Habutae

"Are you sure about this one?"

After seeing Oku and the others off, Uzuki asked Duan Mu.

She knew Duan Mu well enough to know he never took on jobs he wasn't confident he could complete.

But Duan Mu had already suffered a setback in District 79 a month ago, so it was natural for her to worry, especially since... the client this time was the same group that had caused Duan Mu so much trouble before.

"Don't worry, I didn't spend all that time with Brother Iwao for nothing."

Uzuki nodded upon hearing this and didn't press further. After all, as long as Duan Mu was determined and confident in his ability to complete the task, she wouldn't interfere in the slightest. Having lived for so many years, she had long since shed the delicate and hesitant demeanor of a young girl.

Duan Mu chatted with Uzuki for a while, mainly recounting his experiences over the past month, and then inquired about the shop's status during that time.

"Looks like I need to get back to work quickly," Duan Mu nodded after hearing Uzuki's report.

Although the Yorozuya had gained some renown, such fame was fleeting. If they didn't take on jobs for an extended period, the residents of Rukongai would simply forget about the Yorozuya. If people didn't think of the Yorozuya first when they encountered problems, it would be difficult to make money in the future.

"Let's close the shop and rest today. We'll open for business tomorrow, but we'll put up a sign saying we're out working. If any less urgent requests come in, you can take them for now. I'll finish this job as quickly as possible and come back."

"Okay."

One night passed in the blink of an eye.

The next morning, before Duan Mu could even wake up, the door to the Yorozuya was knocked upon, accompanied by the sound of an argument.

"Hiss~ Ah~~"

Amidst the clamor, Duan Mu, clutching his head from a hangover, climbed out of bed.

Right...

"I really should lay off the alcohol!"

After his habitual complaint, Duan Mu took out a new set of black work clothes from the wardrobe. These clothes were custom-made by Duan Mu, styled similarly to the property security uniforms from his previous life. They were extremely loose-fitting, and also resistant to dirt and wear.

Duan Mu found the typical attire worn by Rukongai residents unbearable, so for the years he had lived in Rukongai, he had basically always worn this style of clothing while working.

He unlocked the iron gate with his key and pushed open the bedroom door, heading downstairs.

"Sister Uzuki, we really have an urgent matter. Please wake up Boss Duan Mu."

"Besides, we've already paid. We're customers."

"Those bastards from District 80 are about to make their move. If Boss Duan Mu doesn't leave soon, it'll be too late."

"..."

After listening for a moment, Duan Mu understood what was happening.

Yesterday, after accepting the commission, he and Oku hadn't agreed on a specific time for the work, only stating that he would go to District 79 tomorrow to assess the situation first.

He hadn't expected the people from West District 80 to arrive so quickly.

No, that's not right...

Duan Mu shook his head. If he remembered correctly, Oku and his group had come to West District 38 five days ago. This meant they had received news or been notified five days ago to have the people from District 79 integrated into a certain power in District 80.

Given that nearly a week had passed without a response, it was normal for the people from District 80 to initiate a forced annexation.

"Come in," Duan Mu said, opening the sliding door towards Oku and the others outside before turning to walk towards the restroom.

"Boss Duan Mu, you took our money, so you have to do the job." Oku said anxiously as soon as he entered, "Our brothers sent word that that bitch Habutae notified us that if we don't report to District 80 by noon today, she'll personally lead people to 'take us over'."

"Habutae?" Duan Mu asked, turning his head while washing up, "A woman?"

"Hmm?" Oku clearly paused for a moment, then hesitantly replied, "I suppose so?"

A question? Duan Mu was taken aback by his answer. It's either yes or no, it's not like District 80 is like some "beautiful country" that has many genders, right?

Then, Oku's next sentence resolved Duan Mu's confusion.

"Habutae's physical characteristics are similar to Daimaru's, and she even looks more robust than Daimaru."

"..."

Duan Mu's mind quickly conjured an image of the two-meter-tall, muscular Daimaru, and then superimposed a wig onto Daimaru's head... The simulated image sent a shiver down Duan Mu's spine.

"That does make it a bit difficult to determine," Duan Mu said, taking a towel to wipe his face, his tone calm. "From your tone, are you very familiar with this 'Habutae,' this heroic woman?"

"She's from District 78," Oku paused before continuing, "Daimaru led us in fighting against District 78, which she ruled, for over a decade. Her strength was equal to Daimaru's; neither could gain the upper hand. In the end, I don't know what she was thinking, but she suddenly took the people of West District 78 to West District 80."

"And because she took so many people with her, our District 79 became the strongest force in West Rukongai besides District 80. Daimaru's ambition grew, and he even set his sights on the Shiba Clan."

