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

Chapter 183, page 181: The Madman's Brain Circuit
"So, Lord Aizen, what do you intend to do?"

Standing by the window, Higashino Shuichi looked into the distance, recalling his conversation with Aizen not long ago.

Aizen simply smiled at his question and did not offer any further answer.

It's just that the time isn't right yet.

That's natural. Right now, Aizen faces not only the Soul King Palace but also Yhwach. Before these two unstable factors are resolved, Higashino Shuichi doesn't believe Aizen has the energy to think about Hell.

However, Higashino Shuichi also believed that Aizen must have already formed a preliminary idea in his mind, otherwise Aizen would not have made a special trip to him to discuss it.

Because some things don't need to be said.

For example, Higashino Shuichi currently holds a passage to hell.

If Aizen wanted to easily travel to Hell in the future to study the Kabuto family's sacred artifact, Seiya-hasa, this would obviously be the most convenient and quickest method.

Furthermore, given the relationship between Asayako Kabuto and Shuichi Higashino, this method is far simpler than Higashino trying to deceive Kukaku Shiba now.

"At least, I'm working for a boss who is ambitious, capable, and very clear about his own position, isn't that right?"

Higashino Shuichi gave a wry smile.

As Aizen's ambitions grew, even Shuichi Higashino didn't know how far Aizen could go in the future.

Based solely on his performance in the original storyline, Aizen would most likely have failed against the monks at the Soul King's Palace, at most bullying Yhwach who hadn't fully regained his power. As for Hell, that would truly be just a pipe dream.

That place, with its own set of rules, is not a place where an ordinary Grim Reaper could possibly succeed.

However, given Aizen's potential and the complete Hogyoku, without the interference of inner demons, perhaps Aizen could really reach that point?
No one knows what that future will be like, and even Higashino Shuichi doesn't dare to think about it.

Because Higashino Shuichi knew that at this moment, he needed to focus on the present.

Higashino Shuichi still has a major problem to solve.

A week later, when Shuichi Higashino once again channeled his consciousness into Takuya Kabuto.

Shuichi Higashino didn't want to waste his time doing something that involved getting close to a human, so this arduous task naturally fell to the uncomplaining and reliable Takuya Kabuto.

It wasn't until Higashino Shuichi discovered, through consulting Kabuto Takuya's diary, that he had successfully infiltrated the Lockheed Martin family that Higashino Shuichi chose to transfer his consciousness into Kabuto Takuya's body.

As a native London Earl of the eighth generation, Lockhart Martin's home was naturally luxurious, so luxurious that Higashino Shuichi once thought he was walking in a small town rather than an earl's manor.

"You can do it at Earl Locke's manor."
You can't do that.

The butler who had brought him in was babbling incessantly in his ears, as if he wanted to tell Higashino Shuichi all the rules through this oral explanation.

Unfortunately, Higashino Shuichi completely ignored his words, letting them go in one ear and out the other.

His purpose in coming here was not to become a servant in Lockhart Martin's household.

Slowly pushing open the door to Lockheed Martin's bedroom, a place written into the forbidden list, Higashino Shuichi saw Lockheed Martin there. Lying outside the door at that moment were two human guards...

"I don't think I've ever seen you before."

Faced with Higashino Shuichi's sudden intrusion, Lockheed Martin stopped what he was doing and looked at Higashino Shuichi.

"Of course, I am a new servant hired by your steward, Your Excellency. It is perfectly normal that you have never seen me before."

"I can't believe it," Higashino Shuichi said with a shrug.

“Servant, I don’t think so. Or perhaps you haven’t even memorized my rules: don’t barge into my room while I’m still at home!”

Lockheed Martin's face darkened.

Clearly, he felt a little annoyed by Higashino Shuichi's sudden appearance.

"Somebody come!"

Locke Martin wanted to call in more servants to help drive Higashino Shuichi away.

But as time passed, about half an hour later, Lockheed Martin and Shuichi Higashino remained locked in a staring contest in the small room.

Not a single servant heard Lockheed Martin's call and came to his aid.

This is naturally normal, because Higashino Shuichi had set up the spiritual pressure shielding device he had left for Kisaragi Shusuke and the others around Lockheed Martin's bedroom. Combined with Higashino Shuichi's current level of control over spiritual particles, it wouldn't be difficult for him to create a separate space.

"what have you done?"

Lockheed Martin frowned and questioned Shuichi Higashino.

"I didn't do anything special, I just wanted the Earl to communicate with me honestly, to show me his true colors."

