Trader In The World Of Pirates!!!

At Night 

At the cordon surrounding the ruins of Seireitei, three shadowy figures crept silently. Their movements were swift and fluid, avoiding the gaze of patrolling guards as they made their way toward the battle-scarred remnants. 

"Even though I mentally prepared myself... seeing it up close truly makes you question..." 

"Is this really a power that a being can wield?" 

Perched on a high vantage point within the ruins, Kira scanned the scene, his dull eyes reflecting the devastation under the faint glow of moonlight. 

If he hadn't witnessed it himself, he would never have believed it... 

That all of this was caused by Rukia, the very same girl who had entered Seireitei alongside him. 

How powerful could she have become...? 

And what exactly had Rukia gone through to grow into such an overwhelming force in such a short amount of time? 

For someone like Kira, known for his contemplative nature, these questions led to a mental deadlock. He simply couldn't imagine the answers. 

"Hey, Kira, what are you doing!?"

Renji's voice suddenly jolted him out of his thoughts.

In the dim ruins, Renji and Linlin could be seen crouching low as they moved further into the devastation. Renji, spotting Kira still in place, waved him over. 

"Come on, hurry up!" 

"Coming!" 

Kira whispered back before quickly catching up with short, careful steps, pushing his doubts aside for now. 

The three of them were well aware of the gravity of their actions. By exploring these ruins, they were blatantly violating Seireitei's rules. If caught, the consequences would be severe. 

The area was still scarred by the aftermath of the battle. Some spots smoldered with lingering flames, while others glistened with frozen surfaces. 

Using Kira's sharp memory of maps, the group navigated quickly, eventually arriving at the ruins of the Kuchiki family's mansion. 

"This is it," Kira said, surveying the surroundings and nodding with certainty. 

Renji and Linlin exchanged a glance before immediately beginning their search according to their prearranged plan. 

Their decision hadn't been made lightly or on mere impulse. The situation was riddled with coincidences and unexplained oddities. 

First, Rukia—originally a nobody from Rukongai—was adopted into the prestigious Kuchiki family, one of the four great noble clans. 

Then, almost overnight, her demeanor and actions began to change drastically. 

She transformed from an ordinary student at the Shin'ō Academy into a so-called prodigy. And during the crisis in the living world, she leapt from being someone who didn't even own a Zanpakutō to achieving Bankai, a power envied by even captain-level Shinigami. 

Within the span of a single day, she was accused of using forbidden powers and became the most wanted individual in Seireitei. 

With so many gaps in the story, Kira couldn't help but speculate. 

Could it be that the Kuchiki family was secretly conducting forbidden experiments behind Seireitei's back? 

And had Rukia somehow fit perfectly into their experimental parameters, allowing her to grow unnaturally strong and become the force she was now? 

Such thoughts made perfect sense to someone like Kira, whose analytical mind often wandered into imaginative territory. 

Even Linlin, munching silently on a snack nearby, couldn't help but remark inwardly: 

"If Kira wasn't a Shinigami, he'd probably be a top-tier mystery novelist!" 

Of course, no one could blame him for jumping to such conclusions. 

Who could have guessed that the truth was far stranger than any theory he could devise? 

As the trio rummaged through the ruins, searching for a hidden laboratory that might hold the key to these mysteries, an unfamiliar voice called out from behind them. 

"What are you all looking for?" 

The sudden question sent a jolt of fear through Renji and Kira. They spun around, trembling, half-expecting to see a patrol Shinigami looming over them. 

But what they saw instead defied logic. 

Perched atop a broken wall was not a Shinigami, but a peculiar figure—a rabbit-shaped doll dressed in the attire of a proper gentleman. 

The doll sat with an air of nonchalance, gazing down at them as if it owned the place. 

"Who are you!?" 

Renji and Kira immediately dropped into defensive stances, eyes wary and muscles tense.

Strangely, their fear didn't lessen because it was "just" a doll. If anything, the sight of a talking, moving stuffed rabbit made them even more unsettled.

After all, under normal circumstances... 

How could such a thing even exist? 

"Hee hee hee..."

The rabbit doll chuckled mischievously, its laughter light yet eerie. With a casual wave of the scepter in its hand, it transformed in an instant, appearing directly in front of Renji and the others. 

"No need to be so tense, everyone," it said smoothly. 

Though the rabbit doll's eyes gleamed with an unsettling ruby-red glow, its demeanor remained oddly gentlemanly. Slowly, it removed its hat, performed a graceful bow, and spoke: 

"I apologize for interrupting your activities. Please, allow me to introduce myself." 

"I am Hermes, a being who transcends all realms—a dimensional merchant from the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce!" 

"Now that I've encountered a few individuals who seem to share a fateful connection with me, I must ask: would any of you be interested in conducting a dimensional trade with me?" 

"Dimensional trade?" 

Renji and Kira frowned in unison, their confusion palpable. 

But before they could react further, a mysterious beam of light shot from Hermes' glowing eyes, targeting their foreheads. 

To avoid drawing suspicion to Linlin, a similar harmless beam of light was cast upon her as well. 

In an instant, information about dimensional transactions flooded Renji and Kira's minds. 

