"Morning, Director."
Squad 12 of the Gotei 13 had gained a new title compared to when Kōe left—the Department of Research and Development.
Although the original Squad 12 was already known as the scientific research squad, it had never been systematized under the leadership of Hikifune Kirio. Most of the squad members still considered themselves part of a combat division, and their so-called research was merely a hobby.
That was until nine years ago, when former Captain Hikifune Kirio was promoted, and Urahara Kisuke took over as Captain of Squad 12, personally founding this organization.
Naturally, this wasn't just a gimmick. The members of the Department of Research and Development, which was subordinate to Squad 12, held specific positions that spawned an entirely new talent recruitment policy. Even if one lacked the aptitude to become a Shinigami, they could still enter the Department of Research and Development and achieve remarkable success.
It had just celebrated its ninth birthday a short while ago. Nine years—from being unacknowledged at its inception to its current thriving state, the Department of Research and Development and Squad 12 were now considered one and the same. This was the shared consensus among all Squad 12 members.
And as the architect of all this, Urahara had erased the lingering influence of former Captain Hikifune Kirio, cementing himself as a captain destined to leave a profound mark on the history of Squad 12, and even the Gotei 13 as a whole.
"Captain, here is this month's Reiatsu measurement data. The top section is the data for Soul Society, and the World of the Living and Hueco Mundo are below."
Inside the captain's office, Urahara Kisuke looked up and accepted the document handed to him by a squad member.
One day, eighteen years ago, massive numbers of Hollows suddenly appeared in the World of the Living. Not long after, high-level Hollows began appearing frequently in Soul Society as well. Even Gillian and Adjuchas-class Menos would invade from time to time.
Squad 13, which was in charge of the World of the Living, mobilized almost entirely. According to reports, those invading Hollows appeared almost simultaneously. They possessed autonomous consciousness, yet their invasions were somewhat strange—their panicked demeanor didn't look like they were there to hunt.
Perhaps some major upheaval had occurred in Hueco Mundo, but the Gotei 13 of that time had no leisure to investigate. Just the Hollows suddenly appearing out of nowhere in Soul Society were enough to give them a headache.
The lack of monitoring methods left the entire Gotei 13 without sufficient early warning, making them highly inefficient when dealing with such widespread disturbances.
This situation changed in the second year after the establishment of the Department of Research and Development. Its subordinate Reiatsu Measurement and Research Department could effectively monitor obvious Reiatsu fluctuations in Soul Society and even Hueco Mundo, providing timely warnings to other squads so they could quell the disturbances more promptly and accurately.
Perhaps this was also one of the reasons why the newly established Department of Research and Development gained recognition. After all, in a certain sense, they acted as the general commanders of the Gotei 13.
"No change compared to last month." Flipping through the report in his hands, Urahara's eyes quickly scanned the dense numbers and complex graphs on the paper.
"There haven't been any obvious fluctuations for half a year now. It seems the situation has stabilized."
Urahara nodded. The invasion situation in Soul Society and the World of the Living began to improve a year ago, and it had leveled out half a year ago. Although invasions still occurred, both the intensity and frequency had returned to normal levels.
"We can relax for the time being," Urahara said as he looked up with a smile. "Everyone has worked very hard recently. Just ensure basic fluctuation monitoring from here on out."
Hearing this, the reporting squad member couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. The other squads had returned to normal a while ago; only their Department of Research and Development had remained in a state of tension. Now, the taut string in their hearts could finally loosen a bit.
"Then I'll take my leave, Captain."
"Mm."
After the squad member left, Urahara scrutinized the report one more time before casually setting it on his desk. There were no issues at all. The soul disappearance incident Hirako had mentioned to him earlier likely had nothing to do with Hollows.
'Leaving only clothes behind while the person vanishes into thin air. In Soul Society, where only spirit bodies exist, if it were death, the body would turn into Reishi and disappear along with the clothes.'
'Not death, but disappearing simply because they cannot maintain their form...'
Urahara thought for a moment. There was nothing wrong with Hirako's deduction. Squad 9 Captain Muguruma Kensai had already taken a team to investigate. If everything truly was as Hirako deduced, then figuring out how to maintain a collapsing form would likely fall to him to solve.
'Perhaps there's no need to maintain it. I just need to create a new form.'
In a flash of inspiration, Urahara instantly had an idea for solving the problem. The next step was to see if this idea could be realized.
"Mr. Mayuri, it seems we have a new subject to research!"
Meanwhile, as Urahara began targeted research on the soul disappearances, Squad 9, which had gone to the Rukongai to investigate, made a new discovery—only the situation seemed to have gotten much worse.
Exactly ten sets of Shihakushō were found in a patch of tall grass by Lieutenant Kuna Mashiro. This perfectly matched the number of members in the advance team sent to investigate the soul disappearances.
