Living on Empty Promises

In an instant, Hirako Shinji's expression completely froze...

Sarugaki Hiyori, having come to her senses, burst into laughter, clutching her stomach and repeatedly slapping the table as she said,

"Ha ha ha! Kensei Muguruma, didn't see that coming, did you? Even a bald guy like you can't become captain."

Hirako Shinji rubbed his temples with a headache, helplessly telling Sarugaki Hiyori to "shut up" before asking,

"Makoto, so that means... I'll be stationed in Karakura Town from now on?"

"That's right," Chiba Makoto answered.

At once, Hirako Shinji's expression... became rather unpleasant.

Hirako Shinji was no fool. On the contrary, he was one of the most perceptive among the captains.

At the same time, he had been among the earliest captains to sense the hidden danger posed by Aizen Sōsuke.

Looking at this arrangement from the Visored Army's perspective, something felt wrong no matter how he looked at it!

After splitting away more than half of the Visored Army's combat strength, the remaining members were given a title and then tossed into the World of the Living.

Having noticed every change in Hirako Shinji's expression, Chiba Makoto pointed toward the door and said, "Senior Hirako, may I speak with you alone?"

Hirako Shinji's gaze flickered slightly. Trusting Chiba Makoto based on the impression he had formed of him in the past, he nodded and followed Chiba Makoto outside to a relatively quiet spot.

"Makoto, is there something you need to say away from my other companions?" Hirako Shinji asked in a deliberately casual tone.

"With Senior Hirako's sharpness, there are naturally many things that cannot be hidden from you. But there are also many things you may not have noticed."

Chiba Makoto maintained his gentle tone, though it now carried a trace of helplessness.

"Oh?"

Hirako Shinji cast Chiba Makoto