Aizen poured the corpse preservative from the test tube into the jar containing Mashō, then combined it with various sealing methods. Mashō's body was thus successfully preserved, gloriously becoming another experimental subject in Aizen's laboratory.
Looking at Mashō floating in the solution within the glass jar, Aizen's lips curled into a satisfied smile. Mashō's ability to absorb the spiritual energy of others was practically tailor-made as the best catalyst for her currently bottlenecked experiments. Moreover, with the added boost of high-concentration spiritual pressure, a Captain-level body's physical strength was significantly higher than an ordinary Shinigami's, sufficiently robust to withstand some of the more daring experimental tests.
Ignoring the noise from Yoruichi and Kensei's playful antics behind her, Aizen quickly jotted down Mashō's sample number, Zanpakutō ability, and the planned experimental protocol in her experimental log. After writing this, she paused, then added a line in capital letters: "KENSEI" "KENZURU FORBIDDEN TO TOUCH," to prevent this guy from ruining this rare material.
After finishing his work, Aizen sat on a chair opposite Kensei and Yoruichi.
"Sōsuke, all done?" Kensei played with Yoruichi's fingers held out in front of him. "Now you should tell us what experiment you're conducting, right?"
Aizen pushed up her glasses, her gaze sweeping over the various storage jars containing corpses in the lab. Though she already had an answer in mind, she still asked.
"Kensei, seeing so many experimental materials here, don't you have anything to say?"
"Pretty spooky, counts?" Looking at the eerie green light emitted by these storage jars in the not-so-bright laboratory, Kensei felt a little uneasy. "I suggest you install more lighting. Working in this environment isn't good for your eyes."
Sitting behind Kensei, Yoruichi laughed so hard his shoulders twitched. It looks like it still takes... Kensei to handle Aizen.
"I'm asking if you don't think using corpses for experiments is too much?" A hint of powerlessness revealed in Aizen's voice. She felt her conversations with Kensei were never on the same channel, even when she was being serious.
"Are any of them people I know?"
Aizen shook her head.
"Are any from the Gotei 13 side?"
Aizen pointed at the still-fresh Mashō.
"Besides him?"
Aizen shook her head again.
"Then that's it, isn't it? You said yourself they're all rebel corpses. Why ask me such a question?" Kensei looked at Aizen, bewildered, as if questioning her intelligence. "Besides, you're helping clean up rebels for the Seireitei. I think Old Man Yama should give you an award for outstanding death! No, I can't let you suffer. I'll apply for it with the old man tomorrow!"
Aizen quickly pulled Kensei back, who was about to stand up for herself. One could only say Kensei was too righteous.
"Sōsuke, you just think too much. If you'd told me earlier, I could have even retrieved Shirakura and Kishita's bodies for you."
Looking at the rather regretful Kensei, Aizen felt she might have been treating him too much like a normal person. Yoruichi, lying on the sofa, was already laughing uncontrollably. Aizen's performance was a display of wit and courage with thin air made her even feel a little pathetic Aizen. Why did she have to meet a freak like Kensei?
Pushing up his glasses, Aizen began to describe what she had seen recorded in the Central 46 and Tsunayashiro family archives.
"In the beginning, the world was in a state of chaos. All living beings existed in the same space. There was no so-called life and death; even becoming a Hollow was part of the spirit cycle."
"Until Hollows began devouring humans, breaking the cycle of Reishi. A powerful existence emerged, annihilating Hollows to transform them back into Reishi, formally establishing the spirit cycle. This existence was the Soul King."
"Later, for the better survival of humanity, after discussions with the progenitors of the Five Great Noble Families, the Soul King voluntarily became the wedge, separating the world into three realms. Of course, these are the records of the current ruler. The truth cannot be confirmed."
"As for my current Hōgyoku experiments..." Aizen glanced at Yoruichi, who had her legs draped over Kensei's stomach and was teasing him with her nimble toes. "For now, you can understand it as something that can help Shinigami grow more rapidly."
"Speaking of the Soul King, we have a member of the Five Great Noble Families right here." Kensei held down Yoruichi's fidgeting feet. "Yoruichi should know more detailed history than any records you can find."
Yoruichi kicked Kensei twice in annoyance for holding her foot and slowly said: "That's right. Even if I forget, the written records at home shouldn't be lost. Aizen, if you beg..." "I can show them to you."
"Heh. Simple association is enough to deduce the history of that time. I don't need to ask you for such a thing."
"Why don't you ask me?"
Watching the tense standoff between Yoruichi and Aizen, Kensei spoke calmly, feeling it was finally his turn to reveal his knowledge.
"What could you possibly know?"
The two, who were just hostile to each other, unanimously questioned Kensei's intelligence upon hearing his words.
"Ridiculous. I, Kensei Kenzuru, am omniscient. Forget history; I even know Old Man Yama will lose an arm in the future. It's just a matter of whether you believe me or not."
