Masatsuki Aozaki looked at the two and chuckled.
"In the future, you might get the chance to et Mayuri Kurotsuchi again."
"Why?"
Candice blurted out instinctively.
She absolutely loathed that creepy man who wanted to dissect her!
"To have him research a way to block Auswählen, of course."
Masatsuki Aozaki waved a hand dismissively, his tone carrying an air of authority.
"You belong to now—spoils of war. Sure, I took you by force, but I never return what I’ve claid."
Hearing this, Bambietta’s eyes practically sparkled, her gaze glued to Masatsuki Aozaki with undisguised admiration.
Candice, on the other hand, couldn’t help but feel a hint of gratitude welling up inside her.
After all, who would want their life to be at the rcy of soone else?
Though, technically speaking, she was the one who had been "borrowed"...
But when it ca to Quincies, was there really such a thing as borrowing?
Why take out a loan when you can just steal outright?
Masatsuki Aozaki had no clue about the bandit-like thoughts running through Candice’s mind.
Leading the two of them, he left the underground training arena and headed toward the Aozaki estate.
To assist Aura Michibane with her research, he had long since constructed a massive underground research facility, fully equipped with all necessary protective asures.
It was the perfect place to keep them confined.
...
Back at the underground laboratory beneath the Shinigami Research and Developnt Institute, Mayuri Kurotsuchi montarily froze in confusion.
Masatsuki Aozaki had only been gone for a few days—why was he back so soon?
He had just been about to enjoy so relaxing research ti!
"Captain Masatsuki, what’s this about?"
Mayuri Kurotsuchi set down the syringe in his hand, his expression puzzled.
He had been in the middle of administering an anesthetic to Cang Du.
For so ti now, he had been running drug experints on him, carefully maintaining his Reiatsu and bodily functions at their weakest state—just enough to keep him alive.
A research subject of this caliber wasn’t sothing Mayuri was willing to let die so easily.
And of course, when he had ntioned dissection earlier, he hadn’t just been trying to scare Candice.
After all, he was extrely well-versed in the practice of live dissection.
Masatsuki Aozaki stepped up to him, his expression serious.
"Do you know about Auswählen?"
Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of confusion passing through his eyes.
He had conducted extensive research and combed through countless texts and records—he could confidently say he was well-inford.
But Auswählen?
That was sothing he had never heard of.
And now, Masatsuki Aozaki had deliberately brought up this unfamiliar term in front of him.
Why?
Mayuri’s frown deepened.
Masatsuki Aozaki was unpredictable as ever.
It was impossible to guess what was on his mind.
"Auswählen is a ritual through which Yhwach, the progenitor of the Quincy, reclaims power," Masatsuki Aozaki said.
"Once activated, this ritual can either strip a Quincy of their power or bestow it upon them."
"What a dangerous and terrifying ability," Mayuri Kurotsuchi murmured, a sinister grin creeping across his face.
With such power, Yhwach would hold absolute control over all Quincy.
The pure-blooded Quincy lying on the operating table... Masatsuki Aozaki’s two trophies...
"I see. So that’s what you’re getting at," Mayuri Kurotsuchi mused, the corners of his mouth curving into an eerie smile.
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as if he had already deciphered Masatsuki Aozaki’s intentions.
"You want to find a way to counter Auswählen?" he asked, his tone laced with amusent.
Masatsuki Aozaki frowned slightly at Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s smug expression.
"You already have a solution?" His voice was calm, but deep down, he felt a surge of anticipation.
This guy always managed to deliver unexpected surprises.
Mayuri Kurotsuchi chuckled.
"As you probably know, I once brought the soul of a Quincy back to the Soul Society."
"At the ti, I noticed sothing unusual—when a Quincy dies, their soul doesn’t go to the sa place as an ordinary human’s."
"It’s as if they’re being summoned, drawn toward so unknown destination."
"After eting you, I finally understood their connection to Yhwach. That must be where they’re going."
