"What's the matter? Speak."
Shigure's calm words fell. The two Onmitsukidō Soul Reapers immediately snapped back to attention.
They quickly withdrew their shocked gazes from Aning. Then hurriedly bowed their heads.
The Soul Reaper on the left spoke rapidly:
"Captain Segawa, we were dispatched directly by the Head Captain in his personal capacity. Please proceed immediately with your 'Zanpakutō'... to the 1st Division barracks!"
The moment those words fell, Shigure's eyes moved slightly.
Within this brief secret order lay several points that caught his attention.
First, Yamamoto hadn't delegated the message to others but sent the Onmitsukidō directly. This alone demonstrated the severity of the situation.
Second, the order was extremely urgent. Requiring immediate departure.
And third, 'bring your Zanpakutō.'
Soul Reapers never parted from their Zanpakutō, no matter where they were.
If Shigure went, he'd naturally bring his Zanpakutō. Yamamoto had no need to add such redundant phrasing to the order.
Which meant... he was hinting that this matter directly concerned Shigure's Zanpakutō.
Thinking this, Shigure couldn't help narrowing his eyes slightly.
It seemed they were about to discuss his statement about 'sealing Aizen within a Zanpakutō.'
"Understood. I'll head there now."
Shigure stood from the cushion. His expression remained calm as he addressed the two Onmitsukidō members.
Seeing this, Aning quickly ran to his side.
After bowing, the two Onmitsukidō members swiftly departed.
Their duty was only message delivery, not escort or supervision. So they didn't need to accompany Shigure.
After they left, Shigure looked toward Aning beside him.
Going to the 1st Division, he naturally couldn't bring her along.
But leaving her here alone risked her losing control and causing trouble. That would be problematic.
After thinking briefly, Shigure said with a light smile:
"I need to handle something, but I can't bring you along right now."
Hearing this, Aning immediately showed an anxious expression. She grabbed Shigure's sleeve and transmitted through spiritual pressure.
Shigure listened and smiled:
"Don't worry, I'm not abandoning you."
"I'll take you with me, but... in a different way."
Hearing this, Aning immediately showed a puzzled and curious look.
Shigure smiled and extended his hand. Rainbow-colored light bloomed from his fingertip. Reaching toward the chain link in Aning's soul.
"This'll just take a moment."
The method he mentioned was naturally the Soul Wall palace.
Once he brought Aning inside, she'd remain under his watch at all times. Nothing unexpected could happen.
After all, everything within the Soul Wall palace was under his complete control.
After entering the Soul Wall palace, Aning looked around at the scenery. Immediately widened her eyes with curiosity.
She clung to Shigure because of an innate sense of closeness and a severe lack of security toward the outside world.
But now, within the Soul Wall palace, all her needs were satisfied.
No unfamiliar presences to disturb her. Yet she could sense Shigure's spiritual pressure at any time.
"I'll come see you after things are settled."
Shigure told her mentally. Then left the captain's quarters to head for the 1st Division.
However, the moment he stepped out, he happened to encounter Rukia entering.
"C-Captain, where are you...?"
Seeing Shigure's movements, she was naturally confused.
Night had fully fallen. Yet he seemed about to leave. Moreover, the small Arrancar wasn't with him now.
Shigure didn't stop walking. He continued forward while saying:
"I'm heading to the Head Captain's office. I'm leaving tonight's division affairs to you, Rukia."
"Eh... Ah, yes!"
Rukia had barely responded when Shigure leaped up. Vanished into the night sky with Flash Step.
Rukia gazed into the distance. A trace of worry in her eyes.
Meanwhile, on the other side—in Karakura Town in the World of the Living.
Atop a high-rise balcony, two eerie figures stood by the railing. Conversing.
The figure on the left was entirely black. Even his face was black.
The figure on the right wore a snow-white robe. Pale purple fur at the sleeves and shoulders.
Under the moonlight, his skin appeared deathly pale. The look in his eyes radiated a terrifying aura.
This figure was naturally Muramasa. The manifested form of Kōga Kuchiki's Zanpakutō.
The black figure spoke up:
"Hey, I'm saying—didn't you claim you'd found someone who could bring us victory? Huh? Why haven't we seen any sign of them?"
Hearing this, Muramasa's expression didn't change at all.
He simply gazed at the distant neon lights and skyscrapers. Speaking emotionlessly:
"As I initially expected, this Soul Reaper... and his Zanpakutō are both extremely troublesome."
"Huh? Troublesome?!"
The black figure suddenly let out a disdainful laugh:
"So even for you, there are Zanpakutō difficult to control... How curious, hehehe..."
Just then, a figure shrouded entirely in a red robe appeared behind them both. Spoke:
"Hmph, if you ask me, just give up on him. What if he creates a huge problem for us ahead of schedule? Wouldn't that be a headache?"
Hearing this, Muramasa immediately turned around. Looked over coldly. Said indifferently:
"You say give up?"
"Don't think our plan is so simple."
"To completely overthrow Soul Society and the Seireitei, we absolutely... absolutely cannot bypass this Soul Reaper and his Zanpakutō!"
"Uh..."
Hearing this, the figure beneath the red robe paused slightly. Then spread both hands:
"So did you make any progress today?"
"Yeah, what's the specific progress?" The black figure also asked with some curiosity.
Muramasa slowly turned back around. Once again gazing at the distant night sky. He said flatly:
"I've already had preliminary contact with it."
"Though it immediately rejected all the 'thoughts' and 'fighting spirit' I infused into it..."
"There's still a chance."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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