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"...He actually dared to come?"
In the Second Division, a group of masked Onmitsukido members hid in a corner, looking at the young man in black work clothes inside the Squad barracks, their expressions somewhat strange.
"Is it really okay to bring such a dangerous person to the Squad barracks?"
Several Onmitsukido members fell silent in unison. A target they had been secretly watching suddenly appeared before them, and they all felt a strange sense of unease.
"I actually think we should invite him more often."
"Don't you… uh, Vice-Captain."
The masked Onmitsukido member was about to retort to his companion when he turned around and found a somewhat corpulent man had appeared behind them at some point, holding a large pile of freshly bought snacks.
"I just took a look. The areas he cleaned are truly spotless. Not even the corners were missed. It's much cleaner than when our own people clean it."
"That's true." The masked Onmitsukido member nodded, adding, "Even the trees in the courtyard were trimmed beautifully."
"And he's faster than all of us combined."
"…"
Everyone spoke of the black-haired young man's work results, but as they spoke, they fell silent.
Because what he did was simply too perfect; there was nothing to find fault with.
For a group of Onmitsukidō who basically spend every day digging up dirt on people and assassinating them, cleaning the Squad barracks was a task they were completely unsuited for. Normally, they would just muddle through it.
Moreover, hiring someone to clean the Squad barracks also avoided having to leave a large number of members behind every day to do the work.
Thinking about it carefully, it was indeed as Ōmaeda, the Vice-Captain, said; such a thing could definitely happen more often.
Most importantly…
By having the person right under their noses, they wouldn't have to constantly expend effort monitoring him. Otherwise, these Onmitsukido members responsible for monitoring Ishikawa Katori wouldn't be so idle as to come supervise Ishikawa Katori's cleaning work.
"Speaking of which… generally speaking, does cleaning require Zankensoki?"
The Onmitsukido member who spoke first asked with a strange tone.
During half a day of cleaning work…
This Everything Store owner actually used Zanjutsu to wield a broom, Shunpo to fetch water, Hado to burn trash, and Hakuda to hammer nails when repairing houses…
He could often be seen flying around between the Second Division buildings.
"He can do it however he wants. Anyway, the Captain has always been watching him secretly. Oh, right… help me take these snacks to my office." Ōmaeda said, stuffing the snacks in his arms into an Onmitsukido member's hand, then walked towards Ishikawa Katori in the courtyard.
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō!"
As Ōmaeda stepped out, he heard a soft incantation from the courtyard.
His steps halted, and Ōmaeda's face showed vigilance, but he immediately realized that the Kido was not released to attack him, but was condensed and held in Ishikawa Katori's palm.
Looking over, he saw Ishikawa Katori press down the fire ball in his palm. Streams of fire snakes immediately surged around the fire ball, incinerating the trash piled on the ground in an instant.
Once he confirmed there was no trash residue, he clapped his hands, and the gradually raging fire ball was directly extinguished by Ishikawa Katori's casual clap.
Watching the wisps of smoke rise from Ishikawa Katori's palms, a hint of apprehension flashed in Ōmaeda's eyes.
If he hadn't known of the other party's existence a long time ago, just this casual technique of extinguishing Kido would definitely not be something someone who had been studying Kido for less than six years could accomplish!
Condensing Kido and holding it back was one thing. Although Ōmaeda was not skilled in Kido, he knew that many Kido masters could do that.
But extinguishing Kido so effortlessly, without causing any energy overflow, was completely beyond his comprehension.
He couldn't even understand how the other party managed to do it!
"Phew~~ Done."
In the center of the courtyard, Ishikawa Katori looked at the refreshed buildings around him and nodded in satisfaction.
This area was the last one except for the moat area. Although the workload was huge, working in the Second Division had one advantage: he didn't need to hide his strength.
Because the Onmitsukidō had been secretly watching him almost since he arrived in the Soul Society, he could fully use some techniques that made work easier in front of them. Although even with techniques like Zankensoki, this cleaning still took him most of the day.
Fortunately, he only needed to clean and repair the outside of the buildings; he was forbidden from entering the interior. Otherwise, in half a day… he might not even be able to clean all the Squad member dorms.
"All that's left is the center of the moat."
Ishikawa Katori looked up towards the northwest. No one had explained to him what that area was.
But from his observations over the past half-day, although there were only a few people guarding the entrance openly, many more were lurking secretly. Ishikawa Katori tried to walk in that direction several times, but each time, even before he got there, he would feel as if he was being watched.
With such strict precautions, unless there was an accident, that area should be a place where prisoners were held.
"Hey, kid."
Ishikawa Katori turned his head. When he saw Ōmaeda walking towards him, he glanced again at the Onmitsukido members in the corner.
