Setsuna's room was on the top floor of the 11th Division barracks.
Calling it a 'room' was actually not right, as it's more like a training ground. Apart from the necessary furniture, most of the space was empty.
When Aizen and Yoruichi entered, Setsuna was meditating.
"Setsuna-nii." Aizen's voice was as gentle as always. "I heard there's a mission?"
Setsuna opened his eyes and nodded. "The Western Branch Office requested aid. I accepted this mission and plan to take you both along."
"Western Branch Office?" Yoruichi's eyes lit up instantly.
"I heard the Shinigami over there are all 'witches', using magic to fight, riding brooms to fly, and brewing all kinds of magical potions. I've long wanted to see it for myself!"
Setsuna shook his head slightly. "To be precise, they ride [Dragons] to fly."
"Whatever. When do we leave?" Yoruichi asked expectantly.
"We leave tomorrow. Bring necessary supplies," Setsuna said.
Aizen smiled. "I never expected the world of the dead to also have an East-West division. Truly interesting."
…
The next morning, as the rising sun began to shine.
On the plaza before the 11th Division's barracks, Setsuna, Aizen, and Yoruichi were already ready to depart.
Just then, a member of the 11th Division came rushing over urgently.
"Captain! The 3rd Seat of the 7th Division... Komamura Sajin requests an audience!"
Setsuna was momentarily taken aback.
'Komamura Sajin? I seemed to have no connection with that large dog.'
"Let him come over."
A moment later, a tall figure wearing a heavy hood appeared at the edge of the plaza.
"Captain Chiaki." Komamura's voice was low and hoarse. "I have a favor to ask."
Setsuna asked, "Oh? What is it?"
Komamura said solemnly, "I heard that Captain Chiaki is heading to the Western Branch Office. I would like to ask you to take me along."
Setsuna asked with interest, "May I ask what the purpose of 3rd Seat Komamura's journey to the Western Branch Office is?"
Komamura hesitated for a moment, then removed his hood.
It was the head of a canine, covered in thick brown and yellow fur.
Yoruichi's eyes instantly went round, flashing unconcealed curiosity and excitement. "An Akita dog person! A living Akita dog person!"
Komamura's expression visibly stiffened.
"It's a Wolfman," he corrected, his voice filled with helplessness. "A Wolfman!"
"But it looks just like a dog!" Yoruichi circled around him.
Komamura looked somewhat uncomfortable. He wasn't used to revealing his true face in front of so many people.
"I heard that my clan's ancestors migrated from the Western Branch Office's side. Thousands of years have passed, and the clan's records are already incomplete. However, I wish to go and search for traces of my ancestors."
He paused, his voice growing even lower. "Also, I want to investigate the origin of my clan's 'curse'."
"Curse?" Setsuna repeated the word.
"Yes." A flicker of pain passed through Komamura's golden pupils. "We Wolfmen are regarded as 'outcasts' in the Soul Society. Legend says that Wolfmen, due to crimes committed during life, fell into the Animal Realm but failed to completely die, eventually their souls fell into the Soul Society, forming beings like us."
Setsuna frowned slightly. "But I heard that those with crimes in life, after death, their souls should be sent to Hell to receive judgment and punishment. Why does the Wolfman clan exist?"
Komamura sighed. "Because I am a soul born in Hell. From birth, I bore the sins of my ancestors. But what great crime did my ancestors commit that, even though Hell 'would not accept' them, they were cursed to become Wolfmen? I truly do not know."
"This is precisely why I wish to go to the Western Branch Office. If my clan truly came from the West, then the West might still retain records about the 'curse', the truth about the 'sin'. I wish to investigate the reasons, to understand the meaning of my clan's existence."
Setsuna nodded slightly. "In that case, as long as the Captain-Commander agrees, you may accompany us."
"I am deeply grateful." Komamura bowed deeply. "I have already obtained the Captain-Commander's consent in advance."
Setsuna nodded. "But remember, I am the leader of this mission. In the Western Branch Office, you must obey my orders and cannot act on your own."
Komamura responded solemnly, "I shall comply!"
…
The passage through the Dangai slowly closed behind them. The familiar Reishi fluctuation belonging to the Eastern Soul Society completely disappeared.
In its place was an entirely different 'atmosphere'… viscous, cold, as if it could penetrate the darkness deep within the soul.
The four stood on unfamiliar land. The sky was leaden gray, shrouded in a sickly, dim light.
The air was filled with a pungent odor… the smell of sulfur from burning coal, the sour stench of fermenting industrial wastewater, and even some deeper, decaying smell, as if emitted by 'despair' itself.
"This is..." Yoruichi covered her nose, frowning deeply. "The Western Branch Office? How does it feel worse than Hueco Mundo?"
This was not the picture she had imagined.
Aizen pushed up his glasses. "The Reishi here seems polluted. This pollution isn't the 'evil' of Hollows, but something closer to human darkness, originating from the Living World."
Komamura's voice was hoarse. "What kind of dark realm was my homeland, that allowed Reverse London to be influenced by the Living World to this extent?"
Setsuna pondered, 'The Living World's Europe seemed to be in the midst of the Industrial Revolution.'
The roar of steam engines echoed across the land. Factory chimneys stood like forests. Thick smoke from burning coal obscured the sky.
Although it was the dawn of civilization, it was also the accumulation of countless lower class people's blood and tears. That level of darkness would undoubtedly become a breeding ground for Hollows.
Just then, footsteps sounded from afar.
They wore attire completely different from Eastern Shinigami… black suits resembling those of Victorian-era gentlemen.
The leader was a middle-aged man with a serious face and sharp eyes.
He walked up to the four and bowed slightly. "Welcome to Reverse London, emissaries from the East. I am Arthur Pendragon, an investigator from Reverse London. I have been ordered by the Director to come and receive you all."
For Shinigami, learning another language was not difficult, so there was no language barrier.
"Pendragon?" Yoruichi blinked. "The descendant of that legendary King Arthur?"
Arthur's expression did not change. "Just a surname, miss. Now is not the time to discuss lineage. Reverse London is facing a crisis."
His gaze swept over the four, ultimately landing on Setsuna.
Clearly, he recognized who the leader was.
He showed no dissatisfaction with Setsuna's youth. He said solemnly, "An incredibly huge Dragon has appeared in the center of Reverse London. Its Reiatsu has materialized, distorting the surrounding space-time structure, and has even begun to erode the boundary between the Living World and Reverse London. We have attempted to subjugate it, but..."
He paused, his voice carrying a certain suppressed helplessness. "All attempts failed, and the losses were heavy."
Setsuna nodded. "Take us to see it."