"Stop right there!"
Suddenly, a cold, clear voice sounded from outside the izakaya.
It was around noon, the hottest time of the day, yet in an instant, Nagano, Komori, and the others felt as if they had plunged into a cold cavern, their very souls seeming to freeze solid.
A single voice alone made them feel as if they were in a frozen wasteland.
The newcomer walked into the izakaya at a measured pace. It was Toshiro.
After Toshiro entered, Nagano and the others returned to normal, as if the feeling of plunging into a cold cavern had been an illusion.
Seeing Toshiro dressed as a Shinigami, Nagano frowned and said, "Sir Shinigami, I'd advise you not to meddle. Judging by your young age, you're probably just an ordinary Shinigami. My friend is a seated officer, and he's drinking in the inner room right now."
"Oh? Is a seated officer such a big deal?"
Toshiro said lightly.
Nagano's face turned cold. "It seems you're determined to interfere in this matter. Don't regret it later."
With that, Nagano ran towards the small room at the very back of the izakaya.
As he ran, he shouted, "Tsuchii! Someone's causing trouble at my place! For the sake of growing up together, you have to help me!"
Toshiro frowned slightly but ignored him, walking over to Renji instead.
Toshiro said somewhat angrily, "Renji, look at the state you're in!"
"Heh heh... I must look pretty pathetic now, huh?"
Renji said indifferently.
"You-"
"Hey! Just who is causing trouble here? Don't you know the owner is a friend of mine, Sawai Kawataro?"
Before Toshiro could finish, he was suddenly interrupted.
Toshiro turned his head, displeased, to look. The speaker was a middle-aged man dressed as a Shinigami, and he looked familiar.
"Third Seat Hitsugaya!"
Sawai Kawataro said, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Sawai Kawataro, member of the 10th Division, recently promoted to the 20th Seat of the 10th Division.
Previously just an obscure ordinary member, he toiled for half his life and finally succeeded in challenging the former 20th Seat, becoming a seated officer.
The match where he challenged the former 20th Seat was presided over by Toshiro himself. Even the appointment certificate was signed by Toshiro, which is why Toshiro found him familiar.
"Well, well, Sawai. It seems you've started getting a big head after becoming a seated officer."
Toshiro said expressionlessly.
"No, no, no! Sir Hitsugaya, it's a misunderstanding! There must be some misunderstanding here!"
Sawai waved his hands frantically.
Then he quickly glared at Nagano. "Hey, Nagano! What's going on here? You better explain this properly!"
Even Nagano, slow as he was, realized by now that this young-looking Shinigami was not someone they could afford to offend!
Thinking this, Nagano hurriedly said in a panic, "Oh, sir Shinigami! Although I was wrong to hit someone, you can't blame me entirely for this either..."
Nagano began, sniffling and with tears in his eyes. "It was that academy student! He drank without paying! That's why I had my men take action. He ordered so much alcohol but had no money to pay. This is a small business, I can't afford such losses!"
Toshiro frowned. "Is that so? In that case, I'll pay for the drinks."
Although the other party was also in the wrong, Renji drinking without paying meant he was at fault first.
"No, no, no! How could we let you, sir Shinigami, pay? The drinks are on the house! Consider it my apology to you."
Nagano said hurriedly.
Toshiro didn't insist on paying. This owner didn't seem like a good person anyway. Consider it him spending money on a lesson.
Toshiro warned, "You'd better run your business honestly from now on, or don't blame me for being harsh."
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Nagano nodded and bowed.
"And you, Sawai. Give me a proper explanation when I get back to the division."
Toshiro said, looking at Sawai.
"Yes, Third Seat Hitsugaya."
Sawai said with a bitter face.
Then Toshiro propped up the drunken Renji and headed towards the Shin'o Academy.
Although he wanted to have a proper talk with Renji, this wasn't the right place for it.
After Toshiro left, everyone in the izakaya couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
"Dammit, Nagano! You nearly got me killed this time!"
Sawai said angrily.
"Tsuchii, who was that gentleman? I heard you call him Third Seat just now. But you're a seated officer too. Even though Third Seat is quite a bit higher, you shouldn't be that scared, right?"
Nagano asked curiously.
Sawai said disdainfully, "What do you know? If it were an ordinary Third Seat, of course I wouldn't be this scared. But Third Seat Hitsugaya is different."
Sawai said with a mix of reverence and fear, "Third Seat Hitsugaya is the most talented Shinigami in Soul Society. Although only a third seat, he defeated the captain of the 11th Division, Zaraki Kenpachi, who is called the strongest combat division's Captain. His strength is probably unmatched by most of the Gotei 13's Captains. Moreover, after defeating Captain Kenpachi, Third Seat Hitsugaya could have become the new Captain of the 11th Division, but he refused."
Nagano stared, wide-eyed and speechless. He felt it was a bit unbelievable. His first reaction was whether he had heard wrong.
In his understanding, the Captains of the Gotei 13 were figures standing at the very top of Soul Society's pyramid.
For someone like him, if not for having a good friend who was a seated officer, he wouldn't dare offend even ordinary Shinigami, let alone Shin'o Academy's students.
Someone stronger than a Captain, who also refused the chance to become one? It seemed like an impossible thing.
Seeing Nagano's shocked expression, Sawai couldn't help but say proudly, "Also, our 10th Division is a bit special. The Captain and Lieutenant are too lazy and don't want to work. Although Third Seat Hitsugaya has only been here a month, he's exceptionally capable and decisive. So, all division matters are handled by him. In other words, the real authority in the division is actually in Third Seat Hitsugaya's hands."
As the saying goes, a high-ranking official is not as influential as the one in direct charge. This was the real reason Sawai feared Toshiro just now.
Although Toshiro wasn't a Captain yet, within the 10th Division, his authority was greater than that of the indifferent Captain Isshin.
At this point, Sawai began to worry again. He had struggled for half his life to get a seated officer position, even if it was only the 20th seat.
He had just offended Third Seat Hitsugaya. He didn't know if he could keep his seat.
However, what Sawai didn't know was that Toshiro had no interest in holding a grudge against him.
A mere 20th seat wasn't even cannon fodder, Toshiro didn't care at all.