In the Shinigami Research and Developnt Institute of the 12th Division, there was a dormitory belonging to the laboratory director, Aura Michibane.
Masatsuki Aozaki sat leisurely, enjoying the dressing service provided by Nemu Kurotsuchi, who stood beside him with an indifferent expression.
"Aura, you really are amazing! Over the years, I've heard Kisuke and Kyouraku praise your talent more than once," Masatsuki Aozaki remarked with admiration.
Dressed in a pristine white lab coat, Aura Michibane paid no mind to her battered body. Instead, she offered Masatsuki Aozaki a gentle smile.
"As you said, I've learned everything I need to. Shall we begin our plan now?"
Masatsuki Aozaki nodded.
"Let's begin. Ti is running out, and my worries have never lessened."
With that, he turned and looked at the charming woman lying on the bed behind him, her face adorned with a playful smile. Leaning down, he placed a light kiss on her lips.
At that mont, Nemu Kurotsuchi, standing to the side, watched the scene unfold with an expression that could only be described as looking at pure scum.
But Masatsuki Aozaki didn't care.
The girl who was once as pure as a blank slate had been molded entirely according to his will. Because of that, he could reveal his true self to her without hesitation.
After all, shaping Nemu Kurotsuchi to his liking was far easier than altering Rukia or Aura Michibane.
"That being said, the Hōgyoku isn't sothing that can be created so easily," Aura Michibane said with a smile, gently caressing Masatsuki Aozaki's cheek.
"It doesn't need to achieve the sa effect as the real Hōgyoku. What I need right now is quantity, nothing more."
Looking at Aura Michibane's flushed face, Masatsuki Aozaki couldn't help but shake his head and tease, "You're adorable when you blush."
The composure on Aura Michibane's face instantly vanished, replaced by a chanical-like surprise.
Masatsuki Aozaki ran his fingers through her silky hair and whispered, "It seems even you haven't noticed... But you're far more captivating when you drop the pretense and show your true emotions."
Aura frowned slightly, as if about to argue, but instead, she parted her lips slightly and placed a soft peck on Masatsuki Aozaki's lips.
anwhile, Nemu Kurotsuchi narrowed her eyes, quietly observing the two as they beca more brazen.
She had just finished helping Masatsuki Aozaki get dressed!
As his secretary, she was used to being rewarded for her work. After all, as the saying went—when there was work to be done, the secretary handled it. When there wasn't... well, cough, cough.
That was the unspoken rule between them.
Yet now, thanks to Aura Michibane's interference, not only had she received no reward, but judging by the situation, she would soon have to repeat the entire process all over again.
...
Two and a half hours later, Masatsuki Aozaki stepped out of the room with Nemu Kurotsuchi.
"Alright, alright, don't get too excited. We'll talk about work tonight," he said, rubbing Nemu's head with a helpless expression as he looked at her flushed cheeks and delicate expression.
"I'll take you to see your father in a bit, then we'll head ho. The rest of the day is yours."
"...Kurotsuchi-sama is not my father," Nemu murmured, her expression slightly downcast. She had no interest in comnting on the rest of Masatsuki Aozaki's words.
"You really believe that nonsense of his?"
Masatsuki Aozaki sighed, glancing at the dejected Nemu before taking her slender hand in his.
"If he didn't care about you, would he be showing up at my place every other day?
On the surface, he cos to report on his experints, but his little eyes always manage to wander toward a certain soone.
You're both so dishonest."
"Masatsuki-sama, I—"
Before Nemu could finish, a hoarse voice interrupted,
"Captain Masatsuki, speaking ill of others behind their backs isn't exactly polite, you know!"
Masatsuki Aozaki instantly recognized the voice. Sure enough, as he turned, he was t with the bizarre face of Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
Clicking his tongue in disdain, Masatsuki Aozaki scoffed,
"Did I say sothing wrong? Why are you so eager to interrupt?"
Mayuri scowled and replied in his usual rigid tone,
"I'm not here to interrupt your conversation—I just have business with you."
Masatsuki Aozaki rolled his eyes.
Who would believe that nonsense?
Your beady little eyes have been darting toward my wife this whole ti, and you still claim you don't care?
He let out a smug chuckle. Mayuri Kurotsuchi must be disappointed. After all, the "cabbage" he raised had already been nurtured by soone else—white, tender, and with no reason to leave.
However, just then, Mayuri's gaze shifted toward his laboratory, and he slightly tilted his head.
Noticing this, Masatsuki Aozaki imdiately dropped his playful deanor and frowned.
"There's been progress?" he asked curiously.
Mayuri gave a slight nod and said impatiently,
"What else? If there wasn't, why would I bother coming to you?
Do you think I have nothing better to do?"
He led them to the vice-director's specialized laboratory within the Shinigami Research and Developnt Institute.
"This is the technology that leads to the Wandenreich?" Masatsuki Aozaki asked, eyes fixed on the constantly flashing screen before him.
"That's right," Mayuri confird before adding,
"But after years of research, I've discovered that the Wandenreich isn't actually hidden in the shadows of Seireitei."
"Not there? Then where is it?" Masatsuki Aozaki frowned, murmuring to himself.
"The shadows are just a front. The Quincy actually use them as a dium to construct an enormous alternate space," Mayuri explained, pointing at the screen.
"This space is as vast as Seireitei itself, existing alongside it without directly interfering. The shadows rely serve as the gateway to that world.
I've taken a look inside, and I have to say—they're a terrifying bunch.
If it weren't for my recent modifications to Ashisogi Jizō's Bankai, I might've had to change bodies again.
I never expected those failures from a thousand years ago to still wield such power. Going in there was a huge miscalculation.
If they decide to invade Seireitei now, it'll be a disaster."
Masatsuki Aozaki stroked his chin, deep in thought.
"I see. No wonder Urozakuro's ability didn't work—it's in an entirely different space."
He had, of course, attempted to locate the Wandenreich through his own ans.
Urozakuro was one such thod. By rging himself with the Soul Society using its power, he had scoured the shadows of Seireitei, only to find nothing.
As expected, so matters were best left to the professionals.
"The space itself was constructed using the Quincies' Reishi-manipulation ability," Mayuri continued, glancing at a machine shaped like an archway.
"By passing through this specially designed Senkaimon, one can manipulate the Reishi within the shadows to open the boundaries between worlds, allowing for interdinsional travel."
"Reishi-manipulation?" Masatsuki Aozaki's eyes lit up. "Show the detailed data."
"As expected, you're a cautious one... Here," Mayuri said, handing over a docunt.
After a brief pause, he added,
"So, do you want to head there now? I can start up the machine."
He was clearly itching to dissect those pure-blooded Quincy.
"No need for that machine," Masatsuki Aozaki said, shaking his head. "I'll handle it myself."
Reishi-manipulation—at its core, it was just the ability to manipulate Reishi.
Since he already possessed that ability, there was no need for a gateway. As long as he understood the technique for crossing over, that was enough.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi stared at him, utterly dumbfounded.
Are you serious?
You're telling that sothing I spent decades researching is completely unnecessary?!
Do I even get a shred of dignity here?!
Apologize, damn it!
Apologize for all my wasted years, you daughter-stealing bastard!!
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake
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