The air in the factory district outside Junrinan was filled with a unique mixture of smells.
Today, however, the atmosphere in this industrial area felt a bit different.
Two figures walked silently one after the other down the middle of the road. The passing workers stared at them with curiosity and amazement.
"Look! That's the legendary 'Mirai!"
"He's hard to approach, but you can't help but keep looking at him."
"He's totally different from the noble lords we usually see. This is what a real important person looks like, right?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down. Do you want to die?"
Mirai and 3rd Seat Heizo Kasaki were walking down the middle of the road.
Both were silent, as if surrounded by an invisible barrier.
Mirai was sighing to himself in frustration.
The amount of attention he was getting was way too much.
From the moment they left the Squad 9 barracks to this remote factory area, the stares never stopped.
He really hated being watched like a rare animal, but it wasn't all bad.
At least with everyone watching, anyone trying to use dirty tricks would have to think twice.
Also, when his book was officially released, this fame might turn into actual sales.
That was why he didn't say no when Heizo Kasaki suggested using his portrait as an illustration.
Once they went deeper into the industrial area, the workers' stares became less obvious.
They would still peek occasionally, but they didn't point and talk as much as the people outside.
After all, they were here to work and earn a living. Looking at a handsome man wouldn't put food on the table.
3rd Seat Heizo Kasaki walked straight ahead without looking sideways. "When we see the people from the printing factory, don't say anything," he whispered.
"Let me do all the talking. The Omaeda family recently gave some of their businesses to their young son to manage."
"You haven't learned the proper etiquette for dealing with nobles. Just watch my expression and act accordingly."
Mirai paused for a moment and glanced at his partner.
Heizo... are you joking? With that unchanging "iron face" of yours, where am I supposed to see an "expression"?
I'd lose if I even saw your eyebrows move!
He didn't expect Heizo to have a sense of deadpan humor. It was a bit scary, but also strangely funny.
He forced himself to stay calm and responded in a flat tone.
"Okay. But leaving such a big business to a child... the Omaeda family is really bold."
He looked at the rows of factories on both sides of the road. These buildings went on forever, covering a massive amount of land.
Every single one of them represented a huge source of wealth.
The fact that the Omaeda family would let a "young master" practice on this scale was frustratingly wealthy.
Heizo Kasaki's voice remained calm, as if he were stating a law of nature.
"This is the fundamental difference between nobles and the residents of the Rukongai. They have resources you can't even imagine."
"Even if this young master loses hundreds of millions of Kan, it's nothing to the Omaeda family. The important part is for him to learn how to control and run a massive business."
"Alright, we're here."
Mirai stopped and looked up at the factory.
The sign said "Omaeda Printing Factory." The name was simple and direct, so no customer would ever get lost.
Heizo Kasaki signaled for Mirai to wait outside.
He carefully took out the two manuscripts he had copied last night. After straightening his collar, he walked into the factory.
Mirai put his hands into his wide sleeves. He stood outside feeling bored, looking around at the surroundings.
He hoped the deal would go well. If he could publish independent volumes, his efficiency in gathering spiritual power would increase several times.
He thought about how frustrating it was to serialize in the Seireitei Bulletin.
He was limited to only 3000 words per issue. That was already a special favor from the Captain because the story was very popular.
In the Gotei 13, many Captain-level figures occasionally submitted their own work.
Captain Jushiro Ukitake from Squad 13 published poetry. Captain Retsu Unohana from Squad 4 shared her thoughts on flower arranging.
Even Shunsui Kyoraku and Shinji Hirako would write something if they felt like it.
Emotional impact needs a proper setup. It was hard to make readers truly immerse themselves with only 3000 words.
It didn't create strong enough resonance or Spiritual Pressure fluctuations.
If he could release a standalone book and let readers read it all at once, the effect would be much better.
If the deal fell through...
The image of Yoruichi Shihōin's smirking face flashed through Mirai's mind.
The Omaeda family was rich, but they were only middle-class nobles. The top-tier nobles they relied on were the Shihōin family.
If Yoruichi spoke up, the Omaeda family wouldn't dare refuse even if they lost money.
But he really didn't want to owe her a favor.
"Hey, what are you doing here?"
A deep voice with a childish tone interrupted Mirai's thoughts.
He turned his head and saw a chubby boy standing nearby. The boy was holding a large bag of snacks.
White crumbs were stuck to the corners of his mouth. He looked like a family member of one of the managers.
Mirai answered calmly, "I'm an author. I'm here to talk about publishing a book."
"Oh?" Marechiyo Omaeda looked at Mirai with curiosity while loudly munching on his snacks.
He walked around Mirai twice, as if he were inspecting a product.
"You're actually pretty handsome. What family are you from? I haven't seen you before."
Mirai replied simply, "I'm not a noble."
"Oh? Really?" Marechiyo Omaeda's small eyes filled with doubt.
"Someone who isn't a noble can write a book? Are you even good enough for that?"
Mirai's expression didn't change, and his voice stayed steady.
"My work has been serialized in the Seireitei Bulletin for several years. My pen name is Shige."
"Oh! You're the guy who wrote The Loneliness and Arrogance of a Genius Youth!"
Marechiyo Omaeda realized who he was, but then a suspicious look appeared on his face.
"I thought someone who could write a story like that had to be a high noble. I didn't expect it to be you."
In his small mind, people from the Rukongai lacked education. They couldn't even follow basic logic, let alone write something good.
Besides, the arrogance shown by the character Aisuke in the book wasn't something a Rukongai resident should have.