"Ha ha ha..."
When Tetsuzaemon Iba said Gin Ichimaru was as sinister as a snake, Matsumoto Rangiku had wanted to refute him.
But when Tetsuzaemon Iba went on to say that Captain Gin Ichimaru had come alone to the Seireitei to protect the one he loved, Matsumoto Rangiku laughed so hard her snot nearly came out.
Hmm, who knew Tetsuzaemon Iba had such sharp eyes?
The kid knew how to talk. Say more.
After Tetsuzaemon Iba, Shūhei Hisagi also nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, everything Captain Ailin said has completely overturned all my impressions of Captain Gin Ichimaru."
"But, Captain Ailin, you just said Captain Gin Ichimaru's childhood friend came to the Seireitei. How come, after all these years, I've never noticed him paying particular attention to any female Shinigami?"
"Could it be that Captain Gin Ichimaru's childhood friend failed the True Zero Spirit Arts Academy's assessment and was ultimately assigned to the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, heading to Hueco Mundo?"
"Ha ha, that's Gin's secret. How could I possibly know?"
"And..."
Ailin swirled the wine in his cup and said meaningfully, "Don't forget that although Gin has now become the captain of the Third Division, he has never given up searching for the Shinigami who harmed that little girl."
"With such a powerful enemy lurking in the shadows, do you think Gin would be foolish enough to expose his childhood friend and let that hidden enemy seize upon his weakness, using that little girl to threaten him?"
"That's true."
After Ailin put it that way, both Tetsuzaemon Iba and Shūhei Hisagi nodded.
But in the next instant, the alcohol in their systems was scared right out of them.
"Wait, Captain Ailin, did you just say?"
"That enemy hiding in the shadows, whose strength is no less than Captain Kyōraku's, is