With Rangiku Matsumoto leading the way, Rosse wasn't questioned at all on the journey.
In fact, before even taking the captain's exam, he was already living in the Tenth Division barracks.
Everyone in the Tenth Division expressed doubts about Rosse's arrival.
Although they trusted Lieutenant Rangiku and almost eleven years had passed, the traces left by the old captain had basically been erased, bringing in a captain so suddenly, was that really reliable?
But those doubts were quickly dispelled.
Rosse did one very simple thing.
He spent money, lavishly.
He had already planned how to fit in before coming, and he got 20 million kan from Aizen.
He couldn't help it; being out and about, he couldn't stomach being broke.
Since he was already in the Soul Society, he wanted to be well prepared.
And for Aizen, handing over money was no trouble at all.
All the noble families in the Soul Society were effectively Aizen's ATMs.
So money had no real value to Aizen; he'd give Rosse whatever he asked for.
The Tenth Division had fewer than a thousand members total, and Rosse distributed roughly 15 million kan according to rank.
To put it simply:
Lieutenant: 300,000.
Third to Fifth Seats: 200,000.
Sixth to Tenth Seats: 100,000.
Eleventh to Twentieth Seats: 50,000.
Ordinary officers: 10,000.
Thanks to that massive donation, Rosse instantly won most people's favor.
The few who didn't were either not interested in money or people who felt indebted to the old captain.
Those folks didn't accept Rosse quickly, but they didn't dislike him either.
After all, being a Shinigami in the Seireitei was basically the same as a job; whoever paid well made a good captain.
"You're our new captain, Rosse?", Right after dinner, a short white-haired kid came to Rosse.
"You're Hitsugaya Toshiro, Third Seat, right? I'm not a captain yet. I haven't passed the captain's exam," Rosse said, now wearing Shinigami attire and smiling.
Although he couldn't fake Aizen's effortless composure, Rosse himself wasn't cold or insincere.
To him, the young Hitsugaya was just a tsundere junior; he could treat him like a younger comrade.
"Fight me and I'll acknowledge you!", Hitsugaya, carrying a Zanpakuto nearly as long as his body, looked at Rosse solemnly.
He wasn't angry at Rosse, just plain unwilling to accept him.
He had only recently trained out his Bankai, and no one knew yet.
He had planned to apply to become captain after getting used to Bankai, but before he could apply, Rosse jumped in.
At the very least, Rosse had to beat him convincingly.
"Want to see my strength?", Rosse smiled faintly and glanced around.
Aside from Rangiku, everyone else seemed eager for a show.
Rangiku gave Hitsugaya a warning look and a questioning glance; if he refused, she'd speak up for him.
The squad's atmosphere was not bad.
Since Shinigami spoke with strength, it was time to show some.
"No problem, right here."
"Right here?"
Hitsugaya's eyes widened in anger. This little garden was for casual chatting, ordinary officers could spar there, but captains couldn't fight properly in it. Rosse was looking down on him.
"You should have learned Bankai by now. I don't mean to belittle you; you're just young and have much to learn," osse's voice came from behind as his figure, originally in front of Hitsugaya, suddenly appeared behind him.
It wasn't shunpo or sonido, just plain speed.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
[Hitsugaya Toshiro]
[Overall Strength: A+]
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
It wasn't that Rosse looked down on him, given Hitsugaya's just-mastered Bankai, he really didn't need to try hard.
As everyone watched in shock, Hitsugaya fully erupted, "If you already know I have Bankai, don't underestimate me!"
"BANKAI! Daiguren Hyorinmaru!"
He skipped Shikai and immediately drew his Zanpakuto and released Bankai.
In an instant, frost descended on the little garden.
The temperature instantly dropped by more than ten degrees; the ordinary officers shivered.
The weaker officers glared resentfully at Rosse.
With Hitsugaya showing Bankai like that, Rosse had clearly overestimated himself. If the fight continued, they wouldn't hold up.
Hitsugaya's Bankai also attracted other captains' attention.
After Bankai is released, reiatsu increases many times over; such a huge release inside the Seireitei would be noticed immediately.
Captain-Commander Yamamoto, who was meditating, raised his eyes and glanced at the Tenth Division's direction, "Young people are reckless."
"If they weren't reckless, how could they be young?"
A teasing voice came from Kyoraku Shunsui, Yamamoto's disciple; he'd been invited because of Rosse.
"Cough! Cough! That reiatsu is Hitsugaya's Third Seat, huh, seems he learned Bankai."
Ukitake Jushiro coughed and also looked toward the Tenth Division. He, too, was Yamamoto's disciple and came to weigh in on Rosse.
The Central 46 suddenly intervened, letting a previously unseen noble take part in the captain's exam, this infringed on Yamamoto's authority.
In the Soul Society, nobles and captains all understood one thing: only if Yamamoto agreed could the Central 46 and nobles override the Gotei 13.
If Yamamoto didn't agree, nobles were nothing.
"Another reiatsu appeared, oh, this one's stronger than mine. Where did those nobles find monsters like this?", Kyoraku looked up in surprise, suddenly focused on the fight; his earlier casualness vanished.
Just then, another reiatsu had erupted in the Tenth Division area. At the same moment, the reiatsu from Hitsugaya's Bankai abruptly disappeared.
This new reiatsu was clearly first-class level, not weaker than Kyoraku. In Kyoraku's estimation, only old Yamamoto or the Fourth Division's captain could match it.
"The fight's over, no doubt... Hitsugaya was almost instantly defeated," Ukitake's expression grew serious; he roughly guessed what had happened.
Reiatsu perception doesn't form a clear image, but by observing overall reiatsu changes, one can infer the outcome.
Hitsugaya's previously abundant reiatsu vanished, leaving only Rosse's reiatsu emitting mild fluctuations.
Clearly, Hitsugaya lost, and he hadn't posed any real threat to Rosse.
"Kyoraku, you're in charge of his captain exam tomorrow," Yamamoto's eyes were calm as still water again, but his voice carried a hint of gravity.
"Sigh! Another troublesome thing. I just hope that young man isn't too hard to deal with," Kyoraku sighed in resignation; he'd known coming here wouldn't be good.
But being put in charge meant Yamamoto intended to recruit the man.
Indeed, such a dangerous person was better placed openly in the Gotei 13, at least any trouble would happen in the open.
If those nobles hid him away, who knew what might happen.
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.