"Your performance was too exaggerated. You scared everyone."
Only one person could ignore Ethan's astonishing display. Yoruichi felt that he still had not used his full strength. If he had truly gone all out, he would not have needed Gin's sneak attack to kill Aizen.
"By the way, how did you know he would sneak attack Aizen?"
Yoruichi's gaze moved back and forth between Gin and Ethan. Could it be that Gin was a mole Ethan had placed beside Aizen long ago?
All the Shinigami present had the same thought, except for a few younger ones who did not know Ethan's identity.
"Captain Ethan, please explain."
Yamamoto lightly tapped his cane. He was also somewhat confused. Moreover, Gin had previously been Aizen's accomplice. If there was no reasonable explanation, he would order the surrounding captains to apprehend him.
In addition, Ethan himself was also a wanted criminal in the Seireitei.
However, from Yamamoto's form of address, it was clear that the old man had given Ethan a way out. Otherwise he would not have called him "Captain."
Ethan could only complain inwardly about the old fox. Although he wanted to clear himself of the blame placed on him, he had never thought of returning to the position of captain.
"Gin stayed by Aizen's side to find an opportunity to kill him."
As for why he did this, or whether it had been arranged by Ethan, he was too lazy to explain. Explaining it would require explaining many other things, which was too troublesome.
Gin's true purpose in becoming a Shinigami and joining the Gotei 13 had always been to kill Aizen, because Aizen had harmed Rangiku in the past. At that time, Aizen was collecting the souls of Shinigami and those with the potential to become Shinigami for his experiments, and Rangiku was one of the victims.
In other words, Rangiku's soul was incomplete. Perhaps the reason she could never cross the gap between vice-captain and captain was related to this.
To avenge his friend, Gin endured for more than a hundred years, waiting for the day he could stab Aizen. Ethan merely helped make it happen and gave him the opportunity.
As for how they communicated, Ethan simply used Tenken to remind Gin what he should do. Whether Gin would act or not was something Ethan did not consider.
If Gin acted, he could personally kill his enemy.
If Gin did not act, Ethan would personally kill Aizen. As for Negación or anything similar, he had too many ways to break through them, or even destroy them directly by force. Those things simply could not stop him.
So no matter what, Aizen would die today.
Ethan only felt that he had casually done a small thing. Meanwhile, Gin, standing not far away, kept observing this somewhat unfamiliar old friend.
When did this man discover his true intentions? He had always believed he hid them well, to the point that even Aizen had not detected his real thoughts.
Aizen had always been wary of him. But Aizen was wary of everyone, because what he was doing was too shocking and almost everyone could be his enemy.
Gin withdrew his gaze because Rangiku had come to stand in front of him. This intelligent woman had already figured out why he had done it.
"Idiot!"
Gin still wore that sinister smile. He gave no explanation, or perhaps he simply did not want to explain.
At this moment, Ethan also had no interest in explaining further. He looked around. The disturbance caused by Aizen seemed to be over, but there was still a lot of aftermath to deal with.
For example, how to handle the item in his hand was giving many people a headache.
Kisuke was currently the strongest technician in the Soul Society. Even he could not figure out how to destroy the Hogyoku and could only hide it to prevent Aizen from finding it. Therefore, no one else could think of a better solution.
The best method was to seal it layer by layer and hide it in a place that ordinary people could not reach.
"I will handle this."
Ethan glanced at the Hogyoku in his hand. From the original story, he knew that there was actually another Hogyoku created by Aizen.
Neither Hogyoku was complete. Aizen wanted to complete his own Hogyoku, which was why he planned to take Kisuke's. Then he would fuse the two, or rather use Kisuke's Hogyoku as nourishment for the one he created, allowing it to reach its final stage of growth.
"Gin, where did Aizen hide his Hogyoku?"
Completely ignoring Yamamoto's displeased expression, Ethan asked Gin as if speaking with an old acquaintance. Gin also answered the question as if chatting casually.
"In Hueco Mundo."
"As expected."
Aizen had only carried this Hogyoku with him, and he was preparing to go to Hueco Mundo. It seemed he had already transferred many important things there long ago so he could leave immediately when necessary.
