You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

"call!"

Qian Zixianghe took a deep breath. After hearing these words, he felt indescribably bad. All the grievances he had suffered over the years seemed to be contained in this one sentence...

It wasn't that no one understood him, but Yinling only told him to be patient and cautious, saying that as long as he persisted, he would eventually gain the approval of Team Thirteen.

But Xianghe believes—

"True strength lies in proving oneself through power, not in gaining the approval of others by compromising one's principles!"

In my Third Division, the only promotion system is based on merit and reward for achievement.

—Yes! Yes! That's it!

What Iori said was exactly what he was thinking deep down!

With gritted teeth, Hibiki struggled to remain calm, his entire body tense as he solemnly declared, "I understand, Captain Aizen!"

"Then I'll look forward to your performance, Hibiki-kun."

Iori smiled slightly: "Of course, there's also your wedding banquet. Don't forget to invite me."

"Uh...hehe..."

Xianghe blinked, scratched his head awkwardly, and smiled, instantly dispelling the bitter and resentful atmosphere.

When he looked up again, he felt that Iori was exceptionally kind to him, and there was no longer any sense of distance between them.

He had known Iori for a long time, but they had never had such a private conversation before. Only now did he finally understand why people who were close to Iori had such a surprisingly consistent opinion of her!

Without any deliberate boasting or exaggeration, this person may not be adept at social maneuvering or give off a warm and welcoming feeling, but there is a sense of instant familiarity, as if the other person has already understood one's heart, as if they have known each other for many years.

"There's nothing much to do today, but you'd better go and report to Deputy Captain Fengqiao. Even though you won't be under his command anymore, you still need to go through the proper procedures."

"In that case, I shall take my leave now, Captain Aizen."

……

After Senko Hibiki walked out the door, Iori picked up her teacup, took a sip, and calmly asked, "Are you very interested in him?"

"No, I'm just curious why you're so interested in him."

There was a third person in the room, which Qianzi Xianghe had not noticed at all!

Yuhime wasn't even hiding anywhere; she was just drinking tea and watching the show from the sidelines, completely unaware of what was happening...

"Qianzi Xianghe... the only thing that could trouble you is that demon sword, right?"

Yuuki dismissed the idea, saying, "It's just verbal manipulation; it's not a particularly sophisticated method. With your abilities, you could do anything without even using a demon sword."

“Muramasa? I am indeed very interested, but for other reasons.”

Iori was very casual in front of Yuuki, immediately spreading her hands and looking innocent.

"And don't make me sound like I'm plotting something. Go ask around, everyone in the Seireitei knows I, Aizen Iori, am a 'good guy'~"

Chapter 414 Captain Saito is like a withered tree sprouting new life.

The Hueco Mundo campaign, a plan previously shelved due to the Seireitei's severe weakening, has finally been put back on the agenda. In truth, even without Iori's efforts, this matter would have been resolved sooner or later.

Putting aside how many secrets Tokida possessed about Soul Society and how much harm he would bring to the three worlds, from an emotional standpoint alone, the Gotei 13 loathed him to the extreme.

Initially, the Seireitei chose to remain inactive due to concerns about insufficient combat power, and the special Hollow released by Tokinada was truly terrifying. But now that the Seireitei has recovered, it will no longer ignore this menace!

In terms of organization, Iori recruited a group of heroes from Rukongai and rebuilt the 10th Division. As for high-end combat power, both Soujun and Yoruichi successfully advanced to the captain level.

Hirako Mako and Aikawa Rao have also made a name for themselves. Although Iori hasn't had much contact with them, he often hears their names.

Kiryu Hikifune of the 12th Division has a high opinion of Shinji Hirako, while Rabu Aikawa is a veteran seat officer of the 7th Division.

During the battle against the Quincy, the original captain of the 7th Division was killed in action, and Saito, who is immortal, took over. Later, after the explosion at the 10th Division's base, Saito led his team to the scene immediately, and Aikawa Raobu was also in the team at the time.

Surviving a series of major events is a skill in itself, and he has indeed accumulated his strength and made a breakthrough, surpassing the threshold of Bankai before Kensei, Heiji Shinji, and others.

By the way, whether it's innate or a hobby, this person sports an afro, making him a formidable rival to Kaname Tosen (who has a reggae hairstyle).

With the addition of the unassuming Rojuro Hōhashi and the uniquely capable Kyouga, the Thirteenth Division now has even more high-end combat power than before!

In addition, there are young masters such as Kensei, Tosen, Komamura, and Amagai. As top executives who have already begun to train in Bankai, it would not be surprising if they broke through at any time.

(There's even a low-key Aizen Sousuke.)

