Veiled Killing Intent

Accompanied by Sasakibe Chojiro, Lin Nan and Katori Batsunsai returned to the 8th Division captain's quarters.

Upon entering, they were met by the sight of the Captain-Commander of the Court Guard Squad, Yamamoto Shigekuni, sitting upright in the seat of honor, with the bald Kumoi Entetsu and Zhi Xing Nai Wu Gang standing at his flanks.

Seeing Katori enter, Zhi Xing Nai Wu Gang immediately looked at Kumoi beside him with an expression of regret: "Didn't I tell you little bald guy that Katori-chan wouldn't listen to us? Besides, it's not that we were late, it's that the Captain-Commander and his men arrived too quickly..."

Given their understanding of Katori, they had guessed early on that she would not voluntarily report the matter regarding Lin Nan. When they spotted people from the 1st Division in the distance halfway there, the two had immediately returned to the 8th Division intending to tip her off.

They hadn't expected to be intercepted by the Captain-Commander the moment they stepped through the door.

Kumoi looked at Katori with a hint of worry, stole a glance at the Captain-Commander in the seat of honor, and let out a deep sigh.

Yamamoto sat upright, his voice low and gravelly: "Enough of that! You dare attempt to tip someone off right in front of me? Do you need me to accompany you in a month of kendo training?"

Lin Nan stood below, carefully observing Yamamoto, who was still in his middle years. He sported two thick, drooping mustaches, and the beard on his chin reached down to his collarbone. His head was shaved in the chonmage style, gleaming brightly.

Compared to the elderly Yamamoto familiar from the manga, he appeared even more ferocious now. If not for the fact that his coarse voice hadn't changed much, it would be hard to believe they were the same person.

"No, no, Brother Yamamoto, we were just taking a post-meal stroll and wandered here by accident. If you have business, please continue; we won't disturb you any further."

Upon hearing the mention of kendo training, Zhi Xing waved his hands and retreated while speaking, dragging Kumoi out of the captain's quarters along with him.

Lin Nan was somewhat shocked.

Is this the first generation of captains? How are they not like killers at all, but rather like a bunch of goofballs?

"Instead of reporting the situation, you choose to act on your own within the division." Yamamoto Shigekuni ignored the pair's flight and turned his stern gaze toward Katori Batsunsai's face, saying, "Even for a woman, there must be a basic bottom line when handling affairs."

Faced with such blatant disparagement, Katori Batsunsai's playful desire to watch the spectacle vanished in an instant, replaced by a surge of self-respect and stubbornness.

She remained expressionless, speaking softly and with neither servility nor arrogance: "In the bloody battle against the Empire of Light two hundred years ago, half of the thirteen captains of the Court Guard Squad perished, yet two-thirds of the three female captains survived."

"Hmph?!" Yamamoto Shigekuni's anger surged instantly; he slammed his hand onto the table, his brows knitting tightly together, yet he could not utter a single word in response.

A moment later, he closed his eyes bitterly and said in a low voice: "Saito, who was the most eccentric in her conduct, is already gone. I only hope that you and Unohana will think twice before acting in the future and cherish your own lives. It would be a waste of the friendship I held with your brother."

"When you released your Zanpakuto two hundred years ago, did you ever think about cherishing the lives of the other captains and squad members?"

Her round lenses could not hide the unyielding gaze in Katori's eyes. She stared at the Captain-Commander, her soft voice revealing immense firmness.

Lin Nan stood to the side, trying his best to appear invisible and avoid drawing anyone's attention, while his ears were pricked up higher than anyone else's.

"Empire of Light"? "Bloody battle"? Two hundred years ago... does that refer to the first war against Yhwach? As expected, the current timeline is eight hundred years before the original manga!

Moreover, judging by the conversation just now, there was some hidden truth behind that battle, wasn't there?

"Katori-sama! How can you be so rude to Genryusai-sama? I believe that if it weren't for that battle back then..." Sasakibe Chojiro couldn't help but speak up.

Katori Batsunsai turned her face toward Sasakibe. Behind her round lenses was a face as cold as frost, and she said coldly: "Did I ask for your opinion? Was I speaking to you?? Vice-Captain Sasakibe??"

"You..." Sasakibe Chojiro was left speechless, his face flushing red with annoyance and shame.

"Enough!" Yamamoto Shigekuni slammed his scabbard heavily against the floor with a dull thud, putting an end to their further dispute.

The door to the captain's quarters was knocked on gently, and a squad member reported tremblingly from outside: "The 11th Division captain is here!"

The door slid open slowly, and Unohana walked in with a calm expression, bowing slightly: "Excuse the intrusion, Captain-Commander! I originally intended to discuss some matters with Captain Katori, not knowing you were also here."

After speaking, she stood not far from Katori, her expression as relaxed as if she had come specifically for tea.

