Outside the Seireitei Soul Society, in the noodle shop where Sōgo and Aizen often 'met in secret'.
The noodle shop owner, his eyes vacant, kneaded the dough incessantly. At the table near him, Aizen, Gosuke, Kaname Tōsen Tosen were drinking sake and chatting idly.
" Lord Aizen, our plan has basically succeeded, but one of Sōgo-kun's subordinates was not teleported away as planned. This means that Sōgo-kun may have returned to Soul Society ahead of our original plan."
Kaname Tōsen preached with great rigor; that was his nature, and he approached everything with a serious attitude.
"Hmph~ I want..."
Aizen gently swirled the sake in his cup with one hand, and smiled slightly after hearing Kaname Tōsen's words.
"When did you start to think that I hadn't anticipated that some people wouldn't be teleported away?"
Aizen's expression was hidden under the bright lights; the glasses perched on his nose reflected the light, and the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, giving him an air of commanding authority.
"No, Lord Aizen, I'm just worried about the possibility that our plan might fail."
Kaname Tōsen hearing Aizen's words, Tosen's forehead was covered in sweat, and he looked unusually flustered. He was afraid that Aizen would think he was questioning his decision, so he quickly explained.
"The possibility of failure? Don't worry! Everything is under my control."
After hearing Kaname Tōsen's words, Aizen smiled slightly. At this moment, Aizen seemed not to be an ordinary mortal, but a great god who should stand in the sky, looking down on all living beings from above the clouds, arranging and controlling the fate of everyone in this world.
"Since you've already made Lord Aizen, I feel much more at ease."
After hearing Aizen's words, Kaname Tōsen nodded slightly, expressing his trust and respect for Aizen.
" Tōsen, you are overthinking things. There is nothing in this world that Lord Aizen cannot foresee."
Gosuke sat beside Tōsen and spoke softly.
"There's nothing in this world that even Aizen can't foresee, but even so, we should still prepare for the worst so that when the worst outcome happens, we won't be in too much trouble."
After hearing Kaname Tōsen 'Gosuke words, Tosen Kaname frowned and began to speak.
"Yes, yes, you're absolutely right. After all, you're the senior, right?"
Gosuke gave a perfunctory and insincere reply.
" Gosuke, your attitude as a junior is really annoying."
After hearing Kaname Tōsen Gosuke an eyebrow, his expression somewhat angry.
"Alright, Gosuke, stop arguing. I understand what you mean, so please stop arguing, or I'll become very unhappy."
Aizen listened to the bickering conversation between the two, and smiled slightly. His face remained smiling, but his voice was unusually cold, like a sharp steel knife, which could send a chill down one's spine with just a glance.
"..."
After hearing Aizen's words, the two of them froze on the spot, remaining silent.
"Understood, Lord Aizen."
"I understand, Lord Aizen!"
The two then stood up simultaneously, bowed slightly to Aizen who was still seated, and indicated that they understood Aizen's words.
"It's good that you understand."
"Then the entire Soul Society will be our stage from now on. Let's see how those incompetent Soul Reaper of the Gotei 13 are toyed with and manipulated by us!"
Aizen stood up as he spoke, and snapped his fingers at the ramen shop owner who had a blank expression.
"Huh? What's wrong with me?"
The ramen shop owner looked at the three empty bowls on the table, somewhat puzzled. He felt as if he had just fallen asleep, or perhaps he was just absent-minded.
You seemed to have fallen asleep.
"Have you been too tired lately?"
Aizen spoke to the ramen shop owner.
"Alas... I'm getting old. No matter how hard I try, age is still an insurmountable hurdle. After all, I'm different from you Soul Reaper who have long lifespans. With my weak spiritual strength, I'll probably return to the world soon."
The ramen shop owner's eyes flashed with a hint of melancholy as he spoke. People never want to die, even though the ramen shop owner had already died once in the World of the Living.
"I believe you will continue to live, after all, you still need to make ramen for me and Sōgo-kun. If you just disappear like this, where will Sōgo and I eat ramen?"
