Fake News!!

Facing the Fourth Division members' looks, as if they were staring at some rare creature, Duan Mu's smile became somewhat stiff.

From the snippets of conversation among the Fourth Division members, he had vaguely figured out why they were looking at him that way. Although this worried Duan Mu a little, he was actually more pleased than concerned.

After all, he had always wanted to expand his "business" to include Soul Reapers.

If he could use this opportunity to get acquainted with the Fourth Division members, then even if the Onmitsukidō increased their surveillance, Duan Mu could accept it.

Besides, as long as he did not become a Soul Reaper or make an enemy of Seireitei, the Onmitsukidō could only place him under supervision. They would not lock him in the Maggot's Nest the way they could any official member of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads once that person was deemed ideologically dangerous.

Although...

The people imprisoned there were all genuine dangerous criminals, such as a certain current captain of the 12th Division.

If he could build good relationships with female Soul Reapers, it would become easier for Duan Mu to gain experience in the future. It was not apparent yet, but just thinking about the amount of experience he would need later already filled Duan Mu with despair.

And more importantly...

The Fourth Division had a heavyweight figure who could be called top-tier in both status and strength!

At that thought, the smile on Duan Mu's face stopped being stiff and instead became extremely enthusiastic. "Konai, you're already a Soul Reaper, so don't call me teacher anymore. From now on, you can just call me Duan Mu."

Konai was not good at communicating, but she was not stupid. Seeing everyone's reactions, she understood that the way she had addressed him earlier might have caused Duan Mu trouble. She hurriedly nodded, blushing as she softly answered, "Mm."

The girl beside her asked curiously, "Are you really good at Kido?"

"Although I don't know what Konai told you..."

Duan Mu smiled at that. "She must have exaggerated too much. I only have some personal experience in treating illnesses and saving people. Rather than teaching her, it would be more accurate to call it an exchange between friends. I also learned a great deal from discussing it with her."

Having been in Soul Society for five years, Duan Mu had truly changed a lot. At the very least, the Duan Mu from his lifetime had definitely not possessed the ability to lie through his teeth like this...

President Shinno looked at Duan Mu strangely. Although he had heard that the Yorozuya offered a House Call Medical Service, he had never imagined that Duan Mu's medical skills had reached a level comparable to that of Soul Reapers.

"If any of you are interested, you can also visit my shop whenever you have time. We can exchange ideas and discuss things together." After saying this, Duan Mu smiled. "Of course, I need to make a living too, so I'll charge a certain fee."

Free was impossible. He would never offer anything for free in this lifetime.

Otherwise, if some shameless person came every day to discuss things with Duan Mu, there was no way he could spend every day sitting in the shop chatting with them just to raise their favorability.

Of course, if he were chatting with the Fourth Division's captain every day, that would be another matter.

As for why he said "exchange" instead of "teach," the reason was simple. These people were different from the students of the Soul Reaper Academy. They were all official Soul Reapers. Asking them to learn from an "ordinary person" from Rukongai would inevitably meet with resistance. Under the name of an "exchange," however, it was clearly easier for them to accept.

As soon as he said this, the people's faces showed signs of interest.

After all, apart from Konai, who had come with her squad leader, Yamadatarō, everyone present was either doing odd jobs within their divisions or serving as low-ranking members of the medical teams working as "nurses" in the medical facilities.

If exchanging knowledge with Duan Mu could really help them advance like Konai, from the intermediate medical team to even the advanced medical team, they would not consider it shameful.

After all, Konai had admitted it openly. With someone taking the lead, it was no longer difficult for the others to accept.

There was an opening!

Seeing their reactions, Duan Mu's eyes lit up, and he added fuel to the fire. "Although this shop's discount only applies to women, if any of you wish to come, I can still give you ten percent off. Women get twenty percent off."

Although he had added fuel to the fire, no one asked about it on the spot. As for whether they would come looking for him privately, Duan Mu had no idea.

His promotion ended there, however, because whether by coincidence or design, the Patrol Team, which had been checking the cargo, suddenly came over and said to Yamadatarō, "Seventh Seat Yamada, the cargo has been checked."

After confirming that there were no problems with the cargo, the Fourth Division members did not stay long. Once they had settled the payment, they headed into Seireitei.

Even the lowest-ranking members of a division could push some cargo with ease, so they did not need the people from the caravan to transport it for them.

"I thought I'd get to go into Seireitei and look around," someone who had joined the caravan for the first time muttered.

"Your imagination is running wild."

The people from the caravan dispersed amid laughter and conversation.

After saying goodbye to the caravan, Duan Mu did not return to his shop immediately. Instead, he went to a tavern in West District 1.

"Duan Mu, boy, are you done with work?"

When Uncle Watanabe saw Duan Mu, he immediately smiled. "What would you like to eat today? I have some good liquor that was just brought in from the south. Want some?"

Duan Mu was tempted, but still shook his head. "Forget it. Just cook me a bowl of ramen and add a plate of beef."

"Sure thing."

Uncle Watanabe answered and got to work.

The tavern was extremely busy at night, and many of the customers were wearing Shinigami uniforms. This surprised Duan Mu somewhat.

Although Duan Mu often visited Uncle Watanabe's tavern, this was his first time coming at night.

Uncle Watanabe had said that many of his customers were Soul Reapers. It turned out he had not been bragging.

