The Chubby Kid Who Appeared in the Factory District

The factory district outside Runlin An was filled with a distinctive blend of smells.

Yet today, the atmosphere in this industrial area felt somewhat different.

In the middle of the road, two figures walked silently one behind the other, drawing the attention of passing workers. Curiosity and amazement gleamed in their eyes.

"Look! Isn't that Fifth Seat Yan Si, the rumored 'number one noble young master of Soul Society'?"

"My God... That temperament—cold and distant, yet carrying a hint of melancholy. He makes people afraid to approach, but they still can't help staring..."

"He's completely different from the Nobles we usually see! This is what a true great figure is like, right?"

"Shh! Keep it down! Do you have a death wish?!"

The ones walking down the middle of the road were Siwei Yan and Third Seat Yamagane Tetsu.

Both remained silent, as if surrounded by invisible barriers.

Yet Yan Si could only sigh helplessly.

This much attention was ridiculous...

From the moment he had left the Ninth Division barracks until reaching this remote factory district, the stares along the way had never stopped.

Although he hated being observed like some rare animal, it was not entirely a bad thing.

At the very least, with so many eyes on him, those who wanted to pull underhanded tricks would have to think twice.

And... once the book was officially published, this "fame" might directly turn into genuine sales revenue.

That was why, when Yamagane Tetsu had suggested using his portrait as an illustration for the periodical, he had not expressly agreed, but had tacitly allowed it.

Only after they had gone deep into the factory district did the workers' gazes become somewhat more restrained. They still stole a few glances now and then, but at least they no longer openly pointed and whispered as they had outside.

After all, they worked here to support their families. Looking at handsome men would not put food on the table.

Third Seat Yamagane Tetsu led the way without looking aside, lowering his voice as he said,

"When we meet the people from the printing factory, don't speak first. Leave all negotiations to me."

"Recently, the Omaeda Family handed part of its business over to their young master for practice. You have never formally learned the etiquette of interactions between Nobles, so remember: watch my expression and act accordingly."

Yan Si's steps paused slightly as he glanced sideways at his partner.

Old Tetsu... were you joking? With that eternally unchanged iron face of yours, where was I supposed to look for your "expression"? If an eyebrow twitched, I'd count myself defeated!

Who would have thought it? Old Tetsu, you'd actually learned deadpan humor? It was a little terrifying, but... somehow funny.

He forcibly suppressed the upward twitch of his lips and replied in a calm tone,

"Mm. Still, handing such a huge business over to a child for management... the Omaeda Family is really... quite bold."

His gaze swept across the orderly rows of factories on both sides of the road. The buildings stretched on endlessly, occupying an enormous area, and every single one represented a steady stream of wealth.

The Omaeda Family was actually willing to let a "young master" practice on this scale. That kind of extravagance was enough to make others die of envy.

Yamagane Tetsu's tone remained calm, as if he were stating a law of nature.

"This is the most fundamental difference between Nobles and Rukongai residents. The resources they possess are beyond what you can imagine."

"Even if this young master lost hundreds of millions of kan, it would be no more than a drop in the bucket to the Omaeda Family. What matters is that he learns how to control and operate a vast business through the process."

"Alright, we're here."

Yan Si stopped and looked up at the factory before him.

The sign directly read "Omaeda Printing Factory." The name was so straightforward it made no effort to hide itself, with no fear that visitors might go to the wrong place.

Yamagane Tetsu signaled for Yan Si to wait outside. Then, with great solemnity, he took out the two manuscripts he had neatly copied the night before, adjusted his collar, and stepped into the factory.

Yan Si tucked both hands into his wide sleeves and stood outside in boredom, casually surveying his surroundings.

I hope this negotiation goes smoothly... As long as it can be published independently in volume form, the efficiency of gathering spiritual power will definitely increase severalfold!

He could not help recalling the frustrations of serializing in Soul Society Communication.

Each issue could use at most three thousand words of space. That was already the result of the captain making a special exception, combined with the work's considerable popularity.

After all, quite a few captain-level figures in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads occasionally submitted contributions as well.

Captain Ukitake Jūshirō of the Thirteenth Division published poetry, Captain Unohana Retsu of the Fourth Division shared her flower-arranging insights, and even Kyōraku Shunsui and Hirako Shinji wrote something now and then when the mood struck them.

Emotions needed buildup. A mere three thousand words made it difficult for readers to truly immerse themselves, let alone produce sufficiently intense resonance and spiritual-power fluctuations.

If he could publish independently and let readers finish it all in one sitting, the results... would definitely be incomparable!

If the negotiations truly failed...

Yoruichi Shihōin's mischievously smiling face flashed through Yan Si's mind.

Though the Omaeda Family was wealthy, it was only a mid-tier Nobles house. The top Nobles clan backing them was the Shihoin Clan.

As long as Yoruichi said the word, the Omaeda Family probably would not dare refuse, even if they knew they would lose money...

But... he really did not want to owe her a favor.

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

A deep voice, carrying a trace of adolescent immaturity, interrupted Yan Si's thoughts.

He turned and saw a chubby boy standing some distance away. The boy held a huge bag of snacks in his arms, with white crumbs still stuck to the corner of his mouth. He looked like the relative of some nearby manager.

Yan Si answered calmly, "I am an author. I came to discuss publishing a book with the printing factory."

"Oh?" Omaeda Kichiyo studied Yan Si curiously while crunching away at his snacks.

He circled Yan Si twice as though evaluating some sort of merchandise, then spoke after a moment.

"You're pretty handsome, huh? Which family are you from? Why haven't I seen you before?"

Yan Si replied indifferently, "I am not a noble."

"Oh? Is that so?" Confusion flashed through Omaeda Kichiyo's small eyes. "A non-noble can write books too? Do you even have that kind of skill?"

Yan Si's expression did not change, and his tone remained steady.

"My work has been serialized in Soul Society Communication for years. My pen name is 'Zhi Ge.'"

"Oh! You're the guy who wrote Genius Boy!" Omaeda Kichiyo suddenly understood, but suspicion soon appeared on his face again.

"I thought someone who could write that kind of story had to be some great noble. I didn't expect it to be you."

In his little mind, people from Rukongai not only lacked education, but often could not even sort out basic logic. There was simply no way they could produce anything worthwhile.

And the lofty arrogance that Lan Chuan possessed was not something a Rukongai resident should have been capable of.