As a man of innate ambition and a natural ruler, Aizen saw Kagaya Ubuyashiki's uniqueness at a glance.
In this world, leaders usually relied on the deterrence of power or the constraints of systems.
But what Kagaya exuded was a highly infectious 'charisma'.
This charisma allowed him, even as an ordinary soul, to speak words that could influence Aizen, who had cultivated for many years.
This in itself was abnormal...
A millennium ago, the current rulers of the Soul Society committed an inhumane murder against the creator of this world.
To prevent that creator from resurrecting, they even severed His limbs, gouged out His internal organs, crushed them, and scattered them across the three realms.
This creator was known as the [Soul King], and those pieces scattered across the world were collectively referred to as fragments of the Soul King.
But those who committed such atrocities never expected...
The fragments of the Soul King would not completely disappear; instead, they lodged themselves within the bodies of various lifeforms, granting their hosts special powers through various coincidences.
Fullbring.
That was a peculiar power born from the fusion of a human soul and a Hollow soul...
"I have heard the children speak of your encounters in your previous lives. I am deeply sorry for what happened, but also glad that the Soul Society has given you all a new beginning," he smiled.
Kagaya looked directly at Aizen with those clear eyes and replied, "Yes, having bid farewell to the responsibilities and curses of the past, we are now just ordinary parents and ordinary neighbors."
"This happiness of being able to watch our children grow up with our own eyes is more precious than any power or authority."
Dinner began in this extremely harmonious atmosphere.
On the dining table were vegetables personally grown by Gyomei, along with some simple porridge and side dishes.
Shinobu Kocho softly recounted some amusing anecdotes from the Seireitei, while Hinaki and Nichika occasionally chimed in, drawing bursts of light laughter from everyone.
Aizen's performance was flawlessly impeccable.
Not only was he knowledgeable and well-read, able to catch every one of Kagaya's literary or philosophical metaphors, but he also displayed immense sympathy for the lower-class citizens of the Rukongai.
This caused the Ubuyashiki family's favorable impression of him to rise by several levels.
During the meal, Aizen gazed at Kagaya's clear eyes with a smiling expression.
'Are these the eyes that possess "future sight"...'
While chatting during the meal, Aizen deliberately asked what kind of business they ran in their previous lives and how they managed to keep so many samurai.
Although Kagaya himself could not explain it clearly, the Ubuyashiki clan seemed to possess some sort of ability to peer into the future, making their investment activities unfailingly profitable. This greatly piqued Aizen's interest.
'Could it be some kind of Fullbring?'
"Nichika's Spiritual Power is quite special. Her combat instructor mentioned that she seems able to predict her opponent's attack trajectories," Aizen said, setting down his bowl with a soft sigh of admiration. "Is this also due to the Ubuyashiki family's special talent? Truly remarkable."
"The current Seireitei is somewhat too closed-off and backward. For outstanding souls like yourselves, it would be a true pity not to enter the Seireitei and utilize your talents."
Shinobu Kocho's eyes lit up. "Captain Aizen, are you saying that Master and the others also have a chance to enter the Seireitei?"
"As long as Mr. Ubuyashiki is willing," Aizen said, looking at Kagaya. "With Mr. Ubuyashiki's bearing and experience, even if you do not participate in combat, you could serve as a staff member at the Shin'o Academy or the Document Department. If you need it, I can act as your guarantor."
This was a massive temptation. For ordinary Rukongai residents, it was practically a stairway to heaven.
However, Kagaya gently shook his head.
"We appreciate Lord Aizen's kind intentions," Kagaya's voice was steady and firm. "But after that great fire... fame, status, and even power—those things are no longer important to me now."
"Right now, I only wish to live the life of an ordinary person. Helping the neighbors balance their accounts and doing some small handicrafts is actually quite nice."
A profound, dark gleam flashed through Aizen's eyes.
'A ruler who does not seek power?'
'This is truly the most boring, yet most troublesome type.'
But the smile on his face grew even gentler. "Mr. Ubuyashiki's noble character is admirable... Since that is the case, I will not force the issue."
"However, if you ever change your minds in the future, please be sure to inform Sixth Seat Kocho. In the Fifth Division, my doors are always open to you."
After dinner concluded, Aizen left the courtyard, seen off by Shinobu Kocho.
Upon reaching the corner of the street, Aizen stopped and glanced back at the small house glowing faintly in the night.
"Sixth Seat Kocho, your family members are indeed the most special people I have ever met," Aizen's voice sounded somewhat ethereal in the night breeze.
"Yes, they are the treasures I want to protect the most," Shinobu Kocho sighed from the bottom of her heart.
"Protect..." Aizen repeated the word in a low voice before revealing that signature gentle smile of his once again. "Go on, go back and keep them company. The coming days might be busier than you imagine."
Shinobu Kocho did not think much of it; she merely assumed Captain Aizen was reminding her of the recent uproar—
The abnormal Spiritual Pressure occurrences appearing in various regions.
She bowed once more in farewell and turned to run back to that warm home.
It was not until Shinobu Kocho's figure completely disappeared...
...that Sosuke Aizen stood in the darkness, the gentleness on his face vanishing entirely.
Lost in unknown thoughts, he strolled all the way back, eventually arriving at the underground laboratory of the Fifth Division later that night.
Sitting at his desk, a blueprint covered in complex lines lay before him.
At the very center of the blueprint, alongside the name Nanajuhachi Asuka, was written 'Kagaya Ubuyashiki'.
He pulled out a Spiritual Pressure recorder from his robes. Beating on its display were the Spiritual Pressure data of Kagaya Ubuyashiki and Gyomei Himejima.
"Spoken words that can affect my Spiritual Pressure... Possessing a brief ability to peer into the future..."
Aizen pushed up his glasses, the eyes behind the lenses terrifyingly profound. "Could the fragments of the Soul King have even drifted into another world? That's impossible..."
"Or is it because crossing into another world caused a change at the level of their souls..."
"But they have never been attacked by Hollows... So why would they manifest abilities similar to Fullbring..."
He did not understand, but he was very happy.
The last time he was this happy was when he extracted the [Nail of the Soul King] from the current Tenth Division Vice Captain, Rangiku Matsumoto, and began his Hogyoku experiments.
"If they could be combined with the prototype Hogyoku..."
The corners of his mouth curled into an excited arc.
Meanwhile, in the small courtyard of the Ubuyashiki family.
Kagaya sat by the engawa, looking at the lone moon on the horizon.
Lady Amane walked over and draped a coat over his shoulders. "Kagaya, what do you think of that Captain Aizen?"
Kagaya remained silent for a long time before speaking softly, "He is polite, knowledgeable, and gentle... I can hardly find a single flaw in him."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"No... Amane..."
Kagaya frowned slightly, wiping a trace of blood from the corner of his eye. "My 'vision'... cannot see his future clearly..."
---------------
Want more chapters? 50+ extra chapters are available on my Patreon:
patreon.com/Hard_Worker