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Standing on the wall for a moment in silence, Ishikawa Katori did not alert Kotetsu Isane, but instead jumped back the way he came.
There are two kinds of death in this world: one is physiological death, and the other is social death.
To prevent Isane from experiencing the second kind of death, after returning to his original spot, Ishikawa Katori looked up at the already dark sky: "Tonight's moon is truly round."
Click~
No sooner had he finished speaking than he heard the sound of wood breaking from around the corner, along with the sound of shoe soles constantly scraping the ground.
Once he confirmed that Isane had likely cleaned up the 'social death' scene, Ishikawa Katori then stepped towards the corner.
"Eh?"
Ishikawa Katori put on a surprised expression and asked, "Miss Isane, why are you here?"
Upon hearing this, Kotetsu Isane, who had been somewhat flustered, visibly relaxed, and then pulled out a small card from her person, saying, "This morning, I saw someone very much like you being taken away by the Onmitsukidō on Commercial Street, and then I picked up this small card, so I wanted to confirm if the person I saw this morning was really you."
Although when she saw this small card, she was basically certain that the person taken away by the Onmitsukidō was likely Mr. Ishikawa Katori from the Everything Store.
But a sliver of hope remained in her heart, because being taken away by the Onmitsukidō in Seireitei was usually not a good thing.
However, since Ishikawa Katori could safely walk out of the Second Squad, it meant that he was probably not taken away by the Onmitsukidō for making a mistake, but perhaps only called in as an information provider.
This was understandable; Mr. Ishikawa Katori was so kind, how could such a good person be arrested by the Onmitsukidō?
"Did the Onmitsukidō call you here for something?"
Kotetsu Isane looked behind Ishikawa Katori, her confusion growing. If it was truly as she guessed, that Ishikawa Katori was called in as an information provider, then logically the Onmitsukidō should have escorted him out of Seireitei, rather than just letting him move freely within Seireitei.
Could it be…
Kotetsu Isane's expression tightened. Did Mr. Ishikawa Katori sneak out?
Although he didn't know what Isane was thinking, from her constantly changing expression, he could tell that she had probably misunderstood something. And as someone who was also semi-socially anxious, Ishikawa Katori knew how wonderfully complex the inner world of a socially anxious person could be, so he didn't keep her in suspense and directly said:
"I'm here to work."
"Work?" Isane was stunned, wondering if she had misheard.
No matter how she thought about it…
Isane didn't think that with Mr. Ishikawa Katori's weak Reishi, the Onmitsukidō would invite him into Seireitei to work. It couldn't be that the Onmitsukidō was also planning to learn Kaido from Mr. Ishikawa Katori, could it?
Ishikawa Katori nodded: "Yes, a rather special long-term commission. Due to the customer's request, I can't disclose the specific details." After saying that, Ishikawa Katori paused, then shook the entry permit hanging at his waist and smiled: "But I'm quite satisfied with the remuneration for this commission."
Isane subconsciously looked towards Ishikawa Katori's waist, and when she saw the token inscribed with 'Special entry permit', she was slightly startled.
Entry permits were not common within Seireitei, because the Reiatsu of official members of the Gotei 13 were recorded. They only needed to report their entry and exit through the Byakudo, Kokuryōmon, Kokuryo, and Suzaku Gates, and did not require additional identification.
Although the meaning of the five characters on the token was not difficult to understand, Isane still couldn't help but ask, "This is..."
"You don't recognize it?"
Seeing Isane's reaction, Ishikawa Katori looked at the entry permit with a puzzled expression: "This isn't fake, is it? They told me that with this token, I can freely enter and exit Seireitei, although I can't go to other Squad territories or central areas without an invitation, and can only move around the outer perimeter of Seireitei."
"Freely enter and exit Seireitei?"
Isane's expression immediately became serious. This was the first time she had seen such a permit since becoming a Shinigami. After pondering for a long time, she said in a serious tone, "May I see it?"
The questioning tone did not displease Ishikawa Katori; instead, he directly handed over the 'entry permit'.
Although they had only known each other for half a year, Ishikawa Katori understood Isane's personality well. Although she was usually timid and introverted, giving off a shy impression.
But once it came time to perform her duties, whether healing people or fighting, she would display a personality completely opposite to her usual indecisiveness: serious and earnest.
