"What do you think of my Third Seat's strength?"
"Completely useless. Too pathetic."
The scene of Ichimaru Gin killing the Squad 5 Third Seat about sixty years ago was still vivid in Aizen's mind. He appreciated people like Gin who were deeply scheming yet decisive in killing. This was why he treated Gin as a confidant, even knowing the other party had his own hidden motives for approaching him.
The scene before him was so strikingly similar to back then. Of course, that Third Seat—whose name wasn't even worth remembering—couldn't be compared to Metastacia. But similarly, Ichimaru Gin was also inferior to Kōe Shihouin.
Some gaps could not be bridged by mere schemes and methods. Aizen always believed that the height one stood at largely determined their vision; this was the gap between Ichimaru Gin and Kōe Shihouin.
In truth, if it weren't for an anomaly like Urahara Kisuke, the height one stood at and the vision they possessed would be absolutely equal. This was also why he admired Urahara Kisuke.
But there was a problem with Urahara too—he was too pedantic. When the power one possessed exceeded what they were meant to achieve, some would suffer a backlash and become slaves to that power, while others would develop fear, terrified that this uncontrollable power would break the existing rules, including themselves. In his eyes, Urahara belonged to the latter.
If that weren't the case, Aizen thought he and Urahara would have made excellent collaborators, wouldn't they? Perhaps this question would never have a clear answer.
But could Kōe be an Urahara Kisuke who was willing to cooperate with him? Or perhaps another Ichimaru Gin? After all, this absolute lack of restraint after tearing off his mask was much like that smiling child who killed his Third Seat back then.
"A fair assessment," Aizen chuckled, giving a response similar to the one he gave Gin back then. He turned his head and continued, "I trust the information Mr. Shihouin brings won't disappoint me either."
Aizen's accommodating attitude surprised Kōe a little. Although he had just drawn on his experience of dealing with Kurotsuchi Mayuri—using bold actions to express his dissatisfaction—he never expected things to go this smoothly.
*Could this also be within Aizen's calculations?* Kōe thought. *Stop scaring yourself. Fearing the enemy before the battle even begins is a massive taboo. In terms of preparation, I definitely have more than Aizen. He's the one reacting to my moves. I have the advantage!*
"I naturally came with sincerity, but right now, I need to see Shiba Miyako first."
"Then I should show my sincerity as well." Aizen nodded, affirming Kōe's words, and continued, "Follow me, Mr. Shihouin."
Along the way, the two didn't speak again. Kōe mentally reviewed his upcoming plan one last time. From Aizen's surface alone, he couldn't tell what his attitude was, but judging by the flow of Reiatsu within his body, he should be in a very relaxed state, right?
Soon, the four of them arrived at the depression where Shiba Miyako was resting. Kōe stepped forward to check on her. Aside from some injuries and being relatively weak due to excessive Reiatsu depletion, Shiba Miyako's physical condition was fine. Her life was not in danger.
"Shi... Mr. Shihouin?" Because he was wearing a mask, Shiba Miyako could only barely recognize Kōe by his build.
Kōe nodded, confirming her guess. Seeing this, Shiba Miyako felt a surge of joy. The Seireitei's rescue had finally arrived. Just as she was about to relay the intelligence she knew to him, the figures of Aizen and the other two gradually appeared behind Kōe.
"Watch out!" Shiba Miyako pointed at Aizen. The scene of him coexisting with the Hollow earlier made her certain that Aizen was not on their side.
But the next scene instantly shattered her hopes. Kōe turned around and actually began conversing amicably with Aizen. Although she couldn't hear the specific details, judging by how Ichimaru Gin occasionally glanced at her, Shiba Miyako felt that whatever they were discussing had to do with her.
"Aizen is the enemy! He's the enemy, Mr. Shihouin!" Shiba Miyako still held onto a final sliver of hope in her heart. She knew the ability of Aizen's Zanpakutō. Perhaps Mr. Shihouin was just seeing an illusion and hadn't reacted yet.
"Snap out of it, Shihouin Kōe!"
Shiba Miyako's roar finally had an effect. Watching Kōe slowly turn his head, the fire of hope in her heart seemed to reignite. Kaien was right; Shihouin Kōe was a Shinigami worthy of respect...
"Shh." A single finger raised to his lips ruthlessly extinguished that fluke of hope. Shiba Miyako finally heard his voice. It was no different from the relaxed tone Kōe usually spoke with, but the feeling it gave was incomparably cold. "I heard you, so be quiet. Otherwise, we'll be very troubled, Miyako."
In truth, she shouldn't have held onto any hope to begin with. She should have understood the moment she tried to use Kidō to send back intelligence and was blocked by this barrier. This wasn't just a barrier protecting her; it was also a cage imprisoning her.
As for whose hands this barrier came from, there was likely no one else in the entire Seireitei capable of it besides Shihouin Kōe. She should have seen the true face of the man who gave her this cage long ago.
There was never much hope to begin with. Even if this hope mostly stemmed from Kaien's words... Were people like her and Kaien just meant to be deceived and manipulated at will?
"Mr. Shihouin really doesn't know how to win a girl's favor. Or rather, you're quite adept at breaking a girl's heart?" Ichimaru Gin expressed his opinion with a hint of regret, though his face full of amusement showed no regret whatsoever.
"If she didn't possess something I'm interested in, I'd still be very gentle," Kōe answered Ichimaru Gin's question, then turned to Aizen and continued, "Of course, she really is quite noisy. Don't you agree, Captain Aizen?"
"Even a canary with the most melodious song needs to be quiet occasionally, especially when its master requires it," Aizen said, glancing at Shiba Miyako before continuing. "But if it's a sparrow painted with colors, some might call it cute, but I believe no one would go out of their way to give it a cage. What do you say, Mr. Shihouin?"
"But what if it's a sparrow carrying the Hōgyoku?" Kōe asked in return.
Aizen didn't even have to think; the answer came effortlessly. "Then one simply needs to take the Hōgyoku from it."
"Furthermore..." Aizen pointed at Shiba Miyako and continued, "I don't see her carrying the Hōgyoku, and I believe no illusion can deceive my eyes. It shouldn't be able to deceive yours either, right?"
"But what if the Hōgyoku is hidden on her, just in a place we cannot see? A place that, no matter the method, remains the most mysterious realm that cannot be probed." Kōe pointed at himself, then at Aizen. "It is also where our divergence with the Quincy lies—the one thing that cannot be completely destroyed."
"The soul!"
Kōe nodded, turning around to look at the somewhat dazed Shiba Miyako. With his back to Aizen, he said, "So, do you understand now? She isn't a painted sparrow, but a canary hidden beneath a sparrow's shell."
"If she were accidentally killed by someone, it would truly be heartbreaking."