19 Chapter 18

As it turned out, the old man who was killed by Hichigo was a local slaver selling "interesting" newcomers to the Slave Market. He also worked closely with the name auction, where he sold the names of strong newcomers who, for some reason, got stuck here and fell into his hands. It was at that auction that the names of the military who now serve Hichigo were bought.

"What an interesting place, this is your Tower." - Grinned the "minus", reclining in a soft chair at a huge table in the office of the old man killed by him. He was in a high-rise building, in the center of the Inner Zone of the Floor, where the so-called elite and the rich settled. "So, now I'm on the Fourth Floor of the Tower?" - He decided to clarify, throwing his legs on the table.

The man who explained the essence of what was happening at the very beginning was now sitting in the left armchair, opposite the "minus".

- Yes sir. - He nodded.

- And what does it take to rise higher to the Floor?

The man across from Hichigo stared blankly at his interlocutor.

- You should pass the test of the administrator of the Floor, which will be supervised by an officer or personally by the administrator. - Not understanding the meaning of the question, he answered.

"A battle, a task or a test?" - The following question followed.

- Well ... It depends on the manners of the administrator or the officer. It may be a battle or a puzzle, it is never known for sure.

- Hmm mm. Good. - Nodded the spirit of the blade. - Tell me, how many people are currently reporting to me?

"Sixty-four names." - The military answered, under the names meaning bought the names of the military. - Including mine.

- Here is how?

- Are you unhappy with something? - Cautiously asked the man sitting opposite his new master.

- Tell me, if I go to the Floor above, then ...

"Don't worry about that." - He said understandingly, ahead of the unspoken question. "People without a name are nothing more than just things." As I am, it is forbidden to arbitrarily pass tests, so that we can automatically go to the Floor above if the owner of our name is already admitted to that Floor. Although, even with your permission, we will not be allowed to participate in trials.

- So, I will need to find a team? "Already suspecting what kind of response he would get, Hichigo asked.

- Yes. - The military nodded. - On most Floors, teamwork is the main criterion for victory. It is never known who can be met in the opposite team, so that all smart beginners try to acquire strong or influential comrades, and preferably both.

- Maybe you know a place where you can find strong candidates?

"Perhaps you should go to the Tomb of the Beginners." This is the place where my former owner sold unsuitable people to him. By "objectionable," he meant dangerous, uncontrollable, those who were rejected even by the administrator of the Floor, considering them dangerous.

"Fine, I'll do it tonight." You can go. Hichigo waved his hand, letting go of his subordinate.

- As you wish.

***

Wandering around the streets and thinking about the "gift" that fell on his head - freedom, the "minus" went to a local dump, on which two large mountains of garbage and various garbage had already formed. Tearing off there some kind of black, nasty slimy liquid in a tin can, he only was able to determine its purpose from the picture. It was paint, already worn out. He grimaced and dipped pale fingers into her with disgust, and began to smear her hair, turning his white hair into black, disgusting icicles. Tearing off some rags in the same landfill that look like clothes, and putting them on instead of his clothes, which stands out against the general background of people wandering in this part of the vast city, he went on. To resort to the help of the so-called subordinates, whose name is slaves, he had no desire.

Of course, Shirosaki understood that spoiling his beautiful appearance was the height of recklessness. And this was the true truth, but he also understood one more thing - zanpakto cannot be where his master cannot be, which means Ichigo is also in the Tower. And in order not to spoil his fun, and he promised to be a lot, he decided to change his image.

- From handsome to homeless in five minutes. - Hichigo sighed in displeasure, looking at the rags that were called clothes and dirty hands, he didn't want to think about hair, but since they stood out the most, he suffered the most. But he was pleased with the overall result. It is unlikely that Ichigo now recognizes him by appearance, and he already knew how to hide spiritual energy.

At the moment, he wandered around the back streets of the Bedniack district, trying to find the so-called "Grave of newcomers." Listening to the drunkards and the motley cattle poking around here, he found out that there is a rather interesting person in the arena, nicknamed by the regulars there "the murderer of newcomers". They say that this is a huge man with such paws, that can easily crush the head of his opponent or easily break an adult man in half.

Hichigo would continue to talk about the horizons that opened before him, which were in front of him, if not for the familiar mask on the face of one person who had darted into an alley a hundred meters from him.

