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"Dare to ruin our experiment, Lord Szayelaporro will not let you off!"
—These were Domiro's last words.
"Who is this Szayelaporro that the Hollow just mentioned?" Ginjō Kūgo asked.
"A Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande, one of the highest-ranking and strongest Menos Grande in Hueco Mundo."
Aozaki Reiji touched the crystal in his arms where he stored Souls, and casually replied, "The harvest this time is quite good. It's about time for me to leave."
"You're leaving!?" Ginjō Kūgo was overjoyed. This young man's emotional control was clearly no match for what it would be in the future.
"That's right." Aozaki Reiji narrowed his eyes, and said in a slightly deep voice, "You seem very happy?"
Nonsense, who would want to stay with a dangerous guy like you? Ginjō Kūgo thought.
He scratched his head awkwardly, "No, I'm just wondering why you're leaving so soon."
Aozaki Reiji chuckled, "So you can't bear to part with me, huh? Then how about I don't leave?"
Ginjō Kūgo: "…"
Aozaki Reiji looked out from the shattered street. The already dilapidated wooden houses had completely collapsed. The morning sun had arrived in the city, and the ground was quickly stained orange-red.
He and Ginjō Kūgo had spent most of the night on this street. To ensure that the core technology would not be leaked, Aozaki Reiji did not let Ginjō Kūgo help, and could only collect Souls from those Hollows by himself.
If it weren't for the need to collect their Souls, Aozaki Reiji wouldn't have taken so long to deal with these small fries. Unfortunately, he didn't have the technology to quickly collect Souls in large quantities.
Ginjō Kūgo didn't care. He said that for him, night was the best time. He liked to be alone in the deep night, which gave him a sense of loneliness, and this loneliness kept reminding him that he was alive, that he was still a person.
Aozaki Reiji casually asked him if he wanted companions.
Ginjō Kūgo said that companions were not important. In this dangerous world, what was needed was power, so for the power of a Shinigami, he would spare no effort, even if it meant sacrificing everything.
Aozaki Reiji was noncommittal, but he knew that this ambitious guy in the future was still a lonely young man now.
Those who are different from ordinary people tend to become alienated from others, which is a tragedy for some.
When facing the dead priest, this guy who claimed power was above all else was undoubtedly moved.
It was just that he was powerless to resist, so he chose to submit and accept.
"I was just teasing you. There are more important people waiting for me in Soul Society. I don't have time to stay here with you all the time." Aozaki Reiji's voice echoed in the ruins.
Ginjō Kūgo was silently contemplating the future when Aozaki Reiji clapped him on the shoulder, pulling his thoughts back to reality.
With the morning sun rising, a handsome man with such a pleasant voice appearing on the street would definitely cause a stir, making young girls give up their desire to sleep in.
But Ginjō Kūgo shivered. After all, this guy could destroy several streets with a casual swing of his blade. If that slap had been a little harder, he probably wouldn't have even a speck left.
"Is there anything you need me to do?"
The force on his shoulder made him wince in pain as he asked, grinding his teeth, very consciously wanting to help Aozaki Reiji solve his problems.
Aozaki Reiji said:
"I've set a tracking Kido on you. This is a technique I secretly learned from the Shihōin Family. No matter where you are, I can find you. If you can undo it, then you're amazing, so… want to try?"
"No… no need." Ginjō Kūgo said with a long face, feeling helpless.
Of course he didn't want to be controlled by others, but thinking of the other party's terrifying strength, he still felt it was better not to try rashly.
Aozaki Reiji continued, "The things the Tsunayashiro Family asked you to do, you continue to do them. I will come to the Human World at any time to check on the progress of the task."
"Why?" Ginjō Kūgo was startled.
"That's not something you need to know. I hope to see some results from you when I come next time." Aozaki Reiji waved his hand.
Ginjō Kūgo cautiously moved his left hand. There was a tingling sensation, but besides that, he didn't feel anything strange.
When he saw the satisfied smile on Aozaki Reiji's face, he was glad he hadn't chosen to try to dispel the Kido just now. If he had tried, this guy would have definitely killed him without a word.
"Oh, by the way, I think it's necessary to remind you so you don't end up dead without knowing how." Aozaki Reiji said.
"What?" Ginjō Kūgo asked.
"The Tsunayashiro Family will definitely send people to find you. Since that man spent several years on you, it means the Tsunayashiro Family is not willing to give up on you easily." Aozaki Reiji said.
"Moreover, since he came to the Human World for you, even if the Tsunayashiro Family doesn't look for you, someone will definitely look for him."
Ginjō Kūgo felt his heart rate pick up and quickly asked, "Then what should I do?"
"Just say he was killed by a Hollow." Aozaki Reiji said casually.
"That guy is only at the level of a mid-ranking officer. He has a chance to escape if he encounters a low-intelligence Gillian, but he's guaranteed to die if he meets an Adjuchas."
"You don't need to explain too clearly. Just say you encountered a Hollow and then describe the Hollow's appearance to them."
"Those guys aren't all fools; they should be able to determine the Hollow's level."
"If they are willing to believe you and continue to have you work for them, then you join them."
"What if they don't believe me?" Ginjō Kūgo asked.
"Then push everything onto me. You can't afford to provoke the Tsunayashiro Family, but I, Sephiroth, am not afraid of them." Aozaki Reiji said grandly.
Easy for you to say, do you dare to tell me your real name?
Ginjō Kūgo thought this, but still felt a little relieved.
This guy seemed to treat his subordinates well, at least he treated them as people, unlike the Tsunayashiro Family, who gave off an extreme sense of disgust with just simple contact.
Aozaki Reiji did not threaten him with his act of taking Shinigami power.
Killing a Shinigami was a serious crime, but was there a choice between "dying now" and "dying later"?
The relationship between Aozaki Reiji and him was not yet good enough to entrust his life to him.
As if sensing Ginjō Kūgo's unease, Aozaki Reiji comforted him:
"Don't worry too much. Before I leave, I'll give you a Hell Butterfly. It can transmit messages across the boundary between Soul Society and the Human World. If something happens, use the Hell Butterfly to tell me, and I'll handle everything cleanly."
Ginjō Kūgo recoiled, unable to help but ask, "You won't handle me cleanly too, will you?"
"How could I? Am I, Sephiroth, that kind of person?"
Aozaki Reiji patted his shoulder and said in a low voice:
"If I wanted to kill you, would I need to wait until later?"
"That's true…" Ginjō Kūgo nodded, feeling a little more at ease.
If this person wanted to kill him, one slap would be enough. Why wait until later, and risk exposing his identity?
Thinking about it that way, being his subordinate didn't seem too bad after all.
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