Chapter 215
Kaelith tilted his head at the sight of Harribel kneeling before him.
He pointed to Aizen at his side:
“You’ve chosen the wrong allegiance. I’m just here to rob—cough, I an, to hunt for treasure.
That man there is the one who wants to beco ruler of Hueco Mundo.”
Harribel paused, then turned to look at Aizen.
She found him regarding her with a faintly amused expression.
He chuckled. “No, from beginning to end, I’ve just been following his orders.
Whether it’s expanding influence in Hueco Mundo, setting up a secret base here, recruiting Baraggan’s subordinates, or stealing the Tsunayashiro family’s treasured blade… every last bit has co from Kaelith’s directives.
So don’t worry, Harribel. You have pledged loyalty to the right person.”
Hearing that, Kaelith scratched his head.
So he was that impressive? Even the lofty Aizen was happily working under him?
He gazed at Aizen with a moved expression.
“Sōsuke, your devotion is truly felt by this king. Rest assured, I won’t keep this authority in my hands forever. You, whose talent is ten tis that of my useless son, Sōjun—once I die, I’ll make sure to take that fool with , and leave this position for you!”
With that, he took Aizen’s hand in a solemn gesture.
Aizen: “…”
His blood pressure spiked.
He spoke coolly. “You haven’t even ascended the throne yet, ‘Your Majesty.’ anwhile, soone here is waiting for your response.”
Only then did Kaelith recall Harribel kneeling nearby.
“Hmm… you want to repay , right?
No rush. Wait until you break through next ti.”
Once she beca an Arrancar, Harribel would shed her Hollow armor and reveal warm, resilient skin. He planned to properly… comfort her then.
Harribel blinked, then understood.
Indeed, with her current strength, she was still far from being of real help.
She bowed her head. “I see, Kaelith. I will work hard to beco stronger.”
Not far behind, Sunsun and the other two imdiately bowed as well.
Just then, Szayelaporro flashed in beside them.
Seeing Harribel on one knee, he raised an eyebrow.
“As expected of you, Boss. Baraggan tried all sorts of thods to bring Harribel to heel, and yet he failed. anwhile, you’ve won her loyalty with such ease!”
As he spoke in a lilting tone of praise, Szayelaporro also knelt on one knee.
Aizen narrowed his eyes at the sight.
Unlike Harribel, this guy was no straightforward ally. One careless step, and he might do what Baraggan did—appear to submit, then sink his fangs in deep at a crucial mont.
Before Aizen could warn Kaelith, the latter let out a smug grunt.
“Obviously. I’m the man supported by Chancellor Aizen. Pulling off sothing like this is perfectly normal.
Szayelaporro, since you’ve co along, does that an you’re ready to join my Hueco Mundo research institute?”
“Precisely!”
Szayelaporro lifted his head with a smile. “Please allow to offer you my strength!”
“Mm.” Kaelith nodded. “I know your abilities sowhat.
Stuff like planting bombs in your organs, poisoning your body from within—none of that will work on you. You’d just find a way to remove it. It’s child’s play for soone like you.”
Aizen gave a barely perceptible nod.
Without a proper threat to keep soone like Szayelaporro in check, working with such a cunning, powerful being was a risk.
“But!”
Kaelith’s voice rose.
“Even if threats won’t work, I can still tempt you with rewards. You’re in the middle of so research, aren’t you?
I have three researchers on par with —top experts in their fields.
If you cooperate, I’ll have them et you from ti to ti to exchange know-how, share technology from the Soul Society, and help move your research forward.
Of course, in return, you’ll have to share what you know as well.
“But if you ever harbor treacherous thoughts, not only will all cooperation end, but once my powers reach their peak, I’ll hunt you down across all Hueco Mundo.
I grow stronger at an alarming pace—Sōsuke’s here to back up, so it won’t be long before I reign supre.
When that day cos, if you ride with , you flourish; if you defy , you—perish!”
Kaelith’s triumphant stance drew a twitch from Aizen’s eye.
What was all this?
Using power he didn’t even have yet to threaten soone?
He’d seen plenty of people painting grand visions to bluff others, but painting threats was a new one.
Plus, flat-out telling Szayelaporro “I’ll bribe you with benefits”…
What in the world had Kaelith actually learned from Yamamoto…? Negotiation clearly wasn’t on that list.
Szayelaporro froze for a few seconds.
Then he broke into a broad grin, remaining on one knee, bowing his head.
“Rest assured, my lord.
Until the day your radiance fails and you revert to mortal dust, I shall display unwavering loyalty.
Right now, I’m even more excited to witness your rise into that shining existence.”
Kaelith laughed and helped Szayelaporro up.
Watching them chat so casually, Aizen sank into thought.
The persuasion was a confused ss.
The surrender was equally unconvincing.
And yet these two were hitting it off like a house on fire. Did he really dare let them set up a shared lab?
…
Shwaa!
A portal slid open, and Kaelith and Aizen leapt out.
They erged in a secret lab within the Departnt of Research and Developnt—one so hidden that even Urahara and Kurotsuchi knew nothing about it.
Kaelith casually removed the Enra Kyōten from his belt and tossed it aside. Then he headed for the door.
Aizen moved deeper inside the lab to drop sothing off.
Kaelith, on the other hand, walked toward the main entrance. He wanted a bath.
From a distance, he spotted Kisuke Urahara leaning at the door of the R&D Departnt, anxiously scanning the area.
“Yo, Kisuke. Waiting for soone?”
Kaelith strolled up, patting Urahara on the shoulder.
Startled, Urahara spun around.
He saw who it was and widened his eyes.
“Kaelith? Where did you just co from?”
Before Kaelith could answer, Urahara hurriedly added, “Never mind that—get ready, quick! The Captain-Commander’s looking for you!”
“Eh?”
Kaelith was montarily surprised.
“In that case, I’d better take a bath and change… it’d be a disaster if I show up looking like this.”
He was still in tattered clothes from his fight in Hueco Mundo.
But at that instant, a deep, elderly voice rang out, brimming with vigor:
“No need for that.
I’m already here.”
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