Chapter 45: The Wicked Ichimaru Gin
Having finally dealt with the major threat of Death Omen, Su Xiao felt noticeably more relaxed in front of the plasma net.
Bubu Wang began to withdraw the [Negative Ion Plasma Superconducting Device]. Although this was a consumable, it wasn't a single-use item. As long as the 'negative ion plasma fluid' inside the metal rods wasn't depleted, it could be reused. Bubu Wang treasured this item dearly, calling it, in his own words, a symbol of friendship.
Death Omen's erratic behavior had clearly angered Bubu Wang, prompting him to pull out this trapping trump card. Bubu Wang's little treasury was not to be underestimated. Su Xiao often gave Bubu Wang 'allowance,' though this so-called 'allowance' was already a considerable fortune for some contractors. Bubu Wang had little need to spend Paradise Coins, so over time, he had saved up a substantial amount.
The money-grubbing cat Beini was very envious of this. She often used the pretext of financial management to 'borrow loans' from Bubu Wang. Most of the time, Beini ended up losing money, doubting her very existence as a cat. When Bubu Wang came to collect the debt, Beini would pretend not to hear him. This was also the main reason for the 'duels' between the cat and the dog.
The plasma net was soon withdrawn. Both Death Omen and Sayanod had turned to ashes. Not to mention anything else, Sayanod, the 'old grandpa,' had high hopes for Death Omen. After Death Omen's defeat, he didn't pledge allegiance to Su Xiao but instead intended to make Su Xiao accompany Death Omen in death.
Su Xiao, of course, didn't accompany Death Omen in death, but the 'century egg' that she and Sayanod had created was shattered by the energy impact.
After the century egg creature died, the strange fluctuations also disappeared, which made Su Xiao feel much more at ease. For some reason, just sensing that eerie aura gave him a feeling of palpitations.
This was what it was like to clean up violators. These guys were different from ordinary contractors. Who knew what strange abilities they had? For example, Death Omen could even slightly interfere with the flow of time.
Among the violators Su Xiao had cleaned up, some had dual Reincarnation Paradise marks, some could teleport all over the world, some could summon tens of thousands of powerful creatures, and some were even a fusion of violator + worker + void creature.
There was no strangest, only stranger. Death Omen's abilities were also very peculiar. She was both a melee fighter and a ranged attacker, and perhaps even had mage abilities. It was just that, because of Su Xiao's identity as a Law Destroyer, she didn't dare to use her mage abilities to court death.
The commotion from Su Xiao's battle with Death Omen had already attracted many civilians from the Rukongai. They were watching from a distance, and some might have already gone to notify the Seireitei.
As a wanted criminal of the Seireitei, Su Xiao naturally couldn't stay here for long. Moreover, Aizen's plan was coming to an end today. After dealing with Death Omen, he prepared to participate in this matter.
...
Early 9 AM, Seireitei, on the suspension bridge of the Repentance Prison.
Several Shinigami, wearing gray clothes and identical cloth hoods, walked on the suspension bridge. Except for their two eyes, they wrapped their bodies tightly.
The identity of a Repentance Prison guard was inevitably hated, hence such a peculiar outfit. At this moment, these few Repentance Prison guards were escorting a young girl.
The girl wore a white plain dress, with a red leather collar around her neck. This thing completely sealed her spiritual pressure, turning her into almost an ordinary soul, completely powerless.
The girl with her hands bound was Rukia Kuchiki. Today was her execution day. She would be escorted from the Repentance Prison to the Sōkyoku to be executed.
After learning of her death sentence, Rukia Kuchiki was afraid for a time. But in the following days, she gradually came to terms with it and was mentally prepared for today's execution.
Rukia Kuchiki slowed her pace and looked up at the sky. It seemed she had nothing left to hold onto. Continuing to live would only implicate those who wanted to save her.
Thinking of this, Rukia Kuchiki smiled. But just as she was about to walk towards death with composure, a smiling man walked towards her. Seeing this man, Rukia Kuchiki's thoughts were interrupted.
"Good morning, Rukia."
The smiling Ichimaru Gin walked towards her.
"Ichimaru... Gin."
Rukia instinctively wanted to step back two paces, but she suddenly thought, she was about to be executed, why should she fear this 'poisonous snake'? She had even come to terms with life and death, yet she was still afraid of a 'snake'? How absurd.
Thinking of this, Rukia's expression became much calmer.
