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"Is it okay this time?"
Uzuki asked Ishikawa Katori as she watched Oyama and the others leave.
Although, from her understanding of Ishikawa Katori, he never took on a commission he wasn't confident he could complete.
However, a month ago, Ishikawa Katori had already suffered a loss in District 79, so worry was unavoidable, especially since… the clients this time were the same people who had caused Ishikawa Katori such a great loss last time.
"Don't worry, I haven't been with Ganju-nii for so long for nothing."
Uzuki nodded upon heakan this and did not press further. As long as Ishikawa Katori was determined and confident in completing it, she would not interfere in the slightest. Having lived for so many years, she had long since shed the delicate, hesitant demeanor of a young girl.
Ishikawa Katori chatted with Uzuki for a while, mainly recounting his experiences over the past month, and then asked about the state of the Everything Store dukan that month.
"It seems I need to resume work as soon as possible."
After listening to Uzuki's report, Ishikawa Katori nodded.
Although the Everything Store had gained some fame, such fame came and went quickly. Not taking commissions for a long time would only make the residents of Rukongai forget the existence of the Everything Store. If he couldn't make the residents of Rukongai think of the Everything Store first when they encountered problems, then it would be difficult to make money in the future.
"Let's close the Everything Store and rest today. We'll open tomorrow, but put up a 'Out for Work' sign. If there are any less urgent commissions, we can take them first, and I'll finish this job as soon as possible and come back."
"Mhm."
…
A night passed in a flash.
Early the next morning, before Ishikawa Katori even woke up, the Everything Store's door was knocked upon, accompanied by a quarrel.
"Hiss- Ah~"
Amidst the clamor, Ishikawa Katori clutched his hangover head and climbed out of bed.
Mm…
"Indeed, I should abstain from alcohol!"
After a habitual complaint, Ishikawa Katori found a new set of black work clothes from the wardrobe. These work clothes were specially custom-made by Ishikawa Katori, similar in style to the property security uniforms of his previous life, extremely loose, and resistant to dirt and wear.
Ishikawa Katori was really unaccustomed to the kind of clothes commonly worn by Rukongai residents, so in these years in Rukongai, he basically always wore this style of clothing for work.
Taking the key to unlock the iron door, Ishikawa Katori pushed open his bedroom door and went downstairs.
"Sister Uzuki, we really have an urgent matter. Please wake up Ishikawa Katori Boss."
"And we've already paid. We're customers!"
"Those scoundrels from West 80th District are prepakan to act. If Ishikawa Katori Boss doesn't leave soon, everything will be too late."
…
After listening for a while, Ishikawa Katori already understood what had happened.
After accepting the commission yesterday, he and Oyama hadn't set a time for work, only saying that he would go to District 79 to check the situation himself tomorrow.
Unexpectedly, those guys from West 80th District had arrived so quickly.
No, that's not right…
Ishikawa Katori shook his head. If he remembered correctly, Oyama and his group had come to West 38th District five days ago, which meant they had received news or been notified five days ago to have these people from District 79 merge into a certain force in the Eightieth District.
It was normal for the people of the 80th District to launch a forced takeover if they hadn't received a response for nearly a week.
"Come in and talk."
Ishikawa Katori opened the sliding door and said to Oyama and the others outside, then turned and walked towards the restroom.
"Ishikawa Katori Boss, you've taken the money, so you have to do the job."
As soon as Oyama entered, he said anxiously, "Our brothers sent word that 'Himura,' that bitch, notified us that if we don't voluntarily report to the 80th District before noon today, she'll personally lead people to 'take us over.'"
"Himura?"
Ishikawa Katori, who was washing up, turned his head and asked, "A woman?"
"Huh?" Oyama was visibly stunned, then hesitated, "I guess so?"
A question?
His answer made Ishikawa Katori pause. Either she was or she wasn't. It's not like the Eightieth District had many genders like some beautiful country, right?
Then, Oyama answered Ishikawa Katori's question with one sentence.
"Himura's physical features are similar to Daimaru's. She even looks more robust than Daimaru."
…
Ishikawa Katori's mind quickly conjured the image of the two-meter tall, burly Daimaru, then placed a wig on Daimaru's head… The simulated image made Ishikawa Katori shiver.
"That is indeed somewhat difficult to determine."
Ishikawa Katori took a towel and wiped his face, saying calmly, "From your tone, are you very familiar with that heroic woman named 'Himura'?"
"She's from District 78."
Oyama paused, then continued, "Daimaru once led us in fighting her ruling District 78 for over a decade. Her strength was equal to Daimaru's; one could say neither could defeat the other. In the end, I don't know what she was thinking, but she suddenly took the people from West 78th District and ran off to West 80th District."
