After obtaining Aizen's autograph, Sōgo made his way to the entrance of the Fourth Division's barracks. Besides serving as a hospital for civilian Soul Reaper, this place mainly served as the Fourth Division's rest area and... 'laboratory'. Those Soul Reaper who didn't seem to die so easily were their 'experiments' for various drugs.
"Maybe I should go back..."
Sōgo stood at the entrance of the Fourth Division for a long time, but ultimately didn't have the courage to go in. He decided to wait until he had collected all the other people's autographs before coming back to find Sister Hana.
"Oh my god~ Isn't that Sōgo-kun? What's he doing standing at the entrance of our squad?"
Just as Sōgo was hesitating, a cold voice came from behind him.
"Oh no... I forgot that Sister Hana went to take the assessment. This time, we've walked right into the line of fire."
Sōgo stiffened slightly, slowly turned around, and gave Sister Hana behind him an awkward smile.
"I just missed you, Sister Hana!"
"I just happened to be passing by and stopped by to see you..."
Sōgo, struck by a sudden inspiration, smiled and began to speak to Retsu Unohana.
"Yeah?"
"Is that really the reason? My sister doesn't like children who lie."
After hearing Sōgo's words, Retsu Unohana walked up to Sōgo with a friendly smile. Despite being only 1.59 meters tall, her Sōgo Sōgo illusion that she was 1.95 meters tall.
"Is she the queen who secretly rules over the Gotei 13?"
Beads of cold sweat trickled down Sōgo's forehead as he silently thought to himself.
"I just wanted to ask you to sign something for me since I was on my way."
Sōgo finally succumbed to Sister Hana's powerful aura and took out the paper and pen he had prepared beforehand.
Sure!
Retsu Unohana looked at Sōgo, who was speaking the truth, smiled with satisfaction, and took the paper and brush from Sōgo's hand. Then, she wrote the four characters "Retsu Unohana" on the white paper in a flamboyant style.
" Sister Hana ~ I love you~"
Sōgo at the cheerful Sister Hana, Sougo was deeply moved. Sōgo would call Sister Hana the most cheerful person in the entire Gotei 13.
"My sister doesn't like children under 1,000 years old~"
"Of course, if you can meet my needs, then that's a different story~"
After hearing Sōgo's heartfelt confession, Retsu Unohana smiled kindly, then opened her slightly narrowed eyes. At the same time, a sharp killing intent locked onto Sōgo, and Retsu Unohana's right hand was already gripping the hilt of the Zanpakuto tied to her waist.
"Forget it! Sister Hana, I'm still just a child. I'm not worthy of your love..."
Sōgo glanced at Retsu Unohana, who was gripping the sword in her right hand, and his body trembled slightly before he Shunpo to escape...
"Teasing him and then running away, what a naughty kid. But as for Shunpo, he's already surpassed Tenjirō..." Retsu Unohana paused slowly, watching Sōgo display Shunpo skills that surpassed her reflexes. "Or perhaps, nearly a thousand years of waiting has made my body increasingly sluggish..."
Where is that child?
Retsu Unohana gazed at the clear sky above and muttered to herself.
"There are already three people, making four including myself. We're nine short of completing the entire Gotei 13. So, who's next...?"
Sōgo looked at the list in his hand, pondering his next prey.
With that thought in Sōgo went straight to the Eighth Division barracks.
"Hey, come here for a second!"
Sōgo, dressed in the Second Division Captain's haori, walked unimpeded into the Eighth Division's barracks. He casually grabbed a Soul Reaper looked to be of high rank and greeted him.
"Greetings Captain Shihoin!"
When the Soul Reaper saw that Sōgo had summoned him, he immediately scurried over and greeted him respectfully.
"Um!"
Where is your captain now?
After listening to the Seated Officer's words, Sōgo nodded slightly and then immediately inquired about his target.
"Captain... the captain isn't in the barracks right now!"
He said he seemed to have some urgent business, and then rushed off to Rukongai.
The Seated Officer was taken aback by Sōgo's words, and then replied with some confusion.
" Rukongai?"
What is Shunsui Kyōraku doing in Rukongai?
After hearing what the Seated Officer said, Sōgo frowned. As far as he knew, Kyōraku came from a high-ranking noble family, and no matter how he thought about it, he had nothing to do with Rukongai.
"I'm not too sure about that... but lately, Captain Kyōraku has been going to Rukongai every day on time."
Seated Officer scratched the back of his head lightly. Given his position, he was naturally unaware of the inside story and could only answer truthfully.
