Restricted Death

Chapter 174 Store Manager
After searching through the 10th Division, Shin finally found a mission related to the present world.

He immediately applied to go to the real world, but was stopped just as he was about to cross the interdimensional gate.

"Is this Captain Tachikawa's first trip to the real world since becoming a captain?"

He was stopped by several members of the First Division and the Twelfth Division.

"Captain Tachikawa needs to have a limited spiritual seal left on him, otherwise, with your spiritual pressure intensity, it will have a negative impact on ordinary people in the mortal world."

Shin didn't show any resistance to this, and simply let the member of the 12th Division tinker with it.

During this time, one of the members of the First Division, who was also a seat officer, took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Shin: "Why would Captain Tachikawa personally go to the human world?"

Xin casually said, "I've only been the team leader for a short time, so I'd like to do some things personally to set a good example for those below."

"Captain Tachikawa is truly dedicated."

After the Twelfth Division member finished everything, Shin noticed a black daffodil pattern on the lower part of his collarbone, which quickly disappeared. This was the Tenth Division's daffodil.

This thing is only used on vice-captains and captains. When Shin was in the Fourth Division, although his spiritual pressure had reached the captain level, he was the third seat and did not need this.

Therefore, it is evident that the significance and function of this thing may not be that important.

In the Soul Society today, there are quite a few officers with spiritual pressure at the vice-captain level. However, this limited spiritual seal is not based on the strength of spiritual pressure, but only on the rank of the officer. The implications of this cannot help but make people think about something.

Xin set off and passed through the interdimensional gate. The moment his body arrived in the real world, he immediately felt the limited spiritual seal take effect, and most of the spiritual power in his body was instantly suppressed.

This made Xin curious: how was this limited spiritual seal triggered? Did it detect the extremely scarce spiritual particle environment of this world on its own?
This doubt didn't bother Xin for long. Removing the limited spiritual seal wasn't difficult, and he could not only remove it at will, but also restore it using the power of his Zanpakuto.

It was nighttime in the real world. After stepping out of the interdimensional portal, Xin appeared in mid-air above a city, standing suspended in mid-air.

The feeling in the human world is completely different from that in Soul Society; there is a sense of lightness as if one has been completely freed from all constraints.

After scanning the entire city with his senses, Shin immediately detected several unusual spiritual pressure fluctuations, one of which was rapidly approaching him.

The letter was not hidden, and it was only after the person arrived that the letter discovered that the other party was a member of the Death Squad.

"Captain...Tachikawa?"

The other party was very surprised to see the letter and hurriedly came over to greet him. He had also suddenly sensed an unusually strong spiritual pressure, which was why he came here to check.

As the other person approached, Shin noticed the team emblem on his Shinigami uniform; it belonged to the 13th Division, meaning he was a Shinigami stationed in this area.

“You look familiar,” Xin said.

The man immediately bowed his head and replied, "When you were still in the Fourth Division, you saved my life."

Xin searched his memory carefully and said, "I remember now, your name is Che Gu, right?"

Kurumatani Zennosuke was also very happy and said with a slight excitement, "Yes, I am Kurumatani Zennosuke. I didn't expect you to remember me. I was on a mission in the human world when I was attacked by Hollows. It was you and the vice-captain of the Fifth Division who led the rescue team."

"It must be hard work being stationed here."

"Thank you for your understanding. Captain Tachikawa, may I ask what brings you here...?"

“I have a special mission. Alright, you can go back now. Oh, right…” Xin was about to send the other person away when he suddenly remembered something, but after thinking for a while, he gently shook his head.

"Forget it, go ahead."

Zennosuke Kurumatani had some doubts, but he didn't ask any further questions.

Shinmoto intended to ask if there was a place where he could obtain a Gigai (artificial body). He was only in the human world on an investigation mission and did not need to contact ordinary humans. Moreover, since he was investigating fictitious information, he did not apply for a Gigai or a Gigai Soul Pill.

He is still a spirit, which means that people in the mortal world who do not have any spiritual power cannot see his existence.

The reason for not asking in the end was to avoid some unnecessary trouble.

He remembered that there were people in this city who could get their hands on artificial remains.

