Chapter 20: Suì-Fēng: I Understand Now!
Meanwhile, Marechiyo, who had been driven away, was just about to head to the Fourth Division to treat his wounds when he ran into three captains at the foot of the mountain right after leaving the division barracks.
Their white haori, powerful Reiatsu, and casual approach through the darkness created a pressure far greater than that of an Adjuchas, frightening Marechiyo into immediately straightening his posture, cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead.
"Ca-Captain Aizen, Captain Kyōraku, and Captain Kurotsuchi?"
"Yo, Lieutenant Ōmaeda, good evening."
Shunsui Kyōraku raised his hand in a relaxed greeting.
"Good evening... Wait! Why are three captains here?"
"Does a mere lieutenant wish to probe into the private plans of captains? With such curiosity, why not come back to my research lab with me?"
Though Kurotsuchi Mayuri's tone was condescending, Marechiyo didn't dare voice any objection.
"Captain Kurotsuchi, don't be so harsh on a colleague who just returned from the battlefield and is still busy with official duties. Lieutenant Ōmaeda meant no disrespect."
It was Aizen who stepped in to play the good guy, something he had done so often that even Kurotsuchi had tacitly accepted it, snorting lightly and not bothering to retort further.
But before Marechiyo could feel grateful, Aizen's next words backed him into a corner.
"Though our purposes differ, we're all here regarding the individuals recently detained by the Onmitsukidō."
"?!"
Marechiyo's expression froze, and he nearly cried internally.
No sooner had they brought the people in than three captains showed up demanding them.
He had expected trouble, but not this much trouble.
Aren't Sōma and Ichigo just students?
Or is it because of the Shiba family's reputation?
Aizen's eyes deepened, as if seeing through Marechiyo's thoughts, and he smiled. "Please don't misunderstand. I have no intention of interfering with another division's affairs. It's just that Shirogane-kun and Kurosaki-kun are both my students from Shin'ō Academy, and I've been guiding their training recently, so I'm quite concerned."
The implication was that he had a good relationship with these two, better than the average teacher-student dynamic, so he wanted to understand the situation... Well, just to understand, nothing more, no need to give him any special consideration.
Even if Suì-Fēng were here, facing this flawless rhetoric, she wouldn't be able to get angry and would instinctively consider whether there was room for discretion.
Faced with the sincere killer move of the good guy, Marechiyo felt extremely ashamed. He, who had been saved by them, had only put in a few good words, while look at how Aizen treated promising juniors.
And his own captain too.
Compared to other captains, she was far too unapproachable!
At this thought, a surge of intense indignation welled up in Marechiyo's heart.
"Captain Aizen, with all due respect, I also think Captain Suì-Fēng went a bit too far. Those people didn't do anything wrong—they even saved my life. Even if it was to gather firsthand intelligence, there's no excuse for arresting them with such a rough and indifferent work attitude and subjecting them to interrogation!"
"Allow me to ask—was there a woman from the Shiba family among those arrested?" Kyōraku interjected.
"That's correct. Is she an acquaintance of yours, Captain Kyōraku?"
Marechiyo felt bold enough to inquire further, given Kyōraku's generally amiable and approachable nature as a captain. Still, he broke into a cold sweat as he spoke, recalling his own strained history with Kūkaku and the unfavorable remarks he'd previously made about her to Captain Suì-Fēng...
"That young lady's elder brother was Ukitake's former lieutenant. When I heard she'd been caught up in this, I intended to step in personally, but he collapsed while hurriedly changing clothes, so I had to come in his stead."
"Ah, I really should have returned to the barracks earlier. A light buzz would've been perfect for a long-overdue good night's sleep—lately, Nanao's been working me to the bone... My apologies, I'm rambling."
"Not at all, you've been most understanding."
Marechiyo forced an awkward laugh, mentally kicking himself. He'd been so fixated on the Shiba family's fallen noble status that he'd forgotten the former lieutenant of the 13th Division—also a Shiba—who'd died in the line of duty. By that logic, Kūkaku had at least two captains, Ukitake and Kyōraku, backing her. While their ties might not be as strong as master-disciple bonds, numerical advantage still carried significant weight.
