"Captain Aizen, I wonder if you've heard any news from the Rukongai outside recently?"
"I heard it is quite chaotic. Even the nobles are demanding that the Gotei 13 dispatch personnel to suppress it?"
Aizen did not even turn his head, his gaze remaining fixed on the microscope before him.
"A large number of local tyrants from the outermost districts have arrived in District 1, causing public order to deteriorate significantly. It is said that these fellows fled here dragging their families and carrying their mouths along with them. Even their subordinate guards brought their entire families. Effectively, one small faction after another has squeezed in intact, making it impossible for the local guys to deal with them at all."
"Oh, they came from the outer districts? Like that newly appointed Kenpachi?"
Hearing this news, the man wearing black-rimmed glasses finally diverted a portion of his attention. People from the outer districts coming to the vicinity of the Seireitei on such a large scale—this was something that had never happened before.
"Yes, as you know, the closer a place is to the Seireitei, the more likely those seedlings with spiritual power will enter the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy to study. So, there usually aren't any people capable of causing trouble. But as for what people from those places are like... one can see just by looking at Kenpachi Zaraki. Even without spiritual power, he could beat them into submission, let alone the fact that there are quite a few guys who actually possess spiritual power."
The man, whose smile resembled that of a snake, spread his hands, putting on an expression of deep understanding.
"Because of this, the 3rd Division, acting as a support division, was required to dispatch personnel to station themselves in the Rukongai during this period to prevent even larger-scale unrest. As a result, I heard some very interesting things over in the Rukongai."
"I trust your sensitivity towards intelligence, Gin. If there is something, just say it."
"Yes, yes—according to those people, the reason they ran all the way from the 70s districts to here is that a very strange faction has appeared there, named the Yellow Turban Army. They do not allow the existence of any privileges or nobility. Everyone is equal. Not even the leader has special privileges; even food and water are distributed according to everyone's needs. It is no longer the situation of the weak falling prey to the strong like before."
Aizen did not reveal any expression of interest, but he trusted that Gin Ichimaru would not disappoint him.
"As for why they chose to flee without fighting... it is because the leader of the Yellow Turban Army, a man named Suzuki Makoto, defeated the entire coalition army of the Zaraki District single-handedly. Since then, all forces that united to resist the Yellow Turban Army have met the same fate—they were all crushed in a frontal assault. However, I heard there is also a woman by his side, and she doesn't look like a local of the Soul Society."
"So I investigated a little. First of all, the name Suzuki Makoto yielded absolutely no results. As for that woman, I repeatedly questioned many people, and the final description I received surprised me somewhat—that woman might be someone who came over from the Western Branch."
This time, the scientist finally put down the experiment in his hands and looked at Gin Ichimaru.
"The Western Branch?"
"Yes. I also inquired about the other party's name. It seems to be Jeanne d'Arc, which is also a very typical name for the Western Branch side. Furthermore, during her battles, she summons western dragons composed of black flames, which also fits the characteristics of the Western Branch's power system."
The attention of both men was obviously focused on Black Jeanne, who was described as a non-local. After all, since the Zaraki District could produce one Kenpachi Zaraki, it could produce a second one. Although they didn't know why this "Kenpachi" would like this kind of ruling method, compared to a woman who might be from the Western Branch, that was not as important.
"That is truly a bit interesting. The Eastern Branch and Western Branch absolutely do not interfere in each other's affairs. Why would a powerhouse from the Western Branch appear in the Rukongai, and even assist a wandering soul of the Rukongai in carrying out actions similar to unifying the Rukongai?"
The corners of Sosuke Aizen's mouth curled up into a slight smile. He now understood why Gin Ichimaru had suddenly brought up matters outside the Seireitei. Clearly, this faction named the Yellow Turban Army might have a different hidden story behind it.
"So, shall I accompany you there for a trip? Or should we call Kaname as well?"
"No, there is no rush for now. Gin, apply to the Captain-Commander to initiate a Captains' meeting. Then, release everything you have found right in front of all the Captains. Blow this matter up until everyone knows about it."
Gin Ichimaru was obviously somewhat puzzled by Aizen's approach.
"Lord Aizen, if I can find this kind of intelligence, logically speaking, the 8th Division would definitely have found it faster and deeper than I did. Given Shunsui Kyoraku's nature, the Captain-Commander definitely already knows about this matter. Why would we still—"
"I see. Since Shunsui Kyoraku has already reported it to the Captain-Commander, yet the Gotei 13 has made no movement to date, it proves that this matter has been suppressed by the Captain-Commander. Therefore, you want me to bring this matter out into the open? But the Captain-Commander could simply continue to suppress it, couldn't he?"
Gin Ichimaru's voice paused, and then he let out a sigh of sudden realization. This was exactly why Aizen liked Gin Ichimaru more than Kaname Tosen.
"The intelligence Shunsui Kyoraku found can be kept unshared, but if even the 3rd Division can find these things, then this matter can no longer be a secret. Therefore, this Captains' meeting might not actually convene, but the Gotei 13 will certainly have some reaction."
Once the nobles learned of the rule implemented by the faction named the Yellow Turbans, they would certainly clamor and go mad. After all, even the most foolish noble knew that to maintain their own nobility within the Seireitei, they needed the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy to absorb all the high-level talent from the Rukongai cleanly, so they could have enough beasts of burden to serve as their stepping stones.
Nowadays, the vast majority of Shinigami, as well as the staff of other institutions in the Seireitei, were actually all from the Rukongai in terms of origin. It was just that they had no sense of belonging to the Rukongai.
That was why no internal turmoil had occurred in the Seireitei to date; everyone merely served the nobles submissively, believing that doing so was a matter of course.
But the existence of the Yellow Turbans tore this monstrous lie to shreds.
If the people of the Rukongai were to learn that the number of gifted individuals with spiritual power born among them was far greater than those appearing inside the Seireitei, and if they were to learn that the nobles were actually nothing high and mighty—that they were just like them, or perhaps even worse than them...
Then whether the Seireitei could continue to enjoy such peaceful times would be another story entirely.
Not to mention, this matter might actually involve the Western Branch—that made the whole thing appear even more complicated.
_____
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