"Okay~ Thanks for your reply... I'll go and take a look at the rest myself!"
After hearing what the Seated Officer said, Sōgo's lips curled up slightly, and his eyes were filled with curiosity.
Rukongai, a city that looks quite grand from a distance, but upon closer inspection, reveals itself to be a rather dilapidated residence.
Shunsui Kyōraku, dressed in a floral outfit, is confronting a young Soul Reaper.
"That..."
Kyōraku gently scratched his cheek, a sheepish smile on his face, looking like he didn't know how to start the conversation.
"What are you saying now?"
"You are the culprit who brought the Ise Clan Family to this state of decline."
The young Soul Reaper standing in front of Kyōraku, the man who had just become the Third Seat of the Ninth Division, named Hideki Ise, angrily accused Shunsui Kyōraku of his extremely irresponsible behavior.
"Hey buddy, you can't say that."
Shunsui Kyōraku frowned after hearing Hideki Ise's words, but he didn't know how to defend himself, since the inside story couldn't be told to outsiders.
"Go back! Unless I'm dead, I won't let you enter the Ise Clan's gates."
Hideki Ise spoke coldly to Shunsui Kyōraku, his eyes filled with resentment.
If we were to ask who he resented the most among the Gotei 13, it would undoubtedly be Shunsui Kyōraku.
Originally, the Ise Clan Family, as a Shinto family, enjoyed an extremely special status in Soul Society. Although, as a male, he ultimately could not be listed in the family genealogy (this is important; the Ise Clan Family does have men, but only women can be listed in the genealogy and inherit the Eight-Mirror Sword, which is different from the Women's Kingdom where only women can be born), he was still proud to be a member of the Ise Clan. However, everything changed on that day, from the day his family married into the Kyōraku Family.
What was originally just an ordinary aristocratic marriage turned into a scandal involving the disappearance of the Eight-Mirror Sword, a divine artifact passed down through generations of the Ise Clan Family and capable of fighting against the gods... From that moment on, everything changed, to the point that the Ise Clan Family has now fallen so low that they have to move away from the noble district of Seireitei.
"That..."
Shunsui Kyōraku gently scratched his cheek, looking at Hideki Ise with some distress. He had already lost too much; he absolutely could not lose Nanao as well. His purpose in coming here was to protect Nanao. No matter what happened, he would not repeat the same mistake. He would never let 'that woman' and Lisa Yadōmaru's affair happen again.
"Stop talking. I will never let you kill her daughter again."
Hideki Ise glared at Shunsui Kyōraku and spoke in a cold voice.
"This is troublesome..."
Shunsui Kyōraku didn't dare to force his way in, so he just stood there until the sun was about to set before preparing to leave.
I'll be back tomorrow.
Before leaving, Shunsui Kyōraku reminded Hideki as usual.
"Get lost! But I advise you to give up!"
"Because no matter how many times you come here, I will absolutely not let you in."
Hideki Ise looked at Shunsui Kyōraku with the same disdainful gaze one would give a piece of trash. He waved his hand lightly at Shunsui, as if shooing away some annoying little animal.
"Well..."
Kyōraku sighed helplessly. Although he had unspeakable bitterness in his heart, he would not give up like this. Unless the other party handed over Nanao Ise to him, he would come here every day.
"Um, Captain Kyōraku, you seem to be in trouble, and it looks like it's a big problem."
Just when Kyōraku was feeling helpless, Sōgo, wearing the haori of the Second Division Captain, appeared beside Kyōraku and Hideki Ise in a flash.
"So... Sōgo?"
"No, no, it's Captain Shihoin..."
" Third Seat of the Ninth Division Hideki Ise, greets the Second Division Captain, Sōgo Shihoin."
When Hideki Ise Sōgo Shihoin before him in an instant, as if he had crossed space, he immediately knelt on one knee, still following the rule he had followed many years ago when he was studying at the Shin'ō Academy, offering the highest respect to the king and the five dukes.
"No need for that, just call me Sōgo, after all, we're classmates."
After hearing Sōgo Shihoin Ise's words, Sougo Hideki Ise helped him up from the ground and shook his head as he spoke.
"You... you still remember me?"
After hearing Sōgo's words, Hideki Ise's eyes welled up with tears.
"I remember you once intended to pledge allegiance to me, I wonder if that still counts?"
Sōgo gently rubbed his temples, recalling what happened back then. To be honest, so much time had passed that his memory was somewhat hazy.
