Chapter 220

"The Second Division is the main force that the Central 46 Chambers can mobilize... Given Haruto's relationship with the Kuchiki Clan, could we perhaps make arrangements with the Shihoin Clan in advance?"

Shinji Hirako suggested.

"Unless it involves the survival of the Shihoin Clan, Captain Yoruichi wouldn't go against the Central 46 Chambers; not to mention that there are already many spies from other families in the Stealth Force, so doing this would be tantamount to exposing their own background."

Haruto retorted.

"I see..."

Shinji Hirako was born in Rukongai, and his knowledge of the nobility was only superficial.

"But."

Haruto changed the subject:

"I do know quite a few people in the Second Division. By using the excuse that 'Captain Seigen once did me a favor,' I can subtly lower their guard when it's their turn to perform—after all, Captain Seigen was 'once' a member of the Gotei 13, so this small request shouldn't be used against them."

"Then the problem is solved, isn't it?"

Shinji Hirako was somewhat surprised by Haruto's connections.

Because of their special nature, the Stealth Force rarely appears in public, so it's unexpected that Haruto was able to manage to get involved in this.

This was quite unexpected.

Certainly.

Haruto himself hadn't even considered that he had already gotten to know quite a few people in the Second Division, from Marechiyo Ōmaeda to Kisuke Urahara.

"You ate the other squads?"

Haruto couldn't help but mutter a complaint.

"But there's nothing left that can pose a threat, right?"

"Unless the nobles send their private soldiers, but that would make it easy for them to be caught red-handed... No noble family is without someone stabbing them in the back."

The Shusuha siblings were framed by the Kusaka Clan, who were also priests. If they dared to secretly send someone to harm them in the World of the Living—

Who knows who will be more easily manipulated in the end?

"... It seems so."

The Third Division Captain is in the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, and the vice-captain Chikane Iba, is Haruto's Hakuda teacher.

The Fourth Division wouldn't normally be assigned such a mission, and its members are mostly acquaintances.

Shinji Hirako of the Fifth Division is sitting inside; unless Aizen causes trouble, he can rest easy.

The Sixth Division was like Haruto's own home.

The Seventh Division rarely accepts missions outside the Seireitei. The current captain, Love Aikawa, has just taken office, and the main tasks are still handled by Jin'emon Kotsubaki...

This person, like Chikane Iba, is an acquaintance of Haruto.

Shunsui Kyōraku of the Eighth Division and Kensei Muguruma of the Ninth Division are both guys who can't stand the Central 46 Chambers.

Needless to say, the relationship between the 12th and Thirteenth Divisions and Haruto is very close.

After calculating and recalculating...

It seems that the only Central 46 Chambers could actually send to arrest Shusuha and his brother were the captains of the 10th and 11th squads.

Or...

Old Man Yamamoto ordered either Kyōraku or Muguruma to take action.

"Captain Seigen, you're safe."

"Ah?"

Before Seigen Kyōshiba could react to what was going on, he saw Haruto draw a conclusion after listing the details.

"It only needs to operate for a short period of time."

It really only takes the time it takes to make a few Hell Butterfly calls.

"At least within the Gotei 13, it shouldn't be a problem. Of course, if we encounter the Soul Reaper of the Kusaka Clan again..."

That's a different matter.

Haruto had barely finished speaking.

"Bang bang bang."

Then they heard a very rhythmic knocking sound outside the window—after Shinji Hirako and Kaien came in, Haruto had covered the entire house with Kidō, so the only people who could find him were acquaintances he had visited before.

Excuse me.

Haruto walked over and flung open the third-floor window with a "whoosh".

"Yo~"

"... You have quite a few people here."

"..."

Before Haruto could even speak, the little guy who had been crouching on the windowsill jumped in.

"You're here too, bald guy?"

Then he greeted someone on his own.

"... Long time no see, Hiyori."

