Is Cao Cao the Legitimate One?

Yet although Chiba Makoto's smile looked quite harmless and gentle, in Shaolin Fon's eyes, he was like some Uncle Bear sneaking around to lick honey—utterly untrustworthy!

Chiba Makoto also realized that his gaze had seemed a little too eager, accidentally revealing a bit of what was in his heart.

Hmm... looks like I need to get myself a pair of glasses...

At that moment, Chiba Makoto suddenly understood the importance of glasses. They could make his features appear more refined and harmless while concealing subtle fluctuations in his eyes.

Still, when Chiba Makoto had just realized that the Shaolin Fon before him was the future captain of the Second Division, he could not help feeling delighted.

After all, if he could leave a "Seed of the Forest" inside a captain-level Soul Reaper in advance, the returns would undoubtedly be enormous—far better than planting seeds in ordinary Soul Reapers.

Besides, building a good relationship with the future captain of the Second Division ahead of time could only bring benefits and no harm.

Although Chiba Makoto had already firmly latched onto Unohana Retsu's beautiful leg, how could an adult like him possibly hang himself from only one crooked-neck tree?

Fortunately, after accumulating seeds for more than two months, he had just used most of them on those fifty-odd burly men from the Eleventh Division. He still had some stock left, so he would not be left in the awkward position of facing the delicate Shaolin Fon without any seeds.

Still, Chiba Makoto understood that he could not act too aggressively at a time like this. Otherwise, he might scare off Shaolin Fon, who was still in her girlhood.

So, Chiba Makoto merely gave Shaolin Fon a slight nod. He did not press or force her any further, instead calmly turning around and heading back into the office.

Shaolin Fon hesitated where she stood for several seconds before finally walking into the office with an expression of heroic resolve.

However, after entering the office, Shaolin Fon immediately threw the door wide open, making it easy to see the situation inside from the hallway.

The sight made the corner of Chiba Makoto's mouth twitch discreetly.

Shaolin Fon... did she really think he was some creepy uncle?

After all, judging from appearances, he and Shaolin Fon were about the same age. They were peers. Did she really think he would eat her?

At most... he only wanted to borrow some fertile soil to sow a few seeds.

Sigh... doctor-patient relationships these days really lack even the most basic trust.

As Chiba Makoto silently lamented the dreadful doctor-patient relationship within the Seireitei, he calmly and gently asked Shaolin Fon, who was already seated before him.

"Name."

"Shaolin Fon."

"Gender... female. Your assigned division is the Second Division, correct?"

"Yes."

"And your age?"

"Forty-six."

Hearing that, Chiba Makoto's movements paused instinctively. He could not help raising his head to look at the soft, youthful-looking Shaolin Fon.

"Is... is there a problem?" Shaolin Fon asked nervously.

"No..."

Chiba Makoto answered in a slightly strange tone, but inwardly, he still could not adapt to the sense of dissonance.

By normal human standards, Shaolin Fon looked no older than sixteen. Yet Shaolin Fon, who had been born in the Soul Society, was already forty-six years old.

But even so, Shaolin Fon's figure still could not be considered fully mature.

In other words, was Cao the Traitor the only one truly legal in the Soul Society?

Chiba Makoto steadied himself and continued asking.

"Where are you feeling unwell?"

Yet Chiba Makoto's question left Shaolin Fon stunned.

That's right, I'm not sick?

For a moment, Shaolin Fon stammered for ages, unable to figure out what to say.

After all, Shaolin Fon knew perfectly well that if she lied, Chiba Makoto, Captain Unohana's disciple, would certainly see through it easily. That would undoubtedly be detrimental to her intelligence gathering.

Chiba Makoto narrowed his eyes, almost instantly sensing that something was wrong.

No matter how much someone avoided medical treatment, they should not be unable to say anything at all. And Shaolin Fon... the Second Division, Onmitsukidō...

Chiba Makoto had not forgotten that the Second Division was responsible not only for monitoring the World of the Living, but also for keeping watch over the Seireitei itself.

Was this an investigation? Or a test?

The fingers hidden beneath the desk tapped lightly without thought as Chiba Makoto kept pondering, yet his expression revealed not the slightest flaw.

Finally, under Chiba Makoto's patient gaze, Shaolin Fon casually pointed to several parts of her body and described her symptoms vaguely.

"Anyway, it hurts here sometimes, and there are times when this place doesn't feel quite right either..."

"Is that so? How frequent is the pain?" Chiba Makoto asked.

"About once every day or two."

"Mm, then let me give you a simple examination first. Please lie down on the bed over there, all right?" Chiba Makoto asked gently.

Shaolin Fon turned her head and looked at the plain little bed. Along its edges, there were still many damp patches that looked suspiciously like sweat stains—though they might not have been.

In the end, Shaolin Fon looked once more at the still-open door before forcing herself to answer calmly. "O-Okay."

"Mm..."

As Chiba Makoto gestured to Shaolin Fon, he put on a fresh pair of white gloves.

However, the moment Chiba Makoto touched the area around her abdomen that Shaolin Fon had indicated, he felt her entire body tense up completely. Even the ten small toes exposed outside were stretched rigidly straight.

"Relax..."

Chiba Makoto spoke softly, his clear, gentle gaze resting on Shaolin Fon as he asked, "Is it here? When I massage it like this... does it hurt?"

Biting her lower lip tightly, Shaolin Fon felt the strange sensation in her lower abdomen and, for some reason, recalled Lord Yoruichi teasing her. Her mind nearly went blank as she answered instinctively.

"N-No..."

"No pain? You can't feel anything at all?" Chiba Makoto asked with a slight frown.

"I-I can feel it—n-no, that's not right, I can't..." Shaolin Fon replied in a trembling voice.

A trace of suspicion flashed through Chiba Makoto's eyes. Then, based on what Shaolin Fon had said, he performed a simple examination of the other areas as well.

In the end, as Chiba Makoto looked at Shaolin Fon lying face-down on the bed with her back to him, her petite and slender figure fully on display, he was almost certain of one thing.

Shaolin Fon was absolutely faking her illness. Judging by the medical system inherited by the Soul Society, she was undoubtedly in excellent health. Her spiritual body was stable, with no abnormalities or missing portions detected; her Reiryoku circulated normally, her spiritual pressure was steady, and none of the channels within her body showed signs of damage.

Aside from a certain degree of fatigue-related wear in a few joints and muscles, her only minor issue seemed to be slightly delayed development.