What are you doing?"
Rukia frowned as she watched Haruki collect the remains.
"This is valuable experimental material. We can't let it go to waste."
Haruki looked at the test tube in his hand and shook his head regretfully as the liquid gradually seeped into the reishi sand.
"This guy is yours now."
Haruki tossed Renji in front of Rukia and asked, "How much longer can you maintain this form?"
Dark Rukia was, after all, just a secondary personality. She couldn't suppress her main personality indefinitely.
Her awakening was largely due to the spiritual pressure of the second-generation White stimulating the first-generation White within her body. The resonance of these two spiritual pressures caused Dark Rukia to awaken from the depths of her consciousness and take control of the body.
This state couldn't last forever.
"I think I can maintain it for about a day at most," Rukia said. "If it goes on any longer, my foolish main self might start noticing something."
Haruki nodded. "That means we still have some time. Do you want to come back to Las Noches with me?"
"Las Noches? Your base in Hueco Mundo? Is Urahara Kisuke really behind you?"
"Alright, you'll find out about all that eventually. Let's head back to Las Noches first."
Haruki led Rukia and the unconscious Renji toward Las Noches.
On the way, Haruki couldn't help but ask, "Hey, Rukia..."
He turned his head to look at Rukia walking beside him and said, "As a Hollow, you have a Hollow hole in your abdomen, but why don't you have a mask?"
"..." Rukia didn't respond at first, as if she was deep in thought. After a long pause, she finally said slowly:
"I told you before, my true form is that of a Shinigami..."
"Other Hollows, when they reach the intermediate Menos stage, their bodies shrink and take on various forms, mostly resembling animals."
"But my 'animal form'... is that of a 'Shinigami.' So it's not that I don't have a mask. Rather, Rukia's face is my mask!"
Dark Rukia's lips curled into a self-deprecating smile. "I'm just a Hollow wearing the skin of Kuchiki Rukia."
As she spoke, she touched her face. Though it looked like flesh, in her hands, it felt like a mask.
"The Hōgyoku... what a peculiar object."
Haruki murmured softly.
But he knew it wasn't just the Hōgyoku's doing.
The Hōgyoku, White, the "super tonic" generated by his soul abilities, and some inherent trait of Kuchiki Rukia herself—these four factors combined to produce a special effect, giving birth to Dark Rukia.
In terms of complexity, this was even more intricate than the creation of Dark Rukia in the movie.
Before they could ponder further, they arrived at Las Noches.
"Such a structure... exists in Hueco Mundo?"
Rukia was stunned when she saw Las Noches.
After all, in the minds of Shinigami, Hueco Mundo was a barren wasteland, not a place capable of nurturing civilization.
Yet, this massive complex of buildings seemed to suggest otherwise.
During Haruki's time overseeing Las Noches, he had made some improvements to the area, making it appear more prosperous than before.
"You didn't build this, did you?"
Rukia looked at Haruki suspiciously.
Haruki shook his head. "There were ruins where you were earlier, weren't there? Don't underestimate Hueco Mundo. Over millions of years, lost civilizations have existed here."
"As long as there is intelligence, even the most heartless monsters, no matter how bloodthirsty or cruel, will eventually form groups."
"Whether it's using strength to conquer the weak or unity to oppose the strong, on a timescale of millions of years, anything you find unbelievable can happen."
"..."
Rukia didn't respond. Instead, she followed Haruki into Las Noches.
Most of the Hollows in Las Noches looked at Haruki with fear and even hatred. A normal person would probably feel uncomfortable in such an atmosphere, but Haruki seemed unfazed.
"I feel a bit unsafe walking with you."
Rukia glanced at Haruki's back and said.
She wondered what this guy had done to these Hollows to make them hate him so much.
Haruki chuckled wryly. "Come on, this has nothing to do with me."
Aizen had essentially taken the King of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan, through a series of humiliating defeats, completely crushing the Hollows' revered figure. Naturally, the Hollows who worshipped Baraggan like a god couldn't handle it.
If Aizen had used the Hōgyoku to turn these Hollows into Arrancars and given them immense power, it might have been different. But Aizen had barely shown up, and these Hollows felt no gratitude toward him.
As a result, Haruki, who had arrived with Aizen, also became a target of their resentment.
But all they could do was glare at him. If anyone actually tried to rebel, Haruki would just blast them with a Destructive Death Beam.
Haruki brought Rukia to his room and said, "Rest here for a bit. I need to take care of something."
Then he called out, "Loly!"
Shortly after, a spider-like Menos Grande appeared.
Haruki said, "This is my friend. Take good care of them."
"Yes, Master," Loly replied respectfully.
Haruki then headed to Szayelaporro's laboratory.
As soon as he reached the door, it opened.
Szayelaporro's impatient voice came from inside. "What do you want now, Shinigami?"
"I've got some research materials for you."
Haruki said, "But it seems you're not too welcoming, so never mind."
He shrugged and turned to leave.
"Wait!!"
Szayelaporro quickly called out. "What kind of research materials do you have?"
Haruki took out one of the vials containing the liquid he had collected from Aaroniero and said, "This stuff. But I have a condition."
"Huh?" Szayelaporro, still hidden inside, asked, "What condition?"
"I want to share all the research results you obtain from this liquid."
Szayelaporro didn't respond immediately. Instead, a tentacle extended from inside and snatched the vial.
After a while, a surprised "Huh?" came from inside, followed by Szayelaporro's voice. "Come back in a month to collect the results. Don't disturb me until then."
It seems...
Szayelaporro is in a critical phase.
Is he already on the path to becoming the so-called "perfect lifeform" he dreams of?
How impatient.
Haruki couldn't help but smile as he watched the laboratory door close again.
Szayelaporro's evolution was a good thing. After all, it's hard to befriend a Hollow, but it's much easier with an Arrancar.
Although raising Szayelaporro's favorability was bound to be extremely difficult, Haruki was determined to go all out for the sake of the "Perfect Lifeform" ability.
After leaving the laboratory, Haruki touched the vials in his pocket.
He had collected six vials of liquid and one vial containing tissue samples from Aaroniero.
One vial had been given to Szayelaporro, some would be handed over to Aizen, and the rest he planned to keep for himself.
Although his scientific research skills were still rudimentary, he had been consciously improving in this area.
To become a top-tier boss in the world of Bleach, one needed the ability to innovate and reform.
Aizen created the Hōgyoku, transforming Hollows into Arrancars and elevating Hueco Mundo to new heights.
Yhwach also granted the Quincy the Schrift and Vollständig abilities, and even developed the Medallion to steal Bankai.
Well, it might not have been Yhwach himself who did the research, but it was undoubtedly connected to him.
Science and technology are the primary productive forces!
Therefore, Haruki had been diligently studying scientific literature, striving to improve his foundational knowledge.
With Hitsugaya Tōshirō's "Prodigy" ability, he sometimes even used it to focus on "scientific research" instead of training!
Although his scientific skills weren't yet top-notch, Haruki was ready to give it a try.
He even planned to set up a laboratory in Las Noches and his safe house.
Returning from Szayelaporro's lab, Haruki saw Rukia sitting on his bed, reading a book.
