The Assessment Continues (Part Two)

The park from last night.

When Liu Ziyun arrived with the two captains, the sight made his heart sink.

The conspicuous Plus from last night was still wandering around where it had been.

But unlike last night—

Something was clearly wrong with the Plus.

His body was twisting and mutating.

And around him... there were faint fluctuations from a barrier!

"This is bad!" Shunsui Kyōraku's expression changed. "He's undergoing Hollowfication!"

The moment he spoke—

The Plus's body suddenly burst apart!

It turned into a cloud of black dust!

But immediately afterward, the dust rapidly gathered and reassembled—

Taking the form of a savage-looking Hollow!

"Roar—!!!"

The Hollow roared, opened its enormous mouth, and lunged at Shunsui Kyōraku, who was closest!

"Tch." Shunsui Kyōraku calmly drew his sword—

"Swish!"

With one stroke, he cut the Hollow in two.

The Hollow's body dissolved into Reishi and scattered.

The whole process was smooth and effortless, taking less than three seconds.

And at the same time—

"Trying to run?"

Unohana's gentle voice rang out.

She had already appeared on the other side of the park, blocking two masked Soul Reapers who were about to flee.

The two Soul Reapers stiffened at the sight of Unohana.

Liu Ziyun spoke up again at just the "right" moment. "Captain, are these two... Soul Reapers Soul Society sent to stay in the World of the Living?"

He paused, his tone "innocent." "Why are they wearing masks? If we're stationed in the World of the Living someday, will we have to wear masks too?"

He thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Huh... I don't ever want an assignment like that. They look so ugly."

The two masked Soul Reapers: "..."

Is this brat... making fun of us?!

Unohana rolled her eyes. "All right, stop clowning around."

She looked at the two Soul Reapers. "Capture them and take them back to Soul Society for questioning. Let's see... what they're after."

The two Soul Reapers exchanged a glance, determination flashing in their eyes.

They tried to turn and run, but Shunsui Kyōraku's voice came from behind them:

"Don't worry, Liu Ziyun. The Fourth Division generally doesn't get assignments to stay in the World of the Living—those are too boring and wouldn't suit you."

The two Soul Reapers: "..."

Is this really the time to talk about that?!

They knew they couldn't escape.

The two exchanged a look, then—

They both put down their weapons, ready to surrender.

But the moment they put down their weapons—

"Boom—!!!"

Their bodies suddenly swelled!

Then—

They exploded.

Blown to pieces.

Not even a scrap of cloth remained.

Unohana's gaze turned cold. "It seems... the other side had certain measures in place to keep information from leaking."

Shunsui Kyōraku frowned too. "Oh dear... this is troublesome."

He looked at the pool of "blood." "They were blown to nothing, without leaving a single clue. It seems... the masterminds thought of everything."

Unohana looked at Liu Ziyun. "All right, things are finished here. You... go back to your assessment."

Liu Ziyun nodded. "All right, Captain. I'll be going, then."

He turned and left, his steps light.

As if nothing had happened.

Only after he was far away did Unohana look at Shunsui Kyōraku. "It seems... you noble captains will have your hands full now."

A hint of sarcasm entered her voice. "Those people have become so brazen... they're interfering in the World of the Living."

Shunsui Kyōraku sighed helplessly. "Ah... who knows which noble will end up taking the blame this time."

He paused. "Still... we should have Captain Kuchiki (Kuchiki Ginrei, Byakuya Kuchiki's grandfather and the current Sixth Division Captain) look into it thoroughly. Those arrogant fools... really are aggravating."

A chill flashed in Unohana's eyes. "The nobles these days really don't have any sense of reverence left."

She paused. "It seems... Captain-Commander Yamamoto will have to go to Central 46 and 'reason' with them again."

She looked at Shunsui Kyōraku, her tone "gentle." "If you ask me... we might as well kill everyone in Central 46 and choose a new set. Give those nobles... a little sense of reverence."

