Wait, I'm using a basin!

Wait, I'm using a basin!

The cafeteria could be called the liveliest place in the entire 5th Division. It was especially bustling during mealtime, with Shinigami coming and going in droves. Some wore Shihakusho with Zanpakuto at their waists; others wore light robes, ready to eat and then go straight to bed.

Although the Shinigami maintained strict discipline, there was no rule forbidding conversation in the cafeteria. Besides, the 5th Division Captain, Aizen Sōsuke, was a very mild-mannered man who didn't impose too many restrictions.

So, whenever mealtime came around, the members would gather in groups of three or five to chat about which division a certain beauty from Shino Academy had chosen after graduating, or discuss their knowledge of Kidō. The cafeteria was always filled with the sound of voices.

When Wu Biao arrived, the cafeteria was packed with 5th Division members. Some sat in groups, eating and chatting, while others were lined up in a long queue to get their food!

"Whoa, it's lively in here!"

He walked in through the front entrance, but nobody paid him much attention. Even those who noticed him only gave his clothes and backpack a curious glance before looking away.

Word that the 5th Division Captain, Aizen Sōsuke, was mild-mannered and treated his subordinates well had continued to circulate at Shino Academy. As a result, many Shinigami chose to join the 5th Division after graduating.

A batch of Shino Academy graduates had recently joined the 5th Division, so the veteran Shinigami here instinctively assumed that Wu Biao, an unfamiliar face, was one of the new recruits.

"Hey, kid!"

As Wu Biao looked around the cafeteria, a hand suddenly reached over from behind and patted his shoulder.

Wu Biao turned around in confusion. The owner of the hand was a middle-aged Shinigami with a full beard, looking at him curiously. Seeing Wu Biao's puzzled expression, the man smiled and asked, "You look unfamiliar. How long have you been here?"

Wu Biao blinked. What did he mean?

Was he asking when Wu Biao had arrived?

"I just got here today!" Wu Biao answered directly. He really had arrived in Soul Society today.

The bearded man paused, then glanced at the travel pack on Wu Biao's back. He clearly misunderstood, nodding knowingly as he said, "I thought so. Why else would you be carrying such a big bag into the cafeteria? You little glutton must've skipped the barracks to drop off your luggage and come straight here!"

"The barracks? What's that for?"

"Haha, you're a funny kid!" The bearded man chuckled. "The barracks are obviously where you sleep. What else would you do there, eat?"

A place to sleep?

Wu Biao immediately lost interest. He'd come to eat, not sleep. After his meal, he planned to keep looking for Rukia and that sissy.

"By the way, bro!" Wu Biao had been about to ignore the bearded man and head straight to the food line, but before he could take a step, he turned around and asked, "Bro, do you have to pay for the food?"

"Pay what?" The bearded man was taken aback. A moment later, he finally understood and burst out laughing. "Hahahaha! Kid, you came from Rukongai, didn't you?"

Wu Biao froze for a moment, then remembered the place where they'd landed. He thought the black cat had called it Rukongai.

Thinking it over, Wu Biao looked at the bearded man in confusion. "Yeah, I came from there. How'd you know? Were you following me the whole time?"

He'd forgotten that he was an intruder. Actually, Brother Biao's poor brain hadn't even considered that possibility.

When you're hungry, you go eat. Once you've eaten, you knock everyone here flat!

That was Wu Biao's plan...

"Don't flatter yourself. Why would I follow you?" The bearded man looked disdainfully at Wu Biao's clothes, which had grown ragged after one fight after another and were dotted with red stains, then shook his head.

"Only someone from Rukongai wouldn't know that food in the division cafeterias is completely free. Those noble kids from Seireitei have everything explained to them by their families before they even join a division. And with clothes like yours, no one would believe you were a noble!"

"Holy crap, it's completely free? This place is great!" Wu Biao exclaimed, astonished.

"The best part's yet to come. I came from Rukongai too, bro. Becoming a Shinigami means we've escaped the status of commoners. From now on, our descendants can live right in Seireitei. They won't have to worry about Hollows attacking or starving to death like they did in Rukongai!"

"I see. So you can eat as much as you want, as much as it takes to fill you up?"

"Obviously! Eat as much as you like!"

Wu Biao's eyes lit up with excitement. He turned and ran toward the food line!

"That kid..." The bearded man shook his head with a smile. "Hey, kid, what's your name?"

"Wu Biao!"

Wu Biao shouted without turning around, then joined the end of the line, his face full of anticipation. As he moved forward with the long queue, the Shinigami at the table beside him were talking among themselves. It seemed they were discussing him.

"Have you heard? Apparently, someone broke into Seireitei today!"

"Obviously! It'd be strange if you hadn't heard the announcement that's been all over Seireitei!"

"But I heard he's really strong!"

"What good is strength? Didn't the announcement say he's a spiritual-pressure-less commoner? A passing Shinigami has probably already grabbed him and locked him up!"

Wu Biao opened his mouth. He wanted to go over and show those little punks just how useful strength could be. But then he remembered he still had to get food here, so Brother Biao lowered his hand again.

"Once Brother Biao's done eating, I'll knock every one of you flat!"

After making up his mind, Brother Biao kept moving forward with the long queue.

A few minutes later, it was finally Wu Biao's turn. The cook gave him a casual glance, then picked up a plate from the side, ready to serve him.

"Bro, hold on!" Wu Biao called out.

The cook raised his head, looking impatient. "What?"

Wu Biao pointed to a wooden basin about the size of a washbasin that the cook had set behind him. "Bro, could you serve mine in that basin? I eat a lot!"

"Huh?"

At those words, the Shinigami serving food at the nearby windows all turned to look.

"Are you kidding me?" The cook glared at Wu Biao. "Are you a pig? That's a basin for rice. One basin is enough to fill more than a dozen people. You really think you can finish it?"

"Why couldn't I? I'm not even sure one basin will be enough!" Wu Biao retorted, then shot the cook a glance. "Just serve it in there. Don't think I don't know how this works. The food here's unlimited, and you can eat all you want for free. If you don't let me eat my fill, I'll report you!"

"..."

The cook's mouth twitched. The people working in the kitchen were mostly descendants of Shinigami, and many of them hadn't been able to become Shinigami themselves. So when Wu Biao got aggressive, the cook hesitated, then went to get the wooden basin.

But as he filled it, he cursed inwardly: Go ahead and eat. If you can't finish it, I'll report you to the lieutenant when he gets here!