The day after Kaiser's inauguration, Division 3 began mobilizing on a large scale.
The Shinigami of Division 3, as if reinvigorated with new life, were dispatched in high spirits to various squads, resolving the backlog of affairs that had accumulated over decades.
To resolve the manpower shortage, Kaiser, after inquiring with Chikane Iba, personally visited the squads that were relatively idle at the time and borrowed some manpower. He also rejected certain excessively cumbersome tasks, sending them back to the squads that had handed them off to Division 3 in the first place.
Kaiser discovered that perhaps due to the absence of a Captain in Division 3 previously, other squads' Shinigami had come to regard Division 3 as "easy to bully." Some matters that they could clearly have handled themselves were instead falsely labeled as needing support and dumped onto Division 3.
As for this kind of work, Kaiser naturally would not allow his subordinates to obediently solve others' messes. He bluntly rejected them all and temporarily blacklisted those squads. He told Chikane Iba that, for any squad that had engaged in such behavior, unless the issue was particularly urgent, Division 3 would no longer offer them any support.
This naturally caused quite a stir among the various squads, escalating to the point where their Captains had to personally come to negotiate with Kaiser before the matter was put to rest.
Once this issue was resolved, Division 3's work efficiency suddenly increased by several multiples, and they rapidly dealt with the affairs that had long remained unresolved.
After that, Kaiser began tackling the secondary affairs.
He boldly employed non-Shinigami personnel, recruiting a batch of temporary workers from outside the squad. These individuals were tasked with building maintenance, repairs, logistics, and other miscellaneous duties throughout Seireitei. The stockpiling of supplies for the Gotei 13 was supervised by a few Shinigami, who guided these non-Shinigami workers to ensure no problems occurred.
As for the funds required to hire these workers, Kaiser submitted an application to Division 1, which was swiftly approved. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto seemed quite willing to support him, encouraging him to proceed boldly. As long as it didn't violate the rules, he would offer full backing.
With this bold employment of non-Shinigami personnel, the progress in miscellaneous tasks sped up dramatically, and the long-festering backlog of chores in Division 3 was resolved one by one.
As for the internal manpower shortage, that couldn't be solved overnight. Kaiser could only instruct Chikane Iba to keep an eye on underutilized individuals in other squads and try to recruit them. He also planned to visit Shin'ō Academy and evaluate some of the upper-year students, hoping to bring promising talents into the squad. When graduation season arrived, they would take in another wave.
Although this couldn't completely resolve the staffing issue, it alleviated the pressure for the time being. It was no longer as tight as before—no longer did it feel like one person had to be split in half to get the work done.
Only after handling these most pressing matters did Kaiser begin to personally handle the issues that required a Captain's direct involvement...
...
West Rukongai, District 79.
On the outskirts of this area, in a remote location, a massacre had just come to an end.
A man wielding a Zanpakutō, yet not wearing a Shihakushō, stood in the middle of a pool of blood. Surrounding him were countless mangled corpses.
"Not enough… totally not enough…"
Dragging his bloodstained Zanpakutō, the man looked around with bloodshot eyes, wearing a crazed expression.
"Is there no one else? No one else for me to kill?"
"Why is there no one?!"
"Come out! All of you, come out! I still want more blood and flesh!"
Roaring like a feral beast, the man emitted a terrifying Reiatsu—one that faintly surpassed Lieutenant level, almost reaching Captain-class.
"I see. No wonder this requires a Captain's personal involvement. With this level of Reiatsu, it would indeed be dangerous for Iba to face him."
A voice suddenly rang out, entering the man's ears. The calm and composed tone stood in stark contrast to the bloody slaughter site.
"Who?!"
The man immediately turned his bloodshot eyes toward the source of the voice, growling lowly.
Then, he saw someone slowly walking toward him.
"You're Ishino Ginji, right?"
Kaiser looked at the disheveled, ferocious man. Bathed in the wild Reiatsu emanating from him, Kaiser smiled calmly.
"Former Third Seat of Division 11, a devoted supporter of former Captain Kenpachi Kiganjō. After he was killed by the current Captain Kenpachi Zaraki, you fled Division 11, stole forbidden medicine from a noble clan, drastically boosting your strength—but in doing so, lost most of your sanity, becoming an extremely violent criminal."
"But then again, being violent probably makes no difference to you, right?"