Shunsui Kyōraku: "..."

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Senior Unohana, try not to be... quite so eager to kill."

He smiled bitterly. "Those people may not be much, but they're still Soul Society's judicial body. We can't solve this so violently..."

He paused. "Besides... not all nobles are like that. It's only a small minority."

Hearing that, Unohana suddenly smiled.

Her smile was very gentle. "Oh... I forgot."

She looked at Shunsui Kyōraku. "Captain Kyōraku... you're a noble too."

She paused, then added, "But even if someone were to kill them... it wouldn't be my turn. Right now... I'm only the Fourth Division Captain of the medical division."

With that, she turned and left.

Her white haori fluttered behind her.

Shunsui Kyōraku was left standing there alone, his expression complicated.

After a long while, he sighed. "What a... terrifying woman."

He looked at the spot where the two Soul Reapers had "blown themselves up," his gaze turning serious. "Still... she's right. Some nobles... really do need to be put in their place."

He turned and left the park as well.

Sunlight spilled over the park, as if nothing had ever happened.

But undercurrents were stirring.

Meanwhile, after leaving the park, Liu Ziyun did not immediately go looking for a Plus.

He found an empty alley, leaned against the wall, closed his eyes, and said inwardly, Life-Taker, Tulu... are you there?

A moment later, Life-Taker's gentle voice sounded in his heart. "I'm here. What is it?"

Tulu's voice followed, as cold as ever. "Run into trouble again?"

Liu Ziyun smiled bitterly. "Just now... I almost fell for it."

He briefly recounted what had happened.

After listening, Tulu snorted. "You were smart enough to call for help."

Life-Taker chuckled. "But... your acting still needs work. Sitting there drinking milk tea and watching the show... you were too relaxed. It could easily make people suspicious."

Liu Ziyun scratched his head. "I know... but I really didn't know what to do! I couldn't just rush over and fight those Soul Reapers to the death, could I?"

Tulu: "You could have just run."

Liu Ziyun: "...Run?"

"Right," Tulu said. "When you sense danger, get out immediately—that's the most basic rule of survival."

He paused. "You got lucky this time. The other side was only testing you. What if next time... they go straight for the kill?"

Liu Ziyun fell silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "I understand."

He paused. "But... this incident should make the nobles rein themselves in a little, right?"

Life-Taker said gently, "Not necessarily. But at least... it'll give those brazen people a warning."

Liu Ziyun took a deep breath. "All right... I need to finish the assessment. Perform Konsō on at least three Pluses... I need to hurry."

He was about to leave the alley when suddenly—

"Wait."

Tulu's voice rang out. "There's a Plus three hundred meters to your left."

Liu Ziyun was startled. "How do you know?"

"Obviously," Tulu said. "We're Zanpakuto—our ability to sense souls is much stronger than yours, you half-baked Soul Reaper."

Liu Ziyun's eyes lit up. "Great! Thanks!"

He strode quickly in the direction Tulu had indicated.

Sure enough, beneath a traffic light at an intersection, an old woman's Plus stood there looking lost.

Liu Ziyun walked over, drew his Asauchi (he hadn't dared use his Zanpakuto for fear of attracting attention), and gently touched the hilt to the old woman's forehead:

"Konsō."

A flash of light passed.

The old woman's figure slowly disappeared.

"One down..."

Liu Ziyun sheathed his sword and looked into the distance.

"Two more..."

"Let's do this."

He took a deep breath and continued on.

And behind him, on the roof of a distant high-rise.

Tsunayashiro Tokinada lowered his binoculars, his face dark.

"It failed..."

He murmured to himself, "That brat... is even harder to deal with than I thought."

He paused, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes. "But... it doesn't matter. The game... has only just begun."

He turned and vanished from the rooftop.

The wind blew, carrying a chill.

The sky over the World of the Living was still clear.

But Liu Ziyun knew—

The real test was still to come.