Kapitel 144: The Verdict

Of course, Ailin was just making casual conversation about potentially being related to Nanao Ise if she had become his and Haruko's adopted daughter years ago.

Even though Nanao wasn't actually their child, Ailin and Haruko were still quite fond of the young girl. Especially after Nanao graduated from the Spiritual Arts Academy and became a full-fledged Shinigami, joining the Shinigami Women's Association at Haruko's recommendation, their bond only deepened.

"Hmm..."

Shunsui Kyoraku walked alongside Ailin with arms folded, heading towards the Kuchiki Manor.

"Captain Ailin, when you apprehended Captain Urahara, did you happen to find any trace of Captain Hirako and the others?"

"Captain Kyoraku, you really want to know if I saw any sign of your lieutenant, Lisa Yadomaru," Ailin replied with a smile, seeing through his attempt at nonchalance.

Although all the Gotei 13 captains ultimately served under the Captain-Commander, their relationships varied greatly depending on if they had any significant interactions or were peers from the academy.

As for Ailin, any Shinigami from his graduating class at the academy were likely long dead over the past century. He couldn't recall encountering a single familiar peer.

Of the thirteen divisions, Ailin's earliest involvement was with Captain Yoruichi Shihōin of the 2nd Division, followed by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki of the 6th, and later Captain Kisuke Urahara of the 12th.

Those three captains were Ailin's closest acquaintances in the Gotei.

Next was Captain Kensei Muguruma of the 9th Division, who Ailin had rescued several times and jointly performed a Royal Family escort mission with, making Ailin a savior in Kensei's eyes.

Then there was Shunsui Kyoraku himself, through their shared bond with Nanao Ise.

Further down was Captain Love Aikawa of the 7th Division, whom Ailin helped after his defeat by Koga.

Captain Jushiro Ukitake of the 13th Division had a couple brushes with Ailin as well.

Like today when Ailin came to apprehend Captain Urahara of the 12th Division, apart from Captain Yoruichi Shihōin intending to assist, none of the other captains made any major moves.

Only Ailin's manifestation of hundreds of golden spatial rifts above the 12th Division gave Yoruichi pause about directly confronting him.

After Ailin departed with Urahara and Tessai in custody, he sensed Yoruichi enter the 12th Division grounds, likely relocating Hirako and the others from the lab to Urahara's underground base.

Though Kyoraku was born centuries before Ailin, he didn't have deep connections with many captains either.

Jushiro Ukitake, Love Aikawa, Kensei Muguruma, and Shinji Hirako were merely acquaintances to the senior captain.

The person Kyoraku seemed most concerned about was his own lieutenant, Lisa Yadomaru.

"Ah, as coy as ever, my friend Ailin," Kyoraku replied, mimicking his tone. "So what did you find out then?"

"My apologies, Captain Kyoraku... My orders were to forcibly apprehend Squad 12 Captain Urahara and Grand Kidō Chief Tessai Tsukabishi. After taking them into custody, I returned and did not see any sign of Lieutenant Yadomaru."

"I see..." Kyoraku sighed deeply.

He believed Ailin's words. As the captain said, given their bond through Nanao, Ailin had no reason to deceive him about this matter.

"Very well, I shall check the 12th Division grounds myself. If you uncover anything further, please inform me, Captain Ailin."

"Of course."

...

Thump thump thump thump

Upon returning to the Kuchiki Manor, Ailin had barely any time to rest before the signal for an urgent captain's meeting rang in his ears not ten minutes later.

So soon after parting with Kyoraku, Ailin found himself reunited with the fellow captain in the 1st Division's meeting hall.

"Captain Kyoraku, did you make any discoveries on your end?" Ailin asked quietly as he took a position beside the older man.

"Ah, more than I expected," Kyoraku sighed. "When I reached the 12th Division, the Stealth Forces were already investigating Urahara's lab... And I overheard them mention finding evidence of Shinigami Hollowfication experiments..."

