Early morning, Soi Fon had already appeared outside Kensei Kenzuru's room door. Today was the day Lord Kensei and the others were setting off for Hueco Mundo. He had specifically told her yesterday to wake him up early.
Taking a deep breath, Soi Fon adjusted her complex emotions. Last night, she had seen Lady Yoruichi slip into Lord Kensei's room. What happened afterward was easy to imagine.
She knocked lightly on the door. There was no response from inside.
"Lord Kensei, Lady Yoruichi, it's time to wake up." Soi Fon raised her voice slightly and then pushed the door open.
She froze in the doorway after just a few steps.
On the bed, Kensei was lying on his side. One arm was pillowing Yoruichi's head, while the other rested on her waist. Yoruichi was practically curled up in Kensei's embrace, one leg thrown unceremoniously over him like a cat staking its claim.
Both their clothes were somewhat disheveled. Kensei's pajama top was missing, and Yoruichi's shoulder strap had slipped down, particularly conspicuous in the dim morning light. The sheets were rumpled, and a faint, ambiguous scent lingered in the air.
Soi Fon's face flushed with a hint of shyness, but she forced herself to remain composed and walked forward.
"Lord Kensei, Lady Yoruichi, please wake up." She tried to keep her voice sounding calm. "Please don't forget you're going to Hueco Mundo today. Aizen is already waiting outside."
Kensei buried his face deeper into Yoruichi's hair, replying groggily, "Five more minutes..."
Yoruichi shifted, opening her eyes a slit. Seeing it was Soi Fon, instead of getting up, she said teasingly, "Little Soi Fon, want to come up and sleep a bit too?"
"Lady Yoruichi, please be serious."
Though her heart stirred slightly, Soi Fon wasn't someone easily tempted... unless Kensei invited her personally.
Seeing Soi Fon wasn't taking the bait, Yoruichi yawned, let go, and sat up, her shoulder strap slipping even lower. She nudged Kensei beside her. "Get up."
Kensei struggled to open his eyes. He looked at his missing pajama top, then at Yoruichi, the corner of his mouth twitching. "How did you sneak in last night?"
"Major shareholder's random spot check. Any objections?"
Yoruichi raised an eyebrow, looking at Kensei with a mischievous smile.
"None."
Kensei rubbed his eyes, got out of bed, and took the custom Shihakushō Soi Fon handed him.
In the living room, Aizen was already dressed neatly, checking her plans for any omissions, her fingers unconsciously twirling the long hair by her ear. Hearing footsteps, she looked up, her gaze sweeping over the yawning Kensei and Yoruichi.
"It seems you rested well last night."
Aizen said calmly, her tone giving nothing away.
"All to secure investment for you."
Kensei replied casually, showing no shame and even attempting to shift the blame onto Aizen.
Yoruichi couldn't help but laugh. Aizen just glanced at Kensei and stroked the Hōgyoku in her arms.
"If you're ready, let's depart. You'll be responsible for carrying the items we need to bring this time."
Just before leaving, Kensei turned back to instruct Soi Fon. "Leave the house and Rangiku to you. Don't let Rangiku play all day; she still needs training. If anything unusual happens, remember to contact me."
Soi Fon nodded solemnly. "Please rest assured, Lord Kensei. I will take good care of the residence and Rangiku."
She paused, then added quietly, "And please, you must be careful."
Using the Shihōin Clan's Senkaimon, the three of them quickly arrived in Hueco Mundo.
"Coming here always hurts my eyes," Yoruichi said, kicking the sand at her feet. "It's the same scenery everywhere."
"No worries. Once I become the manager of Hueco Mundo, I'll remodel this place."
Kensei shrugged his shoulders, the new Shihakushō on him shimmering faintly.
"Thanks to someone's Hollowfication experiments, our previously built base is already scrapped."
Though Yoruichi was looking ahead, it was clear who she was referring to.
"Critical data had been retrieved in advance," Aizen said, pointing in the direction they had previously teleported the Tsunayashiro family. "That area has good concealment and is close to the Tsunayashiro ruins. We might even find clues about the experimental specimen there."
Aizen's suggestion was agreed upon by Kensei. The three moved swiftly across the sandy sea. Occasionally, they encountered a few low-level Hollows, which were dealt with casually.
After some time, the three arrived at the basin where they had dealt with Tsunayashiro Jin, with the remnants of the Tsunayashiro buildings visible in the distance.
"This is a rare, quiet spot in Hueco Mundo. And I went through a lot of trouble to find it."
As soon as Kensei finished speaking, a figure slowly emerged from the shadow of a rock pillar.
The tall Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck approached the trio, her hooves moving silently. She carried an air of serene elegance.
"Kensei?" Nelliel's voice was gentle as she tilted her head. "More trouble to deal with?"
Kensei was momentarily stunned. "Nelliel, what are you doing here?"
Could she foresee the future, waiting here knowing he'd come?
"This place is useful to you." Nelliel smiled. "After you left last time, I stayed here to guard it, preventing other Hollows from coming and causing any issues."
"And you said you might come back to Hueco Mundo. Waiting for you here means I can see you sooner."
Her words were straightforward and pure, leaving Kensei momentarily at a loss for how to respond. In the end, he could only say, "Thanks."
After a brief survey and comparison, Aizen selected a concealed cave.
The naturally formed interior space was sufficient to serve as a sizable laboratory, and the reishi concentration here could also boost efficiency.
"Not bad." Yoruichi looked around. "Much better than the previous lab that got destroyed."
Aizen ignored Yoruichi's comment. Spiritual pressure gathered in her hand. "I'll set up the necessary Kidō in the vicinity now. Kensei, you adjust the interior."
"Roger that!"
Kensei used Kūkon's ability to smooth out unnecessary protrusions inside the cave, even partitioning off a few separate rooms. He was also responsible for taking out and setting up the instruments Aizen had stored with him.
Yoruichi, while surveying the surrounding environment, laid traps for the Onmitsukidō underground. Although it was said few Hollows came here, necessary preparations still had to be made.
The division of labor among the three was clear, their cooperation默契 (tacit). In less than an hour, a fully functional new base had been organized and constructed.
Sitting inside the now-transformed base, Aizen adjusted the parameters of the instrument in her hand. After a while, she slowly shook her head.
"Although I've reviewed the Tsunayashiro data, Hueco Mundo is too vast. The instruments can't detect Ikomikidomoe's trail."
Kensei, however, looked nonchalant. "It's fine. We'll be staying here for a while. No need to rush."
"Since things are as they are, let's eat first."
Yoruichi glanced at Kensei, the meaning in her eyes clear: dinner was his responsibility.
Kensei resignedly got up. Yoruichi and Aizen were indeed not cut out for cooking. As for Nelliel, that was even more impossible.
"Has Baraggan been up to anything lately?"
Busy with his hands, Kensei asked Nelliel, who had crouched down to rest.
"The skullhead has recently been having his armies split into two groups, having them kill each other for his amusement."
Disgust was evident in Nelliel's eyes. She disliked such meaningless combat.
"That old fossil. Wonder how he'd react if he knew his old rival Ikomikidomoe was back in Hueco Mundo."
Kensei remembered Baraggan and Ikomikidomoe were old rivals. Too bad Ikomikidomoe could storm the Soul King's Palace, while this Baraggan never even left Hueco Mundo and eventually died by his own power.
So embarrassing!
After preparing the meal, the four enjoyed a meal of Kensei's reishi cuisine within the new base.
The journey in Hueco Mundo would truly begin tomorrow.
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!