The Unforgiven from Shinigami
Fourth Division.
Inside the General Infirmary.
The ward where Marechiyo Ōmaeda was placed was a special ward that ordinary soldiers and Seated Officer were not allowed to enter.
Only Retsu Unohana, Kiyōnosuke Yamada, Isane Kotetsu were able to freely enter and exit.
The purpose was to prevent the news from leaking and causing chaos in the noble street.
To the outside world, Marechiyo Ōmaeda has always been carrying out special missions involving Stealth Force.
Even his family didn't get the truth.
Around seven in the morning, the sunlight was exceptionally bright. White curtains were drawn in front of the window, and an occasional gust of wind would lift them up.
The cicadas outside the tree began to chirp.
The next time the curtains were blown open by the wind, there were two more people in the ward.
Then, Nemu Kurotsuchi stepped onto the window frame, carried the silver metal box, and jumped in, pulling the curtains open completely.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi glanced down, seemingly lost in thought, and said, " Nemu, check his body for any abnormalities first."
"Yes, Mayuri."
She replied, stood the metal box upright beside the bed, and began pressing the buttons on the side.
Black lines emerged from the silver box, followed by a Rubik's Cube-like rotation, changing the box's shape into a control panel.
A pale blue light screen appeared in the air from the tabletop.
White lines peek out from the grid defined by the frontmost lines, with circular patches at their tips.
Nemu Kurotsuchi tapped her fingers a few times, and the threads, as if possessing a life of their own, surged towards Marechiyo Ōmaeda, who was lying on the hospital bed.
Soi Fon watched the whole thing, not understanding, but deeply shocked. This guy must have some real skills to become the second-generation director of the Research and Development Institute.
The threads were attached to various parts of Marechiyo Ōmaeda's body, and a green figure appeared on the light screen, while its hands, feet, throat, and eyelids appeared crimson.
"Oh, this is really interesting," Mayuri Kurotsuchi said, walking to the front of the stage and tapping her fingers on it, changing the pattern several times.
What does that mean?
Soi Fon was full of questions, but she didn't dare to ask, as that would expose her ignorance. So she could only stand aside and watch, pretending that she understood.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi rested his chin on his hand, tilted his head, and asked, "Who caused his condition?"
"Caused by sawgrass."
Soi Fon gave a brief reply.
Sawtooth grass... Mayuri Kurotsuchi realized that it was the emblem of the 11th Division. The current Kenpachi would never do such a thing.
That beast doesn't even understand Shikai, and I recently heard it's been putting effort into learning swordsmanship.
The sawtooth grass likely alludes to the former Kenpachi, Sōya Azashiro.
This ability looks somewhat like a fusion organ.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi considered the scope of the Research and Development Institute's search of Sōya Azashiro, and coupled with Soi Fon's cautious attitude, could they possibly be eavesdropping?
He scratched his chin and said, " Sōya Azashiro, you should be listening here."
"Nah!" Soi Fon's expression changed.
He completely ignored it and said to himself, "For me, getting a new pair of hands, feet, and throat is not a difficult thing."
You either untie the fusion yourself, or I'll tear it apart and replace it with a new one.
You have five seconds to think. Five, four.
The red part of the image on the screen is gradually turning green. The moment it turns completely green means that the organs of Sōya Azashiro been unfused with those of Marechiyo Ōmaeda.
I see.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi was certain of Sōya Azashiro's abilities, and also certain that if the fused part were destroyed, Sōya Azashiro be damaged. He truly gained a lot.
"You bastard!"
Soi Fon was enraged. She jumped up, twisted her waist, and kicked out.
She hinted at it subtly because she didn't want Sōya Azashiro to discover the problem, but this guy just blurted it out.
Nemu Kurotsuchi quickly raised her hand to block her foot, "Please stop, Captain Soi Fon."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi spread his hands and said calmly, "You seem to have misunderstood our contract. My only purpose in coming here is to treat Marechiyo Ōmaeda."
Other matters are not included in our agreement.
You still have to pay the price you owe, you dignified Second Division Captain.
Surely you wouldn't break your promise?
"... You scum," Soi Fon's anger was choked back, and she spat out these words through gritted teeth before falling to the ground without continuing her attack.
This time she was careless; she knew the other person was a scumbag, yet she was still so negligent.
"Cough cough."
The somber atmosphere was broken Marechiyo Ōmaeda in her hospital bed, coughed.
His drowsy consciousness gradually returned, but the darkness filled him with fear, and he couldn't help but shout, "No!"
The man rose at the sound, sat up on the bed, his hands instinctively touching his throat, his beady eyes brimming with tears, "I... I can finally speak, sob sob sob."
Tears welled up in his eyes, but then he realized there were other people in the room. " Captain Soi Fon!"
Weighing 300 pounds, he rushed towards the petite Soi Fon like a child rushing into its mother's arms, seeking comfort.
Soi Fon, her anger finding an outlet, kicked him in the slightly gaunt face and said expressionlessly, "Get out of here."
Marechiyo Ōmaeda was tripped by a foot and fell straight to the foot of the bed. She rubbed her chin and said with a wronged expression, "This is too much! Your important subordinate just woke up from a crisis, and you don't even offer her any comfort."
"Idiot, in our line of work, it's normal to disregard life and death."
Soi Fon, with a straight face, asked without revealing how anxious she had been earlier, "What exactly did you find out about being plotted against by Azashiro?"
" The Noble Revival Society, led by the high-ranking nobleman Ryū Amakado, is planning to take down Captain-Commander Yamamoto on September 9th. They sound very confident."
Marechiyo Ōmaeda quickly revealed the information she possessed, "The meeting place is in the Spring Breeze Pleasure Quarter in the District 6."
"Is that so? You lead the team to seal off Spring Breeze Pleasure Quarter immediately, I'll go arrest Ryū Amakado."
Soi Fon immediately made arrangements to act before all the evidence was destroyed.
" Captain Soi Fon, I just woke up from a life-or-death crisis!" said Marechiyo Ōmaeda, her face filled with shock.
"Stop dawdling."
Soi Fon replied coldly that the medicine Unohana used was a sleep aid with no major side effects.
Besides, at a time when manpower is in dire need, how can we allow Marechiyo Ōmaeda to lie here leisurely on sick leave?
"Yes." Marechiyo Ōmaeda, looking utterly dejected, jumped off the hospital bed and followed Soi Fon out of the room using Shunpo.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi shook his head. He really wasn't up to par; this guy was far inferior to the former Sōji of the Stealth Force.
Without even thinking, is someone so easily exposed really worth helping out of Sōya Azashiro?
Unless he's lost his mind.
"Let's go, Nemu." Mayuri Kurotsuchi walked to the window, leaped with all her might, and jumped a hundred meters away. Without using Shunpo, she ran through the streets of Seireitei.
The First Cause of All Realms
Nemu Kurotsuchi restored the instrument to its silver box, hoisted it onto her shoulder, and followed behind him.
They hadn't run far when the Reishi in the street ahead surged, and a tall, slender figure blocked their path.