The moment he stepped into Central 46, a thick stench of blood rushed at him, nauseatingly strong.
Genryūsai Yamamoto frowned deeply and slowly walked forward.
What entered his sight was a floor covered in corpses.
Blood had gathered into streams, flowing across the cold ground. The air was filled with the aura of death, making the place feel as though it had become a living hell.
Yamamoto took a deep breath and continued forward.
When he arrived at the center of the meeting hall, he raised his head and looked upward.
Aizen and Gin Ichimaru were standing above, looking down at him from a superior position.
Aizen spoke calmly.
"Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Rukia Kuchiki violated the laws of Soul Society by privately granting Shinigami powers to an ordinary human. According to the law, her crime is punishable by death. One month from now, the sentence will be carried out on Sōkyoku Hill."
Hearing this, Yamamoto's expression turned solemn, but he still did his best to maintain a normal reaction.
"However…"
Aizen cut him off coldly.
"There is no however. This is the decision reached by the sages. Do you intend to defy Central 46's judgment?"
Yamamoto fell silent for a moment.
In the end, he said in a heavy voice, "Since this is the decision jointly made by the sages, I will carry it out."
After saying that, he turned and left, his steps heavy.
"Gin, our plan is getting closer and closer to success. Unfortunately, Tōsen can no longer see it."
Captain Aizen's expression remained calm as he spoke.
Gin smiled in response.
"Yes. Tōsen's death is indeed a pity, but he still contributed to our plan."
Captain Aizen nodded, then asked, "How is the situation with Sōya Azashiro? Is he still unwilling to join us?"
Gin helplessly shook his head.
"That man is truly stubborn. His only desire is to eliminate all Hollows, and he has no interest in anything else. He also stated clearly that your ideals differ from his, so he will not participate. As for this matter, he said he will not interfere either."
After hearing this, Captain Aizen frowned slightly.
After thinking for a moment, he said, "No matter. If that is the case, let him be. Our goal is already close at hand, and there is no need to force anyone else's support. As long as we proceed according to the original plan, everything will be achieved smoothly."
Gin looked at Aizen, a complicated light flickering in his eyes.
Although deep contradictions existed between them, he still could not completely erase the admiration he felt for Aizen in the depths of his heart.
If not for what happened to Rangiku, perhaps he would have willingly followed Aizen, chasing that dream of reaching a higher realm together.
After all, for someone powerful and ambitious, who would not long to stand at the summit and look down upon the endless scenery below?
...
"How was it, Captain-Commander? Those old fools in Central 46 should all be dead, right?"
Kazuma watched the Captain-Commander return, a sly smile flashing through his eyes.
The Captain-Commander slowly nodded, his expression solemn.
"Indeed. Even I must admit that Aizen possesses extraordinary courage and decisiveness. Unfortunately, he was born in the wrong era. If he had lived in the same age as us, perhaps I could have understood and accepted his ideals.
However, he chose the wrong path and treated his own comrades with cruelty. Such behavior gravely violates the laws of Soul Society and is a crime that absolutely cannot be tolerated."
Kazuma smiled faintly and teased him, "Captain-Commander, are you starting to cherish talent? Don't tell me you've begun admiring Aizen's abilities too?"
The Captain-Commander sighed, then answered in a firm tone.
"I am merely lamenting his talent and potential. If he had used them on the proper path, he would undoubtedly have achieved something astonishing. But his actions have already crossed the line, and I cannot forgive them. No matter how gifted he may be, talent cannot become an excuse to harm others and destroy order."
Kazuma took a small sip of wine and did not continue digging deeper.
After all, Aizen was one of the special war powers even Yhwach had to take seriously.
Once this incident ended, Kazuma decided he would find some time to have a proper talk with Aizen.
He was only pursuing the peak.
Was there truly a need to go to such extremes?
"Captain-Commander, then I'll take my leave first. My family is still waiting for me to go home for dinner."
