Unease in Spirit City

Spirit City.

A bright, pleasant morning.

Aizen Sousuke rose early and joined the morning training with the other Spirit Hall Academy students of his class.

Starrk, Barragan, Halibel, and the others were with him as well.

During the long-distance run, Aizen Sousuke kept his pace level with theirs. They lingered near the less crowded section of the long line and began talking.

Halibel, running to Aizen Sousuke's left, glanced at him calmly and asked,

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

Aizen Sousuke smiled faintly and nodded. His eyes were filled with warmth, as though he were discussing something utterly trivial.

"Of course. This is a perfect opportunity. The All-Continent Soul Master Competition will be held in a year. We must prepare early."

Barragan, running to Aizen Sousuke's right, said in a somewhat hoarse voice, "Even if we do not do this, we still have a chance to become Spirit Hall's representatives and join the Spirit Hall Team."

Aizen Sousuke shook his head. "No. Joining the Spirit Hall Team is only one part of my plan. Spirit Hall is targeting all of you quite heavily now. Haven't you noticed? It seems Lord Aizen, who introduced you here, did something extraordinary. With alternate candidates available, they will not give you any opportunities."

Starrk chuckled. "It does not matter if they do not give us a chance. We will conquer them with our strength. Aizen Sousuke, the method you conveyed to us works very well. I thought Lord Aizen would stop caring about us after he left. So he sent you to pass it on."

Aizen Sousuke nodded modestly. "It is my honor to convey Lord Aizen's orders. After learning this method, do you all feel that your Soul Power has improved further?"

Barragan gave a grunt. "The power of aging has grown much faster through this method."

Aizen Sousuke smiled brightly. "It is truly my honor to be of help to you. As for the plan I mentioned, I trust none of you will refuse to assist me."

At that moment, a youth with short pink hair and golden eyes ran over. With his delicate features, one might initially have mistaken him for a girl.

"Ah, how could such a mad plan possibly leave out Szayelaporro?"

Yammy, with dark skin, black hair, and a massive build, ran over as well.

"Just tell me whether there is food!"

The corners of Aizen's lips lifted slightly as he said calmly, "Of course. You will definitely get your fill."

Yammy burst into hearty laughter and patted his belly boldly.

"Then what reason do I have to refuse?"

The rest of the Espada who had entered Spirit Hall Academy with them all agreed to Aizen Sousuke's plan.

As he watched the young Soul Masters ahead sweat beneath the morning sunlight, Aizen did not regard them as people in the slightest. Instead, a strange excitement flickered in his eyes.

After a day of training ended, night gradually fell.

Once all the students had returned to their residences, Aizen Sousuke and the others went to an unoccupied corner of Spirit City and disguised themselves.

Aizen Sousuke drew his Soul-Cleaving Blade and remained alert to his surroundings. After confirming that no one was nearby and waiting for everyone to change clothes, they immediately set out.

Based on the intelligence they had gathered, Aizen Sousuke and the others began acting in separate groups.

Of the seven members of the Spirit Hall Team, only Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan lived in Spirit Hall. The rest resided within Spirit City.

Aizen Sousuke's purpose on this trip was to kill every one of them, along with all the alternate candidates.

Aizen Sousuke had obtained this intelligence from Tosen Kaname.

Following Aizen's orders, Tosen Kaname had secretly gathered a great deal of information about Spirit Hall. Aizen Sousuke, who had left Aizen's side, used Aizen's name to obtain those materials from Tosen Kaname.

Aizen Sousuke had also spent some effort earning Tosen Kaname's trust.

Following the names on the list, Aizen Sousuke began assassinating them one by one.

When they arrived at the first target's home,

the target's family was still awake. Szayelaporro took out the prepared sleeping drug and knocked everyone in the house unconscious.

Only after they had lost consciousness did they enter.

The man's parents lay unconscious on the sofa, while the target in the inner room had collapsed on the floor.

Aizen Sousuke calmly walked to the target's side. He extended the hand holding something, then opened it. A dim, translucent jade bead lay in his palm.

He placed the jade above the target's head. The target's entire body began convulsing, veins bulging as a phantom was pulled from his body and drawn into the dim jade bead.

After pushing it aside, he said, "Eat his Soul Power."

As soon as he spoke, the people behind Aizen Sousuke surged forward and surrounded the man. They each manifested their martial souls and placed their hands on the target's head.

His once plump, rosy body withered in an instant. Soul Power and vital energy flowed from the target's body into the others, strengthening them.

Aizen Sousuke looked at the jade bead in his hand and smiled kindly.

"I know you are hungry. I will feed you slowly. Tonight, you will definitely have a feast."

That night, Spirit City was exceptionally quiet. Every household extinguished its lights and entered the land of dreams.

A group of black-clad figures moved soundlessly beneath the night sky, incredibly fast. Ordinary people could not see them at all, and even if Soul Masters caught sight of them, they would only take it for an illusion.

The next morning, alarms rang throughout Spirit City.

All the residents of Spirit City were uneasy.

The matter drew the attention of Her Holiness the Pope, Bibi Dong.

Seated in the main hall, Bibi Dong looked at the report Yue Guan had presented and angrily threw it away.

"You are all useless! Spirit Hall Academy students died for no reason, and you cannot find a single clue?"

Unease showed on Yue Guan's effeminate face as he hurriedly explained.

"Your Holiness, the students' deaths are rather suspicious. Their manner of death is identical to that of the Soul Masters who have been dying continuously lately."

Bibi Dong looked at Yue Guan with icy eyes and asked,

"What? The same as the previous cases?"

Yue Guan lowered his head and replied, "Yes!"

Bibi Dong frowned slightly. "Heh. The main culprit behind those cases is still roaming free. How exactly are you doing your jobs?"

"Your Holiness, it is not that we have been slacking off. The other party's methods of concealment are simply too powerful!" Gui Mei hurriedly added from the side, sharing the anger Bibi Dong had directed at his brother Yue Guan.

"That is right. Everyone suspicious that night had an alibi. We also checked the entry and exit records for the month before and after, and questioned everyone involved. Those with suspicion lack the ability, those with ability lack the motive, and those with motive have too many people who can prove their alibis!" Yue Guan replied in a low voice.

"Hmph. Now that it has happened again, what do you intend to do?" Bibi Dong's voice was like the north wind of midwinter, cold to the bone.

Yue Guan promptly answered, "I believe this was not done by anyone on the surface. I believe another faction does not wish to see Spirit Hall grow stronger, so they are strangling Spirit Hall's promising talents in the cradle. From now on, I will investigate the other factions. I will certainly give Your Holiness a satisfactory answer!"

"Mm. I will await your news." Bibi Dong nodded and lightly waved her hand. "Dismissed."

"Yes!" Yue Guan and Gui Mei immediately withdrew from the main hall and began investigating the matter.

Seated in the hall, Bibi Dong tapped the armrest. After pondering for a moment, she muttered to herself, "Could someone have planted a spy within Spirit Hall? Which faction could it be? The Heavenly Dou Empire? The Star Luo Empire? Or the Seven Great Sects?"

Everything had gone exactly as Aizen Sousuke expected. After Barragan and the others devoured a great amount of Soul Power the previous night, they became enamored with the feeling and began helping Aizen Sousuke without reservation.

Yet he did not care about that in the slightest. Instead, he gazed into the distance.

"Lord Aizen, I wonder whether the environment I have created for you suits your wishes?"