People aren't plants—how could they be without feeling?
Though Yoshio was actively farming others' goodwill, time together inevitably accumulates real feelings.
He certainly had some goodwill toward Tanimoto Toru. While not as high as the 80 favor he had toward himself, by his system's measure it should be around 60.
However, when facing Aizen, he had to take this stance!
This stemmed from his understanding of Aizen, and from his gamer instinct choosing the optimal target.
He had to maintain a detached attitude toward others—only then was there a chance someone would live.
If he begged Aizen to spare everyone, Aizen might kill them all instead!
So he'd rather feign indifference toward Tanimoto Toru's life or death, using that indifference to save the other two instead, with reasons no deeper than "my amusement" and "no interest."
It was a punchable answer—but just Aizen's flavor.
Sure enough, after hearing Yoshio's response, Aizen said nothing more.
He walked Hueco Mundo with Yoshio. In such a world, even the sense of time faded.
The scenery was monotonous. They walked for a long time, yet it also felt like standing still.
As they walked, Yoshio knew he couldn't keep wandering aimlessly. This was Aizen's test. If he failed, his end might not be pretty.
Even if he didn't die, Aizen could pin the blame for this incident entirely on him.
If he passed, he could join Aizen's little circle!
He had already seen Aizen's favor toward him change.
It had been zero—like a god's indifference to a man—but now it was rising, and by no small margin: from zero to ten!
Still low, but a big breakthrough compared to zero.
He needed to strike while the iron was hot.
"Captain Aizen, this may sound impertinent, but personally I feel… if you want to subdue the king of Hueco Mundo, you alone are enough."
Yoshio mimicked Ichimaru Gin, narrowing his eyes with a smile. "If possible, let me return to the Seireitei. I won't say a word."
Aizen didn't stop, still walking ahead. "What else do you know?"
"Plenty…"
Yoshio replied nonchalantly, "For example, that you want the Hōgyoku."
"Or perhaps, that you're dissatisfied with the Soul King's rule?"
Aizen's step briefly slowed, then he chuckled softly.
"Yoshio-kun,"
Aizen said coolly, "you know too much."
"Knowing or not… doesn't matter." Yoshio turned his head slightly, not looking at Aizen, but at the endless sea of reishi sand.
He even crouched, scooping a handful of white sand.
It flowed quickly through his palm, and soon only a single grain remained.
"Like these reishi sands, I only care about what interests me. Even if other grains look the same, to me they're entirely different."
"What I'm about to say may sound harsh, but… your plan, Captain Aizen, is in my 'not interested' category—no different from 'defending the Seireitei' or 'loyalty to the Soul King.'"
"So I won't sabotage your plan. In that case, what difference does it make whether I know or don't?"
Yoshio carefully stored that single grain, then stared vacantly ahead.
"You want to use this purge to clear the path for Lieutenant Ichimaru's promotion, don't you?"
"And the students about to graduate from the Shin'ō Academy—without such a purge, it would be hard for them to rise quickly within the ossified Gotei 13."
"Let me guess—the captain you want to lure out is the Third Division's captain, right?"
Aizen turned to look at Yoshio again. This time, the amused expression was gone; his face was expressionless.
Yoshio's guesses matched his plan perfectly.
He truly was interested in Yoshio.
From the night Yoshio began tutoring Renji, he had taken notice of this small Shinigami in his own squad.
A mere ordinary trooper, yet he was surprisingly adept in tutoring Renji, Kira, and Hinamori. Aizen admitted that even if he taught the trio himself, their progress would be about the same.
So Aizen sent Metastacia to test Yoshio—and that test confirmed Yoshio Kamado's abnormality.
Metastacia was a failed product of his experiments, but still possessed great power. Even a Lieutenant would struggle.
Its ability was designed to counter Shinigami!
Yet when faced with Metastacia's assault, Yoshio merely fired a Kido-like blast and killed it!
Such composure and ease made Aizen focus on Yoshio completely.
He promoted Yoshio to a seated officer, leading to his appearance today.
Of course, even without Yoshio, Aizen had planned an incident to cripple the Gotei 13.
Otherwise, the people he valued couldn't obtain higher positions.
For example, Ichimaru Gin—he had stayed under Aizen for too long; it was time for him to move to another squad as a captain.
And Hinamori and the others—after graduating, they would join his Fifth Division, so there had to be room for their promotions.
Because of Yoshio's existence, Aizen made slight adjustments to his long-laid plan.
As Yoshio suspected, if he failed to notice Metastacia, he didn't deserve Aizen's continued attention—and would die.
If he did notice the parasitism, there were two paths:
One was "concern for comrades," exposing Metastacia and then being set up, step by step falling into isolation and doubt.
The other was "indifference," in which case…
Aizen would appear!
PS: I believe in equivalent exchange. If I see that this book receives more power stones, I will release more chapters.. xD