New Identity (Seeking Recommendations, Monthly Votes, and Rewards)

"Chojiro, have the folks over at Shunsui's end erase the intelligence records on Tenshin Ichiro. Simultaneously, pull some men together to provide secret, twenty-four-hour protection. Aside from those involved, let no one else know about this. Handle it personally!"

"Understood, Head Captain!" Standing to the side, Chojiro Sasakibe's expression grew grave. For the Head Captain to place such importance on this, it was definitely no small matter.

He didn't ask any further questions; with a slight bow, he turned and left to carry out the task.

"There's no need for that. I am currently guiding that child, and he spends most of his time at the Academy or in Squad 4. There is no need to worry about his safety."

"I trust you, but the First Division might not. Some people have hands that reach too far; we cannot give them even the slightest opportunity."

"Fine. Then how do you intend to handle this? Even if the intelligence is to be suppressed, his contributions cannot go unrewarded."

The Head Captain glanced at Captain Unohana with surprise and said, "You really are teaching that little one as if he were your own disciple."

Captain Unohana smiled without a word, continuing to watch the Head Captain quietly.

"Rest assured, whatever he is owed, not a single bit will be missing. I recall he enjoys studying Kido, right? Let him peruse all Kido numbered 90 and below. Once his strength meets the standard, subsequent Kido will be opened to him directly. When his strength is sufficient, the captaincy quota will be prioritized for him."

For a third-year student like Ichiro, these conditions were extremely generous. Unfortunately, the Captain still watched the Head Captain quietly with a gentle smile on her face.

The two stared at each other in the office for a long time. Suddenly, the Head Captain sighed, flipped the manual on his desk to the very last page, glanced at the description of the Mimicry Zanpakuto: Flame Sparrow—which was written in a noticeably different hand from the preceding text—and said, "I will have a copy of my personal insights on training flame-type Zanpakuto transcribed for him. That should suffice, right?"

Hearing this, Captain Unohana beamed: "How could I trouble you? These are your personal insights, Head Captain. Giving him some insights on other flame-type Zanpakuto would be enough."

"..." The Head Captain looked at Captain Unohana, speechless. Seeing she was still pressing the issue, he rubbed his brow, frowned, and said, "I will have these insights compiled for him as well. That should be enough, right?"

"You jest, Head Captain. Ichiro is still young; it is not appropriate to give him too many rewards. That was not my intention." After a brief pause, Captain Unohana continued, "Regarding the mass production of healing-type Zanpakuto, when can it be approved?"

Seeing Captain Unohana shift the topic so bluntly, the Head Captain's mouth twitched. However, he didn't want to continue this conversation with his old friend, so he followed her lead.

"Don't worry about that. Healing-type Zanpakuto only enhance the medical standards of Squad 4. Although the overall strength of the Thirteenth Division will rise, the higher-ups will not obstruct this. The question is, can mass production actually be achieved?"

"Based on the data Ichiro provided, it is theoretically possible. But in practice, aside from Ichiro, the developer, no one in the current Thirteenth Division can do it."

"Is that so? It seems we must pay a visit to those two. Then, without further delay, let us depart." Having said this, the Head Captain picked up the manual, stood up, and led Captain Unohana toward the Soul King Palace.

In the current Soul Society, if anyone other than Ichiro could replicate and perfect this technology, it would only be the Zero Division's Oetsu Nimaiya, the inventor of the Zanpakuto, and Ichibe Hyosube, the Soul Reaper who holds the true names of all Zanpakuto. Aside from them, there was almost no one else.

"Ho~ A Mimicry Zanpakuto? Artificially embedding Kido incantations into an Asauchi, then utilizing the Asauchi's inherent growth properties to evolve those incantations and enhance the blade's power? What an interesting idea!" Oetsu Nimaiya flipped through the copy in his hands, utterly enthralled, letting out exclamations of wonder.

