Chapter 19: For a Mere Third Seat, You Talk Pretty Big, Huh?

Without much hesitation, Nagasawa Masaru accepted the mission to save Kuchiki Sōjun.

But the moment he did, another system notification popped up.

[Host has accepted Mission Three: Save Kuchiki Sōjun. Abnormal state added.]

Seeing this, Masaru froze.

He hadn't even figured out what kind of damage that [虚耗] debuff would bring, and now another one?

Did the system think he wasn't dying fast enough?

Abnormal State: Close Friend of Kuchiki Sōjun (Kuchiki Sōjun witnessed your exceptional performance at the Spiritual Arts Academy graduation ceremony and assisted you in saving Ōmaeda Hikomaru. Since then, he has felt a strong affinity toward you. Coupled with his son Byakuya's high opinion of you, he is very willing to befriend you. This state will disappear once Sōjun's fate is altered, after which the system will recalculate your relationship with him based on your level of intimacy.)

Reading this, Masaru let out a long sigh of relief.

He admitted it—there was definitely a bit of impulse when he took the mission, and not long after accepting it, he'd already been worrying about how to even get close to Kuchiki Sōjun.

After all, as heir to one of the Five Great Noble Clans, the number of people trying to approach Sōjun was practically endless.

And considering he'd explicitly asked to join Squad 6 from the start, if he deliberately got close to the Kuchiki heir too, he wouldn't be surprised if the next time Yoruichi came knocking, it wouldn't be alone—it'd be with the whole Onmitsukidō in tow.

But now, with the system backing him up, he could go all in without hesitation.

With that thought in mind, he casually strolled off in the direction of the Squad 6 barracks.

Not because he wanted to go back to work, of course. He just wanted to take this chance to build some rapport with Kuchiki Sōjun and maybe gather a bit of intel—specifically, who exactly was trying to get Sōjun killed.

However, when he leisurely wandered back into the Squad 6 barracks, he suddenly noticed something strange.

Just moments ago, the place had been bustling with activity. Now it was completely deserted. Even Byakuya's desk, still cluttered from when Masaru left it a mess, had only been half-cleaned.

Masaru raised an eyebrow and muttered to himself.

"They all clocked out already?"

But he quickly shook his head and dismissed the thought.

Because in his field of vision, he spotted a small figure dressed in stealth attire, face covered, sprinting toward Squad 1 headquarters. It was a member of the Onmitsukidō.

He didn't know why, but something in his gut told him this had to be connected to Byakuya and the others' sudden disappearance.

Without a moment's delay, Masaru flashed behind the figure, grabbed them by the collar, and asked softly,

"Hey there, I'm Nagasawa Masaru, third seat of Squad 6. Have you seen any of my squadmates around?"

"Miss Onmitsukidō?"

The figure was tiny—once Masaru had them by the collar, they dangled in the air like a kitten in the scruff of a mother cat's grip.

Clearly, this Onmitsukidō member was utterly baffled.

Someone dared to stop a stealth corps agent in the Seireitei?

In the very next instant, she drew the Zanpakutō from her waist and slashed backward toward Masaru without hesitation.

Her strike was lightning-fast, as if she were facing an enemy rather than a fellow Shinigami.

But just as her blade was about to hit, she suddenly realized with horror that her arms had been twisted behind her back, locked in place before she could even react.

She couldn't move. She couldn't fight. She couldn't do anything.

So fast!

In that single moment, she understood this man was no ordinary third seat.

Eyes wide, she looked over her shoulder and spoke rapidly, urgency thick in her voice.

"The Stealth Corps and Lord Sōjun walked right into a trap set by rebel forces. Except for Lady Ginrei and the on-duty members, the entire Squad 6 has gone to assist them. I don't have time to waste on you—let me go, you bastard!"

Masaru paused for a moment.

Soifon?

He recognized her immediately.

Yoruichi's little shadow, the future captain of Squad 2.

Then his expression turned puzzled again.

Rebel forces?

There were rebels among the Shinigami?

But the moment he asked himself that, he recalled the historical context of this era in Soul Society.

At this time, while the Central 46 Chambers held immense authority—essentially functioning as the soul of Soul Society—the chamber was a council composed of nobles and elders, much like the old House of Lords in Britain.

Nobles constantly schemed against one another to expand their power and status. In their eyes, Shinigami were no different than the samurai of old Japan—tools for their political games.

Especially with the Shiba Clan on the verge of being expelled from the Five Great Noble Clans, the upper-class nobles were growing increasingly active, all eyeing the vacant spot to secure their own legacy.

High risks brought high rewards.

And in that environment, hidden rebels emerged within the Gotei 13.

Most of the time, these rebels blended in seamlessly with the other Shinigami, showing no differences at all.

But once they received orders from their patron clans, they would instantly transform into ruthless butchers, blades turned not on their enemies, but their comrades.

To root them out, the Five Great Noble Clans and the Gotei 13 had spent considerable effort. Even within the Central 46 itself, investigations into puppet masters behind the scenes were ongoing.

Naturally, the nobles entrenched in the Central 46 weren't about to wait around to be purged. They fought back just as fiercely.

With that in mind, Masaru suddenly began to understand how Kuchiki Sōjun might've died.

He slowly released his grip.

Soifon, sensing the release of restraint, made no move to stay and argue. She was clearly in a hurry to return to Squad 1 and request reinforcements from Captain-Commander Yamamoto himself.

However, just as she was about to sheathe her blade and dash off, a light, calm voice entered her ears.

"I understand. Tell the Captain-Commander I'm on my way."

Before she could react or argue, Masaru had already vanished in a blur, heading in the direction she had just come from.

Hearing his words, Soifon instinctively frowned.

For a mere third seat, he sure talks big, huh?

After all, the ones currently locked in battle were an elite unit led by Squad 2's Lieutenant Ōmaeda Hikomaru and Squad 6's Lieutenant Kuchiki Sōjun.

If even they were struggling, what good would a third seat do?

"Oh well. At least he's a third seat. Might be of some use."

With a small shake of her head, Soifon decided not to waste another thought on that arrogant guy.

But just as she turned to leave, she glanced over her shoulder—almost without thinking.

To her surprise, in the blink of an eye, that annoying man who had just held her up was already out of sight. Gone without a trace.

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