The Greatest Case in Seireitei (2)

Who could have imagined that the first generation of an organization centered on Hakuda and Shunpo, specializing in covert operations, would be led by a cripple leaning on a cane?

Lin Nan watched Sennichi's back, unable to stop himself from grumbling inwardly.

"With all due respect, your arrangements are sound. However, for the first fifteen days, our safety remains unassured. Therefore—please forgive me for being blunt—I am afraid you must provide us with some other form of guarantee."

Lin Nan sat where he was, looking up at the tall Shihoin Sennichi.

As soon as these words left his mouth, Kyoraku, Ukitake, and even Shihoin Yota, who was guarding the door, were all stunned.

Bargaining with the Shihoin House, the masters of the "Heavenly Gifted Armament"? Did he have any idea who the head of the house was?

Shihoin Sennichi had not expected Lin Nan to suddenly make such a demand. He paused, then asked, "What kind of guarantee?"

"An equivalent exchange that makes the risk worth our while, and one that proves your sincerity," Lin Nan said with a serious expression.

After all, the three of them were not yet Soul Reapers; they had no obligation to risk their lives for the 2nd Division or the Four Great Noble Houses. Furthermore, Sennichi himself had admitted that they would be facing danger.

Demanding a fair price was better than being worked like beasts of burden for free.

Even if Yamamoto were standing right there, Lin Nan would dare to say that his demands were perfectly reasonable.

Ukitake's eyes went wide with shock; Kyoraku felt the fruit in his hand suddenly lose its sweetness. Both of them stared blankly at Lin Nan.

What was wrong with this kid? Was he for real? Wasn't he afraid of angering the other party? That was the head of the Shihoin House!!

Sennichi smiled slightly. "I understand. Let me think."

This young man's request was not entirely unacceptable. After all, they were going to do life-threatening work, and they were still just students at the academy; it was only natural for them to feel insecure.

He could afford a little appropriate compensation. The Shihoin House was not a stingy clan like the Tsunayashiro Clan.

It was just that he had always been the one giving orders, and those beneath him had always obeyed. Being bargained with to his face was a first.

Moreover, as a noble, he had never personally bought anything, let alone haggled over a price.

He scratched his head in a bit of a bind:

"This... if the matter is resolved smoothly, I promise that after you graduate, you can join the 2nd Division directly. How about that?"

Lin Nan shook his head and smiled. "As disciples of the Gen Style, serving in the Court Guard Squad is our most basic ambition. I am afraid that is a bit low."

"Uh... then, once the other squads of the Stealth Force are formed, I will make you squad leaders?"

"With all due respect, that is no different from the previous condition..."

Sennichi spent a long time trying to test the waters with different offers; Lin Nan countered each one in turn.

Kyoraku and Ukitake were completely dumbfounded. A head of one of the Four Great Noble Houses was haggling back and forth with a freshman from the Spirit Arts Academy, just like a commoner in the Rukon District.

"Lord Sennichi is very easygoing. If it were anyone else, I'm afraid they would have had Lin Nan thrown out by now, right?" Ukitake whispered to Kyoraku.

Kyoraku shook his head slightly, leaned over to Ukitake's ear, and said, "You've got it backward. It's precisely because it's Lin Nan that he dares to haggle with Shihoin Sennichi; no one else would have the guts—he even dares to challenge Kenpachi to a duel, what wouldn't he dare to do?"

Ukitake glanced at Kyoraku with some unease. "Then... what if Lord Sennichi gets angry?"

Kyoraku gave him a hangdog look and whispered, "Don't ask me. If I had known he was going to do this, I wouldn't have eaten so many of his candied fruits..."

After arguing for a long time, Shihoin Sennichi completely gave up. Having no experience in shopping, he had been soundly defeated in this round of negotiations.

"How about I just give you the position of 2nd Division Captain? I honestly don't know what else to offer."

Seeing the other party looking so dejected, Lin Nan knew the time was right and quickly smiled.

"You misunderstand, Head of the House. I am not asking for high official positions, wealth, or servants. As disciples of the Gen Style, what we need more is growth. Only then can we become stronger and achieve great things..."

"You mean...?"

"If it is possible, I would like to ask you to bestow upon us two or three of the divine weapons of the Shihoin House, how about that?"

