After Royd's Spiritual Pressure was sealed by Ren's Bakudo, his form reverted to its original appearance. A third eye rested upon his smooth forehead, looking rather bizarre. He stared at the approaching Tosen Kaname, letting out a final muffled whimper from his sealed mouth.
"Lock him up after the interrogation," Aizen spoke at last.
"Understood," Tosen responded. He reached out, grabbed Royd by the edge of his robe, and dragged him toward a dark room.
Tosen remained silent as he felt the captive struggling in his grip. From being captured and imprisoned to returning to Aizen's side, his recent experiences had left too deep an impression in the recesses of his mind. Now, the impostor lay before him, rendered completely immobile by the Bakudo. Yet Tosen realized he wasn't as furious as he had expected to be. Driven by their hostility toward the Soul Reapers, these Quincy actually shared a similar stance with him. He hated the Soul Reapers and the Tsunayashiro Clan, and the Quincy did the same. However, that meant nothing, and it would change nothing.
As Tosen dragged Royd into the secret chamber, Royd kept his eyes wide open, staring intently at him.
"Unfortunate for you, it is me you are facing. Rest assured, this won't be over quickly."
Royd could not answer; the Bakudo had completely stripped away his ability to make a sound. But he could still hear, and his capacity for thought remained intact. The moment the chamber's stone door slid shut, he closed his eyes trembling. He knew that what awaited him would be the most brutal torture, for they had not even bothered to undo the seal on his mouth.
...
A moment later, Tosen stepped back out. His expression was sullen, his spirits clearly downcast. He turned his head, his senses focusing on Ren, and remained silent for a long time.
"Those events," he spoke suddenly, "were they your doing?"
Ren paused briefly in his movements and looked up at him. "To what are you referring?"
"That night in the barren mountain laboratory, you abruptly halted the experiment. When I asked what you found, you brushed me off, saying it was just a minor issue with the experiment. Shortly after, the Quincy came knocking. I was taken, imprisoned, and had my memories extracted by that Royd guy..." He paused. "I've been turning this over in my head for a long time. Did this matter have anything to do with you?"
The silence didn't last long.
"Yes," Ren replied.
Tosen let out a heavy breath, the brief venting seeming to soothe his turbulent emotions. After another long silence, he spoke again. "Does Lord Aizen already know?"
"Yes, and he didn't pursue the matter."
Another silence ensued. Then, Tosen gave a slight nod, accepting the reality. "Since Lord Aizen isn't holding it against you, I won't overstep my bounds. But Ren..." He turned and walked toward the research area, his voice dropping as his back faced Ren. "You and I walk different paths."
Ren watched Tosen's retreating figure without offering a rebuttal. Only when Tosen had walked several paces away did he softly utter two words. "Of course."
A short while later, Aizen walked over. "Ren, you've worked hard during this period. Let's put the Hogyoku experiments on hold for now; we need to re-evaluate our strategy against the Quincy. Return to the Fourth Division. Seinosuke Yamada has just departed, and as the newly appointed Vice-Captain, you surely have a wealth of division duties to take over. Tosen will be responsible for guarding Royd and organizing the previous Arrancarization data. If anything comes up, I will notify you."
Ren nodded. He truly did need a break. "Understood."
Before Ren left, Aizen offered a final remark. "If you ever wish to refine your Kido, you can come to me anytime."
The statement was incredibly casual, as if tossed out in passing. Yet out of everything Aizen had ever said to him, this sentence was perhaps the most devoid of hidden calculations. It carried no ulterior motive, serving purely as an acknowledgment of the Kido mastery Ren had displayed in the preceding battle.
"My thanks, Vice-Captain Aizen." Ren took his leave.
The following day, at the Fourth Division barracks.
Ren woke up early and headed to the Vice-Captain's office. He hadn't yet found the time to familiarize himself properly with his new post. Piled before him were the handover documents left behind by Seinosuke Yamada's departure. Medical schedules, medicine inventory logs, member evaluation records... every single sheet required his review and signature. This was his daily routine as a Vice-Captain, a completely different brand of busywork.
The system prompt flashed quietly against the backdrop of his mundane routine.
[SYSTEM: Obtained Spiritual Power Fragment ×2, Spiritual Standing EXP +10]
[SYSTEM: Spiritual Standing: Fourth Grade (EXP: 16210/25000)]
Ren paused his brush and stared at the notification. 'My Spiritual Standing is growing at a decent pace.'
Then Ren recalled that the Soul King Fragment he had skimmed from the Thirteenth Division last time had directly boosted the Hogyoku's awakening rate by a full percentage point. The amount was small, but it was reliable. Furthermore, Jushiro Ukitake's illness provided a perfectly legitimate excuse to visit him frequently. Leveraging his connection with Kaien would allow him to establish a rapport with Ukitake seamlessly. Ideally, he could turn it into a regular medical follow-up, making it much easier to increase the Hogyoku's awakening rate.
