Early the next morning, Asano Kiyoshi got himself ready. After bidding Nel farewell, he headed toward the First Squad.
By the time he arrived at the First Squad, Captain-Commander had already been waiting for him for some time. Seeing Asano Kiyoshi so neatly dressed, Captain-Commander nodded in satisfaction.
"You've cleaned yourself up fairly well today. At least the Chief Kido Master's robes aren't as dusty as they were yesterday."
Though Captain-Commander's words made Asano Kiyoshi somewhat embarrassed, he smiled and nodded.
Then, Captain-Commander patted Asano Kiyoshi on the shoulder and said,
"Come on. We're going to the Shiba Clan. That is the only route to the Soul King Palace."
Hearing that, Asano Kiyoshi suddenly recalled how a certain old man had brutally made his way up to the Soul King Palace a few days ago. He could not help muttering,
"Is it really the only route? But I remember you didn't go up that way a few days ago..."
Captain-Commander suddenly turned around. Narrowing his eyes, he asked,
"Have you been slacking off in your training lately? Once you return from the Soul King Palace, go train at this old man's Dojo for another week!"
Asano Kiyoshi's face crumpled at those words. He was done for. That old man would definitely use his insufficient physical strength as an excuse to put him through a week-long Hakuda special training regimen...
Just thinking about Captain-Commander's fists, which could punch straight through the heavens, made every muscle in Asano Kiyoshi's body ache.
Seeing Asano Kiyoshi's bitter expression, Captain-Commander's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile.
The two walked along the road. Worried that they might disrupt the other squad members' work, they took a rather secluded route and did not encounter many Shinigami.
As Captain-Commander walked, he looked over the completely renewed Soul