Although Kuna Mashiro thought it was highly likely that the squad members had simply taken off their clothes themselves, Muguruma Kensai didn't think things were that simple.
The sashes were still tied, and the discarded straw sandals were perfectly intact. Looking at these Shihakushō, there was no indication that they had been taken off, whether voluntarily or by force.
The Shinigami who once wore them seemed to have suddenly evaporated from within the clothes, exactly like the missing Rukongai residents from before!
"Eishima! Go contact Central! The soul disappearance incident has occurred among Shinigami for the first time!"
This thought had surfaced in Muguruma Kensai's mind the moment he saw the Shihakushō, and he rapidly issued a series of orders.
"Tōdō! There may be a virus that decomposes souls. Request Squad 12 to send a researcher over to confirm!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Kasagi! Go back to the main unit on standby and bring the tent! We're camping here tonight!"
"Yes, sir!"
The cause of the soul disappearances might be a virus, but it could also be an unknown enemy. If that were the case, he had to annihilate them before they could approach the Seireitei!
Only after issuing his orders did Muguruma Kensai notice the few dazed brats standing off to the side. He had just saved them from the jaws of a Hollow. The leader, a kid named Shūhei, had cried for a bit, but Kensai had quickly comforted him.
Still haven't recovered? It was understandable. Facing a Hollow was far too heavy a burden for ordinary residents, let alone a bunch of kids.
However, he didn't have the time to comfort them any further, and besides, it wasn't safe here. Thinking of this, Kensai ordered in a tone he thought was gentle, but to anyone else sounded more like a harsh scolding, "Hurry up and go home, before the sun sets!"
"Did you hear me?!"
Whether out of obedience or sheer terror, the kids grabbed their distracted friend and hurriedly ran off.
It wasn't until they were completely out of sight that Muguruma Kensai looked up at the sun, which was already leaning toward the west. For some reason, the sun seemed to be moving a bit faster today.
He just didn't know if this night would be a bit shorter than usual...
Shorter? No, this pitch-black night had never changed. In Hueco Mundo, it seemed as though it had always been this way.
*Clang, clang, clang...* The tolling of a bell, like a funeral dirge, gradually grew melodious until it faded away completely.
It was a half-broken bronze bell. No one would have guessed that just minutes ago, this dilapidated object had been swinging wildly in the wind, playing a chaotic score. Just as no one would believe that the skeleton lying on the ground had once possessed life and moved of its own accord.
They were all dead things, yet only at this moment had they truly settled into peace. Perhaps they had once let out furious roars of resistance, but all of that, along with their extinguishment, would eventually be forgotten by the world.
"I told you I would personally put an end to your life." A pristine white blade was slowly sheathed as an ancient voice recited the final eulogy. "You should be thoroughly convinced by such an ending, Baraggan."
The Emperor of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan, was ultimately just a lingering skeleton, not even standing out among the corpses of the Adjuchas.
"You really looked like a Shinigami just now." A brisk voice shattered the brief, dead silence.
A handsome man with long pink hair adjusted his glasses and looked at the navy-blue back facing him. Not a trace of sorrow could be seen in his expression, even though the fallen bodies all around him belonged to his own kind.
"You will be in charge of Las Noches from now on." The figure in navy-blue slowly turned around. A white mask concealed his face; one could only guess from the voice that he was an elderly man.
"From today onward, you are the King of Hueco Mundo. Do you understand, Szayelaporro?"
The one wearing glasses and bearing a human face was none other than Szayelaporro. Compared to when he was sealed eighteen years ago, he had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.
His entire body had shrunk a size, becoming much closer to a human form. The black tentacles on his back had transformed into a pair of butterfly-like wings. If one were to look only at his face, no one would ever think he was a Hollow, let alone a top-tier Vasto Lorde.
"It's truly unexpected to be put in charge of such an ugly place." Szayelaporro shrugged and continued to ask, "Couldn't you just leave this sort of thing to Baraggan? Of course, I don't mean that killing him was wrong. He still had a bit of value alive, didn't he?"
"The title of King of Hueco Mundo has value to me, but Baraggan, who only had eyes for that title, has absolutely no value to me."
The ancient, deep voice drew closer to Szayelaporro as its owner walked past him. He ascended the long flight of stairs, stopping only when he reached the bone throne at the very end.
"I imagine that even sitting in this chair, you won't forget certain things. Even if the scenery here is truly quite nice, it is still just a tiny corner of the world." Turning around, he sat heavily upon the throne. A pair of bright eyes gazed into the distance through the mask, as if able to see straight through this eternal night. "Wouldn't you agree, Szayelaporro?"
"You are absolutely right."
Szayelaporro bowed in a gentlemanly manner and said slowly, "I will not disappoint you, Lord Ao!"
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