He had actually noticed these special supervisors when he started working, but he didn't feel repulsed or displeased by the surveillance. If no one was watching, Ishikawa Katori would actually feel uneasy.
"The cafeteria is serving food. Do you want to come with me?" Ōmaeda asked.
Ishikawa Katori was startled at the words, the cafeteria is serving food?
What wonderful words! Ishikawa Katori couldn't remember… how long it had been since he had eaten at a client's home. The entire Rukongai, apart from some taverns, had no place to provide meals. When working at a tavern, he even had to pay for his own food.
Ishikawa Katori asked tentatively, "It's free?"
"Uh… it's free." Ōmaeda replied.
"Let's go!!"
…
The cafeteria could be said to be the liveliest place in the entire Second Division, especially at this time, which was mealtime. Countless Shinigami were coming and going, some in shinigami uniforms, others in Onmitsukido uniforms. However… those masked Onmitsukido members did not stay in the cafeteria to eat; they left after getting their meals in meal boxes.
Are they all Kakashi?
Watching those hurried Onmitsukido members leave, Ishikawa Katori couldn't help but inwardly scoff.
Unlike the serious and quiet atmosphere when moving around the Squad barracks, the cafeteria was not oppressive, but rather very lively. Many Second Division members gathered in groups of three or five, eating and chatting.
When Ōmaeda entered the cafeteria, the lively atmosphere immediately subsided somewhat, but the conversations did not stop, merely lowered in volume.
Ishikawa Katori first surveyed the cafeteria, then looked at the serving window he was most concerned about. When he clearly saw the dishes displayed in the window, Ishikawa Katori couldn't help but curse inwardly: The damned old society!!
He had been in the Soul Society for five and a half years, and the taverns in Rukongai could be said to have been eaten through by Ishikawa Katori, but most of the dishes in that serving window, let alone whether he had eaten them, Ishikawa Katori had never even seen them in Rukongai.
This treatment is simply too good!!
Roughly counting, there were dozens of dishes in that serving window, and more than half of them were meat.
So many children in Rukongai can't get enough to eat, and you guys eat such a rich meal! It's simply too wasteful, too luxurious, simply shameless to the extreme, and must be criticized!!
Ōmaeda looked at Ishikawa Katori, who had appeared at the end of the serving line at some point, and was slightly startled.
When did he run over there?
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going to criticize… cough… Didn't you say food was provided?"
"You don't need to stand in line here, just come with me." Ōmaeda said, pointing to the side of the serving window. There was a corridor there, and at the entrance of the hallway were four large characters: 'Seated Officer Only'.
Ishikawa Katori walked over and looked, finding that the interior of the hallway consisted of individual private rooms, exactly 25 of them, each with a number written on its door.
Led by Ōmaeda, the two directly entered room number '2'.
As soon as they sat down, people began to bring in dishes. Judging by the aura of these people, they were not Shinigami, but rather Shinigami family members.
"Tsk tsk, your Shinigami treatment is really good." Ishikawa Katori smacked his lips, unable to help but exclaim.
"Is it?"
Ōmaeda casually glanced at the dishes on the table and did not pick up his chopsticks: "I rarely eat in the cafeteria because these dishes can't even compare to what my family makes; but if you want to talk about good food, it has to be the largest restaurant in Nobility Street."
"…"
Ishikawa Katori's mouth twitched. Is this the legendary wealth gap?
Pah!!
It's not like I don't have money. I have millions of Kan in savings.
"Although it costs millions of Kan to treat all the Vice-Captains there every time, the food is indeed very delicious."
"…" Ishikawa Katori.
Is kidnapping illegal in the Soul Society?
Perhaps sensing that Ishikawa Katori's gaze had become somewhat dangerous, Ōmaeda changed the subject and asked curiously, "Does your Everything Store do any job as long as there's money?"
"Not everything, but I'll take any commission I can complete."
"Then do you take jobs to kill Hollows?"
"Of course! As long as the money is right, let alone killing Hollows, if you don't like someone, as long as you trick them outside Seireitei, I can help you teach them a lesson." Ishikawa Katori said. This guy in front of him was truly super rich. If he could get a commission from him, he would definitely extort a hefty sum.
Ōmaeda's eyes lit up at the words: "Then what about the Captain?"
"…Just pretend I didn't say that."
Go teach the Captain a lesson?
With Ishikawa Katori's current strength, let alone teaching the Captain a lesson, he might not even be able to withstand the Captains' Reiatsu.
"Oh, right."
Ishikawa Katori swallowed the food in his mouth and asked, "What is the area in the middle of the moat? Can you tell me? If it's inconvenient, then never mind."