"It's also because she took so many people that our District 79 became the strongest force in West Rukongai besides the 80th District. Daimaru's ambition swelled, and he even set his sights on Shiba."
"I don't understand you guys. What is there to fight over in a place where even drinking water is difficult?" Uzuki, on the side, said with disdain.
"That's how it seems to you, indeed." Oyama didn't refute but instead nodded in agreement, then said, "But unlike your place, the areas with higher numbers are not governed by Seireitei. People like us are clearly more suited to live there."
"I'm curious, Brother Ishikawa Katori, why would someone like you like to live in a place like this, living every day under the noses of people who could kill you at any moment? I, for one, couldn't stand it."
Ishikawa Katori squinted at Oyama and said, "Isn't living in District 79, which is next to the 80th District, also living every day under the noses of people who could kill you at any moment?"
"That's different."
Oyama shook his head, "The guys who can truly become 'great villains' are those who purely want to fight strong opponents. Their targets are always the strong people in their own area or other 80th District areas; they won't pay attention to us at all. I told you before, 'Himura,' who is targeting us, is just a follower of a great villain."
"I heard she was almost cut to death by someone, then actively sought to attach herself to them."
"Then why don't you just follow them?" Uzuki interjected.
"No one wants to go to the 80th District!"
Oyama said with a wary expression, "We just like to use direct methods to seek what we want. Although many times the most direct method is to kill the other party, if it can be resolved without killing, then we don't necessarily have to fight."
"But the people of the 80th District are different. Besides fighting stronger opponents, they seek nothing else. They live to kill or be killed. This is fundamentally different from us. If we go there, we'll just be used as cannon fodder by that bitch 'Himura.'"
This guy is surprisingly intelligent. No wonder he could directly take over West 79th District after Daimaru's death.
"Speaking of which." Ishikawa Katori looked at Oyama curiously, "If I hadn't taken your commission, what were you planning to do? Escape to other areas?"
"How could that be!!"
Oyama seemed to recall something and said with disdain, "We are different from Daimaru. In his eyes, 'West 79th District' was just a stepping stone; his goal was also the '80th District'."
"But we are different. District 79 is our home. When we were going to move against that kid from Shiba, we initially all opposed it, but in the higher-numbered districts, strength equals speaking rights, so our opposition was useless. Although there was also a tiny bit of feeling excited about it."
"If it weren't for you, we would have fought that bitch. Being cannon fodder is also death anyway, so we might as well fight her to the fullest!"
A tiny bit?
Ishikawa Katori smiled. The way these guys were so fearless back then, each one was crazier than the last. Although this was certainly due to Daimaru's long-standing rule over District 79, these lunatics, who constantly called others lunatics, absolutely had the idea that it felt exciting.
Never try to guess the thoughts of a lunatic with a normal person's brain.
Although what Oyama said seemed very reasonable, Ishikawa Katori did not think they were any different from the villains of 'West 80th District.' The only difference was the disparity in strength, a desperate gap between them and those great villains, which caused their mindset to change and gradually become a bit more normal…
In the end, they instead categorized those who stood out as a different group from themselves, completely losing the idea of fighting against them.
"You guys go back first."
Ishikawa Katori said, then looked at Oyama, whose expression changed, and said, "I need to go to Shiba first, and then I'll rush over."
Upon heakan this, Oyama's face immediately showed a look of realization, and he hurriedly nodded, "Right, right, right, that's what we should do. I was just too anxious."
His reaction made Ishikawa Katori pause.
What's going on?
Did they also discover the Onmitsukidō hidden in the dark?
After returning to the 38th District, Ishikawa Katori found that the Onmitsukidō, who hadn't been monitokan him for a while, had started watching him again due to the appearance of Oyama and others. However, they were well-hidden and hadn't come near the Everything Store.
This mission was clearly not suitable for the Onmitsukidō to know about.
Although Sister Kukaku said that as long as he wasn't an enemy of Seireitei, it was fine to show his strength; Sister Kukaku also said that it was good to keep hiding what needed to be hidden.
In any case, Ishikawa Katori didn't want to be exposed to the higher-ups of Seireitei too early.
And to shake off the Onmitsukidō without arousing suspicion, the best way was to go to Shiba under the pretext of training. Once there, the Onmitsukidō would no longer approach.
He could go wherever he wanted.
As for whether the Onmitsukidō would go to West 79th District to investigate, that was not within Ishikawa Katori's consideration. However, judging from Seireitei's attitude towards the higher-numbered districts, Shinigami generally do not go to the higher-numbered districts.
People in the higher-numbered districts also do not have any communication with Shinigami, as if they are two isolated worlds. Unless there is an accident, it should be very difficult for news to reach Seireitei.
Even if it did, they would likely be skeptical without seeing it with their own eyes.
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