"Captain Aizen is the teacher of Shirogane and Kurosaki, Captain Kyōraku is close with Kūkaku... Could Captain Kurotsuchi be an elder to Yayahara or Rindō?"
The question slipped out before Marechiyo could stop himself. But instead of sneering, Kurotsuchi let out a low, ominous chuckle, glancing pointedly at Aizen.
"I'm not here to play the hero. I heard the assessment equipment Shin'ō Academy purchased from the Technical Development Bureau had some issues."
"Out of curiosity, I retrieved the devices and extracted their data, uncovering something rather intriguing. Coincidentally, the two individuals who provided that data were arrested for causing trouble."
"Rather than letting the Second Division execute them, it'd be better to hand them over to me as experimental subjects."
"—That was my thinking."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Marechiyo cursed himself for asking, though he knew Kurotsuchi would have revealed this sooner or later anyway. Being caught between two tense captains felt more terrifying than facing a Menos Grande.
Under Marechiyo's apprehensive gaze, the smile on Aizen's face faded slightly.
"Captain Kurotsuchi, I respect your scientific dedication, but I must ask you to abandon that notion. Otherwise..."
"Otherwise what?"
Aizen showed no fear, even seeming somewhat eager.
"I'll use my methods to interfere with all your research projects. That's the extent of what I can do. After all, as a captain, I must set a good example for my squad members. Engaging in physical confrontations or more intense verbal disputes isn't permitted."
Kurotsuchi sighed, his tone filled with deep resignation.
It seemed he was admitting there was no good way to deal with Aizen, using this show of weakness in hopes the other would "go easy on him."
But Aizen's expression was even more unpleasant than his.
It was strikingly obvious even through his mask.
"Aizen Sōsuke... someday I'll make you take your disciple's place on that examination chair for my research!"
With that, he turned and left.
"Huh?"
Marechiyo was stunned. Was that it?
"Well, after all, those youngsters haven't committed any major crimes—on the contrary, they've performed meritorious service. So no matter how unreasonable Captain Suì-Fēng's attitude might be, his ideas won't come to fruition. Especially with Sōsuke-kun involved... Hahaha, if anyone else had said that, Captain Kurotsuchi probably wouldn't have paid any mind. But given Sōsuke-kun's connections and influence, it becomes a fatal blow~"
Kyōraku's smile was full of teasing.
"But speaking of which, I've heard a bit about the Shin'ō Academy entrance exams. The equipment Captain Kurotsuchi sold was reportedly developed based on his own capabilities. So if any problems occurred, like detection failures, that would mean the detected subject surpassed Captain Kurotsuchi's limits in some aspect? That's why he's become interested."
As he spoke, Kyōraku sighed again in front of Marechiyo and Aizen, his gaze turning toward the west of Seireitei.
"This is a scientist's sensitivity. No wonder the Technology Development Department always comes up with such strange things. Unlike us laymen who, though we've long heard rumors, still think of them as children needing protection."
"Yet in reality, even from this distance we can faintly sense the Reiatsu coming from Rukongai. It's like someone punched a hole in the sky, visible just by looking up. This isn't something children could accomplish."
"Without us realizing, they've already protected Seireitei in our stead."
"So, I can understand both Captain Kurotsuchi's curiosity and Sōsuke-kun's concern."
"The future of Seireitei and the Gotei 13 is destined to be connected to your actions... I have that premonition."
Aizen adjusted his glasses and responded seriously: "I appreciate your kind words. I hope they can truly shoulder the future of Seireitei and the Gotei 13. Then I would have achieved my wish."
"Achieved? Does Sōsuke-kun have other ideas? I never knew you had hidden intentions too."
"Nothing worth mentioning, Captain Kyōraku. Please don't tease me."
Kyōraku stopped joking and turned to remind the stunned Marechiyo:
"Let's go, Lieutenant Ōmaeda. It's time to take us to Captain Suì-Fēng."
