"Don't say that! Being a captain has tons of perks. The monthly salary alone is enough to let you drink yourself silly every day at the best tavern in West District One," Seeing that Rosse was showing signs of backing out, Rangiku Matsumoto hurried to persuade him.
A top-quality, captain-level workhorse, if she let this one slip away, who knew if she'd ever find another.
"The best tavern in West District One, is it that expensive?", Rosse asked, puzzled.
"Of course! If you eat and drink freely every day, you'd need at least several thousand Kan. Only a captain could afford that kind of daily spending."
Rangiku spoke, eyes glimmering with envy.
Compared to a captain's salary, a lieutenant's was only one-third.
"Kan isn't that expensive, though," Rosse said, raising an eyebrow with mild confusion.
He genuinely didn't think the price was high.
Aizen had already explained the basics to him. The purchasing power of Kan in the Soul Society was roughly equivalent to Berries, about a 1:1 ratio with modern yen.
Compared to the East Grand Currency, it was roughly 1:20.
A meal costing 1,500 yen wasn't expensive at all.
After all, it was the best tavern, and Rangiku wasn't an ordinary person.
'There are only thirteen captains and thirteen lieutenants in the entire Gotei 13.'
'In other words, Rangiku was already among the top twenty people in the Seireitei, but judging from this, her monthly salary isn't even 90,000 yen (900,000 Kan)?'
"90,000 Kan isn't expensive? I only make 300,000 Kan a month and still have to pinch pennies!", Rangiku huffed, venting her frustration now that she'd finally found someone from outside to complain to.
"I'm telling you, those nobles are all stingy bastards. We do most of the work, yet we get nothing in return."
"Then why rely on the nobles for money? Can't you earn it yourselves?", Rosse asked.
"Huh? We're the Tenth Division, we're supposed to protect the Seireitei," Rangiku said in confusion.
Whether in the Rukongai or the Seireitei, the law barely applied.
Sure, there were shopkeepers, but all small-timers. No real capitalists at all.
"Are there attacks on the Seireitei every day?", Rosse asked, even more puzzled.
"No! Who would dare attack the Seireitei? We mostly just patrol, nothing else."
Since she already considered him the next captain, Rangiku didn't mind speaking more openly.
"Then if things are that peaceful, why not open shops in or outside the Seireitei, give the squad a share of the profits? Is that against the rules?", Rosse asked again.
"Huh? You can do that? Well, there's no rule against it… but we need people for patrols."
Rangiku was tempted but hesitant.
After all, there had never been a precedent for something like this.
The only similar example was the Ninth Division, which ran The Seireitei Communication, basically the Seireitei's internal newspaper. A single copy cost 1,000 Kan, one issue a week, crazy expensive.
"Surely not everyone's on patrol, right? And even patrols can be used cleverly. Each of you could push a snack cart while patrolling, barely affects the job. Those captains who can't find trouble even if they tried, you think a few ordinary Shinigami will?", Rosse explained patiently.
"That's… true…", Rangiku was completely swayed.
Indeed, though the new captain-to-be looked hesitant, his mind was full of creative ideas.
Hmm, he really was starting to resemble her former captain.
Though, Rangiku glanced at Rosse's face, and in that instant, Shiba Isshin vanished from her thoughts.
That scruffy old man couldn't compare to Rosse at all.
In looks and physique, Rosse was the best she had ever seen.
His body was far better proportioned than Muguruma Kensei's bulky frame, but without that overly muscular feel. Instead, there was a perfect, balanced strength.
And standing at nearly 1.9 meters after disguising his form, Rosse made her heart beat unsteadily.
With looks like that, just seeing him every day would be a treat for the eyes, certainly better than having that short Third Seat take over.
In an instant, Rangiku made up her mind.
"Arigatou gozaimasu! Captain Rosse, please accept the position of captain!"
Rangiku bowed ninety degrees, her large… burdens shifting dramatically, almost making Rosse lose his composure.
"What are you doing?"
Rosse raised an eyebrow slightly and stepped forward, gently helping Rangiku up by hand.
Was this really necessary, greeting him with such ceremony?
"Captain Rosse, right now only our Tenth Division's captain seat is vacant, we really need someone like you to lead us."
Not only did he seem good-natured, but he even had ideas about helping the squad earn money.
Such a captain was practically an angel.
"But… what's in it for me?", Rosse asked hesitantly.
"Captain Rosse, once you become a captain, you'll be one of the thirteen most powerful people in the Soul Society. You can do whatever you like. Whoever you fancy can become your wife, whatever you desire can be yours. Even nobles will have to respect you! You can even revive your family."
Rangiku had read the invitation letter. It said Rosse's family had once been a high noble house, later declining as their members dwindled until they quietly left the Seireitei.
Strictly speaking, Rosse was still a member of the upper nobility.
After all, his family had chosen to leave rather than being expelled.
"Don't mention family. I'm alone," Rosse's hand, resting on Rangiku's shoulder, tightened slightly.
Rangiku felt a wave of pressure that made her feel like she'd just brushed past the gates of Hell.
"Noted! Noted! I won't mention it again!"
Sensing something wrong, she quickly waved her hands, realizing she had stepped on a landmine.
Since Rosse disliked the topic of nobles, she'd drop it. She didn't like nobles either anyway.
In fact, someone like Rosse, who wanted nothing to do with the nobles, made her respect him even more.
In the end, after much emotional persuasion and reasoned pleading, Rosse reluctantly agreed.
As part of the deal, if Rosse truly became the Tenth Division's captain, Rangiku would personally show him around the Seireitei and treat him to half a month's worth of meals.
It wasn't an unreasonable request, and since Rosse was said to drink, Rangiku agreed on the spot.
Might as well make him a drinking buddy in advance.
And judging by his reliable demeanor, he would definitely be a responsible captain.
The future, she thought, was finally looking bright.
Walking alongside Rosse on their way back to the Seireitei, Rangiku couldn't help but smile to herself.
She had come out searching for her old captain, but ended up finding a new one instead.
And this new captain, he didn't seem any worse than the old one at all.
'Captain Shiba, I still miss you, but since you won't return... I hope you'll live well wherever you are.'
'The Tenth Division is doing great now, so don't worry about us!:
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