Harry still showed no intention of looking away. He only said flatly, "Yeah. Thanks for the hard work, Lieutenant Matsumoto."
This happened all the time. Since most of his attention was focused elsewhere, his efficiency in handling division affairs on this side was painfully low. Because of that, the vast majority of the division's internal work fell to Rangiku Matsumoto, which made her complain nonstop during private gatherings.
She really regretted bringing Harry to Shin'ō Academy back then. Harry as captain made her life far more exhausting than it had been under Captain Isshin Shiba.
Hearing Harry brush her off with the same perfunctory answer as always, veins bulged on Rangiku's forehead, faintly forming a tic-tac-toe pattern.
But at that moment, Harry suddenly froze. Immediately afterward, his gaze seemed much sharper and more alive as he stared at Rangiku and asked curiously, "Lieutenant Matsumoto, I remember Captain Kuchiki's younger sister, Rukia Kuchiki, got into some kind of trouble, didn't she?"
Rangiku paused. She had not wanted to deal with Harry, much less her irresponsible captain, but she was also rather curious about Rukia Kuchiki's situation.
After thinking for a moment, Rangiku said uncertainly, "It seems Rukia was discovered after transferring her Soul Reaper powers to an outsider. Central 46 believes she violated strict regulations. So Central 46 issued an arrest order and sent Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai to bring her back to the Soul Society for execution. I imagine Rukia will be captured and brought back before long."
Harry nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Then I don't have any other questions. You can leave."
Rangiku grew even angrier when she realized Harry had burned the bridge the moment she was no longer useful, instantly trying to chase her out.
However, she had already caused a scene in the captain's office not long ago. After Harry easily stopped her, she had suddenly discovered that her captain had somehow become terrifying to an unfathomable degree.
That feeling was something not even the other captains had ever given her.
It made Rangiku sigh over Harry's monstrous talent. It also proved that her judgment really had not been great.
When she first met the three of them, she had believed Tōshirō Hitsugaya would be the one with the most potential. Now time had proven that Harry was the true monster among them.
Back then, she had thought Harry would become a hardworking captain, someone who could share the division's duties and let her rest properly. But Harry had turned out to be anything but that. He was absolutely the laziest captain in the history of the Gotei 13.
Thinking of this, Rangiku stomped heavily, walked out of the captain's office, and slammed the door shut behind her.
Harry shook his head. He did feel somewhat guilty toward Rangiku Matsumoto. After all, leaving the affairs of an entire division to Rangiku alone really was a little unreasonable.
But there was no way he was going to work. Ever since stepping down as Kamar-Taj's Sorcerer Supreme, he had sworn never to work again in this life.
So Rangiku would just have to suffer a little. In another year or two, she would no longer have to suffer.
By then, he should have already devoured the Bleach world.
Time passed quickly, and several days went by.
Warm yellow light filled the bar, carrying the mellow aroma of sake, while the crisp clack of wooden cups kept ringing out. As usual, Harry, Rangiku Matsumoto, Momo Hinamori, Hitsugaya, and the others had come together to drink. At that moment, a Soul Reaper suddenly passed a message to Harry and Rangiku through a communication bead.
The content was simple. Rukia Kuchiki, who had graduated in the same class as them, had been captured and brought back by Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai.
Central 46 had decided to sentence Rukia Kuchiki to the highest punishment.
Her specific crime was privately transferring Soul Reaper powers to a human, and for that, she had been sentenced to execution by Sōkyoku.
When they heard this news, everyone present was visibly shocked.
Momo Hinamori covered her mouth in disbelief and asked in confusion, "How could this happen? Why would Rukia be sentenced to the highest punishment? Her crime clearly shouldn't warrant such a severe penalty."
Execution by Sōkyoku was the Soul Society's highest form of capital punishment for Soul Reapers who had committed grave crimes. Its cruelty and deterrent force were known to everyone in the Gotei 13.
Those sentenced to execution by Sōkyoku were usually major criminals. They had either killed a captain or a great noble, or they had done something that posed a major threat to the Soul Society.
But all Rukia had done was transfer her Soul Reaper powers to an ordinary human. At most, her punishment should have been a period of imprisonment. How could it possibly be this serious?
Harry frowned slightly. He also sensed that something was wrong. Central 46's judgment against Rukia Kuchiki felt far too harsh, and far too rushed.
Rangiku set her cup down on the table and shook her head. "There's no point discussing it like this right now. There's a captains' meeting tomorrow anyway. We can ask the Captain-Commander then."
