A Mended Dream

On the operating table at the experimental base, lay a young girl dressed in a kimono with her hair shaved clean.

The center of the girl's skull was cut into a cross shape, and four tubes dripped green liquid into the skull from a huge container.

A strong, pungent smell of medicine continuously assaulted everyone's nasal passages.

Several people, including Punishment Force, were shocked by this horrific experiment.

The darkest side of Seireitei is slowly being Ikkaku to them.

Gin did not resist the restraints of the Punishment Force and obediently handed over his Zanpakuto to Dōsan Hanyū. He even took the initiative to explain everything that had happened to Dōsan Hanyū.

"Originally, the test subjects proposed by Captain Tsunayashiro, or rather, the experiments agreed upon by the Thirteenth Division and the Central 46, were just some ordinary samples."

However, after a long period of experimentation, Captain Tsunayashiro discovered that, compared to these ordinary souls, girls with Spiritual Power could be used to quickly create a batch of Modified Souls at the Seated Officer-level or even Vice-Captain-level.

The researchers were dumbfounded; the oldest researcher was so shocked he almost plucked his beard off.

He had never seen a teammate like that before.

Gin Ichimaru made no attempt to hide his feelings, and paid no attention to what the researchers thought. He casually said what he should and shouldn't have said.

Dōsan Hanyū immediately fell silent.

Gin Ichimaru glanced back at Hitsugaya, who was holding Momo Hinamori, his smile deepening. "Your goal is that little girl named Hinamori, isn't it?"

Gin pouted in the direction of Hitsugaya.

"You should already be familiar with the logic of the Seireitei. You can choose to turn a blind eye, like those Soul Reapers."

Dōsan remained silent, but Hitsugaya roared angrily, "What do you mean?"

Gin ignored Hitsugaya. "This is the West Fourth District. The Thirteenth Division has been monitoring this area. Don't you understand why no one is stepping forward?"

Everyone was happy to see this outcome, but no one wanted to admit it.

Dōsan recalled Nemu Kurotsuchi's hint earlier.

Only then did he understand Mayuri Kurotsuchi's plan.

It was merely to incite a conflict between himself and Tsunayashiro.

"Of course, if you choose to let me go now, I can pretend that nothing ever happened."

Yin's tone at this moment sounded like admonition, or rather, like a joking admonition.

"Continue the experiment on this girl. Once her life is saved, bring everyone back to the Second Division." Dōsan ignored everyone else and waved his hand to give the order.

"Overly compassionate? You're not that kind of person." Silver squinted, but couldn't manage a smile.

In the world of silver.

Dōsan Hanyū was like a beautiful but poisonous flower. Gin was afraid of him, but he couldn't help wanting to smell his fragrance.

"You know me very well?" Dōsan recalled Tōshirō's assessment of him, "People always change."

Yes, people always change.

Yin had just personally experienced the Raikōhō move, which Simulated Incantation of a song.

It was only then that he realized that the boy who had always been watched by him and Aizen had unknowingly become a true Vice-Captain-level.

This was his first face-to-face conversation with Dōsan Hanyū.

Yin inexplicably talked a bit too much.

It feels pretty good.

It felt like my long-awaited dream had finally come true.

"Bang."

With a loud bang, a Punishment Force was kicked flying.

"Who gave you permission to touch me with your filthy hands!" an elderly researcher with a receding hairline shouted, then turned to look at Dōsan Hanyū, his tone softening slightly. "I am a retainer of the Tsunayashiro Clan, and a nobleman myself. You have no right to arrest me."

"According to Article Central 46, anyone found conducting dangerous research in Rukongai without prior notification has the right of prosecution and arrest by Soul Reaper."

What a load of nonsense.

The old man looked at Dōsan Hanyū and realized he didn't seem to be making things up, but remembering his own status, he straightened his back.

When the elderly were young, the power of the nobility was at its peak.

Back then, the Soul Reaper was nothing more than the nobles' security detail.

Some powerful Rukongai not affiliated with the Thirteenth Division were arrested and taken to a place similar to a gladiatorial arena, where they were forced to fight Hollows to the death.

The Gotei 13, they're the nannies of the nobles.

Back then, when I wanted to go hunting in Rukongai, I was protected by the Soul Reaper's Seated Officer.

"I am a nobleman myself, and I will not obey anyone except for Lord Tsunayashiro's orders!"

The veteran researcher knew best the true extent of his crimes.

If we let this guy arrest us, being locked up in Maggot's Nest would be the least of our worries.

But once you actually get into that kind of place, the situation changes.

The proposal to release prisoners from the Maggot's Nest must be submitted by at least Captain-level and have a valid reason.

It will be very complicated for Lord Tsunayashiro to rescue him through normal means.

Given their tendency to Ichimonji Tsunayashiro, they might even abandon them altogether in the future.

"The Regulations for Joint Management of the Thirteenth Division and the Central 46 stipulate that, in the face of a prisoner who resists arrest, the Soul Reaper has the authority to make a decision on the spot."

Dōsan added again, but this time his voice clearly revealed impatience.

"How dare you execute me?" the old man sneered. "We're all prominent figures here; we're all on good terms with each other..."

"Puff..."

Black mist swirled around the black blade, its tip piercing the old researcher's body. Then, with a forceful upward slash, the blade lifted the old researcher's corpse off its feet.

The researchers huddled together, trembling. Some were researchers in their past World of the Living, while others were native nobles of Soul Society.

Without exception, they all had very special and distinguished identities.

To this day, they have never seen such a ferocious creature.

The black blade still bore the bloodstains of the old researcher, but Dōsan didn't even wipe them off before sheathing it.

"First, the girl being experimented on on the operating table, the surgery continues."

Second, everyone, including those test subjects, must come back to the Second Division with me.

This time, no one objected; the bravest among them was pinned to the ground.

Turning his head again, Dōsan Hanyū gripped his right wrist, which was holding the knife, tightly with his left hand, and his eyes were gradually tinged with a faint black.

In a blind spot unnoticed by others, Dōsan rubbed his eyelids vigorously.

Ever since that night when he Kenpachi Zaraki, he had sensed that something was wrong with him.

Unable to control his emotions, his patience dwindled, and murderous intent would inexplicably arise.

In the nights that followed, Dōsan felt as if he had returned to a month earlier, and began to have the same dream repeatedly.

Thankfully, this dream won't affect anyone else, and it's not the same dream about dining at the ball.

In my dream, I seemed to be mending something.