Aizen and Soifon walked in front, leading the Espada behind them back to the palace.
"A magnificent Bankai." Aizen clapped his hands. "It is just completely at odds with the nature of Captain Soifon's Stealth Force."
"What do you mean? Killing everyone counts as stealth too."
Soifon's words were light and airy, yet they caused a chill to run down the spines of the nine Arrancars behind her.
—Not good. This new leader's killing intent is even heavier than Aizen's!
Dismissing everyone, Aizen signaled with his eyes for Soifon to follow him to the rooftop terrace of Las Noches for a talk.
Kaname Tōsen and Gin Ichimaru stood at the stairwell, waiting until the figures and footsteps of the two drifted far away before turning to leave.
Honestly, Gin Ichimaru was a bit lost now. Soifon's appearance made him wonder what exactly his decades of being undercover on Aizen's side were for.
He became an undercover agent for the sake of a friend, but now... it seemed his role as a spy was no longer needed.
Kaname Tōsen spoke up: "You are wavering."
Gin Ichimaru found an excuse to cover it up: "I just don't know how many others like Captain Soifon are hidden in the Seireitei..."
After listening, Kaname Tōsen couldn't be bothered to expose him, turning to leave: "This is a good thing. It shows that more and more people have seen through the rotten rule of those nobles."
Shrugging his shoulders, Gin Ichimaru stood for a while before following the other man.
He only knew one thing now: he could no longer turn back.
Meanwhile, on the rooftop of Las Noches.
"Captain Aizen really does like rooftops."
Soifon gazed out at Las Noches, which had turned pitch-black again. As the instigator, she felt not the slightest bit of embarrassment.
"Because there is no place in Hueco Mundo higher than here."
Hands in his pockets, Aizen looked down at the Arrancars repairing the buildings below.
Sure enough, has he still not given up on the idea of standing atop the heavens?
Soifon glanced at Aizen, walked over, and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him. "After reading the history of the Quincies, what are your thoughts, Captain Aizen?"
"Hmm..." Aizen mused for a moment. "Judging from the abilities Captain Soifon displayed, the power of the Quincies is indeed not to be underestimated."
At the very least, Aizen was quite interested in that King of Quincies who was slumbering somewhere unknown.
Immediately after, Aizen took the Hōgyoku out of his pocket and displayed it before Soifon; it seemed today's topic was related to the Hōgyoku.
"Very beautiful, isn't it? This is the color of evolution."
Gazing at the purple-black fluorescence swirling within, Aizen couldn't help but feel somewhat intoxicated.
"The Hōgyoku. Does Captain Aizen intend to rely on its power of evolution to replace the Soul King in the heavens?"
Soifon glanced at it once before withdrawing her gaze.
"Captain Soifon indeed knows a lot of intelligence."
Seeing that Soifon wasn't interested, Aizen wasn't annoyed; instead, his look of appreciation grew a few shades deeper.
In his view, perhaps Soifon had already embarked on the same path as him, so naturally, she didn't need to covet his Hōgyoku.
"However, the Hōgyoku in my hand right now is not complete..."
"The other one is with Kisuke Urahara, right?"
Soifon answered before Aizen could finish.
"Mn..." Speaking of Kisuke Urahara, Aizen found him somewhat hard to evaluate. "Only when the two Hōgyoku are fused together can it be considered complete."
Since Aizen wasn't hiding anything from her, and adding the confidence boost from the 1st Spiritual Rank reward just now, she decided to strike while the iron was hot.
"Captain Aizen, let's make a deal."
"Oh? I am all ears."
Aizen turned slightly sideways, meeting Soifon's gaze.
"I will obtain Kisuke Urahara's Hōgyoku for you, but Captain Aizen must fight alongside Soul Society against the King of Quincies."
"Oh? Does Captain Soifon have so little confidence?"
"Because... the King of Quincies from a thousand years ago was not at his peak."
"Very well, I agree." Aizen nodded. "It sounds like I'm taking a big advantage. Does Captain Soifon have any other conditions?"
This answer was somewhat outside Soifon's expectations. She hadn't thought Aizen would offer her a bonus condition.
He probably felt his asking price was too low and felt bad, so he planned to compensate Soifon.
"What is it?" Aizen's voice carried a trace of genuine confusion. "In Captain Soifon's heart... am I a person who loves to take advantage of others?"
In reality, if the true history was indeed as Soifon said, then Aizen would have to face the King of Quincies sooner or later, so Soifon's condition was almost non-existent.
"Since Captain Soifon is willing to help me get Kisuke Urahara's Hōgyoku, why should I seek help from afar?"
"I only need to occasionally come to Hueco Mundo to cultivate the Arrancars and await Captain Soifon's good news."
"Think over your conditions, Captain Soifon. You can tell me anytime, and I will do my best to satisfy them."
Seeing the unconcealable look of surprise on Soifon's face, Aizen couldn't help but chuckle softly.
After speaking, he tucked his hands into the sleeves of his Captain's Haori and slowly walked down the stairs.
World of the Living, Karakura Town.
Stepping out of the Garganta, Soifon skillfully put on a Gigai and made her way familiarly to the Urahara Shop.
Knock, knock.
Opening the door, Kisuke Urahara's unshaven and punchable face appeared before Soifon.
"Oya, isn't this Captain Soifon?" Urahara turned sideways to make room. "Could it be you've smuggled yourself over again today?"
"Asking when you already know the answer."
Soifon didn't really want to say much. Faced with someone like Kisuke Urahara, the more you say, the more mistakes you make.
Sitting cross-legged in the not-so-spacious living room, the other party mentioned that Yoruichi Shihōin had gone out to play and probably wouldn't be back until night.
"Speaking of which, I am somewhat surprised." Kisuke Urahara opened his folding fan. "Captain Soifon, to think you are actually on good terms with the Quincies of the World of the Living..."
It seemed that Ryūken Ishida or Masaki Kurosaki had already been tricked into talking by Kisuke Urahara.
This was not surprising; after all, being youths in their teens, Soifon didn't expect them to be able to hide anything from this old fox, Kisuke Urahara.
"Could it be that the person who treated Masaki Kurosaki's illness wasn't you, Kisuke Urahara?"
Soifon choked the other party with a retort, then took the envelope containing photos from her pocket and threw it on the table.
Surprised by Soifon's intelligence network, Kisuke Urahara also cast his gaze toward the mysterious envelope thrown by the other party.
"Cut the chatter. Look at these first."
Kisuke Urahara frowned. After picking up the envelope, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, flipping through them one by one.
"Is this... real?"
Having roughly skimmed through it, Kisuke Urahara raised his head, completely losing the relaxed and free-spirited appearance he had just now.
"What do you think?" Soifon crossed her arms and mocked, "Aren't you very smart? Kisuke Urahara."
Lowering his head, Kisuke Urahara stared at the photo of the book page titled "Kaiser Gesang" on the table, falling into deep thought.
To be honest, the Bloody War from a thousand years ago was too distant for them all. Kisuke Urahara had only heard some bits and pieces from his seniors when he was in Soul Society.
"Spare me, this is truly troublesome..."
Finally, he took off his bucket hat and scratched his head.
Right now, having an Aizen in front was headache enough; he hadn't expected a King of Quincies to pop out as well.
____
New Story: Danmachi: But I am a God, time to make a family!
🔥 25% off something at the funeral parlor... care to take a look? 🔥
✅ Jump 40 chapters ahead of the public release!
✅ Get access to special perks and news!
Help smash these goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter (for everyone)
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters (for all stories)!
👻 P - Walnutchan