To be honest...
Can Uehara Naraku's Hadou No.99 really be trusted?
If anyone else saw Uehara Naraku's clumsy attempt to chant and release the Six Rods Prison of Light, they might scoff at this Sealing Scroll, but Ichimaru Gin was different.
Ichimaru Gin smiled as he accepted the Sealing Scroll from Uehara Naraku, trusting in Uehara Naraku's power, just as he trusted his own choice back then.
Decades ago.
In the corner at the end of an alley in Drifting Spirit Town.
Young Ichimaru Gin carefully twisted open a water cup, licked the corner of his mouth, and placed the cup on his right side.
On Ichimaru Gin's right side, young Matsumoto Rangiku was biting into a piece of bread with blank eyes, her face still bearing the fear from snatching goods from a black market merchant.
This was the life of these wanderers, living in constant fear.
Generally speaking, souls don't need to eat; they can survive just by absorbing the Spiritual Particles from Soul Society. However, souls like Ichimaru Gin and Matsumoto Rangiku, who possess higher Spiritual Power within them, need to eat to survive.
This was their fortune.
And also their misfortune.
If they want to survive, they must constantly consume food and water, two things that are especially precious in Drifting Spirit Town, requiring them to risk their lives to acquire...
During the toughest times, they would even eat raw taro, just to maintain their body's movement.
"Are we going to continue like this?"
Young Matsumoto Rangiku finally came to her senses, glanced at the bread in her hand, swallowed a gulp, and offered the remaining half of the bread to Ichimaru Gin.
The girl was still very hungry.
Her heaving chest betrayed her reluctance, yet the bread might be their only gain for the day, and shouldn't be monopolized by her.
"Heh... Don't force yourself..."
Young Ichimaru Gin chuckled softly, reached out to take the bread from Matsumoto Rangiku, broke off a small piece, and stuffed it into his mouth.
Because Ichimaru Gin knew the girl's character.
Now was not the time for him to be courteous.
Young Ichimaru Gin pushed the cup towards the girl, squinting and smiling, starting to gnaw at the bread: "You go home... I feel like going for a walk."
"...Okay."
Young Matsumoto Rangiku hugged the cup and looked down.
Although Ichimaru Gin told her to go home, they didn't actually have a home. It was just a shabby and desolate wooden hut where only the two of them relied on each other...
"Drink more water."
Young Ichimaru Gin reached out to rub the girl's orange hair.
Just as his hand was about to touch the girl's hair, it slowly stopped, and he withdrew it.
The boy said no more.
There was one thing that young Ichimaru Gin didn't tell young Matsumoto Rangiku: their biggest gain today wasn't the food and water in their hands, but having overheard a very important piece of news for him.
Someone had purchased a large amount of food and water from the black market.
Tomorrow, someone will come to the black market for a transaction.
Young Ichimaru Gin already knew their meeting place; he planned to attack the buyer. As long as he could acquire enough money in this assault, there would be an opportunity for him and Matsumoto Rangiku to live a stable life.
Despite knowing that there would be many people bringing and transporting this large quantity of food and water, which meant the risk was significantly heightened.
But...
This might be his only chance.
The chance for Matsumoto Rangiku to live without worrying about food and clothing.
Late night.
In a desolate warehouse.
A rugged-looking black market merchant appeared in the warehouse with over a hundred strong subordinates, carrying large and small bags of food and water. His face was filled with a fierce smile.
No rules existed in Drifting Spirit Town.
This black market merchant knew when someone wanted to purchase a large amount of food and water from him, his first thought wasn't a legitimate trade, but to see if he could directly devour the other party!
The black market merchant gathered all his subordinates, including some wandering souls willing to risk their lives for him. They also possessed considerable Spiritual Power, making this force quite strong in the whole Drifting Spirit Town.
Of course...
If the other party brought enough people and strength, then a smooth transaction would still be considered a fortunate acquisition of a large client. No matter how it weighed, the situation seemed not to lose out.
The moonlight gradually brightened.
A hooded figure slowly walked into the warehouse.
The black market merchant and a group of subordinates puzzledly looked at the visitor, their expressions faintly confused, faces full of bewilderment.
"Alone?"
"Is that unacceptable?"
The visitor slowly took off his hood, revealing full silver hair and a face wearing glasses. A strange smile curved his lips: "You seem to have brought a lot of people... Isn't this cargo worth bringing this many?"
"Hahahahahahaha... Indeed, not worth it!"
The black market merchant burst into mad laughter, looking at the visitor and speaking loudly: "You don't seem to be here for trading either!"
As he spoke, the black market merchant suddenly stopped laughing, stared at the visitor, and asked seriously: "What do you mean by this? We've brought all the goods here, have you brought the money?"
"Of course..."