Aizen's face was filled with deep affection, and his eyes were full of sincere emotion. Although he was indifferent to ramen, his feelings for the ramen shop owner were genuine.
"Hahaha... There are so many people in this world who know how to make ramen. Even if I really disappear, there will be others who will make ramen. It's just a pity that in all the time I've run this shop, I haven't found a single apprentice I'm satisfied with. It seems that my ramen tradition may disappear completely soon."
The ramen shop owner smiled slightly after hearing Aizen's words. Although he was quite pleased with what Aizen said, he still chose to tell the truth. There were indeed quite a few people in this world who could make ramen. They couldn't be said to be countless, but they were certainly not rare. There would always be one or two people whose ramen tasted similar to his, and there would always be one or two ramen shops that suited the tastes of Aizen and Sōgo.
As time slowly passes, his ramen shop, his name, and even their signature ramen will eventually disappear into history and become a place no one mentions.
"There are indeed many people in the world who can make ramen, but your ramen is unique in the world; only you can make it. No matter how hard others try to research ramen, in my heart your ramen will always be the best."
Aizen continued speaking to his boss, his words truly seeming to come from the depths of his heart.
"Hahaha... Lieutenant Aizen, you really know how to talk. You've made this old man almost believe that my noodles are really that delicious."
The noodle shop owner burst into laughter. He was indeed somewhat pleased with Aizen's praise, but also a little embarrassed.
This isn't a compliment; it's simply stating a fact.
Aizen shook his head slightly at the noodle shop owner and said seriously, "Hahahaha... Alright, since you insist, I'll take it as you being serious. But it's a bit of a pity that no matter how good this noodle is, it will eventually be lost."
The noodle shop owner's words carried a hint of helplessness. Although he was genuinely happy today, the happiness was followed by increasing sadness. The thought that his skills could no longer bring joy to customers made him feel terrible.
"Why don't you teach me your technology?"
After listening to the noodle shop owner's words, Aizen remained silent for a while before asking a question.
"Um?"
The noodle shop owner was slightly taken aback after hearing Aizen's words, but then a look of joy flashed across his face.
"Really? Aizen- kun, are you really planning to learn and inherit my ramen-making skills?"
The noodle shop owner asked Aizen, who was sitting in front of him.
"Certainly!"
After listening to the noodle shop owner's words, Aizen nodded slightly.
"You said it, so you can't go back on your word."
Upon hearing this, the noodle shop owner quickly spoke to Aizen.
"I will not go back on my word. This is the result of my careful consideration, and I will definitely not go back on it. Please rest assured."
Hearing the Aizen shop owner's urgent voice and seeing his haggard face, Aizen spoke in a magnetic voice that warmed the hearts of listeners and inspired boundless trust.
"Great! Then come here every night at eight o'clock after you finish what you're doing! I'll share the skills I've learned."
I will impart all the ramen-related techniques I've researched to you without reservation, and from now on, I'll entrust the management of this ramen shop to you."
The noodle shop owner spoke excitedly to Aizen.
"Of course, I will definitely come."
Aizen smiled slightly after hearing what the noodle shop owner said.
You absolutely have to come! You absolutely have to come! You absolutely have to come!
The noodle shop owner looked haggard, his eyes were lifeless, and he kept repeating the same words, as if he had some kind of mental problem.
" Captain Aizen, then we shall retreat."
Sitting beside Aizen Kaname Tōsen and Gosuke simultaneously nodded slightly to Aizen, Aizen him farewell.
"Okay, you can leave now! There's nothing more for you to do here."
After listening to their conversation, Aizen nodded slightly, indicating his stance.
Following Aizen's statement, Kaname Tōsen and Gosuke vanished from the ramen shop in an instant.
"Remember to come! Remember to come!..."
Suddenly, only the noodle shop owner, who kept repeating the same sentence, and Sōsuke Aizen remained in the entire noodle shop.
"Let's see how the others checkmate me after I make this move."
Aizen smiled slightly as he looked at the noodle shop owner, who was still lost in his illusions.
On the other side... Tier Harribel and the others, who had been teleported away by the teleportation array, all arrived at their respective 'destination'.