"I forgot you wrote novels back in the Seireitei."
Rukia glanced at the contents of the book and said, "Are you planning to write novels in Hueco Mundo too?"
Haruki immediately recognized it as the Naruto-inspired story he had been telling Lilynette. He chuckled and said, "Hueco Mundo is just too boring. We need to bring some life to this dull world, don't you think?"
"So, what are you planning to do next?" Rukia asked again. "We still have two days left, right?"
Haruki had said he would return Rukia to the Gotei 13 in three days, and Dark Rukia was about to fall into a deep sleep.
So she was asking how Haruki planned to handle Rukia during the remaining two days.
"The three days were just a number I came up with on the spot. Let you and Renji get a good night's sleep. When the time comes, I'll send you back to the expedition team."
Haruki wasn't too concerned.
When he had taken Rukia away disguised as Yoruichi, the three-day timeframe had been arbitrary.
He hadn't known how long Dark Rukia could maintain her form. He had only vaguely thought that the spiritual pressure of the second-generation White could awaken Dark Rukia, but how long she could last after awakening...
That was hard to say.
Haruki had taken Rukia mainly to figure out what had happened to her and to invite her to join the new Espada he was forming.
Yes, Haruki planned to make Dark Rukia one of the Espada.
Szayelaporro would be the Cero Espada, Stark would remain the Primera Espada, and Baraggan would be the Segunda Espada. These three positions were fixed, but the ranking of the other Hollows would depend on Haruki's arrangements.
In the original story, Aizen was a perfectionist, insisting on assigning each Espada a unique cause of death as part of their ranking.
For example, Grimmjow and Luppi both had "Destruction" as their cause of death, so only one of them could be the Sexta Espada, while the other was excluded from the Espada entirely.
Harribel and Nelliel both had "Sacrifice" as their cause of death, so when Nelliel was the Tercera Espada, Harribel had no place.
But Haruki wouldn't do things that way. Moreover, a Hollow's cause of death wasn't limited to just one.
For example, Nnoitra had "Madness," "Despair," and likely "Ecstasy" as his causes of death.
Haruki had always suspected that a Hollow's cause of death was related to their evolution path after becoming a Vasto Lorde or Arrancar. It wasn't something that could be easily changed, but there was no need to be so rigid about it.
But...
What would Dark Rukia's cause of death be?
Well, he'd leave that for Aizen to figure out later.
About half an hour later, Rukia closed her eyes, and her body began to change.
Her white robe turned black, reverting to her Shinigami shihakushō. Her slightly grayish hair returned to its natural black, and her aura gradually shifted back to that of a Shinigami.
During the transformation, her breathing became erratic for a moment but steadied once the process was complete.
Haruki watched as Rukia fell into a deep sleep and cast "Byakurai" on her as well.
When the time came, he would simply return her to the expedition team.
After instructing Loly to take care of the two, he left the room.
He had sensed a familiar spiritual pressure.
As he stepped outside, he saw Stark.
Beside Stark was a large, antelope-like Hollow.
"Long time no see, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck... or should I say, Miss Antelope?"
That's right, the one accompanying Stark was Nelliel!
She was surprised to see Haruki and exclaimed, "It's you? Why are you still in Hueco Mundo?"
"I told you we'd meet again," Haruki said with a smile. "And when we did, everything might be different."
"..." Nelliel frowned as she looked around. "What have you done to them?"
"Due to certain circumstances, my captain has become the King of Hueco Mundo," Haruki explained. "That's Captain Aizen, whom you've met before. He's very powerful."
"...He is indeed strong," Nelliel said after a moment of silence. "But you... you're not just aiming to rule Hueco Mundo, are you?"
"Smart." Haruki extended a hand and said, "Stay in Hueco Mundo and join us. If you follow us, you might see a world completely different from before."
"Hueco Mundo... will be completely transformed under our hands."
"..."
Nelliel looked at Haruki and then said slowly, "I don't have anywhere else to go, but whether I'll join you or not depends on what I see with my own eyes."
Although she said that, Nelliel had essentially joined Las Noches.
Two days later, Haruki left Rukia and Renji, who were still under the effects of "Byakurai," on the reishi sand near the ruins where White had evolved. He then cast a fireball spell.
The fireball attracted the attention of the Shinigami, who took Rukia and Renji away. The Hueco Mundo expedition team returned just like that.
As for how they would report the events in Hueco Mundo and how the Central 46 would handle the aftermath regarding Urahara Kisuke and the others, that was beyond Haruki's control.
During this time, Haruki became busy. He began mobilizing the Hollows of Las Noches to search for Adjuchas and Vasto Lordes, gathering powerful Hollows together so that when Aizen arrived, they could conveniently conduct Hōgyoku experiments.
Of course, since he also needed to keep an eye on the situation in the Seireitei, Haruki returned to the Seireitei almost every night.
With his status as a vice-captain, Haruki naturally had the authority to know how the Central 46 reacted after receiving the reports from the Hueco Mundo expedition team.
When it became clear that the incident involved Yoruichi Shihōin, Soi Fon, the captain of the 2nd Division, reacted particularly strongly, insisting on going to Hueco Mundo to arrest the criminal group.
However, the Central 46 did not permit this and instead temporarily halted further actions related to the bull-headed Hollow incident.
Because Urahara Kisuke was far too dangerous, the Seireitei needed time to consider how to deal with this major criminal.
Seeing Haruki tarnish Urahara's reputation, Aizen didn't say anything.
Nearly three years later, the Soul Society still hadn't taken any further action, which bored Haruki, who had been looking forward to some excitement.
Today, he entered Hueco Mundo with Aizen.
This time, Aizen was ready to use the Hōgyoku to conduct Arrancarization experiments on the Hollows.
However, these Arrancarization experiments came with certain risks.
After all, the Hōgyoku Aizen had created wasn't perfect.
In the end, an Adjuchas named Shawlong Kūfang decided to become the first test subject for Hōgyoku-induced Arrancarization.
Originally, Grimmjow was supposed to be the first, but Shawlong stepped forward to take his place.
Shawlong was Grimmjow's subordinate. He likely wanted to use his own life to confirm whether the Hōgyoku truly had the miraculous effect of granting Hollows immense power.
Under the influence of the Hōgyoku, Shawlong Kūfang, whose evolution had stagnated, began to change. The mask on his face started to crack and eventually fell off, leaving about three-quarters of his face exposed.
His body also underwent a transformation.
Shawlong Kūfang had already been one of the top Adjuchas, with a body very close to human form. Now, he had completely transformed into a human.
Only the Hollow hole and the remnants of his mask still hinted at his true nature.
His body radiated an incredibly dense spiritual pressure, far surpassing what he had before becoming an Arrancar.
"This..."
Shawlong Kūfang stared at his hands in shock, unable to contain his excitement.
The spiritual power he hadn't felt grow in years was now surging within him. This long-lost sensation overwhelmed him with emotion.
Not just him—the surrounding Hollows also became excited.
Even some Vasto Lordes were visibly stunned, and Stark, who usually seemed indifferent, couldn't help but take a closer look at Shawlong Kūfang.
"This is it..."
