"When he comes back and realizes we're gone, he's definitely going to cry out like, 'Waaah!'"
Yoruichi Shihōin laughed cheerfully, clearly amused by the mental image.
"I'd love to see that face for myself. It'd be priceless."
Aura Michibane chuckled along with her.
But their laughter gradually faded, and silence settled between them.
After a moment, Aura let out a quiet sigh.
She reached for her robe and pulled it open slightly, revealing a glowing jewel embedded in her chest, shimmering with a strange light.
"There's no need to worry too much, Yoruichi-nee. I've already developed a mass-production model of the Hōgyoku," she said with a smile. "All that's left is gathering the materials to scale it up."
Yoruichi felt a bit more at ease hearing that.
"What materials are you still missing?" she asked, genuinely curious.
She looked up at Aura, and the more she did, the more fondness she felt for this younger sister.
She knew her own strengths—sure, she was clever, even once praised by the Captain-Commander for her talent in mischief—but developing something like this? That was out of her league.
They were smart in completely different ways.
Yoruichi could handle combat techniques just fine, but research and development? Not a chance.
She made no effort to hide her concern.
"Need a hand? If there's anything I can help with, just say the word. No need to hold back with me!"
Aura slowly stood and looked down at her.
Yoruichi's clothes were a bit of a mess from their lounging—her collarbone and a teasing hint of cleavage peeking out.
But Aura only glanced briefly before calmly looking away.
Her figure might draw envy from anyone, but she had her own confidence to stand on.
She shook her head.
"No need. Someone else is already handling it."
Yoruichi blinked in surprise.
With all of Seireitei in battle-ready mode, weren't all the "sisters" swamped with their own responsibilities?
Who could be taking on the material hunt?
She paused—then a mischievous grin crept onto her face.
"It's not the girls from Hueco Mundo, is it? Should I go pick them up when they come to Soul Society?"
"You know this is exactly what Onmitsukidō is good at—secret infiltration, quiet extraction, discreet rendezvous. That's my specialty."
Though she was joking, there was some genuine concern behind her words.
If the girls ran into any of the Gotei 13 en route, it could get complicated.
"No worries. They'll be using the family's private Senkaimon. I was planning to greet them myself, but since you're so eager, I'll leave it to you!"
Yoruichi nodded in agreement.
After all, the Aozaki Senkaimon had been built using Shihōin Clan resources back when she was still head of the family.
Top-of-the-line, both in terms of quality and safety.
Masatsuki had even praised it after using it.
So as long as nothing went wrong in the Dangai, the girls would make it through safely.
And if it was her clan's craftsmanship—she had full confidence in it.
"I don't think there's much I can do to help Masatsuki directly," Yoruichi sighed, shrugging with a helpless smile. "I'll head over to the Senkaimon and stand by. This is Soul Society, after all—having a bunch of Arrancars show up here is still a risk."
"Be careful!"
As she opened the lab door, Aura's voice rang out behind her.
"Don't worry—just wait for good news."
...
Sunlight poured over the streets of Naruki City, casting a warm glow on the tall, statuesque figure of a woman.
Her name was Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, and she moved with relaxed confidence toward her destination—Xcution, the Enforcement Department.
As head of Hueco Mundo's security division, she radiated a powerful presence, like a valkyrie descending from myth. The Hollows around her, sensing her overwhelming aura, scattered in fear.
Nelliel muttered to herself,
"Who could be important enough to make you show up in person, my queen? And why drag me along too?"
She was genuinely puzzled by the mission.
After all, this was just a group of spiritually aware humans from the World of the Living—not exactly something that should require both her and Harribel's direct involvement.
In Nelliel's opinion, with their combined strength, they could barge into Soul Society, take a leisurely stroll through Seireitei, and walk out untouched.
Still, she would never question Masatsuki Aozaki's decisions lightly.
She saw herself as his devoted knight—no matter what her lord decided, she would support him without hesitation.
That said, she had no interest in picking on the weak.
Her thoughts drifted back to her knightly code as she pinched her chin, musing,
"They'd better hand over whatever Masatsuki wants. Otherwise, I might have to step in... even if it means bullying the weak."
At her side stood Harribel, silent and composed.
She wore a white cropped outfit that showcased her distinct allure and calm strength.
Together, the two women were an arresting sight.
Her appearance hadn't changed much over time, yet she now carried an unmistakable aura of authority.
"Don't underestimate them, Nelliel," Harribel said in her low, smooth voice.
"But their strength... well, let's just say it's a bit underwhelming."
Nelliel responded with playful energy, her tone light and teasing, like an eager younger sister clinging to her older sibling.
She blinked her wide eyes, full of curiosity and innocence.
"Their Reiatsu might be low, but some of them have really bizarre abilities. Better to be cautious—if we're not careful, it could get messy."
Harribel spread her arms slightly, as if expressing mild resignation.
But when Nelliel suddenly latched onto her arm like an affectionate sister, Harribel froze stiff on the spot.
...
Elsewhere, in a dim corridor, a young man entered a run-down apartment.
He wore overalls and had shoulder-length dark hair, calm black eyes, and a refined, handsome face. A scar ran from his left temple across his forehead.
Step by step, he climbed the creaky stairs, his footsteps echoing down the silent hallway.
He reached into his pocket, fumbling for a moment before pulling out a black access card.
Its design was unusual—white horizontal stripes on a black background, with the words "welcome to our XCUTION" printed clearly across the front.
The young man gave a soft swipe over the sensor.
Beep.
A sharp electronic chime rang out.
The aged door lock responded with a deep clunk, like a slumbering beast stirred awake.
With a slow creak, the heavy metal door opened just enough to reveal a narrow gap.
It was hard to believe such a secure entryway—one requiring a custom-coded keycard—was hidden in a place as dilapidated as this.
Carefully, he stepped through into the unknown.
Inside, the room was a complete contrast to the rundown exterior.
It had been ingeniously remodeled into a sleek, modern bar, brimming with style and urban flair.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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