They were incredibly well-equipped and powerful!

As the saying goes, times create heroes. The emergence of so many masters at this momentous occasion must have some underlying reasons.

Iori is the trendsetter of this era, the most dazzling of the new generation of Shinigami. In fact, many of these newly emerging masters were trained by Iori.

Japanese tradition is to divide people into factions in the workplace, based on family background, lineage, seniority, superiors, etc. From small businesses to large political parties, forming cliques and factions is the norm.

People who enjoy watching anime will notice that many modern-themed anime feature secret societies such as "XX Society," "XX Faction," and "XX Group," which actually have real-life counterparts... and they are quite common.

Compared to the long lifespan of a Shinigami, Iori's rise to power was relatively short, but in a short time he built a solid and powerful network of connections and gained great prestige within the Thirteen Divisions. This reputation was not limited to the Third Division.

Objectively speaking, there is indeed an "Aizen faction" centered around Iori, based on the Expeditionary Force and the Third Division. Amagai, Tosen, and others go without saying, and even Kuchiki Sojun is clearly a follower of his.

The key point is that, regardless of who you look at it, Aizen Iori did not deliberately cultivate his own power base, or recruit talent or build up his own cronies.

If you look at his resume and past achievements one by one, you will find that he has always been fair and impartial in promoting talents. Some of them may not have been qualified, but they have all turned out to be rare talents.

Overall, it's all about being completely aboveboard and aboveboard, it's simply outrageous!

As a Shinigami who protects the Seireitei, he was simply doing his duty, yet so many people naturally gathered around him... This is not something that can be achieved simply by being good at interpersonal relationships.

Even those who harbor ill will towards him have to admit that Aizen Iori possesses an extraordinary personal charisma, like that of an ancient hero!

However, as the core of the "Aizen faction," Iori himself has no ambitions and has always been devoted to public service, so he does not pose a threat to the higher-ups.

However, upon closer reflection, even within the aristocratic class, Iori has connections, and even within the [46 Chambers], there is no shortage of people speaking up for him... The so-called "higher-ups" are merely a nominal concept to him, and in reality, he doesn't need to care at all.

—The above is only the information that Iori has revealed on the surface.

They would never guess that the "Aizen faction" is actually a multinational corporation, with its parent company located in Hueco Mundo!

……

"If there are no objections, then let's make a decision on this matter."

At the captains' meeting, Yamamoto slammed his cane on the floor and said in a deep voice, "Iori Aizen, captain of the Third Division, effective immediately, you are hereby appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Hueco Mundo campaign, concurrently in charge of the expeditionary force, and also have the authority to draw personnel and troops from the Gotei 13. You may act as you see fit."

"Yes, I will certainly live up to your expectations!"

Iori readily accepted the position of Commander-in-Chief, and none of the captains objected. Everyone's faces showed that it was only natural, even Kyoraku Shunsui, who was secretly pleased—if it weren't for Iori, this job would probably have fallen to him.

After the meeting, the team leaders naturally went home, but those who were close to Iori went together, planning to find a place to have a good drink.

Saito Immortal, Kuchiki Sojun, Kyoraku Shunsui, Shihouin Yoruichi, Ukitake Jushiro, along with their respective vice-captains, plus Yuuki who came to pick up her younger brother... Why does it feel like the meeting hasn't ended yet?

Actually, if Kenpachi hadn't been dragged by the little girl to steal persimmons from the Kuchiki family, the team could have been even larger.

Of course, they each had their own reasons:

Cang Chun wanted to go on the expedition with the army. His 10th Division was also composed of elite troops drawn from the expeditionary force, and they were suitable for this operation in terms of both experience and strength.

Yoruichi came to recommend talent; she herself had just taken up her post in the Second Division and was burdened with various affairs and family conflicts, so she couldn't leave easily. Even if the Shihouin family were to send someone, it would most likely be the former head of the family, Shihouin Hyakuhiru.

Instead, she recommended her childhood friend, Kisuke Urahara, who, although not famous, was very capable, hoping he could help Iori.

"He's a very smart guy, I think his technical skills are no worse than those of the 12th Division. Although he's a lazy guy, he's quite reliable when it comes to serious matters."

"No need for that, thank you for your kindness."

Iori shook her head and explained, "Regarding the technical aspects, I already have a suitable candidate, but that person has an eccentric personality and doesn't like to cooperate with others."

"You mean..."

"You know each other too."

Iori uttered a name that surprised everyone: "Mayuri Kurotsuchi."

"...Tsk!"

