Chapter 413: You Don't Even Want to Call Me Daddy
"So, what do you think about this matter?"
Gero ignored Simifu's accusation and spoke again.
Although he addressed everyone, his eyes were fixed on Captain Soralin.
After all, the captain's challenge required the approval of more than half of Gotei 13's captains, including the chief captain.
In other words, the captain's stance was paramount.
If she didn't agree, it wouldn't matter even if all the other captains consented.
As for such intriguing matters, Gero was personally delighted to see them come to fruition.
"It's astonishing. I didn't expect that man to bypass the divisions without captains to compete for their leadership."
"He chose me instead?"
"So…"
"Everyone, do I seem so easy to intimidate?"
A man with white, tousled hair sat at the captain's table, a smile playing on his lips.
Observing his expression, Captain Aigre of Division 4, seated not far away, wore a solemn look.
This white-haired man was the captain of the Fifth Division, named Unshō.
Aigre knew a little about Unshō.
In a previous life, Aigre had served as a Marine Admiral.
That was nearly eighty years ago.
Though many of his memories were vague or even lost, one thing about Unshō stood out.
Unshō was one of the rare, terrifying geniuses with Admiral-level strength in the history of the World Government's CP.
He displayed remarkable talent in his youth and was scouted by the World Government's CP agents.
What followed was inevitable.
After a series of shadowy events, Unshō, still young, was taken by CP agents to the World Government and trained to become CP's strongest shield.
As he matured, he eventually became that shield.
Even the Celestial Dragons, after his lifelong conditioning, deemed him trustworthy.
Then, something unexpected occurred.
He rebelled and killed several Celestial Dragons.
This was an unprecedented scandal in the World Government's history of cultivating CP agents, and all records of him were erased.
If Aigre hadn't been an Admiral at the time, he might never have known about it.
Aigre was certain this man was a lion hiding in the shadows.
Though past-life experiences felt like watching a hazy film, Aigre believed that as long as the human soul remained unchanged, Unshō's character would likely be consistent.
He himself was proof of that.
"If you are easy to intimidate, then no one is," Aigre remarked.
"You smile all day and act so composed."
As Aigre's thoughts wandered, Simifu spoke up bluntly, then glanced at a smiling woman at the captain's table.
Her body shuddered.
As a new spirit with considerable power, Simifu feared little and brimmed with energy.
But she had her weakness.
That was Unohana Retsu, the former captain of the Fourth Division.
Unshō's smile reminded her of Unohana Retsu's, unsettling her deeply.
"Oh? Is that how Captain Simifu sees me? That's truly disheartening!"
Unshō slightly widened his narrow eyes, fixing them on Simifu.
"Captain Unshō, try acting more normally from now on. It might help you make friends," Simifu offered thoughtfully.
"Enough," Soralin interjected, cutting off their banter.
She had no patience for such pointless exchanges.
"I support Aizen's application for the captaincy challenge. Let's vote now—extend your hands!"
Soralin raised her palm.
A raised palm signaled agreement; the back of the hand indicated disagreement.
This was the standard voting method for captain meetings.
"I absolutely support this!" Gero declared.
"How can you deny a man's challenge? Right, Unshō, my friend?"
Without hesitation, Gero extended his hand in approval.
As he did, others followed suit.
"Sorry, Captain Unshō, but I'm curious to see what this newcomer can do," Eglia, the acting captain of Division 12, said with an apologetic tone.
Yet a teasing smile danced on her delicate face.
She was clearly enjoying the spectacle.
Unshō, observing the growing number of approvals, wore a troubled expression.
If he had his way, he would avoid facing this newcomer.
The man had only been in Soul Society for a few days, so logically, he shouldn't pose a threat.
But miracles were not uncommon in this world, and Unshō hadn't been in Soul Society long himself.
With limited information, unexpected outcomes were possible.
Why had the newcomer chosen him? What a hassle!
Lost in reluctant thoughts, Unshō extended the back of his hand.
Though more than half of the captains and acting captains had already agreed, making his vote irrelevant, he still needed to make his stance clear.
It showed those who supported him that he appreciated their loyalty.
Unshō was meticulous about such details.
"Then it's settled. The new member of the Fifth Division, Aizen, will challenge Captain Unshō for leadership of the Fifth Division. The challenge is approved."
"It will take place tomorrow at noon on the Fifth Division's battleground."
"Prepare yourself, Captain Unshō."
"Now, this meeting is adjourned."
Soralin spoke with authority.
The captains began to disperse slowly. Many greeted Kai before leaving, inviting him to join them later.
After most captains, acting captains, and vice-captains had exited, Kai stood and looked at Soralin, who remained at the front and smiled.
"Soralin, you're even more commanding now than before."
Soralin still carried the impressive presence of a captain.
"Of course," she replied.
Hearing Kai's words, she tilted her head slightly, as if expecting praise.
But her expression quickly shifted to a charming, alluring one.
"Teacher, I have some questions. Could you spare a moment to help?"
As she spoke, Soralin placed both hands on the conference table, leaning forward with a dramatic thud.
Her figure, even more striking than two years ago, pressed close to Kai.
Her fiery red eyes sparkled, and her smooth, flowing red hair added to her captivating presence.
Her lips hovered near Kai's ear, her breath soft.
She gazed at him with a pitiful expression, but before he could respond, another voice, cool and sharp, cut through the room.
"Captain, do you think I'm invisible?"
Beside Kai, Chiyori, the captain of the Second Division, wore a frosty expression.
"Sorry, I didn't notice the little one," Soralin said, pulling back.
She turned to Chiyori with a provocative look.
"I'm your elder, after all. Perhaps I could be your mother."
Chiyori smirked. "Captain, if you dared say that in front of my mother, I would admire you."
Her words silenced Soralin. The mother Chiyori referred to was Unohana Retsu.
There was no way Soralin could face that woman so boldly.
Even though Soralin had grown stronger, Unohana Retsu's strength, commanding presence, and an inexplicable sense of intimidation always unsettled her.
"Forget it this time. Vice-Captain Kai is my vice-captain now, and he has an urgent mission. Don't get in the way."
Chiyori tossed her short, flowing hair, grabbed Kai's arm, and pulled him away.
"You're blatantly abusing your authority!" Soralin called after them, her voice tinged with frustration as her newly formed confidence wavered.
She didn't dare pursue it. Captain Unohana was waiting outside!
Facing that woman directly was beyond her courage.
Meanwhile, as Kai walked with Chiyori, he said with a smile, "Little Chiyori, you don't even call me Daddy anymore. It's quite upsetting!"
Chiyori was a spirit created by Kai and Unohana Retsu, not their biological child.
Initially, she had called him Daddy and Unohana Retsu Mother.
But a year after taking the form of a girl, she began refusing to call him Daddy.
Perhaps as she matured, her lively mind and desire to assert herself led her to challenge her father's authority.
This shift was likely influenced by the current Zero Division team.
( End of this Chapter )