Chapter 58
He clutched a few shriveled persimmons, which he had somehow acquired, tightly in his arms; they were food he had painstakingly found for his companions.
"Rangiku, I brought some food..."
The area under the dilapidated eaves was now empty, with only a messy pool of muddy water.
The boy's eyes, which were usually always squinting, suddenly snapped open! A flicker of uncontrollable panic flashed in his sharp, icy blue pupils.
However, Gin Ichimaru quickly forced himself to calm down from his panic.
His maturity beyond his years allowed him to regain his composure immediately, and he then carefully searched for any remaining clues in the narrow space.
After some searching, he found several deep footprints on the ground.
One set of footprints was particularly clear, and it also appeared to be quite uniform in style. In Soul Society, there is only one organization with such uniform attire: the Gotei 13.
Seeing these footprints, Gin Ichimaru silently thought, "Rangiku has been taken away by the Grim Reaper..."
Then, Gin Ichimaru gritted his teeth and, without any hesitation, followed the most obvious set of Grim Reaper footprints.
The boy followed the footprints in the wilderness for less than half a Tokiomi when suddenly a loud shout rang in his ears.
Hey! You sneaky brat hiding in the bushes over there! Get out here!
Immediately afterwards, several burly, menacing-looking Grim Reapers drew their Asauchi and surrounded the bushes where Gin Ichimaru was hiding.
With several sharp blades pointed at him, Gin Ichimaru's body stiffened slightly.
Seeing the situation before him, Gin Ichimaru's expression changed, and soon a look of fear and helplessness appeared on his face.
"M-Master... please don't kill me..." Gin Ichimaru raised his hands, trembling all over.
"Kid, what have you been doing, sneaking around behind us like that? Are you plotting something?!" the leader of the Grim Reapers demanded menacingly.
"No, no! I wouldn't dare!"
Gin Ichimaru explained in a trembling voice:
"I... I just got lost. This place is terrifying. I just happened to see a series of footprints on the ground, and I just wanted to get away from this horrible place..."
Although his story was full of holes, Gin Ichimaru's superb acting skills and frail appearance actually convinced the Grim Reapers.
The burly leader, Death, paused for a moment, then looked at Gin Ichimaru's thin arms and legs before nodding to his teammates.
Although the members of the 11th Division have bad tempers, most of them are simple-minded and straightforward, and they can't stand such weak tears.
"So that's how it is. You're smart, kid, knowing to follow in the footsteps of our 11th Division!"
Then, the Grim Reaper even scratched the back of his head with a hint of smugness, sheathed his knife, and waved his hand, saying:
"Alright, consider yourself lucky. This desolate area is indeed dangerous. Come on, let's go see the captain. We'll take you out of this area later on the way!"
Gin Ichimaru bowed his head repeatedly, expressing his gratitude, but in the shadows unseen by others, a hint of undisguised astonishment flashed in his narrowed eyes.
You should know that he had prepared many excuses, and he was even prepared to fight to the death, but he never expected that his lame excuses would be believed by these few people in front of him!
And so, under the "escort" of several burly men from the 11th Division, Gin Ichimaru gradually caught up with the main force and arrived in front of Shihoin Genshin and the vice-captain.
"Report, Captain! We caught a kid following us from behind!" the burly Death reported loudly.
Then, he even went so far as to repeat Gin Ichimaru's words about "seeking safety by following footprints" to Xuanxin verbatim.
After listening to his subordinate's report, Xuanxin and the vice-captain standing to the side had very interesting expressions on their faces.
The vice-captain sighed and rubbed his forehead, utterly exasperated by his simple-minded subordinates. Xuanxin, on the other hand, took a deep breath, feeling his blood pressure skyrocketing.
"The Gotei 13's IQ is a basin; it seems like it's their own 11th Division that's the problem. How can they believe such a thing so confidently?"
Xuanxin mentally ranted, vowing that once he returned to Seireitei, he would immediately teach these roughnecks an "anti-fraud" course. Otherwise, on the battlefield, anyone could easily use a little trick to wipe them out.