"Not only that, he has edited special incantations to combine with Kido formulas, creating a Vow Binding similar to a true name. This person's understanding of Kido is simply..." Beside him, Ichibe Hyosube looked at the records concerning the true names and sighed with genuine admiration.

No one in the Soul Society understood the true names of Zanpakuto better than he did. The moment any Asauchi in the world was handed to its master, he knew its true name.

But now, the true name of this Mimicry Zanpakuto was entirely different. It possessed the same efficacy as a true name, yet its essence belonged to Kido incantations. Even he could not control this true name!

"I didn't come here for you to marvel at how impressive it is. Can you manufacture and mass-produce this? I don't want to trouble a genius with such whimsical ideas to do this tedious work," the Head Captain said, thumping his staff against the floor with a heavy tone.

"Who are you looking down on? It's just optimization; it's too simple. If that kid did it, it would take a few months, let alone us? That's not the point. The point is that your frequency of entry has been high these past two years. This is bad; this is the Soul King Palace!" After a simple, confident reply to the Head Captain, Oetsu Nimaiya placed the manual on the table and stared intently at the Head Captain and Captain Unohana.

"These are all necessary matters. If you could set up a permanent station outside, we wouldn't have to come in."

"The Zero Division serves the Soul King directly."

"It is merely establishing a station."

"All unnecessary risks must be avoided."

"Fine. Then we shall return later. That child's talent is far beyond this level. Pay close attention to the Mimicry Zanpakuto matter. I hope that within three years, every member of Squad 4 can be equipped with one. Ask for whatever you need. Retsu, let's go."

With that, he led Captain Unohana out of the Soul King Palace.

Ichibe Hyosube watched the Head Captain's departing back and narrowed his eyes: "It seems those nobles have caused him quite a bit of trouble. How about it? Shall we handle it?"

"No need to meddle. Let him continue to bicker with the Central 46. However, I think Yamamoto is right about one thing: we really should set up a reception point. We can't have people coming directly to the Soul King Palace for every little thing."

"Easier said than done. Who would be responsible for the reception point? People from the Thirteenth Division? Give them an inch and they'll take a mile. Yamamoto won't let a single opportunity slip by. By then, whether we remain directly under the Royal Family will be up for debate."

Regarding Ichibe Hyosube's question, Oetsu Nimaiya smiled confidently, waved the manual, and said, "Of course, we follow our own rules. Do you think something like a Mimicry Zanpakuto isn't enough to be recorded in the history of the Soul Society? Furthermore, judging by the contents of the manual, he should also possess a method for simulating Reiatsu levels. This completely replaces both of our Zanpakuto."

"..." Ichibe Hyosube was silent for a moment, then gave a wry smile: "Indeed, a terrifying monster. But the most terrifying thing is that I didn't see through how he achieved this step. It's as if he simply skipped a step to realize the effect."

"I didn't see it either. Either he possesses some kind of miraculous technology, or he doesn't even understand it himself."

"He doesn't understand it. Do you believe that?"

Oetsu Nimaiya flipped through the meticulously detailed manual and laughed: "I don't. What a terrifying guy."

"What? Don't tell me you have some bad ideas."

"Do you think I dare? With the strongest Soul Reaper and Yachiru protecting him, who would dare touch him?"

"Some idiots in the Central 46 would dare."

Oetsu Nimaiya swallowed, remained silent for a moment, then picked up the manual and walked toward the Soul King: "In that case, we must strike first! Let's get his status settled!"

"His strength isn't enough yet." Although he said this, Ichibe Hyosube stood up and followed Oetsu Nimaiya.

"Strength is just a matter of time. What we need to do is ensure he can grow. Isn't Yamamoto wanting to set up a reception point? He would be very suitable."

"You are playing with fire." Ichibe Hyosube, following behind Oetsu Nimaiya, shook his head and sighed, but he said nothing more, merely following in silence.

Dear readers, this book has received its first recommendation! There is one on both the PC and mobile clients. How the results go from here depends on all of you!

I am asking for everything!

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