Kazuma stood up and bid the Captain-Commander farewell.
"Brat, have you forgotten something?"
The Captain-Commander asked in a stern voice.
"Huh? Is there still something else to handle?"
Kazuma's heart jolted, and he quickly began carefully recalling every detail in his mind, but he could not remember anything he had missed.
Then, all of a sudden, he remembered that the Captain-Commander had once said if he returned to Soul Society again, he would hang him up and beat him.
Last time, Kazuma had taken advantage of the Captain-Commander not paying attention and secretly slipped away.
This time, he probably would not be able to escape.
Thinking of this, Kazuma's expression became somewhat ugly.
"Judging by your face, you remembered. Do you think you can still leave?"
The Captain-Commander looked at Kazuma with a half-smile, a hint of mockery in his eyes.
Kazuma's heart skipped a beat, but on the surface, he still pretended to remain calm.
"Captain-Commander, you must have said that in anger, right? After all, you are broad-minded and magnanimous. Surely you wouldn't hold a little thing like this against me!"
After saying that, he even gave a flattering smile.
Hearing this, the Captain-Commander could not help laughing.
"Haha, you brat, you really know how to talk. Unfortunately, I won't let you off so easily this time."
As he spoke, the Captain-Commander's hand suddenly rested on his cane, as though he might strike at any moment and teach Kazuma a lesson.
Seeing the Captain-Commander's posture, Kazuma inwardly groaned.
He knew he probably could not avoid this beating today.
So he no longer continued begging for mercy and obediently stood in place, waiting for the Captain-Commander's judgment.
At that moment, the Captain-Commander pulled a rope from who knew where and tossed it onto the table.
"Will you do it yourself, or should I do it?" He asked coldly.
Kazuma sighed helplessly.
Then, with extreme reluctance, he picked up the rope and tied himself up tightly.
Seeing this, the Captain-Commander nodded in satisfaction.
Then he tied the other end of the rope to the ceiling beam.
Immediately afterward, one miserable scream after another came from the tea room.
The screams sounded so tragic that it was almost unbearable, as though the person inside were suffering terrible torture.
Hearing those screams, Chōjirō and the First Division Shinigami looked at one another, their faces full of confusion.
They truly could not understand why someone would be screaming so miserably inside the tea room.
Unable to suppress his curiosity, Chōjirō prepared to push open the door and check the situation.
However, just as he reached out, the Captain-Commander's loud voice came from inside the room, stopping him.
He said that he was currently exercising and told Chōjirō not to enter and disturb him.
Hearing this, Chōjirō was still full of questions, but he could only helplessly withdraw his hand.
Since the Captain-Commander had said not to enter, he could only wait until the Captain-Commander came out and ask about it then.
A long while later, the screams finally stopped.
The door slowly opened, and the Captain-Commander walked out refreshed and full of energy.
Chōjirō hurried forward and asked what had happened.
The Captain-Commander said lightly, "Nothing. I was merely stretching my limbs."
How could Chōjirō possibly believe that?
How could stretching one's limbs produce such miserable screams?
And that voice had sounded especially familiar.
The Captain-Commander revealed a mysterious smile and shared the secret.
"This is a unique method of stretching one's limbs. It can stimulate potential and increase strength. However, only those who experience it personally can truly understand its mystery."
After saying that, he turned and left, leaving Chōjirō and the other Shinigami standing in place, lost in thought as they wondered what exactly this strange method was.
...
Meanwhile, inside the tea room, Kazuma had been taken down before the Captain-Commander left.
He rubbed his aching body, inwardly crying bitterly.
The Captain-Commander really had not shown him the slightest mercy.
When he said he would hang Kazuma up and beat him, he really did hang him up and beat him.
Before leaving, the Captain-Commander had also strictly ordered him to stay inside the tea room during this period and go nowhere else.
Otherwise, he would suffer the pain of being hung up and beaten all over again.