How can you slander me out of thin air?

[Character Check-in: Unohana Retsu]

[Obtained Kendo level +3, currently lv63]

[Obtained Reiatsu level +3, currently lv49]

[Obtained exclusive trait: Mercy of the Death Sword]

[Mercy of the Death Sword: Born from death, seeking a trace of lingering compassion within the sword of death; sword speed and Kendo power are both increased by one hundred percent! (Hidden effect: ???)]

Kisaragi Akira's expression twisted slightly, a mix of exaggeration and irrepressible surprise.

His aching arms and body had miraculously recovered.

He had thought the beating was for nothing, but he never expected such an unexpected windfall!

The trust level of Unohana Retsu had been met, and the completion of the character check-in, along with the boosts to his Reiatsu and Kendo, were merely side benefits.

After all...

With his current talent, even reaching those realms on his own wouldn't take much time.

But exclusive traits were different.

To date, he had checked in countless times—daily, monthly, yearly, location-based, and character-based. All those check-ins combined had yielded only six traits.

Yet, the effect of each trait was enough to cause a leap in his strength.

Even the only slightly underwhelming [Miraculous Hands] had summoned Unohana Retsu, allowing her trust level to be met and thus granting him the [Mercy of the Death Sword] trait.

The increase in sword speed and Kendo power alone was worth the price of the beating.

This was a massive profit!

The only fly in the ointment was that this exclusive trait mentioned a hidden effect that was entirely unknown.

At the current stage, it seemed he had no way of knowing its true content.

The morning Kendo class ended, and Kisaragi Akira finally waited for the Kuchiki Clan steward he had been looking forward to.

A young man named Ginjiro.

He brought the one million Kan that Kuchiki Sojun had promised.

Observing the boy before him, who looked like a miser, Ginjiro frowned deeply, feeling more and more that Young Master Kuchiki Sojun lacked business sense.

Although this amount of money meant nothing to the Kuchiki Clan.

Still, the Kuchiki Clan's money didn't just blow in on the wind.

Giving it to someone like this—what was the difference from throwing it into the water?

Thinking of this, Ginjiro shook his head and sighed, feeling as though the task had been entrusted to the wrong person.

Fortunately, Kisaragi Akira had no idea what this guy was thinking, otherwise, he would have definitely shown him the meaning of Mercy of the Death Sword.

"Priest Kisaragi, the accounts are now settled."

Ginjiro gathered his thoughts and hid his emotions perfectly. As a retainer of the Kuchiki Clan, he had learned not to question the affairs of his masters.

Even if the matter was unreasonable to the extreme.

"If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."

Ginjiro rose to leave, but before he could fully stand, he was pressed back down by a hand that appeared out of nowhere.

"No rush."

Kisaragi Akira leaned in, his expression serious. "A big spender like Mr. Sojun—oh, no, a wealthy tycoon—no, that's not right either, hmm, a rich young master. That's the one."

"He's a rare species. Regarding the use of the amulet, please remember to tell him when you return: he must not rely on it too much."

"The only thing that can truly protect oneself is oneself."

Hearing the first half of the sentence, Ginjiro's gaze turned unfriendly.

What kind of talk was that?!

Insulting his master right in front of his lackey?

But when he heard the second half, his mood eased slightly.

The miserly boy before him might not have any virtues, but at least he had a shred of conscience.

"I understand."

Ginjiro bowed slightly. "I will report these words exactly as they are to Young Master Kuchiki Sojun."

After sending Ginjiro off, Kisaragi Akira didn't say a word; he immediately grabbed Aizen, who was busy with his internal-scroll training, and left the temporary dormitory.

In the teacher's office.

Kaede Junya looked at the arrogant Kisaragi Akira before him, as well as the tall stack of banknotes, and for a moment, he was drenched in cold sweat.

After pondering for a long time, he whispered a piece of advice: "Akira, the teacher knows that although you are usually mischievous, your nature is not bad."

"Take advantage of the fact that nothing has happened yet and run away early."

"I am an old acquaintance of Ikkanzaka Jiichiro, who is responsible for guarding the Hakutomon. You can use the mission credentials to head to the Hakutomon first, and then escape to the West Rukon District."

"In this way, the Gotei 13 won't have the energy to..."

Bang!

Before Kaede Junya could finish his sentence, Kisaragi Akira slammed his hand onto the table, cutting him off.

"Teacher Kaede, do not slander an innocent man out of thin air!"

"This money is perfectly clean. That big sucker Kuchiki Sojun..."

Hearing this, Kaede Junya's eyes widened instantly. His lips, covered in dead skin, trembled, and his face was filled with disbelief as he whispered hoarsely:

"You—you actually robbed Young Master Sojun?"

Aizen watched this dramatic scene before him and shook his head helplessly.

He did not understand, nor could he understand.

Kisaragi Akira was like some kind of communicable virus; once people spent enough time with him, their way of thinking would inevitably shift toward his.

Teacher Kaede was a typical example.

"What kind of talk is that?"

Kisaragi Akira retorted angrily, "That big sucker couldn't even scrape together ten thousand Kan from his entire body. This was sent by the Kuchiki Clan's steward, Ginjiro."

"Then did you kidnap Sojun..."

"No!" Kisaragi Akira was incensed. "It was just a business deal! These are all legitimate funds!"

The world always held prejudices against him.

Kaede Junya looked suspicious.

Based on his understanding of Kisaragi Akira, this money shouldn't have come so easily.

But since the other party was swearing by it, he found it difficult to dwell on the matter further.

As long as his student hadn't committed any heinous crimes, he was quite willing to be lenient.

"As long as you haven't committed a crime, that's fine."

Kaede Junya breathed a sigh of relief. "Then your debt to the Spiritual Arts Academy is wiped clean."

"It's perfect that you're here; I happen to have something else to discuss with you."

"It's about the rollout of the subsequent curriculum."

A puzzled expression appeared on Kisaragi Akira's face.

"Surely you remember what I told you before."

Kaede Junya took a sip of water to moisten his dry throat and said calmly:

"Because the original dean, Okikiba Genshiro, is away on a mission, the Spiritual Arts Academy is currently being overseen by the Captain-Commander as acting dean."

"He has taken into consideration that the strength of certain elite students has created a massive gap compared to the average student, so he is preparing to implement a new teaching method."

"Conventional instruction no longer serves to improve geniuses like you."

"Therefore, it is time for you to witness real combat."

At this point, Kaede Junya's expression grew more serious, his tone carrying a long-absent gravity:

"In the 32nd District of the East Rukon District, a shocking massacre of civilians occurred not long ago."

"Your mission is to head there, investigate the truth, and arrest or kill the perpetrator!"

"In the name of students, perform the duties of Soul Reapers!"