Liu Chuan walked slowly along the path down the mountain.
He felt no pity for Tsukihito Tsunayashiro's fate, only the indifferent sense that it was only natural. Crime and consequence ought to be this clear-cut.
Just as he was about to step onto the mountain road and turn onto the fork leading to the Kido Corps' grounds, a figure silently appeared ahead and to his side, as though he had been waiting there all along, blocking his path.
The newcomer was tall and upright, clad in a white captain's haori.
Most striking of all was the black blindfold covering his eyes. It was none other than Kaname Tōsen, captain of the Ninth Division.
Kaname Tōsen did not seem to be "looking" at Liu Chuan, yet his spiritual senses—or perhaps some perception beyond sight—had clearly locked onto him long ago. He simply stood there in silence.
Liu Chuan stopped and looked curiously at the captain who had suddenly blocked his way.
He had no personal friendship with Kaname Tōsen and had rarely even spoken with him in public. Why had the man appeared now? Did he have business with him?
"Captain Tōsen," Liu Chuan greeted him.
"Lord Liu Chuan," Kaname Tōsen replied in a low voice.
Without exchanging pleasantries, he went straight to the point, saying something that surprised Liu Chuan slightly. "For Tsukihito Tsunayashiro's execution, I have you to thank. Tōsen... offers his gratitude."
Gratitude? Liu Chuan was even more puzzled now.
Tsukihito Tsunayashiro had been punished because he had foolishly set an ambush to kill Liu Chuan himself. With the evidence irrefutable, Central 46 had imposed severe punishment.
Liu Chuan had merely happened to be there, forced to fight back, and incidentally exposed the conspiracy.
Why was Kaname Tōsen thanking him for that? And in such a formal tone,