"I really don't get you guys. What's so worth fighting over in a place where even drinking water is a struggle?" Uzuki said disdainfully from the side.

"From your perspective, that's certainly true." Oku didn't refute it, instead nodding in agreement. He then continued, "But unlike here, the areas with lower numbers are ones the Seireitei doesn't govern. People like us are clearly better suited to live there."

"I'm more curious why someone like you, Brother Duan Mu, would want to live in a place like this, living under the watchful eyes of people who could kill you at any moment. I, for one, can't stand it."

Duan Mu squinted at Oku and said, "Is living in District 79, which is adjacent to District 80, not living under the watchful eyes of people who could kill you at any moment?"

"That's different."

Oku shook his head. "The ones who can truly become 'great villains' are those who purely want to fight against the strong. Their targets are always within the same district, or the strong individuals in other districts like District 80. They wouldn't pay us any mind at all. I told you before, that 'Habutae' who targeted us was merely a follower of a great villain."

"I heard she willingly attached herself after almost being killed."

"Then why don't you just follow them?" Uzuki interjected.

"As if we'd go to District 80."

Oku said with a fearful expression, "We just prefer to seek what we want through direct methods. While often the most direct method is to kill the other party, if it can be resolved without killing, then we don't necessarily have to fight."

"But the people in District 80 are different. Besides fighting stronger opponents, they have no other pursuits. Their lives are dedicated to killing or being killed. In this regard, they are fundamentally different from us. If we went there, we'd just be used as cannon fodder by that bitch Habutae."

This guy is surprisingly sharp. No wonder he took over West District 79 directly after Daimaru died.

"Speaking of which," Duan Mu looked at Oku curiously, "if I hadn't taken your request, what were your plans?"

"How could we possibly!"

Oku seemed to recall something, his face filled with disdain. "We're different from Daimaru. In his eyes, 'West District 79' was just a stepping stone. His goal was also 'District 80'."

"But we're different. District 79 is our home. When we were initially going to move against that kid from the Shiba Clan, we were all against it. But in the areas with lower numbers, strength is equivalent to influence. Our opposition was useless, though there was also a tiny bit of a thrill-seeking thought mixed in."

"If it weren't for you, we would have fought that bitch to the death. Since we were going to be cannon fodder anyway, we might as well have had a good fight!"

A tiny bit?

Duan Mu smiled. The fearless attitude these guys displayed back then was more insane than one another. While Daimaru's long-standing dominance over District 79 certainly played a role in their deterrence, these madmen, who called others crazy at the drop of a hat, definitely had thrill-seeking thoughts mixed in.

Never try to understand the thoughts of madmen using the logic of normal people.

Although Oku's words sounded reasonable, Duan Mu didn't think they were any different from the villains in 'West District 80'. The only difference was the gap in strength, a desperate gap between them and those great villains, which had caused a shift in their mindset, making them gradually more normal…

In the end, they categorized those who stood out as a different group from themselves, completely losing the will to fight back.

"You guys go back first."

Duan Mu said, looking at Oku, whose expression changed. "I need to visit the Shiba Clan first, then I'll catch up with you."

Upon hearing this, Oku's face immediately showed a look of realization, and he hurriedly nodded. "Right, right, right, that's what we should do. I was just too flustered."

His reaction made Duan Mu pause.

What was going on?

Had they also discovered the hidden Onmitsukidō?

Upon returning to District 38, Duan Mu found that the Onmitsukidō, who hadn't been monitoring him for some time, had once again set their sights on him due to Oku's appearance. However, they were hiding very stealthily and hadn't come near the shop.

This mission was clearly not suitable for the Onmitsukidō to know about.

Although Elder Sister Kūkaku had said that as long as he wasn't an enemy of the Seireitei, it was fine to show his strength; Elder Sister Kūkaku had also said that it was good to keep hiding what needed to be hidden.

In any case, Duan Mu didn't want to expose himself to the high-ranking officials of the Seireitei too early.

And the best way to shake off the Onmitsukidō without arousing suspicion was to go to the Shiba Clan under the guise of cultivation. Once he was there, the Onmitsukidō wouldn't follow him closely.

He could go wherever he wanted.

As for whether the Onmitsukidō would investigate West District 79, it was no longer Duan Mu's concern. However, judging by the Seireitei's attitude towards areas with lower numbers, Soul Reapers would basically not go to those areas.

People from the lower-numbered areas would also have no communication with Soul Reapers, as if they were two separate worlds. Unless something unexpected happened, it should be difficult for information to reach the Seireitei.

Even if it did, without firsthand observation, they would likely remain skeptical.