Xuanxin suppressed his helplessness and turned his gaze to the thin boy who had been brought over.
He ignored his subordinate's flawed report and walked straight up to Gin Ichimaru, looking down at him.
Although Gin Ichimaru was still trembling and looking pitiful, Xuanxin could keenly sense that the boy's peripheral vision was fixed on the blonde girl being carried on the stretcher.
Xuanxin spoke calmly, and with a single sentence, he pierced through all of Gin Ichimaru's pretense:
"Alright, stop acting, kid. You were with that girl, weren't you?"
Upon hearing this, Gin Ichimaru's body stiffened imperceptibly for a moment.
He knew that the white-haired man in front of him, wearing Captain's Haori, was completely different from those easily fooled idiots from before. His deep eyes seemed to see through all lies.
Gin Ichimaru dropped his pitiful expression and stopped speaking. However, his narrowed eyes revealed an unwavering stubbornness and vigilance.
Xuanxin sized up the stubborn young man, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Let's go, take him with us, and return to Seireitei."
Upon hearing this, the team members responded in agreement, and the group continued their journey home.
Along the way, Xuanxin walked at the front, constantly pondering how to improve the worrying overall intelligence of the 11th Division.
Meanwhile, Gin Ichimaru silently stayed by the stretcher, never leaving the unconscious Rangiku's side.
Soon, the team returned safely to Seireitei.
Xuanxin led the main force back to the 11th Division. Seeing that Gin Ichimaru was thin but in good spirits, he instructed his adjutant to temporarily settle him in a guest room and prepare some sumptuous food.
Having dealt with the boy's fate, Xuanxin didn't hesitate for a moment. He picked up the unconscious Rangiku Matsumoto and headed straight for the Fourth Division.
When Retsu Unohana, the Fourth Division Captain, saw Xuanxin carrying a ragged blonde girl in his arms, she stopped sorting out the medicinal herbs she was doing.
On Unohana Retsu's gentle and dignified face, a smile appeared that sent a chill down Genshin's spine.
She stepped forward, carefully checked the girl's vital signs, then turned her head slightly and whispered something only the two of them could hear:
"Oh my, our Captain Shihoin really does attract attention wherever he goes."
Xuanxin was completely bewildered by these words and explained with a puzzled expression:
"I rescued this girl by chance while patrolling Rukongai. There were a few mysterious Shinigami plotting against her, and I couldn't just stand by and watch her die, could I?"
"Heh, really? Captain Xuanxin's luck is truly extraordinary."
Retsu Unohana didn't delve further into the topic. She instructed several medical team members to bring over a hospital bed, placed Rangiku on it, and then, under Xuanxin's bewildered gaze, led the girl quickly into the intensive care unit.
Seeing that Rangiku had received proper treatment, Xuanxin did not linger any longer and turned to leave the Fourth Division.
Next, he had something even more important to do.
Xuanxin pulled out the device, which was tightly wrapped in a sealing cloth, from his pocket, activated his Shunpo, and sped directly toward the Twelfth Division's Shinigami Research and Development Institute.
At this moment, in the top-secret laboratory underground of the Twelfth Division.
Various complex Reishi instruments shimmered with light, and bubbles rose from a huge, transparent culture jar.
Kisuke Urahara was intently staring at a set of soul reaction data under the microscope, occasionally scribbling something rapidly on the record board in his hand.
"Hey, Captain Urahara, the air in this basement isn't very good."
Xuanxin's voice suddenly rang out at the entrance of the laboratory, Kisuke Urahara, who was engrossed in his research.
"Isn't this our Captain Xuanxin? What brings you here at this hour? My Shinigami Research and Development Institute has only just opened, and we can't even offer a decent cup of tea."
Kisuke Urahara turned around, patted his chest with his folding fan, and made a mocking face with an exaggerated expression of surprise.
Upon hearing this, Xuanxin shook his head and smiled, ignoring his banter. He walked straight forward, placed the package on the lab table, and then unwrapped the cloth, revealing the uniquely shaped Reishi Extractor.
