C2 The Smell of Alcohol Is 30 to Strengthen the Courage of Men

Meanwhile, in the 80th district of North Flowing Soul Street, also known as Zaraki Zone, the situation was dire. It was the furthest district from the Court of Pure Souls and had the worst safety record. In stark contrast to the First Division's secure area, the 80th district was a notorious hotspot for danger. The land was barren, famine was rampant, and it was a notorious gathering place for countless vicious souls who often engaged in deadly skirmishes.

Notably, the current captain of the Eleventh Division, Zaraki Kenpachi, along with the third and fourth seats, Madarame Ikkaku and others, hailed from this very district. It was a place teeming with both danger and powerful individuals, a veritable mix of dragons and snakes.

"Hey, hey, isn't that the noble young master draped in feathered garments? What brings you to a place like this? If you value your life, better hand over those feathers without a fuss," jeered a voice, halting the long queue at the entrance of the derelict city gate.

A black-haired youth, dressed in the noble feather weave and sporting a bamboo hat, weaved unsteadily toward the gate. There, he was confronted by a group of towering, muscular men, each nearly two meters tall, their physiques as imposing as boulders, exuding an air of raw power.

The sight of this slender youth was met with a cruel smirk from the burly men. The surrounding Flowing Souls, witnessing this intimidating scene, recoiled in fear, backing away to create a clear space around the confrontation.

"Are you referring to me?" Taku hiccupped, his cheeks flushed with alcohol, his eyelids heavy.

"No, you were saying... you want my feather weave, right? Well, you can trade it for wine..." he slurred, "I don't ask for much... just three pots of good wine..."

A potent aroma of alcohol wafted from Taku as he spoke. And then, under the gaze of the onlookers, he misstepped and tumbled to the ground, plunging the area in front of the abandoned city gate into silence.

The young man, devoid of any noble decorum and reeking of liquor, caused the menacing onlookers to straighten up. The feather weave was more than just a garment; it was a symbol of nobility, cherished by the aristocracy as if it were their very lifeblood.

She was indeed valuable.

The youth before them had proposed to trade his Yu Zhi for wine, utterly upending their understanding of things.

"Damned kid, are you mocking us?" The leader, clad in worn armor, scowled and unsheathed a blade that shimmered like fish scales from his waist.

"Let me remind you, we're the Black Bandits, the most formidable force in Zaraki's North Flowing Soul Street, with three thousand members. Hand over the Yu Zhi willingly, and have your family pay her ransom, or face death!"

"Judging by the emblem on your shoulder, you're clearly a noble. You claim to be penniless, but we're not buying it."

At that, the Black Bandits around them sneered menacingly and tightened their grip on their weapons.

"Stop, I'll cover his debt."

A girl in plain clothes darted to Taku's side.

Gazing at the figure in white, with short black hair and a face that bore a mix of resolve and detachment, Taku blinked in bewilderment and scrambled to his feet.

"Ha, I thought you'd stay out of this, just watching from the sidelines. But making an entrance in plain clothes? That's like walking straight into a lion's den."

"You knew I was here all along? And how am I walking into a lion's den? I'm a Shinigami, and in the Thirteenth Division, we're forbidden from drinking," Lucia said, her eyebrows knitting together in displeasure and surprise.

She took pride in her ability to stay hidden.

She had arrived a quarter-hour earlier, remaining unseen, just to observe this young man who hailed from the same Shiba Clan as Kaien Shiba, the former lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division.

What set them apart?

After watching for a while, Lucia had pegged Taku as a drunk, even though he seemed to be aware that the situation was dangerous and still chose to taunt.

Lucia had been aware of the recent disturbances in Zaraki before she arrived.

However, without concrete evidence, the Thirteenth Division couldn't act to eliminate the threat.

Besides, to a Shinigami, they were merely a band of slightly stronger wandering souls, hardly worth serious concern.

"Ha, it's a woman after all. Your moves suggest you're from the Gotei 13, aren't they? I am Ijiri, leader of the Black Bandits," the armored giant said, initially taken aback, then bursting into hearty laughter.

"We've been racking our brains over how to boost our combat power. The Soul-Cutter Sword is out of reach, but learning the ways of Ghost Dao from you Shinigami isn't a bad idea."

"Once we've strengthened our forces, taking down the Court of Pure Souls and overthrowing the rule of your Thirteenth Division will be a piece of cake."

His boastful declaration reverberated down the abandoned streets.