"It's not inconvenient at all. I came to find you precisely to tell you about this."
"Hmm?"
Ishikawa Katori was confused but didn't ask further, waiting for Ōmaeda's explanation.
"That place is a rather special prison. Would you be willing to enter that prison to clean it? Of course, since it's an additional task, there will naturally be additional compensation."
"Inside the prison?"
Ishikawa Katori looked at Ōmaeda with suspicion.
"Don't worry, we have no intention of capturing you." Ōmaeda shook his head: "Although we wouldn't mind using such a method to imprison you, with Shiba backing you, as long as you don't do anything that threatens the stability of Seireitei, we won't arrest you."
"Uh, respected customer."
Ishikawa Katori showed his signature gentle smile: "What you said, I don't quite understand…"
"Stop pretending. You must have already discovered that our Onmitsukidō have been monitoring you all along."
Ōmaeda's plump face became serious: "Although not as good as the previous one, my father, every generation of my family has someone join the Onmitsukidō, and more or less receive a lot of relevant training. I can still tell if a monitored target has discovered us, let alone…"
"From the moment I appeared until now, you haven't asked about my identity. From this, it seems you must have learned a lot about our Onmitsukidō from Shiba, right?"
Ishikawa Katori glanced at Ōmaeda, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Indeed, anyone who could reach the position of Vice-Captain was no simple character.
Although he appeared somewhat simple-minded on the surface, if one got to know him better, they would find that this fat man was incredibly meticulous in his thoughts. Compared to the extremely introverted Vice-Captain of the Fourth Division, he was much more astute.
"Don't be nervous."
Ōmaeda changed the subject and smiled: "Anyway, it's up to you whether to accept it or not. I'm not forcing you to take this extra commission."
He regretted saying those words as soon as he finished. After all, there were only the two of them in the room, and if this guy suddenly lashed out, based on current information… he might not even be able to defeat him.
If it weren't for the Captain insisting that he come in person, he wouldn't have rashly come into contact with this guy.
However, to Ōmaeda's surprise…
Ishikawa Katori didn't get angry or turn to leave as he expected. Instead, as if the previous conversation hadn't happened, he continued eating and asked, "If I accept, are there any precautions?"
"Uh… yes…"
Ōmaeda hesitated, wondering whether to follow the Captain's instructions, as he felt those words would make the other party give up immediately.
But in the end, he chose to repeat what the Captain had said: "That prison is called the 'Underground Special Surveillance Building'. Weapons are not allowed inside, and due to some special reasons, although the prisoners inside cannot leave, they can move freely within the facility, so working there might lead to encounters with attacks."
Ōmaeda's brow furrowed when he said the words 'Underground Special Surveillance Building'.
To be honest, he really didn't understand Captain Soi Fon's purpose in arranging this.
It was known that the position of Captain of the Onmitsukidō's Third Division, the Supervisory Team, had always been vacant. It was said to have been that way even before Captain Soi Fon became Captain, and she had always held both positions concurrently.
The reason for this was simple…
No suitable candidate!
The Underground Special Surveillance Building held Shinigami, many of whom were powerful. Even the current Captain of the Twelfth Division was once a member. Ordinary people simply couldn't manage the people inside.
If that were all, then fine. The Onmitsukidō, apart from the Commander-in-Chief, also had people who could subdue the prisoners inside.
But within the Maggot's Nest, which was managed by the Supervisory Team, there was a rule: no Zanpakuto were allowed inside, and Kido was forbidden within the prison.
Therefore, to become the Captain of the Onmitsukidō's Third Division, an extremely stringent prerequisite was required!
That was…
To be able to subdue all prisoners with bare hands!!
And now, Captain Soi Fon was sending someone from Rukongai to the Maggot's Nest for what was called 'cleaning' work, and this person… happened to have no Zanpakuto and was extremely proficient in Hakuda.
Putting these together, plus the additional compensation…
Ōmaeda had a vague guess, but he found it somewhat hard to believe.
And was Captain Soi Fon so sure he would accept?
He had asked about this earlier.
However, the answer was somewhat perplexing.
("Since he doesn't want to be constrained but also wants to interact with female Shinigami from Seireitei, why not give him a chance? And this way, we won't have to bother monitoring him so much.")
"You can retaliate, but you cannot kill, cripple, or leave the prisoners with sequelae. At most, you can only make them lose their combat ability. When you finish cleaning, you can leave at any time."
"As for the reward…"
"It's an Onmitsukidō pass that can be used to travel freely to and from Seireitei, and a long-term commission that requires you to come to the Second Division regularly. The work content is the same as this time. If you want the pass, you must accept this commission!"
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