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"Morning, Uzuki~"
Ishikawa yawned, habitually greeting Uzuki downstairs.
"Yo, Ishikawa."
But unlike usual, it wasn't Uzuki who replied today, but Himura, a burly woman dressed as a waitress, holding a tray: "Long time no see, did you miss me?"
"Ishikawa-sama! And me, we're back too!"
No sooner had Himura finished speaking than Oyama and a few of his subordinates jumped out.
"We've returned victorious."
"Ishikawa-sama, from now on, Rukongai North is our territory!"
"Boss, I brought you a lot of good liquor, northern specialties, but Ganju-nii secretly drank a few bottles while you were sleeping."
"What do you mean 'secretly drank'? As Ishikawa's boss, isn't it only right for me to drink some of his liquor?"
"…"
The incredibly noisy greetings instantly woke up the still-groggy Ishikawa.
Looking around, he saw the bar was packed with people; not only were all the seats taken, but even the aisles and the bar's backyard were filled with groups of two or three, watching the fights in the backyard Kan while drinking and cheering… The entire bar was so boisterous that Ishikawa felt a surge of irritation.
However, amidst the irritation, he also felt a bit nostalgic.
This scene truly felt like something he hadn't seen in a long time.
Himura acting as a waitress;
Oyama maintaining order with a few subordinates;
Ganju, with his subordinates, occupying the high chairs at the bar, not letting anyone disturb Uzuki;
And Takashi, who livened up the atmosphere in the bar and was liked by everyone…
Familiar old faces, whom he hadn't seen for a while, were scattered throughout the bar.
The new customers who had arrived in their absence had completely lost their usual arrogance in front of these old faces, each shrinking into a corner like a quail, quietly drinking.
And in the center of the bar, the table that had always been empty finally welcomed its owner, Nishijin Ori.
However, besides Nishijin Ori, there were also two men, one fat and one thin, both around 30 years old, tied up there. They both exuded Captain-level Reishi and were currently scrutinizing Ishikawa with resentful eyes.
Their condition was extremely miserable; their clothes were tattered, and their bodies were covered in scars, both new and old. From Ishikawa's perspective, some of these scars were months old, while others were recent…
Clearly, before coming here, the two of them must have endured a long period of torment.
Are they the great villains of the North?
Ishikawa shifted his gaze to Nishijin Ori, who was sitting there drinking.
After nearly half a year of continuous fighting, his Reishi had become even more formidable. If Nishijin Ori's Reishi strength was around 60,000 half a year ago, now his Reishi strength was almost on par with Ishikawa's.
And as Ishikawa observed Nishijin Ori, Nishijin Ori was also observing Ishikawa.
"Tsk~"
After a long look, Nishijin Ori clicked his tongue and turned to take a deep gulp of liquor.
This monster~!!
When he first met Ishikawa, this guy couldn't even withstand his own Reishi, but not long after, he defeated Genji. Although his Reishi strength wasn't as strong as his own, his combat ability was so powerful that he couldn't even hope to match it.
He had originally thought that by continuously fighting the four great villains of the North over the past six months, he might be able to widen the gap with Ishikawa… Yes, it was 'might' not 'should', because Ishikawa's growth rate was simply too astonishing. Even though Nishijin Ori felt that his progress in the past six months had surpassed his progress of the past ten years or so.
But he still had no confidence in his heart, and indeed, in just half a year, Ishikawa's Reishi had already surpassed his own.
Moreover, after Nishijin Ori returned, he learned that Ishikawa had even fought Kenpachi during his absence.
Just thinking about this…
"Gulp, gulp—"
Nishijin Ori, as if venting, drank bottle after bottle of liquor that Himura kept handing him.
This guy really has talent.
Ishikawa nodded, looking at the sulking Nishijin Ori, then turned to look at Himura and the others.
Although their progress wasn't as significant as Nishijin Ori's, they had all made considerable improvements.
Himura's Reishi had become much stronger compared to six months ago. Although it hadn't reached Vice-Captain level, her Reishi was already stronger than most High-Level Seated Officers of the Gotei 13.