Aizen looked at the newly Arrancarized Shawlong Kūfang with satisfaction. He extended his hand, as if opening his arms to the surrounding Hollows or inviting the world to join him.
"Gentlemen, follow me into a new world."
The Hollows' eyes burned with desire. They could all see the incredible evolution Shawlong had undergone after becoming an Arrancar. No Hollow could resist the temptation to become like him.
"I'll be next!"
Grimmjow stepped forward. He had originally intended to be the first test subject, but Shawlong had beaten him to it.
Haruki walked over to Stark and said, "Do you want to give it a try?"
"Me?" Stark looked puzzled. "Aren't I already an Arrancar?"
In the original story, Stark joined Las Noches and became an Espada very late.
He was only found and invited to join the Espada by Aizen after Aizen had openly rebelled in the Soul Society and taken control of Las Noches.
By then, the Espada in Las Noches had already completed their Arrancarization.
Moreover, Stark had already become an Arrancar on his own, so Aizen didn't need to use the Hōgyoku on him.
But now, things were different. Because of White, they had discovered Stark earlier. Perhaps Stark could benefit from the Hōgyoku as well.
Haruki said, "Arrancarization isn't the end for Hollows. As far as I know, Hollows can achieve a 'Second Release.' Don't you want to try?"
"No thanks." Stark leaned against a wall, looking up at the dim sky of Las Noches and the faint, barely visible crescent moon. He said softly,
"I... don't want to get any stronger."
"That's... a bit arrogant." Haruki followed Stark's gaze, also looking at the crescent moon. "Do you think becoming weaker will give you companions?"
"If you really think that, then I have to say, you don't seem much like a Hollow."
"..." Stark remained silent, and Haruki lowered his head, pointing at the surrounding Hollows.
"See their eyes..."
"..." Stark looked over but still didn't speak.
Haruki continued, "That's the look of those who crave greater power. For Hollows, evolution is their eternal goal."
"Let me be blunt. For Hollows who have lost their 'hearts,' what they desire most is to regain what they've lost, and what they fear most is 'degeneration'—losing not just their hearts but also their sanity."
"You're a powerful Vasto Lorde, so you've naturally gone through the stages of evolution. You understand the fear of degeneration. So you should know this better than anyone."
Haruki said softly, "A Hollow who desires to become weaker, to degenerate, cannot survive among Hollows who crave evolution. They will never be accepted by others."
"Times have changed. You can let go of that arrogant mindset. With Captain Aizen's Hōgyoku, you no longer need to worry about your spiritual pressure killing other Hollows or being surrounded by the weak."
"Besides..."
Haruki glanced at Lilynette nearby and said, "Haven't you already had a companion since back then?"
The Arrancarization of Hollows in Hueco Mundo was undoubtedly a grand event for every Hollow in Las Noches.
Every Hollow's eyes burned with desire. They longed to become stronger through Arrancarization, to reach a higher level of existence, and to achieve further evolution.
Stark, watching the intense desire in the eyes of the other Hollows, couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
What Haruki had said was true. If you wanted to make friends and avoid loneliness, you had to "fit in."
If everyone else wanted to do something and you didn't, you wouldn't be able to integrate into the group.
"Don't think you're so special," Haruki said softly beside him. "There are many powerful beings in this world. You're not the strongest. In such a situation, the desire to become weaker is still too arrogant."
"Maybe," Stark sighed.
Then they fell into silence. Amidst this silence, more and more Hollows underwent Arrancarization.
Even Baraggan, enduring humiliation, allowed Aizen to perform Arrancarization on him.
Stark sighed and then walked over with Lilynette.
At this moment, Haruki was momentarily stunned.
Wait.
Stark and Lilynette were originally one being but also two separate individuals.
They had already reached the stage of Arrancarization. What would happen if they were further enhanced by the Hōgyoku? Haruki had no idea.
But now, a question arose in Haruki's mind.
If both Stark and Lilynette were enhanced by the Hōgyoku, would that count as one enhancement or two?
Haruki scratched his head. This really touched on the limits of his knowledge.
If they could be enhanced twice, wouldn't that be a bit overpowered?
When Aizen saw Stark approaching, he seemed slightly surprised but didn't refuse to enhance his power.
The power of the Hōgyoku acted on Stark, and in an instant, a soft light enveloped both him and Lilynette.
Under the influence of the Hōgyoku, Stark immediately activated his Resurrección, causing Lilynette to merge back into his soul.
As the light gradually dissipated, Stark's form underwent another transformation.
All the Arrancars present were focused on Stark, knowing that his changes would represent the possibility of their own further evolution.
Under the gaze of everyone, a Hollow hole suddenly appeared on Stark's chest... again!
Stark and Lilynette's Hollow holes had originally been near their chests. But now, Stark had one Hollow hole on his chest and another on his abdomen.
Most importantly, these two Hollow holes seemed to be filled with some kind of energy, as if they were being plugged. This was somewhat similar to White's Hollow hole.
However, White's Hollow hole was blocked by a flesh-like mass resembling a heart, while Stark's was filled with an intangible energy.
The two pistols in his hands also underwent some changes. Although their shapes remained the same, the patterns on them were different.
The patterns on the two pistols now resembled crescent moons, with the tips of the crescents emitting five rays of light.
This appearance...
Haruki thought for a moment. It actually looked a bit like Stark from the Bleach mobile game, where the Espada were enhanced by the Hōgyoku.
However, the colors weren't as vibrant. The cheap, flashy colors from the mobile game were gone, replaced by the traditional black and white of Bleach.
Was this... a Second Release?
"How do you feel now...?"
Aizen seemed very interested in Stark's new form, as this was the only special Arrancar in Hueco Mundo.
He looked at Stark, who had closed his eyes, and asked, "How does it feel?"
"It's..."
Stark opened his eyes, looked at his hands, and instinctively said, "Not bad."
As he spoke, he seemed to relax. Then, his body reverted to his initial Resurrección form, with only one Hollow hole remaining. Shortly after, he deactivated his Resurrección entirely, and Lilynette split off from his body once more.
After returning to their separate forms, only a trace of their previous transformation remained.
Both Stark and Lilynette now had a faint, mysterious light within their Hollow holes. This light emitted an intangible force, seemingly filling the Hollow holes.
"This guy..."
Baraggan looked at Stark with resentment. There were already Shinigami above him, but why was there a Hollow who had advanced further down the path of evolution than him, the King of Hueco Mundo?
This shouldn't be!
He was supposed to be the King of Hueco Mundo, the god of all Hollows! Nothing in this world should defy him!
"With this, the Hollows of Las Noches have basically all completed their Arrancarization."
Haruki jumped down and said to Aizen, "It feels like we can officially form the Espada now."
Then, he added, "By the way, there's still one Hollow who hasn't undergone Arrancarization."
"Szayelaporro Granz?"
Aizen said indifferently, "Don't worry about him. He won't be coming out of the laboratory anytime soon."
Aizen seemed to know everything about Szayelaporro's experiments.
Haruki wasn't surprised by this.
Ever since obtaining Haruki's "super tonic," Szayelaporro had been holed up in his laboratory, conducting some secret research.
The last time Haruki saw Szayelaporro was a month after handing over the liquid from Aaroniero. He had gone to the laboratory to collect the research data.
