"Whose fragment do you want? Have I met them?"
Gin Ichimaru was completely unable to comprehend why Suzuki Makoto would agree to his request so crisp and decisively. It was so sudden that the various backup plans and scripts he had prepared beforehand instantly jumbled together into a mess; he froze for several seconds before he could even react.
"It is... the 3rd Seat of the 10th Division, Rangiku Matsumoto."
"Oh, I've met her. That's no problem then, as long as I can distinguish the Reiatsu."
Suzuki Makoto had, of course, met this future Lieutenant of the 10th Division in advance. However, for Gin Ichimaru, this succession of pleasant surprises was evidently a bit too much of a shock.
"You—trust me that much?"
"Actually, given your contributions, you are fully qualified to make such a request of Aizen. It's simply that once you make this request, your motives for following Aizen would inevitably arouse suspicion, which is why you've never dared to ask, right?"
"So, in the end, it's nothing really. I am merely handing over the reward you deserve for these past years. As long as you aren't dead set on standing on the side of the Nobles, I am very happy to provide you with some help. As for your life or whatever, keep it safe. A person can only create value while they are alive."
The man waved his hand and turned to step into the Senkaimon.
"If you have time, help me look after the Yellow Turbans. I remember your 3rd Division has always been responsible for that area of the Rukongai."
"Yes."
Watching Suzuki Makoto's figure disappear, Gin Ichimaru felt an emptiness wash over him, as if he were stepping not on solid ground, but on cotton.
He had originally thought that Suzuki Makoto must also be an ambitious schemer, and he had even prepared himself for the other party to propose various conditions. Yet, the result was just this?
Gin Ichimaru took a deep breath, suppressing all the messy thoughts to the bottom of his heart. Suzuki Makoto had merely agreed to his request; Rangiku's soul fragment was not yet in his hands. Whether the other party would reveal their conversation to Aizen in its entirety was also an unknown variable.
He stared at Kaien Shiba, who was still unconscious, his mind having long since drifted to the nine heavens.
*
Meanwhile, Suzuki Makoto had already returned to Las Noches.
"Lord Suzuki, Lord Aizen says that after you return, please proceed directly to the top of the dome. He will be waiting for you there."
The Arrancar servant, who had been waiting for a long time, spoke respectfully.
It seemed Aizen indeed had further plans for the Hogyoku; otherwise, he wouldn't have prepared the experimental setup so quickly.
With a flash of Shunpo, Suzuki Makoto appeared atop the dome of Las Noches.
"Are there any new gains from the Quincy side?"
"Lackluster, to say the least. After all, Soken Ishida is just one person; compared to a nation, he is far too lacking. Although he has netted some Quincies from the World of the Living, they are merely fish that slipped through the net. Even their heritage is a complete mess; they are currently still following him to learn basic knowledge."
Suzuki Makoto shook his head with waning interest and looked at the Hogyoku in Aizen's hand.
"Forget it, let's just deal with the Hogyoku's problem directly."
"Very well. Can Suzuki-kun explain in detail what exactly is wrong with this Hogyoku?"
"The discrepancy between the things added before and after is too great, and there is a significant difference in purity. Especially the parts involving the Soul King fragments—it is simply the difference between panning for gold in sand and picking sand out of gold."
This blunt critique did not cause Sosuke Aizen any dissatisfaction. He concentrated on recalling every detail from when he created the Hogyoku, then slowly nodded.
"You are correct. When I first started creating the Hogyoku, my Kyōka Suigetsu could only fool the teachers at the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy and some Seated Officers. Therefore, the only materials I could select were the Soul King fragments I scavenged from the Rukongai."
Speaking of this, Aizen hesitated rarely for a moment before looking at Suzuki Makoto.
"This is a sin I once committed against those commoners. The soul disappearance incidents also involved ordinary commoners from the Rukongai whom I dragged into it. I did not intend to hide this, I just wanted to find a better opportunity—preferably after I could make amends for this past sin."
Suzuki Makoto's expression was calm beyond his expectations.
"I know all of that, of course."
"Then why didn't you say it earlier?"
"Because you are indeed helping me deal with the Seireitei and the Nobles. If every crime committed in the past had to be reckoned, then no one in the entire Zaraki District would be able to survive. Even the entire outer districts are like this."
The man looked at Aizen very candidly.
He had understood this point long ago, back when he first arrived in this world and chatted with that old man.
Aizen's mouth curved into a slight smile as he pushed the Hogyoku in his hand toward Suzuki Makoto.
"I will clean up the Nobles of the Seireitei without leaving a single one behind, Suzuki-kun."
"On behalf of the Yellow Turbans, I thank you in advance, Captain Aizen."
*
"Captain Ichimaru."
"Lieutenant Suzuki, is something the matter?"
"Mailing a letter."
Suzuki Makoto handed the letter in his hand to Gin Ichimaru.
Ever since the 3rd Division entered the Rukongai to confront the Yellow Turbans, affairs in the Rukongai had basically been handled by Gin Ichimaru. This was also why, when the Nobles wanted to extend their reach into the Gotei 13, the first person they sought out was Gin Ichimaru.
According to regulations, if Suzuki Makoto wanted to send a letter to the Yellow Turbans, it had to go through the 3rd Division. This inevitably involved passing through various inspections—of course, this was just a method to save face for both sides. After all, saying that Suzuki Makoto couldn't directly contact his own Zanpakuto within the Yellow Turbans would be utter nonsense.
Gin Ichimaru took the letter, smiling and nodding.
"Leave it to me, Suzuki-kun."
The two passed each other, as if their friendship was shallow enough only for a brief exchange of pleasantries.
After handing that letter over to the Noble sleeper agent responsible for the inspection, Gin Ichimaru pinched the bead wrapped in Reiatsu in his hand. The turbulence in his heart was firmly locked beneath his hypocritical smile.
It actually succeeded?!
He had already probed it. Inside that small sphere of Reiatsu, sealed within was precisely Rangiku Matsumoto's soul fragment.
The thing he had bitterly pursued for a hundred years had been achieved so smoothly?
Sosuke Aizen showed no reaction, and Suzuki Makoto did not ask him to pay any further price. Rangiku's soul fragment had simply fallen from the Hogyoku into his hands.
Suddenly, Gin Ichimaru felt an inexplicable sense of emptiness.
For so many years, the goal he had been pursuing was completed—so what meaning was left in his life?
He took a deep breath, his steps never faltering, and began to think about how to secretly return this soul fragment.
After that, I'll just follow Lord Suzuki's words and look after the Yellow Turbans a bit more.
Upon the face of Gin Ichimaru, who now had no more desires or demands, the smile that never disappeared seemed to have gained something indescribable.
____
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