Inside and Outside the Game

After Fon Shaoling finished mobilizing everyone, she asked Cilian, Shakiro, Tessai, and Hu to stay behind.

Fon Shaoling walked over to the intelligence wall, stood with her back to them, and fell silent for a few seconds.

Then she turned around and spoke.

"What I'm about to tell you is the ultimate objective of this mission, and who's really behind it. Everyone here is at the core of this operation, so I want you to understand what you'll be facing before you carry it out."

She paused and studied the people present. Only after seeing that no one backed down, particularly Hu, did she continue.

"The ones running this Hollowfication Experiment are the Twenty-Four Chambers Alliance within Central 46."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Cilian's expression did not change. As one of the people who had deduced this result, he had already had his surprise. Of the other three, Sakiro's eyes went wide. Tessai's brow furrowed.

Hu froze, too.

But his reason was different from everyone else's.

Central 46?

The Twenty-Four Chambers Alliance?

Wasn't it Aizen?

His head was full of questions. Wasn't Aizen supposed to be the one behind the Hollowfication Experiment? Hadn't Aizen been manipulating everything from behind the scenes in the original story? How had it turned into some faction of Central 46 now?

"How... how did this happen? That's so strange."

He muttered the words without thinking.

His voice was quiet, but in the silent meeting room, everyone heard him.

Fon Shaoling turned to look at him.

"Hm? Hu, what is it? Do you find it strange?"

Only then did Hu realize he had let something slip. He hastily waved his hands. "No, it's nothing. I was just... talking to myself..."

Fon Shaoling stared at him for two seconds, then merely sighed softly.

"You haven't been in Soul Society long. It's normal for you not to know a lot of things. If you don't know why Central 46 was established, it's understandable that you'd have questions."

She walked back to the table and sat down.

"What I'm about to tell you might overturn some of what you believe. But these are all conclusions the Stealth Force reached after a thorough investigation."

She paused, then began:

"The root of this matter touches on why Central 46 was founded. We have to go back to the founding of the Gotei 13."

For Hu's sake as a newcomer to Soul Society, Fon Shaoling began explaining some of its history.

"Back then, Captain-Commander Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai founded the Gotei 13, making it the greatest military force in the Seireitei. Over the following centuries, he gradually turned the Gotei 13, which had essentially been a band of killers, into the armed force that now defends the Seireitei. The thirteen divisions gradually took on their own functions, and together they became almost the only military force in the Seireitei. The Captain-Commander is also the head of Shin'ō Academy, so the new Soul Reapers can almost all be called his students. In other words, the Soul Reapers as an organization bear the Captain-Commander's mark from top to bottom."

She gave a soft laugh, a trace of mockery in her smile.

"The Five Great Noble Clans were very unhappy about that. They needed an institution that could counterbalance the Captain-Commander's power. And so Central 46 came into being."

Cilian nodded. "They called it a counterbalance, but they really intended to take the Captain-Commander's power and claim a share of control over the Gotei 13."

Sakiro sneered. "But the Captain-Commander never let them have their way. After all these centuries, the Gotei 13 still belongs to him."

Fon Shaoling continued, "The Captain-Commander himself has no intention of fighting them for power. He devotes himself entirely to the affairs of the Gotei 13. But the Five Great Noble Clans don't see it that way. They fear this military force that obeys the Captain-Commander alone, and they're constantly looking to take some of its power."

"What about the Twenty-Four Chambers Alliance?" Hu asked.

"The radical faction." Fon Shaoling's voice turned cold. "They realized the Gotei 13 was nearly impossible to wrest away, so they decided to develop a separate military force of their own."

Fon Shaoling frowned slightly, apparently at a loss for words over the matter.

"They've never been shorted on their share of the Zanpakuto issued by the Zero Division. But the Soul Reapers they've recruited and trained in private have never produced anyone outstanding. Even wearing the same shihakushō and wielding the same Zanpakuto, they're little more than a bunch of trash."

Sakiro added coldly, "The essence of a Soul Reaper has never been those superficial trappings. Thinking they can gain the same power just by wearing the same clothes and carrying the same weapons is simply stupid."

"So they reached for the opposite of a Soul Reaper's power," Fon Shaoling said. "At first, they only wanted to raise a group of Hollows and try to train them to serve a purpose, like certain animals in the World of the Living."