Following the man who decided to play the benefactor and released the whole rabble that the military, now subordinate to Shirosaki, managed to collect, Hichigo entered the lane, immediately jumping back and dodging the spear that plunged into the wall to his left.

- What do you need? - Sharply inquired the male voice from under the bone mask.

- Usually, at first they ask, and after that they begin to exchange compliments. - Hichigo snorted, watching how throwing weapons returned to the hands of the hostess.

The girl, who also hid her face under a white mask, clasped her hands in her hands, threateningly pointing the point at Hichigo.

"Are you one of those we saved?" - The man gently asked, reassuringly resting his hand on the shoulder of his partner. "You better leave." Like you, this is not the place. It would be better if ordinary people simply continue their calm ascent to the top of the Tower and do not interfere in matters that do not concern them.

"How beautiful you say." - With a stone physiognomy, the spirit of the blade spoke, but could not hide its cruel nature, allowing itself a little joy - a menacing grin. - The weak should continue the climb, you say? - Laughter. - Maybe I don't understand something, but the weak should become food for the strong, so that they become even stronger and go even further.

The girl on the left of the man gripped the shaft of the spear harder, preparing to attack.

- Calm down. - A minus smiled broadly. "I see that your weapon is not intended for close combat." It is disgusting. I'm telling you like a blade.

The woman did not even immediately realize that the enemy in front of her had disappeared. Just for a moment, but she lost sight of him, and in the next second, hellish pain pierced her hands.

- Esther! - The man cried out in a panic, pulling a needle from his inventory.

Hichigo grinned, dodging a stab in the chest and stepping back. But before he could firmly stand on the ground, a spear that had flown in from somewhere far away pierced his left hand.

"Three of you?" - Quickly looking around, the "minus" jerked tore the spear with a jagged tip from his hand. Although the wound was serious, it was not fatal.

- Doris, the mission is postponed, lively here! - The White Mask captain activated the Watch, contacting the third member of their group.

"Bernard, what about Esther ?!" - the girl said excitedly, deftly jumping from roof to roof, hurrying to the rescue.

"Do you have time to talk?" "Offended that he was clearly underestimated, Hichigo quickly put the index finger of his whole hand in the direction of Bernard and Esther. - Sero.

- Need to run! - He ordered the scout, grabbing the girl in his arms and dodging the beam from the tire following them.

Ray Sero, breaking through a ten-story building, cut through concrete and steel like a hot oil knife, catching his target every moment.

"How fast he is." - Annoyingly pronounced "minus", disappearing into sonido and starting to pursue his goal.

***

- See him? - Turning into the next lane, Bernard asked, not daring to turn his head back so as not to accidentally crash into some garbage can.

- No. - The girl negatively waved her head. - Do you think you have come off?

"You think he's faster than me?" - Mockingly sounded the smug voice of "minus".

Bernard stopped abruptly. Behind him, the distinctive sound of a falling building was heard, cutting off their way back, and in front of him stood a man whom he had rescued from the captivity of the slave trader.

The "minus" slowly began to approach its victims, not wanting to take any more risks and attract too much attention. Better he will deal with everything the old fashioned way, with his bare hands and quietly. But as soon as Hichigo was twenty meters from the man who had pressed his back against the ruins of the building, he stopped, looking up.

- Sero.

Spinning around near Pustoy's legs, the chinza with incredible speed began to gather in a tiny sphere above his head, the next instant it was released by a scarlet, vertical beam, with a whistle tearing air. Soon, on the asphalt, right between his comrades and the minus, the body of Doris arrived in time.

"I ask you all to stop this immediately!" - Menacingly said a black screen that appeared from the air between the warring parties.

- "And what kind of fruit is this?" - Suddenly thought Shirosaki. This running around completely spoiled his mood. Are there really no strong opponents here?

- I'm the director of the Floor. - A black face appeared on the monitor screen. "Usually, I'm not interfering in this kind of business, but you have attracted too much attention." Destroyed several buildings, staged a salute of chinz-rays and killed one of the most influential people in the city of newcomers! - the officer continued displeased. - If you really want to kill each other, then I will be glad to see you at the Rookie Race.

Hichigo did not even have time to understand how everything was dark in his eyes, and the next second he was already standing in the middle of the reception hall, directly opposite the main door leading to the main office.

"What a meaningless day." - Disappointed sighed minus, sitting on the first chair that came across. - Skukaten.