Higashino Shuichi replied with a smile.

Unlike Kisaragi Shusuke, after realizing that everything Kisaragi Shusuke had suffered was just a setup, Higashino Shuichi left Kabuto Takuya an order to investigate Lockheed Martin's past background.

But it would have been better if he hadn't investigated. Once he did, Higashino Shuichi discovered that this so-called Earl of Lockheed Martin hadn't changed at all for a long time.

The change here refers not to Lockheed Martin's personality, but to his appearance.

The marks of time that should be clearly visible on ordinary humans—Hideichi Higashino found none of them in Lockheed Martin.

Ordinary humans, or Quincy, cannot do this; only Shinigami or those self-proclaimed magicians in the West Coast Bureau can.

From Higashino Shuichi's perspective, the possibility of the magician from the West Section is naturally higher.

Therefore, before coming today, Higashino Shuichi had already prepared his speech in his mind.

To Higashino Hideichi's surprise, Lockheed Martin burst into laughter after hearing his statement. Not only did Lockheed Martin openly admit his identity, but he also produced something unexpected yet perfectly logical.
"Interesting. It seems that a few days ago, when that group of Death suddenly withdrew from London and fled towards the East End, you were also involved in that?"

Lockheed Martin looked at Shuichi Higashino and said.

"May I interpret Your Excellency's answer as meaning that you have long been eyeing those Grim Reapers?"

Higashino Shuichi replied.

"If yes, what will happen? If no, what will happen?"
This isn't your East Coast Bureau. Back there, you can be more unrestrained, but here, what I set my sights on is mine alone.

Arrogant—that's one of the assessments given by Shuichi Higashino.

This single statement reveals just how low the West Coast Bureau's presence and perceived threat level are in London. But soon, Higashino Shuichi realized that it wasn't that the West Coast Bureau was incompetent, but rather that this man truly had the capital to be so arrogant.

Because this Earl Locke Martin also has another name.

In the past, within the Soul Society of the Eastern Frontier Bureau, the Shinigami would all call him Captain Miyazaki.

"But you don't seem to be the Grim Reaper to me."

Masato Miyazaki put one hand behind his back and looked confidently at Shuichi Higashino.

This is his territory, so Masato Miyazaki has absolute confidence.

"A Grim Reaper? Of course not. In fact, quite the opposite, I'm a Quincy!"

Shuichi Higashino showed no shock at Masato Miyazaki's revelation of his identity, because so far, everything was still going according to his plan.

What followed was a rather pointless conversation.

To summarize simply, Higashino Shuichi explained to Miyazaki Masato his purpose in wanting to join Miyazaki Masato's project, while Miyazaki Masato looked down on Higashino Shuichi in various ways.

This can't be blamed on Masato Miyazaki; the Quincy of that era were indeed a bit lackluster, with no one who could hold their own.

Normally, even dealing with an ordinary Hollow would be extremely difficult for a Quincy, but suddenly he comes to your door saying he wants to do something big with you. Anyone who hears this would think it's a joke.

In comparison, how Higashino Shuichi, a Quincy, knew he had a problem has become less important.

After all, Masato Miyazaki knew that he had released a lot of real things in order to get Shusuke Kisaragi to take the bait and satisfy his perverse tastes. If Shuichi Higashino happened to see some of these things, it would be enough for him to doubt his own human identity.

For Quincy who are human, proving that they are not human is not difficult.

Not to mention, at this point in time when they were already planning to close the net, Masato Miyazaki made no attempt to conceal anything.

Unfortunately, Kisaragi Shusuke somehow got wind of the situation and ran away ahead of time, escaping directly from the West Outpost back to the East Outpost.

"You don't think you're safe just because you've escaped back to the East Coast Bureau, do you?"
"The prey that I, Masato Miyazaki, have set my sights on never has the option of escaping."

Upon hearing this news, Masato Miyazaki was somewhat surprised, but he did not take any further action, let alone pursue Shusuke Kisaragi.

Because for Masato Miyazaki, it won't be long before he returns to the East Coast Bureau in a high-profile manner as a king. At that time, the poor Kisaragi Shusuke, who has been manipulated by him all along, will take the initiative to come to his side and beg him to forgive his petty mistake.

"You said you're very interested in the Grim Reaper who frequents my place and want to know his whereabouts from me, but unfortunately, I'm not interested in answering a Quincy's question. What should I do?"

In response to Higashino Shuichi's question, Miyazaki Sakai Masato gave a meaningful smile.

