It Shouldn't Be Such a Coincidence, Right?

West District 48, outskirts of the dense forest.

Following the instructions on the work order, Duan Mu arrived at the meeting point, which was a farm in the outskirts.

By the time Duan Mu got there, the goods were already loaded onto the carts. Besides the caravan leader, there were over a dozen burly men. They looked like they had also been hired for this shipment, just like Duan Mu.

"Who are you?"

As soon as Duan Mu reached the perimeter of the farm, before he could even walk further in, several large men blocked his path.

"I am..." Duan Mu reached into his chest, about to pull out the work order, when he heard a steady male voice from behind the large men say, "Let him through. He's Boss Duan Mu from the Yorozuya in District 38."

The boss of the Yorozuya in District 38?

Upon hearing this, everyone at the farm couldn't help but turn their gazes towards the outside. Among them were people who recognized Duan Mu. After all, with five years of effort, Duan Mu's footsteps had basically covered the entire western part of Rukongai. Even those who hadn't met him had heard of his name.

"President Shinno."

Duan Mu smiled at the middle-aged man who had spoken for him. "I'll have to trouble you again this time."

The middle-aged man appeared to be around 40 or 50 years old. He was wearing a white kimono with gold trim, and he exuded a very amiable aura.

Kawaibe Shinno.

He was the Chamber of Commerce President of West Rukongai's District 43, and also an Elder of District 43. If residents of the district wanted to sell their goods to Seireitei, he was usually the intermediary. He was a man with considerable business acumen.

As far as Duan Mu knew, he had been the Chamber of Commerce President for about five hundred years. Although other districts also had chambers of commerce, their presidents changed frequently, mostly due to corruption and being ousted by the residents.

The fact that Shinno had held his position for so long and was so respected was a testament to his character.

Duan Mu had interacted with him a few times before, but most of those interactions involved building farms and harvesting crops. This was the first time he had taken on a bodyguard role.

"Not at all, we'll be relying on you, Boss Duan Mu, this time."

President Shinno said, glancing behind Duan Mu. He then asked hesitantly, "Are you coming alone?" He quickly added, "I'm not doubting your work ability, Boss Duan Mu, but this commission is different from usual. It's not just about having strong work abilities."

"I understand."

Duan Mu nodded and smiled. "However, my shop has always only had me working outside. If you feel I'm not suitable, you can cancel the commission without penalty. From what Uzuki told me, it seems you posted this commission due to a misunderstanding."

Hearing this, President Shinno's face showed a flicker of hesitation, but he eventually shook his head. "Since you're already here, just come along. I'll pay you the full commission fee."

Although he wasn't sure of Duan Mu's strength, as far as he knew, Duan Mu's Yorozuya also accepted commissions to teach thugs and hoodlums a lesson, and they always satisfied the clients. He figured Duan Mu must have some strength.

Most importantly...

The man had turned down other jobs early in the morning to come here. He couldn't just send him back, after all, he quite liked this diligent and serious young man.

"You'll stay in the middle of the convoy and help push the carts."

Most of the area between District 43 and District 40 consisted of mountainous terrain. Even with horses pulling the carts, human power was needed to help on the slopes. Since he was paying Duan Mu, he wouldn't let him just tag along. Although it involved some manual labor, it was clearly much safer than the originally commissioned bodyguard work.

He really is a respectable person.

Duan Mu praised him inwardly and followed President Shinno to the center of the convoy.

"Kid Duan Mu, you really dare to take any commission."

"Quick, come here, you'll push the cart with me later."

"Go on, go on, ignore that old geezer. He just wants to slack off. You come with me later."

"..."

Most of the people responsible for pushing the carts were from the farm. They were all familiar with Duan Mu, who often worked with them on the farm, and they greeted him enthusiastically as he approached.

Duan Mu smiled and replied to each of them. After some pleasantries, the convoy officially set off.

"President Shinno, what's this about bandits?"

Duan Mu asked President Shinno, who was beside him, while pushing the cart. As far as Duan Mu knew, when transporting goods to Seireitei in the past, no guards were ever hired besides the laborers pushing the carts. He had also taken on cart-pushing commissions before.

"This is your first time accompanying a convoy to transport goods outside of the Seireitei Procurement Season, isn't it?"

Duan Mu nodded.

"Then it's no wonder," President Shinno said, then explained, "Because District 43 is mountainous, when the districts were divided, a small part of the mountainous area bordered District 55, which is also mountainous, just like South Rukongai."

Bordering District 55?

Duan Mu was taken aback. This was the first time he had heard of it. The district divisions were based on Seireitei as the center, dividing outwards.

It was like concentric circles. The districts within a circle, whether east, west, north, or south, generally had the same number. Districts like 43 were likely exceptions.

It's a good thing it's only District 55.

Although he hadn't been to South Rukongai, in their West Rukongai, District 55, despite being a later numbered district, was mostly inhabited by idle individuals. To put it bluntly, they were just annoying thugs and hoodlums, not even qualified to be villains.

"Those thugs and hoodlums are usually well-behaved during the Procurement Season and don't dare to provoke convoys heading to Seireitei. However, they often come around outside the Procurement Season to rob goods being transported to the earlier numbered districts." President Shinno paused and continued:

"If they knew this shipment was going to Seireitei, they naturally wouldn't try to rob it. But those guys don't do prior investigations; they just loiter around the middle areas outside the Procurement Season."

Duan Mu nodded in understanding.

"If it were just thugs and hoodlums, it would be one thing," President Shinno sighed. "About a month ago, many powerful individuals suddenly appeared among those thugs. Although those newcomers are different from the usual thugs, they only injure people and don't kill them."

"But they are powerful, and any convoy they encounter has its goods stolen."

President Shinno looked at Duan Mu at this point. "The reason I asked you to come this time is that I heard your Yorozuya recently hired some new employees who are very strong and look quite fierce. That's why I considered commissioning you for bodyguard services."

A month ago...

Upon hearing this timeframe, Duan Mu's eye twitched. He quickly lowered his head to hide it, saying, "President Shinno, you've truly misunderstood. Actually, Uzuki felt bored just accepting commissions during the day, so she converted the first floor into a tavern, and the Yorozuya's business moved to the second floor."

It couldn't be that coincidental, could it?