"Aizen" in the original work can be called a perfect Shinigami, but without Kyoka Suigetsu, he basically had no chance to develop in the early stages, and he wouldn't have been so calm during the final decisive battle either.
Iori hasn't obtained his own Zanpakuto yet, so for now he can only pour all his energy into refining his spiritual pressure.
There isn't much to say about this process, just endless tempering and honing.
Of course, with the boost from his talent and his "art style," his growth speed was completely different from ordinary people.
In just three or four days, he had already caught up to the current upper limit of spiritual pressure, and only then did his rate of progress finally slow down.
So what exactly is his current spiritual pressure limit?
After Akame ga Kill and the Tosen Kaname incident, with the art style Iori gained on top of his own foundation, his current value is already at "490."
And if actual combat strength is taken into account, he could completely compete for a vice-captain–level position.
Of course, without Shikai, it would be impossible to convince others, and Iori also had no intention of exposing his bizarre growth speed in front of everyone.
He needed a suitable reason to explain this sudden leap in strength, preferably a life-or-death battle. After all, this is a hot-blooded manga world, and breakthroughs during combat have always been a classic trope.
Luckily, this was Soul Society, where opportunities like that were never in short supply…
Iori went ahead to check with Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Although this eccentric scientist didn't give him a friendly look, the reishi conversion device was finished.
Following their agreement, he paid Mayuri the remaining balance, then quickly went to a safe and secluded place to enter the [Dangai] again, jumping to Akame ga Kill, bringing back Kurome's blood sample and the drug "candy," and handing them over to Mayuri for analysis.
Making an antidote wasn't a big problem. Mayuri was even interested in creating a modified, enhanced version of the drug that could boost the target's physical abilities while making them completely obedient to Iori, but after careful consideration, Iori rejected the idea.
After all, he had already promised Akame. If he came back without the antidote and instead brought an upgraded "candy"… that would really make him look like a terrible person.
After all, since ancient times, whether in novels or anime, using poison to control people and make them work for you has always been a pretty low tactic, except in the dark world.
And while Iori was waiting for the antidote over the next two days, a piece of gossip began circulating in Seireitei that caught his interest.
[Negotiations with the remaining Quincy remnants have broken down. The higher-ups have decided to take compulsory measures!]
As everyone knows, Seireitei has wanted to wipe out the Quincy clan for a very long time.
The reason is simple, old grudges plus new hatred~
Eight hundred years ago, the Quincy King Yhwach led an elite force in a surprise attack on Soul Society. Seireitei suffered heavy casualties, and Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni formed the Gotei Thirteen to respond to the war, this was the origin of the Thirteen Divisions system.
That battle was extremely brutal. About half of the first-generation captains, including Saito Furofushi, were killed, and the casualty rate among the lower-ranking Shinigami was even more horrifying.
After that, the Shinigami did not completely wipe them out, and Quincy descendants continued to live in the world of the living.
However, over the past hundred years, the Quincy population began to grow rapidly, which led to another problem.
Both the Quincy and the Shinigami are dedicated to eliminating Hollows in the human world, but their methods are completely different.
The Shinigami maintain the balance of the three realms. Even when a Hollow is slain, its soul returns to the cycle of reincarnation.
The Quincy, on the other hand, literally exterminate them. Hollows shot by them disappear completely.
One or two cases aren't obvious, but once souls start vanishing on a large scale, it will definitely affect the balance of the three realms, and might even destroy the world.
With past hatred combined with present conflicts, Seireitei was destined to never tolerate the continued existence of the Quincy clan, so preparations for a punitive war had begun long ago.
At first, Seireitei did make some effort, hoping the Quincy might repent…
But clearly, the "power of annihilation" flows in their blood. Quincy cannot resist this instinctual behavior, and negotiations naturally fell apart.
For an organization like the Gotei Thirteen, a standard violence-based group, war is nothing unusual. Division Eleven even exists specifically as a vanguard suicide unit.
However, this time the enemy was not a horde of Hollows, but an equally well-organized Quincy force, so they couldn't rush in recklessly and needed time to prepare.
At the very least, the noble heirs who were sent into the Gotei Thirteen just to gild their resumes had to be transferred to logistics and support units.
Iori was somewhat surprised by this news, but thinking about it carefully, the second war against the Quincy did indeed occur around two hundred years before the start of the anime. It wasn't strange for him to run into it.
There might be a discrepancy of ten or twenty years in the timeline, but that wasn't a big deal. After all, he was just a reserve student, how could this possibly affect him?
Then Iori received a piece of "delightful" news.
Because an expeditionary force to the human world was being assembled, Seireitei's defenses were becoming thin, so some elite students were to be drawn from the Shin'o Academy and rushed into service to ensure Seireitei's security.
And because of Iori's outstanding performance at the academy, along with the "good impression" he left on the instructors, the swordsmanship instructor and many other teachers strongly recommended Aizen Iori.
"Iori, the higher-ups have already decided. Starting today, you're the temporary Ninth Seat of the Twelfth Division!"
"..." The boy hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself.
The instructor patted Iori on the shoulder, looking deeply concerned about his future, "The Twelfth Division usually doesn't go to the battlefield. They just handle miscellaneous matters in Seireitei, but this is an important credential."
"Once the war is over and you return to finish your studies, with this experience, a captain might directly give you a formal seated officer position… Work hard!"
"I... I definitely won't let the teachers' good intentions go to waste…"
Feeling the weight on his shoulder, Iori seemed to radiate righteousness and greatness. His expression was especially solemn, but what he was thinking inside was completely different.
'What is going on? I'm a top student taking government subsidies while doing private work on the side, and suddenly I've fallen into becoming a nine-to-five wage slave on a fixed salary? Seriously, thank you so much!'
Though he was extremely unwilling, the instructors really were acting out of kindness. Iori could only blame his acting skills for being too good, leaving everyone with the impression that he was an overly driven workaholic…
'Which is why being a grindlord really isn't good!'
'Actually, I don't want to grind. I just want to lie flat and make money…'
"Right now, the captain of the Twelfth Division has just stepped down, and Vice-Captain Hikifune-sama has taken over."
The swordsmanship instructor clearly didn't know much about Shutara Senjumaru's situation either, so such a major change in leadership was brushed over in a single sentence.
"The vice-captain position has been filled by promoting the seated officer Mayuri Kurotsuchi. You can just go report to him later."
"Who? Mayuri?"
"Eh, you know him? That seated officer seems pretty mysterious. I haven't really heard his name much."
"Oh, I wouldn't say I know him."
Iori's mood suddenly improved. "But just hearing the name, you can tell he must be a kind and easygoing person!"
———
It's hard to describe the expression on Mayuri's face when he saw Iori come to report for duty, it was like he suddenly realized the world itself had malicious intent toward him.
"Here, your antidote." Mayuri didn't waste words and handed it over directly. As usual, Iori generously settled the payment in full.
This kind of thing couldn't be delayed. Even with old acquaintances, money and goods had to be exchanged cleanly.
"By the way, congratulations on your promotion." Seeing the armband on Mayuri's arm, Iori smiled and offered his congratulations.
Who knew Mayuri's expression would instead look like he had eaten something filthy, "That woman finished her business and left, dumping a mess on us to clean up. And now there's a war on top of it, so I don't even have time to do research!"
So Shutara Senjumaru has already returned to the Royal Palace… With Hikifune Kirio taking over, it seems no different from the original story. The only question is when Mayuri will be thrown into the 'Maggot's Nest.'
Probably within a few decades at most. By the time Urahara Kisuke takes over, old Mayuri will already be in there long enough to be practically growing mold~
As a loyal and righteous person, Iori naturally couldn't just watch such a brilliant brain go to waste, so, "Old Mayuri, I've decided to increase my investment and place several more orders!"
"Don't limit yourself either. Tell me all your wild ideas. I'll see what you've got and support you with everything I have."
"I'll figure out the money. What matters is speed, if you can develop something, develop it. Soul Society's technological level depends entirely on you to push it forward!"
Holding the antidote, Iori said sincerely to Mayuri, "Don't worry, I'll cherish these crystallizations of wisdom."
"Iori, you…"
Mayuri was genuinely surprised this time. This mentally unstable man, always hated and despised by others, was being valued like this for the first time.
And that alone wasn't all. What moved Mayuri the most was that this boy didn't see him as a mere tool. He truly believed Mayuri's mind had such great value, and was even willing to spend money on completely meaningless flights of fancy.
That was something none of his other patrons had ever done.
"It seems… you're a bit smarter than those idiots, at least in terms of insight."
Even so, he was still Mayuri. His affection difficulty ranked top-tier in Soul Society. Though moved, he didn't go so far as to unlock a CG for Iori.
"I'll give you a small discount."
Mayuri pulled another bottle of medicine from his wide sleeve, "This is a further enhanced modification drug based on the samples you provided."
"In addition to the original effects, as long as you drip one drop of bodily fluid rich in reishi onto it, the person who takes it will have your mark branded into their soul. They'll develop an instinctive closeness to you, obedient like a hatchling bird."
"But note, it doesn't mean much for Shinigami. It only works on ordinary souls or living humans with relatively low strength."
"Huh?"
Iori took the medicine, frowning, "What do you mean by this? Do I look like some despicable person who uses drugs to control others?"
As he spoke, the boy put both the modified drug and the antidote into his pocket, then reached out toward the mad scientist again.
"While you're at it, throw in a brainwashing device too."
Mayuri, "..."
———
Iori is a gentleman, at least, that's what he believes himself to be.
While he enjoys reading works involving drug control, hypnosis, and brainwashing, fantasy is fantasy and reality is reality. Actually carrying out those operations in real life… Iori just couldn't accept it on a values level.
That said, to be honest, things like a sisters bowl are indeed very tempting, especially when Iori had all the necessary conditions in hand, and success or failure depended entirely on a single thought of his. Maintaining composure at that point was an extreme test of willpower.
At that moment, as Iori struggled internally, it was as if two little figures were whispering in his ears.
One was a small devil holding a trident, with a tail and goat horns, softly saying in a seductive voice, "Isn't working hard all this time just so you can do whatever you want?"
"Now is the time to take off the mask. Start with these sisters and let lust swallow you whole!"
And the other little figure, with angel wings on its back, replied righteously, "Yeah, yeah!"
———
"Huh? Iori, are you listening to me?"
"Ah?"
Snapping out of his inner struggle, Iori froze for a moment and looked at the cloaked girl across the table. "Sorry, what did you just say?"
"Have you run into something recently? You seem restless." The disguised Akame didn't answer right away, instead showing concern for Iori's condition.
"Nothing," Iori naturally wouldn't reveal his private thoughts. "I've just been running around for these things lately, so I'm a bit tired."
After saying that, he took down a long, nearly human-height box from behind him and placed it on the table, making the sturdy wooden table let out a creak, as if it were struggling under the weight.
From the moment Iori entered, this pure white, unknown-material box had drawn everyone's attention in the inn's main hall. But after someone recognized Iori's identity and warned the others, they all deliberately looked away and avoided this table.
Akame glanced at the box, then looked at Iori with guilt, "You've really worked hard… I didn't have high expectations at first. I didn't think you'd actually manage to get it… I really don't know how to thank you."
She naturally assumed Iori's fatigue came from obtaining the antidote. Already grateful to him, Akame now felt even more uneasy.
"Good thing you didn't say 'I have nothing to repay you with, so I can only offer myself.'"
Iori deliberately joked, "Otherwise I wouldn't just be losing money, I'd be throwing myself in too. That would make you sisters way too profitable~"
"…I'll just take that as a joke."
Akame was clearly holding back her anger, but if you looked closely, you'd notice her ears turning slightly red.
"Don't get any ideas about Kurome!"
'Oh? So does that mean I can get ideas about you?'
"Don't be so tense. I won't use favors to pressure you. After all, there are plenty of beauties ready to 'offer themselves' to me, I don't lack you."
"…Many?"
Akame's brow twitched almost imperceptibly. "Do women like you that much?"
"You want to know?"
"Mm!"
Before provoking Akame any further, Iori flipped the Seireitei-style white box over, pressed the yin-yang fish emblem in the center, and slowly rotated it once. A faint glow of reishi flashed along the seams, and the box opened from the side.
This was the conversion device made by Mayuri, capable of freely switching its contents between "material" and "reishi" states, controlled by the yin-yang fish in the center.
Even more amazing was the box itself, no one knew what kind of processing Mayuri had done, but it could automatically adjust its form according to the external environment.
Although it still couldn't convert living humans into reishi like the later Urahara Kisuke could, this box could definitely be called black technology. You could only say the money was well spent~
…After opening the box, Iori hesitated for a moment, but still decisively took out the antidote and handed it to Akame, explaining the exact dosage and precautions.
Next came the brainwashing device, which looked like a sleep mask. Iori even explained it specifically, "Considering your feelings, I didn't choose a type with overly strong effects."
"It can sort out chaotic thoughts, dig into the subconscious, and at the same time apply mental suggestion to the target."
"I believe Kurome's feelings for you are very strong, they were just twisted by external forces."
"If you follow the instructions, you can gradually correct her awkward personality, draw out her 'big-sister obsession' nature, and slowly train her into a tsundere little sister who can't live without her sister~"
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