Restricted Death

Chapter 198 Ishida Sogen
Ishida Sogen finally agreed to let him have the letter, and they went into a nearby restaurant together.

He still had to consider his situation. Although he could move freely in the mortal world, that was under the premise that he lived as an ordinary person. He had just rashly killed a Hollow, and soon the Soul Society would find out, and some Shinigami would come to interrogate him.

Compared to that, Ishida Sogen could accept having a meal with this guy in front of him more.

Shin was holding the menu and ordering food from the owner, while Ishida Sogen was watching him, who seemed to have completely integrated into ordinary society.

“I’ve seen the Shinigami stationed in Karakura Town before, but it wasn’t you,” he spoke first. “What are you doing in the human world?”

"Just taking a stroll," Xin replied casually without looking up, his finger still tracing the menu.

"What?" Ishida Sogen didn't understand.

"After a couple of days of fun, I'm feeling really bored in Soul Society."

Ishida Sogen was speechless for a moment. The absurdity almost made him laugh. He suppressed his emotions and asked in bewilderment, "Don't you Shinigami have your own rules? You can't just enter the human world at will."

Although he had come into contact with the Grim Reapers, Ishida Sogen always maintained a status similar to that of a "prisoner," and it was not his place to ask the Grim Reapers questions. His understanding of the Grim Reapers was basically based entirely on some books recorded in his family.

Xin chuckled and said, "Rules are rules, but people are flexible. It's fine to go out for a stroll occasionally."

Ishida Sogen sneered upon hearing this: "You all claim to be advocates of the rules, yet you act so arbitrarily! How ironic!"

Shin knew where his hostility came from; after all, in the past war, Death had nearly wiped out the Quincy.

"No, I just really hate rules and regulations. What would you like to eat?"

"..."

Ishida Sogen glanced coldly at the menu, crossed his arms, leaned back slightly in his chair, and stared intently at the letter, his gaze piercing.

After handing the menu to the owner, Shin asked Ishida Sogen, "By the way, are you married? Do you have children?"

Ishida Munen frowned, wondering if there was something wrong with this guy. He had asked me strange questions earlier, and now he was concerned about my personal affairs.

The letter continued to press, "How old are you?"

Ishida Sogen was too lazy to ask such questions. Just then, several figures suddenly rushed into the restaurant. Each of them had a sword at their waist and wore a Shinigami uniform. Such attire was very eye-catching in the modern world, but the people inside the restaurant did not react to their appearance at all.

In their spirit form, they are invisible to ordinary people.

Ishida Munen's nerves tensed instantly when he saw these Grim Reapers enter.

The Grim Reapers walked straight to their side and were about to question Ishida Sogen, but their leader was taken aback when he saw the letter that agreed to sit there, and then his face showed surprise.

"Captain...Tachikawa?"

Several Grim Reapers immediately bowed in unison, "Captain Tachikawa, what are you doing here?"

When Ishida Sogen heard the names of these Grim Reapers, he was also shocked.

This guy is the captain?!
After recognizing the pattern on their shihachi uniform collars and confirming that they were from the 12th Division, Shin casually waved his hand and said, "I have my own mission. What are you doing here?"

The leader of the Shinigami was a captain of the 12th Division. He first glanced at Ishida Sogen, and then began to report to Shin: "We detected abnormal spiritual pressure here. After investigating with our colleagues in the 13th Division, we found that a Quincy killed a Hollow, so we came to investigate the details."

"You mean that guy Xu?" Xin said calmly. "He originally wanted to attack me, but luckily this friend helped me and took care of him. I was just about to thank him. I know the details. If there's nothing else, you can go back."

"..."

The captain of the 12th Division understood the unspoken meaning in the letter. He stood there speechless for a moment. Although he had some complaints, he wouldn't dare to act presumptuously in front of a captain even if he had a hundred lives. His facial muscles twitched stiffly a couple of times, but in the end, he swallowed all his doubts and dissatisfaction and lowered his head deeply.

"I understand now, so I won't bother Captain Tachikawa any longer."