Sennichi was utterly defeated, his eyes widening in disbelief. "What did you say?"

The Shihoin House had always been known for its "Heavenly Gifted Armament" precisely because they possessed many divine weapons said to have been bestowed by the Soul King.

A hint of regret vaguely rose in Sennichi's heart. I asked you to come and help me do a job, and you end up trying to loot my house.

Behind them, Kyoraku Shunsui looked miserable. It seemed that today they would inevitably offend the Shihoin House to the core...

He began to secretly calculate whether he should stick his fingers down his throat to induce vomiting and get rid of what he had eaten.

"You're overthinking it, little one," Sennichi said, suppressing his rising anger. "The equipment of the Shihoin House cannot be given away so easily..."

Lin Nan feigned a troubled expression and replied, "That is a pity. But with our current abilities, if we have no means to strengthen ourselves, I fear we will struggle greatly when facing the mission..."

At this point, Lin Nan gave Sennichi a cunning smile. "How about this? Could you take some time to instruct us in the unique Shunpo and Hakuda techniques of the Shihoin House?"

Before Sennichi could even open his mouth, Yota's voice suddenly came from a distance: "That is possible! I can teach them!"

Shihoin Yota had just seen his father's expression turn sour and was terrified that his anger would affect his health. Hearing Lin Nan change his request, he quickly jumped in to take over the conversation.

Everyone's gaze shifted to him at once.

Fearing his father would stop him, Yota spoke rapidly: "Find a time, and I can personally instruct you—Father, I can do it, please do not lose your temper."

A flash of cunning crossed Lin Nan's eyes. He had never intended to target the Shihoin House's divine weapons; saying that was just a small tactic.

When you say you want to open a window, others might use all sorts of excuses to refuse; but when you say you want to tear the roof off, they will proactively suggest that you just open a window instead...

Lin Nan looked at Yota with a grin and said, "It would be quite tactless of me to disagree. However, I only said half of what I had to say; there is still the other half..."

Shihoin Sennichi observed the shift in Lin Nan's expression and immediately realized he had been led into a trap by this brat. From the very beginning, he had been aiming to learn the techniques of the Shihoin House!

This rascal was far more interesting than Yamamoto.

"Speak your piece," Sennichi said, shaking his head with a wry smile as he nodded in agreement. "As long as it isn't too outrageous, everything is negotiable."

"As long as you aren't asking to become the head of the house or demanding a divine weapon, I can afford any other condition."

Lin Nan pursed his lips: "In that case... how about some extra operational funding?"

After agreeing to Lin Nan's request and sending the three of them away, Shihoin Sennichi sat alone, chuckling to himself:

"That stubborn fool Yamamoto actually managed to take in such a slippery apprentice. Even I was nearly bluffed by him."

"To learn a skill, he'd even go as far as to extort one of the Four Great Noble Houses. In that regard, he has the same tenacity Yamamoto had when he was learning his craft back in the day. This kid is a ruthless one! How fascinating..."

Lin Nan and the others quietly returned to their dormitory. The investigation outside was still ongoing, and the entire dormitory building was wrapped in silence.

Kyoraku still felt a lingering fear: "I'm not getting involved in anything like this ever again. You nearly scared me to death just now!"

Lin Nan turned back with an indifferent expression: "What's the big deal? Aren't we perfectly fine? We secured benefits for ourselves without offending the Shihoin House."

Ukitake also wore a faint smile: "Indeed. Judging by Lord Shihoin's expression at the end, he truly wasn't angry. Plus, the three of us each get a reward of ten thousand Kan. Lin-san, you handled that beautifully!"

For Ukitake, who was born in the Rukon District, spending ten or twenty Kan on a meal was a luxury. Ten thousand Kan was a staggering sum he had never even imagined.

"Eh, it's nothing. Shihoin Sennichi himself said this is the Seireitei's biggest case. It's only natural that we apply for some operational funding in advance," Lin Nan said, pouring himself a glass of water as if it were the most logical thing in the world.

Why earn money from the poor when you can earn it from the filthy rich?

"The Seireitei's biggest case?"

Kyoraku had no concept of money; he simply lay on his bed, clutching his chest with a look of hopeless lingering dread:

"Daring to extort the Four Great Noble Houses—I think you are the Seireitei's biggest case!"