Since then, three years had passed, and Szayelaporro had remained in his laboratory, never coming out.
He must have been undergoing an extremely important evolution, working toward the eternal life he so desperately desired.
However, just because Haruki couldn't see it didn't mean Aizen couldn't.
Szayelaporro's scientific abilities were indeed impressive, but it depended on who you compared him to.
With Aizen's technology, he could easily infiltrate Szayelaporro's laboratory. To Aizen, nothing about Szayelaporro was a secret.
So when Aizen said Szayelaporro wouldn't be coming out anytime soon, Haruki didn't doubt it.
Perhaps, based on Aizen's judgment, Szayelaporro no longer needed enhancement from the Hōgyoku.
"What do you plan to do next?"
Haruki stood beside Aizen and asked, "It seems like the new measures regarding Yoruichi Shihōin and Urahara Kisuke are about to be announced, right?"
Hearing this, Aizen smiled slightly and said, "Murakami, you didn't do anything wrong."
"Urahara Kisuke... has indeed been living too comfortably in the human world. If he were to rot there, it would be quite boring for me."
Aizen adjusted his glasses, which reflected the moonlight. He said softly:
"It's time to make them feel a sense of urgency—one that could even cost them their lives."
The Soul Society's handling of Urahara Kisuke's case was extremely cautious.
After all, they had already suffered significant losses because of him.
One incident occurred over sixty years ago when Urahara's Hollowfication experiment caused the captains of the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th Divisions, as well as the vice-captain of the 8th Division and the vice-commander of the Kidō Corps, to undergo Hollowfication. This dealt a heavy blow to the Soul Society.
To put it into perspective, the Soul Society only had thirteen captains at the time. With four captains Hollowfied and the captains of the 2nd and 12th Divisions rebelling, nearly half of the captains were compromised, reducing the Soul Society's combat strength to its lowest point!
When Aizen betrayed the Soul Society, he once said—
"The greatest strength of the Gotei 13 lies in its thirteen captains. However, with three captains rebelling and four trapped in Hueco Mundo, the Soul Society's combat power has been severely weakened."
This statement perfectly applied to the Hollowfication incident as well.
But the Hollowfication incident was just the beginning. Subsequent abnormal events related to Hollows in the Soul Society were also attributed to Urahara Kisuke.
For example, during the little game Aizen and Haruki played, the unfortunate captain of the 3rd Division who died...
And finally...
The mysterious bull-headed Hollow incident.
In the eyes of the Soul Society, Urahara Kisuke was nothing short of a "heinous criminal." Naturally, they were extremely cautious about how to deal with him.
The main reason was that they still didn't fully understand the principles of Hollowfication. They feared that any Shinigami they sent out might fall victim to Urahara's schemes and undergo Hollowfication again.
Therefore, during this time, they ordered the Technology Development Bureau to create a device that could block Hollowfication. Until such a device was developed, the Central 46 was not prepared to recklessly pursue Urahara Kisuke.
According to the intelligence Haruki had received, the 12th Division seemed to be close to completing a similar invention. Once this invention was finished, it would be time for the Gotei 13 to settle accounts with Urahara Kisuke.
That was why Haruki had brought this up to Aizen.
He believed that Aizen's decision to Arrancarize the Hollows in Las Noches at this time was also part of his plan to stir up trouble in the near future.
Aizen's words implied that he thought Urahara Kisuke was wasting his time in the human world. For someone with such extraordinary intellect, he should be fully utilizing his talents instead of hiding in a small town as a convenience store owner.
As for Aizen's next plans, Haruki wasn't entirely sure. However, the battlefield would likely be in Hueco Mundo.
It seemed these Arrancars would soon be put to use.
It looked like Haruki's arrival was finally having a significant impact on the storyline. A major battle between Hollows and Shinigami was about to break out, even before Ichigo Kurosaki was born.
Haruki followed Aizen back to the main hall of Las Noches. Aizen sat on his throne, and in front of him was a holographic screen displaying information about various Menos Grande.
These Hollows had been gathered by Haruki over the past three years.
Nelliel had chosen to stay in Hueco Mundo because she saw the future of Hueco Mundo in Aizen.
Hollows like her were rare. Most Hollows had come for Aizen's power.
"In just three years, you've achieved so much. Murakami, you've done well," Aizen said with a light smile as he reviewed the data on the Menos Grande.
"I've always been diligent when working for you, Captain Aizen," Haruki replied with a smile. "So, have you decided who will become the Espada?"
"This matter will be left to you, the Espada Overseer," Aizen said, closing the screen. "You're in charge of selecting the Espada."
Originally, Tōsen Kaname had been the Espada Overseer. However, since Haruki had been stationed in Hueco Mundo for so long, no one was more suited for the role than him.
In other words, it was now Haruki's responsibility to choose who would become the Espada.
"I have a bit of a selection phobia," Haruki sighed. "Captain Aizen, you always leave these troublesome tasks to me."
"You often delegate tasks to Momo as well," Aizen said. "It's time for you to take on some responsibility."
"Fine, I'll deal with this later."
Haruki rubbed his temples, looking troubled. "I need to go home today."
"I promised Captain Kyōraku I'd have a drink with him last time. I can't send a fake to meet him."
"That old fox," Aizen said softly. "If Captain Kyōraku notices any flaws, you won't be able to continue working under me."
"Got it, got it," Haruki said as he walked toward the exit.
Just before leaving, he suddenly stopped and turned back to look at Aizen sitting on his throne. "By the way... Captain Aizen, the task you assigned me has been completed by Loly."
"That's a very convenient ability," Aizen said, seemingly praising Loly but also hinting at Haruki. "Let them act freely."
"Understood."
Haruki nodded and then left the hall, returning to his room.
His room was connected to a large laboratory, which belonged to Haruki himself. Over the past three years, he had been conducting small experiments here.
He always kept in mind that science and technology were the primary productive forces!
"Master Haruki."
At this moment, Loly had also completed her Arrancarization. However, as a mere Adjuchas, even after being enhanced by the Hōgyoku, only half of her mask had broken off.
Her eyes were gray, and she had medium-length black hair and a slender figure, though her gaze lacked vitality.
Seeing Haruki enter, she said respectfully, "Everything is ready."
"Good work."
Haruki spoke kindly, then turned his attention to the twelve capsule-like devices in the room, similar to the incubation tanks used for White.
Inside these tanks were twelve souls.
Haruki narrowed his eyes and looked at the faces of these twelve souls.
"Urahara Kisuke, what a remarkable genius."
Haruki murmured softly. "The 'Soul Simulacrum'... what an interesting invention."
In the Soul Society, any Shinigami—no, even a student or a spoiled noble—would be shocked to see these twelve souls.
Because these twelve souls...
Were the twelve captains of the Gotei 13!
Aside from Aizen Sōsuke, the captain of the 5th Division, the other twelve captains were all inside these incubation tanks!
Of course, these weren't the real captains. They were 'simulacra' created through a special method.
Urahara Kisuke was indeed a genius.
Even Aizen firmly believed this.
Many people knew that the Onmitsukidō possessed a special spiritual tool called the 'Sōkyoku,' which helped users achieve Bankai.
