Chapter 391: BSUS Chapter 394: Let's Brew a Cup of Black Tea First

Luppi’s body went limp as he slumped to the ground. He felt as though he had already been cleaved in half, but as he raised his hand, the icy blade hovering above his head made him shudder uncontrollably.

Like a severed stream of water, his divided world merged back into a single whole. Although that snow-white blade hadn’t actually fallen, it felt as if it had already killed him once. And as long as the person wielding it wished to, they could kill him countless times over.

“What is your name? Speak!”

“Lu-Luppi. Luppi Antenor.”

Whether out of fear from the terrifying experience moments ago, or an urgent need to prove he was still alive, Luppi couldn’t explain his own sudden obedience. It was like a predetermined quiz game—he simply had to answer whatever question Hiroe asked. He didn’t know when this rule had been established.

“Were you involved in Aizen’s plan to seize Karakura Town?”

Luppi hastily nodded. Hiroe furrowed his brows, the killing intent around him boiling over once more. “Where are the missing half of the city and its residents now?!”

“I don’t know, I really don’t know! Lord Aizen stripped me of my title as the 6th Espada, and now I’m responsible for the external security of Las Noches. Those humans and the city are inside Las Noches, but I truly don’t know what Lord Aizen did with them!”

Luppi explained desperately, his hands waving erratically in front of his chest as he repeatedly muttered the words, ‘believe me.’ It didn’t look like he was lying.

“Half a city and its residents?! What’s going on?!”

Ashido leaped forward. His anxious expression made it seem like this was the first time he was hearing this news—and in fact, it likely was.

“I’ll explain it to you later. To my shame, the main culprit behind all of this is a Shinigami—the former Captain of Squad 5, Aizen Sōsuke.”

Hiroe comforted Ashido in a low voice before muttering to himself, “I know that guy well. In his eyes, someone whose convictions are so easily shattered by the threat of death is nothing more than cannon fodder. He wouldn’t know anything more.”

“But I don’t know what the inside of Las Noches looks like. Keeping him alive is still useful.”

“Las Noches?”

Ashido nodded, turning and pointing toward a nearby sand dune. “You should be able to see it once you cross that dune ahead. It’s a massive palace that was suddenly built. In a way, it serves as the symbol of Hueco Mundo’s current ruler.”

“Bakudō 61, Rikujōkōrō.” Hiroe sheathed his sword and pointed his index finger, restricting Luppi’s movements. Under the suppression of his Reiatsu and killing intent, there was a high probability the Arrancar wouldn’t try anything funny for the time being. Still, it was better to be cautious. Besides, constantly maintaining his killing intent and Reiatsu was hard on Kaien and the others.

“A palace. That certainly fits Aizen’s style. Since our objective is clear, let’s head over and take a look.”

“Wait a moment!” Ashido called out to stop them, offering his own suggestion. “That was a huge commotion just now, and they’ll quickly react to the outpost being destroyed. Shouldn’t we return to my hideout first? The situation at Las Noches is somewhat complicated.”

Ichigo felt as if his soul had already flown off to this Las Noches place, only for his body to be forcefully yanked back.

Ashido’s proposal was sound. They had already been exposed, and no matter how urgent they felt, it really wasn’t suitable to linger here any longer. Everyone turned their gazes toward Hiroe, waiting for him to make the final decision.

“With the commotion we just caused, Aizen definitely knows I’m the one who brought people to Hueco Mundo. Any Arrancar below the Espada level would just be throwing their lives away by coming here. And if he were going to send an Espada, they would have arrived by now.”

Hiroe scoffed coldly. “Therefore, there’s no need to worry about any reinforcements outside Las Noches. Our enemy has likely already prepared a grand feast for us. We don’t need to waste time here.”

Ichimaru Gin stood by the window, gazing at the pillar of fire extinguishing in the distant night sky. *If only it had bloomed brilliantly. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen fireworks. What a shame.*

“Hiroe has arrived. Just as you expected, Captain Aizen.”

