The Second Division's Summons

After Wang Xun had spent a night recuperating in the Fourth Division, a steady knock came at his door early the next morning.

Wang Xun got up and opened the door. Outside stood a petite girl whose posture was straight as a pine.

She wore a close-fitting black combat outfit, with a black cloth covering all but the upper half of her face.

Her short black hair was neat and tidy, and her features were attractive but exceptionally cold. Her icy eyes rested calmly on Wang Xun.

Wang Xun recognized the outfit as the standard uniform of the Second Division's Stealth Force, First Division, Punishment Force.

"Wang Xun, fifth-year student at Shin'ō Academy?"

"That's me."

Wang Xun nodded.

"By order of Lady Yoruichi Shihōin, Second Division Captain and commander-in-chief of the Stealth Force, you are summoned to the Second Division barracks immediately."

"You will undergo formal questioning and verification of the facts concerning the unconventional Menos Grande attack during your practical training in the World of the Living, and the attack on your team by Hasegawa Shinjirō, formerly the Fifth Division's Sixth Seat. Follow me."

Wang Xun noticed that when she mentioned Lady Yoruichi, a trace of extremely subtle, almost reverent admiration flashed in her eyes.

"Sorry for the trouble."

Wang Xun replied, closing the door and following half a step behind her.

The girl looked at the two Fifth Division Shinigami by the door.

"The Second Division is taking him into custody now. Captain Hirako is also at the Second Division barracks at present, so you may return to your division."

Hearing that, the two rubbed their aching necks, finally able to relax.

As they walked down the quiet street, Wang Xun studied the girl and asked curiously, "I didn't expect the Punishment Force to personally summon a student. Is Captain Shihoin paying close attention to this matter?"

The girl walking ahead paused almost imperceptibly. She didn't turn around, but answered him.

"A Seated Officer defected and attacked Spiritual Arts Academy students. The matter is serious, and Hollows are involved. The Stealth Force naturally has a duty to investigate every detail."

She answered in a strictly matter-of-fact manner.

"I see," Wang Xun said with a faint smile. "Thank you for your efforts. May I ask your name?"

This time, the girl finally turned her head and glanced at him. A trace of thought flashed through her icy eyes, but they quickly returned to their usual stillness.

"Don't ask irrelevant questions. If you have the energy for that, you'd be better off picking up the pace. Don't keep Lady Yoruichi waiting."

Wang Xun said no more. He followed the girl swiftly through the streets of the Seireitei until they reached the barracks of the Second Division, renowned for its speed and secrecy.

The barracks' interior seemed more intricate and expansive than its exterior suggested.

Led by Soi Fon, they passed through several silent corridors and finally arrived at a spacious, lavishly furnished meeting room, brightly lit throughout.

There were already people in the room.

The first person Wang Xun saw was a tall, lean man with long blond hair, wearing a Captain's Haori.

It was Shinji Hirako, the Fifth Division Captain, whom Wang Xun had met once in the World of the Living.

His customary carefree smile had faded considerably.

He gazed somewhat pensively at the empty floor ahead as he spoke with the man beside him.

"This is Fifth Division business. What are you butting in for?"

The man beside him wore a bamboo hat and a patterned kimono, with a somewhat dissolute, free-spirited air.

Wang Xun recognized him as Shunsui Kyōraku, the Eighth Division Captain.

"A Seated Officer defecting is no small matter. As an intelligence unit, it's only natural for the Eighth Division to come and find out what happened."

"Tch."

Shinji Hirako clicked his tongue and looked away.

Shunsui Kyōraku held down his bamboo hat with one hand, while the other seemed to reach habitually for the sake flask at his waist. He hesitated, then restrained himself.

He then glanced sideways, studying the newly arrived Wang Xun with curiosity.

"Oh, here he is."

Shunsui Kyōraku spoke first, his tone relaxed as he tried to ease the overly serious atmosphere.

"You're Wang Xun, right? I'm Shunsui Kyōraku, captain of the Eighth Division, and this is Captain Hirako."

"This matter is a little complicated, which is why we asked you to come. But don't be nervous. We just want to find out what happened."

Shinji Hirako turned his gaze to Wang Xun, his expression complicated.

"Hasegawa... was my subordinate. I bear responsibility for what he did. I'm sorry you got caught up in it."

"Can you go over what happened in detail again? Especially when he attacked you-what he said and what he did. The more detail, the better."

His tone was serious, carrying an urgency to uncover the truth, but Shunsui Kyōraku interjected again.

Just then, a window on one side of the room slid open without a sound. A black figure, agile as a cheetah, flipped lightly through it and landed silently.

The newcomer had healthy, light-brown skin and dazzling long purple hair tied in a ponytail. Her golden eyes held a catlike cunning and curiosity.

She wore a close-fitting shihakushō that allowed her to move freely, with her Captain's Haori hanging casually open over it.

"Yo, looks like I'm not late."

Yoruichi Shihōin, Second Division Captain and commander-in-chief of the Stealth Force, made her entrance with a cheerful smile.

Her gaze immediately fell on Wang Xun, and she looked him up and down, her eyes full of interest.

Instead of taking the seat at the head of the room, Yoruichi walked over to the girl who had brought Wang Xun and threw an arm around her shoulders.

"That's my Little Soi Fon! You brought him here so quickly. Great job, great job~"

"L-Lady Yoruichi..."

Soi Fon's cheeks reddened slightly. She felt that Lady Yoruichi was being a little too casual and not quite following proper protocol, but she was powerless to stop her.

"All right, enough of that. Wang Xun, go ahead and answer Captain Hirako's question."

Yoruichi's expression turned serious again as she looked at the fifth-year student at the center of the maelstrom.

"But what I'm more curious about is why Hasegawa ordered that Menos Grande to attack you, and why he attacked you himself."

"If you have any ideas, you can report those too."

When Yoruichi had finished speaking, she leaned against the wooden table by the head seat and snapped her fingers at Soi Fon.

"Soi Fon, take notes."

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi."

Soi Fon deftly took paper and pen from her pocket, ready to record everything.

Wang Xun felt the scrutiny and probing gazes around him, some obvious and others hidden, but remained unruffled.

He faced Shinji Hirako and Yoruichi Shihōin and gave a slight nod.

The real investigation-or rather, his first formal contact with these high-ranking figures of the Seireitei-had only just begun.

Wang Xun looked at the captains before him and couldn't help wondering what would happen if he exposed Aizen now.

But unfortunately, without substantive evidence, his unsupported words alone would not convince these captains.

Besides, if he spoke out of turn and alerted the enemy...

With Aizen's cautious nature, he would never let Wang Xun, who intended to act against him, go.

Even now, Wang Xun wasn't sure whether the conversation in this room would eventually reach Aizen's ears.

Therefore, he needed to choose his words carefully and describe what he had encountered this time from an entirely objective perspective.

"Then, captains, I'll begin my report with the Konsō practical training."