In the Soul Society, time is the least valuable thing. A decade or more can pass in the blink of an eye. Unless something major happens, Soul Reaper basically have no concept of time.
For over a decade, Jun and Isuzu have taken turns World of the Living missions and academy missions. For example, if Jun appears on a World of the Living mission this year, then Isuzu will appear on an academy mission, and they will switch the next year. This has been very stable.
Those who World of the Living a mission should check on the Undead, then contact Starrk in Hueco Mundo, as the timing is fixed; Starrk returns to Ulquiorra's side for a period of time around October each year.
My mission outside the academy was simply to answer some questions for my apprentice and his wife; there's nothing else worth mentioning.
And so, a momentous event occurred: a new Expedition was about to begin.
Expeditions are generally not a big deal, but for those selected, it's a different story. The Shimizu Family received another letter of intent for Expedition, but this time it was addressed to Isuzu.
"You shouldn't go."
"What's wrong?"
"Well"
Chun didn't answer. Is this the Expedition from 500 years ago in the original work? Chun isn't sure about that time period, so it's a big question.
"What's wrong with you?" Isuzu felt something was really strange.
Chun pinched his nose. "I don't think this is good. I have a bad feeling."
Really?
"Real"
"Then I won't go."
"Good"
Jun gave the reply slip to Central 46, and Isuzu's Expedition was called off, but Jun was still uneasy, so...
"Hey, go ask the captain for a list of names for this Expedition."
"Hmm, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, just wanted to see. By the way, who's the Vice-Captain this time?"
"It's Vice-Captain Takagi."
"Takagi, our vice-captain."
After the death of Captain Shiba Kazato, the former Third Seat Takagi, naturally became the Vice-Captain. This Soul Reaper has over 300 years of experience and possesses the Kai (a type of Shinigami release ability). The reason he didn't join the First Division was precisely because he became the Vice-Captain.
This person's strength ranks among the top of the Thirteenth Division's Vice-Captain; they're very strong. Even Jun wouldn't dare say he could definitely beat them, because Jun hasn't yet learned how to unleash his power.
"Hmm, seems pretty solid," Jun said, giving the Expedition team a boost of confidence. Then Asai Shinten retrieved the roster, and Jun immediately went to the Third Division and found that name.
Third Seat of the Third Division, Ashido Kanō
"Tsk, as expected. But was it because of the Expedition or something else later? Never mind, with this guy around, Isuzu won't go. That should solve the problem. Problem solved."
Jun glanced at the total number of people again and found that there were as many as 122 people this time, compared to only 87 last time, right? That's 1.5 times the number. Jun wondered if Soul Society's definition of Expedition was a bit strange.
This question actually started back when Aizen was in school. The death of his mother already hinted at something, though it was just Aizen's speculation, but looking at it now, it's not entirely without merit.
Only four people died last time, and then Chun and his group escaped. Because they brought back new records of Adjuchas and Vasto Lorde, the Expedition was considered a success, so they didn't go again.
So the last Expedition had a particularly low death toll, which means it didn't meet the Soul Society's death quota? That's why forty more people were added this time.
You can't blame Chun for thinking so maliciously; that's just how he handled things—it's disgusting. If someone cares about this, wouldn't they naturally wonder why more people were added? Doesn't the Central 46 know that the more people on the Expedition, the worse it is?
With more people on the Expedition, the Spiritual Power dissipated by the Soul Reaper will naturally be higher, attracting more Hollows and making it easier for major incidents to occur! Why is it that some individual Soul Reaper —like Ashido, who is currently here Ashido Kanō, and Aijima, as well as some other exiled Soul Reaper —are actually thriving?
Of course, most of those exiled died, so it's true that a capable Soul Reaper can survive alone in Hueco Mundo. However, if a capable Soul Reaper were to live with a large group of Soul Reaper, it would definitely be game over, no question about it.
So here's the problem: it's not that I'm thinking maliciously, but that this thing is genuinely malicious, so excessive that it borders on shameless.
So Jun went to the Ukitake Family, wanting to know what Jūshirō Ukitake thought about this.
"Jūshirō Brother, I've come to have tea with you."
"Welcome~, you're just pretending to want tea, you really just want to ask me for something, right?"
"Haha, Brother Jūshirō is incredibly insightful!"
"Because when you come alone, you always come to me to ask me questions."
"Haha"
Jun felt a little awkward, and it was true. Generally, visiting relatives was something Isuzu handled, and if Jun wanted to find someone himself, he would basically only go to Aizen. Of course, he would go when invited to drink, but he really didn't come to Ukitake's place very often, because Ukitake didn't drink, and Jun wasn't that fond of tea.
"What happened again?"
"Nothing's wrong, it's just that we're about to Expedition."
"I know, Isuzu didn't go, did she? Speaking of which, you two are among the few people in Soul Society who can choose whether or not to go."
"Haha, the higher-ups are giving me face."
Ukitake prepared the Tea Ceremony utensils and began his performance, remaining silent throughout, though neither of them seemed to mind.
"So what brings you here this time? Are there any problems with the Expedition?"
"Oh, Jūshirō Brother, the last Expedition I participated in had 87 people, this time it's 122. If not many people died this time, will the next one have 160 or 180?"
Ukitake stopped moving, then resumed after a while, and said...
