Hearing this, Rangiku Matsumoto's eyes moved.
She'd originally come over wanting to ask more and understand the situation.
But looking at things now, Rukia herself seemed completely unaware as well.
"Well, let's head over first."
Rangiku gently patted Rukia's back, speaking softly:
"Maybe Captain Segawa just had something come up temporarily. He'll probably arrive soon."
"...Mm."
Rukia nodded slightly. Her expression still grave as she followed Rangiku's steps, slowly walking toward the crowd.
Perhaps because night had fallen, Sōkyoku Hill at this time began showing faint white mist.
Moreover, no one else was continuing to arrive.
Just then, Rukia suddenly noticed Byakuya Kuchiki slowly walking toward her.
Her eyes immediately moved. She quickly lowered her head and bowed:
"Brother."
"Mm."
Byakuya Kuchiki responded indifferently. Stopping only when he reached Rukia's side, then spoke in a flat tone:
"This assembly order was issued by the Captain-Commander."
"However, at a time when everyone's mobilized, Segawa is absent. Is there any reason?"
Hearing this, Rukia kept her head lowered. Her face tense:
"Brother, only this morning did I see the captain. After that, I didn't see him all day."
"So I don't know the reason."
As her words fell, not just Byakuya Kuchiki, but Shunsui Kyōraku, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and several others around them all showed movement in their eyes.
From early morning, he hasn't appeared all day?
For someone like Segawa who normally stayed in his barracks constantly, this was very strange.
"Tsk tsk, how rare."
A strange smile suddenly appeared on Mayuri Kurotsuchi's face:
"For the first time at this kind of assembly, I can't see that brat's face. It's actually making me curious. Hehe."
"Though not seeing him actually improves my mood."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi said this.
The others around naturally didn't know why he said this.
Actually, ever since returning from Hueco Mundo, Mayuri Kurotsuchi had been somewhat displeased with Shigure for destroying his research specimens.
Hearing this, Shunsui Kyōraku beside him instantly tilted his head back slightly. Adjusting his hat as he looked toward Mayuri Kurotsuchi with a light laugh:
"Captain Kurotsuchi, don't say that."
"If you think carefully, these past few months, every time a crisis was ultimately resolved, it was Captain Segawa, you know."
"So him not being here is actually quite troubling."
Shunsui Kyōraku said this, instantly making the atmosphere even more tense.
Nanao Ise beside him unconsciously hugged the book in her hands tighter. Her eyes slightly focused. Thinking about something.
At this time, Byakuya Kuchiki looked toward Rukia again and spoke:
"Rukia, before Segawa left the barracks, didn't he mention today's schedule to you?"
Hearing this, Rukia first froze. Then raised her head seriously:
"Brother, I remember the captain seemed to say he would go find you. Other than that, I don't know."
Before she finished speaking, everyone around had already looked toward Byakuya.
Byakuya Kuchiki's expression didn't change as he spoke flatly:
"Segawa did come find me. But that was also in the early morning. After that..."
"He may have gone to the Shihōin estate."
Saying this, before others could speak, Rangiku beside them seemed to think of something. Her eyes moved and she suddenly called out loudly:
"Oh, that's right!"
"2nd Division's Captain Soi Fon and Lieutenant Ōmaeda don't seem to have come here either."
Hearing this, Tōshirō and the others immediately frowned.
But just then, the fog on Sōkyoku Hill suddenly grew thicker. It was even starting to obstruct their vision.
Renji Abarai beside them frowned. Waving his hand in annoyance:
"Damn, this fog's really in the way."
But just then, in the distance, faint sounds of metal scraping and clashing suddenly began.
Though slight, in this silent moment, it still caught everyone's attention.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya's eyes focused slightly as he muttered:
"That direction... is that the iron chain bridge connecting the Repentance Palace and Sōkyoku Stand?"
Everyone concentrated. Looking seriously in that direction.
However, due to the thick white fog around them causing visibility to drop rapidly, they couldn't see the situation clearly at all.
Moments later, slow footsteps suddenly began.
Immediately after, the white fog around them actually began rapidly thinning at this time. Finally dispersing.
The instant the fog completely cleared, everyone's expressions moved.
The person approaching was actually the 1st Division's lieutenant, Chōjirō Sasakibe.
At this moment, he was walking slowly toward them in an extremely strange posture. His body seeming incredibly heavy.
Nanao Ise beside them immediately spoke unconsciously:
"Lieutenant Sasakibe? What's going on?"
Izuru Kira also asked in surprise: "Where's the Captain-Commander?"
Everyone stared intently at Chōjirō Sasakibe. Their expressions grave. This was their question as well.
But immediately after, something no one expected suddenly happened—
Chōjirō Sasakibe's body suddenly lost balance. Falling forward directly!
Seeing this, everyone's expressions changed simultaneously.
"What?!"
Instantly, several figures rapidly approached him to check the situation. Naturally including the healers Retsu Unohana and Isane Kotetsu.
After a quick examination, Isane Kotetsu immediately spoke rapidly with a grave expression:
"Cardiopulmonary function stopped! The situation's critical!"
As her words fell, those around felt their hearts jump violently. Their brows locking tight.
To fall into such injuries?
Was this an enemy attack?!
Everyone began looking around. Trying to find the hidden enemy.
Retsu Unohana's expression was serious as she spoke decisively: "Begin resuscitation immediately!"
Then, before Isane Kotetsu could react, her hands immediately began forming seals. Preparing to use healing Kidō.
"Yes!"
Isane answered quickly. She naturally also knew how critical the situation was.
But just then, an extremely abrupt footstep suddenly rang out behind everyone!
In that instant, everyone rapidly looked in that direction.
Standing there was an extremely unfamiliar man wearing white robes.
His face was pale. Purple eye sockets sunken deep. At this moment, he was looking this way with cold eyes.
Before anyone could question him, he spoke in an indifferent voice—
"No need to wait, Soul Reapers."
"Your Captain-Commander won't be coming."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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