As usual, Duan Mu stepped into the Supervision Team's Surveillance Division.
"Boss."
"Good morning, Boss Duan Mu."
"..."
Although dawn had only just broken, the Surveillance Division's squad members were already busy. They sat before their various instruments, snacking as they operated the devices in front of them.
Duan Mu nodded to each of them in turn before coming to Kiyohara Tsumugu's side and asking, "How are things with Rukia?"
"She is still receiving orders normally, but we are unable to track her location."
Kiyohara Tsumugu shook his head. "Regarding this matter, we and the Technical Development Bureau submitted reports separately. But the response from Central 46 was for us to keep a constant watch on the Human World and search for Kuchiki Rukia's whereabouts, rather than send someone to investigate the Human World as usual, or treat her as a deserter."
"She is, after all, a member of one of the Four Great Noble Clans. Central 46 probably doesn't want the news getting out."
"Indeed. If the news spread, even a stepdaughter of the Kuchiki Clan would inevitably be punished."
"But what if something happened to her?"
"The Technical Development Bureau said that Kuchiki Rukia's Command Divine Machine has been continuously receiving orders from them and actively maintaining contact with them. She has not slackened in purifying Hollows at all. In other words, her connection with the Soul Society has not been severed. Only surveillance and tracking of her personally have been obstructed."
"Perhaps that young lady of the Kuchiki Clan simply doesn't want anyone prying into her privacy."
"That is very likely. It would be one thing if it were only us, but even the Technical Development Bureau can't determine where she is. They can only maintain contact through her Command Divine Machine. Who would believe she had