Shimiya Takeru's words somewhat appeased Hachihara.
"After all, my Zanpakuto still glows, so who's to say it's not light-based?"
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm! Shimiya is right."
"???"
"???"
Ichigo was full of questions, and Rindo Yu found it hard to stay silent, but looking at the two people engaged in mutual flattery, he didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Shimiya, your Zanpakuto is definitely the strongest light-based Zanpakuto!"
"Hachihara, your Zanpakuto is definitely the strongest Hakuda-based Zanpakuto."
Shimiya Takeru returned to his dormitory with the praise of "strongest light-based Zanpakuto," changed his clothes, grabbed his thermos, and headed out again.
His destination was the hillside behind the dormitory.
Because the journey was short and few people came there,
it was used by them as a training ground.
It wasn't that the Spirit Arts Academy didn't have dedicated training grounds for use, but because many other students also used them, they didn't want to go there and attract attention.
Besides, it felt bad to constantly damage the training grounds.
Using the barren land, which already had few trees, could also save the Spirit Arts Academy a sum in maintenance fees.
"Hoo..."
Perhaps it was because he had secretly started practicing while Ichigo was out fetching water.
Shimiya Takeru felt exceptionally good today.
He slightly lowered his body, his hand gripping the sword hilt with just the right amount of force, like a leopard poised to strike, every muscle fiber aligned for optimal power.
His powerful spiritual pressure, far exceeding that of his peers, was deliberately refined and condensed, injected into the sword hilt through the release points in his wrist, and then flowed into the scabbard, forming seven Kido threads.
At this moment, a mere flick of his thumb on the tsuba would snap the Kido threads, causing them to shoot out from the opened scabbard, slicing the enemy into pieces.
He had mastered the essence of American-style Iai.
Just as Shimiya Takeru was concentrating, waiting for the moment when his body's state would perfectly interlock like gears, ready to pull the trigger, he suddenly heard a rustling sound nearby.
In an instant, his thumb reflexively twitched slightly.
But another delicate hand seemed to have anticipated it, covering it.
Or rather, pressing it down.
Preventing Shichisen from being unleashed.
The wind carried a fallen cherry blossom to Shimiya Takeru's face, but his gaze traveled up the hand on his own hand, finally taking in the face, more beautiful than late cherry blossoms, fully.
"Hello, Si Gong student."
"..."
Shimiya Takeru slowly reined in the sharp edge in his heart, calmed his spiritual pressure, and at the same time, naturally released his aggressive drawing stance.
Seeing this, the newcomer also withdrew her hand and said softly, "I came at an inopportune time; I apologize for interrupting your training."
"It's fine. Although it's inopportune, Captain Unohana made a normal choice."
Shimiya Takeru didn't take offense, only showing a fleeting surprise at the newcomer's appearance.
As he spoke, he glanced at the source of the rustling sound.
Near a tree not far away, Fourth Division Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu, whose figure rivaled a European supermodel, stood there looking flustered.
"Let's talk somewhere else."
His training forcibly interrupted, Shimiya Takeru picked up his water cup and towel and left the field.
Retsu Unohana and Isane followed behind.
"Captain, did I accidentally cause you trouble again?"
"No, it's not trouble to protect my subordinates."
"Captain...!"
Retsu Unohana's words were like a warm spring breeze, soothing Isane's unease and deeply moving her.
But the next sentence was not so "pleasant."
"If I had allowed the other party to reflexively draw his sword and accidentally kill you, who made the noise, that would have been the real trouble."
"Eh—?!"
...
Dormitory No. 001.
Shimiya Takeru tidied up a bit and poured a cup of coffee for both the Captain and Lieutenant of the Fourth Division.
"This is a drink from the Human World, isn't it? I had the pleasure of tasting it at a tea party held by the First Division, but Si Gong student's tastes even better."
Retsu Unohana praised.
"Perhaps it's because this is cheap coffee."
Shimiya Takeru raised his teacup and blew on the hot liquid; the rich, sweet aroma filled his nostrils, and his mood couldn't help but settle down.
This was mocha he specifically asked Hachihara to order from the Human World; it wasn't high-end, just a casual drink to replenish sugar and relieve mental stress, but such inexpensive goods often gained widespread favor.
"By the way, Lieutenant Kotetsu has been restless since just now. Is she feeling unwell?"
"Ah? No, nothing, please don't mind me!"
Isane quickly waved her hand, her expression very unnatural.
Shimiya Takeru raised an eyebrow.
Just then, someone else pushed the door open.
It was Rindo Yu.
Seeing two strangers sitting in the room, Rindo Yu paused slightly.
It wasn't hard to recognize their identities from their haori and Lieutenant's armbands.
