I'm really not the number one slacker in Soul Society.

—And more than once.

Mi Zhen added a sentence in her mind.

However, he doesn't seem to have the right to complain about it, because similar things have happened between him and Lisa more than once.

...Oh no, my conscience is starting to hurt. If this continues, Lisa might die from overwork. I shouldn't touch her too much in the future.

Meanwhile, Kyoraku Shunsui, the future captain, shamelessly performed a dogeza (a traditional Chinese kowtow) to his own vice-captain, seemingly enjoying the disdainful look he received.

It has to be said that Mijin still has a lot to learn from her captain when it comes to having a thick skin.

"you……"

Even Lisa could only retreat when facing Kyoraku Shunsui, a seasoned veteran whose skill level was at least at the Heavenly Ranking Grandmaster. Was she supposed to stomp on his head? What a joke! What difference would that make from rewarding him?

So Lisa sulked at the wall, while Chunshui and Mizhen drank a few cups of tea together.

It's probably a case of mutual appreciation between two lazy bums.

Kyoraku Shunsui and Yama had a pretty good relationship and often got together to drink and have fun in their spare time. They were the vanguard of slacking off among the Gotei 13 and the epitome of taking a break.

................................................

A few minutes later, Chunshui clapped his hands again, breaking the silence in the room.

"Well, in short..."

He pulled his straw hat brim down a bit and said mysteriously, "You two have a mission."

Lisa turned around.

She is not the kind of person who would let personal emotions interfere with her work.

“First, Lisa-chan.” Shunsui calmly endured Lisa’s cold glare. “The Ninth Division received news that many lower-ranking Shinigami who were patrolling Rukongai have mysteriously disappeared recently, and the team members who went to investigate have also vanished.”

“I’ve heard about it.” Lisa nodded and said, “The number of people who have disappeared has reached thirty-six, including the four seats of the Eighth Division, so the Forty-Six Chambers is deciding to send a captain-level person to investigate—could it be you, Captain, who has been ordered to do so?”

"No, no, it's Captain Kensei."

Shunsui paused for a moment, then gave an awkward but polite smile. "Lisa-chan, as you know, the members of the Ninth Division... aren't very careful, so it's not appropriate to entrust them with reconnaissance missions."

Mima and Lisa simultaneously thought of the Sixth Division 9, which resembled a group of biker gangs, and nodded in deep agreement.

"But the dispatch order for the 46th Division has already been issued, so it's not convenient to refute it. The only way to salvage the situation is to bring in outside help—Lisa-chan, this is your mission."

"When to set off?"

"For detailed arrangements this afternoon, please ask Captain Kenshin."

"understood."

Lisa hummed in agreement, and without lingering, picked up her Iron Dragonfly and headed out of the group.

"Take care, Lisa. Please give my regards to Captain Kensei." Mima coughed lightly beside her and said, "Also, remember to put the things in your room. That stuff isn't suitable to take out."

"..."

Lisa paused, turned around and gave him a subtle look, then vanished without a trace in an instant.

Mi Zhen breathed a sigh of relief and was about to take a sip of tea to calm his nerves when he saw Chun Shui's friendly gaze directed at him.

"Misaki-kun, you've got a share too." The captain patted Misaki's shoulder with a smile. "Time to work hard!"

"effort?"

Mi Zhen chuckled dryly, "It sounds really unfamiliar coming from the captain's mouth."

"No, no, no, I am, after all, the captain of the Gotei 13. It would be hurtful to be seen like this."

Perhaps because their supervisor had left, the conversation between the two men began to relax. Mima leaned against the table, while Shunsui slumped against the wall, taking out his pipe and taking a puff.

“Mizhen, you should pay more attention to your reputation.” Chunshui exhaled a smoke ring. “Although you haven’t made any major mistakes, it’s not good to slack off too much. The 46th Division’s evaluation of you has reached the point of ‘unfit for important tasks.’ If you don’t produce some results, you will lose your position sooner or later.”

"It's all thanks to the captain's guidance." Mi Zhen squinted and took a sip of tea. "If we're talking about taking time off, Captain, you've far surpassed me in that regard. So why don't you worry about being demoted?"

"After all, I am the captain."

"Does being the captain mean you can do whatever you want?!"

"Is not it?"

"Tsk..." Knowing she had no say in this matter, Mima rolled her eyes. "That's true. It would be difficult for me if I were demoted... Tell me, Captain, what task do you want to assign me?"

"Exploration of Hueco Mundo".

"?"

Chapter 3: The Zanpakuto "Ryugetsu"

"Exploring Hueco Mundo?"

Chunshui's words made Mizhen fall into deep thought.

"Putting aside the reasons for doing this, even if there were such a plan, it should be the job of the Thirteenth Division, so why did it fall on my shoulders?"

"Well, the number of people in the Thirteenth Division is limited after all."

Shunsui exhaled a puff of smoke with a worried expression and said, "The Hollows have been very active lately. The 13th Division has sent out all the people who can be dispatched, but even so, they still can't hold up the gap. Even Ukitake is constantly on the move."