With these calculations in mind, he swiftly signed off on the remaining paperwork with a few strokes, stacked them neatly at the corner of the desk, and stood up to head out.
"Fourth Seat Ren... No, it's Vice-Captain Ren now!" Out in the hallway, Isane Kotetsu hurried past cradling a medicine chest, bowing hastily upon spotting him. "Where are you heading?"
"To the Thirteenth Division, to visit an old classmate."
Isane stared at Ren, her eyes twinkling with admiration. As contemporary Soul Reapers who joined the Gotei 13 around the same time, Isane was still an ordinary member while Ren had already scaled the ranks to the high office of Vice-Captain. This only deepened her sense of reverence for him.
"Isane, I recall you mentioning that you have a younger sister. Has she become a Soul Reaper as well?"
"Ah, yes! She joined the Thirteenth Division and should be serving there now..." As she spoke, Isane gasped, covering her mouth in realization. It struck her that since Ren was bound for the Thirteenth Division, he might very well run into her sister.
"Alright, if I see her, I'll pass along my regards. Tell her that her older sister is an exceptional medical talent."
Hearing this, Isane waved her hands in a fluster, stammering incoherently. By the time she looked back up, Ren had already given a casual wave and walked far out of sight.
"Honestly, Vice-Captain..." Isane mumbled under her breath for a bit before turning to go about her day.
In the courtyard of the Thirteenth Division barracks, several ancient trees swayed gently under the brilliant sunlight. Kaien was by the training grounds practicing his swordsmanship. Spotting Ren walk in, his eyes lit up, and he stood up to greet him.
"Senior, what brings you here? You should have given me a heads-up!"
"Just dropping by to see how you're doing. How has it been lately? Are you settling well into division life?"
"Of course! Everyone here is incredibly friendly, and I happen to be quite popular." Kaien laughed heartily, only then noticing the Vice-Captain's armband gracing Ren's shoulder. "Senior, has the Fourth Division been busy lately? We received notice of your promotion to Vice-Captain, but we haven't had the chance to congratulate you properly. I had no idea you were hiding your capabilities so deeply, Senior. It's truly mind-blowing."
Ren offered a light chuckle. "Alright, that's enough. Come, take me to see Captain Ukitake. It happens to be a good opportunity for me to help regulate his condition."
Kaien slapped his forehead. "Oh right! Your Kaido is incredibly powerful, Senior. Let's go. Captain Ukitake is in high spirits today; he even watered the flowers in the courtyard this morning. Though, Vice-Captain Sasakibe from the First Division arrived just a moment ago. It seems they are discussing some division business."
Ren's brow twitched imperceptibly. "Vice-Captain Sasakibe?"
"Yeah, he's been in there for a while and likely hasn't left yet. We can go over and greet him together."
The pair traversed the covered corridors and arrived outside the Captain's office. The shoji door was slightly ajar, filtering out Ukitake's gentle voice alongside another deeper tone.
"Then it is set for next week. Please take utmost care of your health, Captain Ukitake. Should you feel unwell on that day, I shall convey it to the Captain-Commander." Chojiro Sasakibe's voice was steady and resonant.
"I appreciate Captain-Commander Yamamoto's concern. It shouldn't be an issue." Ukitake chuckled softly, followed by a brief, suppressed cough. "It is merely a routine meeting, so I should be able to manage. That boy Kaien keeps saying my complexion has improved, but in truth, it's entirely thanks to Captain Unohana's medicine keeping me afloat."
Kaien stood outside the door. Waiting until their conversation drew to a close, he raised his hand and rapped lightly twice against the doorframe.
"Come in," Ukitake called out.
Kaien led Ren inside. Sunlight streamed through the windows of the office, pooling across the floor. Ukitake sat at his desk, his white hair cascading over his shoulders as he turned to see his guests. He excelled at maintaining a warm presence, though his face still retained the distinctive pallor of a long-term invalid.
Seated opposite him on a cushion was Chojiro Sasakibe. His back was rigidly straight, his silver hair immaculately combed, and he wore a standard Shihakusho adorned with the badge of the First Division Vice-Captain on his sleeve.
"Ah, Ren! Or rather, I suppose I should address you as Vice-Captain Ren now." Ukitake greeted Ren with a warm smile. "How opportune. Vice-Captain Sasakibe is right here. I don't believe the two of you have formally met."
Ren bowed slightly toward Sasakibe. Sasakibe stood and returned the bow. His gaze lingered on Ren for a brief moment, carrying the subtle, evaluating scrutiny characteristic of a veteran Vice-Captain assessing a newly appointed peer.
'Following Yamada's reassignment, this fellow Ren was promoted to Vice-Captain by Unohana almost immediately. It seems Captain Unohana had planned this long in advance. I wonder how this new Fourth Division Vice-Captain's mastery of Kaido compares to Yamada's.'
