Exposure  

Seeing everyone looking towards him, "Kirigaya Kazuto", or rather, "Kirito" scratched his head: "What's wrong? Is there something strange about me going?"

"No, that's not right. Lord Ailin said only captain-level Zanpakutō can participate, but you're a Zanpakutō at the middle of the hill, right? Wait until five captain-level Zanpakutō are selected before you come out."

The one who spoke was a lieutenant-level Zanpakutō, whose position was below the middle of the hill. Well, as for why he was so familiar with Kirito, that was because of the few beautiful Zanpakutō near Kirito, practically clinging to him.

"Uh, well, I barely qualify as a captain-level Zanpakutō too. I can release the Zanpakutō in my hand. Although, in my memory it's called 'memory release'..."

Seeing Kirito like this, the lieutenant-level Zanpakutō's expression twisted.

"Heh, you really are doomed..."

Ailin nodded at Kirito: "All right, I'll count you in. That makes three now."

Kirito was passable. After all, Ailin didn't use him often, so letting Kirito go out and get some air was fine. Lest this guy spend all day flirting with the other few Zanpakutō, corrupting the atmosphere of the Unlimited Blade Works.

Ailin was thinking if he should separate weapons like Blinking Light, Qiongweis, Bina, and Sorin's Hammer.

Speaking of which, would the memories of the weapon owners also affect the preferences of the weapons themselves?

However, Ailin remembered that when the Golden Osmanthus Sword was still around, Kirito had been planted at the top of Sword Hill along with it.

Unexpectedly, after Alice volunteered to protect Haruko, Kirito had run down to the middle of Sword Hill.

Sure enough, men, no, male swords were all pigs. The Golden Osmanthus Sword had been gone for so many years, yet Yozora (Night Sky) had already hooked up with several weapons from his memory.

"If there's a fight, then count me in too."

An armored man stepped forward, accompanied by a fourteen or fifteen-year-old black-haired girl holding a lollipop.

"I'll join in too, since my abilities aren't needed by Lord Ailin anyway."

"Oh? Setsuna Takemaru, and also the March of the Dead: Yatsufusa?"

"All right, that makes five of you."

Roger and Shanks were the strongest of the five, with power that Ailin estimated was about equal to Zaraki's current level.

Kirito was weaker, but could still keep Kensei occupied.

Even if Kirito went all out, summoning Blue Rose, with his dual-wielding style, Kensei would be in trouble.

It was just a pity that Ailin's current understanding of "water" and "ice" wasn't strong enough. If he created Blue Rose now, it would greatly diminish Blue Rose's power and potential, making it not worthwhile.

However, recalling Kirito's famous lines "When I pull out my second sword, no one can stand before me" or "When I pull out my second sword, the entire world will tremble," Ailin extended his right hand.

"Projection, begin—"

A pale blue longsword was created on the spot by Ailin. This was another weapon used by Kirito's—Dark Repulser.

It was forged from the excrement of an ice dragon after devouring a crystal, possessing a certain degree of ice power.

"Kirito, take this sword with you too. Consider it added protection."

"Thank you, Lord Ailin."

Kirito happily accepted Dark Repulser. With two swords in hand, his power had at least quintupled. After all, many powerful techniques required "dual-wielding" as a prerequisite skill.

"Also—"

Glancing at Setsuna Takemaru and Kurome, Ailin said, "Setsuna Takemaru, Kurome, your abilities allow you to control beings you've killed. In that case, I'll arrange for you to go to Hueco Mundo for a while.

Roger, Shanks, and Kirito, you three will assist Setsuna Takemaru and Kurome in hunting powerful Hollows in Hueco Mundo to increase their power.

Setsuna Takemaru, in these next few days, you must be able to control one thousand Hollows... Kurome, with their assistance, I hope you can control at least eight puppets, all at the Adjuchas level or above. Understood?"

Unlike Setsuna Takemaru, who had no limits on the deceased he could control as long as he killed them, the puppets Setsuna Takemaru controlled would lose most of their power from when they were alive. Kurome was different. She could only control eight corpses.