And Oyama's Reishi had grown to be almost on par with Daimaru's. As the first opponent who almost cost him his life, Ishikawa had never forgotten Daimaru; however, if Oyama were to fight Daimaru, Oyama could instantly end Daimaru's life.
Because unlike Daimaru, who had the Reishi of a High-Level Seated Officer but didn't know how to use it, and whose actual combat power was even worse than a Low Level Seated Officer, Oyama's Hakuda was personally taught by Ishikawa.
Ishikawa was happy for their progress, but…
Buzz buzz buzz—
Listening to the headache-inducing clamor in the bar, veins popped on Ishikawa's forehead.
He had been happy when he first saw these people, but in just half a minute, Ishikawa already had the urge to make this group of people disappear into thin air!!
"Oh, it's really lively here today."
As the bar door opened, Ikkaku Madarame and Ayasegawa Yumichika walked in. But unlike Ikkaku Madarame's excitement upon seeing the scene inside, Ayasegawa Yumichika, after entering, immediately retreated and slammed the door shut with a bang.
"Come on, let's fight!"
Ikkaku Madarame sneered, sweeping his Zanpakuto across the villains in the bar: "I'll let you all come at once."
At these words, those villains who had just returned victorious, brimming with confidence, immediately exploded, picking up their weapons and surging towards the backyard.
"…" Ishikawa.
Well, it's getting livelier.
Ignoring Ikkaku Madarame, who was shouting in the backyard, Ishikawa rubbed his aching head and walked to the bar.
Uzuki looked at the irritated Ishikawa and teased: "Don't you think this scene is very nostalgic?"
"Yeah, so nostalgic I want to kill them."
Uzuki smiled at his words and brought out a bowl of ramen from under the bar that looked more like 'noodle soup' than 'noodles', handing it to Ishikawa.
Unlike Nishijin Ori and the others, her noodle-cooking skills hadn't improved at all.
However, with the improvement in living standards, the originally murky ramen had now become ramen piled high with beef… Although after Uzuki's handling, the thick slices of beef miraculously mixed with the 'noodle chunks' (named noodles), making the color and taste incredibly bizarre.
Ganju's eyes twitched as he watched from the side. No matter how many times he saw it, he greatly admired Ishikawa's ability to eat the noodles Uzuki cooked.
"Ishikawa-sama, please take my seat here." Haruka offered the high chair at the bar.
"Don't call me Ishikawa-sama!!"
Ishikawa habitually retorted, then shook his head: "You sit, I'll eat over there." With that, he carried the noodles towards Nishijin Ori's table.
In the entire bar, that was the quietest spot.
And…
Those two big villains, one fat and one thin, had been staring at him for a long time. Ishikawa felt it would be better to go say hello.
However, before he had walked two steps, someone hugged his thigh.
"Ahhhhhh— Ikumi… Aiko… I miss you all so much."
Ishikawa's mouth twitched as he looked at Unagiya Oshiki, who was hugging his calf and rubbing his face back and forth on it: "How did he get so drunk??"
"Ask Oyama."
Ganju chuckled: "That kid heard that the Everything Store had new employees, and said that as colleagues, they had to drink together… And then he ended up like this."
Hearing this, Ishikawa's face darkened, and he looked at Oyama.
He found that Oyama, who had been incredibly energetic earlier, was now lying on the ground like a corpse, motionless!
Ishikawa rubbed his head, kicked Unagiya Oshiki, who was increasingly crawling upwards, and reached out to pick up a villain next to him, saying with a cold expression: "Throw this guy upstairs to the Everything Store."
"…Yes… Yes…"
The villain held in Ishikawa's hand quickly nodded.
"Why didn't you two stop him?"
Looking at Unagiya Oshiki being carried away, Ishikawa said to Ganju and Uzuki: "If he's drunk, what about the Everything Store?"
"Today is a celebration for Yu and the others, let him rest well for a day." Uzuki said, then added playfully: "I wonder who didn't want him to stay back then, but now, only two months later, he's indispensable?"
"Uh…"
"Besides, Unagiya Oshiki hasn't rested for a single day in these two months. This is a good opportunity for him to rest well for a day."
"I haven't rested either, and I've done almost all the commissions."
Uzuki said irritably: "Do you think everyone is like you, uncomfortable if they don't work for a day?"