Kensei wagged his finger at the two with considerable self-satisfaction. He was practically omniscient; could such things stump him?
Then why didn't you know I/Aizen is a woman?
Aizen and Yoruichi simultaneously had I had this thought, but decided to listen to Kensei's insightful opinion.
"Yoruichi, think carefully. This matter isn't exactly glorious history for your noble family."
Before began, Kensei earnestly warned Yoruichi. If she didn't want to hear, he'd tell Sōsuke alone.
Yoruichi was also stubborn. Although she was head of the Shihōin family, she didn't particularly like her noble status; otherwise, she wouldn't be so irresponsible all the time. She waved her hand dismissively, telling Kensei to speak boldly, she'd cover for anything that might happen.
"First, regarding the Soul King becoming the prelude to the three worlds... you could say it was voluntary. After all, he was said to possess omniscience and omnipotence; even if not, he was invincible at the time. If he didn't want to, no one could do anything to him."
"The progenitors of the Five Great Noble Families wanted to create an orderly world of life and death—the current three realms. But they didn't want the Soul King to freely control this..." world, which could only be created and maintained by his power. So, they teamed up to seal him."
"Someone from the same era as the Soul King borrowed his power, and thus the Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and the Living World were born."
"The Tsunayashiro family has been pure bad blood from the start. They felt just sealing the Soul King wasn't enough, so they made the Soul King's body into a human pig to divide his power."
"The current ruling class of the Soul Society consists only of the Central 46 and the noble families. The only royal family is still specimen in a crystal."
Hearing such explosive news, Yoruichi and Aizen's brains momentarily froze.
A deathly silence filled the room for about ten seconds.
"No wonder you didn't want me to know."
Yoruichi patted his chest, finally managing to calm down.
"Kensei, how do you know all this?"
Pushing her glasses, which had slipped down to her nose from shock, back up, Aizen stared directly at Kensei.
"The Soul King told me in a dream."
Kensei explained casually, without changing her expression. I can't very well tell you I've watched the anime, or you'd both gone mad.
Yoruichi scratched his head in frustration. Never imagined the Soul Society was established like this. Wish I hadn't listened.
"Just the two you know. Don't go around telling everyone."
Kensei was uncharacteristically serious. After all, he wasn't fully developed yet. At least wait until he could come up with the details. Before, she thought, "Don't worry. The only one here who might talk nonsense is you." Aizen had already regained her usual rationality. Kensei's words merely confirmed her suspicions. Her fingertips unconsciously tapped the armrest of the chair. "Before has enough power to back it up; the truth is merely a dangerous rumor."
"I'm not stupid." Yoruichi rolled her eyes, feeling that Kensei was judging her by her own standards. She turned to stare at Aizen. "I suppose your research on the Hōgyoku and pursuit of power also harbor some bad intentions."
"What you speak of is still too far off. But if one wishes to preserve oneself when the storm arrives, one can only rely on one's own strength."
Aizen rose and walked over to Mashō's storage jar. Her hand traced Mashō's limbs through the glass, as if mimicking the scene where the noble progenitor dismembered the Soul King's body.
"But, Kensei, knowing this much, you can still live so..." Yoruichi looked at the still carefree Kensei, carefully choosing his words, "...so vibrant. It's truly rare."
Aizen nodded in agreement with Yoruichi's point of view, a rare occurrence. If someone else knew such secrets, they'd be either constantly fearful or wearing a bitter, resentful expression. Who else would be carefree like Kensei? Is this the benefit of low intelligence?
"I'm not close with them. If the Soul King were a beautiful girl, I might try to save him. But since he's just an uncle, forget it."
Leaning back, Kensei looked up at the ceiling. If Sōsuke still wanted to change the status quo of the Soul... Society's nobility is a sucker; she'd have to plan ahead.
Tch. A bit of a headache.
Yoruichi glanced at Aizen, once again engrossed in her experiments, then at Kensei's nonchalant expression. She felt she was on a sinking ship, and not one she could easily escape.
But Kensei was certain to succeed Yamamoto as Captain-Commander. Given his personality, he definitely wouldn't obey Central 46's commands. So he could essentially be said to be the future leader of the Soul Society. Aizen was so confident about standing at the same level as Kensei; her talent must be comparable, and she possessed the wisdom Kensei lacked.
Add herself as a noble insider... It didn't seem impossible to achieve great things.
Might as well consider it 'marrying the rooster, follow the rooster; marrying the dog, follow the dog.' Looks like she needed to go back and train Soi Fon diligently, so as not to hold him back in the future.
Having made up her mind, Yoruichi felt she needed to work hard, or how... Would she compete against Aizen later?
"Speaking of which, Kensei, have you thought about how to explain the Mashō situation to the Captain-Commander tomorrow?"
Whoa!
Reminded by Aizen, Kensei suddenly felt a headache coming on.
***
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