A chill ran through Hu as he listened.

Were they planning to train Hollows like dogs?

"However," Fon Shaoling continued, "the Hollows they could train were extremely weak and unintelligent. They couldn't form an army at all. And as for powerful Hollows—"

She gave a mocking laugh.

"They couldn't control them at all."

Cilian snorted. "They didn't know their own limits."

"Until about two hundred years ago." Fon Shaoling's voice grew low, and her brow twitched slightly. "A paper was published in the Seireitei. Its title was—"

She paused.

"'An exploration of the nature and boundaries of Hollow and Soul Reaper powers.'"

Hu's heart nearly skipped a beat.

That title... who on earth was bold enough to write it? Was that the sort of research you could do out in the open...?

"Although the paper was immediately suppressed as taboo," Fon Shaoling said, "some taboos are no different from ordinary books to Central 46. They can consult them whenever they please."

Tessai frowned. "Could it be...?"

"Yes, that paper stirred up those people's wicked ambitions." Fon Shaoling's gaze sharpened. "That was what caused the Menos Grande Hollowfication Incident a hundred and ten years ago. It's also the root cause of this incident."

Hu's head was buzzing. This wasn't right.

The Menos Grande Hollowfication Incident a hundred and ten years ago... wasn't Aizen behind it? What on earth was going on?

"The author of that paper—" Fon Shaoling's voice betrayed her exasperation and deep resentment. "—was the former Twelfth Division Captain, Kisuke Urahara."

The room was so quiet that only the sound of breathing remained. Everyone there except Hu knew that Kisuke Urahara was one of Fon Shaoling's closest friends apart from Yoruichi, and for a moment, none of them knew what to say.

Hu, who was on a different wavelength, had no such problem. He immediately asked, "Then what about Kisuke Urahara himself? Was he involved?"

Fon Shaoling shook her head.

"The Stealth Force thoroughly searched his former residence. Back then, Kisuke Urahara had only made a prototype of an object. There was no trace of any human experimentation at all."

Fon Shaoling tapped her fingers on the table for a while, venting her exasperation with Kisuke Urahara.

"I suppose he realized what problems it would cause after making it and stopped there. The researcher who helped them develop it was someone else."

The atmosphere eased somewhat when they heard he had not been involved.

Sakiro complained, "If he knew it would cause problems, he shouldn't have made it in the first place."

Fon Shaoling agreed.

She sighed and continued:

"At the time, the Second Division's Captain was suspected of being an accomplice, so the entire Stealth Force was held back. The Eighth, Ninth, and Third Divisions conducted the search."

Tessai narrowed his eyes slightly. "The Ninth and Third Divisions... weren't they putting grieving soldiers in charge of the investigation?"

"Yes." Fon Shaoling nodded. "The Captain of the Ninth Division, Kensei Muguruma, and his Lieutenant, Mashiro Kuna. The Third Division Captain, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi. They were all victims."

Sakiro also voiced her disapproval. "They had personal grievances mixed up in it. I expect both divisions were acting on their emotions at the time."

"That's right," Fon Shaoling said. "That was probably what led to such a serious bias in the evidence, allowing Central 46 to declare its verdict and close the case."

Cilian shook his head, a trace of mockery in his voice. "Those people in Central 46 are blinded by their lust for power, stupid and incompetent. When what they did back then was almost exposed, they simply found someone to take the blame. But now, scapegoats won't be so easy to find. They sowed the seeds themselves."

Sakiro said angrily, "Unfortunately, innocent people are the ones who have to taste the fruit."

Tessai was silent for a long time before saying quietly, "Then Captain Muguruma and the others... were banished for nothing?"

Fon Shaoling said nothing.

But her silence was an answer in itself.

Hu sat there, his mind in chaos. Aizen was clearly the one pulling the strings, so why hadn't his name come up once in the investigation? Still, Hu was somewhat relieved they hadn't found him. After all, if they went up against Aizen too early, it would be game over.

The silence lasted a moment.

Fon Shaoling took a deep breath and sat up straight again.

"We can settle old scores later. Once we've cleaned up the current Central 46, I don't know whether their names will be cleared. What matters is the present. We have to face the enemy in front of us."

Her gaze swept over the four people present.

"This time, our enemy is almost half of the highest governing body. We have one essential requirement—speed."

Her voice turned stern.