A Shinigami's training with their Zanpakutō revolved around Shikai and Bankai.
Shikai required the Shinigami to 'communicate' and 'synchronize' with their Zanpakutō, while Bankai required the Zanpakutō to 'materialize' and 'submit.'
Generally, it took at least ten years of training to achieve materialization.
However, using the Sōkyoku made this process much easier. By stabbing the Zanpakutō into the Sōkyoku, the Zanpakutō would be forcibly materialized.
If the user could make the Zanpakutō submit during this time, they could achieve Bankai.
However, aside from Urahara Kisuke, no one else had been able to accomplish this.
Yet, few people knew...
Urahara Kisuke had also developed a tool similar to the Sōkyoku, called the 'Soul Simulacrum.'
The Soul Simulacrum's function was to use the user's memories, amplify them, and create a perfect replica of the user to serve as a training opponent.
Like the Sōkyoku, it was a tool designed to enhance the user's combat abilities.
If the Soul Simulacrum was used in conjunction with Loly's Negación threads and Aizen's Hōgyoku, it could create long-lasting 'simulacra.'
These simulacra were almost identical to the originals and could even achieve a higher level of 'unity between person and sword.'
Of course, this unity couldn't compare to the real thing. It was merely slightly stronger than the original, as initially designed by the Soul Simulacrum.
Urahara Kisuke's original purpose for developing the Soul Simulacrum was to help users continuously break through their limits by fighting a version of themselves that was slightly stronger, thereby surpassing their past selves.
Even with Loly's Negación threads and Aizen's Hōgyoku, the simulacra's power wasn't enhanced. Instead, their duration was extended.
Each simulacrum could survive outside the tanks for at least a month.
If Loly continued to provide Negación threads, they could survive even longer.
According to Aizen's plan, these fake captains would be sent into the Soul Society.
Controlling these captains wouldn't be easy, so once they were in the Soul Society, what they did would be out of Haruki's hands.
His only responsibility was to deploy them.
"Loly, get ready. I'll open a Garganta later, and we'll send them all in."
"Yes, Master Haruki," Loly replied respectfully.
Haruki glanced at Loly and then at her soul ability.
It wasn't easy for Hollows to develop soul abilities. Even if their spiritual power met the requirements, some Hollows who appeared in the original story didn't have soul abilities.
For example, Loly, who had a brief appearance in the original story, might not have had a soul ability before becoming an Arrancar due to her limited screen time.
It wasn't until she completed her Arrancarization that her soul ability manifested.
Loly's soul ability was 'Negación Loom.'
Negación Loom: Can only be used after permanent acquisition. Generates a special organ capable of producing Negación threads.
Given Loly's personality, experiences, and abilities, the Negación Loom was the most suitable soul ability for her.
However, this ability didn't seem much different from simply acquiring someone else's abilities.
Although Loly was loyal to Haruki, her favorability was only in the thirties. This was because Loly was a modified Menos Grande with inherent emotional deficiencies.
In a sense, she had no sense of self.
Therefore, raising Loly's favorability was difficult. Haruki was trying to find a way to repair her soul defects and restore her emotional system.
Of course, this was a long and arduous task.
Looking at the captains' 'simulacra,' Haruki fell into deep thought.
Wasn't this similar to the anime's original 'Reigai Arc'? And Loly would be... Kageroza Inaba?
After pondering for a while, Haruki activated his Hollowfication.
He opened a Garganta and entered the Soul Society.
Soon, Loly would deploy the captains' 'simulacra' as well. It was best for him to leave first.
Haruki deactivated his Hollowfication and quickly made his way toward the Seireitei.
This time, he entered through the East Gate, Seireimon, and greeted the gatekeeper, Kūkaku Shiba, before entering the Soul Society.
Tonight, he had promised to have a drink with Kyōraku Shunsui, but this was just an excuse to return to the Soul Society.
Haruki returned to the Soul Society to go home, to his safe house.
Only in his safe house could he avoid all surveillance.
After Stark's enhancement by the Hōgyoku, Haruki noticed that this Vasto Lorde Arrancar's favorability toward him had finally reached sixty.
Although it was still far from eighty, this meant Haruki could use the 'Soul Split' ability once.
He planned to return home and see what this 'Soul Split' was all about.
He needed a doppelganger to handle tasks that were inconvenient for him to do personally.
Since he was almost constantly under Aizen's surveillance, there were many things he couldn't do.
Tonight's meeting with Kyōraku Shunsui provided the perfect opportunity to return to his safe house and complete this task.
Of course, this would have to wait until after his drink with Kyōraku. After all, this was his first time attempting something like this, and he wasn't sure what would happen.
There was no need to cause trouble right before meeting Kyōraku.
With this in mind, Haruki hurried toward the 5th Division.
"Hey, Tōshirō~"
As soon as Haruki returned, he saw Hitsugaya Tōshirō and greeted him. "What are you up to?"
"I'm on patrol," Hitsugaya sighed. "What about you? Where have you been all day?"
"Captain Aizen must be overworked with a vice-captain like you."
"Haha," Haruki laughed. "I'm going to have a drink with Captain Kyōraku later. Want to join?"
Hitsugaya Tōshirō was currently the 3rd Seat of the 5th Division. Although he had only recently joined, he had already become the third most important figure in the division.
Momo, who had graduated earlier, was only the 6th Seat.
The next step would be to transfer him to the 13th Division.
Three years ago, Aizen had mentioned transferring Hitsugaya Tōshirō to the 13th Division. However, perhaps due to his procrastination, Hitsugaya was still in the 5th Division.
But now that he had become the 3rd Seat of the 5th Division, the next step would be to promote him to vice-captain.
Of course, there was no such position available in the 5th Division, so he would have to go to the 13th Division, which currently had a vacant vice-captain position.
Since Shiba Kaien's death, the vice-captain position in the 13th Division had remained unfilled.
Currently, the 13th Division had two 3rd Seats, and sooner or later, one of them would need to be promoted to vice-captain.
Therefore, it was a good idea to propose Hitsugaya's transfer after he became the 3rd Seat.
If Hitsugaya eventually became the captain of the 13th Division, wouldn't Rukia become his subordinate?
Thinking this, Haruki couldn't help but feel a bit strange.
In the original story, both ice-type Zanpakutō were in the same division?
Haruki clicked his tongue and returned to the 5th Division with Hitsugaya.
After returning to his office, Haruki noticed the pile of documents on his desk.
"Where's Momo?!"
Haruki rubbed his temples. He didn't want to deal with so many documents. That would be a nightmare.
"Don't count on Momo for help. She just received a mission to go to the human world," Hitsugaya Tōshirō said as he walked in. Seeing Haruki's expression, he knew exactly what the man was thinking.
"Huh? Momo's going to the human world?" Haruki sighed and then looked at Hitsugaya with hopeful eyes. "Tōshirō, I'm counting on you~"
The Seireitei was responsible for the human world's Japan. In theory, Japan had over seven to eight hundred cities, meaning that under normal circumstances, up to one-fifth of the Gotei 13's Shinigami could be stationed in the human world.
