Murder Case

At this point, Hibiki Hoshino paused.

Originally, Hibiki Hoshino had planned to have Muramasa kill Sōjun Kuchiki, then kill Ginrei Kuchiki as well.

But at that moment, Hibiki Hoshino suddenly recalled Muramasa's helpless performance when facing Ailin's slash last night. He began to seriously doubt whether Muramasa could kill Ginrei Kuchiki.

"Forget it. Without me, you're nothing but trash."

"After you kill Sōjun Kuchiki, go back to where you were and stay there. I'll call for you when I need you."

"When the time comes, we'll kill Ginrei Kuchiki together, as well as that despicable Vice-Captain!"

As Muramasa watched Hibiki Hoshino's lips move, a powerful fear suddenly rose within him.

He couldn't hear!

He couldn't hear!

He knew his master was speaking, yet he could not hear what his master was saying.

"Trash..."

"Kill..."

"Together, we'll kill Ginrei Kuchiki..."

Fortunately, after Hibiki Hoshino said "we," Muramasa was once again able to hear his voice normally.

"Did you hear me, Muramasa?"

"I understand, Lord Hyōga."

Muramasa hurriedly lowered his head and answered Hibiki Hoshino's question.

That had been an accident just now, right?

"You heard me, so why aren't you going?"

"Yes, Lord Hyōga!"

After Muramasa vanished from the Prison, Hibiki Hoshino turned his gaze toward the cell holding the culprit who had turned him into a laughingstock and reduced all his bright prospects to darkness.

"Just wait. Once I deal with that old man, it'll be your turn to die..."

Hibiki Hoshino reined in the killing intent in his eyes and closed them as he waited for his opportunity.

By violating Captain-Commander Yamamoto's ban and using Bankai within the Seireitei, Hibiki Hoshino knew that he would most likely be exiled to the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force.

After all, though he was the Third Seat of the Captain-Commander's directly subordinate division, that man cared more about upholding the Seireitei's "rules" than saving him.

If he had been the Kuchiki Clan's son-in-law, then with the clan's influence, he would have been confined for a few days at most. After some time, he would have transferred into the Sixth Division, becoming its new Vice-Captain. A few years, perhaps a few decades later, he could even have succeeded as Captain of the Sixth Division.

But after Ailin appeared, all of that had been completely shattered.

The Kuchiki Clan had gained another option.

What enraged Hibiki Hoshino even more was that he had created that option with his own hands.

If he had not acted last night and had simply let that guy go, who could have known that a mere Vice-Captain possessed the power to rival him for a short time?

Even if that guy had risen to prominence later, he would probably have already become Captain of the Sixth Division.

But unfortunately...

That guy had ruined everything!

"Ah..."

At dawn, while most people were still asleep, the cry of the maid attending the Kuchiki Clan's eldest young master, Sōjun Kuchiki, made the entire Seireitei's atmosphere considerably more somber.

"How could this be? Big Brother..."

Outside Sōjun Kuchiki's bedroom, Ginrei Kuchiki raised a hand to stop his younger daughter from seeing the miserable state of his eldest son.

More than a dozen Soul Reapers from the Secret Movement were inspecting the Kuchiki Clan estate.

Inside the bedroom were Captain Shihoin Yoruichi of the Second Division, Third Seat Urahara Kisuke, and Sui-Feng.

With her arms folded, Shihoin Yoruichi swept her phoenix eyes across the entire bedroom, as though she had discovered something.

"What do you think, Urahara?"

"Mm."

Urahara Kisuke wore a grave expression as he nodded, confirming Shihoin Yoruichi's suspicion.

Sui-Feng, standing nearby, could not understand what the two were communicating. She could only alternate between looking at her captain with admiration and glaring at Urahara Kisuke as though he were worthless garbage.

"Let's go."

Shihoin Yoruichi smiled and rubbed Sui-Feng's head.

The interactions between Sui-Feng and Urahara were one of the rare amusements in her life.

After leaving the bedroom, Yoruichi made a gesture to the Soul Reapers of the Secret Movement before walking toward Ginrei Kuchiki, who was waiting outside.

Although the one who had died was his own son, Ginrei Kuchiki had still entrusted the Second Division with investigating the cause of his death.

After all, compared to the Sixth Division, the Second Division was the professional one when it came to this sort of thing.

"How is it? Any clues, Yoruichi?"

"Mm."

"Old man, Sōjun died to the ability of his own Zanpakuto."

"The only one who could do that is..."

"Third Seat Hibiki Hoshino of the First Division!"

Before Shihoin Yoruichi could finish, Ginrei Kuchiki directly spoke that name.

The answer caused Ginrei Kuchiki deep pain as well.

As Haruko Kuchiki's father, even if Ginrei Kuchiki wanted to find a pillar for the Kuchiki Clan and the Sixth Division, he would still consider the other person's character and temperament.

After all, he did not want his daughter to marry the wrong man.

Over all these years, Hibiki Hoshino had been the young man Ginrei Kuchiki thought most highly of.

They had even been only one final step away. He had planned to introduce Hibiki Hoshino to his daughter, Haruko Kuchiki. If his daughter had no objections, Hibiki Hoshino would have become "Kuchiki Hyōga."

Even after his son proposed adding Ailin, the Vice-Captain of the Second Division, as a candidate, Ginrei Kuchiki naturally still favored Hibiki Hoshino due to their friendship over the past few years.

But Ginrei Kuchiki had never imagined that only one day later, his son would die to the ability of his own Zanpakuto.

"How is that possible?"

Upon hearing their conversation, Haruko Kuchiki's mind went blank with a buzz.

All this time, because of her elder brother's condition, everyone knew he might not last much longer.

Haruko Kuchiki had also prepared herself for the possibility of losing her elder brother at any time.

But she had never imagined that her elder brother had not died from illness, but had been assassinated.

And the murderer was someone named "Hibiki Hoshino"?

"Ginjiro, lead the Seated Officers in taking care of Haruko. Captain Shihōin, the others, and I will head to the Ninth Division."

"Yes, Captain Kuchiki."

At Ginrei Kuchiki's side, a male Soul Reaper with short, tousled hair responded. He immediately arranged for personnel to defend the various parts of the Kuchiki Clan estate.

Ginjiro, the Third Seat of the Sixth Division, was also the strongest member of the Sixth Division apart from Captain Ginrei Kuchiki.

If Sōjun Kuchiki had not been Ginrei Kuchiki's son, the position of Vice-Captain of the Sixth Division would unquestionably have belonged to Ginjiro.

As Third Seat, Ginjiro had also defeated many members of the Sixth Division who wished to challenge Vice-Captain Sōjun Kuchiki.

Compared to Sōjun Kuchiki, Ginjiro was more popular within the Sixth Division.

As he watched the four captains' receding figures, one Soul Reaper suddenly said to Ginjiro, "Lord Jiro, Vice-Captain Kuchiki has fallen. You'll be the next Vice-Captain, won't you? Congratulations, Lord Jiro."

"Heh..."

Ginjiro glanced at the Soul Reaper congratulating him and shook his head. "Don't talk nonsense. If Captain Kuchiki hears that, you'll have a hard time later, kid."