"Gin, you think too highly of me."
The smile on Aizen Sosuke's face did not change in the slightest.
"After all, Rukia is Captain Ailin's disciple, just like you."
"Even for me, it would be difficult to kill her instantly when she's on guard."
Gin Ichimaru's narrowed eyes opened a sliver.
There was much to consider in what Aizen Sosuke had just said.
For one thing, he had said that Rukia was the same as Gin.
In what way were they the same?
Their identities? Their status? Or their strength?
And Aizen Sosuke had said that it would be difficult for him to instantly kill an alert Rukia.
But not impossible!
Based on Gin Ichimaru's understanding of Aizen Sosuke, he might conceal things when he spoke, but once he said something aloud, it would not be a lie.
Even a prepared Rukia would be killed instantly by Aizen Sosuke?
This was dangerous...
If Rukia really were killed here by Aizen, Teacher Ailin would probably fly into a rage, wouldn't he?
"Captain Aizen, aren't you afraid that Captain-Commander Yamamoto and Teacher Ailin will hunt you down once everything you're doing is exposed?"
Rukia rose from the ground, gripping her sword with both hands as she confronted Aizen.
The wound Aizen had inflicted on her earlier had now been completely frozen over.
For the time being, it would not affect her fighting.
"Rukia, why do you think I first faked my own death?"
"Wasn't it because, if I were alive, I would have been exposed before I even had the chance to kill these people in front of Captain-Commander Yamamoto?"
"As for now..."
A cold glint flashed through Aizen Sosuke's eyes.
"I have already found what I needed."
"Even if Captain-Commander Yamamoto discovers me now, it will have no real effect on