The Gotei 13, along with students from the Shin'ō Academy, numbered over six thousand. When evenly distributed across each division, there were only a few hundred members per division.
Therefore, it was impossible for a single division to handle all the human world assignments. Although the original story only showed members of the 13th and 10th Divisions stationed in the human world, that was because the story only involved two or three cities.
The remaining cities, of course, couldn't be left without Shinigami.
The 5th Division naturally also had Shinigami stationed in the human world, though it was rare for high-ranking officers to be sent.
"Give up on that idea!" Hitsugaya said disdainfully. "As the vice-captain, you should at least contribute a little to the division!"
"Such unfair treatment," Haruki sighed.
In the original story, Rangiku's work was all done by this kid. Why did things change when it came to him? This kid was really too focused on appearances.
Haruki could only helplessly flip through the reports in his hands and then asked, "So? You didn't come here just to watch me work, did you?"
Hitsugaya Tōshirō said in a low voice, "I heard from Captain Aizen that there's talk of transferring me to the 13th Division."
"..." Haruki looked up in 'surprise' and said, "You're going to the 13th Division?!"
"Vice-Captain Shiba has been missing for a long time—so long that he's been declared 'dead,'" Hitsugaya said solemnly. "So the vice-captain position in the 13th Division is vacant."
"Captain Ukitake's health has always been poor. Leaving the entire division in his hands isn't good for his well-being, so the higher-ups made this decision."
"..." Haruki was silent for a moment, then said, "That's fine. You've already achieved Bankai, haven't you? Not only are you qualified to be a vice-captain, but you could even be a captain. The 5th Division really has no more room for your growth..."
"Besides..."
Haruki smiled and said, "Captain Ukitake likes you a lot, doesn't he?"
Perhaps because they shared the same hair color, Ukitake Jūshirō had always treated Hitsugaya well and held him in high regard. Their relationship was quite good.
"Don't worry about my opinion," Haruki continued with a smile. "Although I brought you into the Seireitei, I won't hold you back. With your talent and strength, being just a 3rd Seat is a waste."
Seeing Hitsugaya's somewhat melancholic expression, Haruki added, "Don't act like this is a permanent farewell. You're just transferring divisions, not disappearing forever."
"Renji and Kira also transferred divisions. Do I see them any less?"
"...Thank you," Hitsugaya said solemnly.
"Why thank me?" Haruki coughed. "If you really want to thank me, help me finish these documents."
Hitsugaya glanced at Haruki, took the files from his desk, and then said, "After I leave, please take care of Momo. She's too soft-hearted..."
"Are you an idiot? How could I let anyone bully our 5th Seat?!"
Haruki watched Hitsugaya leave and then shook his head, hoping that the upcoming war wouldn't affect these new-generation Shinigami.
Seeing that it was about time, Haruki left work and headed to the usual bar, Damoya.
Tonight, he was drinking with Kyōraku Shunsui and Rangiku. During the drinks, the two asked about Hitsugaya's transfer.
Even Kyōraku didn't seem to know much about it.
Haruki casually mentioned it. Upon hearing that Hitsugaya was likely going to the 13th Division as vice-captain, Rangiku couldn't help but say, "That kid really is a genius. It's a shame that Haruki got to him first. Otherwise, I would've brought him to the 10th Division!"
"..." Kyōraku remained silent.
As Ukitake Jūshirō's close friend, he was well aware of his old friend's thoughts.
If Hitsugaya Tōshirō performed exceptionally well in the 13th Division, his old friend would likely be more than happy to step down and let him take over as captain.
In other words, Hitsugaya wasn't just going to be a vice-captain—he was being groomed to be the future captain.
A captain so young... It seemed that the old-timers like them were truly reaching retirement age.
Thinking this, Kyōraku drank a bit more. Although he wasn't completely drunk, the alcohol made him somewhat sluggish.
After eating and drinking their fill, the three went their separate ways. As Kyōraku walked home, he noticed Ukitake.
"Ukitake, what are you doing here?"
Kyōraku asked curiously.
"I heard you were drinking here and was worried you might overdo it, so I came to check on you," Ukitake said with a smile. "Are you done already?"
"You're too late," Kyōraku said. "By the way, I heard that young genius is joining your division?"
"You mean Hitsugaya?" Ukitake said. "Yes, after Kaien left, the 13th Division does need a vice-captain."
As they spoke, Ukitake and Kyōraku drew closer.
Then...
In an instant, Ukitake thrust out his blade!
Sōgyo no Kotowari!
One of the blades of Sōgyo no Kotowari instantly thrust toward Kyōraku!
Kyōraku's pupils dilated. Although he had drunk a lot, when it came to a real fight, even after drinking for ten days and nights, Kyōraku still possessed sharp enough reflexes!
He quickly retreated, but the blade still grazed him, leaving a large gash across his chest!
"You're definitely not Ukitake..."
Kyōraku used Shunpo to create distance between himself and 'Ukitake,' then said in a deep voice, "Who are you?"
"...How did you notice?"
'Ukitake' frowned slightly. At that distance, if Kyōraku Shunsui hadn't been on guard, that strike should have pierced straight through his body.
Instead, it only left a shallow wound.
"Although Hitsugaya is going to the 13th Division as vice-captain, Ukitake... doesn't know about it yet," Kyōraku said, carefully examining the 'Ukitake' in front of him.
Incredible...
Truly incredible.
It was an exact replica—not just in appearance, but even in spiritual pressure.
"Just because of that, you suspected me?" 'Ukitake' asked.
"You're definitely not the real Ukitake," Kyōraku said, lowering the brim of his hat. "If it were him, he would never say something like that."
"For us, even the slightest change is enough to become evidence for suspicion."
Thud!
Kyōraku Shunsui's pupils dilated sharply as a blade suddenly pierced through his chest from behind!
"I see. I'll keep that in mind."
From behind him came a voice he was all too familiar with!
Kyōraku gritted his teeth and slowly turned his head, only to find...
Another version of himself!
'Kyōraku Shunsui' said softly, "Too careless... Shadow, this isn't like us."
Kageoni!
This was one of the abilities of Kyōraku's Zanpakutō, allowing him to enter shadows and launch surprise attacks by emerging from them.
Splat!
As he pulled out the blade, blood gushed from Kyōraku's chest, and he collapsed heavily to the ground.
However, the moment Kyōraku hit the ground, the entire street began to tremble.
Hadō #57: Daichi Ten'yū!
Rumble...
The ground shook violently, startling the nearby Shinigami. 'Kyōraku Shunsui' and 'Ukitake Jūshirō' frowned. 'Ukitake' quickly lifted Kyōraku's body and disappeared with a few Shunpo steps.
"Captain Kyōraku?!"
Soon, a large number of Shinigami arrived, only to find the shattered street and a 'Kyōraku Shunsui' who seemed to have just been in a fight.
"Kyōraku..."
Kuchiki Byakuya also arrived quickly. He looked at the seemingly deep-in-thought 'Kyōraku' and asked, "What happened?"
The 6th Division was responsible for the 6th District, and Damoya was near the Kuchiki family's ancestral grounds. It didn't take long for him to get here.
"Just now... someone attacked me," 'Kyōraku' said slowly. "They were fast and wore a Hollow mask..."
