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Meanwhile, in Soul Society, West Rukongai District 1—Runlin'an, on the outskirts.
This was a mountain forest, and also the former residence of one of the Five Great Noble Houses… the Shiba Family.
The mountain forest wasn't large; besides the Shiba Family, there were only a few small villages.
Precisely because of their status as one of the Five Great Noble Houses, the Shiba Family held a transcendent position here.
Whether it was the nearby villages or towns, all revolved around the Shiba Family, and the people here were proud to follow the Shiba Family.
Aozaki Reiji and Ichimaru Gin stood by the window, enjoying the breeze.
Herds of wild boars scurried through the woods, and the sounds of shouting, running, and rustling leaves filled the surroundings.
The scenery in the mountain forest was pleasant.
Various fruits grew on the trees, and beautiful wildflowers of all colors bloomed on the grass, their fragrance calming the heart.
"Those unreasonable fellows are gone?"
Reiji stared at the brats riding wild boars in the distance, took a deep breath, and asked with a smile.
"Yes, they all withdrew this morning. The Gotei 13 dispatched Squad members to protect us."
"The Gotei 13 hasn't restricted our freedom; we are temporarily safe."
Ichimaru Gin said in a low voice, his eyes serious, his heart beating extremely fast beneath his seemingly calm demeanor.
"Don't be so nervous…"
Aozaki Reiji noticed Ichimaru Gin's unusual behavior, turned his head, and smiled as he patted his shoulder.
"I watched her spirit dissipate before leaving that place."
"No matter how thoroughly they investigate, it's impossible to find any useful clues."
"People's perceptions will tell them the 'truth' of the matter."
"The young lady and the young master have been eaten by a Hollow, and the Hollow was killed by the academy students."
Ichimaru Gin took a big gulp of sake and couldn't help but roll his eyes.
It's easy for you to say…
Even now, thinking of the shocking feat he had accomplished, Ichimaru Gin's palms were still sweating from nervousness.
That was one of the Four Great Noble Clans!!
The rulers of Soul Society, possessing supreme power and status!!
However, on the other hand, after learning that Reiji's plan had succeeded, he also felt an indescribable sense of relief.
In his mind, he couldn't help but recall the times over the past year when he had been harassed, ostracized, and threatened by those nobles.
Perhaps the existence of these guys is a danger to others; their numbers should be reduced as much as possible, but it needs to be done more discreetly, otherwise it might cause trouble…
Hmm, why would I be thinking about such things?
"So what do we do next? Now that no one is restricting our freedom, should we report to the Gotei 13?"
Ichimaru Gin asked in a deep voice.
Aozaki Reiji pondered for a moment, then said,
"It won't be long before the Gotei 13 sends people to investigate, so you all need to be prepared. Don't reveal any flaws then; we need to cooperate with the teacher to finish this act."
Ichimaru Gin's pupils slightly contracted, and he worriedly said,
"Investigate? Didn't you say they wouldn't find any useful clues?"
Aozaki Reiji smiled leisurely,
"They won't find anything."
During the process of killing Tsunayashiro Asaho, besides killing them and using the power of Kyōka Suigetsu to deceive everyone, nothing extra was done.
Even if the Gotei 13 investigated the scene afterwards, they would only find scattered clothing on the ground.
In that case, if they want to know the truth of the matter, they can only learn it from the academy students and teachers.
Thus, his use of Kyōka Suigetsu's power to create the illusion of Hollows appearing at the Soul Burial Internship site made sense.
He, Ichimaru Gin, and Matsumoto Rangiku were also members of the academy students, and they would be questioned no matter what.
One person can lie, two can collude.
But if five, ten, or twenty people, all using different but mutually corroborating statements, ultimately point to the same result, how can one determine the truth?
"But no matter what, the deaths of the Four Great Noble Clans are a major event."
"The Gotei 13 must appear to be diligent and thorough, even if it's just on the surface, to provide a respectable explanation."
Ichimaru Gin suddenly understood, then frowned again:
"Do you think the Gotei 13 will keep investigating?"
Reiji shook his head.
"Impossible. The teacher won't waste energy on this matter, and the Tsunayashiro Family may not even value that woman that much."
"I've already investigated; that woman was from a branch family of the Tsunayashiro Family, and not even a formal heir to the family headship."
"Moreover, Kyōraku-senpai revealed that the Central 46 issued an order that all information related to this Soul Burial Internship must be kept confidential."
"This accidental death incident involving the Four Great Noble Clans is still under wraps. Besides the various sages, Judges, investigative members, and relevant personnel, no one else knows."
"It seems the Tsunayashiro Family also doesn't want too many people to know about this. As long as the teacher provides a 'reasonable' outcome, they will choose to accept it."
Clearly, what the Tsunayashiro Family wanted this time was face.
They only needed to let the various noble families see their attitude, to see the Tsunayashiro Family's influence in Seireitei—
For the death of a branch family member, the entire Gotei 13 was mobilized.
Showing people this was enough!
Compared to that, the cause of Tsunayashiro Asaho's death seemed less important.
Listening to Aozaki Reiji's analysis, Ichimaru Gin couldn't help but exclaim,
"I really don't know how you think of these things… You're from Rukongai, yet you understand the nobles of Seireitei so thoroughly."
"It's nothing major. I was a minor noble in the Human World. Although my power couldn't compare to the great nobles in Soul Society, in some aspects, it's the same."
Aozaki Reiji chuckled:
"In the eyes of those focused on power, human lives without utilitarian value are meaningless, and losing face means losing prestige."
"Prestige has other meanings in the Human World, do you know what they are?"
Ichimaru Gin shook his head.
"The reputation of power!" Reiji lowered his head and said word by word, "This is something they cannot abandon."
"Did you calculate all of this?" Ichimaru Gin's heart trembled, and he took a deep breath, then couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Everything was actually within your control."
"You even said you wanted to be lazy in the future and have me do the thinking for you. That puts a lot of pressure on me."
Reiji smiled indifferently:
"Ichimaru, these petty tricks are nothing."
"If I didn't have the power of my Zanpakuto, if my spiritual pressure wasn't as strong as those teachers and academy students."
"No matter how much I thought, I wouldn't be able to do anything. Strength is the foundation of everything."
"Schemes and tricks are the survival methods of the weak. I desire true power, power at the very pinnacle."
"With power, I can truly trample those who presume to Judge my fate underfoot."
He looked up at the sun high in the sky, his eyes incredibly defiant.
"No one stands in the heavens from the very beginning."
"Neither you, nor I, nor even God!"
"One day, I will stand in the heavens, looking down upon the world, wielding Shinra Bansho!"
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