For a moment, the two stood motionless, their eyes blank as they processed the influx of knowledge. Then, they blinked rapidly, turning to each other in unison, as if to confirm they had shared the same bizarre experience. 

Simultaneously, a realization dawned upon them both. 

After a brief hesitation, Renji fixed his gaze on Hermes and asked: 

"Excuse me, Sir Dimensional Merchant... have you ever encountered a girl named Rukia?" 

"Rukia?" 

Hermes grinned slyly, his tone playful as he replied: 

"Of course. She was the first trader I met in this world—how could I forget her?" 

"In fact, just yesterday, she conducted a dimensional trade with me!" 

"I knew it!" 

Renji and Kira exchanged a glance, their suspicions confirmed. 

Leaning closer, Kira whispered to Renji: 

"This explains everything! Rukia must have become a trader and obtained immense power through resources provided by dimensional trade!" 

"It seems we were wrong to blame the Kuchiki family." 

"...Hmm." 

Renji nodded slightly, a flicker of relief crossing his face. 

If this were true, it meant Rukia hadn't been subjected to any inhumane experiments. 

Still, the question of why she had suddenly become wanted by Seireitei remained unanswered. Clearly, further investigation was needed, and dimensional trading appeared to be the key to uncovering the truth. 

With these thoughts racing through their minds, the two shifted their focus back to Hermes. 

Kira, ever composed and methodical, stepped forward to take the lead. Adopting a respectful tone, he spoke: 

"Master Dimensional Merchant, you mentioned whether we'd like to conduct a dimensional trade..." 

"Might I ask, is it possible for us to trade with you now?" 

"Of course!" 

Hermes nodded affirmatively but then tilted his head, a teasing smirk curling across his face. 

"However, I must say... neither of you seems to possess many valuable items. Are you sure you want to trade now?" 

"Ah?" 

Renji blinked in disbelief, momentarily stunned by the remark. 

Coming from Rukongai, he and Kira had very little in the way of material possessions. In fact, everything they owned was currently on their body. 

Unlike Rukia, they hadn't been fortunate enough to be adopted by a noble family. 

It was painfully clear—what little they carried likely held no significant value in the eyes of the enigmatic rabbit merchant. 

Even Kira, who prided himself on his quick thinking, was momentarily at a loss for words. 

However... 

At that moment, Linlin, who had remained silent until now, suddenly stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Hermes. With a resolute tone, she declared: 

"Who said we have nothing to trade?" 

'Shff!' 

Linlin swiftly unsheathed the long blade from her waist, raising it in front of Hermes. She asked confidently: 

"Would this be an acceptable trade?" 

"Oh?" 

Hermes' ruby-red eyes glowed as he examined the blade in Linlin's hands. After a moment of scrutiny, he nodded and said: 

"This blade holds the power to communicate with souls. It is indeed a rare treasure." 

"If you use it as a trade item, you can exchange it for something quite valuable." 

"Perfect!" Linlin grinned, her expression full of determination. 

But behind her, Renji and Kira's voices rang out in alarm: 

"Wait! Linlin, are you out of your mind?!" 

"This blade was only entrusted to us by the academy to help awaken our Zanpakutō! If you trade away an Asauchi like this..." 

"So what!?" 

Linlin turned to face them, her eyes gleaming with fiery conviction. 

"Yes, the Asauchi is valuable, but that's precisely why it's worth trading!" 

"Why wait for a power that may or may not come, when we can use this to gain something extraordinary through a dimensional trade?" 

"Aren't you curious to uncover what Rukia experienced?!" 

Renji and Kira hesitated, their resolve wavering under Linlin's impassioned reasoning. 

Linlin, noticing their uncertainty, smiled slyly, a devilish glint in her eyes. 

Not long ago, she had compiled and meticulously detailed the various components of the [Shinigami] power system based on the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce's requirements. She had submitted her findings for evaluation and had received their reply. 

The Chamber of Commerce had agreed to classify the [Shinigami] system as a complete power structure, tasking Linlin with gathering more related items. Upon their appraisal, she would be rewarded with points. 

Linlin had already outlined key elements such as 'Reiatsu', 'Kidō', 'Shunpo', and 'Hakuda' using insights from Shinji Hirako's memories. What remained was a crucial artifact tied to becoming a Shinigami—a Zanpakutō. 

However... 

Zanpakutōs were unique weapons formed from the souls of individuals. Collecting a single specimen was insufficient to construct a complete power system. 

Thus... 

Linlin's attention turned to the nameless sword ('Asauchi'). 

Across the Seireitei, Asauchi were rare, apart from those crafted by their mysterious forger. The only others with access to them were the new students of the Shin'ō Academy. 

But Asauchi were indispensable for a student's journey to becoming a Shinigami. Convincing someone to trade one was no easy task, even with the allure of dimensional trade. 

After all, the potential of an Asauchi was uncertain—it could grow into something powerful or remain weak. No one wanted to abandon their hopes before their Zanpakutō's true nature was revealed. 

Only under unique circumstances could someone be persuaded to part with one. 

Like... 

Now! 

And this, above all, was the reason Linlin had orchestrated Hermes' sudden appearance here.