"I've heard stories—Kenpachi Kiganjō was already a violent man, abusing his Captain status to bully the weak. As his die-hard supporter, I'm sure you weren't innocent either. Whether you're violent or not, it's all the same to you."
Upon hearing this, Ishino Ginji's bloodshot eyes narrowed sharply.
"A white Haori… y-you're a Captain?"
As a former Shinigami of the Gotei 13, Ishino Ginji certainly knew what it meant to wear a white Haori.
"Division 3 Captain, Kaiser."
Kaiser stated calmly.
"You're listed as a dangerous individual marked for execution by Division 2. Unfortunately, Captain Suì-Fēng didn't have time to come all the way out to the far edge of Rukongai to deal with you. So I'm here to send you off instead."
Upon hearing this, Ishino Ginji first trembled in fear—then suddenly burst into maniacal laughter.
"Kill me? Just a wet-behind-the-ears brat like you?!"
"Don't make me laugh!"
"I've become stronger using those hidden noble clan drugs! So what if you're a Captain?!"
Ishino Ginji grinned savagely.
"The me right now is completely different from before!"
As he spoke, Ishino Ginji released his full Reiatsu and charged toward Kaiser.
However—
"Bakudō #61: Rikujōkōrō."
With a calm chant, Kaiser extended his hand and pointed at Ishino Ginji.
In the next moment, spiritual energy rippled around Ishino Ginji. Six flat rods of light appeared out of thin air, shooting from all directions and stabbing into his waist, pinning him in place.
"Slaughter…!"
Ishino Ginji's expression changed, and he roared as his Zanpakutō began to transform.
But before he could complete his release, Kaiser cast his Hadō.
"Hadō #4: Byakurai."
A bolt of lightning shot forth like a beam of light, illuminating the surroundings with its brilliance as it struck Ishino Ginji's sword arm and pierced straight through it.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHH…!"
Ishino Ginji screamed in agony, reflexively letting go of his Zanpakutō, which fell to the ground.
"Unfortunately, I have other duties. I don't have time to stand here and watch your performance."
Lightning flickered at Kaiser's fingertip. He shifted his hand from the pierced arm and aimed it at Ishino Ginji's head.
"You've cut down enough people with that blade. Let's not swing it anymore."
Kaiser said coldly, "So, goodbye."
As the words fell, before Ishino Ginji could beg for his life, another bolt of Byakurai burst from Kaiser's fingertip—piercing the air and blasting straight through Ishino Ginji's head.
"Thud…"
Blood gushed from Ishino Ginji's forehead. His eyes bulged wide, and then he collapsed to the ground, completely lifeless.
"Shunpo."
Without even glancing at the body, Kaiser vanished from the scene.
...
South Rukongai, the border between Districts 72 and 73.
On a certain street here, two people were fleeing for their lives.
"Run! If we don't run now, it'll be too late!"
"Damn it! Why is there a Captain here…?!"
Both were covered in blood, cursing as they fled. Dressed in white coats, it was obvious they were researchers.
"Shunpo."
Kaiser, wearing a sleeveless white Haori, suddenly appeared in front of the two, casting Kidō without a word.
"Bakudō #63: Sajō Sabaku."
Several thick spiritual chains surged like dragons from the surroundings, wrapping around the two and binding them tightly.
"You're the former members of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute wanted by Division 9, aren't you?" Kaiser stood before them, looking down. "You're suspected of participating in forbidden research and using its results to secretly murder several high-seated officers. Off to prison with you. Await judgment."
Kaiser seized the two, ignoring their struggles and curses, and vanished with a Shunpo.
...
North Rukongai, District 80, outskirts.
This was the northernmost edge of the Soul Society—closest to Zaraki District in North Rukongai's District 80.
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH…!"
A Hollow clad in beastlike armor had appeared at some point, letting out a hollow roar that shook the air.
"Shunpo."
Kaiser suddenly appeared, looking at the Hollow, whose Reiatsu was extraordinary, and clicked his tongue in amusement.
"Didn't think there'd really be an Adjuchas-class Hollow hiding out in the Soul Society."
"If I'd known I had a neighbor like you, I would've come to visit before I left Zaraki."
"Of course, it's not too late now. The Division 13 Captain responsible for Hollow purification has fallen ill again, so it's up to me to deal with you."
Kaiser slowly drew his sword.
"Try to last longer than the last one, alright? Adjuchas."
As Kaiser spoke mockingly, the Adjuchas let out a furious roar and lunged at him…