"Take a look at this. This is the equipment I seized from three assassins in Rukongai today."
"It bears the crest of the Tsunayashiro Clan. I need you to decipher its purpose as quickly as possible, otherwise we don't know what kind of conspiracy the Tsunayashiro Clan is plotting."
Upon hearing this, Kisuke Urahara put down his research and turned to look at the instrument. But the moment Kisuke Urahara saw it, his previously languid eyes lit up.
He leaned closer, carefully examining the Reishi circuits on it, and couldn't help but make sounds of admiration.
Seeing that Kisuke Urahara was already engrossed in his own world, Xuanxin didn't disturb him too much, but instead wandered around the laboratory.
But as Xuanxin looked at the cold experimental equipment around him, he couldn't help but recall everything he had seen when he destroyed the underground laboratory of the Tsunayashiro Clan.
Then he turned to look at Kisuke Urahara and said in a solemn tone:
"Urahara, I know you're a brilliant genius. However, there are ethical boundaries to scientific research. If you..."
However, before Xuanxin could finish his sermon, Kisuke Urahara impatiently waved his hand, interrupting him helplessly:
"I understand, I understand, Lord Xuanxin! You really are just like your husband, even your lecturing words and punctuation are exactly the same."
Then, Kisuke Urahara dropped his shrewd businessman act and his eyes became serious as he said:
"I'll be careful. I'm not a heartless madman; I have my own bottom line."
Looking into Kisuke Urahara's clear eyes, Xuanxin's tense nerves relaxed.
He knew that although the man in front of him acted strangely, he possessed a sense of justice and unwavering commitment that rivaled anyone else's.
"Alright, I believe you." Xuanxin nodded, giving this future strongest support in Soul Society his most direct trust.
Upon hearing Xuanxin's straightforward answer, Kisuke Urahara was momentarily stunned, but quickly regained his playful demeanor. He waved his folding fan and began to shoo the man away.
"Alright, alright, I'll take the things. I'll send Hell Butterfly to let you know once the analysis results are out. Now you should hurry up and leave, I can't provide meals here!"
Xuanxin smiled, said nothing more, and turned to leave the Shinigami Research and Development Institute.
Night fell silently upon Seireitei.
Fifth Division Barracks.
Having just finished a long day of handling heavy paperwork, Sōsuke Aizen walked out of the squad's gate, shrouded in the night.
In the shadow of a secluded bamboo grove outside the team barracks, he saw Kaname Tōsen, whose expression seemed inexplicably solemn, even somewhat regretful.
Upon seeing Aizen, Kaname Tōsen quickly walked over and immediately knelt down on one knee, saying:
"Lord Aizen, this operation has failed. The three Shinigami who carried out the mission have committed suicide by poison, and the extraction device has fallen into the hands of others."
Upon hearing this news, a rare look of surprise appeared on Aizen's usually composed face.
He suddenly stopped in his tracks, his brows furrowing slightly.
Based on his meticulous analysis of the plan, it was nothing more than a simple mission to retrieve the belongings of a dying girl from a remote Rukongai. How could it possibly fail?
"What happened? Explain in detail." Aizen's voice remained calm, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.
Kaname Tōsen a deep breath and truthfully reported what he knew:
"Everything was going smoothly at first; they had even taken control of their target. But then, seemingly Shihoin Genshin, appeared in the wilderness of that area for some unknown reason. And then..."
Upon hearing that familiar name, Aizen's breath caught in his throat for a moment!
Last time in the underground dojo, it was because of his incredible coincidence that his "Kyōka Suigetsu" hypnosis ritual failed.
And this time, in a remote corner of the slums, he once again abruptly interrupted his own plans in a completely illogical way!
If the first time was a coincidence, what about the second time?
At this moment, even Aizen's unwavering and ruthless heart was stirred by a ripple that he himself was unaware of. However, Aizen quickly suppressed the turmoil within him.
"I see. Life is unpredictable; it's understandable that there are occasional unexpected changes."