Fake News!!

Facing the gazes of the Fourth Division members, who looked at him like a rare creature, Duan Mu's smile became a little stiff.

From the hushed conversations of the Fourth Division members, he vaguely understood why they were looking at him like that. While Duan Mu was a bit worried about this, he was actually more delighted.

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

If he could use this opportunity to get acquainted with the Fourth Division members, Duan Mu would be willing to accept even if the Onmitsukidō's surveillance increased.

Anyway, as long as he didn't become a Soul Reaper or oppose Seireitei, the Onmitsukidō's handling of him would only be supervisory. They wouldn't imprison him in the Maggot's Nest like the official members of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, who could do so if they deemed someone a dangerous thinker.

Although...

Those who could be imprisoned there were all truly dangerous individuals, like a certain active 12th Division captain.

If he could build good relationships with female Soul Reapers, it would be easier for Duan Mu to gain experience points in the future. It wasn't apparent yet, but just thinking about the experience points he would need in the future made Duan Mu despair.

And most importantly...

There was a heavyweight figure in the Fourth Division who was top-tier in both status and strength!

With this thought, Duan Mu's smile was no longer stiff. Instead, it became extremely enthusiastic. "Konai, you're already a Soul Reaper. You don't need to call me 'teacher' anymore. Just call me Duan Mu from now on."

Although Konai wasn't good at communicating, she wasn't foolish. Seeing everyone's reaction, she understood that her previous way of addressing him might cause Duan Mu trouble. She quickly nodded, blushed, and softly replied, "Mm."

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

"I don't know what Konai told you,"

Duan Mu smiled in response. "But Konai must have exaggerated. I just have some personal insights into treating illnesses and saving people. Rather than teaching, it's more like an exchange and discussion between friends. Through our discussions, I've learned a lot."

After five years in the Soul Society, Duan Mu had changed a lot. At least in his past life, he definitely wouldn't have possessed the ability to lie with a straight face...

President Shinno, standing nearby, looked at Duan Mu with a strange expression. Although he had heard that the Yorozuya offered house-call medical services, he never expected Duan Mu's healing methods to be comparable to those of a Soul Reaper.

"If you're all interested, you're welcome to visit my shop anytime to exchange and discuss," Duan Mu said with a smile. "Of course, I need to make a living, so I will charge a certain fee."

It was impossible to be free; it would never be free.

Otherwise, if someone truly shameless came to discuss with Duan Mu every day, Duan Mu couldn't possibly spend his days chatting with them just to improve his favorability.

Of course, if it were chatting with the Fourth Division captain every day, that would be a different story.

As for why he said 'exchange' instead of 'teaching,' the reason was simple. Unlike the students at the Soul Reaper Academy, these people were all official Soul Reapers. It would be extremely difficult to get them to learn from a 'commoner' from Rukongai. Using the guise of 'exchange' would clearly be more easily accepted by them.

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

After all, everyone present, except for Konai who followed the squad leader, Yamadatarō, were all low-ranking rescue squad members who did chores within their division or worked as 'nurses' in the medical clinic.

If 'exchanging' with Duan Mu could truly lead to promotion to the intermediate or even advanced rescue squad, like Konai, they wouldn't consider it shameful.

After all, Konai had openly admitted it. With one person leading the way, it wouldn't be something difficult for others to accept.

This is a chance!

Seeing their reactions, Duan Mu's eyes lit up, and he added fuel to the fire. "Although my shop's discounts are only for women, if you all wish to come, I can offer a 10% discount. For women, it's 20% off."

Although he had added a bit more incentive, no one inquired on the spot. As for whether they would come to him privately, Duan Mu didn't know.

However, his promotion efforts stopped there because, whether by coincidence or design, the patrol team that was counting the goods suddenly walked over and said to Yamadatarō, "Seventh Seat Yamada, the goods have been counted."

After confirming that the goods were in order, the Fourth Division members did not linger. After settling the payment, they headed towards Seireitei.

Even the lowest-ranking members of the division could easily push some goods, so they didn't need any help from the convoy for transportation.

"I thought we'd get to stroll around Seireitei," grumbled someone who was following the convoy for the first time.

"You're thinking too wishfully."

The convoy members dispersed amidst laughter and chatter.

After bidding farewell to the convoy, Duan Mu didn't immediately return to his shop. Instead, he went to a tavern in West District 1.

"Young Duan Mu, is your work finished?"

Uncle Watanabe smiled when he saw Duan Mu. "What do you want to eat today? I have some good wine that just arrived from the south. Do you want some?"

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

"Coming right up."

Uncle Watanabe responded.

The tavern was extremely busy at night, with many customers wearing Soul Reaper uniforms, which surprised Duan Mu.

Although he often visited Uncle Watanabe's tavern, this was the first time Duan Mu had come here at night.

Uncle Watanabe had said that many of his customers were Soul Reapers, and it wasn't an exaggeration.

