~ Next Bonus, 100!
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If we manage to reach 100PS before I go to sleep, I'll release the bonus chapter today!
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"What? You're actually asking me for rent?"
Senjumaru Shutara stared at Shin, her face a mask of disbelief upon hearing his demand.
"Is there something wrong with that? Did you plan on freeloading here, eating and sleeping for free?"
Shin chuckled coldly at the member of the Zero Division. "Letting you stay here is already an act of mercy on my part. If you think you can stay without paying, you're dreaming."
"Fine. How much?"
Senjumaru looked at Shin and ultimately decided to endure it. It was just money, after all. To her, currency was nothing more than a number.
"Let's say... one million a day," Shin said after a moment of thought.
He figured if he asked for anything higher, he might actually scare her off. One million seemed like the sweet spot—high enough to be annoying, but low enough to be payable.
Yoruichi Shihouin's mouth twitched. Shin was ruthless. Opening his mouth and demanding a million right off the bat? That wasn't a small sum.
"Only a million?" Senjumaru replied flatly.
She didn't even blink at the amount. Although she spent most of her time in the Soul King Palace where currency was obsolete, that didn't mean she was broke.
Senjumaru had lived for a very long time. The wealth she had accumulated over the centuries was astronomical.
"Seeing you act like such a sugar mommy makes me regret asking for so little," Shin sighed, genuinely feeling a bit of remorse. He should have fleeced her for more.
"Are you planning to go back on your word?" Senjumaru asked. If Shin reneged on the deal now, that would be truly excessive.
"Relax. I've never gone back on a deal in my life."
Shin glanced at her. Did she really think so little of him? Was he the type of person to break a promise over money?
"Good."
Senjumaru nodded, reluctantly accepting his integrity.
"How long do you intend to stay?" Yoruichi asked Senjumaru. If it were up to her, she would have kicked this woman out immediately.
"I haven't decided yet. It depends on my mood. But rest assured, my finances are more than sufficient," Senjumaru replied with a calm smile.
"Shin, I really don't think you should have agreed to this," Yoruichi said, turning to Shin. She felt this was a mistake.
"It's fine. Even if she stays, it doesn't matter. Just treat her like she doesn't exist," Shin said to the visibly annoyed Yoruichi.
"Saying something like that right in front of me... isn't that a bit rude?"
Senjumaru couldn't help but interject. To speak of ignoring her while she was standing right there was beyond disrespectful.
"Is it? I don't think it's particularly rude," Shin replied nonchalantly.
"Alright, listen up. I'm allowing you to live here, but don't you dare disturb our work. If you do, don't blame me for kicking you out without a second thought."
Shin set the ground rules immediately, issuing a warning to Senjumaru. He wanted her to understand that her high status in the Soul Society meant absolutely nothing here.
"Don't worry. I know my boundaries. I won't give you the opportunity," Senjumaru said coolly.
By now, she was gradually getting used to Shin's infuriating manner of speaking. When she mentioned "opportunity," she meant she wouldn't give Shin an excuse to evict her.
Shin didn't care. He doubted Senjumaru could stay here for long anyway. If he guessed correctly, she would eventually have to return to the Soul King Palace. She couldn't leave her post forever, so he didn't mind waiting her out.
"Actually, I'll be honest with you. You're wasting your time here. Trying to recruit me into the Zero Division is basically impossible," Shin told her bluntly.
"You said 'basically' impossible, not 'absolutely' impossible. What if you change your mind?"
Senjumaru smiled back at him.
Shin looked at her in surprise. Did this woman have an incredible temper? He hadn't expected her to be this patient.
"Fine, let me rephrase. I'm telling you right now: it is absolutely impossible," Shin said, cutting off any hope.
"Also... even if the Zero Division needs to recruit people, isn't it a bit desperate to keep pushing after being rejected? Is there some kind of conspiracy here?"
Shin suddenly fixed his gaze on Senjumaru, staring at her intently, his eyes filled with profound suspicion.
"A conspiracy?" Senjumaru was momentarily stunned, then shook her head.
"You're overthinking it. In truth, the others have already given up on recruiting you. I am the one who wants you to join."
Senjumaru admitted that her persistence was largely her own personal desire, rather than a mandate from the group.
However, Shin only believed about half of what she said. Trusting her completely? Not a chance. He wasn't naive enough to believe someone just because she was a beautiful woman.
"I know you don't believe me right now. But don't worry, I will make you believe," Senjumaru said, unbothered by his skepticism.
"Sure. I'd love to see how you plan to do that," Shin chuckled.
"I think there really might be a conspiracy. Shin, be careful," Yoruichi whispered, eyeing Senjumaru with undisguised suspicion. She was deliberately using this attitude to try and drive the woman away.
"As for your opinion, I don't particularly care," Senjumaru said to Yoruichi, as if seeing right through her tactics.
Yoruichi snorted coldly but didn't argue further. Forget it. Fighting with this woman was a losing battle. Senjumaru had lived far too long and knew far too much.
Senjumaru settled into Shin's barracks, and no one said a word. In fact, most of the other Captains didn't even know she was there.
Old Man Yamamoto knew, of course, but he had no intention of interfering with Senjumaru's affairs. She belonged to the Zero Division; he had no authority over her. In the hierarchy of the Soul Society, the Zero Division technically outranked the Gotei 13—a fact Yamamoto had to accept, however grudgingly.
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"Is this how you handle your official duties?" Senjumaru asked Shin later.
She had expected to see how Shin managed his squad, but it turned out he was just slacking off. Shin hadn't lifted a finger.
All the work was being handled by Soi Fon. Even the Vice-Captain, Yoruichi, was slacking off right alongside Shin.
Shin shrugged. "This is exactly how I work. If my subordinates can handle it, why should I do it myself?"
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