After saying this, the Grim Reapers turned around and led their team members away as quickly as the tide, even deliberately keeping their footsteps quiet.

Before long, the owner brought out the food.

Although the Grim Reapers had retreated, Ishida Sogen was not relaxed in the slightest. Compared to those menacing guys from before, this seemingly harmless young man was a hundred times more dangerous!
Shocked and bewildered, he thought of the absurdity of his situation. Ishida Muneaki asked in a hoarse voice, "You're the captain of the Gotei 13?"

"Ah."

"..."

Ishida Sogen was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "It seems that our previous actions were really unnecessary."

Xin chuckled and said, "How can kindness be considered superfluous?"

Ishida Sogen's attitude didn't improve much just because he was the captain. He simply said, "Why should you, a captain, bother with a nobody like me?"

“Nobody, you’re not nobody at all. Besides, as I just said, I’m curious about you.”

Why would a nobody warrant such close surveillance by the Soul Society? And how could a nobody possibly come from such a place?

Ishida Sogen, unaware of his thoughts, continued in a distant manner, "I have no obligation to answer your questions. Since you said I saved you and helped me resolve some troubles, we're even now."

Seeing that he was still so resistant to him, Xin smiled calmly, and a spiritual barrier instantly spread out from his body, enveloping the two of them.

Upon seeing this, Ishida Muneaki became immediately alarmed, and his hands unconsciously clenched.

The letter said, "I want to ask you, have you always lived in this world? Or did you come from somewhere else?"

Ishida Sogen's expression changed slightly, and he snorted coldly, "I don't understand what you're trying to say. I'm leaving. Do you really have to keep bothering me?"

Does this guy... know something?

No, no, how could this be?!
The inner world of Ishida Sogen was in turmoil.

The war more than a hundred years ago ended in a crushing defeat for the Quincy, with the entire clan wiped out by the Grim Reaper, leaving only a handful of survivors.

However, this is the situation on the surface. In reality, the Quincy have gone into hiding somewhere, and only some low-level members have been sacrificed. The number of purebloods has not suffered much loss at all.

The Grim Reaper could not possibly know about this, otherwise how could the remaining Quincy have survived unscathed?

Ishida Muneyuki knew he was unlikely to be a match for a captain of the Gotei 13, and that if he were to actually make a move, he would inevitably attract more Shinigami.

To the Soul Society, I am at least a valuable subject for surveillance and research...

With this thought in mind, Ishida Sogen felt a strange sense of confidence, even though the other party was the captain, he was unwilling to back down in front of him.

Xin looked at him calmly for a moment, then sighed softly, "Fine, since you don't want to believe I meant no harm, there's nothing I can do." The spiritual barrier rapidly closed again, disappearing into his body.

Ishida Sogen looked at him with suspicion and uncertainty, slowly getting up from his seat. He was on edge, seemingly ready to deal with Shin's sudden attack at any moment, but seeing Shin's casual demeanor, it seemed that he really intended to let him go.

"..."

Before turning around, he suddenly said to Shin, "Your name is Tachikawa, right? Didn't you say your name was Takami Shin?"

"When it comes to names, it doesn't matter what you're called."

"..."

Ishida Sogen eventually turned and left the restaurant. After he left, Shin looked thoughtfully at the untouched food on the table.

Encountering this Quincy on this trip was completely unexpected, and it also exposed our whereabouts to the Soul Society.

After returning, I will probably check the limited spirit seal on my body.

However, just before Ishida Sōgen left, when Shin used his Zanpakutō ability, he also fixed his spiritual pressure fluctuations on Ishida Sōgen.

A day later, Shin arrived at Urahara Store as promised.

The store manager said to Shin with a beaming smile, "Oh my, Mr. Takami is really punctual."

Have you made up your minds?

The shop manager held a paper fan in front of him and smiled, "I've thought it through, but before you meet my friends, I'd like you to wear something."

He took out a black cloak. He recognized this cloak; it was the same one the attacker wore during his internship in the mortal realm. It could greatly conceal one's spiritual pressure fluctuations, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it could completely hide one's tracks.

Xin raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you mean?"

