Death Knocks!

"I'm not guessing. Say it or don't,"

Aizen's expression was blank, showing no interest in playing word games with the other man.

Although Kisaragi Akira hadn't answered directly.

Aizen, based on his understanding of the man, believed he was likely capable of it.

Gathering the spiritual particles of the deceased, making them reappear in this world, and then conversing with them.

Was this the power of Mimihagi?

Or was it related to Kisaragi Akira?

Countless thoughts swirled and intertwined in his mind until his attention was once again drawn to the other man.

"Heh, you don't think you're in the clear just because they're dead, do you?"

To Aizen's astonished gaze, Kisaragi Akira directly moved the red offering table in front of the dead Shinigami's corpse.

Incense and candles were lit, a bell was gently shaken, and a teacup was filled with clear water.

"In the name of the Kisaragi Shrine Priest, I offer sacrifice to the One-Eyed Great Deity, Mimihagi..."

Kisaragi Akira's fingers danced like butterflies, forming one strange and sacred hand seal after another. As he chanted, he also meditated on the object of his sacrifice in his heart.

Aizen watched calmly, attempting to understand this unique sacrificial method in his own way.

He released his Reiatsu, covering the entire area.

At this moment, Aizen's Reiatsu perception was amplified to its limit, capturing any subtle changes that might occur in the air.

Spiritual particles were flowing, like water, like a gentle breeze, like the bright moon...

Wait!

Aizen's eyes widened slightly as he sensed something unusual.

As the sacrificial ritual progressed, it was as if some invisible force was present, freezing the spiritual particles of the deceased, which had been dispersed, in their current state, and finally gathering them into the clear water in the teacup.

He tried to capture the source of this power.

When he traced the faint fluctuations, he was shocked to discover that with his current Reiatsu, he could not trace its end.

The power was like a thread, continuous and unending, reaching far to the east.

Aizen narrowed his eyes slightly, looking in the direction where the power disappeared, and a rough idea formed in his mind.

Nikkotsu District, the One-Eyed Deity Shrine.

While he was attempting to trace the source, Kisaragi Akira had already dealt with the spiritual particles of the rogue Shinigami.

A face filled with terror and disbelief appeared on the surface of the teacup, thrashing about like a headless fly, trying to escape the cage-like restraint.

However, no matter how hard it tried, it could not escape.

"I'm curious, what was your motive for committing such a serious crime?"

Kisaragi Akira then dipped his finger into the teacup.

In a short while, his brow furrowed, then furrowed even tighter, his eyebrows almost touching.

"It's truly..."

"Extremely insane."

Kisaragi Akira casually shattered the cup, dispersing the gathered spiritual particles within, completely extinguishing the scar-faced man's life.

"Just because of a verbal dispute, you killed his entire family."

Aizen's eyebrows twitched slightly, but he showed no surprise.

In his understanding, many evils existed in this world.

Cases like the scar-faced man, who would kill an entire family at the slightest disagreement, were not uncommon in the records of the Soul Society.

When people possess power that does not match their state of mind, their mentality often undergoes subtle changes.

Good or evil, it is only a matter of a single thought.

"Alright, since we know the motive and the culprit has been apprehended."

Kisaragi Akira clapped his hands and began to pack away his tools.

From the incense and candles to the bell, they were all rewards obtained from daily draws. Although they were not very useful, they were definitely high-quality compared to similar products on the market.

It was worth mentioning that rewards obtained like this could be stored in the system's exclusive space.

Of course, this was only for inanimate objects.

The wild rabbit he had drawn a few days ago could not be stored at all.

With no other choice, he had to slaughter it and, with tears in his eyes, eat several large bowls of rice.

Aizen was already accustomed to Kisaragi Akira's actions.

He put the incense and bell into his pocket, yet his pocket showed no bulge. This was child's play.

Before this, he had seen Kisaragi Akira pull a brand-new bedstead out of his crotch.

Although he couldn't fathom how he'd managed to stuff it all in there, Aizen had made up his mind: he would never touch Kisaragi Akira's belongings again.

Who knew where a lunatic like that had been keeping those things before?

Retrieving the Zanpakuto of the scarred man, the two cleaned up the scene and prepared to head back the way they came.

This mission hadn't been particularly difficult; even other Elite Academy Students could have handled it, albeit with a bit more trouble.

The gap between an ordinary Shinigami Squad Member and an Elite Academy Student wasn't actually that large.

Of course, the gap between them and Kisaragi Akira or Aizen was somewhat absurdly exaggerated.

The mere eruption of their Reiatsu was something no ordinary Shinigami could contend with.

"Sosuke, let's go."

Kisaragi Akira glanced at Aizen, who was still scanning the surroundings, and urged him on: "Time waits for no one. If we head back early, we might still make it in time for dinner at the Shin'o Cafeteria."

"They're serving special tofu dishes tonight!"

Aizen cast a sidelong glance at Kisaragi Akira, said nothing, and turned to follow him.

The guy couldn't remember his class schedule or his theoretical knowledge, but he remembered the weekly menu released by the Shin'o Cafeteria with perfect clarity.

Perhaps that was just his talent.

"I don't know if it's just my imagination."

Walking side by side with Kisaragi Akira down the empty street, Aizen spoke calmly:

"This mission doesn't seem as simple as it appeared on the surface."

Kisaragi Akira waved a hand, slamming it onto Aizen's shoulder with a boisterous laugh:

"Why overcomplicate things?"

"Deaths among commoners are hardly rare in the Rukongai."

"Only the top ten districts can maintain a stable life."

At this, the corners of Kisaragi Akira's mouth curled up: "And that is exactly what the commoners yearn for most..."

Hearing this, Aizen nodded.

Like Kisaragi Akira, he was a commoner born and raised in the Rukongai, so he naturally understood the "rules" here.

Compared to the districts where the nobles lived, the outer reaches of the Rukongai were more like hell...

However, just as the two figures vanished at the end of the street.

A faint shimmer rippled across the empty ground, and where there should have been nothing, a hazy, blurred patch appeared.

It looked as if the scene had been covered in a layer of white mosaic...

The two didn't travel slowly.

In fact, they moved even faster than when they arrived.

Aizen was slightly puzzled, but he could only attribute it to the guy beside him wanting to hurry back for a meal.

Leaving the Zenteiji District, Kisaragi Akira's pace slowed instantly.

He clenched his hands slightly, looked at Aizen beside him with lingering fear, and whispered:

"You must have noticed it too, right?"

"The anomaly in the Reishi?" Watching the unfamiliar expression on his face, Aizen frowned, confused.

Kisaragi Akira shook his head, looked back toward the Zenteiji District, and murmured:

"No!"

"It's the scent of death..."