"Don't discuss this issue, and don't tell anyone else."
"Of course, if it weren't for Jūshirō Brother, I wouldn't have asked about this."
"Oh, I'm not in the mood for this tea anymore," Jūshirō Ukitake, pouring out the tea. He wanted to make another batch, but stopped.
"Sorry to interrupt Jūshirō Brother's enjoyment."
Ukitake shook his head. "If you hadn't mentioned it, I really wouldn't have noticed this. Oh dear, Jun, have you always been dissatisfied with the Central 46?"
"I wouldn't say I'm extremely dissatisfied, but there's a little bit, for example, about this Expedition."
"Hmm, that makes sense. Actually, there's something I'm not comfortable saying about this."
"So it really is to reduce the number of Soul Reaper," Jun scoffed. "For the sake of maintaining a stable hierarchy in Soul Society. If there are too many Soul Reaper, there will be even more Soul Reaper of lowly origins. Those who possess power will challenge the existing hierarchy, leading to insubordination. I've experienced that before."
"And that's not all."
"Oh? There's a deeper reason?"
"Not really, it's just dealing with some disobedient people."
"The Second Division is also responsible for this? That's impressive, and they do it so discreetly, hehe."
That's it.
Chun rested his chin on his hand, his eyes darting around, "Is anyone from Central 46 near us?"
"Some team members are definitely from Central 46, but there shouldn't be any around you. Would you really suspect the people around you?"
"No, tsk~ that's a bit disgusting. Jūshirō Brother, do you and Shunsui Brother really agree with the Central 46?"
"The current system of Central 46 is the best."
A good system doesn't necessarily mean good people. If it were truly good, why would the word "system" be added? I understand.
"Alright, then I have nothing else to say. I'll come with Lingling next time. Sorry to bother you, Jūshirō Brother."
"Haha, it's nothing, I'm feeling pretty good lately, I'm even thinking of throwing a party."
"Oh? Sure, I'll tell Shunsui, and we'll get together."
"Okay, you can come anytime."
"All done, Jūshirō Brother, you just wait."
Six months isn't a long time, but it's not short either. This Expedition team is back, and they're even more impressive than Jun's last one. Not a single member of Expedition team died this time. I wonder how furious the Central 46 is; they're probably going to curse Hueco Mundo.
However, the truth is that he simply went to Hueco Mundo and used a Starrk token—a tuft of Starrk's Wolf Fur. If even one hair is activated by Spiritual Power, Starrk can sense it and arrive quickly.
The plan is simply to get rid of the Starrk, shatter those Tōzanshō, relocate Aatrox and Vasto Lorde who are still in their pupal stage, and then take care of the Expedition force if time permits, otherwise forget about it.
Fortunately, Starrk had plenty of time, because Grimmjow had already been forced into a pupal state. Moreover, Grimmjow lived up to his reputation as a powerful being capable of becoming an autonomous Arrancar; a single Adjuchas consumed over a hundred Gillian before reaching its limit.
While the entire Soul Society celebrated Expedition's unscathed return, only Jun sipped his tea, grinning as he stared in the direction of Central 46.
"I'll do this on every Expedition from now on. I want to see what you can do then."
I feel incredibly good right now, the feeling of being behind the scenes and causing a ruckus is just awesome!
However, the devil is always one step ahead of the saint. Less than a month later, trouble struck the Fifth Division again, with another wave of rebellious Soul Reaper. The reason for their defection pointed directly at the Fifth Division Captain, Nambu Nobuyasu.
Do you remember Jun's conversation with Aizen a long time ago? The issue of Soul Reaper betrayal has a long history, but after the Shiba Clan incident, the four noble captains— Kyōraku, Nanbu, Ukitake, and Shiba —were relentlessly targeted. This was also a contributing factor to the death of Shiba Kazato Old Man.
Some people claim that nobles should all join the Sixth Division, implying that nobles from the Sixth Division would serve outside of it—this is, of course, impossible.
Furthermore, during that conversation, Aizen revealed that Captain Nanbu was already considering stepping down, waiting for Shinji Hirako to mature further.
The betrayal finally succeeded. After killing all thirty-four Soul Reaper, the Nanbu Captain resigned and retired to live a peaceful life, Fifth Division Vice-Captain, Shinji Hirako, became the new Captain.
Many cheered for yet another great victory for the ordinary Soul Reaper class, but what Chun saw inside was the ugly face of the highest echelons of Soul Society.
It is unknown who instigated this rebellion, but it is known that it was the will of the Central 46. Those willing to betray the cause are, in fact, the biggest destabilizing factor in Soul Society.
The sooner they appear, the sooner they can eliminate the threat. Each wave contributes to the stability of the existing Soul Society hierarchy. Sacrificing one Nambu Nobuyasu is not a problem. Even if Kyōraku and Ukitake are also sacrificed, it won't matter to the Central 46.
Once the nobles are sacrificed, the Rukongai can be reset to do the same thing again, sacrificing ordinary Soul Reaper. After the ordinary Soul Reaper are also sacrificed, the higher- Rukongai can be pitted against the Rukongai, and this pattern can continue for a long time.
Chun couldn't help but applaud Central 46.
"What a brilliant move to use one tiger to devour another! Brilliant, brilliant!"