However, the corpses Kurome controlled could retain over ninety percent of their power from when they were alive.

Both controlled puppets, but Setsuna Takemaru focused on quantity while Kurome focused on quality.

One used a human wave tactic, the other an elite tactic. It was hard to say which was stronger.

Since being created by Ailin, neither had much opportunity to kill, so Setsuna Takemaru and Kurome currently had no puppets.

"As you command, Lord Ailin."

"With Setsuna Takemaru and Kurome, we won't need any lieutenant or lower-level Zanpakutō. Prepare yourselves. I'll send you to Hueco Mundo tonight. This is the transfer route for the King's Seal this time. Memorize it, and when you're ready, find a spot to ambush and seize it."

"Yes, Lord Ailin."

That night, Ailin secretly slipped out of the Kuchiki Manor and went to Kisuke Urahara's underground base, borrowing his Senkaimon to send Roger, Shanks, Kirito, Setsuna Takemaru, and Kurome to Hueco Mundo...

As for whether Urahara knew Ailin had used it, who cared? He wasn't caught in the act, so he could just deny it.

Ah, Ailin really missed the old Urahara who wouldn't refuse him...

***

On this day, Ailin was playing tennis with Haruko in the courtyard.

"Haha, Haruko, watch my bear smash!"

Ailin returned Haruko's lob, but in the next moment, Haruko gripped her racket with both hands and came to the net to intercept.

"Watch my Haruko killer smash!"

Bang!

This powerful smash sent the ball rapidly falling and flying out of bounds.

"Ailin Realm!"

But before the ball could fly out of the court, it was pulled back by Ailin's spinning force, allowing him to easily return it.

Ever since being thoroughly humiliated by Haruko for over a decade in the game of chess, Ailin decided to quit his chess addiction with Haruko.

Thus, a sport that had once been popular entered Ailin's mind - Tennis!

To accommodate Haruko, Ailin and Haruko agreed that during their matches, he would not exceed Haruko's speed or strength. It was a pure competition of skill between them.

Learning from his experience with chess, Ailin initially just played basic tennis matches with Haruko.

Later, things like topspin serves, triple counters, trick shots, zero shiki drop shots, and the realm shot were all brought out by Ailin.

Well, to a certain extent, the rackets of those students in The Prince of Tennis could be considered a kind of weapon.

Although the power level of that world was low, those advanced tennis skills could be considered formidable abilities in the Soul Society world.

Especially the State of Self-Actualization and State of Transcendent Existence - even Ailin gained insights from them.

A Hell Butterfly flew leisurely into the courtyard, noticed by Ailin. As Haruko returned the ball, he took a stance, then forcefully chopped down at the ball with his racket—

"Zero Shiki Drop Shot!"

Seeing Ailin's stance, Haruko hurried to the net, trying to return the ball before it hit the ground, but it was too late.

Whirr whirr whirr...

Instead of bouncing up, the ball spun a few times on the ground before rolling inward.

"6-2, I win, Haruko."

After smiling and raising his eyebrows at Haruko, Ailin extended his hand, allowing the Hell Butterfly to land on his index finger and read its message.

"Oh? It's finally starting?"

***

After bidding farewell to Haruko, Ailin met up with Kensei Muguruma of the 9th Division, and the two led a group of Shinigami from the 9th Division, secretly leaving Seireitei.

Following the Hell Butterfly's guidance, they caught up with the nobles' escort procession at the place where the "King's Seal" had been hidden for the past hundred years.

These nobles really had a way of deceiving people.

The "King's Seal" was merely a token imbued with the Soul King's power, able to control spatial forces within a certain range. But with the title of a divine artifact held by the "Royal Family", these nobles treated relocating the "King's Seal" with great solemnity and complexity.

They even thoughtfully prepared a luxurious palanquin for the "King's Seal", carried by sixteen attendants towards its next hiding place.