Yoruichi, being straightforward, immediately retorted, "Why would you use that kind of thing?"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi is currently imprisoned in the "Nest of Maggots," which falls under Yoruichi's jurisdiction. In fact, Kisuke Urahara is in charge of this area. To release Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Shihouin's consent is required.

"Make the best use of everything."

Iori smiled and said, "Although he has many problems, his brain is truly one in a thousand years in Soul Society. It would be a shame to just abandon it."

"It will probably cause you trouble."

Ukitake also offered his advice.

"Mayuri Kurotsuchi is not a repentant person, or rather, he probably doesn't think he did anything wrong."

Iori shook his head and said, "I never intended to reform him; this is just a special case. Tsunayoshi Tokinada is an unpredictable opponent, and we need some unpredictable characters on our side."

Upon hearing this, everyone, including Yoruichi, seemed to be deep in thought.

What Iori said makes sense. Tokina is indeed a formidable opponent, but no matter how much he plans, he can't possibly take Mayuri Kurotsuchi into account—no one can predict Mayuri Kurotsuchi's actions!

Furthermore, Mayuri Kurotsuchi is, in a sense, well-known, and no one would question his abilities. Besides… Tokinada clearly conducted some unethical experiments; perhaps if the even more unethical Mayuri Kurotsuchi were to encounter them, some strange chemical reaction would occur.

"Hmm... Urahara is very smart, but I can't say for sure that he can beat Mayuri Kurotsuchi. As for his abilities, there's not much to say."

Yoruichi pouted.

She believed that Kisuke Urahara was no less capable than Mayuri Kurotsuchi, but after all, he hadn't yet achieved much, and Urahara himself only admired Mayuri—specifically, his intellect. Iori's choice to have Mayuri accompany her to the army was indeed impeccable.

"Please thank Urahara-kun for me, but there will still be opportunities to work together in the future."

Iori smiled kindly.

But their inner thoughts were completely different:

He hadn't initially planned to bring Mayuri Kurotsuchi; he only made up an excuse at the last minute to refuse Yoruichi.

Bringing Kisuke Urahara to Hueco Mundo? Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?

That seemingly useless guy is more perceptive than anyone else, and perhaps even too clever for his own good; he might just figure something out. After all, Iori doesn't have [Kyoka Suigetsu], so Hueco Mundo's layout is far from perfect.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi is indeed very clever, but Iori isn't trying to destroy Soul Society. So what if he notices something?

The balance of souls and the coexistence of the three realms are in the common interest of all living beings, and this is all that Mayuri Kurotsuchi cares about (which shows how low his bottom line is).

Unless there is a fundamental conflict, Mayuri Kurotsuchi will not care what ambitions Iori may have, nor will he bother to uphold justice.

The key point is that even if things get out of control, Iori could just kill Mayuri Kurotsuchi... without having to explain it to anyone!

From Yamamoto down to the ordinary soldiers, everyone would believe the reason that "Captain Aizen discovered evidence of Mayuri Kurotsuchi's heinous crimes and, heartbroken, executed him."

It might sound a bit unethical, but the condition for Iori to cooperate with Mayuri Kurotsuchi is that he can remove this unstable factor at any time.

On the contrary, it is the seemingly normal Kisuke Urahara who is the one Iori cannot control.

Urahara and Mayuri Kurotsuchi share similarities at their core; neither of them can be won over with "charm," and both are absolutely rational at all times, never changing their principles due to external influences—the difference lies in what they adhere to and believe in.

"I trust Iori's judgment. If Mayuri Kurotsuchi doesn't want to be thrown back into the [Morcelain Nest], he must perform well in this war."

If there are any problems, I can just kill him without Iori even lifting a finger~

Saito, who was immortal, eagerly drank a cup of shochu, a look of satisfaction on his face, while the others stared at him.

"Is Captain Saito also going to Hueco Mundo?"

Ukitake took the bottle and poured her a second glass; he still held this senior figure in high esteem.

"Your body is not yet..."

"It's all right now."

Saito gave Ukitake a hard slap on the shoulder without any politeness. "Much stronger than you, Ukitake kid!"

"No~"

Ukitake gave a wry smile. "Since you put it that way... what about Captain Aizen?"

"No problem at all."

Iori glanced at Saito, paused, and then smiled, "With her by my side, I feel much more at ease."

Upon hearing this, Saito paused for a moment, then boldly downed his second glass. The glass landed on the table with a thud. Although he had a smile on his face, a complex mix of loneliness and relief flashed across his single eye.

……

Except for Ukitake, who substituted tea for alcohol, everyone drank to their heart's content. The party gradually ended when Kyoraku was dragged back by Yagami Maru Lisa. The waiters tidied up the room, leaving only Iori and a drunken Saito behind.