Currently, Aizen was not at Las Noches… he had returned to the Soul Society. All matters at Las Noches, big or small, were handled by Baraggan.
Originally, with Aizen absent, the highest-ranking Espada, Starrk, should have managed Las Noches based on rank. However, the proud Baraggan didn't put Starrk in his eyes at all and forcibly seized control of Las Noches.
Although Starrk, whose lazy personality rivaled Kyoraku's, didn't mind, the other Espada completely ignored Baraggan.
Another palace within Las Noches.
A female Arrancar with brown skin, emerald green eyes, ample bust, and golden hair tied into three braids stood here.
This female Arrancar was the newly appointed Tres Espada, Tier Harribel. Each Espada had their own exclusive palace, and this was Harribel's palace.
Half a year ago, the former Tres Espada, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, was ambushed by Nnoitra, lost her power, and was expelled from Las Noches.
Thus, Harribel succeeded her position, becoming the Tres Espada.
Harribel stood in the grand hall, looking towards the outside of Las Noches.
Although blocked by palace walls and unable to see anything, Harribel could sense that person's Reiatsu… the Reiatsu of the one who had once saved her and her comrades.
"Is it you... Hitsugaya Toshiro?" Harribel murmured.
"Harribel-sama, what did you say?" Besides Harribel, others were in the hall… Harribel's companions and Fracción: Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun.
Seeing Harribel seemed to say something, Apacci couldn't help but ask.
Since coming to Las Noches with Harribel, Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun had also undergone modifications by Aizen, becoming Arrancar.
They transformed from their original deer, lion, and snake forms into human female appearances.
"Nothing," Harribel didn't intend to tell Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun about Toshiro being near Las Noches.
"Harribel-sama must be talking about that Shinigami named Hitsugaya Toshiro who saved us, right?" Sung-Sun said.
"Did you hear what I said just now, Sung-Sun?" Harribel asked somewhat embarrassed.
Toshiro wasn't very close to Las Noches now, his Reiatsu Fluctuations not strong. Even Harribel herself didn't sense it clearly. With Sung-Sun's strength, she shouldn't be able to sense Toshiro's Reiatsu from such a distance. So, she must have heard Harribel murmuring his name earlier.
But Sung-Sun denied it. "No, I didn't hear what Harribel-sama said just now."
"Then how did you know I was talking about Hitsugaya Toshiro?" Harribel asked, puzzled.
"Oh, that. I just heard some people say a Shinigami was near Las Noches. Based on their description, it seemed like Hitsugaya Toshiro, who saved us," Sung-Sun replied.
"Hitsugaya Toshiro, that Shinigami?" Mila Rose finally reacted.
"Umm... Harribel-sama, you should go see that Shinigami," Apacci advised.
Although given their identities, meeting might not be appropriate, Apacci saw Harribel seemed to want to meet Toshiro.
"No, better not. Meeting isn't good for him or me," Harribel thought for a moment and still refused.
Their identities as Shinigami and Hollow made excessive contact inappropriate. Moreover, since joining Las Noches and becoming Aizen's subordinate, Harribel understood some of Aizen's goals.
If Aizen went to war with the Soul Society in the future, they might even become enemies crossing blades. Too much contact now would only make things harder for both on the battlefield.
"Well, maybe it's better not to meet," Mila Rose said.
Among Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun, Mila Rose was the most opposed to Harribel having excessive contact with Toshiro.
Although Toshiro was also her savior, for Harribel's sake, Mila Rose didn't want Harribel to have too much contact with Toshiro.
Meanwhile, Toshiro, who was being discussed, had just left Las Noches's sphere of influence and was heading towards the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force's camp with Ashido.
"Ashido, after returning to the Soul Society, which division do you plan to join? Still the 11th Division?" During the journey, just traveling was too boring, so Toshiro took the chance to ask Ashido this question.
Although Ashido was once an 11th Division's member, that was centuries ago. By now, the people in the 11th Division had probably changed several times over. He likely couldn't find anyone who recognized him.
In fact, forget the 11th Division… probably very few in the entire Soul Society still recognized him.
And the 11th Division's Captain he was close with, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi, had been dead for a long time. The current 11th Division captain was the 11th Kenpachi, Zaraki Kenpachi. Returning to the 11th Division would only evoke memories and add sadness.
"Why not come to our 10th Division, Ashido?" Toshiro suddenly invited Ashido.
"10th Division?" Ashido was somewhat surprised by Toshiro's invitation.
"After all, we fought side by side in the Forest of Menos, sharing life and death. We can be considered friends, right?" Toshiro said sincerely.
"Friends..." Ashido murmured.
"Alright, I'll go to the 10th Division with you," Ashido thought for a while and agreed to Toshiro's invitation.
After all, for Ashido, even if he returned to the Soul Society, no one there knew him anymore, let alone had friends.
After the battle in the Forest of Menos, Ashido and Toshiro were close comrades-in-arms. Joining the 10th Division, where Toshiro was, seemed like a good thing.
"That's great!" Toshiro couldn't help but say happily.
Before going to the Forest of Menos, Toshiro had considered whether he could bring Ashido to the 10th Division.
After all, Ashido's strength wasn't weak. Having him join the 10th Division would be a great asset for Toshiro.
Of course, there was another reason Toshiro invited Ashido to the 10th Division.