"..." Kuchiki Byakuya frowned slightly. "Urahara Kisuke?"
"Not sure. We need to report this to Old Man Yama."
'Kyōraku' said, "Looks like I sobered up a bit too early tonight... Let's go see what Old Man Yama has to say."
...
"..."
Haruki naturally sensed the spiritual pressure fluctuations of Daichi Ten'yū. He knew the 'simulacra' had made their move.
These simulacra were born from the captains' intense 'memories,' extracted by Loly's Negación threads and fused with the Soul Simulacrum under the influence of the Hōgyoku.
After their formation, their actions were largely driven by these 'memories.'
Of course, Loly could forcibly control them using her Negación threads, but she could only control one at a time. Moreover, if the target was particularly strong, control became difficult.
So, what these simulacra would do was something even Aizen couldn't predict.
But judging from the spiritual pressure traces and direction, they had clearly targeted Kyōraku Shunsui first.
For these simulacra, they had no memories of Hueco Mundo. They appeared directly in the Soul Society, so Haruki wasn't worried about them exposing their existence.
However, attacking a captain right off the bat? These guys had some guts.
Thinking this, Haruki quickened his pace home.
He needed to test the 'Soul Split' ability as soon as possible.
Haruki quickly returned to his safe house, adjusted the settings to simulate him coming home and going to sleep, and then sat cross-legged on the bed.
He activated the Gatekeeper's ability once more, ensuring that no one could enter the safe house without his permission or defeating him.
Soul Split!
Haruki activated the ability in an instant, immediately feeling as though he had entered a dark world.
This world was dark, but countless streams of energy floated within it. When these streams intersected, they seemed to emit a mysterious light.
This was his soul...
At this moment, Haruki began to understand the 'Soul Split' ability.
He could choose a part of his soul and split it off, forming a second body.
Haruki thought for a moment and decided to split off the part of his soul that contained Hollow elements.
After selecting some black, malevolent energy, Haruki felt a tearing sensation, as if he were ripping apart a piece of paper. A faint crack echoed in his soul.
There was no pain, just a slight itch. When Haruki opened his eyes again, he found a pool of black sludge in front of him, along with another version of himself.
This was a dual perspective—one from his original body, Haruki Kōun, and the other from the pool of black sludge in front of him.
Was this the Hollow part of his soul?
If he were a Hollow...
Would he be a pool of black sludge?
Well, this sludge looked pretty ugly.
Haruki was momentarily overwhelmed by the dual perspective, but to his surprise, his spiritual power hadn't decreased. Although he had split off the Hollow elements, he could still use Hollowfication.
However, the duration of Hollowfication had significantly decreased. Originally, he could maintain it for half an hour, but now it was back to just a few seconds.
"Let's give you a name..."
Haruki looked at the pool of sludge, and a name suddenly came to mind.
"Angra Mainyu..."
In the world of Shinigami, names are treated with great care.
It is said that a name contains all power.
The monk of the Zero Division possesses the ability to sever names, and losing one's name means losing one's power.
Therefore, names that appear in one's mind are of great importance.
Generally, the names of the Espada in Hueco Mundo are in Spanish, leading many to believe that Hueco Mundo corresponds to the real-world region of Spain.
However, Angra Mainyu is clearly not a Spanish name but rather the name of the dark chief god in Persian mythology.
Of course, he also has a more famous alias: the source of all evil and darkness, or "All the World's Evil."
This name...
It's quite fitting, isn't it?
Hmm, my Zanpakutō's true form is the "Lonely Hell," and my Hollow essence is "All the World's Evil." It seems like I'm destined to be a major villain.
Well, whatever. Since I'm already mixed up with Aizen, it's hard not to be a villain.
The split in my spiritual body hasn't affected my spiritual power, which is why Angra Mainyu is currently very weak.
So, Haruki opened a Garganta and sent Angra Mainyu to the human world to develop. Once he grows a bit stronger, he'll head to Hueco Mundo.
Having the perspectives of two individuals in his mind was a bit inconvenient at first, but Haruki quickly adapted.
After all, they are both still himself...
After dealing with Angra Mainyu's affairs, Haruki deactivated the Gatekeeper's ability and lay down on his bed.
With such events happening in the Seireitei, Haruki wasn't sure how the Seireitei would handle it.
Previously, he hadn't paid much attention, but now he found himself thinking about it.
Because he needed to figure out how to benefit from this situation!
He had split off the Hollow essence, but it was still too weak to be of much use.
Haruki needed Angra Mainyu to grow into a Vasto Lorde within the next forty years, which seemed almost impossible.
The evolution of Hollows is different from that of Shinigami. Shinigami can potentially leap several ranks in a short time if they have enough talent. It's not impossible to become a vice-captain in a few years and a captain in another decade or so.
But Hollows are predatory creatures. Their strength comes from devouring other souls, whether they be Shinigami, humans, or other Hollows...
By absorbing the souls of others, they accumulate spiritual power and undergo physical transformations.
From a common Hollow, they evolve into the massive Gillian.
By devouring other Gillian, they increase their spiritual energy while compressing it to improve its quality, eventually evolving into Adjuchas.
Typically, a Gillian is formed by the fusion of tens of thousands, or even millions, of Hollows. The powerful Vasto Lorde Arrancar are monstrous beings that have condensed hundreds of millions of souls within them.
Generally, devouring so many souls not only results in a massive increase in spiritual power but also subjects the Hollow to a flood of memories.
Thus, a Menos Grande is no longer its original self.
Perhaps one of the tens of thousands of souls becomes dominant, or a new consciousness emerges from the mixture of countless souls.
Therefore, Haruki had to be careful in this regard.
He planned to create a memory storage device that would allow Angra Mainyu to absorb only the spiritual power of others while filtering out their memories and emotions.
This wasn't impossible; it could be achieved by reverse-engineering the Negación threads.
The Negación threads have the ability to extract information from things, including memories, emotions, and thoughts. Haruki could use this feature to filter out the memories, emotions, and thoughts of others.
This would be the first step in his journey as a scientist. Once he returned to Hueco Mundo, he would begin his research.
In addition, he was thinking of other ways to exploit the situation.
For example, the recent "Imaginary Body" incident...
Each Imaginary Body was created by amplifying the "thoughts" of the captains from their past...
He had specifically instructed Rōka to extract the "thoughts" of Tōsen Kaname's past hatred toward the Tsunayashiro family. This meant that the Imaginary Body of Tōsen Kaname would likely target the Tsunayashiro family.
And... it probably wouldn't be just Tōsen Kaname...
There were many within the Gotei 13 who held grievances against the Tsunayashiro family.
He wondered if he could take advantage of this to steal some valuable items from the Tsunayashiro family.
As the head of the Five Great Noble Families, the Tsunayashiro family had many treasures, especially fragments of the Soul King...
If he could obtain a large number of Soul King fragments, Angra Mainyu, as a Hollow, would undoubtedly level up quickly.
Haruki was already planning his next moves.
He thought about it until dawn.
Soon after, a Hell Butterfly floated into Haruki's room.
Haruki opened his eyes, put on his Shinigami uniform, fastened his vice-captain's badge, and hurried to the First Division.