I don't know if I'll ever see my old friends again.

After parting ways with Zennosuke Kurumatani, Shin flew openly over the city, carefully searching the area before finally stopping in front of a general store.

"Wow, this store is already open so early."

Shin looked at the shop sign and muttered to himself. He had put away his white haori and was only wearing an ordinary shihaka outfit. The sword he wore at his waist was also a simple and unadorned asauchi. He looked like an ordinary shihaka now.

Suddenly, someone walked out of the shop. He was a tall, robust middle-aged man dressed in very simple clothes for the time, wearing glasses, with a mustache, and his short hair was tied back.

The man was carrying a cardboard box, and the moment he stepped out of the store, his gaze locked onto the letter.

Xin narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew the man's identity: the former Great Ghost Daoist, Woling Tiezhai.

The Kido Clan is a special group of Shinigami (death gods) who are extremely skilled in Kido. They are considered to be on the same level as the Thirteen Divisions, reporting directly to the Captain-Commander and the Central Forty-Six Chambers. Their daily work consists mainly of studying Kido, and when they do go out, they are always on special missions.

As the former leader of the Kido Clan, Tessai Wakashi's Kido skills were undoubtedly superior to those of many captains.

Xin gave a friendly smile: "Hello, are you closed?"

Tetsuzai stared intently at the letter for a few seconds, then turned and walked back into the shop without a word, his expression calm.

Not long after, a young man emerged from inside. He had short, light-yellow hair that was somewhat messy, a stubble beard on his chin, a brown long robe, and wooden clogs. His attire was somewhat different from what Xin remembered. Considering that there were still several decades between the current time and the start of the original story, it was quite normal.

The man's attire was unremarkable, but upon seeing him, he spoke in a very flippant tone: "Oh dear, I didn't expect to have a guest so late. It's quite rare for a guest to find this place. May I ask what brings you here?"

Xin pointed to the shop sign and said, "Of course, it's for buying things."

The young man took out a paper folding fan and looked at the letter with a smile: "Did a friend introduce you to this guest?"

"That's it."

As he spoke, he walked towards the other person without any politeness, seemingly intending to go inside the store.

Then Xin clearly sensed that the spiritual pressure fluctuations of Woriya Tessai had noticeably increased.

They seem quite wary...

He thought to himself that these people were still fugitives in Soul Society, so their reaction was normal. It seemed a bit risky for him to come so openly.

Just as Xin was about to pass the young man in wooden clogs, the man blocked his way with a folding fan. The two were about a foot apart, and the man glanced at Xin sideways: "I wonder which friend of yours introduced you here? We only serve acquaintances, you know. We have to think carefully before we can serve a guest like you."

After a moment's thought, Xin carefully examined everything in the shop and, confirming that there were only two people with spiritual pressure fluctuations, said, "A black cat, I suppose."

The young man was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then a warm smile instantly appeared on his face, and he grasped the letter's hand firmly.

"Oh, so you're Mr. Yoruichi's friend! Welcome, welcome, please come in!"

When Shin entered the store, he found that Tetsuzai, who had been there earlier, was also adopting the posture of a welcoming waiter, which contrasted somewhat with his serious demeanor.

The letter was thus welcomed into the shop, which was not spacious and contained various wooden boxes, the contents of which were unknown.

It looks like the shop just opened not long ago, no wonder they're so wary.

After Xin sat down, Woriya Tessai served him a cup of tea.

"What kind of goods are you looking for, sir? We have everything here. If you have it, we definitely have it here, and if you don't have it, we might even have it here."

"It's not that complicated, all you need is a prosthetic body."

Upon hearing this, the store manager raised an eyebrow slightly, and then took another look at the team emblem tattooed on Shin's Shinigami uniform.

He said with a half-smile, "The guest's request is quite strange. Didn't you bring this with you when you came out?"

Xin noticed his slight movement, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and discovered that he could actually drink it. He said, "Haven't you already discovered that I'm not from the Thirteenth Division?"

Only the Shinigami of the Thirteenth Division stationed in the human world are equipped with Gikai and Gikonmaru. Shin only carried a messenger device with him this time.

