain's office to inquire about the details and found out that the Captain had gone to the Human World for a mission and would only return in about three days.
During these three days, the entire Tenth Division would be under his management, even though other Seat Officers would help him share the pressure.
But facing the disappearance of a Seat Officer...
After thinking for a moment, Tsugikuni Yoriichi decided to investigate himself.
After all...
Being a Seat Officer meant their strength was not weak; they could at least use Shikai.
Even if they encountered a Menos Grande, they should have been able to send back news of the attack.
However, there was none.
In this situation, only two conclusions could be drawn.
First, his opponent was much stronger than a Menos Grande, and he was already dead.
Second, he encountered a problem that a Seat Officer could not solve and could not contact the outside world.
If it were the former, he could do nothing.
But if it was the latter...
As Vice-Captain, he should take action.
After notifying the relevant personnel, Tsugikuni Yoriichi picked up his pass and went straight to West Rukongai.
He had a smooth journey and arrived at the location where the Twelfth Seat disappeared shortly after.
A yellow cordon line had sealed it off; the location was a small hill.
On the small hill lay a Shinigami's uniform...
Yoriichi frowned slightly at the sight.
"Vice-Captain, you're here."
Beside him, a female Shinigami approached with a stack of documents.
She respectfully handed over the documents.
"This is our current investigation of the surrounding environment where Kaneda the Twelfth Seat disappeared."
"Approximately 300 meters to the north, an abnormal spiritual pressure fluctuation appeared."
"The spiritual pressure, after detection, is probably an Adjuchas..."
"Adjuchas?" Yoriichi looked at her, raising an eyebrow, and asked emphatically, "Are you sure there's no detection error?"
"How could a Hollow of this level appear in Rukongai so close to Seireitei?"
Adjuchas are the second level of Menos Grande, with spiritual pressure levels above Vice-Captain but below Captain.
Some powerful Adjuchas have Captain-level spiritual pressure.
They generally only live in Hueco Mundo; their appearance in Soul Society is not unheard of but extremely rare, and always in remote areas.
Now...
The female Shinigami cleared her throat and slowly said:
"To answer you, Vice-Captain, we are certain there is no mistake."
"Because we also found the unique humanoid footprints of an Adjuchas at the scene."
"Although I know this might be disrespectful to say, the possibility of Kaneda the Twelfth Seat surviving is minimal."
"I suggest we report to Gotei 13 first and simultaneously blockade the surrounding area to prevent further casualties."
"..."
Hearing this suggestion, Yoriichi sighed.
"Is that so..."
His tone was a bit dejected, with a hint of regret.
For the safety of other Shinigami and Rukongai residents, he was about to wave his hand to give the order.
Beep, beep, beep!
A sharp buzzing sound suddenly erupted from a machine not far away.
Along with it came exclamations:
"Vice-Captain!"
"That Adjuchas has appeared again!"