Harry did not hold much hope for that. "With the Captain-Commander's personality, he probably won't tell us anything useful. He'll only say we must obey Central 46's orders. Still, forget it. We'll go take a look anyway. Days like this won't last much longer."
Rangiku, Momo, and Hitsugaya were a little confused by Harry's words. What did he mean, days like this would not last much longer?
But they did not dwell on it. Each of them returned home and waited for the captains' meeting the next day.
The morning mist had not fully dispersed yet. The stone paths of the Seireitei carried a cool dampness, while cherry blossom trees on both sides scattered petals through the air. The petals drifted onto Harry's Shihakushō, only to be brushed away almost immediately by the faint Reiatsu surrounding him.
Rangiku Matsumoto walked beside him, holding the folded agenda for the captains' meeting. From time to time, she glanced up at the green-eyed captain ahead of her.
Harry, who normally carried a lazy air and even secretly zoned out during meetings, walked with unusual steadiness today. Even the motion of spinning his blade between his fingers had become a little faster.
"Captain, you seem… especially awake today?" Rangiku could not help saying, her wavy strawberry-blonde hair swaying gently as she moved. "After we got back from the bar yesterday, I thought you'd be spacing out again and attending the meeting half-dead."
The corner of Harry's mouth lifted. Just as he was about to reply, a gentle laugh suddenly came from ahead.
"Captain Harry certainly seems more energetic by the day." Sōsuke Aizen appeared from around the corner, the hem of his white haori brushing over the stone path. His face carried his usual faint smile, and his eyes behind his glasses were as calm as a deep pool. "You have looked much more spirited since some time ago. Could your absent-soul condition have improved?"
Gin Ichimaru, who was beside him, also stopped. His short silver hair gleamed coldly in the morning light. A faint, unreadable smile hung on his lips, and his fingers unconsciously rubbed the hilt of his Zanpakutō as his gaze moved once between Harry and Rangiku without a word.
Harry's absent-soul condition was famous throughout the Soul Society.
Everyone knew that this young captain, whose talent was astonishing and whose strength was terrifying and unfathomable, was never in a very good mental state. Even in front of the Captain-Commander, he had a habit of spacing out.
At first, the Captain-Commander had reprimanded him several times, but gradually, he had gotten used to it.
Of course, that also had to do with Harry's overwhelming strength and the fact that his division's affairs were handled well.
Although the division work was all Lieutenant Matsumoto's credit, the Captain-Commander, as a leader, naturally did not think that way. He only cared about the results, not the process.
As long as the Gotei 13 functioned normally and Harry's strength met the standard, he would not bother too much about Harry's laziness. Instead, he would be lenient.
After all, Harry's strength was simply too great. A first-class Reiatsu holder around only sixty years old had never appeared since ancient times. Harry was the first.
As for why everyone knew Harry was a first-class Reiatsu holder, that was naturally because of the Eleventh Division's captain, Kenpachi Zaraki.
Once, while Harry was distracted, he just happened to run into Captain Kenpachi Zaraki.
After seeing Harry, this young genius, Kenpachi immediately could not resist provoking him. He even attacked first, trying to force Harry into fighting him.
At first, no one thought Harry had much of a chance, because they did not believe Harry could be Kenpachi Zaraki's opponent.
That lasted until Kenpachi Zaraki was easily cut down and heavily injured by Harry. Only then did all the captains who rushed over learn that Harry had already reached first-class Reiatsu.
Barring any surprises, Harry, who possessed first-class Reiatsu, already ranked among the very strongest captains.
From then on, the way every captain looked at Harry became completely different from before. It was the look one gave the next Captain-Commander.
Back in the present, Harry answered Aizen calmly. "I suppose I found something worth taking seriously. I can't keep dumping all the work on my lieutenant forever, right, Rangiku?"
Rangiku clicked her tongue and did not respond.
Aizen nodded lightly. The morning light reflected off his lenses, making it impossible to see the emotion in his eyes.
"That's true." He raised a hand and pushed up his glasses, his tone still gentle. "The Tenth Division has many complicated duties. It is a good thing that Captain Harry can adjust his condition."
He paused, then changed the subject slightly. "By the way, Captain Harry must have heard the news from the bar yesterday, yes? About Rukia Kuchiki…"
"I heard." Harry interrupted him, the lightness gone from his voice. "Central 46's judgment feels a little too rushed."