In fact, Ishikawa Katori was also a little curious, if someone didn't recognize this 'entry permit', how would they tell if it was real or fake?
Isane took it and carefully observed it, trying to inject Reiryoku into it using the Shinigami method of identifying identification.
Almost as soon as the Reiryoku flowed into the token, a piece of information flooded into her mind. If Ishikawa Katori had seen this information, he would have found that its content was identical to the precautions Ōmaeda had told him earlier, and at the end of the information was the unique Reiryoku imprint of the Onmitsukidō.
Onmitsukidō, Supervisory Team!
"Supervisory Team?"
Kotetsu Isane was slightly stunned. It wasn't that she hadn't heard of the Supervisory Team, but very few people knew what responsibilities the Onmitsukidō's Supervisory Team actually held, even Vice-Captains were no exception.
However, from the Reiryoku imprint, this token was undoubtedly a genuine entry permit. When the token's owner entered Seireitei with the token, it would not cause the walls forged from 'Sekkiseki' to fall.
"Does the Onmitsukidō also have the authority to issue this kind of entry permit?"
Isane murmured to herself, then, remembering something, her heroic face flushed slightly, and she handed the token to Ishikawa Katori, saying somewhat timidly, "Uhm... I'm sorry... I've never seen anything like this before, so I was a bit suspicious just now..."
"It's alright."
Ishikawa Katori hung the token back on his waist and smiled: "I also wanted to confirm the authenticity of this token, so I wouldn't be crushed by the Byakudo Gate then."
"You can rest assured about that. The token has the unique imprint of the Onmitsukidō, and holding the token does indeed allow you to freely enter and exit Seireitei, but only you personally." Isane quickly said. Although after confirming the token was real and valid, she was even more curious about what work the Second Squad had entrusted Ishikawa Katori with.
But she didn't ask further. As a Vice-Captain, she still knew what to ask and what not to ask.
Moreover…
Ishikawa Katori could freely enter and exit Seireitei, which meant she could take him to visit the Fourth Squad. This would further help cultivate Ishikawa Katori's good impression of the Fourth Squad, thereby achieving the goal of recruiting him into the Fourth Squad, especially since even the Captain allowed her to introduce Mr. Ishikawa Katori to the Squad members.
At this thought, Kotetsu Isane's eyes lit up: "Mr. Ishikawa Katori, would you like to visit our Fourth Squad's 'Comprehensive Relief Station'?"
"Huh?"
Ishikawa Katori's eyes also lit up upon hearing this, and he quickly nodded: "Of course I would! You've mentioned it so many times, I've always wanted to see your Squad."
As for the thought of going home to rest, Ishikawa Katori immediately cast it aside. Although a day of work and fighting with a large group of prisoners had made him a bit tired.
But with such a good opportunity right in front of him, let alone just being tired, even if his limbs were broken, Ishikawa Katori would crawl, no, wriggle his way to the Fourth Squad!!
Female nurses, female doctors, female members…
Ishikawa Katori vaguely foresaw a large wave of experience points beckoning to him!
…
And just as Ishikawa Katori was invited to the Fourth Squad.
The Everything Store's tavern, however, was in dire straits. The large tavern was clearly full of people, yet no one dared to speak or move... Some had even been sitting there from the afternoon until now, not even going to the restroom, even if their faces were purple from holding it in, they didn't dare to budge.
Everyone's gaze in the tavern was focused on the same spot.
There, sat a man over two meters tall, with a fierce face and a scar on his left cheek.
For this man, all the villains present who had lived for over a century were familiar with him, and even some younger ones had heard his name.
The man once hailed as the strongest and only great villain of Rukongai, now the Captain of the Eleventh Division in the Gotei 13.
—Zaraki Kenpachi.
Ganju squatted behind the bar, looking at the figure sitting in the center of the tavern, and swallowed.
Although he had heard about Zaraki Kenpachi from his elder sister early on, he never expected that a person's killing intent could be so strong. Even when not intentionally released, the unintentional killing intent emanating from him still made him feel as if the entire tavern had turned into a sea of blood.
Even the air became incredibly thick under that killing intent, giving people the illusion of smelling blood, as if just a slight movement would cause a sharp blade to pierce their chest.
This was also why he hid behind the bar; only this spot in the entire tavern was unaffected.
