Sora met Kirio Hikifune in her laboratory and asked her for information about the former 3rd Seat of the 12th Division.
"Katori-kun, you want information on Tetsuya Miyamoto?" Kirio Hikifune was somewhat surprised.
Sora nodded. "Yes. Miss Kirio should also know that the Captain-Commander and I encountered a 'Gate of Hell' in the Rukongai. Later, Batsu'unsai told me some information about Hell."
"I've discovered that Tetsuya Miyamoto may be connected to an item that can communicate with Hell..."
Sora told Kirio Hikifune about the loss of the 'Voice of Hell', but did not elaborate on the source of his information.
Tetsuya Miyamoto's disappearance was not a secret. The disappearance of a lieutenant-level officer was a major event in the Gotei 13. Anyone could find out about his unknown whereabouts by asking an older Shinigami.
Moreover, Hikifune was well aware of the lax management in divisions without captains. She would later have someone confirm the situation regarding the lost 'Voice of Hell' in the 9th Division.
Kirio Hikifune recalled, "I have an impression of Tetsuya Miyamoto. He was originally the 3rd Seat of the 12th Division and was later transferred to the 13th Division to serve as lieutenant."
"But not long after his promotion, he disappeared while on a mission in the World of the Living."
"After Captain Ukitake took command, he also asked me about Tetsuya Miyamoto. After all, the unexplained disappearance of a lieutenant-level Shinigami is no small matter."
"He specifically investigated the matter, but in the end, he couldn't find the cause."
"I can still access Tetsuya Miyamoto's mission logs from his time here."
Kirio Hikifune walked to an instrument and operated it, bringing up a screen of reishi light.
As her fingertips swiped, streams of text data composed of reishi constantly shifted in the air.
"The technology in Miss Kirio's lab is truly advanced. If only this method of storing data could be implemented in all divisions!" Sora exclaimed.
Sora felt that the reishi technology in this laboratory was already on par with the scientific level of the 21st century in the World of the Living.
His own laboratory still used paper documents to record data and lacked a computer-like reishi instrument that could project a screen into the air.
"It's a bit difficult. There is still significant room for improvement in this reishi technology. Currently, there's a high learning curve, and the average Shinigami's level of reishi control is not sufficient to operate these instruments," Kirio Hikifune said with a light laugh.
"Found it. Tetsuya Miyamoto's file and mission logs. However, I only have records of his missions during his time in the 12th Division," Kirio Hikifune said as she pulled up the information.
"Tetsuya Miyamoto, former 3rd Seat of the 12th Division, transferred to the 13th Division as lieutenant... This information seems normal, a very common transfer."
Hikifune continued to scroll through Miyamoto's mission logs. After a moment, her finger paused on a particular entry on the light screen.
"December 21st, Reigai of Tenjirō Kirinji destroyed..."
"December 22nd, Reigai of Shutara Senjumaru destroyed..."
"..."
"December 28th, Reigai of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto destroyed..."
"Responsible for destroying the laboratory's Reigai..." Kirio Hikifune frowned and muttered, "When Captain Ukitake investigated before, we didn't think in this direction..."
Sora's heart stirred, and he pressed, "Destroying Reigai? Miss Kirio, could you tell me more about this?"
Kirio Hikifune organized her thoughts and replied, "This matter, in fact, has a great deal to do with you, Katori-kun."
"You should already know about the 'Captain Perfection Project'."
"The main purpose of the project was to create captain-class Reigai to supplement the combat strength of the Gotei 13."
"Later, as Katori Batsu'unsai's injuries worsened, Tenjirō Kirinji proposed a treatment plan to cultivate her Reigai and replace her Core of Spiritual Pressure."
"And the ones responsible for cultivating the Reigai were myself and Shutara Senjumaru."
"But the Reigai we created back then had major flaws: they lacked complete minds and were unable to grow."
"We estimated the time needed to improve the Reigai technology and came to a very regrettable conclusion—Katori Batsu'unsai's injuries would not hold out that long."
"In addition, Central 46 opposed the continued research of Reigai technology. Many believed that successfully creating Reigai comparable to ordinary souls would disrupt the balance of the three realms. It was a technology that could lead the Soul Society to ruin."
