Shunsui didn't seem to notice that Aozaki's thoughts had drifted off, and he asked on his own accord:
"Aozaki, I, your Senior Brother, have been good to you, haven't I?"
How could you even ask such a thing?
Aozaki pouted and replied helplessly:
"Senior Kyoraku, for a pervert like you, I usually beat up every one I see."
He tried his best to keep his expression calm, but the next moment, his shoulder was heavily patted.
Shunsui widened his eyes and said:
"What do you mean pervert or not, I'm asking if I'm good to you!"
Aozaki couldn't help but roll his eyes:
"Senior Kyoraku, you know whether you're good or not, but I'm really not interested in you."
Shunsui's face twitched; this frivolous junior brother really had an overactive imagination.
Feeling the increasingly strange gazes around him, he frowned slightly, then released his hand and sighed helplessly:
"Never mind, just remember that your Senior Brother is good to you. The Captains' meeting is about to start, let's go quickly."
This guy… he's really strange today!
Aozaki looked at him suspiciously, then started moving again, walking towards the Squad One Barracks.
Tap, tap, tap…
Light footsteps came from the wooden floor, and a gentle breeze blew on his face, making him comfortably narrow his eyes.
The wooden door of the Captains' meeting room grew larger in Aozaki's vision. After passing through the sunlit corridor, he pulled open the brand new wooden door.
"This Captains' meeting is very likely the last Captains' meeting this old man will convene."
Yamamoto scanned the Captains in the room and said slowly.
Upon hearing this, the Captains were surprisingly quiet, only Aozaki found it a bit strange.
"What silly things are you saying, old man?"
"Looking at how full of vigor you are, you can at least live for a few more millennia."
Aozaki interjected playfully, but secretly thought to himself.
The old man's body was still quite sturdy; there was no sign of problems when he usually beat up Shunsui.
Not to mention living for a few more millennia, a few hundred years should be no problem.
It wasn't yet to the point where he might close his eyes one day and never wake up.
Why was he acting like a story was about to reach its end?
He certainly didn't want to see such a thing happen.
Did he have a premonition of his impending demise and was making his last will and testament in advance?
Yamamoto glared at him and raised a finger, pointing to the side.
Aozaki was not reserved; he scratched his head and walked to his seat. Aside from feeling that the Captains were looking at him strangely today, he felt nothing else.
Why are these guys looking at me like that?
Is there something on my face?
Or did they discover the snacks I secretly hid in the meeting room?
Speaking of which, this Central 46 is quite stingy. Such a great Credit for saving the world would surely bring many benefits elsewhere.
Here, it's just a record in the Credit Book, and how retirement is arranged is up to them. It would be more practical to just give some money now.
"Don't worry, everyone's merits will not be forgotten by the Seireitei. The adults of Central 46 will certainly not be stingy and will reward according to merit."
Yamamoto seemed to have read Aozaki's thoughts, and he raised his hand to stop his explanation, saying sternly:
"And in this war, Captain Aozaki took the lead. If it weren't for Captain Aozaki, the Three Worlds would not be here today."
Hearing this, Aozaki was a little surprised, but he remained calm on the surface, only the corners of his mouth slightly rising.
"Your reward has been decided by this old man and the adults of the Central 46."
Aozaki couldn't help but ask curiously:
"Oh? What kind of reward is it? It can't be a pile of commendation certificates, can it?"
He imagined his comical appearance walking down the street with a large stack of commendation certificates and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Aozaki nodded slightly.
Although Yamamoto was a bit hot-tempered, as a teacher, he was quite competent and treated his students well, so he shouldn't give him a pile of commendation certificates.
However, Yamamoto didn't pay attention to him. Instead, he leaned on his cane and said in a low, steady voice:
"Seventh Division Vice-Captain Komamura Sajin, Eleventh Division Vice-Captain Ichimaru Gin."
"Here."
Hearing their names called, the two quickly walked out from the corner of the room and saluted Yamamoto meticulously.
Then, Yamamoto announced:
"Starting tomorrow, Vice-Captain Komamura will officially take over as the Seventh Division Captain, and Vice-Captain Ichimaru will officially serve as the Ninth Division Captain."
"The appointment letters will be sent to the Squad Barracks of both Captains tonight. Do not miss the handover time with the Advance Team."
They replied in unison: "Yes!"
However, Yamamoto seemed to have more to say. He turned his head, his gaze flickering as he looked at Aozaki, and asked softly:
"Captain Aozaki, what are your thoughts on this?"
Aozaki was a little surprised, thinking that Yamamoto could just decide such things himself, why did he need to ask his opinion…
Just as he was about to speak, he met Yamamoto's sharp gaze, and his heart trembled. The words on the tip of his tongue suddenly stopped.
Yamamoto's expression became extremely serious, and he pressed again:
"This old man wants to hear your opinion, Captain Aozaki."
Aozaki looked around, racking his brain but couldn't come up with much. After a moment of thought, he replied:
"The bravery and merits of the two Vice-Captains are clear to all Captain. I believe they are the most suitable candidates."
It seemed he only wanted a few words from this disciple. The old man standing at the main seat nodded slightly.
"That's good. It avoids other troubles later due to differences of opinion in selection."
What in the world is this old man talking about today?
And these guys around, they're definitely hiding something from me!
Aozaki was at a loss.
"Aozaki, are you willing to serve as Captain-Commander and First Division Captain?"
Yamamoto asked with a solemn expression.
"Hmm… Hmm!?"
Aozaki subconsciously nodded, then suddenly froze, widening his eyes and looking at Yamamoto in disbelief.
These guys were indeed hiding something from him, but they didn't say it was this kind of thing!
"So you agree? Very good!"
Yamamoto's face revealed a smile, the corners of his mouth slightly rising.
That smile seemed to say: "You said it yourself, this old man didn't force you."
Amidst the seemingly prepared gazes of the other Captains, Yamamoto solemnly announced:
"Then, in the name of the Gotei 13 Captain-Commander, I hereby announce to all Captains and all Squad members of the Gotei 13."
"Effective immediately, this old man, Yamamoto, will resign from the positions of Gotei 13 Captain-Commander and First Division Captain."
"Former Eleventh Division Captain Aozaki will succeed as Gotei 13 Captain-Commander and First Division Captain."
"The Advance Team is to immediately notify the entire the Seireitei, without delay."
Feeling dozens of spiritual pressures moving away outside, Aozaki opened his mouth, feeling a loss for words.
He had originally thought it was just a regular meeting, never expecting to be appointed as Captain-Commander and First Division Captain.
This sudden turn of events caught him off guard.
"Hey, hey, hey… Old man, this isn't a joke! At the very least, you should have asked Central 46 first, right?"
Aozaki couldn't help but shout loudly, but his voice abruptly stopped midway.
Because he noticed the expressions of the people around him; they seemed to have already anticipated this matter.
This meant that the old man's decision was not made on a whim, but after careful consideration, and it was highly likely that Central 46 had already agreed to this decision!