"Take me to retrieve that Hogyoku." Ethan knew that Gin currently had no desires or demands and would not listen to his orders without benefits. "I will retrieve what you want for you."
Gin maintained that sinister smile that made many people uncomfortable, as if it were his only expression. Outsiders found it difficult to judge his real thoughts from it.
"Alright."
"Gin!"
Rangiku wanted to stop him because she did not trust this suddenly appearing stranger. His actions since appearing reminded her too much of Aizen.
"Captain Ethan, hand over the item in your hand."
Yamamoto, who had been ignored the entire time, finally became angry. As the strongest person in the Soul Society and the founder of both the Gotei 13 and the Shin'o Academy, he had never been ignored so completely.
Moreover, he would never allow such a dangerous item to be casually taken away by Ethan.
"This?"
As if only now noticing Yamamoto, Ethan lightly pushed up his nonexistent glasses with his free hand.
"This item is my spoils of war. Of course I have the right to dispose of it."
"Please watch your words, Captain Ethan."
"Please watch your words as well, Captain Commander Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni."
He adjusted his nonexistent glasses again.
"I am no longer a captain of the Gotei 13. That was an order issued by the Central 46."
Ethan's words caused the surrounding Shinigami to tense up. Yoruichi, standing nearby, covered her face with an expression that clearly said she expected this outcome.
Ethan had never liked the Central 46, who constantly caused trouble. If Aizen had not killed them this time, Ethan might have personally taught them a lesson sooner or later. Anyone who offended him would not live peacefully. Ethan had never been a generous person.
As for the possibility that the Central 46 had been controlled by Aizen when they made those decisions, Ethan did not care much.
As the highest authority of the Soul Society, if you were this useless, then that alone was the greatest sin. You deserved to be wiped out.
Shunsui sighed. Things were developing in the direction he least wanted to see, and Ethan was far more troublesome to deal with than Aizen.
"Ahem, old man."
Seeing the situation becoming tense, Shunsui decisively stepped in to ease the atmosphere. No one present was more suitable for this role than him.
"According to Captain Ethan, another piece of the Hogyoku has been placed in Hueco Mundo by Aizen. The most important thing now is to retrieve this dangerous item."
Although Yamamoto was angry, he could still distinguish priorities. Now was not the time to argue about rules with Ethan. The Hogyoku was too dangerous to remain in Hueco Mundo. No one knew what disaster it might cause.
Ethan glanced at Shunsui. The captain of the Eighth Division, who had once been his promotion examiner, was signaling with his eyes while making a polite gesture.
Deciding to give him some face, Ethan stopped arguing with Yamamoto and turned to look at Byakuya and Yoruichi.
"Want to go see the scenery of Hueco Mundo?"
The surrounding Shinigami were speechless when they heard this. It sounded as if they were planning a trip to Hueco Mundo.
Yoruichi certainly would not refuse. She looked around. In the current awkward atmosphere, staying would only cause more trouble. It was better to leave.
As for Hueco Mundo, rumored to be extremely dangerous, she did not care at all. Not to mention Ethan ignoring it completely, even she did not believe it was particularly dangerous.
Powerful Vasto Lorde? If she encountered one, it would be perfect for testing her limits.
"I…"
Byakuya had many questions he wanted to ask Ethan. But he looked at Rukia and then thought about his own identity. In the end, he chose to uphold his family and remain a rule abiding Shinigami.
Just as he said in the original story, as the head of the Kuchiki family, the largest noble house in the Soul Society, if even he did not follow the rules, who else would take them seriously?
"I still have things to deal with."
Ethan did not have as many burdens as Byakuya, but he understood his situation. Regarding this, he could only say one thing.
"Sometimes you do not need to live so tiredly."
He raised his hand and lightly sliced through the air in front of him, directly opening a Garganta. This was a skill normally used only by Hollows, but for Ethan there were no secrets in it. It was simply another way to use power.
Before leaving, Ethan turned his head to look at Shunsui.
"Want to come along?"
"Although I really want to refuse, I will accompany you to Hueco Mundo."
He glanced at the squinting Yamamoto.
"Otherwise I will have a difficult time later."
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)