Since Kirio Hikifune most of his time locked up in the Seireitei Research Institute, Hiyori was basically idle in Soul Society —after Haruto intentionally or unintentionally purged those rebellious researchers, the people in the Twelfth Division barracks had all become innocent and harmless "ordinary people."

So...

Because life was so boring, Hiyori would often go to Haruto's place, who lived in the World of the Living, and even asked for a room in his dessert shop.

"Feel sorry."

Haruto casually closed the window.

"There are too many people today, looks like we won't be able to play video games."

Isane was by the window, habitually shifted her position to make room for the newcomer—otherwise, Hiyori might have sat directly in Isane's lap.

That's right.

Hiyori only comes here to kill time.

Do I look like someone who has that much free time?

"..."

No one replied.

However, judging from the glances from Ayaka and Kiyone, Hiyori was seen as utterly idle.

Certainly.

The fact that they could have such insights shows that they had also frequently traveled between the World of the Living and the Soul Society—it was not normal for non- Thirteenth Division Seated Officer frequently travel between the World of the Living and the Soul Society; if it weren't for the fact that Sister Hana and Kyōraku were the type who didn't care about these details, they wouldn't be able to live such an easy life.

"Well!"

Hiyori casually tossed the Zanpakuto on her back.

"So what if it is? I admit it, okay?"

Hiyori ultimately succumbed to the gaze of the many "Chii".

"However, I'm here on important business this time--"

Hiyori first glanced at Seigen Kyōshiba beside her, then cleared her throat and said seriously:

"The captain asked me to pass on a message."

"... Speaking."

"Your modified Reigai might come in handy."

"..."

Haruto hesitated for a moment, then took out the Reigai that had been altered by the Hikifune from the Kukai Box.

"This?"

"Right."

Hiyori took the Reigai from Haruto's hands.

"This Reigai is different from ordinary Gigai. After the user transforms into a spirit, it can still perfectly record and maintain their Reiatsu for a long time."

In other words...

Before Hiyori could finish speaking, she tossed the Reigai back to Haruto.

"Use it to create the illusion of Captain Seigen's death?"

I didn't say anything.

"..."

Haruto hesitated.

To be honest, this Reigai wasn't very useful to Haruto.

Due to the unique nature of the Soul King Hakusui, his combat power has a huge range: the Reigai can only replicate his own peak level of Fourth-Class Spiritual Pressure. Even if he joins the battle as a helper, he is only a slightly stronger Vice-Captain-level to Haruto.

But it was used to disguise the Captain Seigen...

What do you think of Captain Hikifune's proposal?

"Reliable."

"It would be able to avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble, and even allowing Captain Seigen to reappear in Soul Society under a different identity wouldn't be a problem."

Compared to Haruto's original "dragging down the yellow" plan, Kirio Hikifune's plan is indeed a one-time solution.

"... Is your Reigai a very important spiritual artifact?"

However, Ika immediately grasped the key point.

"No."

"Just some small items confiscated during my student days."

Haruto categorically denied Ika's claims, which, in other words, was tantamount to agreeing to Kirio Hikifune's plan.

"Then it's settled?"

"..."

Seeing that no one objected, Haruto continued the conversation.

"So only one question remains: who is responsible for 'killing' Captain Seigen?"

"..."

Shinji Hirako silently raised his right hand.

"Never mind, I'll do it."

"You?"

Hiyori's face was filled with disbelief.

She knew that Shinji Hirako was strong, but definitely not strong enough to withstand a captain wielding a divine lightning-type Zanpakuto.

"Captain Hirako, let me do it."

"A-Qing?"

While it may seem like an honor, killing one's former benefactor is a disgraceful act within the Gotei 13.

"Captain Hirako, your Bankai is completely unusable in a one-on-one fight, isn't it?"

"..."

Since mastering Bankai, Shinji Hirako has never used it in front of outsiders. Why does Haruto look at him with such a familiar expression?

While Shinji Hirako was still pondering the reasons--

"Your Zanpakuto is indeed effective against the illusionary techniques of Scorching Water Mirror."

"But using Shikai to fight Bankai..."