"We must catch them red-handed."

She looked at Sakiro.

"Sakiro."

"Here."

"You'll lead the selected Onmitsukidō troops as the spearhead and launch a surprise attack," Fon Shaoling said. "You can ignore every enemy you encounter along the way. Your primary mission is to capture the technical staff and the supervisor hiding in Withered Bamboo Hamlet. Do everything you can to drag that madman out!"

Sakiro nodded.

"Once you've captured them, leave the battlefield immediately." Fon Shaoling's voice grew even more serious. "Watch out for any attempts to silence them. They may well have suicide devices hidden on them."

Sakiro's eyes narrowed slightly.

"If necessary," Fon Shaoling paused, "cut them open, dig out the suicide devices, and then heal them with Kaidō."

A ruthless glint flashed in Sakiro's eyes, and she bowed her head deeply.

"Understood."

Fon Shaoling looked at Tessai.

"Tessai."

"Here."

"You'll lead the assault force and fight the test subjects and completed specimens the enemy has been raising." Fon Shaoling's voice was calm. "Don't hold back."

Tessai nodded, his fists clenching slightly.

"Yes!"

Finally, Fon Shaoling looked at Cilian.

"Cilian."

Cilian bowed slightly.

"You'll take the Kidō unit and set up a temporary position," Fon Shaoling said. "Once you receive the important people Sakiro captures, interrogate them on the spot and extract information."

A glimmer flashed in Cilian's single eye.

"At the same time," Fon Shaoling continued, "you'll serve as overall battlefield commander. Adapt to the situation and redeploy personnel as needed."

Cilian was silent for a moment, then bowed his head deeply.

"As you command."

Fon Shaoling's gaze finally settled on Hu.

Hu sat up straight, waiting for her orders.

Fon Shaoling looked at him in silence for two seconds, then spoke.

"Hu, you'll stay at the Fon Clan."

Hu froze.

"You'll stay in the rear with me."

Hu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out.

He had thought he would get to take part, but instead...

"Huh?"

The sound escaped him without thinking.

Seeing him like that, Cilian raised a hand and slapped him on the head.

"Ow!"

"Her Highness is looking out for you by keeping you off the battlefield, and you don't even realize it." Cilian withdrew his hand and glared at him. "Besides, even if we say we're sending everyone out, we can't really leave the Fon Clan without a single high-level fighter. Asking you to guard the rear also means she trusts you."

Hu held his head, still somewhat dissatisfied.

Cilian looked at him, then at Fon Shaoling. Suddenly, he lowered his voice and leaned close to Hu's ear.

"Besides—"

He lowered his voice even further, but given who was present, everyone could hear him clearly.

"This time, only you and Her Highness will be staying at the Fon Clan. The Fon Clan guards won't disturb you while they're on duty, either. You'll have a chance to spend time alone together, and you're still not satisfied?"

He glanced at Fon Shaoling without thinking.

Fon Shaoling's cheeks were also faintly red. She looked away, pretending to study the documents on the table.

Then he smiled.

A particularly brilliant smile.

"Okay," he said. "I'll stay."

Cilian leaned back, folded his arms, and lifted the corners of his mouth slightly.

Sakiro lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Tessai coughed and looked away.

The tips of Fon Shaoling's ears grew even redder, but she still said as if nothing had happened, "Then it's settled."

At the same time, in the Seireitei.

The Captains and Lieutenants of the various divisions filed out of the First Division's main hall.

Today's meeting had been unusual: the progress of the investigation into Central 46 and the deployment for the operation in Withered Bamboo Hamlet. The Gotei 13 had not had a case this big in a long time, and it involved several divisions working together.

The Second Division's Lieutenant, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, walked among the crowd, his belly bouncing and a pleased look on his face.

He had really distinguished himself today.

With Captain Soi Fon absent, he had reported on the intelligence gathered on behalf of the Second Division, and he had done it in such an orderly, clear manner. He could practically feel the people around him looking at him differently.

As he was basking in it, a hand suddenly reached around from behind and hooked around his neck.

"Ōmaeda—"

Sasaki Shūhei's voice came from beside his ear, carrying a hint of teasing.

"You really can't judge a book by its cover. You've actually been working with Captain Soi Fon, coordinating inside and out on such a major case."