The Seireitei's control in this way was also to prevent the Shinigami from participating in worldly society as much as possible, and to clearly define the boundary between life and death.

The Soul Society and the Human World are two different worlds. If someone from the Soul Society frequently appears in the Human World, it may cause a lot of trouble.

The most direct hidden danger is that the powerful spiritual pressure will attract Hollows. Furthermore, if humans stay with people with spiritual power for a long time, they will experience physical discomfort. They will either be eroded and harmed by the spiritual power, or their bodies will slowly accumulate and awaken spiritual power. These are all difficult factors to deal with.

Of course, if some Shinigami who come to the human world to carry out missions are equipped with artificial bodies, no one will question them if they travel around the human world for a while before returning.

The store manager didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he got up, left the living room, and went into the inner room. A short while later, he came out carrying a cardboard box and placed it in front of the letter.

He said with a smile, "In addition to the artificial body, there are also Soul Pills and some special medicines that can increase the compatibility with the artificial body. Since this is your first time here, I can give you a package deal."

Shin glanced at the contents of the box and said, "I only need the artificial body."

The shopkeeper said, "You might also need the other items. If you encounter a virtual body in reality, without Soul-Mending Pills, there will be problems with the placement of the artificial body after the soul leaves the body. Moreover, staying in an artificial body for a long time will also cause problems. These are all necessities to help you deal with various problems."

"I only need the artificial body."

The letter repeated that he wouldn't be staying in the mortal world for too long this time either, as he wouldn't need anything other than his artificial body.

Even if he were to encounter a Hollow, Shin felt that he could handle it even if his body remained inside the artificial body. Besides, there was Zennosuke Kurumatani, who was specifically responsible for cleaning up Hollows in this area.

"..."

The store manager, seemingly unwilling to give up, continued, "Are you really not going to reconsider? I can offer customers even more discounts!"

Xin slowly sipped his tea, smiling without saying a word.

The store manager sighed, "Alright, since it's the customer's request, I can't force them to buy or sell."

He then asked, "I still don't know your name, guest."

"Takami Shin".

The letter did not reveal the sender's current real name.

The shop manager smiled and clapped his hands with a paper fan: "Oh, it's Mr. Xin. Mr. Xin, you must come and patronize our shop often in the future. Our shop has only been open for a short time and we are just having trouble finding customers."

Xin casually said, "Would you like me to introduce some to you?"

"No need for that. Our shop has requirements for its customers. For example, we only do business with the Thirteenth Division if someone comes from your shop."

Squad 13...

That is, the Purification Squad, stationed in the real world to clean up the virtual world and guide the work of purification. It is also the squad that travels to and from the real world the most frequently.

It can be said that the 13th Division is the division that truly fulfills the duties of a Shinigami, while the other divisions exist more to maintain the order of Soul Society itself.

The other party only does business with those Grim Reapers stationed in the mortal world, and they probably provide them with some assistance.

Even though this shopkeeper is wanted by the Soul Society, he's still thinking about doing his part to maintain order in the three realms.

A sense of respect arose in Xin's heart.

He didn't insist, but simply nodded and said, "Alright then."

The store manager then probed further: "But for you to say something like that, it seems you hold a fairly high position over there."

Xin asked with a smile, "What position does the store manager think I hold?"

The store manager pondered: "A senior officer or a deputy captain?"

He made this guess after seeing the 10th Division's female character on the Shinigami uniform.

He was actually quite behind on all information about the Soul Society. The reason he opened this shop, besides helping the Shinigami stationed in the human world, was also to try to find out some information about the Soul Society through them.

According to the information Yoruichi brought last time, the captain of the 13th Division hasn't changed much, and the captain of the 10th Division should still be Shiba Isshin.

The man wasn't wearing an adjutant's armband, and it's possible he had taken it off; the shopkeeper guessed he was a deputy captain or lower-ranking officer.

In addition, he was also very curious about how the other person knew Yoruichi, and how much he knew about him and Yoruichi.

Xin simply smiled without saying anything, and then asked another question.

"Where's the cat? Isn't it with you?"

(End of this chapter)