Lin Nan watched Unohana, recalling his experience sparring with her, and couldn't help but get goosebumps again, thinking to himself:

I heard she was just scolded by Yamamoto? She's so calm, she doesn't look like someone who just got chewed out at all...

Wait, is that a bandage peeking out from her collar? Who wounded her? Could it be that Yamamoto slashed her?

...Then again, for a killing machine like her, perhaps only being slashed into submission works.

Yamamoto Shigekuni nodded slightly: "No matter. You must also be here for this civilian from the Rukon District, right? Just wait there for a moment!"

Unohana nodded in acknowledgment and then silently stepped back half a pace.

Seeing Unohana's submissive attitude, Lin Nan couldn't help but marvel once again. It seems that the only one capable of subduing a killing machine like Unohana is the even more bloodthirsty Yamamoto.

Yamamoto turned his attention back to Katori and continued: "The Court Guard Squad is currently facing its greatest difficulty in two hundred years. I do not wish for our internal affairs to affect the Court Guard Squad as a whole because of the past."

"As the culprit who destroyed half of the Court Guard Squad with your own hands, of course, you would think that way. The reason the cripple from the Shihoin clan intends to establish the Stealth Force is likely because the Four Great Noble Clans have already lost faith in you, right?"

Katori Batsunsai's words remained as sharp as a blade, each one striking directly at Yamamoto's vitals.

An awkward silence filled the room, immediately followed by an atmosphere thick with gunpowder.

Lin Nan could only lower his head, pretending to be both deaf and dumb. Not only was this conversation packed with information, but compared to Unohana, Katori was even more surprising.

A woman who looked so delicate, yet dared to go head-to-head with Yamamoto? The ancients did not deceive me; one truly cannot judge a book by its cover. Are all bespectacled women this full of contrast?

"Katori, mind your tone," Unohana couldn't help but whisper a reminder.

Katori did not avert her gaze, her large round lenses reflecting the light, making it impossible to discern any emotion: "Things like 'tone' probably ceased to exist two hundred years ago. Otherwise, how could our Court Guard Squad have been so strapped for options when facing the rebel armies of the old nobility over these past two centuries?"

Lin Nan frowned, feeling that things were not so simple. These two were talking about completely different things, and he wondered if what was to come was really something he should be hearing.

Yamamoto remained silent for a moment. He didn't respond, but instead looked at Lin Nan beside them and said: "Conversations between captains should not be overly disclosed in front of outsiders. Today was originally meant for this Rukon District resident—what is your name?"

You guys have been surfing the net for half a day, and only now do you remember I haven't joined the chat room, right?

Lin Nan inwardly complained, looked up at Yamamoto, and said sternly:

"Captain-Commander Yamamoto! My name is Lin Nan."

"I heard you exchanged three bouts with Captain Unohana?"

There was no need to mention the outcome of the duel; the fact that Lin Nan was standing there was already the most bizarre part of it all.

Lin Nan nodded.

"You are not a Soul Reaper, so how did you dare to challenge the Kenpachi?" Even someone as formidable as Yamamoto was extremely curious about such a near-mythical occurrence. He narrowed his eyes and asked in a sharp, cutting tone.

Lin Nan's reply was incredibly simple: "If I can win, I fight; if I can't, I die!"

The others present could not help but lower their heads in resignation.

That was as good as saying nothing at all.

Yamamoto nodded, closed his eyes to ponder for a moment, and said, "At present, our Court Guard Squad is in urgent need of talented individuals. Lin Nan, would you... be willing to become a Soul Reaper?"

"Huh?" Lin Nan could hardly believe his ears.

What was going on today? First a squad captain invited him to join, and now the Captain-Commander was doing the same?

Was the recruitment KPI for the Gotei 13 really that difficult to meet?

Seeming to notice Lin Nan's hesitation, Yamamoto added in a deep voice, "The Court Guard Squad is severely understaffed and requires moldable talent. My previous question was merely an informal inquiry. Even if you have the ambition to join, you must still undergo formal training and the standard enlistment procedures."

Was this immense stroke of fortune really knocking on his door just like that?

Just as Lin Nan was about to nod, his heart stirred slightly, and his gaze darted toward those beside him.

The atmosphere in the room seemed somewhat off.

Unohana, who had arrived last, kept her eyes lowered, yet her gaze was tilted slightly in his direction, as if she were anticipating his answer.

Katori Batsunsai stood rooted to the spot, staring straight ahead, but the slender hands hidden beneath her wide sleeves were tightly clenched, her knuckles turning a pale shade of white.

Directly in front of him, Yamamoto was staring at him thoughtfully, waiting for his response.

And behind him, although Sasakibe Chojiro also kept his eyes lowered, Lin Nan detected a different aura emanating from him.

When his gaze fell upon the hand the man was resting on his sword hilt, Lin Nan suddenly realized the truth, and his heart tightened involuntarily.

It was killing intent.

An extremely faint, yet distinct, killing intent radiating from Sasakibe Chojiro.