"So, the Reigai technology was sealed away."
"During the execution of the 'Captain Perfection Project', we created many Reigai. We collected the reishi of captain-class and lieutenant-class Shinigami and made Reigai from them."
"After the decision to terminate the project, all Reigai were to be destroyed."
"However, before that, Senjumaru brought one of Batsu'unsai's Reigai back to the... Royal Guard. That Reigai is your current reishi body, Katori-kun."
"When I saw you again, I found you had become Batsu'unsai's younger brother."
"I don't know what Senjumaru did to turn a mindless, growth-incapable Reigai into an existence like you, indistinguishable from an ordinary soul. You must have a secret I don't know about..."
Kirio Hikifune was unaware of the matter of cutting a shadow of the Soul King and sewing it onto the Reigai.
"In short... after the 'Captain Perfection Project' was halted, all the Reigai created during that period needed to be destroyed."
"And the one responsible for their destruction was the former 3rd Seat of the 12th Division, Tetsuya Miyamoto."
"When Captain Ukitake was investigating Miyamoto's disappearance, the Reigai leak and the advent of the Will of Hell hadn't happened yet, so we didn't consider this angle..."
"Looking at it now, the missing Tetsuya Miyamoto is highly suspicious. During his time in the 12th Division, he was a seated officer skilled in spiritual body technology and had also mastered Reigai technology."
"I see," Sora nodded. "If Tetsuya Miyamoto's disappearance was a way for him to hide, then the Reigai that infiltrated the Seireitei before, and the ones currently hiding in the Rukongai, were very likely created by him."
"Yes, that's what I think. It seems we should reinvestigate the matter of Tetsuya Miyamoto's disappearance," Kirio Hikifune sighed slightly. "But he has been missing for over a decade. It's been too long; it will likely be difficult to find anything."
"Is Tetsuya Miyamoto from the Miyamoto clan?" Sora had some impression of this surname.
"He is indeed from the Miyamoto clan, but when Captain Ukitake investigated this case last time, he already looked into the Miyamoto clan and found nothing unusual."
Kirio Hikifune said with a smile, "Katori-kun's information has given us a new target for our investigation. Hopefully, we can follow the trail from the Reigai hiding in the Rukongai and find traces of Tetsuya Miyamoto."
Sora's information gave them a target. Before this, Hikifune and Yamamoto had not thought to focus on a lieutenant who had been missing for over ten years.
...
After leaving the 12th Division, Sora took Aizen Sōsuke through the Garganta to Hueco Mundo.
Sora needed to find a suitable material to create the 'Voice of Hell', while Aizen wanted to collect some sand suitable for cultivating his fungus Hollows, and also to see Hueco Mundo for himself.
The two walked out of the Garganta and arrived in the endless great desert of Hueco Mundo.
"Professor, I read in the Academy books that the Soul Society's defenses are tight. I thought entering the Garganta would require some effort."
"There is no point in criticizing a net for having holes, Sōsuke."
Aizen Sōsuke's eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed into the distance.
"The reishi concentration here is so high..." Aizen said, sensing the reishi in the atmosphere. "It's even higher than most areas of the Rukongai, but the reishi here is not as 'pure' as in the Soul Society."
"The Hollows in Hueco Mundo are constantly devouring each other. Every second, a Hollow dies. Although most of the reishi from these devoured Hollows becomes part of another, a small portion still dissipates into the air. Therefore, the air and earth of Hueco Mundo contain a high concentration of Hollow reishi," Sora explained softly.
"Pathetic creatures, succumbing to instinct, evolving by devouring their own kind," Aizen commented on the Hollows.
"Not all Hollows succumb to instinct. Some exceptionally talented ones can evolve to a considerably high level just by absorbing the Hollow reishi from the atmosphere," Sora said with a smile.
The difference between Hollows can be greater than the difference between a Shinigami and an ordinary soul.
For example, many small animal-like Hollows are born with little intelligence. They are at the bottom of Hueco Mundo's food chain and have no chance to evolve.
But some gifted Hollows are born with the power of a Menos Grande.