As he spoke, Mayuri Kurotsuchi shot Masatsuki Aozaki a sidelong glance.
This man knew far too many things he didn’t.
He would love to crack open that head of his and see just how many secrets were hidden inside.
A true treasure trove of knowledge.
Shaking his head, Mayuri Kurotsuchi continued,
"The link between Yhwach and the Quincy is a direct soul connection, with Yhwach holding complete dominance."
"This ritual, Auswählen, likely operates under the sa principle."
His gaze sharpened.
"If I was able to snatch Quincy souls away from Yhwach before..."
"Then with further research, there’s no reason I can’t find a way to counter this so-called Auswählen."
"But..."
Mayuri Kurotsuchi deliberately drew out the word.
Masatsuki Aozaki’s brow twitched.
Having known him for so many years, he could tell right away when the guy was about to say sothing annoying.
"But what?" Masatsuki Aozaki asked impatiently.
"I don’t have any Quincy souls to experint on," Mayuri Kurotsuchi said, shrugging.
"And the souls of Echt Quincy may be different from those of Gemischt Quincy."
Spreading his hands, he sighed dramatically.
"For the sake of Captain Masatsuki’s prized possessions, I suppose I’ll just have to sacrifice this one on the table..."
He let out an exaggerated sigh, as if lanting the loss of a precious research specin.
"Fine, fine. Just get started on the research already. I’ll bring you two more next ti," Masatsuki Aozaki said, rolling his eyes.
"But not right now. I already tried—I can’t get into the Wandenreich anymore."
"Those sneaky bastards changed the lock codes."
Swallowing Pernida’s power would still take so testing.
And Gerard was still in the Wandenreich—he had planned to check on him when he had the ti.
But now?
Those damn Quincy had literally changed the locks to keep him out!
Unbelievable.
Wandenreich Quincy: And you have the nerve to complain?! You’re a bandit who steals people! Do you even realize breaking and entering is illegal?!
"It seems you made quite the scene last ti," Mayuri Kurotsuchi muttered, stroking his chin in thought.
But he wasn’t the type to give up easily. A true mad scientist thrived on challenges.
"Don’t worry about the locks. I’ll figure sothing out."
He wasn’t Masatsuki Aozaki’s equal when it ca to raw strength.
But when it ca to brains?
That was his domain.
...
As Masatsuki Aozaki stepped out of the lab and called for the elevator, the doors slid open to reveal a familiar figure.
Inside stood the ever-lazy, blond-haired director.
Kisuke Urahara was leaning against the wall, a small glowing screen in his hands, fingers tapping away furiously at the buttons on either side.
On the screen, a ga character that bore a 99.9% resemblance to Masatsuki Aozaki was mid-battle.
A hulking, muscle-bound warrior clad in a white martial arts uniform.
At that mont, he was being flipped onto the ground—his head locked between the long, toned legs of a sultry woman dressed in a revealing red kunoichi outfit.
With a sharp cry of pain, his character slamd into the floor.
K.O.
The woman gracefully landed, pulled out a folding fan from nowhere, and flashed a triumphant peace sign.
Masatsuki Aozaki’s eye twitched.
"...No way. You’re telling you actually lost using as the main character?"
Fuming, he clenched his fists in frustration.
Kisuke Urahara: "..."
Didn’t you see? My opponent barely had any HP left!
That was just an input error!
"Kisuke, I think Mai Shiranui is too overpowered. She needs a nerf."
Masatsuki Aozaki spoke with absolute seriousness.
Ga balance was important, damn it!
How could a protagonist be losing like this? Clearly, the enemy character was broken!
Kisuke Urahara’s eye twitched.
"...This has nothing to do with the character. That was just my mistake. It’s my first loss today."
"And for the record, your character has the highest win rate in the entire ga."
"If we buffed you any more, or nerfed other characters, it would completely break the balance."
"Don’t forget—we need to sell this ga."
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake
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