However, in such an environment, one person seemed out of place. It was a little girl with pink, shoulder-length hair, black eyes, and a slight blush on her face. The little girl, like Zaraki Kenpachi, was dressed in a shinigami uniform and had a Zanpakuto at her waist.
However, due to her small stature, the Zanpakuto's sheath dragged completely on the ground, making a rattling sound as the little girl ran.
Yachiru jumped onto the bar and sat down, swinging her little feet, and asked Uzuki behind the bar, "Hey, hey, Little Strawberry, do you still have strawberry milk here?"
"Yes, I do."
Uzuki looked at the little girl sitting on the bar, her eyes almost squinting shut; she was simply too adorable.
Compared to everyone else, Uzuki could be said to be the calmest person in the entire tavern. Although Ganju had quietly explained the other party's identity to her, Uzuki, who had no interest in Shinigami, didn't have a direct understanding, only comprehending that the other party held a very high status.
Uzuki took out two bottles of strawberry milk from the counter and handed one with a straw inserted to Yachiru.
"Thank you, Little… uhm, Little Strawberry!"
"You should call me Sister Uzuki."
"…" A group of villains.
To be honest, sometimes they truly admired Uzuki's thick skin.
Although she usually gave off a fearless impression, even if she didn't know the other party's identity, she should have noticed that something was off from the atmosphere in the tavern, right?
That was Zaraki Kenpachi!
The Lunatic who had once almost slaughtered all the villains in Rukongai, and would chop people down at the slightest disagreement!
Moreover…
The villains glanced towards the corner, where Nishijin Ori lay on his 'old spot' made of several tables pushed together, his chest covered in bandages. Himura stood among a pile of changed bandages, continuously applying the hemostatic medicine left by Ishikawa Katori onto the replacement bandages.
Didn't you see how badly Boss Nishijin Ori was cut?
Although… he brought it upon himself…
When Boss Nishijin Ori, who was usually so indifferent, saw Zaraki Kenpachi arrive at the tavern, he trembled with excitement as if he had seen an idol, while saying, 'Do you still remember me?' and issued a challenge.
The result…
He fell with a single strike.
If that were all, it would be fine, but Zaraki Kenpachi's next line, 'Who are you?', directly caused the already severely injured Nishijin Ori to completely pass out, and he hadn't woken up since.
"Hey, is that guy named Ishikawa Katori really strong?"
Zaraki Kenpachi asked a villain at the next table, his tone full of impatience.
"Uh…"
The villain who was asked turned pale instantly and stammered, "Y-y-yes… very strong, stronger than… than… Boss Nishijin Ori… Genji was… was killed by him."
Upon hearing this, the impatience between Zaraki Kenpachi's brows lessened a bit.
Although he didn't know anything about Genji, it sounded somewhat familiar. He was probably like the kid lying over there, someone he had thought was good enough to leave alive back then.
In the past, although he had cut down many people, he had left some opponents who could continue to improve.
His initial thought was to fight them again once they became stronger.
The result…
As time passed, these people not only failed to keep up with him but became even more pathetic. Eventually, Zaraki Kenpachi didn't even bother to remember their names anymore.
"Captain."
Uzuki looked at the sky outside the tavern and continued, "My tavern is about to close. Ishikawa Katori probably won't be back tonight. If you have any commissions, I can write them down first, and then have him find you tomorrow."
At these words, the customers in the tavern couldn't help but hold their breath.
On one hand, they hoped Kenpachi would leave, and on the other hand, they were afraid that Uzuki's words would anger him.
"Where did that Little Ishikawa Katori go in Seireitei?" Yachiru asked while drinking her milk.
Uzuki shook her head: "I only know he went to Seireitei, but he didn't tell me exactly where."
"Let's go, Yachiru."
Upon hearing this, Zaraki Kenpachi immediately stood up and walked outside.
This made everyone in the tavern pause for a moment. Was he really that easy to talk to?
"See you next time, Little Uzuki."
Yachiru jumped off the bar, ran a few steps, and then jumped directly onto Zaraki Kenpachi's back, asking, "Aren't we waiting for Little Ishikawa Katori?"
"Have Ikkaku come over tomorrow. I'll come back if he can defeat Ikkaku!"
Meanwhile, Ishikawa Katori, who was following Isane to the Fourth Squad, didn't know…
That because of Isane's invitation, he had inadvertently avoided a crisis.
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