Supervision Team

"Let's go."

Seeing this, Kūkaku looked away and continued toward the low-roofed house.

They went all the way down to the bottom and entered the hall, where three small dining tables had already been set up. Shiba Kūkaku took the seat of honor and tapped her pipe against the ashtray beside her. She gave Iwao, who seemed to have something to say but kept holding back, an exasperated look. "Sit down and eat. If you have questions, ask them. Don't just sit there bottling them up."

At her words, Iwao hurriedly knelt at the table below Kūkaku's. Duan Mu sat cross-legged at the end of the table beside him, picked up his bowl, and began eating.

Though he showed nothing on the surface, he was just as puzzled as Iwao about what had just happened. But Duan Mu was an outsider, after all, so it was better not to ask first and risk causing a misunderstanding. With Iwao there, if Kūkaku was willing to explain, Duan Mu would get his answers without having to ask.

As soon as Iwao sat down, he blurted out all the questions he'd been holding in. "Big Sis, who were those people just now? Why were those four chasing that Soul Reaper? Had he done something wrong? And they seemed to know you..."

"Ask one question at a time!"

Shiba Kūkaku cut Iwao off with a near-shout, making him flinch.

"Those four are the first squad of the Onmitsukidō—in other words, what people usually call the Punishment Army."

"The Punishment Force?"

Iwao froze, then gave a look of sudden realization. "That's the unit Big Bro told me about, the one that mainly handles 'executions and assassinations,' right? No wonder they looked so sneaky. They really are a bunch of no-gooders."

In an unusual show of restraint, Kūkaku didn't scold Iwao. Instead, she nodded. "The Onmitsukidō mainly handles matters that can't be brought into the open. You're not wrong to call them no-gooders."

"Then why were they arresting that Soul Reaper?" Iwao continued.

Duan Mu, who had been eating nearby, couldn't help setting down his bowl and looking toward Kūkaku at the head of the table.

"No reason."

At that, Duan Mu and Iwao both froze.

"The Onmitsukidō has five squads. The Punishment Army handles assassinations, but it's also responsible for arresting Soul Reapers. Those they capture are handed over to the third squad, the 'Supervision Team,' which locks them up in the 'Worm's Nest.' That Soul Reaper they just caught was headed to the Supervision Team. Otherwise, he'd have been executed on the spot."

"So, there was no reason."

Iwao looked even more bewildered.

"You mean he hadn't committed a crime?" Duan Mu suddenly asked.

"How could that be?"

Iwao frowned. "Even those despicable Soul Reapers wouldn't arrest someone for no reason, would they?"

And yet...

Kūkaku looked at Duan Mu with some surprise, then nodded. "He's right."

"Huh?"

"Besides guarding prisoners, the Supervision Team has another duty called 'Special Supervision.' Simply put, it secretly investigates Soul Reapers who have already joined the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."

"If a member is judged, based on their 'thoughts,' as potentially dangerous to other Soul Reapers and likely to obstruct their squad's work, the Central 46 can authorize the team to investigate and arrest them, then lock them up in the Worm's Nest for constant surveillance."

"What kind of system is that? It makes no sense!" Iwao said in disbelief. "They arrest and imprison someone just because they 'might' be a potential threat, even though they haven't done anything?"

"That's exactly how senseless it is."

Shiba Kūkaku gave a cold laugh. "The Thirteen Court Guard Squads don't actually have any system for 'leaving the squads.' When a member 'leaves,' it means they've been placed under 'Special Supervision' and forcibly confined in the Worm's Nest. And the reason..."

"It's simply because the Thirteen Court Guard Squads are a 'noble organization' that won't allow 'a qualified member to become unsuitable.' That's a rule laid down by the Central 46, which governs the Seireitei. So anyone with 'dangerous ideas' is forcibly confined under the pretext of 'leaving the squads.'"

Kūkaku paused, a hint of sarcasm entering her voice. "It's worth mentioning that the current captain of the 12th Division, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, was once judged to have 'dangerous ideas' and imprisoned in the Worm's Nest. The previous captain of the 12th Division took him out."

Duan Mu wore the same look of disbelief as Iwao, but inwardly he couldn't help muttering, The Central 46 really didn't deserve any better...

Unlike Duan Mu, Iwao let out a cold laugh. His dislike of Soul Reapers deepened, and he gave a very straightforward verdict: "Soul Reapers really are all no-gooders!"

"As for your last question..."

Kūkaku was often rough with Iwao, but it was clear she cared about her younger brother. She continued explaining, "I know so much about the 2nd Division and the 12th Division because the previous captains of both divisions were old friends of mine."

"Old friends?"

Kūkaku nodded but didn't elaborate. Instead, she picked up the chopsticks on the table.

Seeing this, Iwao could tell his big sister didn't want to discuss it further, so he didn't press her.

"You heard my big sister. Soul Reapers are all no-gooders," Iwao said, patting Duan Mu on the shoulder. "Don't go becoming one. Stick with me, your big bro, and I guarantee you'll eat well and live comfortably in Rukongai!" Part of him genuinely believed what he was saying, and part of him simply didn't want Duan Mu to become a Soul Reaper.

After all, Duan Mu had already agreed to be his underling, even if only in his free time, when there were no "jobs" to do...

"I have no interest in becoming a Soul Reaper," Duan Mu said, dodging the hand on his shoulder with a half-joking smile. "Besides, since arriving in Rukongai, I've been determined to be a good person. My goal is to strive for world peace and work for the good of the masses!"

"Hahaha!"

Iwao burst into laughter. "I knew I'd like you!"

After dinner, Duan Mu didn't stay long and soon said his goodbyes.

Iwao had offered to let him spend the night, but after a moment's hesitation, Duan Mu declined, using his "shop" as an excuse. As long as he kept on good terms with Iwao, he'd have plenty of chances to become friends with Kūkaku later. There was no need to rush, especially since if he stayed, he'd only be spending time with Iwao.

"That kid really is something," Iwao said admiringly as he watched Duan Mu leave. "No wonder his Yorozuya became so well-known after only three years in Rukongai. He's kind, always ready to help, and quick on his feet when it comes to work. He must have been a good person in his previous life."

"A good person?"

Kūkaku watched Duan Mu's retreating figure, a strange glint passing through her eyes. "What kind of person do you think someone was in life if, after dying, they were determined to become a 'good person'?"

"Huh?"

Iwao blinked in confusion.

Seeing this, Kūkaku shook her head and turned to walk back inside.

As she'd explained things to Iwao, she'd been watching Duan Mu's reactions the whole time. When he heard about the Supervision Team, he'd seemed to react just like Iwao on the surface, but his eyes had revealed a certain indifference.

And perhaps it was just her imagination, but she'd felt that the smile he wore so constantly seemed deliberately put on.

Still, judging by the way he acted, he'd probably heard about the Shiba Clan's past and was trying to befriend her younger brother to curry favor with her. That was normal enough.

In any case, as long as he posed no threat to Iwao, she wouldn't interfere in her brother's friendships.