"Lord Aizen!"
Just as Gaoyu was talking with Aizen, Kaname Tōsen suddenly spoke up again. "Look. White seems to have changed."
Gaoyu and Aizen both turned to look. The previously pallid White was now convulsing.
Then a jet-black substance flowed out from the Hollow hole in his chest, rapidly spreading over his body and turning it black. A dense white substance also began growing across his face, eventually covering it completely.
Aizen immediately walked over. His eyes held a trace of shock, but even more than that, they brimmed with intense curiosity about what would happen next.
Looking at the Shinigami Hollow, Gaoyu saw that it was developing into the very White he knew.
Aizen murmured, "Fascinating. Truly fascinating."
"Named 'White,' yet turning completely black at this moment. A Hollow made from a Shinigami's soul really hasn't disappointed me."
Gaoyu was stunned, too, because he saw that White's favorability toward him had risen again, reaching sixty-one.
Damn, had I really obtained the Soul Ability Hollowfication this easily?
That's amazing!
Gaoyu couldn't help laughing. "Looks like White and I are fated to meet. I just arrived, and I've already seen such a good show."
"Indeed." Aizen made no attempt to hide that this was Gaoyu's doing. He studied White's transformation closely, then quickly went to the instrument to examine his soul data.
In the end, White completed his evolution. Horns sprouted from his head, and his appearance was now exactly like the White from the manga.
Gaoyu went over as well and leaned in for a closer look.
White seemed to have gained tremendous power from completing his evolution, enough for his consciousness to become clear. As soon as Gaoyu approached, White opened his eyes.
"Well, looks like this guy's awake."
Gaoyu turned to Aizen. "Captain Aizen, what are you planning to do with him now?"
"Test him."
Aizen's eyes still held the shock of White's creation, and even a touch of excitement.
After all, for someone like Aizen, it was difficult for anything to stir up such a powerful reaction in his otherwise placid heart.
His expression reminded Gaoyu of the manga, when White had chosen Masaki Kurosaki as his host. Aizen had looked surprised, and excited by the unexpected turn.
Gaoyu was a little excited himself. After all, he'd gained a Soul Ability just like that. It was practically as if he'd gotten it for free. Who wouldn't be thrilled?
Of course, it wasn't exactly free. He'd offered up a fragment of his own soul.
But Aizen had decided to test White's abilities by having him start killing people.
Naturally, they couldn't kill anyone in Seireitei.
"Kaname."
Aizen addressed Tōsen. "Send White to the Human World. Let him practice on the Shinigami there first."
"...Yes." Tōsen nodded and went to make the arrangements.
"...I'm not interested in this sort of thing," Gaoyu said.
He had no interest in watching Aizen entrap Shinigami.
"Go keep Captain Kyōraku company."
Aizen replied indifferently.
His focus had shifted to White, so it didn't matter to him whether Gaoyu stayed or left.
Gaoyu nodded and walked out.
He had spent so long in Aizen's laboratory that the sky outside was already growing dim.
The sun was sinking, and the streets held traces of decay.
The laboratory behind him seemed to be the source of that decay, its silhouette twisting like some demon under the last rays of the setting sun.
Gaoyu walked away from the laboratory, putting more and more distance between himself and that den of evil.
He'd made plans to have drinks with Shunsui Kyoraku today, which was rare, and he couldn't very well break them.
Shunsui was a very busy man—or, well, it wasn't quite right to call him busy.
He was a very important man. Yes, an upper-class gentleman.
He was a Captain and an upper-ranking noble. Although he didn't care much about his status himself, people weren't going to seek him out for drinks.
They usually drank with a few Vice-Captains, Third Seats, or Fourth Seats. Who would invite a Captain out for a drink?
With a Captain at the table, they couldn't even enjoy their drinks properly.
People didn't often drink with those who were too far above them in social standing.
A Vice-Captain was only one rank below a Captain, but that single step was one that countless people couldn't cross even after years of trying.
Once someone mastered Bankai and became a Captain, they were worthy of a place in Soul Society's million-year history!
That was why, even now, Gaoyu still hadn't managed to obtain Shunsui Kyoraku's Soul Ability. His favorability was stuck at fifty.
No wonder the hearts of these century-old Captains were so guarded. You wanted to get close to him—who did you think you were?
Did you think that sharing a meal and drinks made you friends? If that were true, then he'd have countless friends, given how many people he'd eaten and drunk with.
A noble who'd lived for hundreds of years had a heart's wall thicker than a city wall.
Especially someone like Shunsui Kyoraku. He was a master of the art of guile, and not only had he lived a long time, he was an old fox. Someone like him wasn't easy to befriend.
It might've been simpler with Jūshirō Ukitake.
Unfortunately, Ukitake was sickly, and Gaoyu hadn't even met him once yet.
What a shame.
Only Gaoyu, Rangiku, and Kyōraku were drinking together today. Their other drinking buddies hadn't come.
Shūhei and Shiba had only recently been promoted to Vice-Captains, so they had a lot to take care of. They hadn't been out drinking much lately.
Only Gaoyu and Rangiku, the two carefree ones, always had time.
They were drinking in the Sixth District again, commonly known as Noble Street. The restaurants there were naturally upscale, luxurious, and elegant.
Of course, every place had its own levels of prestige.
Even in a place like the Sixth District, there were high-end and ordinary restaurants.
The place they'd chosen this time was considered a fairly ordinary izakaya in the Sixth District. It was called Daruma House.
Being ordinary for the Sixth District didn't mean it was actually ordinary.
"Gaoyu! What took you so long?"
As soon as Gaoyu entered Daruma House, he heard Rangiku's voice.
He walked into the private room and saw that Rangiku and Shunsui Kyoraku had already started drinking.
Gaoyu's mouth twitched. He said, rather helplessly, "Come on, you two. Seriously?"
"I'm the one paying for this meal, but the host hasn't even arrived and you've already started eating and drinking. Is that really okay?!"
"Come on, don't worry about it!" Rangiku said with a completely unembarrassed smile. "Besides, you're the one who was late. You can't blame us."
Before you continue