"Oh! Right! Come quickly with me. The captain isn't in a good mood, and she just happened to go to interrogate Shirogane again. If he lacks tact like that orange-haired kid and says the wrong thing, ending up offending the captain by being thrown in the black room, that would be terrible."
Marechiyo hurriedly led the way.
"Were any of them injured?"
Aizen asked with concern.
"I'm injured, but they're all superficial wounds, nothing serious... It's actually a miracle that we didn't end up lying in the comprehensive medical ward for several days after dealing with that kind of enemy. Truly fortunate."
"But precisely because of this, it would be utterly unreasonable if we got tortured by the captain instead."
"Lieutenant Ōmaeda seems to hold quite a prejudice against Captain Suì-Fēng."
"It's not prejudice—it's all valid criticism!"
"Oh? Really? Do tell."
Marechiyo's body froze in place, his raised foot suspended mid-air as if time had stagnated—and he genuinely wished it had.
Unfortunately, the icy killing intent mixed with Reiatsu washed over him, stabbing into his body like knives.
"Cap... Captain?"
Marechiyo had no time to consider how Kyōraku and Aizen nearby were reacting. He mechanically turned his neck to look ahead and saw the subject of his complaints standing with Sōma at the detention cell entrance. It seemed the interrogation had concluded without any conflict. Judging by their proximity, they even appeared... to be getting along quite well?
"Hmph."
Suì-Fēng curled her lips into a chilling smile.
But she said nothing.
She merely shifted her gaze from Marechiyo to Kyōraku and Aizen.
"I know why you're here. Don't worry, everything has been clarified. You can return with peace of mind."
"Can't we leave yet?"
They were all intelligent people who saw no need for pleasantries.
Kyōraku also lowered his hat brim and spoke bluntly.
Suì-Fēng raised an eyebrow in displeasure: "Do you want them to return to their quarters injured and exhausted after all their efforts? The Second Division barracks aren't just detention cells. Letting them stay a night in a few spare rooms is nothing. Besides, they helped me out. If I couldn't even manage this much, people would say I'm heartless."
Aizen and Kyōraku instinctively glanced at Marechiyo.
"?!"
Marechiyo's mouth fell open in despair.
No, don't look at me now!
What did that mean?
They weren't remembering his merit as their guide at all, only bookmarking his careless remarks?
"Hmph."
Suì-Fēng sneered again, still saying nothing.
This reaction even made Sōma feel slightly unnerved. He could only cast a sympathetic look at Marechiyo who had brought reinforcements, as if saying, "If you survive tonight, we'll be friends after this."
Well, after tonight.
Not now.
So no need to intervene.
"Then Captain Suì-Fēng, we'll take our leave."
"Mhm."
Facing Sōma, Suì-Fēng's attitude noticeably softened. Though she only grunted in response, one could sense genuine goodwill.
She even specially arranged personnel to attend to everyone.
It was completely VIP treatment.
Though the guest rooms lacked soft beds, they had comfortable pillows. They could visit the bathhouse and enjoy nighttime snacks.
As for Marechiyo, he was kicked out to join the 2nd Division's night patrol. There would be no sleep for him tonight—he'd even be monitored if he tried to slack off. Quite pitiful indeed.
Such stark contrast left both Aizen and the recently "released" Ichigo perplexed.
What exactly had Sōma done?
"Nothing much. I just provided a detailed report of the intelligence I knew and offered some conjectures."
"That's it?"
Ichigo didn't believe it.
"Of course, it wasn't just casual speculation. That would be looking down on Aizen-sensei too much."
As Aizen's public disciple, how could I be ordinary in "verbal communication"?
"My conjecture referenced actual folk case studies from the living world, such as 'At the Mountains of Madness', 'The Dunwich Horror', 'The Shadow Over Innsmouth', 'The Dreams in the Witch House', and others. It provided perspectives from anthropology, psychology, micro-expression analysis, trace evidence studies, and detective methodologies, setting the tone for the subsequent investigation and offering Captain Suì-Fēng considerable professional inspiration."
"Perhaps I'm not highly specialized, but I could tell she was satisfied. After hearing my investigative approaches for dealing with outsiders, she even seemed... well, triumphant?"