A Little Chubby Kid in the Factory District

The factory district outside Runlin An was filled with a distinctive mingled scent.

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

In the middle of the road, two figures walked silently, one behind the other, drawing sidelong glances from passing workers, whose eyes shone with curiosity and amazement.

"Look! That's the rumored 'number one noble young master of Soul Society,' Fifth Seat Yan Si, isn't it?"

"My God... that temperament—cold and distant, with a hint of melancholy. He clearly makes people afraid to approach, yet they can't help wanting to look at him a few more times..."

"He's completely different from the nobles we usually see! This is what a real important figure is like, right?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

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

Both of them remained silent, as though surrounded by invisible barriers.

Yan Si, however, sighed helplessly.

This much attention was ridiculous...

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

Although he thoroughly disliked the feeling of being watched like some rare animal, it was not entirely a bad thing.

At the very least, with so many eyes on him, anyone planning to use underhanded tricks would have to think twice.

And... once the book was officially published, this "fame" might be directly converted into real sales revenue.

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

Only after they had gone deep into the factory district did the workers' gazes lessen somewhat. They still stole a glance or two, but at least they no longer openly pointed and whispered like they had outside.

After all, they worked here to support their families. Looking at a handsome man could not fill their stomachs.

Third Seat Yamagane Tetsu led the way without looking aside and lowered his voice.

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

"Recently, the Omaeda Family handed part of its business over to their Young Master for practice and management. You have never systematically studied noble etiquette, so remember: watch my expression and act accordingly."

Yan Si's steps paused slightly as he cast a sidelong glance at his companion.

Old Tetsu... were you joking? With that eternally unchanging iron face of yours, where was he supposed to look for your "expression"? If one eyebrow twitched, he'd admit defeat!

Well, well. Old Tetsu had actually learned dry humor? It was a little horrifying, but... strangely funny.

He forcibly suppressed the smile threatening to rise on his lips and replied evenly.

"Mm. But handing such a large business over to a child to manage... the Omaeda Family is really... bold."

His gaze swept over the rows of factory buildings on both sides of the road. The structures stretched on without end, occupying an enormous area, each one representing a steady stream of wealth.

The Omaeda Family was actually willing to let a "Young Master" use it for practice. That kind of extravagance really made comparisons unbearable.

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

"This is the most fundamental difference between nobles and Rukon District residents. The resources they possess are beyond your imagination."

"Even if this Young Master lost hundreds of millions of kan, it would be nothing more than a drop in the ocean to the Omaeda Family. What matters is letting him learn how to control and operate a vast business in the process."

"All right, we're here."

Yan Si stopped and looked up at the factory building before them.

The sign directly read "Omaeda Printing Factory." The name was so straightforward it made no attempt at subtlety, with no fear of customers going to the wrong place.

Yamagane Tetsu signaled for Yan Si to wait outside. He then solemnly took the two manuscripts he had copied the previous night from his robes, straightened his collar, and walked into the factory.

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

I hope the negotiations go smoothly this time... As long as it can be published as a standalone volume, the efficiency of gathering spiritual power will definitely increase severalfold!

He could not help recalling the frustration of serializing his work in Soul Society Communication.

Each issue could use at most three thousand words of space. That was already the result of the captain showing exceptional leniency, 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 sometimes wrote something when the mood struck them.

Emotions needed buildup. A mere three thousand words made it difficult for readers to truly immerse themselves and generate sufficiently intense resonance and spiritual fluctuations.

If he could publish independently and let readers finish it all in one go, then the effect... would absolutely be incomparable!

If the negotiations truly fell through...

Yoruichi Shihōin's face, wearing that mischievous grin, flashed through Yan Si's mind.

Though the Omaeda Family was wealthy, it was only a middle-ranking noble house. The top noble 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 youthful immaturity, interrupted Yan Si's thoughts.

He turned and saw a chubby boy standing not far away, hugging a large bag of snacks. White crumbs still clung to the corner of his mouth, making him look like the family member of some nearby manager.

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

"Oh?" Omaeda Kichiyo looked Yan Si over curiously, crunching away at his snacks.

He circled Yan Si twice, as though evaluating merchandise. After a moment, he said,

"You're pretty handsome, huh? Which family are you from? How come I've never seen you before?"

Yan Si replied indifferently, "I'm not a noble."

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

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

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

"Oh! You're the guy who wrote Genius Boy!" Omaeda Kichiyo suddenly understood, but suspicion quickly returned to his face.

"I thought someone who could write that kind of story had to be a great noble. I never expected it to be you."

In his little head, people from the Rukon District not only lacked learning, but often could not even sort out basic logic. There was no way they could write anything worthwhile.

And the haughty air of looking down on everything that Lan Chuan possessed was not something a Rukon District resident should have been capable of having.