Even if he couldn't become king himself, Osman would never let Beliga ascend the throne so easily!
"I can inherit the throne, of course!" Osman said with absolute determination.
"Give me ten years! No—five years! I will make sure every citizen of Furant Kingdom lives a better life!"
"Excellent!"
Oguro clapped happily for Osman.
"Since you've decided, then work hard!"
There was no acknowledgment of that Duke Beliga at all.
Trying to make trouble? Go ahead and try!
Oguro could already guess the background of those who had willingly joined Osman's side.
"Since the new king has been chosen, we should be leaving!"
Before departing, Oguro gave Kalifa a glance.
Those who refused to obey… deal with them.
Oguro could have outright annexed Furant Kingdom using much stronger methods.
After all, Freud had already done the preparatory work for him.
But Oguro's goal was to build an unparalleled divine empire. He had to maintain a certain reputation.
Seizing by force would alert other nations and earn resentment, which would be counterproductive in the long run.
So he chose a more indirect approach this time.
A few days later, the palace held a simple but solemn coronation ceremony.
Count Osman officially became king of the former Furant Kingdom, now the Osman Kingdom.
As expected, several familiar faces among the high ministers were missing.
The ministers present looked uneasily at the black-suited figures standing on either side of the stairs.
Officially, these were Osman's retainers.
But everyone knew they were warriors from the Holy Spirit Empire!
The missing ministers had been secretly eliminated for conspiring to overthrow Osman.
After the tense coronation ended, Osman found Kalifa in the palace courtyard.
"Lady Kalifa, I know you have your own motives for helping me," Osman said, a new air of authority in his eyes and a serious expression on his face.
"But I must make it clear: if you intend any harm to the kingdom, I will resist to the very end!"
Kalifa gave a calm, proud smile.
"If you feel uncertain, feel free to visit the Holy Spirit Empire and see for yourself.
Then you will understand—joining us is the wisest choice."
"I'll be watching closely."
Osman showed little reaction. He had long been accustomed to people who spoke floridly but were rotten at heart.
Osman left, his focus now entirely on reforming the kingdom and eliminating the previous exploitative policies.
This involved countless interests, requiring careful handling.
Kalifa watched his retreating figure, a trace of disdain in her eyes.
If Osman willingly led the Osman Kingdom to become a vassal of the Holy Spirit Empire, then all would be well.
If not, the agents she had planted were enough to control the situation.
And if necessary… they could replace the king.
Power struggles could be framed with morality, but they could never be without methods.
Who knew if one day he might raise a traitor instead?
...
On the Desert Rose,
Rangiku kept a sharp watch on the newly arrived Aizen Sōsuke.
In her memory, it was this man who had caused her forced departure from the Soul Society.
"I don't care what schemes you have! But if you dare harm the Soul King, I swear I'll drag you straight to hell with me!"
Rangiku's eyes blazed with murderous intent as she delivered her strictest warning.
Aizen still wore that calm, elegant smile.
"Rangiku-san, rest assured. I have the utmost admiration for the Soul King. He is a man who truly stands at the pinnacle of all things.
I only hope to witness the view from the top with his help."
Rangiku scrutinized his face, and seeing no trace of lies, her expression softened slightly.
"Remember your words. I'll be watching you!"
...
Onboard, the Desert Rose returned to calm. Oguro found Aizen Sōsuke for a private conversation.
"Soul King-sama, is it time to assign me a mission?"
Behind his glasses, a sharp intelligence gleamed.
Oguro nodded. "This mission, I think you're the most suitable candidate."
Aizen's curiosity was piqued. "Oh? What does the Soul King-sama require of me?"
Oguro's lips curved into a smile.
"Simple. I need you to join the Navy and rise to a senior position."
Aizen's face immediately showed a hint of surprise.
"An undercover mission? That does suit me."
After all, he had already been a "rebel" while serving as Captain of the 13th Division, and nobody had ever suspected him.
Calling him skilled in undercover work was an understatement.
But Oguro was the new Soul King… revealing the Soul Society's oversight so casually? That was bold.
Aizen didn't care.
He asked, "What exactly do you want me to do within the Navy?"
Given his rank, there had to be a larger plan.
"Gain enough influence and cultivate people loyal to us," Oguro said without hesitation.
"I'd love for you to reach Admiral someday, but with the current three in place, there's no opening without special circumstances.
So how you do it is up to you. I just hope that one day, when the time comes for you to act, your full strength will deliver the decisive blow."
Oguro's goal for Aizen was clear: the Marineford War.
This greatest of all Pirate King conflicts not only involved the world's top fighters but would directly shape the subsequent world order.
Oguro had to be involved.
"I understand."
Aizen's confident smile returned. This was the same type of work he had done in the 13th Division. He was well experienced.
Oguro briefly explained the Navy factions and key figures to him.
He also outlined the current relations between the Shinigami and the World Government.
And he reminded Aizen not to expose Shinigami powers lightly.
Aizen paused, deep in thought. It seemed he might use this as an opportunity to play his own game.
Oguro didn't forbid it. He trusted Aizen's intelligence to come up with a flawless plan.
By the time the Desert Rose returned to Water 7, Aizen was no longer on the ship.
Going undercover in the Navy meant fewer people knowing about him, which is why Oguro had him remain hidden during the Furant Kingdom events.
***
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