Aizen happened to step out of the room, his expression placid. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Gin.”

“You’re too polite. It’s not like I’d get angry anyway,” Gin said, pointing out the window. “Him, on the other hand… he looks pretty fired up.”

Aizen also cast a sidelong glance out the window and smiled, though it was unclear if he agreed. “Let’s go.”

The two walked down the spiral staircase. Their pace wasn’t fast, which made the silence feel all the more oppressive.

Gin was the first to break the silence, speaking as if making idle chatter. “Luppi must have been killed by now, right? He enjoyed cheers and applause the most, yet he ended up running into someone as overly harsh as Hiroe. How ironic.”

“Oh? Do you think Hiroe would definitely kill him?”

“Well, it seems he didn’t.” Gin threw his hands up like a child who had lost a guessing game, looking somewhat displeased.

“Actually, you’re not wrong. He is a rather harsh person, but you missed one point. He is also tolerant—overly tolerant,” Aizen said with a smile, though his words carried an unsettling edge. “Otherwise, how could a worthless pawn like Luppi possibly survive?”

“What a contradictory guy.”

“Using a spear when attacking, raising a shield when defending. Driven by a clear mind, these various contradictions are merely the manifestations of his choices. They are clearly two volatile elements that should explode upon contact, yet within him, they possess an inexplicable sense of harmony, don’t they?”

“It seems it’s just as you said. He came with a tolerant attitude this time.” Gin remained noncommittal, tilting his head as he spoke with feigned confusion. “But I still don’t understand. Even if his… tolerance? Even if it allows him to take Las Noches for his own use, how could he possibly make the other Shinigami and humans accept the existence of Arrancars?”

“As long as this world no longer has a distinction between Shinigami and Hollows, what does it matter whether they accept them or not?” Aizen countered, then teased with a smile, “Even now, haven’t you and Tōsen properly accepted the existence of Hollows?”

“Give me a break, Captain Aizen. I’ve never considered myself just a Shinigami. Otherwise, why would I be following in your footsteps?”

“As for Kaname… by now, the distinction between Shinigami and Hollows has long vanished from his heart as well. There is only justice and injustice.”

Gin mocked the absent Tōsen Kaname before concluding with a wry smile, “The most crucial issue is that Hiroe isn’t like you, wanting to recreate the world. Even if he had that thought now, those stubborn and foolish guys around him wouldn’t follow him. You’re twisting the logic here, Captain Aizen.”

“Hahaha, I’m merely pointing out that such a possibility exists, and it is only one of them, Gin.”

“Then there’s another?”

“Emotion is the most useless thing. It only brings forgetting and remembering; ultimately, it cannot escape the past, and it is the easiest thing to exploit.” Aizen didn’t just offer a second possibility, he even provided a third. “But given Hiroe’s caution, he should have given himself a near-guaranteed safeguard. The secret likely lies with those humans we saw earlier in Karakura Town.”

*Something that can manipulate people’s hearts more directly?* Gin wanted to ask, but Tōsen Kaname was already visible at the end of the corridor. This topic, which seemed like idle chatter but actually held deep significance, was about to end.

The three of them walked in silence to a somewhat dim hall. Just as they reached the entrance, a jumble of discussions drifted out from inside, the topic centering around the recent intrusion.

After Aizen and the other two entered the hall, the nine individuals seated on either side of the long table immediately ceased their chatter.

“Good morning, Espada. Our enemies have arrived.”

Aizen slowly walked over to the seat closest to the door. His chair was taller and grander than those of the Espada—a throne belonging exclusively to a king.

The gazes of the Espada all converged on him. The arrival of enemies didn’t seem worth getting tense over for them.

Aizen looked even more relaxed. Under the attention of everyone present, he spoke slowly, “Let’s brew a cup of black tea first.”