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In a dark and deep cave not far from the battlefield.
"Ugh…"
Not long after, Kuchiki Kōga gradually regained consciousness from his coma, shaking his head with difficulty, trying to dispel the dizziness in his mind.
When he opened his eyes and looked around, his heart was startled.
He struggled to sit up, but his body felt as if it was pressed down by a thousand pounds, unable to move at all.
Kuchiki Kōga was astonished; he had never felt such a weak and powerless state.
Just then, a low voice came from the depths of the cave: "Your current physical condition is not suitable for any strenuous activities."
This sudden voice startled Kuchiki Kōga, but when he looked in the direction of the voice, he saw Aozaki Reiji leaning leisurely against the rock wall, arms crossed.
After seeing Aozaki Reiji, Kuchiki Kōga calmed down instead, and said with a desolate expression:
"Since I lost to you, do as you please, whether you want to kill me or torture me."
"Anyway, I've committed such a grave crime; once I fall into the hands of the Tsunayashiro Family, I'm dead for sure. Even my father-in-law probably can't save me."
Aozaki Reiji frowned slightly and replied calmly:
"If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it long ago. Why go to all the trouble of bringing you here?"
After a pause, Aozaki Reiji continued:
"What's more, who said you're guilty? Which of the Sages and Judges of Central 46 knows what you've done?"
"To be honest, everything you've done is merely to eliminate potential criminals for Soul Society in advance, preventing those with ulterior motives from causing greater destruction to Soul Society."
"From this perspective, you've rendered a great service! Reio-sama might even be pleased!"
After all, the dismemberment of the Soul King was led by the Tsunayashiro Family back then. Who can know whether the Soul King possesses emotions like joy and hatred?
Of course, perhaps It is just a pure deity devoid of any human emotion.
"This…"
Kuchiki Kōga showed a hint of hesitation, as if contemplating whether what Aozaki Reiji said was truly reliable.
"You don't have to lie to me. I've committed such a grave crime, how could Reio-sama be pleased?"
"What if the Soul King actually detests them deeply?"
Aozaki Reiji smiled slightly and replied softly, "After all, they tortured the Soul King into such a miserable state, and It still has to endure eternal suffering as the cornerstone of the Three Realms."
"What?!" Kuchiki Kōga was stunned by the words, his face filled with disbelief.
"Could it be that you, as the adopted son-in-law of the Kuchiki, also know nothing about this matter?"
After Aozaki Reiji casually asked a rhetorical question, he continued:
"If that's the case, then let me tell you the truth hidden behind the Soul King and the Five Great Noble Houses…"
Then, Aozaki Reiji recounted the truth about the Soul King.
Kuchiki Kōga was dumbfounded: "Reio-sama and the Five Great Noble Houses have such a relationship!?"
He originally thought that the Five Great Noble Houses became the highest authorities in Seireitei because of their Credit in creating the world with the Soul King. It turned out they relied on betrayal!
For Kuchiki Kōga, who came from a commoner background and was adopted into the Kuchiki, this was something that could shatter his worldview.
The education he received since childhood was to protect the One King and Five Dukes, but it turned out that the ones who led the harm against the One King were the Five Dukes!
Thinking that his beloved father-in-law might also know the truth, Kuchiki Kōga bowed his head and asked, "Why are you telling me this?"
Aozaki Reiji did not answer, but instead asked, "Do you know what that man wants to do?"
"That man… you know him?" Kuchiki Kōga was startled, recalling the newly promoted Third Division Captain who came to visit him in prison.
"He also knows all the truth, and he cannot accept the distorted rule of the One King and Five Dukes over Seireitei."
Aozaki Reiji said to himself, "You should be very clear that you were used by that man. This time your butcher's knife was aimed at the Tsunayashiro Family, next time it might be the Kuchiki."
Kuchiki Kōga asked fiercely, "Is that man trying to use me against the Kuchiki?"
Aozaki Reiji said, "He is not targeting the Kuchiki. His enemies are all nobles."
Kuchiki Kōga said firmly:
"That won't do. Kuchiki Ginrei has shown me great kindness, and he is my father-in-law. Moreover, no matter what the Kuchiki did millions of years ago, among the current generation of the Kuchiki… there is no one who deserves to die!"
He recalled the days he spent with his clansmen. Even after learning the truth about the One King and Five Dukes, he still didn't feel that the Kuchiki was unworthy of the title of noble paragon.
It wasn't just because the bond of kinship made him choose to protect his family.
Everyone knew that they were a group of people who always maintained their noble pride, but were absolutely unambiguous in protecting Seireitei. They were completely different from the scoundrels of the Tsunayashiro Family!
Aozaki Reiji was stunned by the words.
He had thought that Kuchiki Kōga was solely devoted to Kuchiki Ginrei, and at most had his wife in his heart, but he never expected his sense of identity with the Kuchiki to be so strong.
Now it seems that the Kuchiki are indeed a lovable bunch.
"Then what will you do if he tries to harm your family?"
"Naturally, I will…"
Kuchiki Kōga paused mid-sentence, then suddenly realized: "So that's your goal? Why are you doing this?"
"I am inherently a lower-ranking noble, and in some ways, my situation is similar to yours," Aozaki Reiji said as if casually.
Kuchiki Kōga looked up at the handsome man, as if he had thought of something, and said in shock:
"You and the Shihōin Family Head… are you really…"
Aozaki Reiji smiled, looking at him silently.
Kuchiki Kōga was stunned. He used to think it was just a rumor.
After all, that was the head of the Shihōin Family, one of the Five Great Noble Houses. Not to mention that Aozaki Reiji was a lower-ranking noble, even among the other members of the Five Great Noble Houses, few could be worthy of her.
He let out a long sigh, and it took a long time for him to calm his mind.
"I said, I lost. This life is yours. What do you want me to do? Go to Central 46 and testify against him?"
"No." Aozaki Reiji shook his head. "I want you to join him!"
Kuchiki Kōga was startled, "What!? You want me to join him? What he wants to do is treasonous!"
Aozaki Reiji said calmly:
"You know his abilities. Your testimony is meaningless."
"You want me to be an inside man and collect evidence of his crimes?"
Kuchiki Kōga seemed to understand something, and his eyes gradually lit up.
"That's right." Aozaki Reiji lied without changing his expression.
Actually, he just realized that Aizen no longer trusted him as much as before, so he needed someone to replace him in approaching Aizen.
It didn't matter whether Aizen saw through it or not. He loved to toy with his subordinates, so even if he saw through it, he would definitely keep him by his side.
Of course, it would be best if he didn't notice.
As for Aizen wanting to be an enemy of the nobles, apart from those close to Aozaki Reiji, like Yoruichi, it didn't matter to him if the others died.
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