"Is... Captain Ukitake alright...?"

Thinking of Jushiro Ukitake's frail body, which seemed to collapse at the slightest breeze, Mima's lips twitched a few times: "I understand, Captain, please continue."

"At this very moment, another unclosable black cavity has appeared in the southern 72nd district of Rukongai. Many Hollows have invaded Rukongai from there, causing heavy losses to the residents. Moreover, according to reports from the members of the 13th Division, the Hollows emerging from that black cavity are getting stronger and stronger, and recently they have approached the level of Hollow Grande. They are a major threat that must be dealt with."

"That's it..."

Mima frowned.

An event outside the main plot...?

It's obvious that the disappearance of the Shinigami assigned to Lisa was Aizen's doing; only he has the suspicion and the ability to do it. However, Urahara Kisuke has just established the Technology Development Bureau, and there's still some time before the Visoreds' Hollowfication incident. With the plot as a guarantee, Lisa will naturally be safe, so Mima doesn't intend to get involved.

But this black chamber that opens up in Rukongai is unheard of.

"The Technology Development Bureau is studying ways to shut down the black hole, but progress is slow, so we have to send someone to go inside and check it out directly."

At this point, Shunsui's tone finally turned serious: "You know where the Black Hole leads. The danger level of Hueco Mundo is far beyond that of Rukongai or the human world. But right now, Ukitake and Kaien are both entangled in other matters and can't get away. We can't joke around with the lives of ordinary members."

"Wow, so you can joke around with my life like that?" Mima dramatically wiped her eyes, which had no tears, with her sleeve. "Tyranny, this is tyranny!"

"The bonus is equivalent to two years' worth of salary."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Mi Zhen slammed her hand on the table. "Time? Place?"

“Right, after all, Mishin’s abilities are very suitable for doing this kind of thing.” Chunshui pulled a bulging envelope out of his coat and handed it to Mishin without making a sound. “Like Lisa, we’re leaving today. There are already people from the Technology Development Bureau stationed in District 72. They will explain things to you.”

"clear."

Mizhen calmly accepted the envelope, weighed it in her hand, and then squinted her eyes with delight.

"Same as before, right?"

"Don't worry, nothing will go wrong."

With Shunsui's approval, Mima chuckled, lay down on the spot, placed one hand on the Zanpakuto at his waist, and softly chanted—

"Let's break apart, Ryugetsu."

There was a flash of blue light.

A moment later, another figure appeared in the room.

That was another Mima who looked exactly like the one lying on the ground.

"I'll leave my main body in the captain's care. I'll be right back."

................................................

Zanpakuto: Ryugetsu.

A Kido-type Zanpakuto in its Shikai stage has the release phrase "Sever, Ryugetsu".

The ability is to use all spiritual power to create a clone that looks exactly like the original body. The original body falls into a deep sleep while using it. If the clone is injured or dies, the damage will not affect the original body. However, if the clone is destroyed by external force, the original body's spiritual power will also be exhausted.

This information is recorded in the 46th Room's Image Hall, and it is also the ability that Yama has shown to the outside world.

As for the real situation... of course it's not like that.

Liu Yue's true ability is "interfering with time".

Creating a clone is just one application of this ability. Specifically, it involves manifesting a version of oneself from a certain point in the past (usually a second ago). The original body does not need to fall asleep when using this ability. This is just an illusion created because it is too difficult to operate two bodies with one consciousness. To be precise, when using this ability, there is no distinction between the original body and the clone. Whichever one dies, the other becomes the original body.

Time-based abilities can be this capricious.

The purpose of behaving this way is, of course, to conceal one's shortcomings.

The Wandenreich, the 46 Chambers, Aizen—exposing them to anyone would be a bad thing.

Being a fifth seat master of demonic arts is good, but staying behind the scenes is the true path.

So feel free to look down on me.

................................................

After a short while, they arrived at the 72nd ward of South Rukongai. Several familiar and powerful spiritual pressure reactions served as landmarks, and Mima quickly rushed towards them.

After passing through a grove of trees, he immediately saw the dark opening floating in the air.

Members of the Technology Development Bureau placed a number of strange instruments below.

The man in the lead, a blond man wearing a white haori, was arguing with an angry, short girl.

Kisuke Urahara, Hiyori Sarugaki, and the captain and vice-captain of the 12th Division are all here.

"So—I—say—!" A furious voice that could be heard from afar exploded in my ears, "Why don't you just let me rush in and find out what's going on? What are you all stalling for!"

"No, this dark chamber is very unusual... going in carelessly might lead to..."

"When will that be? You bald guy!"

"I already said that reinforcements are on their way, and today... Ah, Watanabe Gosaka, you've finally arrived."

Seeing Mima running towards him, Urahara, who was being pulled by the hair by Hiyori, felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly came to meet him, grabbing his hand and shaking it up and down. "Let's get started without delay."

After greeting a few familiar team members, Mima turned to look at Urahara, whose hair was turning into an afro, and couldn't help but remain silent for two seconds.