Chapter 68: Field Duty
Like the sun hanging high in the firmament.
This was the most genuine impression ordinary Thirteenth Division squad members held of Suoh Tsukasa after going on missions with him.
They could directly feel the warmth from this sun, and could also directly experience the scorching heat it occasionally brought.
Night fell ink-black. A campfire crackled at the center of a wilderness encampment.
White tents stood like giant sugar cubes in the darkness.
On the open ground outside the tents, several squad members sat around the leaping campfire, orange-red firelight flickering across their faces.
A sudden voice broke the night's tranquility.
"So delicious!"
"I'm so lucky to be here!"
Before the campfire in the darkness, a young squad member bit viciously into the grilled meat in his hand.
Fat dripped along the wooden skewer onto the fire's edge, sparking tiny embers.
Fragrant meat juices burst between his lips and teeth, making him widen his eyes in satisfaction as he stared intently at the golden-brown meat skewer in his hand.
"Idiot, you still have time to talk?"
"Hurry up and eat. If you don't, those old guys will snatch it all."
The squad member beside him elbowed him while grabbing another meat skewer, rolling his eyes in reminder.
The other slightly older squad members paid no mind to his offensive words, simply burying their heads as they ate meat.
The aroma of grilled meat intertwined with the smoky scent of burning wood. Smoke rose into the air, and the distant forest occasionally carried a few night owl calls.
Just as everyone finished enjoying the delicacies before them, savoring the pleasant aftertaste the food brought, a hand lifted the tent flap behind them.
The emerging figure was none other than Suoh Tsukasa after assuming his position as Thirteenth Division 3rd Seat, wearing his black Shihakusho. His Asauchi and Hazy Night at his waist gleamed with water-like luster in the firelight.
His young face showed no changes, only his bearing carried a few additional touches of authority.
His gaze swept across each squad member present. His voice rang particularly clear in the quiet night.
"Tonight's watch shifts follow the rotation list as usual. Everyone else, rest up and get inside early. Don't stay up too late."
"Watch personnel in groups of two, switching every two hours. Remember to maintain vigilance throughout the night!"
"Understood!"
Everyone straightened their backs and answered in unison, their voices especially loud in the darkness.
Suoh finished issuing instructions, turned back into the tent, and the white curtain fell, concealing his figure.
Shortly after he returned to the tent, the fatigue from executing missions since daybreak made the young squad member involuntarily sigh.
"Suoh 3rd Seat's attitude is usually very gentle. It's just that he's too strict when executing missions."
These words stirred up a thousand waves, immediately drawing criticism from everyone else.
"You should be content, kid!"
"Do you know how many people in the division fought tooth and nail to go on missions with Suoh 3rd Seat before?"
"If it weren't for Suoh 3rd Seat personally establishing new rules a while back—taking new recruits on missions in order by signup list—someone with as little seniority as you would never have the chance!"
"Dream on!"
Hearing this, a squad member with a full beard immediately spoke up in refutation.
His emotions ran high, causing spittle to fly across the campfire toward the young squad member.
"Being strict is also for our own good. Do you understand or not, kid!"
Another veteran squad member beside him picked up the thread, his tone carrying an unquestionable attitude.
"Exactly, exactly!"
The remaining squad members at the scene all chimed in agreement.
"I misspoke, I misspoke! Please forgive me, big brothers!"
The young squad member had never encountered such a situation. He pressed his palms together, repeatedly begging for mercy.
An older squad member beside him patted his shoulder, speaking seriously.
"It's normal for young people not to understand. You'll get it after a few more missions."
"Being able to follow Suoh 3rd Seat is a blessing for us ordinary squad members."
"Yes!"
The brief storm outside the tent subsided, leaving only conversational laughter.
At this time, Suoh had long since returned to a partitioned section deep within the tent.
The tent interior was divided by curtains into a main chamber and several side rooms. As team leader, he had his own private partition.
Except during discussions, this room held only him. No one would rashly enter this space.
Regarding some squad members' evaluations that he was too strict during mission execution, Suoh had heard about this long ago.
However, Suoh didn't care at all about others' opinions of him.
It had been this way at the Shinoreijutsuin, and remained so in the Gotei 13. So he'd always maintained his unique leadership style.
The curtain fell, enclosing him in his personal space.
Suoh's expression relaxed somewhat from before. His face showed no major changes, simply shedding authority and returning to his usual gentleness.
This was his small insight as a leader. Small men fear authority but not virtue. Appropriate facades were never arrogance but necessary postures to ensure orders were smoothly executed.
He picked up the bamboo canteen on the field table and fished a few tea leaves from the small pouch at the table's edge.
His fingertips lightly pinched, and tea leaves rustled as they fell into the canteen's mouth.
With Kido heating, wisps of steam carrying tea fragrance slowly emerged, a refreshing aroma permeating the partition.
"Whew—time to write reports."
After drinking his tea, Suoh exhaled lightly, set the canteen properly at the table's edge, then retrieved paper, brush, and ink from his small pouch.
He spread the paper scroll flat, picked up the writing brush and dipped it in ink. Waiting for the ink color to spread across the brush tip, he calmly began writing.
Thanks to years of sword practice, Suoh's hand was both quick and steady.
His brush danced like dragons and snakes, the brush tip flowing smoothly across the paper's surface. The rises and falls carried unique rhythm, leaving clean, sharp ink traces on the paper.
Before long, he'd completed writing this mission's execution report.
After entering the Thirteenth Division, Suoh hadn't met Shiba Kaien's initial expectations by helping him share the burden of paperwork.
Less than half a month after joining, he'd taken over authority for managing Hollow threat missions from Shiba Miyako.
There was no melodramatic power struggle. After accompanying her on one mission, with just three key phrases, Suoh had successfully gotten Shiba Miyako to transfer authority to him.
"Young people are eager to establish merit."
"Miyako-neesan, I don't want you to work so hard either."
"Just rest assured and leave the squad members to me!"
"Alright!"
Then Shiba Miyako had smiled and nodded in agreement.
The Gotei 13's response procedures for handling Rukongai Hollow threats were quite fixed.
The Department of Research and Development's Spirit Wave Measurement Lab served as the first line of defense, its personnel monitoring spiritual pressure fluctuations across Soul Society's various regions day and night.
Once abnormal spiritual pressure was detected, personnel immediately reported to their section chief. After going through hierarchical procedures, an investigation mission was generated.
The mission would then be dispatched to whichever division was both near the anomaly point and available.
After most divisions received missions, their handling procedures were basically the same.
The division would dispatch an advance team to the anomaly point for preliminary investigation and handling.
If the advance team lacked sufficient capability to handle it, they would continue reporting internally to the division, with seated officers leading squads to handle it until the mission ended. After submitting detailed written reports to the division, the entire mission was considered complete.
"Done!"
Waiting for the ink traces on paper to dry slightly, Suoh carefully stored the report and items on the table, then began his evening training practice.
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