The Alchemist in Bleach

"Humph~"

Soon, Inoue let out a soft groan, slowly woke up, gently gasped for breath, and slowly struggled to his feet from the ground.

"That kid isn't dead yet, don't worry. You can only go save him later after you've stabilized your own injuries. Of course, you can go now if you want, I don't mind collecting your bodies later."

Inoue hesitated for a moment, but ultimately endured the pain and leaned against the wall to receive Nicholas's treatment.

"You are... Rukia's teacher?"

"Me? I'm not her teacher. I'm just a... well, a curious Arrancar, curious about your abilities."

"If you meet him again in the future, ask him if he's my teacher. If he really is, he definitely won't admit it, and he'll most likely say he's a curious Arrancar or Shinigami, or perhaps a Shinigami or Arrancar doing it out of curiosity, depending on how he appears. If he says that, then he's definitely my teacher! You can trust him."

Recalling Rukia's words, Inoue nodded slightly in his heart. Indeed, it was just as Rukia had said.

"I'm alright now. Could you go and save Kurosaki-kun first? He's in more danger."

"No, no, no, you're the one in danger. He was only pierced through the lock and the soul sleep. If it were an ordinary spirit, he would indeed be dying, but he is now the Grim Reaper. He has only lost the power of the Grim Reaper, he won't die. I can't heal this kind of injury, you'll have to do it yourself, hmm?"

As they were talking, Nicholas frowned, glanced in the direction of Urahara Store, and accelerated the treatment of Inoue, interrupting the improvement of her physical condition. He quickly healed her injuries.

Then, he handed Inoue a red card, smiling as he said, "Did you feel powerless just now? Did you hate yourself for only being a burden to Kurosaki Ichigo? If you want to gain power, smear your blood on this card, then burn it. I will reappear and grant you even greater power. Oh, and remember to keep it a secret this time, otherwise, it might not work. Think about it carefully; the process of gaining power will be very painful~"

As soon as he finished speaking, the shadow behind Nicholas lunged forward, baring its fangs and claws, and swallowed him whole!

Inoue stared blankly at the spot where Nicholas had disappeared, then looked at the red card that had fallen into his hand. He hesitated for a moment, then put it away. He staggered over to Ichigo, who was lying on the ground, and stretched out his hands.

"Double Heavenly Shield - I refuse!"

A thin golden film enveloped Ichigo, and under the power of Shunshou Rikka, Ichigo's injuries began to slowly heal.

However, Inoue had just returned from the brink of death, and because Nicholas's treatment was not perfect due to Urahara and the others being on their way, the treatment only lasted a few seconds before Inoue collapsed from exhaustion and fell onto Ichigo.

Fortunately, Ichigo's most serious injuries—the pierced chain and the Soul Sleep—have been healed.

Otherwise, if Ichigo were to awaken his Shinigami powers again after already having awakened them, the difficulty and risk would be extremely high!

This is why Nicholas saved Inoue first. Healing Ichigo's injuries would definitely reveal some of his unique methods, and it's not the right time for him to show himself yet.

Not long after Inoue collapsed, Urahara and Yoruichi arrived. Seeing the chaotic scene, they were about to say something when they frowned, exchanged a glance, and disappeared from the spot.

Along with them, Ichigo and Inoue, who were on the ground, also disappeared.

Just as the four of them left, a portal opened out of thin air, and more than a dozen Shinigami walked out. The captain in the lead walked to where Ichigo had fallen, squatted down, touched some blood, and smelled it.

"That's Death! Search!"

"Yes!" Upon receiving the reply, seven or eight people instantly disappeared from their original positions and conducted a thorough search of the surrounding area, using this location as the center.

"Captain Yugen, should we go ask over there?" At this moment, a Grim Reaper with a pompadour walked up to the captain, pointed in the direction of Urahara Store, and asked in a low voice.

Yu Gen glanced in the direction of Urahara's shop and shook his head. He knew what the pompadour-haired Shinigami was thinking. He suspected that the incident involving Rukia, the vice-captain of the 13th Division, was related to Urahara and his group, and that they might even have orchestrated it.

