Soul Society.
Rukongai was the first place ordinary souls reached after leaving the Living World, and where the vast majority of Living World souls would reside for a long time. Compared to the Seireitei, it was utterly a land of the poor. Aside from a few of the higher-ranked districts, most places lacked resources and suffered from chaotic order, where robbery and murder were commonplace.
District Eighty, Zaraki District. It was the place farthest from the Seireitei and had the worst public security. Countless souls died here every day, yet no one cared.
A spatial rift slowly appeared, and a group of people emerged from it. They were all dressed as Living World Empire ninjas, followed by several large mechanical puppets carrying enormous storage crates filled with strange-looking fruits.
Kamado frowned slightly at the desolate surroundings, then gave the order, "Bring everyone in the area here."
The squad of ninjas immediately sprang into action. Kamado casually picked up a fruit from one of the storage crates. These were all products of the Biological Science Research Institute—artificial Zoan-type Devil Fruits.
There were many Devil Fruits in this batch, enough for more than a thousand people to consume. They were the result of the Biological Science Research Institute's hard work over a long period.
The side effects of these Devil Fruits were still unknown, but it did not matter, so long as they achieved what they wanted.
Meanwhile, in the Seireitei, the Kuchiki Clan, one of the Four Great Noble Clans, was holding a banquet. The Kuchiki Clan's invitation had to be respected, so everyone who had been invited attended without exception. Several courtyards of the Kuchiki Clan were packed with people, and the hundreds of guests created a lively atmosphere as though some joyous occasion were being celebrated.
The banquet featured