Playing Along, a Researcher Delivered to His Doorstep

"Oh my, how terrifying."

Gin Ichimaru's tone carried poorly concealed insincerity. "Who would have thought such a monster would appear in the Soul Society?"

"If not for Captain Su Feng, the casualties in Rukongai might have been unimaginable."

Su Feng replied with a smile, "I merely happened to be there. If I hadn't been carrying out a mission, I wouldn't have come to the Nigoku District."

"Compared to this strange Adjuchas, the Ryūdōji Clan massacre is what deserves more attention."

He had no desire to make idle conversation with Gin Ichimaru about this.

Given Gin Ichimaru's caution, there was no way he could pry anything out of him.

Research into this Adjuchas still needed to be left to a professional.

Since it involved the Soul King's Power and Artificial Menos technology, Su Feng believed he needed to find an expert to study it.

For instance, Mayuri Kurotsuchi of Squad 12.

"The Ryūdōji Clan... massacre?!"

Aizen's face appropriately showed shock as he asked in a startled tone, "Could it be that the Ryūdōji Clan members were killed by this Adjuchas?"

Although most of the Ryūdōji Clan had been exiled and the remaining members had moved out of the Noble District, they were still Lower Aristocrats by status.

At any time, the murder of Lower Aristocrats was something that warranted serious attention.

"Not exactly." Su Feng extended his right hand before the Adjuchas's corpse. "Several noble members led by Jushiro Ukitake brutally killed the Ryūdōji Clan members and sacrificed their lives to Mimihagi, the indigenous god of the Nigoku District."

Bakudo #39: Enkosen.

As he spoke, intense Kido light burst from his palm, instantly enveloping the massive corpse, which resembled a small mountain.

Gin Ichimaru had been probing from the sidelines the whole time. Su Feng was worried that he might not keep his Shinsō under control and punch a few more holes in the Adjuchas.

Who knew what deranged things that man would do just to collect data?

Better to seal it up first, just in case.

This was his trophy.

Enkōsen expanded drastically in an unconventional form.

What should have been a circular shield transformed under Su Feng's perfect control into a semicircular barrier that completely covered the Adjuchas.

"Captain Su Feng, you really are stingy!"

Gin Ichimaru took a few steps back and teased, "Are you worried I'll damage your trophy?"

"Not quite. It's simply that this Adjuchas holds certain secrets." Su Feng explained calmly. "It should be examined by professionals. Until then, it would be better to keep it protected."

Aizen lowered his head, unable to conceal his shock and surprise beneath his flat lenses.

He was not focused on the way Su Feng had cast Enkōsen. Instead, he was immersed in the news of the Ryūdōji Clan massacre.

It suited his persona perfectly.

As the most popular captain in the Gotei 13, Aizen was normally kind, generous, compassionate, and equally concerned for every life.

It was only natural that he could not come to terms with suddenly hearing such horrifying news.

Gin Ichimaru, meanwhile, still wore his ever-smiling expression. He even lightly tapped the Enkōsen barrier before him with his knuckles.

"I have to say, your mastery of Kido is truly astounding!"

"Someone as talented as you ought to serve as the Grand Kido Master in the Kido Corps."

"You flatter me." Su Feng accepted the praise without hesitation, his expression exceptionally calm and utterly free of embarrassment. "I still prefer the atmosphere here in the Gotei 13."

"There are plenty of talented people, and everyone speaks so pleasantly..."

As the two bantered, the Fourth Division squad members finally arrived.

Since there were no injured people, their Kaido techniques had no opportunity to shine.

Fortunately, Su Feng did not let them come all this way for nothing. He immediately dispersed the Enkōsen barrier and said, "I'll leave this thing to you. Take it back."

The appearance of the Adjuchas made everyone instinctively gasp.

They had seen plenty of ugly creatures, but never one this horrifying.

Its charred flesh gave off a heavy burnt stench. Countless eyes protruded from its body, opening and closing amid round air holes that made it even more grotesque.

The ferocious white bone mask on its enormous head had been pierced through, with red and white matter constantly seeping out. Six spiral horns were deeply embedded in the ground.

The Fourth Division members wore various expressions, but Seinosuke Yamada alone had his eyes light up at the sight of the huge creature. He even began feeling it all over, probing it continuously.

"Astonishing. What a perfect creation!"

"Though it has lost all signs of life, it still possesses immense research value."

"If we conduct an in-depth dissection, it may facilitate the successful completion of numerous experiments!"

Besides his astonishing mastery of Kaido, Seinosuke Yamada was also deeply versed in human manufacturing. He excelled at treating maimed patients through all manner of strange methods.

Because of this, Seinosuke Yamada was more infamous than renowned in the Soul Society.

"Captain Su Feng, may we first transport it to the Fourth Division barracks?"

Seinosuke Yamada did not know much about Su Feng, but he had learned a thing or two from his surname and from Kaname Tosen.

He still held a certain degree of respect for powerful people of high status.

Seinosuke Yamada merely had a venomous tongue, not a defective brain.

He would not treat Su Feng the way he treated Yanagawa Ki and Satoya.

Su Feng's gaze lingered on Seinosuke Yamada as he looked him over, memories concerning the man continuously surfacing in his mind.

Because of his exceptional Kaido techniques, Seinosuke Yamada would later be transferred to the Shin'ō Reijutsuin Medical Division to serve as Chief Representative, becoming a direct subordinate of the Five Great Noble Clans.

Later still, through his formidable human manufacturing techniques, he created an Artificial Human qualified to become a Soul King candidate—Hikone Ubuginu.

Of course, it was not his achievement alone, but it still indirectly proved just how skilled Seinosuke Yamada was.

In terms of research ability alone, he might not measure up to people like Kisuke Urahara or Mayuri Kurotsuchi, but he far surpassed the other members of Squad 12.

At that thought, an idea arose in Su Feng's mind.

Recruiting Seinosuke Yamada would be far safer than recruiting Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

Until he could ensure immunity to Mayuri Kurotsuchi's bizarre methods, Seinosuke Yamada was undoubtedly the best choice.

"Of course."

Su Feng nodded and said in a tone that brooked no refusal, "However, I need to observe the entire dissection process of this Adjuchas, and I must also review all relevant data."

Seinosuke Yamada's expression froze slightly. Confusion flickered in his eyes, and after hesitating for a moment, he replied:

"As for that, I will need to seek Captain Unohana's approval."

When he mentioned Retsu Unohana, undisguised respect appeared on his face. "The Research Lab contains many unfinished test subjects. They are extremely important."