The shopkeeper said, "It's just something to conceal one's spiritual pressure. It won't restrict you. There should be similar products in Soul Society nowadays. I have to think about the safety of my friends. I hope Mr. Takami can understand."

Shin looked at the things in his hand and could tell that the other party was still worried that the Soul Society had tracked their movements. However, even if they did that, it would still be risky for the shopkeeper and the others. These people seemed to have made up their minds.

Xin took the black cloak, draped it over his shoulders, and then felt the changes within himself.

"Is it okay?"

The store manager smiled broadly: "Thank you for your cooperation. Let's go now."

Just then, Wo Ling Tiezhai drove up in an old-fashioned car.

letter:"……"

The art style suddenly feels a bit strange.

The store manager explained, "The location is a bit far, so it's more convenient to drive there."

As he spoke, he opened the passenger door of the car, got in, and then looked at Shin. Seeing that Shin was unmoved, he kindly explained to Shin, "This thing is called a car. It's a means of transportation and a product of modern technological development. It's very convenient. Mr. Takami, you've never ridden in one before, have you? You can open the door by pulling that handle."

Xin asked dryly, "Wouldn't it be faster to fly there?"

The store manager replied matter-of-factly, "Of course we can't fly. This is an extremely private meeting. It would be troublesome if outsiders found out."

Wearing this cloak essentially eliminates the possibility of being discovered by Soul Society.

Speechless, Shin opened the car door and sat in the back seat. The level of civilization in the present world has reached the technological age. A few decades ago, cars had already appeared. However, because he had always lived in the Soul Society, he had indeed overlooked this thing.

It's really strange that three Grim Reapers who can fly in the mortal world insist on taking a car to meet people.

As the car drove along the road, Wolling Tiezhai's driving skills were not very good, and the car swayed and bumped along the way, constantly braking suddenly. It took more than an hour for the group to arrive at a suburban area outside the city.

There was an abandoned building. After the car stopped, Xin got out of the car expressionlessly, while the store manager couldn't stand it and started gagging while holding onto the car door.

"Mr. Tessai, you should really practice your driving skills!"

Xin was also a little uncomfortable from the shaking, but he didn't care. He approached the building and discovered that it was protected by a barrier.

With the abilities of the Great Ghost Master and the Deputy Ghost Master, outsiders would probably never discover this place unless they get close.

However, this doesn't seem like a place suitable for living. It's probably just a random location chosen for this meeting. These people are certainly quite cautious.

After vomiting for a while, the shop manager staggered to Xin's side, waved at the open space in front of the building, and shouted, "Hey, is anyone there? We're here!"

no response.

Without a word, Wo Ling Tiezhai walked past him, his hands changing into various hand seals. The previously empty area suddenly appeared as a nearly transparent wall of light, and below it, an entrance appeared as if a curtain had been lifted.

The store manager went in first.

The letter followed closely behind.

The scene inside the barrier was no different from what was seen from the outside, but not far away, eight figures were gathered there in a particularly conspicuous way.

Five men and three women. Among them were Risa Yadomaru and Hiyori Sarugaki, whom Shin had met before, and others whom Shin had not met before, but whose identities he could guess from their attire and appearance.

These people were once prominent figures in the Soul Society.

A smile appeared on Xin's face as he glanced at it.

Just as he was about to say something introductory, a dark shadow suddenly flew over.

It was slippers again, but this time the target wasn't him, but the store manager beside him, and with a "smack," it hit him squarely in the face.

Hiyori Sarugaki rushed over, grabbed the shop manager by the collar, and angrily berated him: "You idiot! Why is it different from the agreed time? We waited for you for a whole hour! We thought something had happened to you, and we were all ready to come and rescue you!"

The store manager took off the slippers from his face and said sheepishly, "There was nothing I could do, there was a traffic jam."

This absurd reason only fueled Hiyori Sarugaki's anger, and she slammed her head hard into the shopkeeper's forehead.

At this moment, Tetsuzai Wakashi entered last and stood behind the letter. The barrier closed again.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Xin was surrounded by these people.

(End of this chapter)