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"Alright, that's enough fun for now."
Aozaki Reiji casually glanced at the dungeon hall, which had been reduced to ruins, and took out a miraculously intact pill from his clothes.
He licked his lips, tilted his head back, and popped the pill into his mouth, grinning to reveal a mouthful of white teeth as he crunched it loudly.
"Everyone… thank you for fighting me with such disregard for your lives. This battle made me very happy!"
"I look forward to our next meeting. I hope you'll be stronger then."
Aozaki Reiji rested one foot on a large boulder, panting for a while before catching his breath, his spiritual power replenishing in mere moments.
He raised a hand to wipe the bloodstain from the corner of his mouth, stared at the prisoners lying sprawled on the ground before him, and turned to walk towards the door.
After leaving the dungeon, Aozaki Reiji turned to look at the Shinigami guarding the dungeon.
"Go and turn on the dungeon's video recording bug."
"Yes."
A Shinigami looked at him with admiration, nodded, and ran towards the control room.
"Lord Aozaki."
Another Shinigami suddenly stepped forward and called out respectfully.
"What is it?" Aozaki Reiji frowned, puzzled.
"Captain and Third Seat Ichimaru came by earlier. They said the Shin'o Academy was attacked and Central 46 ordered assistance."
"I understand."
Aozaki Reiji stroked his chin, knowing the situation, and nodded.
Leaving the Maggot's Nest, Aozaki Reiji took two of his Squad members and headed for the Shin'o Academy.
He opened the door and walked out with the relaxed ease of someone going on a picnic with classmates.
The moment the door closed, Seireitei fell into a deathly silence.
Aozaki Reiji walked for a long time, his steps gradually slowing.
Looking at the two Night Patrol Soul Reapers carrying lanterns not far away, he frowned.
Shinji was no stranger to Seireitei at night; many of the things he wanted to do required the cover of darkness to conceal their wickedness.
Perhaps it was the common sense from his previous life at play, but he always felt that doing bad things at night was safer.
This might sound like self-deception, but this illogical perception indeed brought him a greater sense of security in the dark night.
But… tonight felt a bit strange to him.
"What do these guys mean by standing there? Are they slacking off?" Aozaki Reiji said casually, though his muscles were already tensed, ready for battle at any moment.
He could still distinguish between Night Patrol Soul Reapers and Shinigami on guard duty.
He was also intimately familiar with the difference between the living and the dead.
The air was terrifyingly still.
The two people in the distance, though standing there, exuded no sign of life.
His seemingly jocular remark made the two Onmitsukidō members, who were moving in the shadows, realize something was amiss.
They stopped moving, held their breath, and cautiously observed their surroundings from the rooftop.
After a long while, feeling the gentle breeze on his body, Aozaki Reiji finally found a familiar sensation.
Night was indeed a good time for mischief.
He glanced at the sky, obscured by dark clouds, and slowly placed his hand on his Zanpakuto's hilt.
"Are these Night Patrol Soul Reapers?!"
"Damn it, who would dare commit such an act in Seireitei?!"
"Their bodies haven't turned into spirit particles yet, the perpetrator must still be nearby!"
Shouting, several Night Patrol Soul Reapers, holding lanterns, ran in the direction where the bloodstains led.
However, just as they rounded a corner, several dark figures suddenly descended from the sky.
They wore black masks and night-cloaks that blended into the darkness, emanating a mysterious aura.
A cold gleam flashed and vanished.
Pfft! Pfft!!
Accompanied by the sound of spraying blood, the Night Patrol Soul Reapers screamed and fell to the ground.
Similar scenes were constantly unfolding across various parts of the Sixth Division, blurring the line between life and death.
In front of the Sixth Division's Squad Barracks, a Night Patrol Soul Reaper stared in horror, his eyes wide, at the cold, gleaming blade flashing in mid-air.
Suddenly, a figure appeared before him in a blink.
The newcomer, bandaged, raised his Zanpakuto high, its blade sharp and fierce.
Slash!!
As the blade swung, the black-clad figure in mid-air went limp, blood gushing out.
The attacker, still breathing and lying on the ground, was immediately restrained by the Shinigami behind him.
He turned his head and spoke gently: "Are you hurt?"
"You are… Vice-Captain Kuchiki!?" The Shinigami recovered, nodding repeatedly in surprise: "Yes… yes, I'm fine! Thank you so much, Vice-Captain Kuchiki!"
Kuchiki Soujun nodded.
Just then, a Shinigami came to Kuchiki Soujun's side and whispered in his ear:
"Vice-Captain, please come and take a look."
Kuchiki Soujun asked, puzzled: "What happened, Third Seat Ginjiro?"
"The attacker committed suicide; he had poison hidden in his mouth beforehand," Ginjiro replied. "By the time we realized, the poison had already taken effect, and he died completely after struggling for a moment."
Kuchiki Soujun listened to Ginjiro's report with some surprise, then his gaze shifted slightly, and his expression gradually became strange.
He had already sensed something was amiss.
Having fought against rebels for many years, he knew clearly that there were no assassination units among the rebels.
The rebels, like the Shinigami of the Gotei 13, were keen on fighting with swords.
This method of killing, which was considered peculiar within the Gotei 13, reminded him of two types of people.
One, of course, was the Onmitsukidō, known for their assassinations.
The other was the loyal retainers (dead warriors) kept by nobles.
As the epitome of nobility, the Kuchiki naturally would not keep such retainers.
Due to their excellent family traditions, every family member was self-disciplined, advocating direct martial combat, and disdained engaging in covert attacks, nor would they rely on unreliable force.
They trusted their own strength more than the strength of others.
However, as a noble, Kuchiki Soujun still knew that many nobles indeed kept loyal retainers.
These retainers were considered an important martial safeguard by some nobles, and they also helped them do some unsavory things.
The combat style of these invaders made him suspect whether this rebel attack also involved noble participation.
Kuchiki Soujun and Ginjiro couldn't help but exchange glances, and a bad premonition filled their hearts.
The scene of being severely wounded in the previous attack was still vivid in his mind, and his injuries had not fully healed.
If he hadn't met Aozaki Reiji and Yoruichi Shihōin, Kuchiki Soujun would have died in that suppression operation and wouldn't have made it to the present.
"Are similar situations happening in other Squads?" Kuchiki Soujun asked with a frown.
Ginjiro shook his head, "I don't know, we haven't received any news from other Squads."
Kuchiki Soujun slowly exhaled a breath, his mind quickly working.
"If other Squads haven't been invaded, then the 'rebels'' objective for this operation might not be the Shin'o Academy."
"They went to great lengths to draw the Gotei 13's attention to the Shin'o Academy; their true target is likely within the Sixth Division!"
Ginjiro asked, puzzled:
"But the Sixth Division is the Stationed area of the Second Division and the Sixth Division, and the Second Division has already rushed to the Shin'o Academy."
"Could those traitors' target be you again? If they send out Captain-class Shinigami again, it will be troublesome. Let's go find Captain quickly."
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