Soul Society.
Kazuma brought Kūgo Ginjō back to the Seireitei.
Ginjō stared at the towering white stone walls and the sprawling, ancient architecture, his eyes wide.
"So this is the headquarters of the Gotei 13? It's a fortress."
Although Ginjō was a Substitute Shinigami, this was his first time setting foot inside the Seireitei.
The sheer scale and solemnity of the military city left a heavy impression on him.
Kazuma led him back to the Seventh Division barracks. Hearing Kazuma's footsteps, Jin'emon hurried out to meet them.
"Captain, you're back! And this is..."
"Jin'emon, take him to the Ninth Division," Kazuma said, barely glancing at Ginjō.
Jin'emon looked puzzled but nodded. "Yes, Captain. But who is he?"
"Kūgo Ginjō. His current charge is armed treason against Soul Society, just toss him in the Ninth Division's underground detention block."
Jin'emon blinked in shock.
He had never imagined someone needing the Captain to personally make an arrest, let alone someone bearing such a massive charge.
He sized Ginjō up, but saw nothing physically remarkable about the man.
Without pressing the issue, Jin'emon bowed. "Understood. I'll transport him right away."
He gestured for Ginjō to follow. Ginjō didn't say a word.
He kept his head down, trailing behind Jin'emon like a man who had lost his soul.
Kazuma turned on his heel, heading straight for the First Division. He needed to report to Yamamoto.
"Captain-Commander, I have captured Ginjō. He is locked in the Ninth Division," Kazuma said, standing before Yamamoto's desk.
Yamamoto nodded slightly. "Did everything go smoothly?"
Kazuma hesitated for a fraction of a second. "There was a complication during the capture."
Yamamoto frowned, his grip tightening on his cane. "Oh?"
"The shadow of the Five Great Noble Families is hanging over this incident."
Yamamoto's gaze turned piercing. "Which family, specifically?"
Kazuma met his eyes. "Tokinada Tsunayashiro."
"The Tsunayashiro Clan? What are they trying to do with a Substitute?"
"From what I gathered, Tokinada wants to harvest his power to forge a new Soul King."
Yamamoto's face darkened.
He was well aware of the Tsunayashiro Clan's twisted history and methods.
He stomped his cane against the floorboards, the sharp crack echoing through the office. "They dare to dream of replacing the Soul King? What a pipe dream!"
"I will dispatch the Onmitsukidō to investigate this," Yamamoto declared, his tone like iron. "We cannot let their conspiracy take root. Keep a close watch on Tokinada. Perhaps you can extract more intel from him."
Kazuma pondered for a moment, drew his thumb across his throat, and lowered his voice.
"Should we just..."
Yamamoto raised a hand, cutting him off. "We will discuss that later. The ancestors of the Tsunayashiro Clan did render foundational service to Soul Society. Until they have formally committed treason, do not bring this up again, just watch him."
"We're just going to let them operate?" Kazuma frowned.
"Of course not," Yamamoto said, a sharp glint in his eyes. "I will go to Central 46 and apply pressure to have the authority over the Department of Research and Development stripped from the Tsunayashiro Clan and transferred entirely to the SRDI. That will serve as an initial punishment."
Kazuma nodded.
Stripping their technological control was a solid tactical move.
Yamamoto changed the subject. "Regarding Ginjō's crime... what are your thoughts?"
"I don't want to get involved in his sentencing, let Central 46 handle it. Aizen's shadow might also be influencing this, and I don't want to alert the snake by showing too much interest," Kazuma said.
He understood Yamamoto's political constraints, moving against the Great Nobles rashly could trigger a civil war.
"Then I'll head back to my barracks," Kazuma said, turning to the door.
"Wait," Yamamoto stopped him. "I will have Suì-Fēng cooperate with Shunsui to secretly investigate Ginjō. If he is truly connected to Aizen's faction, we cannot let him go."
Kazuma's eyes lit up. "Understood."
After Kazuma left, Yamamoto sat back in his heavy chair, rubbing his temples.
The Tsunayashiro Clan's arrogance worried him, and Aizen's unseen web still loomed over the Seireitei.
'Conspiracies and politics are exhausting,' Yamamoto thought bitterly. 'It's much more satisfying to simply rely on the blade in my hand. But Kazuma's crucible has already begun, giving up now would be a waste of our sacrifices.'
....
In the Fifth Division Captain's office, Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen were gathered in the shadows.