"I won't have time tomorrow. I have to attend the Fourth Division's Lieutenant Captain inauguration ceremony as a recorder."

At that moment, the conversation between two people nearby caught Duan Mu's attention. He glanced over from the corner of his eye. Both men were wearing Shinigami uniforms, and their armbands bore the image of a "daisy."

The 9th Division?

After confirming their identities, Duan Mu immediately felt like getting up and leaving.

The division flowers of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads were no secret. The residents of Rukongai basically all knew about them.

The residents of Rukongai were even more familiar with the 9th Division's flower. To gather material for Seireitei Communication, members of the 9th Division often appeared in Rukongai.

Seireitei Communication was an official magazine circulated throughout Seireitei. Occasionally, it even reached Rukongai. The magazine was entirely responsible for gathering and publishing its own content through the 9th Division.

It was said that several centuries ago, it had only been a bulletin for special announcements and had been utterly uninteresting.

But after the current captain of the 9th Division took office, he began using printing technology to seriously publish it as a serialized magazine.

It recorded many interesting stories that were not widely known but were not secrets either. There were reports about Seireitei's latest technology, news about changes in division personnel, and even a rumor-refuting section...

Duan Mu had once seen a rumor refutation about Captain Unohana's supposed fondness for mountain climbing. It said that while it was true Captain Unohana climbed the mountains throughout Rukongai during her holidays, she did not actually like climbing mountains. She had often been spotted riding a creature to the mountaintop rather than hiking there on foot.

In reality, she was only gathering medicinal herbs.

After seeing that rumor refutation, Duan Mu had spent some time gathering herbs on every mountain in Rukongai. He had collected enough to last him five years, and only abandoned his plan to "accidentally encounter" Unohana Retsu after nearly stripping the mountains bare.

Returning to the main subject.

Seireitei Communication was the only reading material Duan Mu had found interesting since arriving in Soul Society, and he was also a loyal fan of the magazine.

However, Duan Mu wanted to leave not because of that, but because of the 9th Division's duties.

Because of its responsibilities, the 9th Division could openly collect all kinds of intelligence under the pretext of "gathering material." It also controlled the direction of public opinion in Seireitei.

Duan Mu absolutely did not want to attract the attention of their captain. If he drew the attention of the person behind the scenes, heaven knew what would happen.

And when he thought about it carefully...

The divisions controlled by Hair Gel Hand's group had all been carefully selected.

Whether it was the Third Division, responsible for "support," or the Fifth Division, responsible for "rescue," both were perfectly suited to winning people over.

With the 9th Division using Seireitei Communication to promote and package them, controlling the direction of public opinion, a certain Hair Gel Hand's disguise was practically flawless.

It was so perfect that even if someone went to the Central 46 to expose him, no one would believe them. They might even end up covered in mud themselves, just like a certain shopkeeper.

After centuries or even millennia of planning, his scheme was seamless. Even knowing the future, it was nearly impossible to destroy any single part of it. Duan Mu did not want to attract that person's attention too early.

But just as Duan Mu was preparing to change seats, the contents of the two men's conversation made him abandon the idea of leaving.

"What happened to the Fourth Division's former Lieutenant Captain?"

The middle-aged man who had spoken first looked around before lowering his voice. "Those nobles poached him. I heard he's already become the dean of the Soul Reaper Medicine Academy."

"The Soul Reaper Medicine Academy!"

The young man's expression changed immediately, but he hurriedly covered his mouth. Although they were merely drinking and chatting, an institution like the Soul Reaper Medicine Academy, which served only the "Four Great Noble Clans," was beyond their station to discuss as drinking-table gossip.

"By the way, how's your work going?" The middle-aged Soul Reaper changed the subject. "Weren't you gathering information about the Great Villains in the districts with the higher numbers? Did you hear anything interesting?"

"How could such dangerous work be interesting?"

The young man's face creased bitterly. "I didn't even dare approach the districts with the higher numbers, let alone gather material. I could only try collecting rumors in Rukongai."

"They're just filthy Rukongai residents. What's there to be afraid of?" the middle-aged Soul Reaper said disdainfully.

"That's because you don't understand."

The young man shook his head. "The people in the districts with the higher numbers aren't the filthy commoners you call them. The deeper I investigate, the more frightening I find them."

"Take our Thirteen Court Guard Squads, for example. A great many people in them came from the districts with the higher numbers."

"We all know Captain Kenpachi's background, but do you know Third Seat Ikkaku Madarame and Fifth Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa? They also came from districts with the higher numbers."

"Really?"

"That's not all. Renji Abarai, the 11th Division's Sixth Seat, also came from one of the districts with the higher numbers. There are many more like them."

"District 80 is practically crawling with monsters."

Facing the middle-aged Soul Reaper's shocked gaze, the young man said proudly, "I gathered all of this bit by bit from the east, west, south, and north. It wasn't easy."

"Recently, I got some major news. South District 80 seems to be preparing to go to war with West District 80. Someone from North Rukongai told me, though, so I can't confirm whether it's true."

"..." Duan Mu.

A war between the south and west, with the information coming from the north. This intelligence was full of holes.

Fake news!

Duan Mu finished the last slice of beef and stood up to leave the tavern. He was too lazy to keep listening to such useless information.

If a war were really about to break out, how could Diao Ao and the others know nothing about it while North Rukongai had received the news?

Still running naked for another week. Please vote for me...