A Piece Beyond the Chessboard, Aizen's Gaze

Su Feng's sudden intimate gesture undoubtedly dealt quite a psychological blow to this sexy older beauty who had yet to fully mature.

Feeling the warmth from atop her head, a flush rose to Rangiku Matsumoto's cheeks, and her beautiful eyes even took on a slightly dazed look.

But very quickly,

she recovered, covering up her embarrassment with a hearty laugh. "Ha, as long as the pay is right, a few case files are nothing!"

Su Feng's hand slid down her soft orange hair before pinching Rangiku Matsumoto's cheek.

"You really have no ambition beyond that."

"Mmm, it feels even better than before. The things developed by the Department of Research and Development are actually pretty useful."

Before Rangiku Matsumoto could fly into a rage, Su Feng used Shunpo and vanished from the Office.

"I have some official business to handle. I'll leave the Office to you for now."

By the time she reacted, only Su Feng's voice remained echoing through the barracks.

Rangiku Matsumoto lightly bit her lower lip, resentment flashing through her eyes as she murmured in a voice only she could hear:

"You bastard, sooner or later, I'll..."

As though she had remembered something she should not have, two alluring blushes once again appeared on her lovely face.

Meanwhile, at the Fifth Division Barracks.

Inside the captain's private quarters, a refined figure sat upright in meditation atop a gray cushion, an dark-red desk placed before him.

Pale fingers lightly held a brush, moving across the white paper at an unhurried pace.

As the brush tip descended, its winding characters danced like dragons and serpents, carrying an air of effortless grace.

In terms of calligraphy alone, there were few in the entire Seireitei who could surpass him.

"My, my, Captain Aizen's calligraphy has grown even more profound!"

A flippant voice came from the doorway as a figure dressed in a black Shinigami Uniform slowly entered the room.

Beneath his short pale-purple hair, his eyes were narrowed. That false smile concealed the venomous snake lurking deep within his heart.

The loose Shinigami Uniform made his body appear thin and wiry. His slender hands were hidden in his sleeves, while his Zanpakuto rested against its white sash.

The Fifth Division Lieutenant, Gin Ichimaru.

"It is merely the inevitable result of frequent practice."

Aizen set down his brush, his face still carrying that gentle smile which made him seem kind and approachable.

"Gin, is there anything urgent you need to report?"

Gin Ichimaru's lips curled upward, like a fox whose scheme had succeeded.

"Well, of course it's some information about the Captain of the Ninth Division, Tsunayashiro Su Feng!"

"Just now, he defeated Third Seat Ikkaku Madarame head-on at the Eleventh Division Barracks and had him arrested."

"This new captain's way of doing things is completely different from what you expected, Captain Aizen!"

Aizen did not seem the least bit surprised by this information. His smile remained gentle.

"Don't misunderstand, Gin. I clearly gave two possible judgments at the time."

"Captain Su Feng acting decisively was one of them..."

Gin Ichimaru spread his hands. "Ha, then I apologize for what I said earlier."

"However, Captain Su Feng's intentions still fell outside the plan."

"He did not choose Tosen to become the Ninth Division's Lieutenant. Instead, he had Rangiku Matsumoto of the Tenth Division apply for a transfer."

"The position of Ninth Division Lieutenant has now passed Kaname Tosen by."

At that, Aizen's gaze paused slightly. "A lack of information truly makes it easy for one to misjudge."

His calm voice echoed through the empty room.

"This piece beyond the chessboard was clearly nothing more than a mediocrity."

In his plans, the Tsunayashiro Family, one of the Five Great Noble Clans, had not even appeared on the chessboard.

As for Tsunayashiro Su Feng, its primary heir, there was even less information about him.

What little information existed revealed everywhere that this heir was no more than a mediocrity.

Compared to the genius of the Kuchiki Family, he was not even in the same league.

Yet only three years had passed since his graduation from the Soul Reaper Academy.

That former mediocrity had unexpectedly leapt to captain-class strength. He had even defeated Kaname Tosen head-on in the Assessment Battle, causing a slight disruption to Aizen's plans.

"Perhaps he emerged reborn from his cocoon," Gin Ichimaru said casually with a smile.

An inscrutable light reflected off the black-rimmed lenses as Aizen lowered his gaze to the desk before him.

Ink traced across the white paper, displaying the perfection of masterful calligraphy.

Tsunayashiro Su Feng.

Just five simple characters, yet they revealed Aizen's state of mind.

After a long while,

his gentle face once again took on its usual smile, just as it had from the beginning.

"Gin, surprises often make things more interesting."

"Let us wait quietly for the game to unfold..."

Su Feng had long been mentally prepared for Aizen's attention.

From the moment he graduated from the Soul Reaper Academy and joined the Gotei 13, he had officially entered Aizen's sights.

Whether he was a genius or not did not matter. His status as the primary heir of the Tsunayashiro Family alone was enough to draw anyone's attention.

In the past, there had never been an example of a Tsunayashiro Family heir joining the Gotei 13.

Su Feng had undoubtedly set a precedent.

Of course, the main reason was that the Tsunayashiro Family estate was not particularly safe.

Tokinada Tsunayashiro alone was enough to leave Su Feng physically and mentally exhausted.

No matter how useless that guy was, he had been an Academy student in the same generation as Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake, and he had studied under Yamamoto Genryusai.

At the very least, he was captain-class.

Even without Katen Kyokotsu Karamatsu Shinju now, he was still an extremely dangerous person.

Given Su Feng's strength at the time, if he had remained in the Tsunayashiro Family estate, he likely would have fallen victim to Tokinada's schemes.

After all, the prerequisite for Tokinada Tsunayashiro becoming the Tsunayashiro Family Head had been the deaths of every heir before him.

He himself had only been the Last Seat of a Branch Family.

Before he was absolutely certain, Su Feng had no intention of making a move against that man.

Therefore,

he would cherish every opportunity to grow stronger.

Just like now.

North of the Ninth Division Barracks, on a small island surrounded by rivers on all sides.

Dense Kido Incantations were concealed beneath the sky, forming a semicircular Kido Barrier that enveloped the entire island without a single blind spot.

Dozens of Shinigami Soldiers dressed in black Shinigami Uniforms patrolled the island with complete focus, their spiritual pressure permeating the air.

This was the Prison, specifically used to detain criminals who had violated Seireitei law.

Unlike the Maggot's Nest, the Chamber of Penance, and the Central Underground Great Prison,

the criminals here still had a chance at redemption.

Of course, whether they had that chance depended entirely on the mood of the Captain of the Ninth Division—Su Feng himself.

When Su Feng arrived, the Kido Barrier opened accordingly.

A translucent, glowing Spiritual Pressure Bridge slowly extended from the island all the way to Su Feng's feet.