With a dazzling white light, Tier Harribel slowly revealed her form. As she gradually materialized, she was greeted by a rain of arrows composed of countless Reishi. This was a very traditional Quincy technique, and even Menos Grande Gillian would not be able to withstand such a barrage of arrows.
Unfortunately, the opponents of these arrows today are not Gillian- level Menos Grande, but monsters among monsters that usually only exist in legends or in student study materials— Menos Grande among Menos Grande, known as the highest-ranking Menos Grande of the Vasto Lorde class.
"Um?"
Facing the rain of arrows, Tier Harribel drew his sword from his waist, gripping the hilt. Golden Spiritual Pressure gathered on the sword, transforming into a slash that hurtled towards the arrows. With a deafening roar, the slash collided with the arrows, creating a violent impact that ultimately neutralized each other's power.
"You've got some skills, Soul Reaper!"
Just as Tier Harribel had cleared away the rain of arrows above his head, a Quincy with a somewhat sinister look appeared before Tier Harribel.
Who are you people?
Tier Harribel's expression remained calm as he surveyed the Quincy before him with composed eyes.
"We are Quincy! Soul Reaper! We are your enemies!"
The Quincy looked at Tier Harribel and spoke coldly, mistaking him for Soul Reaper Tier Harribel of the black bodysuit Tier Harribel wore that concealed his Spiritual Pressure.
"The enemy... I understand."
Tier Harribel ignored the rest of what the other person said; it was enough for her to know that all these people in front of her were her enemies.
" Ola Azul!"
Tier Harribel channeled her Spiritual Pressure into the sword in her hand, and with the Spiritual Pressure radiating from her entire body, a golden slash resembling Getsuga Tenshō was unleashed from her blade.
In an instant, she cleaved the sinister-looking Quincy in front of her in two. The guy who dared to swagger up to Vasto Lorde -level Arrancar just because of his Menos Grande Blut ability was cleanly cut in half and lay on the ground lifeless.
To put it in perspective Quincy Vasto Lorde- level Menos Grande attack head-on using only their Blut is a top-tier expert, a high-ranking member, even within the Wandenreich, where the Quincy clan is teeming with powerful individuals. How could Quincy of this caliber possibly withstand an attack from Vasto Lorde- level Menos Grande?
"So... so strong!"
" Captain-level Soul Reaper?!"
Upon seeing Tier Harribel's attack, the remaining Quincy were instantly alarmed and hurriedly formed a battle formation.
"Boom!"
Tier Harribel's slash roared as it approached the Quincy who had formed their battle array. As Tier Harribel's attack drew near, it was blocked by the massive Spiritual Power shields in front of the Quincy Quincy.
"Call..."
The Quincy breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that Tier Harribel's attack had failed.
" Soul Reaper, we admit you're strong, but you're really unlucky, just because you ran into the two of us."
Even if you use all your strength, you still can't fight both of us at the same time.
Within the Quincy formation, two individuals whose auras were completely different from those of other Quincy stood at the very center. These two were Quincy from pure-blood families, possessing extremely terrifying power, though this terrifying power was only relative to ordinary Quincy.
"Full power? I don't recall you ever seeing that..."
After listening to what the others said, a hint of displeasure flashed across Tier Harribel's usually indifferent face. She sheathed her knife back into the scabbard strapped to her back, then extended her finger and gently hooked the iron ring on the hilt.
In an instant, Tier Harribel's sword flew out of its sheath, swirled and tumbled several times in the air, and landed in Tier Harribel's hand.
" Resurrección! Conquer him, Tiburón!"
As Tier Harribel uttered the release incantation in a cold voice, a terrifying Spiritual Pressure instantly descended from the sky, overwhelming the Quincy. At the same time, Tier Harribel completely revealed his identity.
"Xu... Menos Grande!!"
The Quincy felt the chilling Spiritual Pressure filled with ominous signs, and the white, bony material on Tier Harribel's body, exuding a wild aura and enveloping his vital areas. Their expressions changed instantly, for they knew that Tier Harribel was not a Soul Reaper at all, but a Menos Grande of unknown rank and extremely special.
(End of this chapter)