Bleach: No cheat codes, he joined Aizen's side.

Chapter 18.18. Disposal of the Spoils
Having achieved the mission objective, it's time to reclaim the loot.

At this moment, Higashino Shuichi was in a dilemma.

"Shuichi, you seem quite interested in this Zanpakuto?"

As Stark's mouth double, Lilynette skipped over to Shuichi Higashino and asked him a question.

"Yes, I am somewhat interested."

Higashino nodded. After all, this was a sword that could even seal the release of Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's Zanpakuto, making it even more powerful than the Stars Emblem of the Future Sternritter. The latter could only take away Bankai, but the Thunder and Fire Sword could prevent even the Shinigami from releasing their Shikai, and all kinds of Kido abilities were infinitely suppressed.

It can be said that when a Grim Reaper faces lightning and fire, he basically only has two options left: fighting alone or using ordinary slashing techniques.

This is an ultimate treasure for Shuichi Higashino, who is now firmly tied to Aizen's side.

Possessing lightning means that when Higashino Shuichi is defeated and "surrenders" to Soul Society, even if the other party does not recognize his so-called "undercover" operation, Higashino Shuichi will have the capital to not fear any Shinigami chasing him.

However, how to master the lightning and fire has now become a headache for Higashino Shuichi.

According to his memory, it seems that the Baku-no-Tō and the Zanpakutō cannot coexist. In other words, if he wants to use the Baku-no-Tō Rai-ka, he must give up his current Zanpakutō. If he wants to keep his Zanpakutō, he cannot use the Baku-no-Tō Rai-ka.

If Higashino Shuichi were to really give up his Zanpakuto, he would be reluctant. After all, it was a Zanpakuto that he had painstakingly cultivated for so long, and its abilities were quite useful.

Therefore, a practical problem was placed in front of Higashino Shuichi: he dared not touch this Raiho, because he was afraid that if he did, it would cling to him and cause him to lose his Zanpakuto.

However, if he doesn't touch it, it won't be long before the Kasumi family comes to Hueco Mundo to take back the sword. When that happens, if he wants to get the sword back, he will probably have to face a captain-level fighter again.

"Sigh, it seems like telling Aizen is the only option left."

Higashino Shuichi felt a little upset, but reason told him that telling Aizen about this and having him send a Hollow to return the Baku sword to Las Noches for safekeeping was the best course of action.

However, when reporting to Aizen, one must be reserved. Not a single word of the information about sealing the Shinigami's abilities can be revealed. Then, one must make some arrangements with Szayelaporro so that the latter will not invest too much energy in this sword, lest he research something else.

As for whether Aizen will personally study this sword, Higashino Shuichi estimates that it is highly unlikely. Currently, Aizen's entire energy is focused on the souls of Shinigami, and he will only entrust such trivial research to Szayelaporro.

Just as Higashino Shuichi was preparing to contact Aizen, Stark was also getting impatient.

"The situation in Barragán seems to be less than optimistic."

Stark looked toward Las Noches and frowned as he spoke.

"That's normal. They say it's a combination of Barragan and Szayelaporro, but given Szayelaporro's character, he'll definitely just go through the motions. He might even occasionally help the 10th Division Captain to prevent his body from being corrupted by Barragan's abilities, thus losing a perfect research subject. It would be a miracle if they could fight smoothly."

"I said with a mocking tone."

He even had a feeling that Aizen might not have actually thought that Barragan and his group could kill the 10th Division Captain, and that his real purpose was to give Barragan a warning.

Otherwise, why would Aizen waste his time and go to the trouble of splitting into two groups to deal with the two captains?

Simply divide Barragan, Stark, Szayelaporro, and Higashino himself into a group of four, and he can be in a group by himself.

Even if Barragan and Higashino Shuichi are at odds, and might deliberately stab someone in the back during a fight, just by attacking with this lineup, even if they're called the Sengoku school, Kyoraku Shunsui would have a tough time. "Then what about us?"

However, Stark clearly did not have the same level of awareness as Shuichi Higashino. At this point, he was still more focused on the mission given to him by Aizen, and the minor conflicts with Barragan were not enough to affect his choice.

"No need, we'll just watch the show!"

Shuichi Higashino was well aware of Stark's intention to go and provide support, so he decisively rejected the latter's idea.

The subsequent communication with Aizen confirmed Higashino Shuichi's suspicions.

Because Aizen was indeed still in Hueco Mundo, or rather, he had already returned to Soul Society first, used Kyoka Suigetsu to create alibis for himself and Shuichi Higashino, and then returned to Hueco Mundo.

Its purpose is self-evident: to "clean up" Barragán's mess.

When Higashino Shuichi contacted Aizen, Aizen had just finished dealing with the 10th Division Captain who had "coincidentally" escaped to him.

"A Zanpakuto that won't degenerate into an Asauchi after a Shinigami dies?"

After listening to Higashino Shuichi's report, Aizen's lips curled into an interested smile.

Higashino Shuichi would never reveal the true information about the Baku Yao Sword. After all, apart from him and the Kasumi Oji family, no one else knew about the Baku Yao Sword. Therefore, whether it was the Hollows like Stark or Aizen, they all thought it was a special Zanpakuto.

"Yes, Lord Aizen, given its potential to devour the user's spiritual pressure, I think it might not be appropriate for me to take this Zanpakuto back. Could you please send some Killian to transport it back?"

Higashino Shuichi replied respectfully.

To everyone's surprise, Aizen wore a rather intriguing expression. "Bring him back? Why bring him back?"

This has stumped Shuichi Higashino. Why is Aizen acting so unpredictably?
"Then, Lord Aizen, what do you mean?"

"Just leave it here!"

Such a special Zanpakuto couldn't possibly have been created by the expedition captain himself, otherwise he would have reported it to the Gotei 13 long ago, and we wouldn't have been completely unaware of it before.

Therefore, the person behind it wouldn't wait for the Soul Society's special team that retrieves dead Shinigami Asauchi to come and collect them, would they?
Find them, follow them, and find out their true purpose!

If you're wrong, you can dispose of all the Shinigami who come to retrieve it later, and then have the Killian clan bring the Zanpakuto back!

Aizen, unusually, explained his thoughts to Higashino Shuichi.

After listening, Higashino Shuichi realized that he had been worrying for nothing all this time.

He realized he had fallen into a cognitive trap. He had been subconsciously trying to understand Aizen's perspective, but he had forgotten that Aizen was a man with lofty ambitions who never cared about such details. A mere special Zanpakuto was not worthy of Aizen's attention. The meaning behind the Zanpakuto was what Aizen would truly care about.

"That's good too. Everyone gets what they need, and everyone's happy!"

After ending his contact with Aizen, Higashino Shuichi suddenly realized that Aizen was indeed a "good" boss!
(End of this chapter)