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

Just then, the conversation between two people nearby caught Duan Mu's attention. He glanced over with his peripheral vision. Both individuals were wearing Soul Reaper uniforms, and their armbands were engraved with the pattern of 'Daisy.'

The 9th Division?

After confirming their identities, Duan Mu immediately had the urge to leave.

The team flower of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads was not a secret; residents of Rukongai were generally aware of it.

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

The so-called "Seireitei Communication" is a public magazine circulated throughout Seireitei, occasionally even reaching Rukongai. This magazine is entirely produced and published by the 9th Division.

Legend has it that hundreds of years ago, it was merely a supplementary bulletin, devoid of any interest.

But ever since the current captain of the 9th Division took office, he began utilizing printing technology and earnestly creating a serialized magazine.

It records many little-known, yet not secret, interesting tidbits: reports on the latest Seireitei technologies, changes in division members, and even a section for debunking rumors...

Duan Mu once saw on it a debunking report about Captain Unohana's fondness for climbing mountains. It stated that while it was true Captain Unohana would climb mountains in various parts of Rukongai on her days off, she didn't actually like climbing because she was often seen flying to the mountaintops on a creature rather than trekking up.

In reality, she climbed mountains to collect herbs.

Just because he saw this debunking report, Duan Mu spent a period of time collecting herbs from various mountains in Rukongai every day. He collected enough herbs to last five years, nearly denuding the mountains, before he gave up on the idea of 'coincidentally' meeting Unohana Retsu this way.

Getting back to the point.

"Seireitei Communication" was the only reading material Duan Mu found interesting after arriving in the Soul Society. He himself was a loyal fan of "Seireitei Communication."

However, the reason Duan Mu wanted to leave wasn't because of these things, but because of the 9th Division's duties.

Due to their responsibilities, the 9th Division could openly gather all sorts of information under the guise of 'gathering material,' while also controlling the direction of public opinion in Seireitei.

In any case, Duan Mu absolutely did not want to attract the attention of their captain. If he caught the eye of the person behind the scenes, who knew what might happen.

And when you think about it...

The divisions managed by Hair Gel Hand and his associates were all carefully selected.

Whether it was the 3rd Division responsible for 'support' or the 5th Division responsible for 'rescue,' these two divisions were the most suitable for winning people's hearts.

Coupled with the 9th Division using "Seireitei Communication" for promotion and packaging, controlling the direction of public opinion, the disguise of a certain Hair Gel Hand was practically perfect.

It was even so perfect that even if someone exposed him to Central 46, no one would believe them. In fact, they might even be smeared, much like a certain shopkeeper.

Centuries, even millennia, of planning had made his scheme flawless. Even knowing the future direction, it was almost impossible to disrupt any part of it. Duan Mu didn't want to attract the attention of that person too early.

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

"What happened to the former vice-captain of the 4th Division?"

The middle-aged man who spoke first glanced around and whispered, "He was poached by those nobles. They say he's now the director of the Soul Reaper Medicine Academy."

"Soul Reaper Medicine Academy!!"

The young man's expression changed instantly, but he quickly covered his mouth. Although they were talking and drinking, institutions like the Soul Reaper Medicine Academy, which only served the 'Four Great Noble Clans,' were no longer casual topics for them to discuss over drinks.

"Right, how's your work going?" the middle-aged Soul Reaper changed the subject. "Didn't you go to gather information on the major villains in the areas with lower numbers? Anything interesting happen?"

"How could work that dangerous be fun?"

The young man's face crumpled. "I don't even dare to approach the areas with lower numbers, let alone gather material. I can only try to collect rumors in Rukongai."

"They're just a bunch of Rukongai scum, 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 areas with lower numbers aren't the scum you're talking about. The more I investigate, the more terrifying I find it."

"Not going far back, just look at our Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Many people who came out of the areas with lower numbers are in them."

"We all know Captain Kenpachi's background, but do you know about Third Seat Ikkaku Madarame and Fifth Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa? Both of them also came from areas with lower numbers."

"Really?"

"More than that, Sixth Seat Renji Abarai of the 11th Division also came from an area with a lower number. There are many others like them."

"District 80 is filled with monsters."

The young man, meeting the middle-aged Soul Reaper's shocked gaze, said proudly, "These are all things I painstakingly collected from the East, West, South, and North, bit by bit."

"Recently, I got some very important news. Southern District 80 and Western District 80 seem to be going to war. Although this news came from someone in the Northern Rukongai, its veracity cannot yet be confirmed."

"..." Duan Mu.

The south and west going to war, and the news coming from the north. This intelligence was full of holes.

Fake news!

Duan Mu ate the last piece of beef, got up, and left the tavern. He was too lazy to eavesdrop on such uninformative intelligence.

If a war were truly to break out, how could Diao Ao and the others be unaware, and instead, the Northern Rukongai get the news?

Still a naked week, asking for recommendation votes