"So there are Hollows that can evolve without devouring others... The Academy's books have no record of this." Aizen's knowledge of Hueco Mundo was still limited. The books he read in the noble district mostly talked about matters and history within the Soul Society.
"The Academy's descriptions of Menos Grande are basically limited to the 'Gillian' class. Ordinary Shinigami cannot deal with Menos Grande above the 'Gillian' class," Sora said.
Upon arriving in the great desert, Sora expanded his spiritual perception to its maximum, searching for Hollows within his range.
Sora's perception range was vast. In the Seireitei, it could even cover the entire city.
This method of sensing couldn't detect spiritual bodies that deliberately concealed their spiritual pressure, but it was very simple for searching for small animal-like Hollows that were not skilled at hiding their presence.
"The soil here is quite suitable for the fungus Hollows to reproduce." Aizen took out tools from his reishi space pouch and collected sand.
"Professor, since it's not difficult to come to Hueco Mundo, why don't we establish a laboratory here? Compared to the Soul Society, it's more convenient for collecting materials and more secretive," Aizen said after shoveling some sand. "Our research on Hollows and Reigai could be troublesome if discovered by others, right?"
"I had that thought as well. Both Hollowfied Shinigami and Shinigamified Hollows are highly dangerous research topics. Even with the protection of Sekkiseki stones, the laboratory is not completely foolproof."
Sora revealed some of his thoughts to Aizen.
"After I finish teaching your class, I plan to become the captain of the 12th Division."
"At that time, conventional research can be done in the 12th Division's lab, while the research on Hollowfied Shinigami and Shinigamified Hollows will be moved to Hueco Mundo."
"Professor, you are far-sighted and have already thought of all this," Aizen said with a light laugh.
"An Adjuchas?" Sora's brow suddenly twitched. He sensed an Adjuchas-class Menos Grande within his perception range.
This was the great desert of Hueco Mundo, not the Menos Forest. Adjuchas-class Menos were relatively rare here.
"Sōsuke, let me show you an active 'Adjuchas'. You haven't seen the true power of an Adjuchas-class Menos Grande yet, have you?" Sora smiled.
"Indeed, I haven't. The materials the professor brought back were either remains or were subdued by strong anesthetics," Aizen's interest was also piqued.
Sora and Aizen moved quickly, and soon found the Adjuchas he had sensed.
"So this is an 'Adjuchas'," Aizen said, observing the Hollow before them.
It was a half-human, half-antelope type of Hollow. Its entire head was encased in an antelope skull, while its body was a flesh-and-blood mix of human and antelope.
"A... a Shinigami!!!" the antelope Hollow stammered.
Her voice was clear and pleasant, a stark contrast to her skeletal appearance.
Seeing the two, the antelope Hollow turned and fled.
Sora was slightly startled, though not because the Hollow fled, but because of the name he saw on its panel:
[Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck]
[Talent: S]
[Spiritual Pressure: lv81]
[Affinity Level: Stranger]
[Status: Fear (Terrifying Shinigami!!!)]
Swoosh—
Sora used Shunpo to appear in front of Nelliel, blocking her escape route.
"Miss Hollow, could you stay and chat for a moment?" Sora asked slowly.
"Shinigami! I remember your spiritual pressure!" Nelliel exclaimed in surprise.
"Have we met?" Sora raised an eyebrow. He didn't remember ever seeing Nelliel before.
"It was just a few years ago! My companions and I wanted to go to the Menos Forest, but we sensed a terrifying Shinigami's spiritual pressure there!" Nelliel looked around, thinking of a way to escape.
"I see." Sora remembered the students' graduation exam. He had indeed released his spiritual pressure in the Menos Forest back then.
"Professor, there are rational beings among the Menos Grande as well. She didn't attack us on sight. I've encountered Hollows twice in the Rukongai, and tests showed they lacked the ability to gauge the strength of their opponents," Aizen followed, eyeing the Hollow before him as if she were an experimental subject.
"She is likely a naturally evolved Adjuchas. Of course she's different," Sora chuckled.
Sora was very interested in Nelliel. He wanted to experiment and see if he could take a Hollow as a disciple, and if so, what kind of rewards he might receive.
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