Twelfth Division, Reishi Measurement Research Department.
The moment the barrier shattered, a series of surprised gasps suddenly echoed through the dim room, which occasionally flickered with blue light.
Several researchers in white coats stared intently at the sudden surge of fluctuations on the computer screen, their eyes wide.
They pressed their hands tightly on the desk and shouted urgently:
"Massive reishi fluctuations detected in South Rukongai District 70!"
"Preliminary analysis—Second-class!"
"Number of individuals—Three!"
"One of them is a high-ranking noble!"
"Where is the Captain?!"
The researchers quickly turned around, searching everywhere.
A moment later, a full-figured woman pushed open the door and entered.
She carried a large ladle on her back—this was her Zanpakuto.
Her attire was very different from the other Shinigami here, subtly tinged with purple, exuding an elegant yet uniquely charming aura.
Hikifune Kirio walked steadily into the Reishi Measurement Research Department, looking at the detection information on the large screen with a helpless expression.
With a swish, she took down the Zanpakuto from her back, her movements gaining an air of heroic grace at some point.
She turned to face the door and said with high spirits:
"Let's go, my little ones!"
"Where is Hiyori?"
"She's coming with me."
"The situation is urgent. The Sixth Division sent a request for aid. Kuchiki Sōjun, the next head of the Kuchiki Clan, was attacked, and we need to go to the scene to investigate the reishi fluctuations."
"Although I'm leaving tomorrow, a mission is a mission after all."
As soon as she finished speaking, Vice-Captain Hiyori Sarugaki walked out, clutching her forehead.
Looking at her subordinates behind her, an urge to punch someone welled up inside her.
However, she knew the situation was urgent and could only suppress this impulse, thinking she would settle accounts with them later.
She had originally planned to hold a farewell banquet tonight for the Captain's departure and promotion to Squad Zero, but now it seemed the banquet was likely off.
There was nothing she could do; the Sixth Division was noble, and the leader was from the Kuchiki Clan.
She sighed helplessly.
"Whoa!"
Suddenly, Hiyori Sarugaki's vision changed abruptly. She felt a softness and realised she had been pulled into the Captain's embrace.
She looked up at the Captain's gentle brown eyes and heard the Captain say:
"Alright, little Hiyori, don't be angry anymore. I understand your feelings."
"But as long as we're fast enough, we can still come back tonight."
"Let's go."
"Time waits for no one."
"If we delay any longer, it will truly be too late."
Whether it was moved by the Captain's actions or words, the anger in Hiyori's heart instantly vanished without a trace.
Like a little follower, she gathered a few people and left the place with Hikifune Kirio.
About an hour later, they arrived at South Rukongai District 70.
...
...
"It's you?" As soon as they arrived, Hiyori's eyes widened, her face filled with surprise.
This was because she saw Tsugikuni Yoriichi, who should have been in Hueco Mundo.
"How are you here, you guy?"
She asked:
"Are you perhaps deserting?"
"Or..."
She extended a finger, her face full of disbelief, "You completed your mission?"
"This isn't right!"
The scene from that day was still clearly imprinted in her mind.
Leaving aside the twenty Vasto Lorde, it was uncertain if Hueco Mundo even had them; it was clearly a pretext Captain-Commander Yamamoto used to fool the Forty-Six Chambers.
But there were definitely two hundred Adjuchas...
That was two hundred!
Adjuchas weren't Gillian; it was impossible to kill a whole group with one slash.
Even a Vice-Captain would take half a day to deal with them. While a Captain could kill them instantly, it would take time to find them.
How much time had passed?
Half a year... and he's finished killing them all?
Once a day?
She gasped, deeply shocked by Tsugikuni Yoriichi's luck.
Adjuchas that ordinary Shinigami wouldn't encounter in their entire lives.
Yet, he was killing one a day...
Yoriichi replied: "It's done. Although there were many unexpected events, overall, it was a close call but without a major incident."
"Thank you so much last time."
"Ah..." Hiyori Sarugaki blinked, looking bewildered, not knowing what he was talking about.
But then, she remembered the moment she threatened Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
To be honest, she didn't know why she had done that at the time.
Recalling it now almost made her heart jump out of her chest.
Perhaps, maybe, it was because she couldn't bear to see those two little girls, Rukia and Hinamori Momo, lose their loved ones...
Even though she later learned that Hinamori Momo was not Tsugikuni Yoriichi's relative...
Her thoughts scattered, and she came back to her senses, forcing a smile: "Not at all, not at all."
As soon as she finished speaking, there was a pat, and Hikifune Kirio appeared beside her, patting her on the shoulder.
Hiyori was startled and quickly turned her head to look.
She saw the Captain raise an eyebrow slightly, a hint of playfulness in her tone: "You two... what are you talking about?"
"I think I heard something incredible, little Hiyori, you wouldn't be..."
"I'm not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense!" Hiyori quickly denied with three negations.
In the hundred years she had spent with the Captain, due to their close relationship, she could read the meaning in every one of the Captain's expressions.
Therefore, she decisively denied it.
"Heh heh." Hikifune Kirio lifted her chin and smiled.
"I haven't even asked yet, and you're already saying no. Indeed, little Hiyori, you've changed."
She gently patted Hiyori's shoulder, then her fingers moved to caress her chin, seemingly deep in thought.
As she thought, her gaze gradually shifted, her smile grew brighter, finally settling on Tsugikuni Yoriichi:
"This... must be the brave warrior who saved Kuchiki Sōjun."
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am this child's guardian, and also the current Captain of the Twelfth Division, Hikifune Kirio."
"If possible, could you answer a few questions for me?"
"Yes."
Yoriichi nodded.
Hikifune Kirio lowered her fingers and nodded: "Then I'll ask."
"First, how did you defeat that man in black?"
"Second, the reishi collector you're wearing, it should be a product of my Twelfth Division, right?"
"I remember Captain-Commander Yamamoto ordered me to create it back then... How did it end up in your hands?"
"Third... what is your relationship with little Hiyori?"
The first two questions were easy to answer, but as for the last one...
Yoriichi looked at her with a strange gaze and asked:
"Does the third question have anything to do with this incident?"
"No."
"It's just my personal curiosity." Hikifune Kirio answered matter-of-factly,
"But I am a Captain. I've seen your intel; you were once the Vice-Captain of the Tenth Division. Although we are in different divisions, your rank is lower than mine, so you should answer my questions."
"..." That was indeed true.
Yoriichi thought for a moment.
Before he could speak.
Hikifune Kirio added:
"I'm being transferred tomorrow. Before I leave, I'm very worried about this child, Hiyori."
"She rarely shows any personality other than being irritable, and as someone who has been like a mother to her, I naturally take this matter to heart."
"Could you tell me?"
"For a mother's sake..."