Kyoraku seemed about to say more, but the arrival of the Captain-Commander brought his words to a halt.

THUNK!

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto slammed his staff loudly against the floor, his tone grave. "Captains, I have just received news from Central 46 that deeply disturbs this old man."

He surveyed the five captains standing before him. Even though he had lived for more than three thousand years, he was still almost so angry that he vomited blood. The very institution he had spent centuries nurturing now was decimated by a single missing souls incident.

"Grand Kidō Chief Tessai Tsukabishi has been sentenced to 3,000 years imprisonment in the underground prison's third level for using forbidden dimensional translocation Kidō.

Captain Kisuke Urahara of the 12th Division has been sentenced to complete stripping of his reiatsu and permanent exile to the World of the Living for conducting illegal experiments, deceiving his colleagues, and grievously injuring four captains and three lieutenants.

As for Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi of the 3rd Division, Captain Shinji Hirako of the 5th, Captain Love Aikawa of the 7th, Captain Kensei Muguruma of the 9th, Lieutenant Lisa Yadomaru of the 8th, Lieutenant Hiyori Sarugaki of the 12th, and Lieutenant Hachigen Ushōda of the Kidō Corps..."

Ailin noticed Kyoraku's body tremble slightly upon hearing Lisa's name.

"Having fully Hollowfied, Central 46 has ordered they be purged in the manner we treat Hollows!"

In other words, executed, their souls purified and cycled through reincarnation...

"Captain Ukitake of the 13th Division."

At Yamamoto's call, Jushiro Ukitake stepped forward from the line of captains.

"You lead the Purification Force. The task of purging Captain Hirako and the others falls to you to personally carry out."

"Understood, Captain-Commander."

"This meeting is adjourned!"

Unfortunately, before the five captains could depart the 1st Division hall, a Shinigami rushed in and knelt before Yamamoto with an urgent report.

"Captain-Commander! We have just received word from Central 46 that an assailant has broken into the tribunal chamber, incapacitating all guards and abducting the prisoners Urahara and Tsukabishi.

Furthermore, Captain Hirako and those already Hollowfied seem to have been taken by this attacker as well. Central 46 requests you swiftly apprehend and bring this criminal to justice!"

"Hmph!" Yamamoto scoffed, quickly realizing which 'attacker' was likely responsible - the currently absent Captain Yoruichi Shihōin of the 2nd Division.

"I hereby order the full deployment of the 8th, 10th, 11th, and 13th Divisions to locate and capture Urahara, his co-conspirators, and this assailant without delay!"

"Yes, Captain-Commander!"

***

After leaving the 1st Division, Ailin returned briefly to the 11th to relay Yamamoto's mobilization order to the members left behind, but made no further moves himself.

Regardless, they had no chance of finding Urahara's group.

Shinggg

Partially drawing his Zanpakutō, Ailin pressed his finger against the blade's edge.

Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu could completely manipulate the senses of anyone who witnessed its release, trapping them in a hypnotic illusion.

If Ailin unleashed his full reiatsu, Aizen's current level would render Kyōka Suigetsu powerless against him.

However, Ailin did not wish to reveal his true power to certain parties. So his method to overcome the illusion stemmed from a secret Gin Ichimaru uncovered during his centuries-long infiltration.

Merely touching Kyōka Suigetsu's blade surface could interface with its hypnosis, as confirmed by Gin's own experiences and Ailin examining the Zanpakutō's memories of everyone ever attacked by Aizen.

"Hmm, the outside world matches my perception so far. Still uncertain if I've been affected by Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu, but at least not for the moment."

Assured Aizen's attention was elsewhere, Ailin flickered and vanished.

***

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Deep within Urahara's underground base, Grand Kidō Chief Tessai sat cross-legged, palms pressed together before a shimmering golden barrier containing Urahara, Yoruichi Shihōin, and the Hollowfied captains and lieutenants.

Last night, despite using Hogyoku, Kisuke Urahara had ultimately failed to reverse Aizen's Hollowfication on Shinji Hirako's group.