To be honest, he thinks so too, and it's highly likely.

But he didn't investigate in that direction. He was different from the man with the pompadour. The man with the pompadour was from a commoner background, eager to make a name for himself, and still very young, with some inexplicable fantasies about the world.

But he was different. He came from a noble family, and for him, all he had to do was slowly build up his seniority. Besides, was it so easy to earn credit?

What is the mission this time?

Investigate evidence that Rukia, the lieutenant of the 13th Division, secretly granted a human the power of a Shinigami!

This is a capital offense!

If you actually manage to gather all the evidence, who knows who might lose their head in the end!

It definitely wasn't the head of Tenshin Ichiro's disciple, the fifth division captain, or the sister of the head of the Kuchiki family, the sixth division captain, that fell off.

------------

Chapter 336 Execution of Rukia! The Beginning of Turmoil!

"Captain, nothing found."

"Captain, nothing found."

"Captain, I don't have any either."

Soon, many of the dispersed team members brought back bad news. Yu Xian sighed in disappointment and said, "Oh, I see. Let's call it a day then."

"Wait, Captain, shouldn't we search again? We've been given plenty of time; we should be able to find some clues." At this moment, the Grim Reaper with the pompadour hairstyle asked, looking puzzled.

Yu Xian looked helplessly at the Grim Reaper with the pompadour hairstyle. These days, it's rare to see such a simple-minded Grim Reaper. It's precisely because they're sure they can find clues that they need to call it a day.

"Do you know why I was able to become the patrol team leader, while you were just an ordinary member?" Yu Xian said with a sigh, patting the Grim Reaper with his pompadour hairstyle on the shoulder.

"Isn't it because you're a nobleman?"

"Um...that's only a small part of the reason. More importantly, I'm pragmatic."

"I don't understand... Is it wrong to do things seriously?"

"Yes, and no, you know what, Pompadour? This world has gone awry. Hard work always pays off? That's for people with connections, or of course, exceptional talent. But if you don't have any of that, well... just be a good dog. Back to the party!"

After saying that, Yu Xian took the lead and walked into the interdimensional portal. For some reason, looking at Yu Xian's back, the guy with the pompadour felt a sense of loneliness...

Suddenly, the man with the pompadour hairstyle realized what he was doing and shouted as he followed, "I told you! My name isn't Pompadour!"

"Understood, Airplane Head."

"Damn it! I'm going to get a new hairstyle when I get back!"

"No! This is where your soul resides! That's your true form!"

"roll!"

……

Soon, the group passed through the interdimensional gate and returned to the Seireitei. The moment they stepped out of the gate, the previously noisy procession instantly became silent and orderly, as if everyone had mastered the art of changing faces.

After exiting the interdimensional gate, Yu Xian first told everyone to wait, and then walked towards the outpost waiting near the interdimensional gate. This situation was rather special. Normally, the information they collected should be directly reported to the Eighth Division for summary and verification.

But the situation is different now, involving too many forces, so a special group of people has been assigned to handle this matter. The data collection point is set up next to the interdimensional gate to ensure the authenticity of the intelligence.

"What's wrong? Why are you looking so gloomy? Did the other teams make some progress?" Seeing his friend Yamada Isshin's somber expression, Yugen walked up and handed him an intelligence notebook filled with nothing.

"Your thing is useless... Hmm? How come there's nothing here?" Yamada Isshin looked at Yugen in surprise.

"Since nothing was found, then there's nothing at all, right?"

"You've messed up again~" Yamada shook his head. As a friend of many years, he knew Yu Xuan's style all too well. He didn't seek merit, but only to avoid mistakes. Anyway, with the family behind him, as long as he didn't make any mistakes, he could slowly get promoted.

only……

"Forget it, it's not important now anyway, it doesn't matter. But things won't be that simple from now on, you can't keep doing this." Yamada put the intelligence book aside and looked at Yugen seriously.

"What happened?" Yu Xian frowned, looking at the somewhat panicked crowd around him. He had a bad feeling.