"…" Ishikawa.
That sounds so awkward. It makes me sound like a workaholic.
However, as Uzuki said, it was time for Unagiya Oshiki to rest.
He felt that Unagiya Oshiki was completely using work to numb himself, to stop himself from overthinking, from missing his wife and children.
But his behavior was normal.
Because, as far as Ishikawa knew, Unagiya Oshiki's child had only been born a few days before he came to Soul Society. He felt incredibly guilty towards both his wife and child.
For this reason…
Ishikawa had comforted him many times, after all, someone so skilled at handling Everything Store affairs was not easy to find.
To alleviate his pressure, Ishikawa not only helped him convert the unused rooms in the Everything Store into bedrooms, but also offered him a very high salary, and promised that as soon as his wife died, he would help bring her over…
Although this promise made Unagiya Oshiki's feelings extremely complex.
Ishikawa personally hoped his wife could come down soon and work at his Everything Store with him, just to match the Seireitei branch, which was also a male-female combination.
Sitting next to Nishijin Ori with his noodles, Ishikawa 'drank' his noodles while observing the two great villains.
And the two great villains were also observing Ishikawa, their eyes filled with resentment and killing intent, but the next second, it turned into horror.
"Why not just kill them?"
Ishikawa narrowed his eyes and said: "Why bring these two things back? It's troublesome. You deal with them yourself, then have someone bury them in the backyard."
"…" The two great villains.
"Himura suggested it."
Nishijin Ori's reply was, as always, concise.
"Hmm."
Himura stood behind Nishijin Ori, a bold smile on her face: "I suggested that Boss keep them. One, because Boss felt killing great villains was no longer challenging, so I suggested he use capture instead of kill to increase the difficulty; second, I think you're getting more and more customers here, so keeping two great villains to help Uzuki with things would be good."
"If you find them displeasing, I'll take them to the backyard and kill them right now. When we go to the East in a while, we can catch someone more to your liking."
"…" Ishikawa.
Is this woman getting more and more fierce?
The two great villains, one fat and one thin, immediately turned pale at these words.
Before being brought here, they had already heard about Ishikawa from other villains, and had always thought he was a terrifyingly powerful individual.
But in person, he greatly disappointed them.
He looked kind, gentle in demeanor, completely like a repulsive and easily bullied good-natured old man, which made them, who were already unwilling to submit, even more resentful.
But Ishikawa's words made the two realize…
This guy just looked human, but his inner self was completely of their kind.
"Then kill them and bury them."
Ishikawa said, then stopped looking at the two and turned to say: "Since you're back, relax well. I will clear all the accumulated commissions today, buy more meat, and then throw a celebration for you all, free of charge."
"Long live Ishikawa-sama!!"
"Yay!"
At these words, the bar erupted in cheers.
But while everyone cheered, the two great villains couldn't be happy at all.
"Sister Himura, let me handle them!"
"Go away, go away, you handled them last time, it's my turn this time."
"What last time? That was half a year ago, and how can those little guys compare to great villains?"
"I think before deciding who gets to, we should first consider where to bury them, right? I remember last time the backyard was already so full that every dig brought up a corpse?"
"Are you stupid? Half a year has passed, those corpses have long since dissipated into Reishi, adding to the ranks of those killers in Seireitei."
"Ah, you're right."
"…"
Watching the group of villains fighting over who would handle the two, the two great villains couldn't help but gulp, then looked at each other and said in unison: "Wait! Ishikawa-sama, we've admired you for a long time and have always hoped to join your ranks!!"
"You guys are truly cruel." Ikkaku Madarame had walked over at some point.
"Don't pretend to be a good person here, as if you weren't a villain before."
Ishikawa said, glancing at the backyard. Sure enough, those who challenged Ikkaku were all lying outside: "By the way, are you, the Third Seat of the Eleventh Division, so idle? You keep running to my little bar and beating up my customers!"
"What do you mean idle? I'm working here!"
Ikkaku Madarame smiled proudly: "Don't forget, Rukongai is our Eleventh Division's responsibility."
"Heh heh—"
Ishikawa chuckled, then pointed at Uzuki and said to the two great villains:
"Whether you stay or not, it's up to her."
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