With such an extravagant procession, it seemed the palanquin didn't contain the "King's Seal", but an actual member of the "Royal Family".

This exaggerated travel method was completely at odds with the Head-Captain's request for a "secret transfer".

It was as if the Head-Captain just wanted the King's Seal safely delivered to its next hiding place to maintain the stability of Soul Society's spatial realm.

But these nobles wanted to use this opportunity to promote the "Royal Family" and show off their rights and status.

At this current pace and fanfare, it was a wonder the King's Seal hadn't been robbed once in thousands of years. This was probably why these nobles were so lax.

"Captain Muguruma, as the senior officer with more experience, what do you think we should do for this escort mission?"

Kensei Muguruma was also escorting the "King's Seal" for the first time and was speechless at the nobles' procession. But since it was a mission, they just had to complete it!

"How about this - the 9th Division members will spread out around the procession to guard the King's Seal. I'll take the lead to scout for and eliminate ordinary dangers, while Captain Ailin anchors the rear. How's that?"

"Sounds good."

***

"Ah~" Kurome yawned and stretched lazily as she sat up. "Setsuna Takemaru, how much longer until Lord Ailin and the others pass through here?"

"Based on the information sent back by the puppets I've hidden along the King's Seal transfer route, they should reach here in about ten days."

"Ten days?" Kurome was surprised. "Does it really take that long? I remember Lord Ailin showed us the route for transferring the King's Seal, and it's only three hundred ri (spirit miles.) If we ambush in the first half of the route, fifty ri ahead, they should be able to reach us in less than a day, right? Are they going in circles or something to take ten days?"

The puppets controlled by Setsuna Takemaru couldn't speak or communicate with others.

In the first half of the route, Setsuna Takemaru had placed two puppets every ri. Once the King's Seal escort passed by, the puppets would self-destruct, allowing Setsuna Takemaru to sense where the escort had reached.

But the effect of these self-destructing puppets left Setsuna Takemaru speechless.

They were Shinigami, yet their traveling speed was slower than an old woman in the living world?

"Hahaha, little girl, as pirates, we need to be a bit patient while waiting for our prey." Roger stood on a nearby rock, comforting Kurome.

"I'm not some pirate."

"But what we're doing now is what pirates do." Roger's words left Kurome speechless.

"By the way, Captain, how should we arrange things on our side when the time comes?" Shanks rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, his face rarely showing such strong fighting spirit.

"I'll say this first - I want one of the spots attacking Lord Ailin!"

Although it was just an act, everyone was taking it seriously. After all, Ailin's strength was there for all to see. If they weren't serious, it would be easy to expose the ruse.

Of the five, one needed to engage the other captain, one had to defeat the guards and seize the King's Seal, while the remaining three would stall Ailin.

"As captain of the Roger Pirates, the strongest enemy should naturally be dealt with by me."

"Sigh..." Kurome let out a sigh. "Then I'll take the third spot."

"Kirito will block the other captain, while Setsuna Takemaru's ability is perfect for seizing the King's Seal."

"I'm good on my end." Kirito nodded. With two swords in hand, Kirito also wanted to test Ailin. But after glancing at the eight Adjuchas around him, Kirito obediently listened to Kurome's arrangement.

As for Setsuna Takemaru?

Sorry, the weak had no right to speak.

***

"Hm?"

As the vanguard of the procession, although the King's Seal escort moved slowly, Kensei Muguruma's scouting range wouldn't decrease due to the procession's pace.

Thus, Roger's group, whom Setsuna Takemaru had predicted wouldn't encounter the escort for ten days, was discovered by Kensei on the third day.

"Who are you people? What are you trying to do by blocking the path here?"

"Hey, Setsuna Takemaru, didn't you say it would take the procession ten days to get here? Why are we already being found on the third day by this guy?"

Based on Setsuna Takemaru's reconnaissance, Roger's group had let their guard down these past few days. With no cover around, the five were completely exposed in front of Kensei.

"How should I know? The procession is still over thirty ri away from us. Who knew this guy's patrol range was so wide?"