Junrinan was the first district of West Street, the safest area in all of Rukongai.
But at this moment, a large number of Shinigami had gathered in front of a forge. Clearly, something bad was about to happen.
The residents quickly distanced themselves from the area.
Kyōraku Shunsui lifted his straw hat and looked up at the sign. "Ōtsuka Bō... Katori-kun, is this the place you were talking about?"
After receiving the notification from Batsunsai, he had immediately led the members of Squad 8 to investigate the matter of the Bakutō.
Sora nodded. "Yes. I've tracked the 'evil swords' to this location."
He didn't mention Shin Kasumiōji, only that one of his students had been killed by an "evil sword" and that his investigation had led him here.
Shunsui sighed. "To think such a place would become a den of filth."
"I've even been here before. They were having a sale a while back."
At that moment, the people inside the forge heard the commotion. A young man came out and was shocked to see so many Shinigami.
"What is all this... Ah, it's Captain Kyōraku. Is there something I can help you with?"
Shunsui said, "Is Master Ōtsuka in? I have some questions for him."
"The master is inside... I'll go get him now..." the young man said nervously. The pressure of being stared down by so many Shinigami was immense.
"No need," a sturdy, middle-aged man said, walking out from inside.
He looked at the surrounding Shinigami and, realizing they hadn't come with good intentions, still asked calmly, "Captain Kyōraku, were you looking for me?"
Shunsui nodded. "Master Ōtsuka, I've received a report that your forge has been producing contraband."
An imperceptible flicker crossed the middle-aged man's eyes. "Captain, Ōtsuka Bō would never do such a thing."
"We only forge ordinary weapons and daily tools, all of which are permitted by the Seireitei."
"My apologies, but please allow us to conduct a search."
"Be my guest..." The middle-aged man had no choice but to agree.
With a captain present, he couldn't refuse. However, he didn't think they would find anything.
The Shinigami entered the forge. Shunsui gave Sora a look, signaling him to lead the way.
Sora took them directly to the forging room, walked over to the cooling trough, and began to fill it with water.
This action made the middle-aged man's face change drastically. These Shinigami had come prepared.
He rushed forward. "Sir, this cooling trough cannot be used like that! Its weight capacity is limited, the water level cannot exceed half!"
Sora didn't stop. This was the secret he had discovered with his shadow vision.
Filling the trough would activate a hidden mechanism.
Shunsui watched the man's expression change and stroked his chin. "Master Ōtsuka, you seem very nervous. Are you hiding a secret?"
The man forced a smile. "Not at all... I am just an ordinary blacksmith..."
He forced himself to calm down, but as the water level rose, more and more sweat beaded on his forehead.
Just then, Shunsui received a Tentei Kūra transmission.
"Kyōraku Shunsui! Where are you right now!"
"I've already received a report! Why did you mobilize your squad without authorization?"
"What? What was that?" Shunsui said, picking his ear with his pinky finger. "I can't hear you. Is there something here that's interfering with the Kidō?"
"...You bastard!"
After the transmission disappeared, Shunsui pouted. "My, my, word travels fast to the old man. Looks like we've come to the right place. Someone is getting very anxious..."
Soon, the trough was full. Sora opened the valve, and the water began to drain rapidly.
The sound of gears turning echoed from beneath the ground.
A moment later, a lever rose from the side of the trough. Sora pulled it, and one side of the trough slowly opened, revealing a hidden passage.
"Well, well, hidden quite nicely," Shunsui marveled. "It seems you do have some remarkable secrets here, don't you, Master Ōtsuka?"
The middle-aged man's face was ashen.
"Katori-kun, we have to hurry," Shunsui said. "There are probably their men on the street outside. My mobilization has already been reported."
He had come because he trusted Batsunsai and Sora, completely bypassing normal procedures.
Shunsui left two of his men to stand guard, and the rest followed him down into the secret passage.
They descended a flight of stairs for over a hundred meters before arriving at the true forging hall.
The place was divided into two parts: a forging area for the sword blanks and a prison area.
There were only a dozen or so guards and researchers, and they were quickly subdued.
Shunsui and Sora went to inspect the half-finished blanks.
Sora picked one up. As he held it, he felt as if he were hearing phantom noises, a layered and unending chorus of wails.
He could feel a chaotic soul aura from within it.
"Captain, take a look at this," Sora said, handing the blank to him.
Shunsui took it and, after a quick inspection, his expression turned grim.
"This forging method is truly vicious. These blanks are forged from countless souls!"
If a Zanpakutō was born from a Shinigami's own soul, then these blanks were created by crushing countless weak souls and forging them together.
"Captain, we've finished our check," a Shinigami reported.
"There are 58 captive souls here, and all of them have spiritual aptitude."
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