Trader In The World Of Pirates!!!

"Nii-sama..." 

As she watched Byakuya retreat toward the heart of Seireitei, Rukia's eyes glimmered with conflicting emotions. 

Even now, she didn't fully understand why Byakuya had chosen to adopt her into the Kuchiki family, defying all opposition. 

But one thing was certain—the Kuchiki family had given her far more than she could ever repay. 

No matter how bitter the ending might be, what did it matter to the Kuchiki family? 

"Brother, I will always be Rukia Kuchiki!" 

She whispered silently in her heart before turning sharply and leaping onto Kyuubi's back. 

Beneath the silver moonlight, a lone figure astride a spirit fox vaulted over the towering walls of Seireitei, vanishing into the depths of the night.

——

That night, an unprecedented disaster struck Seireitei. 

By dawn, with the Kuchiki estate at its epicenter, the destruction spanned ten miles in every direction. 

In the middle of this area, a massive sinkhole yawned open like a great chasm, consuming everything within its reach. 

Although many Shinigami had been roused by the chaos of the previous night, none could make sense of what had occurred. 

The truth only emerged when a wanted order was issued from the Central 46 Chambers, sending shockwaves throughout Seireitei like a raging tsunami. 

——

"What!? Rukia, a student from the 2066th batch of the Spiritual Arts Academy, used forbidden powers to destroy a large portion of Seireitei? She has now fled the Soul Society!?" 

"Orders are clear: if sighted, she is to be executed on the spot!" 

"Rukia… wasn't she the genius girl in the papers just a few days ago?" 

"How did things turn out like this!?" 

"I even heard some instructors at the Shin'ō Academy say that Rukia had awakened her 'Bankai' and that her power rivals that of division captains!" 

"How could someone like her do such a thing!?" 

While many were in disbelief, others were quick to judge. 

"Isn't it obvious? She must've used forbidden powers to gain such immense strength in such a short time!" 

The decree from Central 46 was enough to convince the majority, and Rukia's name quickly became infamous throughout Seireitei. 

---

Meanwhile, at the Shin'ō Academy, Renji stood before a cold stone wall. 

BAM! 

His fist struck the surface with such force that it left a distinct imprint, blood dripping from his knuckles. 

"Impossible! There's no way Rukia used forbidden powers!" 

Renji's voice trembled with rage. 

"It has to be the Kuchiki family..." 

"Yes, that must be it!" 

"Those corrupt nobles must've forced Rukia into some kind of spiritual experiment!" 

"Damn it!!!" 

Renji's eyes blazed with fury as his gaze locked onto a passing noble student, his bloodlust palpable, as though ready to tear the boy apart. 

"Calm down, Renji!" 

Kira stepped forward swiftly, placing a steady hand on Renji's shoulder to block his line of sight. 

Though Kira was equally confused and angered, he understood that someone had to stop Renji before he acted impulsively. 

He was acutely aware of how much Rukia meant to Renji. 

If anything serious had happened to her, the red-haired boy in front of him could easily spiral into madness, losing himself entirely. 

In an urgent tone, Kira spoke: 

"Rukia is fine!" 

"She's gained immense strength—enough to surpass many division captains—and she escaped Seireitei." 

"If Central 46 issued a wanted notice, it means she's alive and hiding in a safe place." 

"Right now, as Rukia's only remaining allies in Seireitei, we can't act recklessly and risk causing her more trouble!" 

Renji froze, Kira's words hitting a tender, vulnerable spot in his heart. 

Gradually, his rage subsided, his breathing calming. 

But then, Renji suddenly looked up, tears streaming down his face. 

The young man who had always sought strength was now completely unhinged by his own sense of powerlessness.

Noticing that Renji had finally calmed down, Kira shifted his gaze toward the main gates of the Shin'ō Academy. 

Through the open doors, he could clearly see... 

...the battlefield, reduced to ruins. 

After a brief pause to gather his thoughts, Kira spoke up: 

"At least one thing you said is true, Renji..." 

"Maybe we should investigate what really happened with the Kuchiki family." 

"It's dangerous, and it's definitely beyond the scope of what we're allowed to do at our current rank..." 

"But this is the only option we have." 

Then, turning his head, Kira looked toward an unexpected companion—a cheerful woman munching on popcorn. 

"What do you think, Linlin?" 

Linlin, caught mid-bite, blinked in surprise before nodding enthusiastically. 

"Just make your decision. I'll follow your lead." 

With that, she stuffed another handful of popcorn into her mouth. 

The spirit-seed-infused popcorn was no ordinary snack—it was a natural power booster for someone like her, who could absorb spiritual energy directly. 

Each bite strengthened her, steadily raising her upper limits. After months of indulgence, Linlin estimated that once she fully reconnected with the will of this world and regained her lost powers, she would be at least two levels stronger than she had been in the pirate world! 

Of course, this current strength was merely a fraction of her potential. 

With 100,000 dimensional points in her possession, Linlin now felt untouchable in this world. 

Even the shadowy Wandenreich(Walled Empire) hidden within Seireitei was well within her grasp. 

This sense of dominance fueled a new ambition: 

Linlin resolved to make this dimension her primary base of operations. 

A world brimming with spiritual energy, boasting multiple advanced power systems, and teeming with talent ripe for recruitment—it was a dreamland for her. 

By the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce's rating system, this dimension was at least A-class, a rare and coveted designation. 

The next level, S-class, was leagues beyond and almost unattainable. 

S-class worlds were home to beings capable of destroying entire planets. While the strongest entities in this dimension could obliterate cities, they fell far short of that cataclysmic power. 

But even so, Linlin was content. 

A-class worlds were already one-in-a-million opportunities. S-class worlds were like unattainable dreams, fleeting and intangible. 

Of course, there was a slim possibility for an A-class world to ascend to S-class status. 

The odds were infinitesimal, but Linlin wasn't one to shy away from risks. 

After all, she was Charlotte Linlin, the Emperor of Pirates in her former life! 

As a pirate, even a one-in-a-billion chance was worth pursuing. 

And in this world, the key to that possibility lay in one man: 

Aizen Sōsuke, the mastermind who had forced Rukia out of Seireitei and orchestrated this chaos. 

To be honest, Linlin admired Aizen's ambition and capability. 

Sometimes, she even considered forming an alliance with him, sharing knowledge about dimensional merchants and the workings of the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce. He could pave the way for her operations here. 

But Aizen's unpredictable nature made her wary. His cunning was enough to give even Linlin pause, and she hesitated to make the first move. 

Each time she contemplated this, she would sigh to herself. 

It was almost comical—a dimensional merchant from the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce, intimidated by a mere local, unable to take the initiative. 

Her defeat in Wano had made her more cautious than ever. 

But she had time—an eternity of it—and she wasn't in a rush. 

Someone like Aizen would still be there when she was ready. 

For now, she turned her attention back to Renji and Kira, a spark of interest gleaming in her eyes as she observed the two young Shinigami. 

On the other side, seeing Linlin agree so readily to their plan, both Renji and Kira felt a weight lift from their shoulders. 

Though Linlin always acted indifferent, when it mattered most, she never hesitated to stand by them. 

Her quick decision to help spoke volumes about her concern for Rukia and the current situation. 

Kira smiled faintly. 

Sure enough, Linlin was a kindhearted person beneath that aloof exterior—a good ally to have in these uncertain times!