Any captain overhearing this would surely dismiss him as a fool.

But at this moment, only Taku, who had crossed over just half a month ago with a forged recommendation letter, and Lucia, still at the level of a novice Soul Reaper, stood against the numerous Black Bandits.

Clearly, they were outmatched.

"Burp, anyone got some booze? I'll trade my Yanzhi for it..."

Suppressing a belch, Taku quietly accessed the system interface exclusive to those reborn into this world.

The God of Wine System

Host: Shiba Taku

Level: Complete Novice (A long way from a drunkard's status)

Experience Points: 8/20

Skills: Accurate Spiritual Pressure Sensing

Soul Blade: None

Quality of Wine: Poor

Taku couldn't help but wonder if the gods were mocking him as he stared at the basic attribute panel. Everyone else seemed to have impressive systems, while his was just a salesman's gimmick, promising strength through drink.

Most frustrating of all, he had landed in a place where not even the birds bothered to defecate, and in the vast Shiba Clan, he could only scrounge up a bit of watered-down wine.

This was the cheap liquor Shiba Ganju had stashed away, risking the wrath of his strict sister, Shiba Kukaku, who had insisted it be saved for a Coming of Age Ceremony.

The scarcity of resources meant Taku didn't even have a chance to sneakily power up.

After much scheming, he swiped Shiba Ganju's stash and guzzled it down, only to black out completely. The next morning, he awoke to find Shiba Ganju bandaged up on one side and the fireworks shop largely in ruins.

It was from a resentful Shiba Ganju that he finally got his answer.

The wine was atrocious!

"Are you seriously considering trading Yanzhi for wine? If I'd known you were such a lush, I wouldn't have bothered coming to fetch you on Kaien Shiba's behalf!" Lucia scolded, her voice tinged with frustration.

With a swift motion, she drew her Soul-Cutter Sword from her waist.

"So, you're the notorious leader of the Black Bandits in Zaraki's 80th district, Ijiri? The reports described you as a towering, seven-meter-tall green-faced ghost with fangs..."

The Thirteenth Division, responsible for logistics, was privy to the intelligence as well.

They had some knowledge of the Black Bandits' operations.

Yet, the group before her didn't match the intel.

If they were merely wolves in sheep's clothing, Lucia felt confident she could handle them on her own.

"Ha! Woman, you've grown bolder since the last Shinigami came snooping around. I mistook that boy for a mere noble, thinking a bit of hush money and holy water would be enough to see a reaction. But it seems I've snagged a much bigger fish," Ijiri sneered, his hands tightening into fists.

His sallow skin stretched taut as blue veins bulged, and a wild spiritual energy erupted from within.

His armor burst at the seams.

With a roar, Ijiri's muscles expanded, transforming him into a hulking, dark green-skinned, fanged demon, towering seven or eight meters tall.

Simultaneously, the burly men following him morphed into a horde of slightly smaller demons.

They unleashed a ferocious spiritual pressure, creating turbulent waves that lashed out in every direction.

"Little girl, now that you've witnessed my formidable form, I'll offer you one more chance. Surrender quietly, or you'll end up like the others before you—crushed and humiliated in death," Ijiri taunted with a malevolent grin.

"Is this a soul mutation?"

Lucia's complexion blanched as she clutched her Soul-Cutter Sword tighter.

She was merely a novice Shinigami, and due to her connection with Byakuya Kuchiki, her duties typically involved purifying common souls.

Her actual combat experience was severely limited.

Facing the Green-faced Ghost from the rumors alone, Lucia might have stood a chance. But now, to confront dozens of mutated evil spirits by herself was tantamount to a near-certain death.

If she fled, her current power could potentially secure reinforcements. Yet, the memory of Kaien Shiba's selfless sacrifice extinguished the fledgling thought from her mind.

Her thoughts were a whirlwind as she steadied the tremor in her hands and, with gritted teeth, declared, "Go, quickly. I'll hold them off. With some luck, you might hold out until help arrives."

"You're telling me to run?" Taku planted his feet, the alcohol scent on him now a faint trace, blown away by the recent maelstrom of spiritual energy.

Brushing past Lucia, he found himself clutching the flask from her belt. "You've got a taste for the good stuff, too—top-shelf quality!"

"My drinking isn't about enjoyment; in this tumultuous world, the scent of liquor emboldens the spirit."

"When I drink, it's because the alcohol makes my strikes too forceful—I could easily take a life."