Chapter 217

"Can."

Haruto nodded.

This is also why he dispersed the crowd in advance: Soi Fon arrived wearing the work (ninja) uniform of the Stealth Force, which was a kind of explicit indication; otherwise, if she had been wearing World of the Living clothes, Haruto wouldn't have had to go through all this trouble.

"Thank you for your support."

After thinking for Soi Fon still expressed her gratitude to Haruto.

It's so great that Haruto is willing to cooperate.

Otherwise, Soi Fon doesn't seem to have any good solutions: over the years of carrying out missions, she has encountered far too many obstacles, and with her and the search team she brought... if people are unwilling, they can't even get through the door.

After all...

Most people dislike squads that rely on Stealth Force, especially squads like the 11th and 12th, which are either too careless or full of secrets.

Soi Fon beckoned behind her.

The moment the Stealth Force entered the store—

"Call out."

A thread extending from the void silently locked one of the members of the Stealth Force in mid-air.

"... Fourth Seat Haruto?"

Soi Fon's expression tensed instantly.

They can't exactly lure and kill Stealth Force, then pretend nothing happened, can they?

Similar situations have occurred throughout history during Stealth Force searches of rebellious nobles.

Don't be nervous.

Haruto smiled calmly.

"This person isn't from the Stealth Force, although we don't know whose rat snuck in... As a law enforcement agency, you need to strengthen your internal investigations."

Haruto's fingers slowly turned.

This Hainawa, condensed to only one-hundredth the thickness of a normal Bakudō, wraps around and ensnares the target like a spider web capturing its prey.

Then, with his thumb and forefinger together, he casually pinched them together.

"Snap."

"!?"

Such a large living person was simply "compressed" into a ball the size of a marble, and rolled out through the open door crack.

"You can continue."

"..."

The members of the Stealth Force looked at each other, and finally all turned their gaze back to their superiors.

"Get started now!"

Soi Fon was losing face.

But there's nothing we can do about it.

Using the No. 4 Bakudō Hainawa, which is meant to be used to tie people up, to crush a person into a meatball without shedding a drop of blood— Soi Fon herself can barely use rope-type Bakudō as cutting blades, but Haruto's use of them...

It's absolutely appalling.

"... Be gentle."

No way.

Soi Fon could only add one more sentence at the end.

The Stealth Force breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Five minutes later.

Led by Soi Fon, the Stealth Force nervously left the dessert shop.

It wasn't that they had discovered anything; in fact, it was precisely because they hadn't found anything that they were able to leave the shop safely. Whether the "companion" who fell into the street drain was real or not was no longer important; after all, no one wanted to end up like him.

"..."

"A-Qing."

After the Stealth Force was completed, Nanao adjusted her increasingly thick glasses and spoke:

What are you hiding here?

While Stealth Force may not be the most reliable method, they won't act recklessly without evidence.

After all, the Central 46 Chambers had to give face to Yoruichi's Second Division to transfer people from Yoruichi's side—and the Central 46 Chambers wasn't without the sages and judges promoted by the Shihoin Clan.

"..."

"Jingle."

Haruto glanced at the closed shop door.

"This didn't exist before the Stealth Force."

As for now...

Then he turned his gaze toward the stairs.

"Shall we go upstairs and take a look?"

The entire second floor of the dessert shop is a multi-purpose activity room.

The shop was originally built by Haruto came to the World of the Living to play.

The sunniest floor, the third floor, is a separate small bedroom—this wasn't built because the World of the Living provided by the Thirteenth Division was too small, and all the expenses were paid by Haruto himself...

With the help of Kaien Shiba was finally released from confinement.

"Knock knock knock."

Third floor.

Haruto gently knocked on the door of the empty bedroom.

This place was prepared by Byakuya, but the little brother is currently undergoing Bankai training and doesn't have time to come to the World of the Living.

"..."

Even though there was no response from inside the door, the atmosphere inside the building suddenly became tense.

"Clang."

Haruto stopped Kiyone from drawing her sword and gently shook his head at her.

"I'm Haruto, may I come in?"

"... please."

A somewhat familiar, gentle female voice came from inside the room.

"..."

Haruto and the others exchanged glances, then gently pushed open the door to the room.

"Click."

"... call!"

Haruto let out a soft sigh.

"Haven't seen you for a long time."

Haruto spoke calmly to the two people leaning against the window.

"Captain Seigen, Lieutenant Ika."

That's right.

The "fugitives" being hunted by Soul Society are none other than the captain and vice-captain of the Fifth Division, the Shusuha siblings.

"I've already dealt with the Stealth Force."

On the abilities of the Kidō.

There are very few captains in the Gotei 13 who are stronger than Haruto, let alone ordinary members of the Stealth Force.

The impromptu barrier he set up was completely undetectable to them, especially since Haruto had deliberately startled them.

"Don't worry."

Haruto gestured to everyone not to be so nervous and to just find a place to sit in the room.

These are all my closest friends whom I can entrust my life to.

"If you two encounter any trouble..."

Haruto was the first to find a chair and sit down.

"You can tell me... I suppose that's why you came to see me?"

"... I knew I hadn't misjudged you."

This was the first time Seigen Kyōshiba had spoken since entering the room.

--His condition was not good. Although he did not appear to be injured, his Reiatsu fluctuated significantly, indicating that he had likely engaged in a battle that had greatly depleted his energy.

As for Ika Kyōshiba...

If she were still conscious, Captain Seigen's condition would probably be even better.

"Of course."

"Captain Seigen, you might still be able to hold on, but looking at Sister Ika's condition..."

Haruto didn't even need to turn his head; Isane had already moved closer to him.

Please don't refuse.

Haruto said very seriously.

Haruto has personally experienced Ika's Zanpakuto, "Tsubakibana," and his current state is clearly due to the depletion of his Reiatsu.

"... Thank you for your help, young lady from the Kotetsu Clan."

Upon hearing this Seigen Kyōshiba no longer refused—it seems that Isane's reputation over the years has spread beyond just the Fourth Division.

"Of course."

Isane's answer was exactly the same as Haruto's.

Friend or foe? Good or bad?

Although Isane is gentle and easy-going, she is by no means a saint; she simply trusts Haruto's judgment.

I'll try to keep it brief.

While Isane was treating Ika, Seigen's complexion also improved considerably, presumably because he no longer needed to be constantly on edge.

"You've probably heard of the three great priest families of Soul Society, right?"

"..."

Seigen had barely finished speaking.

The others turned their gazes toward Nanao.

"Please continue."

Only Haruto gave a subtle, unchanging indication.

This saying is rarely mentioned among the nobility nowadays; the younger nobles simply regard them as a special kind of upper-class noble. However, because of Nanao, Haruto has always been paying attention to it.

"The three major priestly families are..."

"The Kusaka Clan, the Ise Clan, and the Kyōshiba Family."

--Among the names mentioned by Seigen, two are either already in decline or on the verge of decline, so it's strange that they're still attracting attention.