MTLNOVEL Chapter 125: The main point was not to waste
As the head of the Four Noble Houses, although the Tsunayashiro family had been replaced in recent years, its heritage could not be underestimated.
Sōjun.
Kuchiki Ginrei.
And the Kuchiki branch family.
Yes.
Among the Four Noble Houses, even the declining Shiba clan had its own main and branch families; naturally, the Kuchiki family was no exception.
After the Hollow feast not long ago—
Except for Byakuya Kuchiki and those elders of the Kuchiki family who had long been stationed in Central 46, the rest of the clan, including all the Soul King fragments accumulated by the Kuchiki family over the years—
All of it was used by Aiyan to forge the Hōgyoku.
Those with Soul King fragments had them extracted, and those without fragments had their royal bloodline souls taken, to feed the Hōgyoku after Hollow experimentation.
The main objective was to maximize value.
It was precisely with the "help" of the Kuchiki family that the Hōgyoku created by the two brothers—without even using Matsumoto Rangiku's Soul King fingertip—still reached a semi-finished level.
Compared to the future Hōgyoku made by Urahara Kisuke, it was not inferior—perhaps even superior.
This was merely the "help" from the Kuchiki family alone, one of the Four Great Houses.
"Byakuya Kuchiki still holds some within him."
"He is Ginrei Kuchiki's beloved grandson."
"Without his knowledge, Ginrei continuously implanted Soul King fragments into him."
Aizen's eyes flashed with deep contemplation.
He seemed to be considering whether to feed the Hōgyoku with Byakuya Kuchiki.
"This blade is already sharpened, just waiting to be used."
Aiyan reminded him calmly.
"Indeed."
"Ginrei Kuchiki has cultivated this for so many years—it's almost time. We only need to find an opportunity to use the power of the demon sword Muramasa to allow Byakuya Kuchiki to master Bankai, and then he can be used."
"It would be too wasteful to simply feed him to the Hōgyoku."
Upon hearing this, Aizen immediately abandoned the idea of feeding Byakuya to the Hōgyoku.
After all—
Whether collecting souls via Shinigami power or extracting Soul King fragments, Soul Society had ample resources.
There was no need to kill the goose that lays golden eggs.
The two brothers' thoughts were extremely aligned: the main point was not to waste.
Of course, this was also based on the premise that Byakuya only had Soul King fragments in his body and did not possess complete Soul King parts. Otherwise, Aizen would have already taken action.
"Then let's handle Tsunayashiro first."
"It's time to settle this account."
"We can't let Kuchiki Ginrei wait too long down below."
A cold gleam flashed in Aiyan's eyes.
How could he forget the Tsunayashiro family?
Kuchiki Ginrei, who merely provided information, had ended up with almost the entire clan becoming fodder for the Hōgyoku, subjected to Hollow experimentation, nearly annihilated.
As the true mastermind behind the assassination attempt on him and Aizen, the Tsunayashiro family certainly deserved a far worse fate.
One could say—
The script for the Tsunayashiro family had already been written.
"That's fine."
"Anyway, these past days, Tsunayashiro Tokinada has been living each day in fear and trepidation."
"If he knew he could finally go on his final journey, he might even feel relieved."
Aizen smiled slightly after hearing this.
But his smile, like Aiyan's eyes, was ice-cold and bone-chilling.
Fear and anxiety?
Yes.
As one of the masterminds behind the Shin'ō Academy dormitory attack—
After the Hollow incident at the Kuchiki estate, Tsunayashiro Tokinada had initially been stunned, shocked, and disbelieving. But soon after, fear, unease, and anxiety consumed him day after day.
The fate of Ginrei Kuchiki hung above him like the Sword of Damocles, making him live each moment as if treading on thin ice. Although alive, he was constantly tormented by terror.
Drowning in such an ocean of negative emotions, no matter how strong one's will, they would eventually go mad or collapse.
…
Tsunayashiro Residence.
"Did those old fools from Central 46 refuse again?"
Tsunayashiro Tokinada sat in the main seat, glancing coldly at Yamada Seinosuke kneeling before him.
"Apologies, Lord Tokinada."
"The sages and judges of Central 46 rejected your request again, on the grounds that the Great Spirit Book Gallery is a restricted area of Soul Society."
Wearing a white robe and a white medical cap, Yamada Seinosuke looked more like a noble doctor than a healer. He half-knelt respectfully, his voice helpless.
"This happened once, then twice—now already a third time!"
"How dare they!"
"I am from the Tsunayashiro family!"
Tsunayashiro Tokinada tried hard to suppress his fury.
This was the third time Central 46 had rejected his application to enter the Great Spirit Book Gallery.
"According to Central 46, the Tsunayashiro family's duty is to guard and manage the Great Spirit Book Gallery, not to read it."
"Furthermore—"
"They claim only the current head and the first heir of the Tsunayashiro family have the qualifications to enter and apply to study the records."
Yamada Seinosuke's words made Tokinada's eyes turn ferocious like a beast, his breathing heavy and ragged.
"First heir?"
At that moment, Tsunayashiro Tokinada's eyes became savage, his aura like a caged beast on the verge of rampage.
Originally, ever since the Kuchiki estate Hollow incident, he had lived every day and night in fear of Aiyan and Aizen. Now, Central 46 had rejected him three times in a row, striking straight at his sorest spot.
This was equivalent to a brutal kick to someone already on the edge of madness.
"Very well!"
"Then let's do it!"
Suddenly—
Tsunayashiro Tokinada calmed down abruptly from his rage, even showing a smile again.
"Lord Tokinada, are you truly going through with it?"
"According to the original plan, we still need at least a hundred years of accumulation."
Yamada Seinosuke's expression changed drastically.
"Did you not see what happened to Ginrei Kuchiki?"
"Hollowfication, death— even his only surviving grandson has become Aiyan's subordinate."
"...What a joke. The dignified new head of the Kuchiki family was reduced to a subordinate of a mongrel. I refuse to end up like Kuchiki Ginrei!"
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's tone was icy as frost. When he mentioned Kuchiki's fate, even after so much time, his voice still carried deep lingering fear.
"But, I've secretly investigated countless times."
"I've entered the Kuchiki estate under various pretexts, been to the Senzaikyu, even joined the First Division. Not only is there no evidence, there aren't even ten clues pointing at them."
"All the facts prove that Aiyan and Aizen have no involvement with Hollowfication at all. Everything was orchestrated by Kōga and Hirako Shinji."
Yamada Seinosuke hesitated before voicing this argument.
"Hahaha! If this were about anyone else, I might believe it."
"But who is Kuchiki Ginrei? The man who single-handedly pushed the Kuchiki family to the peak of the noble hierarchy. No one cherished their reputation more than him."
"There are many ways to seek higher realms; there is no need to choose Hollow experiments, which invite endless catastrophe."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada laughed bitterly.
He had worked alongside Ginrei for many years. How could he not understand Ginrei's character?
Hollow experiments were nothing but a ticking time bomb.
Once detonated, they wouldn't only destroy the practitioner, but also obliterate the entire Kuchiki family.
Instead of resorting to Hollowfication, it would have been far better to patiently collect Soul King fragments.
Though the process was long, it was safe, provided great benefits, and had no aftereffects. Most importantly, when Ginrei eventually died, the Kuchiki family would be securely cemented as the leading noble house.
It was absolutely impossible for Ginrei to involve himself in Hollow experiments.
...
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