Aizen sat behind his desk, steepling his fingers as he looked at Gin. "Gin. Have you made any progress on the disturbance I felt in the Living World?"
The corners of Gin's mouth stretched into his trademark, fox-like smile. "Captain Aizen, a few hours ago, a Captain went to the world of the living. I heard it was to capture the rogue Substitute, Kūgo Ginjō."
Aizen's posture shifted, his tone turning serious. "Who went?"
Gin's smile widened. "It was Captain Kazuma of the Seventh."
Aizen's brow furrowed. "The Captain of the Seventh Division?"
The name was familiar on the roster, yet distant. Aizen had no personal dealings with the man.
"Do you have any reliable intelligence on him?"
"He's a very old Captain," Gin shrugged. "But the specific details of his combat abilities are unclear. Captain Kazuma spends most of his time napping in his office or drinking tea with the Captain-Commander."
Tōsen interjected, his blind eyes facing Aizen. "Captain. Should we pay closer attention to this man?"
Aizen pondered for a moment. "Let's observe for now. If he steps onto our board, we'll decide how to remove him."
Gin and Tōsen nodded.
The three shifted their discussion to other matters, continuing to weave their grand conspiracy.
...
Later that night, Gin Ichimaru appeared in the Seventh Division barracks.
Kazuma looked up from his desk, genuinely surprised.
After quickly sweeping Gin's soul to confirm the man wasn't an illusion, Kazuma spoke.
"Captain Ichimaru. I don't believe we're well acquainted, what brings you to my squad?"
Gin offered his usual, unsettling smile. "Is this how Captain Kazuma welcomes guests?"
"Of course not. Do you drink?"
"I won't be polite, then." Gin walked over and sat down at the low sake table Kazuma had commandeered from Shunsui a few weeks ago.
Kazuma pulled out a bottle and poured a ceramic cup for his guest.
"Out with it. What do you want?"
Gin lifted his cup, taking a slow sip. "I just came to introduce myself and, while I'm at it, to ask about your capture of the Substitute Shinigami."
"Ginjō? He's rotting in the Ninth Division's prison right now. Why? Are you interested in him?" Kazuma probed.
'So Aizen got paranoid after I made one small move in the Living World?' he mused inwardly.
A microscopic flash of surprise crossed Gin's eyes, but his smile never wavered. "Just curious. I heard he's a fascinating case."
Kazuma scoffed, taking a drink. "Fascinating? He's a criminal who raised a blade against Soul Society."
"Perhaps he had some unspeakable difficulties driving him?" Gin chuckled.
"No matter his reasons, betraying the Gotei 13 is an unforgivable crime," Kazuma said, his face a mask of stern loyalty.
Gin raised his cup in a mock toast. "Your loyalty to the Seireitei is truly admirable, Captain."
Kazuma met his gaze dead-on. "My loyalty doesn't need questioning."
Gin set his empty cup down and stood up. "Thank you for the hospitality, Captain. I should be going." He turned and walked toward the sliding door.
Just as Gin was about to step out into the night, Kazuma called out.
"Captain Ichimaru."
Gin paused and looked back over his shoulder.
Kazuma didn't make a sound.
He just looked directly into Gin's eyes and slowly mouthed two names.
Sōsuke Aizen.
Rangiku Matsumoto.
Seeing the shape of Kazuma's mouth, Gin's perpetually smiling face drained of color.
A flash of pure, unadulterated horror pierced through his squinted eyes.
Both of those names held massive, life-or-death weight to him.
If Kazuma had only mouthed Aizen's name, Gin would have just been surprised.
But adding Rangiku's name sent a spike of chill straight down his spine.
He didn't know how much the man sitting at the table knew, nor did he know why Kazuma was using them as a threat.
Faced with Gin's frozen expression, a pleasant smile returned to Kazuma's face. "It seems Captain Ichimaru just remembered something terrifying?"
Gin struggled, forcing his facial muscles back into his trademark smile.
"Not at all."
"If that's the case, good," Kazuma nodded, waving a hand. "Please see yourself out. The gates of the Seventh Division are always open to you, you're welcome to come drink with me anytime."
Gin gave Kazuma one last, deeply calculating look before vanishing into the shadows with Shunpo.
Watching the empty doorway, the corners of Kazuma's mouth turned up.
"Let's see what choice you make now, Gin."
With that, Kazuma poured himself another cup of sake and went back to drinking alone.
---------
Read 30 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator