To obtain inside information regarding the Gotei 13 from Soifon, Yoruichi Shihōin paid a heavy price.
Even her posture when using Shunpo to leave was somewhat distorted.
Soifon opened the window, allowing the circulating air to carry away the intimate atmosphere within the room.
By the time Rukia and Momo Hinamori came to clean Soifon's room, the scent carrying a unique fragrance had mostly dissipated.
"Why do I feel like... Teacher Soifon's room smells particularly good today?"
Momo Hinamori's nose twitched slightly; smelling this scent actually made her face heat up a little.
"Idiot Momo, which day does Teacher Soifon's room not smell good...? Hmm?"
Rukia was just about to scold her best friend for her weird remark when she subconsciously took a careful sniff herself. It seemed there really was a fragrance that wasn't usually present.
Exchanging a glance, the two found Soifon, who was currently maintaining her Zanpakutō.
Stare—
They didn't speak, simply watching their teacher wipe her blade in silence.
Uncomfortable with their intense gazes, Soifon paused her movements.
"What are you doing?"
Soifon's expression was peculiar; she felt the looks from her two students were somewhat offensive.
"Teacher Soifon..."
"Did you sleep alone last night?"
Rukia and Momo Hinamori narrowed their eyes and spoke one after another, displaying a strange tacit understanding.
Soifon adjusted her collar, picked up her sword, and walked past them to leave.
"Baffling. Of course I slept alone."
It was just that there was also a cat, that's all.
Several years passed gradually.
The Quincys in the World of the Living had even found the territory of the Visoreds, yet they still could not find any trace of Soifon.
The war between them and the Shinigami was always maintained at a strange equilibrium. Whenever it was on the verge of dying down, someone would always use a pair of invisible hands to pour a bucket of hot oil over it.
Inside the Wandenreich.
Bang—
Looking at the search report submitted to him, Haschwalth slammed his fist onto the table.
"I told you to find that female Quincy who hijacked Meninas, and you actually went and started a conflict with the Shinigami?!"
His Majesty Yhwach's 'Nine Years of Power' was coming to an end. Haschwalth hadn't expected these idiots to cause such a huge mess for him at this critical juncture.
It would be bad if the Seireitei noticed the power of their Wandenreich.
However, leaving Meninas lost out there was also an invisible bomb for the Empire...
No, if that short female Quincy was discovered next time, he had to dispatch more members of the Sternritter to ensure she was securely captured.
Bazz-B leaned against the wall, gloating as he looked at the furious Haschwalth. "Why such a big temper?"
"It's nothing. Do you have any clues regarding Meninas on your side?"
Glancing at him, Haschwalth stood up and walked over to stand beside Bazz-B.
Bazz-B spread his hands. "Of course not. If you ask me, Meninas's fate is still unknown. She's probably already dead."
"We cannot just let it go. His Majesty's dignity allows no provocation."
Hearing the other's words, Haschwalth walked past Bazz-B, heading alone toward the end of the long corridor.
Meninas was not dead; this was the only fact Haschwalth was certain of.
Because if Meninas had died, the power of the Schrift within her would definitely have returned to His Majesty Yhwach. As his other half, Haschwalth would certainly have sensed it.
Meanwhile, the war between the Quincys in the World of the Living and the stationed Shinigami had gradually subsided.
Hueco Mundo, Las Noches.
In the empty great hall, there were only three figures. Aizen stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the eternally unchanging night sky of Hueco Mundo.
"Over these years, fewer and fewer support Shinigami have been dispatched to the World of the Living. This farce seems to be nearing its end."
Aizen tapped on the windowsill, speaking slowly.
Perhaps due to the pressure exerted by the Wandenreich, the Quincys in the World of the Living, even while eyeing the spots in the Sternritter, could only search in a low-profile manner, trying their best not to conflict with the Shinigami.
Nodding, Soifon shifted her gaze to Meninas standing nearby. "It's about time. Captain Aizen must be getting impatient too."
"Referring to the Hōgyoku? Captain Soifon."
Aizen turned around. His gaze behind the glasses followed Soifon's line of sight, also landing on Meninas.
—Over these years, Aizen had used the unique nature of the Hōgyoku to attempt to influence the growth of her power, achieving quite significant results.
Meninas seemed to sense their scrutiny. She blinked, looking left and right with some confusion. "Lord Haschwalth... Candice... why are you looking at me?"
"Meninas, regarding the Quincy traitor who attacked the Wandenreich and hijacked you earlier... we have found her whereabouts."
Aizen walked slowly up to her, his face wearing his customary gentle smile.
Hearing this, Meninas's pupils contracted abruptly.
Immediately afterward, she raised her right hand and clenched her fist violently. The air seemed to be twisted and compressed by an invisible force.
"Please leave it to me!" Meninas's eyes were resolute. "I will definitely drag that dwarf back to the Empire, Lord Haschwalth!"
Still with the 'dwarf'? Still 'dwarf'?!
Noticing the teasing look Aizen cast her way, the corner of Soifon's mouth twitched, and she suppressed the urge to punch Meninas.
"In the World of the Living, Karakura Town."
"That fellow is very cunning. She is hiding in a stronghold with many cohorts. Trying to drag her out... might require some effort."
Aizen nodded and spoke.
"Rest assured and leave it to me, Lord Haschwalth!"
Meninas made a move to leave, but this was not the Wandenreich; she could not leave Hueco Mundo using the method of moving through shadows.
Pa.
Before she could activate her ability, Soifon grabbed Meninas's wrist. "The mission briefing isn't finished yet. Don't be in such a rush."
"? Candice, are you going with me too?"
Meninas turned her head curiously. Due to the height difference, she was speaking to empty air.
(Note: The height difference between 1.91m and 1.5m. Candice is 1.66m.)
"I'm not going..."
"Meninas, make as big a scene as possible in Karakura Town. His Majesty is counting on this to drag out the invader's cohorts."
Soifon tilted her head back, looking past the evil obstruction on her chest to gaze at the other's face.
Meninas fell silent for a few seconds. Seeing that 'Haschwalth' tacitly approved of the other's words, she finally nodded slowly. "I understand... destroy the stronghold and force him to show himself."
Karakura Town.
Walking out of the Garganta, Sōsuke Aizen held the released Kyōka Suigetsu. Next to him followed Soifon, Meninas (who treated the two of them as non-existent), and Nelliel and Harribel who had come to provide support.
Black cloaks completely concealed the figures of the latter three, hiding any physical characteristics.
"Remember, make a commotion, but do not kill anyone."
"Let the news spread as fast as possible."
As Soifon's voice fell, Meninas nodded heavily, bent her knees, and leapt into mid-air...
Harribel and Nelliel, the two female Arrancars, followed closely behind her.
Only when her figure had completely disappeared did Aizen turn back to look at Soifon. "What is the plan for the next step, Captain Soifon?"
"Return to the Seireitei and await the Captain-Commander's deployment." Soifon opened a Garganta leading to Soul Society. "With Meninas's strength, it definitely won't work unless a Captain-level Shinigami is dispatched..."
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