"Of course... you saved my life back then, and from that moment on, my life has belonged to you."
Hideki Ise clasped his left hand over his heart, looking as if he were about to reveal his heart to Sōgo at any moment.
"In that case, you will report to the Second Division tomorrow. You will be transferred from the Ninth Division to my Second Division as the Eighth Seat, and you will also be appointed as the squad leader of the Stealth Force Fourth Division."
Sōgo smiled slightly after hearing Hideki's words, and gently patted the other's shoulder, looking very pleased with Hideki.
Actually, Sougo wanted to remove Halibel from his position as captain of the fourth division. After all, being a division captain was too conspicuous and could expose Halibel's status as a Hollow-level Hollow, which would cause panic in Soul Society and be difficult to deal with...
"..."
"Your promotion will be forever remembered by Hideki."
Upon hearing Sōgo's words, Hideki Ise immediately knelt on one knee, tears streaming down his face, and shouted loudly.
Although it seems he has been demoted from the Third Seat to the eighth seat, there are different divisions. How can the Ninth Division compare to the Second Division, which is controlled by the Shihoin Family? Moreover, he will also serve as the squad leader of the Stealth Force Fourth Division! It should be noted that the squad leader of the Stealth Force Division has more power than the vice-captain of a regular division, and some of his authority is even higher than that of the captain of the Gotei 13. It is a position with real power.
"Oh?"
Shunsui Kyōraku looked at the scene before him with slight confusion, wondering what Sōgo was up to.
"So now you're one of my soldiers, right?"
Sōgo gently patted Hideki Ise on the shoulder, smiling warmly. His smile was like the warm sunshine in the sky, capable of melting away all coldness. To put it simply, it was... Aizen's signature smile.
"Certainly."
Hideki Ise didn't hesitate.
"So, you'd agree to any order I give you now? Even if I told you to die right now?"
Sōgo continued to ask Hideki Ise, who was standing in front of him.
"Whatever you ask me to do, I will do it. Even if you ask me to die right now, as long as I die as a member of the Second Division, as long as I die as the captain of the Stealth Force Squadron, then I am ready to sacrifice myself at any time."
Hideki Ise looked at Sōgo with sincere eyes. The impact of his death would be different depending on his status. The death of the Third Seat of the Ninth Division might be like a feather falling into a lake, unable to cause even a ripple on the calm surface. However, the death of the Captain of the Stealth Force was like a pebble. Although it was small, it would definitely create ripples on the lake. Moreover, the compensation he received after his death was enough to support the Ise Clan Family for a hundred years.
"Very well, then Hideki Ise will obey!"
Sōgo sensed Hideki Ise's resolve, nodded slightly, and gave the order.
"I am here!"
Hideki Ise knelt on one knee before Sōgo, awaiting his orders.
"Now please step aside and let me and Ise Clan Family Captain Kyōraku in."
Sōgo was satisfied with Hideki Ise's attitude and then gave Hideki Ise his first order.
"Huh?"
Hideki Ise had already prepared everything, was slightly taken aback. He had thought Sōgo was going to entrust him with some kind of dangerous mission, but it turned out to be just this...
Hideki Ise stared blankly at Sōgo, his gaze lingering on Sōgo's face for almost a minute before he came to his senses.
" Lord Sōgo, you mustn't! Shunsui Kyōraku is wicked."
Hideki Ise stood up, looking as if he was afraid that Sōgo would be harmed by Kyōraku, and spoke repeatedly.
"Don't worry, Hideki, I've got everything covered."
Sōgo gently patted Hideki on the shoulder, his face bearing Aizen's signature smile.
As the saying goes, "One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near Aizen." Sōgo spent so much time with Aizen that he learned a thing or two from him.
"Yes, sir."
As it turned out, Aizen's smile was extremely effective. Hideki looked at Sougo smiling at him and felt Sōgo. For some reason, he knew that the man in front of him was worthy of trust and responsibility.
"Let's go in now, Captain Kyōraku."
After Sōgo finished doing all this, he turned to look at Shunsui Kyōraku standing beside him. At this moment, Sōgo had a faint smile on his face, looking calm and composed, as if he had everything under control, which startled Shunsui Kyōraku so much that he paused slightly.
"This person is not simple."
Shunsui Kyōraku observed Sōgo's calm demeanor and made an assessment of Sōgo in his mind.
"Good..."
Kyōraku accepted Sōgo's invitation and followed him into the Ise mansion.
(End of this chapter)