Gin Ichimaru, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke, his voice carrying a deliberately frivolous tone.
"Oh my? Does Captain Harry think there's something wrong with the judgment? After all, privately transferring Soul Reaper powers is indeed a serious crime under the law."
He tilted his head slightly. His silver hair fell down, hiding the light in his eyes. "Or could it be that Captain Harry has some old affection for Miss Kuchiki?"
For some reason, Gin Ichimaru's attitude toward Harry was always unpleasant, even though Harry had never really provoked him.
Harry quietly glanced at Rangiku Matsumoto beside him. Although most of his attention had not been on the Bleach world, and he had only maintained the most basic thought processes here, he could still tell through his sharp instincts that this probably had something to do with his dear lieutenant.
Harry did not answer. Aizen, who had always seemed like a mild and agreeable person, frowned slightly. "Gin."
There was no obvious rebuke in his tone, but it made Gin Ichimaru withdraw his smile and obediently fall silent.
Aizen turned back to Harry, still wearing that gentle expression. "Everyone understands the law differently, but Central 46's judgment naturally has its reasons. Captain Harry should focus on the captains' meeting for now. The Captain-Commander should already be waiting."
Harry looked at Aizen, a trace of doubt flashing through his green eyes. Before, with his attention away from the Bleach world, he had not noticed it. But now, observing Aizen carefully, he felt something off. It was as if this seemingly gentle captain of the Fifth Division was not as simple as he appeared.
Still, Harry did not think too deeply about it. Once he devoured the Bleach world, every problem would be resolved.
Harry only nodded. "Let's go."
At the captains' meeting, all the captains were surprised by Harry's behavior today. He did not have his usual laziness or distracted air. Instead, he looked lively and full of energy.
This unusual performance made some of the captains wonder if Captain Harry's Reiatsu had advanced even further, allowing him to maintain his focus.
All speculation stopped when the Captain-Commander arrived. First, everyone discussed the affairs of the various divisions. Then the topic shifted to Rukia Kuchiki's case.
As the Captain-Commander's disciple, Shunsui Kyōraku spoke to him far more casually than the other captains. He said directly, "Captain-Commander, there is something suspicious about Rukia's punishment. Execution by Sōkyoku is usually used to execute captain-class Soul Reapers guilty of the gravest crimes. Using it on Rukia does not fit the severity of her offense. On top of that, the execution date has been moved up again and again, from thirty days to twenty days, and then to fifteen days. I think all of this is highly abnormal."
Captain Ukitake and Captain Aizen both nodded as well. They also emphasized to Captain-Commander Yamamoto that something about Rukia Kuchiki's execution was abnormal.
Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia Kuchiki's older brother, said nothing at all.
Or perhaps precisely because he was Rukia Kuchiki's older brother, he could not express his thoughts.
After all, he needed to avoid suspicion, and every move he made represented the Kuchiki clan's stance.
Faced with everyone's advice, Captain-Commander Yamamoto showed no reaction and said directly, "Rules are rules. Rukia Kuchiki privately transferred Soul Reaper powers to a human. That is a serious crime. The Gotei 13 must strictly obey and carry out Central 46's sentence in order to maintain the order of the Soul Society."
He reprimanded Shunsui Kyōraku and the other captains who had raised objections.
With that, the captains' meeting came to an end. The result was exactly as Harry had expected.
Harry had not placed any hope in Captain-Commander Yamamoto to begin with. Given Captain-Commander Yamamoto's personality, he would never make a decision that went against Central 46.
No matter what, Rukia Kuchiki was Harry's friend. Harry would not allow her to be executed.
Just as Harry was thinking about how to secretly rescue Rukia Kuchiki, an unexpected accident occurred.
The paper door of the Tenth Division captain's office was shoved open hard. Rangiku Matsumoto's footsteps carried a rare urgency, interrupting Harry as he reviewed the division's training records.
One hand pressed against the doorframe, the other clutching a wrinkled scouting report, her strawberry-blonde curls were slightly disheveled from running. Her peach-blossom eyes, usually filled with laughter, were now full of urgency, and even her breathing was a little uneven.
"Captain, emergency!" Rangiku's voice was several notes higher than usual. "We just received a joint report from the Third and Seventh Divisions. Ryoka have invaded the Seireitei!"
Harry: "???"
The hand Harry had been using to hold his pen paused. His green eyes lifted from the documents, and his previously casual gaze instantly sharpened.
"Ryoka? How many?"
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