"Just now, Sixth Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki and Sixth Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai brought back the unconscious Rukia. The reason Rukia hadn't returned was because she was attacked by a Hollow, and even Lieutenant Abarai was injured."

"Isn't it good that you brought it back?" Yu Xian asked, somewhat puzzled.

"It was supposed to be perfect, it was supposed to be like this, but!"

"but?"

"However! Not long after, someone from the 12th Division bypassed Captain Hikifune and directly provided the Central 46 with footage of Lieutenant Rukia secretly transferring Shinigami powers to a human. Currently, Lieutenant Rukia of the 13th Division has been sentenced to death!"

Yu Xian stared at Yamada Isshin in astonishment, asking incredulously, "It's already been decided? Are those old... those sages above really that efficient? And, images can be faked, so they just made a decision without even checking it?!"

Given the style of the Central 46, shouldn't they have discussed it for ten or twenty days first? Why so quickly this time? And what's with the 12th Division bypassing Captain Hikifune and reporting directly to the Central 46?

This is too much like a fight!

It can be said that Rukia acted as a fuse, igniting both the Thirteenth Division and the Kuchiki family, the head of the Four Great Noble Families!

"It was used as evidence without any inspection and was even sealed off, so no one can see it! Captain Kuchiki requested inspection multiple times after the verdict was handed down, but his requests were rejected each time, whether he was the captain of the Sixth Division or... the head of the Kuchiki family!"

"The weather is about to change..." Yu Xian murmured blankly.

"Hmm, think it over carefully, which side to choose. It's time to decide life or death again~ Sigh~" Yamada Isshin sighed, his expression somewhat heavy.

Yu Xian nodded silently.

These minor nobles appear glamorous on the surface, and in reality they are indeed glamorous, but they also have their own troubles.

For example, right now, the ideal situation is to remain neutral, not seeking to please both sides, but only seeking self-preservation. Whoever wins, I will acknowledge them as the leader and listen to them.

But is that even possible?

Who knows if you want to remain neutral or try to profit from the situation?

Not taking sides means certain death.

Just like the Uk family a few years ago, they tried to remain neutral, hoping to profit from both sides, and ended up profiting from both, eventually splitting up and forming a new family...

Yu Gen sighed, bid farewell to Yamada Isshin, and then walked towards the group.

"Go back to the team and wait for orders. Don't come out unless necessary." After saying that, Yu Xian turned around and silently walked home.

"Captain, what happened? Is there anything we can do to help?" The man with the pompadour noticed Yu Xian's unusual expression and quickly asked.

Yu Xian paused, turned slightly, and smiled: "Go back to the team and wait. This is a matter for the nobles, and you don't need to get involved."

Seeing the forced smile on Yu Xian's face, the man with the pompadour opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. He simply watched his senior's somewhat forlorn back. At that moment, he suddenly understood why his senior had shown such a weary expression back then.

Perhaps, in the aristocratic society of Seireitei, not all nobles live such a good life...

......

The Pareto principle applies to most situations, including the Seireitei. Twenty percent of the nobles control eighty percent of the wealth in the Seireitei. Similarly, twenty percent of the great nobles control eighty percent of the wealth of the nobles, and this percentage may even be lower!

Therefore, Yugen's situation is frequently playing out throughout the entire Seireitei; this is just a microcosm of it.

Meanwhile, in the Worm Nest, in the cell where Higashisen Kaname was imprisoned, a guest arrived...

"Why are you here? Aren't you afraid of being discovered?" Tosen raised his head, his lifeless eyes "looking" at the newcomer.

"Strange, weren't your eyes cured? How did they go blind again? Did you regain your sight?"

"Yes, I want to regain my sight, but is there any light in this world?"

"Heh~" The newcomer chuckled softly, a few figures flashing through his mind, and said softly, "There should be some, though not many."

"Really? That's a shame. Looks like I'm just unlucky." Tosen Kaname chuckled self-deprecatingly, then asked, "Then, why are you looking for me? Aren't I your discarded pawn?"