"So you are the newly appointed Vice-Captain of the Fourth Division. It is an honor to meet you. Captain Unohana mentioned you during the Captains' meeting a few days ago, praising your extraordinary talent in Kaido as unmatched within the Fourth Division." Sasakibe's voice was perfectly even.
"You flatter me, Vice-Captain Sasakibe."
"There is no need for modesty, Vice-Captain Ren," Sasakibe said placidly. "In all my years, I have rarely seen anyone receive such explicit praise from Captain Unohana."
Following their exchange of pleasantries, Ukitake offered a timely cough, breaking the brief lull in conversation. "Vice-Captain Sasakibe, the First Division's administrative duties are demanding. Now that the message has been delivered, I shall not detain you any further."
Sasakibe nodded and rose to take his leave. Once he had departed, Kaien turned a curious gaze to Ukitake. "Captain, what kind of matter requires Vice-Captain Sasakibe to deliver a message in person? Has something happened?"
Ukitake coughed a couple of times. "It is nothing of pressing concern. Recently, the Twelfth Division monitored an unidentified fluctuation in Spiritual Pressure within a remote region of Rukongai. The characteristics of the waves were highly bizarre, sparking suspicion that they might be traces left by Ryoka. Consequently, they came to the Thirteenth Division to ask me to keep an eye out for any peculiar changes in the World of the Living."
Ren maintained an unreadable expression, though clarity dawned in his mind. 'It must be a result of the Wandenreich's Shadow Domain.'
Ukitake continued, "The Captain-Commander views this with great severity and has decided to convene a general meeting of the Captains next week to discuss this matter exclusively. All Division Captains will be present, and the Second Division's Stealth Force alongside the Twelfth Division will be required to submit their respective investigative reports." Ukitake looked toward Ren, a smile gracing his features. "During this Captains' meeting, we might very well see you standing right behind Captain Unohana."
"I will be attending as well?" Ren's voice carried a well-measured note of surprise.
"There is no need for anxiety; it is merely an observation. It is standard practice for the Vice-Captains of each division to attend the Captains' meetings. You will grow accustomed to it in due time. Captain Unohana will brief you on the specific details before the assembly."
Ren nodded, signaling his understanding. At that moment, he glanced near Ukitake's side, and as expected, another Soul King Fragment dropped. 'So reliable.' With that, Ren prepared to lay the groundwork for his future frequent visits.
"Captain Ukitake, speaking of which, I have dabbled a bit in Kaido myself. Perhaps I could assist by conducting a brief evaluation of your physical condition? What do you think?"
Ukitake blinked in surprise, studying Ren for a couple of seconds before proffering his wrist with a smile. "Then I shall trouble you. However... my body harbors certain peculiarities, so please do not be alarmed."
Ren nodded and placed his fingertips against the skin. The pale green light of Kaido bloomed at the point of contact. Threads of Spiritual Pressure channeled through the meridians, probing the internal conditions of Ukitake's body. Just as Ukitake had described, his body was exceptionally frail, with his Spiritual Pressure maintaining a delicate, tenuous equilibrium among his organs.
The region encompassing his lungs was particularly strange; it did not seem to function like a normal biological organ. Instead, a peculiar, alien energy lay dormant there, perfectly tranquil. As that precise location trembled slightly under the influx of Ren's probing energy, a few minute specks of light drifted out from Ukitake's body once more.
[SYSTEM: Detected Soul King Fragment ×3, absorbing... Hogyoku Awakening Rate +1.5%]
[SYSTEM: Current Hogyoku Awakening Rate: 5.15%]
Ren retracted his hand completely unperturbed. "Captain Ukitake, your Spiritual Pressure has stabilized significantly, but your internal organs still present profound issues. You should continue with Captain Unohana's prescription as usual. Additionally, I recommend increasing the frequency of your rests during working intervals. Avoid overexerting yourself for the time being."
Ukitake let out a soft sigh. "Captain Unohana says the exact same thing. It seems this body of mine truly cannot endure prolonged labor any longer."
At this point, Kaien scratched the back of his head. "It can't be helped. You must take good care of your health, Captain Ukitake. If any issues arise, I can always help shoulder the burden."
Ukitake looked toward Kaien and nodded gently.
Ren then sat back down in contemplation, requesting a brush and paper to draft a medical formula, which he placed neatly onto the desk. "This is a specialized prescription I formulated personally. It can help regulate your system, and you may use it in conjunction with Captain Unohana's recipe. Once you have taken it for a period, I shall return to evaluate your progress. Please do not decline. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave now."
"My thanks, Ren," Ukitake called out to stop him, his tone warm. "Captain Unohana's eye for judgment has truly never missed its mark. You are welcome to visit the Thirteenth Division whenever you like in the future."
Ren nodded and departed, accompanied by Kaien.