The Assessment Ends (1)

Tsunayashiro Tokinada stood atop a tall building in the World of the Living, his face as dark as the sky before a storm.

A subordinate reported over the communicator in his hand. "Lord Tokinada... everything we set up against Liu Ziyun has been foiled. He brought two captains straight to the trap in the park and had them dismantle it.

"He shouted 'Captain, help!' and scared off the men lying in ambush at the car accident scene. And even... the barrier we prepared—he deliberately lured them into it and had the captains break it."

Tsunayashiro Tokinada fell silent for a long time.

So long that his subordinate on the other end of the communicator began to break out in a cold sweat.

Only then did he slowly speak. "So... all our carefully laid plans were a joke to that brat?"

"...Yes."

"Heh heh..." Tsunayashiro Tokinada laughed coldly. "Very good."

He paused. "All of you... keep an eye on that brat. If you get the chance... kill him."

"But, my lord... the captains are there too..."

"Then wait until they're gone!" Tsunayashiro Tokinada snarled. "I refuse to believe... he can hide behind the captains forever!"

"Y-yes, sir!"

The communication ended.

Tsunayashiro Tokinada put away the communicator and looked into the distance.

That was where Liu Ziyun was. "Liu Ziyun..." he murmured to himself. "Your ability... I will have it... even if... you have to die."

He turned, opened a Senkaimon, and returned to Soul Society.

His retreating figure radiated a cold killing intent.

Meanwhile, Liu Ziyun was wandering around a cemetery in Karakura Town.

He had heard that places like cemeteries had the most Pluses—there were plenty of dead people, after all.

But...

"Kid, you're too late."

A middle-aged Soul Reaper in a Shihakusho sat on a gravestone, gnawing on a piece of bread as he spoke to Liu Ziyun. "If you'd come a few days ago, you could've run into a few Pluses. But now... I've already performed Konsō on all of them."

Liu Ziyun stared at him, speechless. "Seriously, old man... did you treat this place like a buffet? You didn't leave me a single crumb?"

The Soul Reaper nearly choked on his bread. "Cough, cough... who're you calling old man?! I'm only a little over three hundred! I'm still young! You can call me big brother!"

Liu Ziyun looked him up and down. "Over three hundred... in human years, you're old enough to be my great-great-grandfather."

He paused. "All right, old man, got it. I'll be going."

With that, he vanished with a Shunpo, giving the man no chance to argue.

The Soul Reaper was left fuming. "Hey! I said call me big brother! Big brother!!!"

After leaving the cemetery, Liu Ziyun had not gone far when he sensed something was wrong.

Someone's watching me...

More than one...

And... they're clearly up to no good.

He thought for a moment, then, instead of heading somewhere crowded, deliberately sought out a secluded clearing and stopped.

"Everyone... you've been watching for a while, haven't you?" he called out. "If there's something you want... come out and say it clearly. Peeping from the shadows isn't very gentlemanly."

The moment his voice fell—

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Several figures appeared from all directions.

At the same time, a transparent barrier quickly spread out, enclosing the entire clearing.

"It seems... you were prepared for this." The masked Soul Reaper at their head spoke in a raspy voice. "You actually walked right into the barrier we prepared... should I call you brave, or stupid?"

Liu Ziyun, however, looked perfectly at ease. "It seems... you didn't notice that someone's been watching me this whole time?"

He paused, then added, "Well, of course... someone who'd send a bunch of arrogant idiots out to do this kind of dirty work... why would they care whether you lived or died?"

With that, he looked beyond the barrier. "Captains, stop playing around. They're not even pretending anymore. They're going to take us on head-on."

The instant he finished speaking—

"Crack!"

The barrier shattered.

Like glass struck by a blow, it broke apart in an instant.

Unohana and Shunsui Kyōraku appeared beside Liu Ziyun.

Unohana looked at the masked Soul Reapers, her voice gentle. "Well, Captain Kyōraku. There are... rather a lot of them this time."

She paused. "Perhaps we can... try taking them alive."

Shunsui Kyōraku shook his head. "I'm afraid... it won't be that easy."

He looked at the Soul Reapers, his gaze grave. "I still haven't figured out how to counter their backup plan."

No sooner had he spoken—

The masked Soul Reapers' bodies began to swell at the same time!

Like balloons being inflated, they rapidly grew larger!

"Not good!" Shunsui Kyōraku's expression changed.

He grabbed Liu Ziyun, and at the same time—

"Shunpo!"

"Shunpo!"

He and Unohana moved almost simultaneously, taking Liu Ziyun with them as they shot backward!

The second after they retreated—

"Boom!!!"

"Boom, boom, boom!!!"

A series of explosions erupted!

The Soul Reapers were all blown to pieces!

Flesh and blood flew everywhere, leaving an extremely gruesome scene.

The shock waves from the explosions tore up the entire clearing.

But Shunsui Kyōraku and Unohana had already retreated to a safe distance.

Shunsui Kyōraku pulled his straw hat lower and sighed. "Sigh... what method did they use? To make people explode in an instant... and set them off anytime, anywhere?"

Unohana frowned as well. "It really is troublesome. Who... was responsible?"

Liu Ziyun poked his head out from the protection of the two captains and looked at the wreckage. "After this... they probably won't make another move, right?"

He analyzed the situation. "After the assessment ends, I'll return to the Fourth Division and might not come out again. That way... they won't have an opportunity."

He paused. "Once enough time passes, they probably won't make another move. After all, the more often they act, the more flaws they'll leave. If it's only to vent their anger because 'a lowborn wouldn't cooperate'... it's not worth taking such a big risk."

Unohana nodded. "In theory, yes. But I'm afraid... they won't be able to let go of that so-called 'noble pride' and will bring in Central 46."

Liu Ziyun smiled. "It's fine. Once I get back, I'll keep a low profile—stay in the barracks as much as possible and out of sight. They probably won't come looking for trouble."

He paused. "Unless... there's something they want from me. Otherwise, they won't force the issue over a transfer order."

He looked at the two captains. "After all... letting a clan head live has already given them enough face. If they push their luck any further... Captain-Commander Yamamoto won't stand by and do nothing."

Shunsui Kyōraku nodded. "Don't worry. With the Captain-Commander here... they won't dare make things too difficult for you."

Only then did Liu Ziyun breathe a sigh of relief. "Sigh... all I want is to stay quietly in the Fourth Division and, when there's nothing else to do, see patients and treat injuries."

He looked up at the sky and heaved a long sigh. "Why... are there always troublesome subjects plotting against this emperor?!"

Unohana glanced at him. "Enough lamenting. We're leaving... you carry on with your assessment."

She paused, a hint of teasing in her voice. "So far... you haven't completed a single Konsō. Don't fail the assessment and give them something to use against you."

Liu Ziyun said, "...Uh."

Now that I think about it... she's right?

I've been so busy dodging nobles that I haven't done any of what I came here for!

He hurriedly nodded. "Understood, Captain! I'll get right to it!"

With that, he dashed off.