Chapter 101: Instructions
"Excellent."
"I'll provisionally designate you as Special Emergency Medical Team Captain. Isane will arrange some squad members to assist your work."
Unohana Retsu's tone remained peaceful as she established Suoh's position.
Her consideration proved thorough, deliberately creating a role sufficiently flexible while possessing appropriate authority.
"Aside from lacking formal salary, your authority within the Fourth Division will essentially equal a senior emergency medical team captain's."
"Understood."
She nodded with a smile, continuing.
"We cannot hold an official induction ceremony, but necessary procedures still require completion."
"Tomorrow I'll personally write to Captain Ukitake explaining this matter."
The Fourth Division's numerous personnel and complex structure made establishing a special position to recruit external Kaidō talent entirely reasonable, avoiding much unnecessary trouble.
This arrangement granted Suoh both real authority and convenient resource access while observing proper etiquette between Seireitei divisions.
As for Ukitake Jushiro's thoughts or whether he'd agree—she needn't worry overmuch about that.
By not directly asking Suoh to transfer to the Fourth Division, she'd already shown considerable restraint and courtesy.
"I understand. Thank you, Captain Unohana."
Suoh rose and bowed in gratitude, extremely satisfied with this outcome.
As for the fleeting thought that had crossed his mind moments ago when he believed obtaining ingredients had failed—using Kikou to "visit" Shinoreijutsuin Academy's medicinal stores—he'd now completely erased it.
With legitimate channels available, naturally no need for risky measures.
"No need for excessive courtesy."
"Since everything's settled, tidy up a bit. Shortly I'll take you to see the medicine storehouse, collect some ingredients, and familiarize yourself with the location."
Unohana Retsu waved her hand lightly, smiling gracefully.
"Yes."
Suoh immediately organized his tray. Kotetsu Isane beside him also swiftly gathered the tea implements.
Moments later, the three departed the tea-fragrant private room.
The medicine storehouse occupied an independent building on the Fourth Division barracks' west side.
At the entrance stood two heavy wooden doors carved with intricate cloud patterns, a copper lock hanging at the center.
Kotetsu Isane stepped forward, retrieving an antique key from within her clothes. She inserted it into the keyhole and turned gently. Accompanied by a soft click, the lock opened.
As she pushed the door, she explained with a smile.
"Only the captain and I have keys to this door."
"Normally I manage the medicine storehouse. Tsukasa, if you need anything in the future, just come find me."
"Indeed. Isane has managed the medicine storehouse for nearly ten years. She knows the inventory of every ingredient better than I do."
Unohana Retsu beside her nodded with a smile, adding words carrying trust and affirmation.
The spacious warehouse interior.
Four walls fitted seamlessly, radiating a quiet, stable atmosphere.
Only near the roof's height had several small, neatly arranged ventilation openings been carved, a few beams of skylight slanting through.
Inside the warehouse stood row upon row of tall iron-wood medicine cabinets, arranged neatly extending to the visual horizon.
By the overhead lamps' soft illumination, one could see wooden plaques on each drawer in the first row, clearly labeled with ingredient names.
Beyond this, the warehouse's wall-adjacent positions displayed many multi-tiered wooden shelves.
The shelves held neatly arranged bottles and jars of varying sizes, materials ranging from ceramic to glass.
Some transparent crystal containers clearly revealed amber-colored medicinal liquids soaking unidentified ingredients.
Unohana Retsu's steps moved lightly as she led the two inside, her gentle narration echoing clearly in the spaciousness.
"The medicine storehouse divides into outer and inner sections."
"The outer section stores basic ingredients and common supplementary materials. Daily consumption is high, management relatively relaxed. For other needs, apply directly to Isane."
"Isane, first help Suoh obtain one portion each of his pill's supplementary ingredients."
"I'll take him to the inner section for other materials."
"Yes."
While instructing Isane, she led Suoh toward the deeper areas.
"This is the inner section."
The two stopped before a row of medicine cabinets in the building's deepest area.
Unohana Retsu casually pulled open a drawer labeled "Ginseng."
The drawer was lined with white soft cloth. Plump-bodied ginseng roots lay quietly within, emanating spiritual energy far more abundant than what Suoh had previously used.
Suoh, born in Rukongai, had never seen such high-quality ginseng. His eyes immediately brightened.
His heart stirred involuntarily, his gaze nearly glued to that pile of full-bodied roots.
"Inner section materials—like this ginseng and purple reishi, or other spiritually potent ingredients—all require registration with Isane before use, with final approval submitted to me."
Unohana Retsu looked toward Suoh, clearly explaining the storehouse rules.
She observed Suoh's reaction without comment, removing one root before closing the drawer and cutting off his view.
"I understand, Captain."
Suoh nodded solemnly, committing these rules to heart.
Following the motion, he swept his gaze across the densely packed labels on the inner section cabinets before him—basically all precious medicines, many names he'd never even heard.
This inner section truly embodied part of the Fourth Division's genuine foundation.
"For your pills, you can increase the ginseng dosage by two portions compared to before."
"As supplementary material, purple reishi should be two-thirds the amount of Solomon's seal."
Next, Unohana Retsu retrieved a purple reishi with a rounded cap from its drawer.
Her tone remained peaceful as she offered professional advice, placing the ingredients together into Suoh's hands.
"Tsukasa, here are your other requested materials."
At this moment, Kotetsu Isane also approached carrying three full oil-paper packages and a bamboo cylinder.
"Thank you, Isane-neesan."
Suoh accepted the ingredients, feeling their substantial weight, expressing gratitude.
"No need for thanks."
"Give me the ginseng and purple reishi. I'll slice and package them properly so they're easier to carry."
"Alright."
Kotetsu Isane took the two ingredients and immediately moved to a nearby workbench, skillfully operating the medicinal knife.
The materials were quickly cut into uniformly thin slices under her hands.
She carefully wrapped the prepared slices separately in clean oil paper, tying them with thin string before turning to return them to Suoh.
"Done."
Suoh accepted and secured them.
"Good. That's all for today. Let's go outside."
"Isane, escort Suoh afterward."
Seeing everything settled, Unohana Retsu spoke gently.
The three departed the medicine storehouse, the heavy wooden door slowly closing behind them.
The copper lock fastened, resealing that room full of medicinal fragrance within.
Suoh carried the neatly wrapped ingredients, following the two women out of the storehouse.
Outside, the sky had considerably darkened. Evening wind brushed through the courtyard, bringing fresh grass-scented air.
Unohana Retsu paused beneath the corridor, turning to address Suoh.
"Suoh, after returning, remember not to neglect today's Kaidō practice."
In the evening breeze, her smile and voice seemed even gentler.
"I will, Captain. Thank you very much for today."
Suoh expressed his gratitude solemnly once more.
"Until next time."
Unohana Retsu nodded in acknowledgment before turning toward the captain's office direction, her white haori-wrapped form quickly disappearing from view.
Kotetsu Isane spoke with a smile.
"Tsukasa, I'll walk you to the barracks entrance."
"Thank you for your hard work today as well, Isane-neesan."
"Not at all."
The two walked side by side along the Fourth Division barracks' path. Along the way, lamps had already lit one after another, blooming into halos of light against the deepening sky.
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