"Miss Rukia, you're still so rude. Don't call me Gin. Address me as Captain Ichimaru. If you do that again, I'll tell your brother."
Ichimaru Gin was here to ensure that Rukia was sent to the Sōkyoku, to prevent her from being kidnapped by those Ryoka. But Rukia's attitude before amused him, so he prepared to tease her a bit.
"My apologies, Captain Ichimaru."
Rukia actually didn't want to bother with Ichimaru Gin, but he was blocking the way. The few Repentance Prison guards behind her, who were usually overbearing, had now become cowards, not daring to say a word.
"Hahaha, just kidding, don't take it seriously. I won't tattle. Don't mind what I said before. You and I are so familiar."
Ichimaru Gin's attitude changed, pulling a 'suddenly becoming an old friend' trick. In a civilian house a few kilometers away, Su Xiao pressed the earpiece on his ear.
"Gin, Aizen told you to stop teasing Rukia Kuchiki. Confirm her authenticity and let her pass."
At this moment, Su Xiao, Ichimaru Gin, Aizen, and Tōsen Kaname were in contact. As for the method of contact, it was naturally provided by Su Xiao. With his identity as a researcher, bringing out some high-tech gadgets wouldn't arouse Aizen's suspicion. Or rather, as long as it was beneficial to the plan, Aizen didn't care about the source of this communication device.
On the suspension bridge in front of the Repentance Prison, Ichimaru Gin reached up and pressed his ear. He couldn't reply to Su Xiao right now.
"Why would Captain Ichimaru come to a place like this?"
Rukia Kuchiki squinted her eyes. She felt that Ichimaru Gin had ill intentions.
"Well, I happened to be taking a walk nearby, so I thought I'd come and tease you."
Ichimaru Gin was answering both Rukia Kuchiki and Su Xiao, roughly meaning that he found Rukia Kuchiki very interesting and planned to continue teasing this girl.
"You depraved bastard. Suit yourself."
Su Xiao stopped paying attention to Ichimaru Gin and casually lit a cigarette.
On the suspension bridge.
"What's wrong? Suddenly so quiet."
Ichimaru Gin still had that smiling, punchable expression.
"Nothing."
"Speaking of which, those people trying to save you aren't dead yet. But... they will all die, soon."
Hearing this, Rukia Kuchiki's expression turned displeased.
"How pitiful. To save you, all your friends will lose their lives."
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Rukia suddenly became forceful, and Ichimaru Gin's smile grew wider.
"Scared?"
"..."
"You don't want them to die, so you've suddenly become afraid. Fear will stimulate your will to live. How about... let me save you?"
As he spoke, Ichimaru Gin released his spiritual pressure.
"Captain Ichimaru..."
The few Repentance Prison guards panicked. The more they listened, the more they felt something was wrong. If any other captain had said this, they would have thought it was a joke. But with Ichimaru Gin, he might actually do it. This guy's smile never revealed his true feelings; no one knew what he was thinking.
"What are you saying, this is also..."
Ichimaru Gin ignored the Repentance Prison guards. He slowly walked up to Rukia Kuchiki. The powerful spiritual pressure caused sweat to seep from Rukia's face. She felt that Ichimaru Gin was really going to act. That spiritual pressure was no joke!
But Rukia couldn't understand why Ichimaru Gin would do this. Could he be an ally brought in by Ichigo Kurosaki?
"How about it? Just nod, and I can save you right now."
Ichimaru Gin's spiritual pressure made the Repentance Prison guards start trembling. Rukia stared at him blankly.
Ichimaru Gin raised his hand, and the Repentance Prison guards even had the urge to turn and flee.
A hand gently rested on Rukia's head. Ichimaru Gin leaned in, meeting her gaze.
"Just kidding."
"?"
Rukia stared blankly at Ichimaru Gin. For a moment just now, whether it was an illusion or not, she really thought he was going to save her.
Ichimaru Gin turned and walked away, waving his hand behind his back at Rukia.
"Bye-bye, Rukia-chan. See you at the Sōkyoku."
Watching Ichimaru Gin's gradually receding figure, Rukia's pupils trembled. She had already come to terms with life and death before, but after this teasing from Ichimaru Gin, she once again developed a desire to live. This caused fear to well up in her heart—fear of death.
That was how wicked Ichimaru Gin was. His actions were like handing a cup of water to a traveler dying of thirst in the desert. Just as the traveler was about to drink the water, Ichimaru Gin smiled and told him it was actually sulfuric acid.