He nodded to them as a greeting, then came and sat beside Shimiya Takeru.
"Let me introduce you, this is my friend Rindo Yu. I specifically called him here to be a third-party witness."
Shimiya Takeru said, pointing to Rindo Yu.
"Witness... It seems I don't need to explain my purpose too much."
As the topic shifted, the atmosphere in the room subtly changed.
The elegant smile on Retsu Unohana's face gained a hint of seriousness.
"It's about the medicine, isn't it?"
Shimiya Takeru spoke bluntly.
"Regarding this, I don't plan to play dumb, because Ōmaeda will mess things up sooner or later."
"That being said, Vice-Captain Ōmaeda, out of a sense of responsibility, will inevitably control the situation within an acceptable range, and since you only sold the medicine to him, it's difficult to trace anything he did with the medicine back to you."
"Furthermore, the medicine was initially defined as a 'laxative,' a frivolous and vulgar nature that would hardly trigger others' sensitive nerves, reducing the sense of crisis sparked by illegal drugs to a minimum."
"That's why you can sit here so calmly, facing me, the Captain of the Fourth Division, who holds supreme authority over medical affairs, without the slightest fear."
Retsu Unohana took over the conversation.
Rindo Yu and Isane, hearing the inside story for the first time, couldn't help but look at Shimiya Takeru.
The person involved, however, remained unfazed, only a flicker of a different light in his eyes.
The words he spoke next instantly made the atmosphere tense.
"Is this the result of discussions at the Captains' meeting, or Captain Unohana's own idea?"
Retsu Unohana smiled slightly, appearing completely unaggressive.
"Regarding this, I also don't plan to play dumb. This is my idea, but Captain Aizen used the reasons within it to persuade everyone, so it was finally decided that I would be responsible for handling this incident."
"Are you going to issue me a formal business license?"
"If Si Gong student is willing to specialize in potion making, the Fourth Division can vouch for you. This would also be granting you legitimate operating rights. In exchange, the potions you make can only be sold to the Fourth Division. If this is acceptable, we can sign the spiritual law contract document now."
Saying this, Retsu Unohana took a document tied with a red string from Isane and placed it on the table.
Shimiya Takeru curiously picked it up and glanced at it. The content was indeed exactly as she said, but the price had plummeted.
"One hundred Ryo? Ōmaeda paid twenty thousand for one! Even at black market prices, it shouldn't be cut by two hundred times in one go, right? Captain Unohana, I think you need a check-up to see if your heart has turned black."
"Si Gong student, for you to say such a thing, let alone your heart being black, even all the blood in your body must be black, right?"
Retsu Unohana sighed slightly, seemingly feeling genuinely helpless about being slandered as a bad person by a bad person.
"What kind of talk is that! To so belittle the future successor of the Seireitei, the pillar of the Gotei 13, this is not the magnanimity a senior should have!"
Shimiya Takeru's expression was stern.
"Si Gong student, do you know that our Women's Shinigami Association's weekly budget is only 250,000 Ryo, and 12 million annually, while you've earned at least 5 million Ryo from Vice-Captain Ōmaeda during this period."
"Of course, that's not the key."
"The key is that your product is essentially water with zero cost."
Retsu Unohana watched as Shimiya Takeru subtly reined in his sharpness, putting on a nonchalant facade, and found it somewhat amusing.
"Though I don't know where you found it, I know exactly what kind of water you're using."
"Honestly, Captain Zaraki was furious when he found out his squad members were drinking someone else's bathwater as medicine. He almost got into a fight with Captain Suì-Fēng, and all of this is because of whom, I think Si Gong student should be very clear."
"Hmm."
Shimiya Takeru took a sip from his teacup, then picked up the document and glanced at it again, his expression a little displeased.
"But this price is too low."
"If you think it's too low, there's another option."
"I'm all ears."
"Sell the water source you discovered to the Fourth Division."
Retsu Unohana's smile deepened.
Shimiya Takeru's face remained impassive.
"You mean the Fourth Division will come forward to acquire the water source I discovered."
"Precisely."
"And the price?"
Hearing this, Retsu Unohana held up one finger.
"How about ten million Ryo?"
"..."
Shimiya Takeru silently looked at Isane.
The latter looked bewildered, completely not understanding why she was being looked at.
It wasn't until Shimiya Takeru spoke earnestly, "Lieutenant Kotetsu, when you become Captain in the future, please remember one thing."
"What?"
Isane asked subconsciously.
"In the medical profession, you must never cure a patient all at once. You have to string them along slowly, draining them of their money, or just set a high price so they give up all their assets for survival."
"?!"
Isane looked at Shimiya Takeru with a horrified expression.