Nothing is more worthwhile for Masato Miyazaki to devote his time and energy to than having fun.

Just as Kisaragi Shusuke was like this before, so too is Higashino Shuichi now.

In the past, Masato Miyazaki was willing to accompany Shusuke Kisaragi in putting on a great show for more than three years. Now, he is also in need of a new goal to satisfy his daily spiritual and entertainment needs.

The arrogant young Quincy in front of me seems to be a pretty good candidate.

Seeing Masato Miyazaki's eerie smile, Shuichi Higashino was well aware that this direct contact would inevitably bring him unknown risks. However, he had to do it, because after Shusuke Kisaragi and Rangiku Matsumoto withdrew to the Higashizumi Bureau, the manpower that Earl Lockheed Martin had deployed in the mortal world was rapidly decreasing.

Higashino Shuichi estimated that in just a few days, this count's identity, which was probably created specifically to lure the enemy into a trap, would be completely discarded.

At that point, it will be extremely difficult for Higashino Shuichi to find the elusive former captain of the 12th Division.

It can be said that the current opportunity is the best time for Shuichi Higashino to get close to Masato Miyazaki.

"It's very simple. There's nothing to it that a beating can't solve. I understand you don't want to answer me, but I hope you'll still have that same confidence three minutes from now."

Higashino Shuichi smiled at Miyazaki Sakai Masato, then flicked his fingers, and a Sacred Annihilation Arrow suddenly appeared in his hand.

Tremble beneath my arrows!

"Hideichi Higashino said confidently, and then the sacred arrow of destruction flew out, its arrowhead pointing directly at Masato Miyazaki's brow.

"Hehe, hahahaha!"

Masato Miyazaki found the Quincy in front of him to be really interesting. How could he be so arrogant when his strength was not that great?

Oh, Masato Miyazaki thought of a possibility. Could it be that Kisaragi Shusuke was worried about being discovered by the East and West Bureaus, so when faced with this Quincy's provocation, he didn't dare to use his full strength and could only flee in panic every time, which gave this Quincy inexplicable confidence?
Yes, that must be it. So what should he do now?
As Masato Miyazaki gazed at Shuichi Higashino's confident smile across the room, a twisted grin crept across his own lips.

"Is there even a question? Of course, we'll cooperate. First, let him think he's conquered him with his own strength, and then, at the right moment, we'll reveal our true power in front of him. The expression on that Quincy's face at that time will definitely be quite a sight!"

Just imagining that scene makes Masato Miyazaki feel every cell in his body excited.

Without Kisaragi Shusuke, it would be perfectly appropriate to treat this Quincy as an appetizer before returning to Soul Society.

Then, from Higashino Shuichi's perspective, he saw Miyazaki Sakai Masato, who had been so arrogant just moments before, trying to dodge his Sacred Arrow, but then dramatically crashing into it himself, before collapsing to the ground in pain, clutching his wound.

"Ouch! It hurts so much! Damn it, why are you so strong? Who are you?!"
"No ordinary Quincy could possibly be as strong as you!"

Upon witnessing this scene, Higashino Hideichi's lips twitched slightly.

Is Masato Miyazaki treating him like a fool, or is it that Masato Miyazaki's acting skills are only at such an exaggerated level?

"Fine, you want to know the whereabouts of that Grim Reaper, right? I can tell you, but I have a grudge against him, so you must take me with you. I want to see him killed with my own hands!"

Well, before Shuichi Higashino could say anything, Masato Miyazaki had already learned to answer first, which made Higashino certain that this guy's acting skills were really only this much.

But that's not what left Shuichi Higashino speechless. What left him speechless was how such clumsy acting skills could fool Kisaragi Shusuke and Matsumoto Rangiku for more than three years.
Higashino Shuichi felt he needed to find some time to have a proper talk with Kisaragi Shusuke.

A person's eyes shouldn't be this blind.

"Hahaha, now you know how powerful I am! No problem, I can agree to your terms!"

However, on the surface, Higashino Shuichi still had to cooperate and laugh loudly.

Although things have progressed to this point, the development has completely exceeded Higashino Shuichi's expectations.

According to Higashino Shuichi's original script, the arrogant young Higashino was supposed to be impressed by Miyazaki Masato's powerful strength. Higashino Shuichi was already prepared to unleash another Sacred Arrow, so he pretended to be accidentally injured by Miyazaki Masato.

But now, Masato Miyazaki has become his subordinate.

All I can say is that Higashino Shuichi underestimated the thought process of a madman; they always have some peculiar ideas.

(End of this chapter)