Following protocol, he entered the Second Side Chamber, only to find that he was the second to arrive.
The earliest was actually Ōmaeda!
Ōmaeda seemed a bit drowsy, and Haruki caught him yawning as he entered.
"Haruki, you're here early," Ōmaeda said, looking listless.
"What's wrong? Did you not sleep?" Haruki naturally sat down next to Ōmaeda.
Ōmaeda's soul ability was so overpowered that Haruki had been working to gain his favor.
However, since they worked in different divisions, they didn't see each other often.
Theoretically, they only met during these gatherings, but Haruki had found a workaround by leveraging his fame as a renowned writer in the Seireitei to collaborate with Ōmaeda's family business.
The Ōmaeda family ran "Ōmaeda Jewelry," the largest jewelry company in the Soul Society. The vice-captain of the Second Division, Ōmaeda Marechiyo, was also the general manager of the precious metals department. Although most Gotei members couldn't afford their products, it didn't stop the company from being well-known.
The collaboration involved Haruki endorsing their jewelry and promoting it in his novels.
Haruki agreed and even earned a decent sum from it.
This partnership allowed Haruki to interact more with Ōmaeda.
What started as a casual hobby of writing novels had now become a medium for making connections, which he found quite satisfying.
Ōmaeda Marechiyo said, "Don't even ask. Last night, Captain Soifon woke me up and had me patrol the Seireitei all night!"
"That's rough," Haruki comforted him, then asked, "So, what exactly happened? I received an emergency summons, but I don't know the details."
Ōmaeda shook his head and said, "From what I heard, Captain Kyōraku was attacked. Beyond that, I don't know much."
"Captain Kyōraku was attacked?!" Matsumoto Rangiku walked over, looking surprised. "No way, who would dare attack Captain Kyōraku?"
"With attacks happening in the Seireitei, who cares if you're a captain?" Haruki sighed. "Things are going to get chaotic."
"No matter how you look at it, it's still unbelievable," Rangiku said, shocked. "When was he attacked?"
"Probably around ten last night," Ōmaeda said.
"Ten?" Rangiku and Haruki exchanged glances. "Wasn't that around the time we were heading back after drinking?"
"Yeah," Haruki nodded. "Did you sense any spiritual pressure?"
"How could I?" Rangiku said. "If I had, I would've gone to check it out!"
"Same here. I had a bit too much to drink and was still a bit groggy," Haruki said. "But it seems Captain Kyōraku is fine, which is good."
The room fell silent for a moment, and soon more vice-captains arrived.
Including Ise Nanao, Kyōraku's vice-captain.
By now, the vice-captains had learned about what happened last night, so when they saw Nanao, Rangiku asked, "Nanao, is Captain Kyōraku okay?"
"He's fine," Nanao said calmly. "But last night, not only was Captain Kyōraku attacked, but several nobles were also attacked by unknown enemies."
"What?" The vice-captains looked surprised, especially Ōmaeda, who couldn't help but say, "Huh? The nobles were attacked too? I had no idea."
Given his status as a noble and his position in the Onmitsukidō, he should have known about this.
But no one found it strange, as Ōmaeda was notoriously unreliable, and Captain Soifon sometimes forgot to inform him of important matters.
"With this, the Seireitei will probably go into a state of emergency, right?" Haruki said seriously.
A captain being attacked, and nobles as well—this matter would undoubtedly be thoroughly investigated.
That's why they had been summoned for an early morning meeting.
After a while, the captains emerged from the meeting room.
Captain-Commander Yamamoto had issued a special wartime order.
"First, all high-ranking officers, including vice-captains, are permitted to carry their Zanpakutō at all times within the Seireitei."
"Second, they are permitted to fully release their Zanpakutō during wartime."
The Shinigami who had arrived announced the orders from Captain-Commander Yamamoto, and the vice-captains, including Haruki, looked grave.
As expected, a special wartime order had been issued...
"Captain Kyōraku, I didn't expect you to be attacked so soon after we parted last night," Haruki said as he left the side chamber and saw Kyōraku and the other captains walking out.
He knew this Kyōraku was an "Imaginary Body," but he still approached him.
Kyōraku, however, didn't seem tense at all and said casually, "It's fine. I can handle it."
"But..."
Aizen, who was standing beside Kyōraku, spoke with a serious expression, "The enemy dared to directly assassinate a captain and was able to escape quickly after failing. This shows that they possess considerable strength."
"While it may not be a significant threat to a captain, if they target lower-ranking Shinigami, it could be disastrous."
So convincing!
Haruki felt he still had much to learn from Aizen's acting skills. From Aizen's words, Haruki could sense a deep concern for the Soul Society. Tsk, this is what a true veteran actor is like!
Even a seasoned director would be impressed!
"Captain Aizen is right," Captain Unohana, who was also nearby, said after hearing their conversation. "Last night, several nobles with spiritual power at the level of seated officers were killed with a single strike. The depth of the blade's force suggests that even well-trained high-ranking officers would struggle to withstand it."
"That's..." Haruki looked shocked. "I heard about the nobles being attacked, but I didn't expect them to be killed in one hit. Isn't that a bit too much?"
"In other words..." Nanao said nervously, "Even we could be instantly killed by them?"
"Most likely, yes," Unohana replied softly.
"Don't worry," Kyōraku said. "Nanao, you can stay in the squad quarters. We'll handle this."
"How can I?!" Nanao immediately protested. "I'm the vice-captain of the Eighth Division. I can't let you fight alone!"
Aizen nodded and said, "Both Kyōraku and Nanao have valid points. While we must be cautious of the enemy, we can't let them make us too timid. Otherwise, the thousands of Gotei members will live in constant fear, and our enemies will laugh at us."
"So, what's the plan the captains have come up with?" Nanao asked.
With the captains and vice-captains gathering at the First Division so early in the morning, they must have some preliminary countermeasures.
Unohana raised her head slightly and said in a calm voice, "We reviewed the surveillance footage from the areas where the incidents occurred, including where Captain Kyōraku was attacked. However, the surveillance in those areas was completely destroyed at the time of the incidents, indicating that the enemy is very familiar with us."
"According to Kyōraku, the enemy wore a Hollow mask. After discussion among the captains, we have preliminarily identified the enemy as Urahara Kisuke, who betrayed the Seireitei decades ago and orchestrated the 'Hollowfication Incident.'"
With such intimate knowledge of the Seireitei's surveillance network and the ability to easily hack into it, combined with the Hollow mask, it seemed only natural to conclude that the enemy was Urahara Kisuke.
"So..."
Aizen spoke in a somewhat enigmatic tone, "Based on the decision of the Central 46 and the Captain-Commander, we have decided to launch a punitive expedition against Urahara Kisuke, the greatest traitor of the Soul Society."
"Before he can cause greater harm to the Seireitei, we will eliminate him and nip his schemes in the bud!"
"It's a bit of a shame, though..." Kyōraku said with a regretful expression. "This matter also involves the princess of the Shihōin family. I wonder how the Shihōin family will handle this."
"The affairs of the great noble families are not for us to worry about."
Aizen said softly, "What we must do is capture and execute Urahara Kisuke..."