Goodwill

Captain Unohana had also said that without Ailin's Healing Art, the Second Division's mission that time would have suffered at least a dozen more casualties.

At the time, Captain Unohana had even smiled and told Shihoin Yoruichi, who had come to visit the injured squad members, that if Ailin wanted to join the Fourth Division, she could personally make him the Fourth Division's Third Seat.

Given time, it would not have been impossible for him to surpass Kiyōnosuke Yamada and become the Fourth Division's Vice-Captain.

However, perhaps because this fellow had kept too low a profile during that period, and Lord Yoruichi was so carefree, she had forgotten about him after failing to find him upon her return.

Sui-Feng had never expected that, after so little time had passed, this fellow had failed to become the Fourth Division's Third Seat but instead wanted to challenge Marechiyo Ōmaeda for the position of Second Division Vice-Captain.

But could this fellow defeat Marechiyo Ōmaeda?

Sui-Feng felt that was rather unlikely.

Marechiyo Ōmaeda was no ordinary Soul Reaper.

He had once served the previous head of the Shihoin Family—Lord Yoruichi's father, Shihoin Sennen—and had held the position of Second Division Vice-Captain for over a century.

He was also Lord Yoruichi's childhood friend—ptui, ptui, ptui! That man had always been the one clinging to Lord Yoruichi. They were not childhood friends at all.

Still, no matter how much Sui-Feng disliked that lazy man, she had to admit that he was talented.

Even the most gifted person needed at least ten years to complete Bankai training.

But that man...

At that thought, Sui-Feng shook her head and cast the man from her mind.

"Squad Member Ailin, are you sure you want to challenge Vice-Captain Ōmaeda? Perhaps you do not know that Marechiyo Ōmaeda has served as the Second Division's Vice-Captain for nearly two hundred years."

Looking at the Seat Officer challenge application Ailin had submitted, Sui-Feng offered him a well-meaning reminder.

Ailin was talented, especially in Healing Art. In all her years, Sui-Feng had never heard of Lady Unohana from the Fourth Division personally inviting anyone else to join the Fourth Division, much less offering them the position of Third Seat.

Ailin was the first.

Even if such a talent could not ultimately remain in the Second Division, Sui-Feng did not want him to form a bad impression of it.

To become the Second Division's captain so soon after Yoruichi's departure, Sui-Feng was certainly not lacking in either talent or the ability to see the bigger picture.

"Huh? Oh, thank you."

Little Soifon's reminder had come as a surprise to Ailin.

Still, Ailin accepted her goodwill.

Ailin immediately smiled and nodded at Sui-Feng. "However, since I chose to challenge Lord Ōmaeda, I do have some confidence."

As he spoke, Ailin deliberately patted the Zanpakuto at his waist.

"Very well. Since you are so confident, I will inform Lord Yoruichi and have her arrange your challenge."

Seeing this, Sui-Feng frowned slightly and did not try to dissuade him further.

Had he already achieved his Zanpakuto's release?

No wonder he was so confident.

But...

Forget it. Perhaps his Zanpakuto ability was exceptionally powerful?

"Mm, I have already recorded your spiritual pressure. Once Lord Yoruichi has made the arrangements, I will have a Hell Butterfly notify you."

"Thank you, Soifon."

Having obtained the result he wanted, Ailin smiled, nodded his thanks to Sui-Feng, and left the captain's office.

However, his final words left Sui-Feng stunned.

"Soifon? Where did he learn that name?"

As the next head of the lower nobility Fon Family, Sui-Feng naturally had a family name of her own.

However, she could only formally use it after truly becoming the Fon Family's head.

At present, only Lord Yoruichi knew that name and often used it to address her.

Ailin was merely a very ordinary Soul Reaper. How could he possibly know that name?

After thinking it over, Sui-Feng still could not figure out how her other name had been leaked. She could only shake her head and continue handling division affairs.

At the same time, she did not forget to immediately use a Hell Butterfly to relay to Lord Yoruichi the news that Ailin wanted to challenge Vice-Captain Marechiyo Ōmaeda.

Well, Sui-Feng could swear that she absolutely had not intended to interrupt Lord Yoruichi's private time with that man. Rather, as a Second Division member, she had a duty to promptly relay matters she could not handle to Lord Yoruichi for her personal decision.

As a Secret Movement unit, the Second Division valued secrecy above all else.

Thus, compared to the other divisions, the Second Division was managed far more strictly.

Moreover, its members had to remain on standby at all times.

Members of other divisions could arrange drinking gatherings, but Second Division members—especially those of the Punishment Corps—had virtually no entertainment beyond leaving the barracks to carry out missions.

Challenges for Seat Officer positions were a rare opportunity for everyone to relax.

Sure enough, once news spread that Ailin wanted to challenge Vice-Captain Marechiyo Ōmaeda, his dormitory was almost never quiet.

His former squad leader, Furuta Aoki, in particular, came by three times a day.

Just as Ailin had seen off a colleague he had treated, Furuta Aoki arrived again.

"Hahaha! Ailin, I knew you had potential."

Under Ailin's speechless gaze, Furuta Aoki shoved him aside from the doorway with his backside and entered Ailin's dormitory with several friends.

"Come on, come on, Ailin. Let me introduce you."

"This is Fukugen Jō, Second Squad Leader of the Inner Garden Squad in the Fifth Unit. These are Ōjū and Koyanagi Shōhei, members of the Second Squad."

"Greetings, Captain Fukugen. Hello, Ōjū, Koyanagi Taishi."

Once everyone had gotten acquainted, Furuta Aoki draped an arm over Fukugen Jō's shoulder and muttered, "Fukugen, it was not easy for me to produce such a promising recruit. If Ailin really ends up going to your side, you have to look after him."

Hearing Furuta Aoki's words, Ailin paused slightly.

Furuta Aoki was paving the way for him...

Thinking of the people Furuta Aoki had brought around recently, there had been members of the Supervision Squad, the Patrol Squad, the Intelligence Squad...

Now there was Fukugen Jō from the Inner Garden Squad.

The Second Division had five squads in total. Other than the Punishment Corps, Furuta Aoki had invited people from every one of them.

If Ailin challenged Third Seat Marechiyo Ōmaeda and won, that would be fine. He would immediately become one of the Second Division's few major figures.

But if he lost...

There were countless ways to quietly kill a member of the Punishment Corps.

Clearly, Furuta Aoki feared that Ailin would be resented if he lost the challenge. That was why he had spent his connections and favors so early, hoping Ailin would have somewhere good to go when the time came.