Ōmaeda naturally puffed out his chest when he heard that. Then he paused, realizing there was something implied in those words.

"Huh? What do you mean, you can't judge a book by its cover? If I didn't have some skills, how do you think I became Lieutenant?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a voice drifted over from beside him.

"At first, we all thought your family paid the Second Division a huge sum to buy you the Lieutenant's position."

Ōmaeda turned and saw Izuru Kira standing there with an innocent expression.

"What?!" Marechiyo Ōmaeda's voice shot up an octave. "Kira, you brat, explain yourself! What do you mean I bought my lieutenant's position?! Why the hell would I pay for a thankless job that works me to death?!"

Kira shrugged without answering.

Beside them, Sasaki Shūhei doubled over laughing.

Just then, a hand reached out from behind and patted Ōmaeda on the shoulder.

"Hey, Lieutenant Ōmaeda."

The voice sounded a little serious.

Ōmaeda turned around in surprise. Why was Renji Abarai suddenly addressing him so formally today?

"Huh? What is it?... Uh..."

He froze halfway through his sentence.

Behind Renji Abarai stood a figure wearing a captain's haori.

Silver-white windflower scarf, Kenseikan, and an impassive face.

Byakuya Kuchiki.

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Ōmaeda's skin.

Byakuya Kuchiki looked at him, his voice perfectly level.

"Normally, unfortunate matters concerning the nobility would fall under the Sixth Division's duties."

Ōmaeda swallowed.

"Why did you and your captain not communicate with the Sixth Division?"

Byakuya Kuchiki's gaze rested on him.

"Why did we in the Sixth Division only learn of this matter at today's meeting?"

Ōmaeda opened his mouth, only to find he couldn't say a thing.

"Are you dissatisfied with how we in the Sixth Division conduct ourselves?"

Ōmaeda's mind went blank.

That was indeed a difficult question for him to answer.

In truth, they had investigated the whole way through without anyone thinking to notify the Sixth Division. Even Fon Shaoling hadn't thought it necessary to approach them. The Third and Eighth Divisions had done most of the running around, and the other divisions willing to help were all so-called aggrieved parties. The Sixth Division had suffered no losses in this major incident, so no one had gone to them.

He stood there, sweat beading on his forehead, unable to get a single word out.

Seeing him like that, Byakuya Kuchiki didn't press him further.

He merely said, "So I cannot get an answer from you either."

He turned around.

"Then I shall ask your captain directly when she returns."

He paused without looking back.

"I hope you will pass my words on to her."

With that, he walked away.

Renji Abarai followed him. As he passed Ōmaeda, he gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder without saying anything.

Ōmaeda stood rooted to the spot for a long time.

Sasaki Shūhei and Izuru Kira exchanged a glance, then quietly slipped away in unspoken agreement.

On the other side of the hall, two people stood in the shadows.

Gin Ichimaru watched Ōmaeda's plight from afar, his eyes narrowed and a faint smile on his lips.

"Discarding half of Central 46 just like that..."

He turned to look at the man beside him.

"Captain Aizen, they did provide our startup funds, after all. You're just throwing them all away like that?"

Sōsuke Aizen stood there with a gentle smile on his face.

"It doesn't matter, Gin. Our important assets have all been transferred to Hueco Mundo. Everything left here is of no concern."

His voice was calm, as though he were discussing the weather.

"Central 46 was a rotten pile of trash to begin with. Feeding them to the Captain-Commander was the greatest use they could ever have had."

Gin Ichimaru smiled without speaking.

Aizen turned to look at him.

"Are you very interested in that young man we met the other day, Gin?"

Gin Ichimaru's eyes narrowed slightly.

"You even went to see him alone afterward."

Gin Ichimaru's smile didn't change.

"Captain Aizen, is something wrong?"

His voice remained light.

"Was it so terrible of me to meet him alone?"

Aizen looked at him in silence for two seconds.

Then he smiled.

His smile was as gentle as a spring breeze.

"No. In fact, if you want to learn about his power, I can arrange a performance for you."

He turned and walked toward the doors.

"This matter will be wrapped up tomorrow. He is a prospect Soi Fon has taken a liking to, so I expect he'll be placed at her side...

"I've changed my mind, Gin. Let's offer our bosses one last plan as payment for supporting our work."

A few seconds later, Gin followed him.

Their figures disappeared at the end of the corridor.