"Captain Zaraki!"
Seeing Zaraki Kenpachi's miserable state, the members of the 11th Division wore expressions of disbelief.
They knew Rosse was strong.
But hearing he'd defeated their captain and actually witnessing it with their own eyes were totally different experiences.
Their invincible captain had been chopped down by Rosse in just a few moves.
"He's not dead, but he seems to enjoy this kind of bleeding. To keep him from making trouble, I won't treat him here. Let him go to the 4th Division later," Rosse flicked the blood off Purifier and effortlessly sheathed the blade.
From the start of the fight until now, the only thing dirty on him was a slightly stained captain's haori, and even that was Zaraki's blood.
"I'll take Ken-chan to get treatment!", Yachiru happily raced over to Zaraki and in one swoop dragged him away.
"Wait, Vice Captain!", Ayasegawa Yumichika wanted to call after her, but Yachiru didn't acknowledge him at all. Before he even finished speaking, she was already gone.
Right now, Yumichika's face was full of despair.
'Isn't this over for us?'
Their captain had been cut down, their vice-captain had run off carrying said captain, and the enemy was still inside their barracks. What were they supposed to do next?
"Captain Rosse, since you've already won, could you… perhaps leave now?", Yumichika forced a smile toward Rosse, speaking with extra caution.
This was the man who had just dropped their captain. He couldn't afford to be anything but careful.
And since the two sides weren't mortal enemies, the best outcome would be ending things peacefully.
Of course, if Rosse insisted on humiliating them, Yumichika was mentally prepared to die.
After all, he was the 5th Seat of the 11th Division.
"You all heard what Captain Zaraki said earlier, right? He acknowledged the debt. Now it's time for you to pay up."
Rosse stepped back to Rangiku's side and looked leisurely at Yumichika.
Right now, the only one who could handle anything in the 11th Division was this man.
Not far away, there was a bald guy still fighting, but that match was almost over. Since he refused to use Bankai, he was naturally going to lose badly.
Even if he had used Bankai, Rosse figured Hitsugaya would still have dealt with him easily.
"This… we ask that you give us a little time. We can't take out that much money right away," Those words made Yumichika's scalp go numb.
He was someone who believed battles should be elegant, but he was still a man who loved fighting.
Asking the 11th Division for money… wasn't that too cruel?
But since their captain had agreed, he couldn't go back on it.
"Time? Gather everyone. Pool what you have and pay as much as you can now. If it doesn't reach at least ten million, I'll tear down the entire 11th Division," Rosse spoke lightly and gave Rangiku a small look.
Rangiku instantly understood, giggled, and dragged Yumichika aside to negotiate in a whisper.
Post-battle social maneuvering was her specialty.
She was bad at fighting, but forcing people to pay after a fight? Anyone could learn that instantly.
Right then, Hitsugaya walked over holding a bald guy by the collar.
"Captain, I'm done here."
He casually tossed Ikkaku to the ground and stepped into the lineup.
Although Ikkaku was strong, dealing with him hadn't taken much effort. Hitsugaya hadn't even needed Shikai.
Still, the fight had helped him a bit. Now he needed time to digest it.
"Good work."
Rosse smiled at Hitsugaya, then looked down at Ikkaku.
"Near the end of the fight, you hesitated. Did you have some trump card you didn't use?"
"Tch! I lost because I wasn't as good. I don't have any trump card."
Ikkaku lay on the ground, staring up at the sky. His face showed neither resentment nor anger.
He had lost honorably, and Hitsugaya had won fairly. He had nothing to complain about.
He had Bankai, and Hitsugaya had Bankai.
If they had actually used them, the outcome was uncertain, but it definitely would've been trouble.
"If you say so."
Rosse chuckled, without any intention of probing Ikkaku's secret.
It was just a hidden Bankai. Even with it, Ikkaku would still only be on the level of the weakest captains, like Tosen. Not worth Rosse's attention.
Compared to that, it was more worthwhile to increase Rangiku's affection.
With his understanding of women, Rangiku was already close to falling completely.
But she was special. If he pushed for physical intimacy now, she probably wouldn't refuse, but if he wanted her heart, he needed to accomplish a specific task.
And that task had to do with a certain squinty-eyed man beside Aizen.
"Captain, just as you instructed, I've negotiated with the 11th Division. They'll pay ten million first, and the rest will be repaid over time," Not long after, Rangiku returned at a lively pace.
Today, Squad Ten had finally, truly regained their pride.
Not only did they avenge all their past humiliation, they also became the creditors of the 11th Division.
From today onward, all funds allocated to the 11th Division would be used to repay their debt.
As for their food and basic needs, the 10th Division, out of 'humanitarian concern', would manage it.
Basically, whatever the 10th Division gave them, that's what the 11th Division would eat.
The 11th Division had plenty of complaints, but ultimately they didn't resist.
Ever since Zaraki took over, most of the 11th Division members had been rough fighters from Rukongai.
When they won, they boasted. When they lost, they accepted it. That had always been their way.
Their captain lost, so getting their food and supplies restricted wasn't anything major.
Back in Rukongai, many of them had lived half-starving anyway.
"Good work. Have the squad members head back. For the rest, let Kino handle the follow-up. As for just now," Rosse nodded with a smile.
With the 11th Division now serving as a 'blood bag', life for the 10th Division would get better, and he would settle firmly into Seireitei.
"Alright, I'll go give the orders!"
Rangiku nodded again and again, happily running off to handle the arrangements.
At this point, not just Rangiku but the entire 10th Division already regarded Rosse as one of their own in the truest sense.
If Rosse ever got in trouble and needed them to risk their lives, most of them would do it.
After all, the money they took from the 11th Division would be divided among everyone in the 10th Division. That was a real, tangible benefit.
A captain this good hadn't existed in the whole history of the Soul Society.
"What happened here?"
Just as Rangiku left, a cold female voice echoed across the grounds.
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