Although Katori Sora and his companions were dressed in common Rukongai attire, Komamura Sajin could still discern their extraordinary presence.
He had initially assumed they might be nobles or wealthy merchants out for leisure, so he accepted their invitation to travel together. He could act as a guard and get a free meal.
But after seeing the speed Katori Sora displayed when he left, Komamura Sajin understood that this group had no need for his protection at all.
Feeling embarrassed to continue freeloading, Komamura Sajin decided to go out and see if he could hunt some game while Katori Sora was away.
The Hanakare District was desolate. Komamura Sajin walked for a long time before finding a mountain forest with relatively lush vegetation.
However, he found no prey in the forest. Instead, he encountered a group of bandits resting there.
These bandits were all souls with spiritual pressure, possessing considerable strength.
But Komamura Sajin's spiritual pressure was already comparable to that of an ordinary Shinigami officer, and he easily defeated the bandits.
The group of bandits was very poor. Komamura Sajin only found a small amount of money on them, but he also discovered a crate of porcelain in their camp.
Komamura Sajin gave up on hunting and decided to take the crate of porcelain to a nearby market to sell for money.
What he didn't expect was that this crate of porcelain was stolen property, and the robbed merchant was right there in the nearby market!
The market wasn't large, and the merchants all knew each other. Soon after Komamura Sajin brought the crate to the market, he was stopped.
The people surrounding Komamura Sajin glared at him angrily.
"You stole things from our 'White Porcelain Workshop' and you dare bring them here to sell?!"
"'White Porcelain Workshop' is Lord Madarame's business! You blind bandits are about to meet your end!"
Komamura Sajin frowned. "I am not a bandit. I found this among a group of bandits."
A merchant said, "We won't listen to your excuses. You can save those words for when Lord Madarame arrives!"
The merchants refused to believe Komamura Sajin's words and insisted he stay until Lord Madarame arrived to pass judgment.
Komamura Sajin did not want to stay. His identity couldn't withstand scrutiny, and if the situation escalated, the clansmen pursuing him could easily find him.
Komamura Sajin had previously gotten into trouble for striking a noble who was harassing a young woman. He ran fast at the time and wasn't caught.
But after that, the Werewolf Clan, under pressure from the nobility, had to send people to capture Komamura Sajin.
Komamura Sajin said, "The porcelain I found in the bandit camp is all here. If these items belong to you, I can return them."
A merchant grabbed Komamura Sajin as he tried to leave. "Don't go! We lost more than just one crate of porcelain!"
Komamura Sajin thought for a moment and said, "How about I take you to the bandit camp to have a look? The bandits I defeated are still there. That should prove I'm not a bandit, right?"
The merchant shook his head, insisting that Komamura Sajin stay. "Who would go with you? It might be a trap. We'll wait for Lord Madarame. Lord Madarame is a powerful Shinigami; he's not afraid of any of your tricks!"
"And you're wearing a helmet to hide your face, so sneaky. Who knows if you're one of those bandits!"
"There were no members of the Werewolf Clan among those bandits." Anxious to leave, Komamura Sajin removed his bamboo helmet, revealing his identity.
Even if he didn't reveal his identity now, it would be difficult to hide it once a Shinigami arrived. It was better to show himself now and leave sooner.
"He's a werewolf!"
"As expected of a man burdened by sin! To be reincarnated as a werewolf and still be a bandit!"
However, to Komamura Sajin's surprise, when he revealed his Akita-like head, the merchants were even more unwilling to let him leave.
Just as Komamura Sajin was in a standoff with the merchants, a gentle voice sounded from outside the crowd:
"Is it always this lively here?"
The merchants turned their heads, and after seeing the speaker's attire, they waved him away dismissively. "This is none of your business, don't come looking for trouble!"
Sora found it strange. "But the person you're surrounding is my companion. How is it none of my business?"
Komamura Sajin's heart shook. He hadn't expected Katori Sora's attitude toward him to remain unchanged even after revealing his werewolf appearance.
Since leaving Inuyama, he had often faced discrimination because of his appearance.
He was the center of attention wherever he went.
Even the young woman he had saved was unwilling to come forward and testify for him after learning he was a werewolf.
Komamura Sajin's pair of orange pupils stared intently at Katori Sora. Seemingly sensing his gaze, Sora turned and gave him a gentle smile.
Komamura Sajin was deeply shaken. He truly held no prejudice against him!
The merchant standing next to Sora was also startled when he heard his words and quietly took several steps back. "You're his accomplice? You're a bandit too!"
Just then, the Lord Madarame the merchants were waiting for arrived.
Madarame Ichirō, leading a group of guards, pushed through the crowd of onlookers.
"Where is the bandit who dared to rob my 'White Porcelain Workshop'?" Madarame Ichirō's aura was imposing as he swept his sharp gaze across the crowd.
However, when he saw Katori Sora, his arrogant demeanor immediately deflated.
"Professor Katori! What are you doing here?" A respectful smile appeared on Madarame Ichirō's face.
Sora thought for a moment and quickly remembered who Madarame Ichirō was.
Madarame Ichirō was a classmate of Kuchiki Sōjun. After Tsunayashiro Tokinada was dismissed, Class One was handed over to Tanemoku Sōsuke.
Sora had not taught Class One, but he was the head of the Swordsmanship Club and also taught the advanced swordsmanship class, which this Madarame Ichirō had attended for a time.
"I came to buy some things, but it seems my companion and I have been mistaken for bandits," Sora said with a smile.
A man whispered the whole story in Madarame Ichirō's ear. During this, his expression changed several times, like a Sichuan opera face-changing performance.
Madarame Ichirō furiously scolded the merchant, "How could this happen! How could Professor Katori possibly be a bandit!"
Komamura Sajin said, "They really had no way of confirming my identity. I'll return this crate of porcelain to you."
Madarame Ichirō had a flash of inspiration and quickly had someone bring over a stack of banknotes. "This crate of porcelain is very valuable. You found it and helped me greatly... This is a reward for both of you."
Sora smiled. "You little rascal. It's been a while, and you've become much smoother."
"This..." Komamura Sajin looked at the thick stack of banknotes, which was clearly worth far more than the crate of porcelain.
The merchants said sincerely, "Please, you two masters must accept it. Consider it an apology for our misunderstanding just now!"
"It was nothing serious. I accept your apology." Sora took the money and gave a portion to Komamura Sajin. "You should take it too."
Komamura Sajin looked at the banknotes in his hand, lost in thought.
In the Soul Society, only the strong earn respect.
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