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

Chapter 192, Question 190: Ou Xu, do you want to create a candidate for Spirit King?

In the alternate dimension of Koizumi Izakaya, gray and black are the only dominant colors.

No one could give Higashino Shuichi a definite answer at this time, but he could still find some clues he needed by looking for subtle signs.

For example, he discovered traces of his past among the corpses of the Grim Reapers hanging from the dome.

"Lord Xiuyi, what is this?"

Because of the research project on modifying souls, Yushima Oshu, who now has a much better understanding of the bodies and souls of the Grim Reapers, immediately noticed the missing small marks on the corpses of those Grim Reapers.

It was an extremely small part hidden within the vast spiritual particles that constituted their Grim Reaper bodies. If it hadn't been discovered by Higashino Shuichi using special methods, ordinary people would never have been able to find it.

Moreover, based on the numerous experiments Yushima Osh had participated in alongside Mayuri Kurotsuchi, he could say with certainty that this level of deficiency would have virtually no impact on the vast majority of Shinigami.

However, what Yu Shiou couldn't understand was why the person behind the scenes would go to such lengths to extract such a small part from these Grim Reapers while killing them.
Was it taken as a war trophy?

That's not impossible; after all, such things are not uncommon in some contemporary literary works.

However, to Yujima Ouko's surprise, Shuichi revealed it himself.
"Some traces left behind when I wanted to help someone research the power of the Grim Reaper."

Higashino Shuichi randomly inspected several corpses above, and without exception, they were all Grim Reapers he had dealt with before. Now, some of the policies of Koizumi Izakaya were given a reasonable explanation by Higashino Shuichi.

That really is a screening mechanism!
It was specially used by Seinosuke Yamada to select these Grim Reapers.

As for how Yamada Seinosuke found out about this, Higashino Shuichi no longer cared. He only cared about one thing: what Yamada Seinosuke was thinking.

The mistake I made back then wasn't a huge one, but it wasn't insignificant either. If I were to make a big fuss about it, it wouldn't amount to a serious crime, but being closely monitored by the Gotei 13 and losing my current freedom was definitely a possibility.

On matters of principle like this, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni would absolutely not make any major concessions to the Tsunayo family; this was the old man's bottom line, and Higashino Shuichi was quite certain of this.

However, looking at everything around him, Higashino Shuichi wasn't too worried that Yamada Seinosuke would do something so stupid right now.

Based on Yamada Seinosuke's "achievements" so far, if things come to light, his fate will be far worse than that of Higashino Shuichi himself.

Execution is unlikely, as Yamada Seinosuke has most likely already secretly mastered Bankai. However, being imprisoned in Mugen is absolutely a foregone conclusion.

Higashino Shuichi believed that Yamada Seinosuke himself should be well aware of this.

Therefore, Higashino Shuichi was well aware that he needed a channel to communicate with Yamada Seinosuke.

He would never personally get involved; he would never do something that would leave him vulnerable, unless he was already prepared to eliminate Yamada Seinosuke.

However, considering Tsunayoshi Tokina's attitude, Higashino Shuichi felt that he should at least be prepared to kill both Tsunayoshi Tokina and Yamada Seinosuke at the same time.

That's a bit unrealistic for Shuichi Higashino right now.

The main factor here is Aizen's attitude. Based on Aizen's current thinking, he does not want the Soul Society to be thrown into turmoil again in the short term.

In Aizen's vision, the Soul Society should ideally undergo a gradual, incremental change under his influence, eventually transitioning smoothly to his level of rule.

Given that Aizen had dealt a severe blow to Soul Society just seven years ago, he certainly wouldn't allow Higashino Shuichi to make a move against Tsunayoshi Tokinada, who not only had the entire Tsunayoshi family backing him but also an unknown amount of hidden power.

That's the situation. Because of Higashino Shuichi's intervention, many things in Soul Society are now so interconnected that a single move can have far-reaching consequences. It's no longer a situation where Higashino Shuichi can act on a whim, unless he has the strength to resolve all the problems by himself.

But clearly, the current Higashino Shuichi is not like that.

That's why he took the initiative to reveal this incident from his past to Yujima Oshu.

Having witnessed all of this firsthand, possessing the ability to infiltrate this space, and being the culprit for a future upheaval in Soul Society—as designated by Shuichi Higashino long ago—Yushima Osh, carrying these triple buffs, is undoubtedly the best candidate for Higashino to send to contact Seinosuke Yamada.

Two behind-the-scenes figures would surely have a lot to talk about if they met.
However, this was only Higashino Shuichi's idea.

Yujima Osh has a different version.

So it turns out that Lord Shuichi had already started research on soul modification a long time ago?

And it's amazing how gentle Hideaki was back then. For each Shinigami, he only took a small part of their body that wouldn't affect them for research!

He really is.
Yushima Ouko thought about himself, about Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and about the hellish scene in this space.

Indeed, without comparison, there is no harm.
"Lord Xiuyi, with just a word from you, I can erase this space. It only takes me a little time to do that!"

Yujima Oshi felt that she needed to stand up and do something for Hideichi, for example, to relieve him of his worries.

Without this physical evidence, even if these things come to light in the future, it won't be Shuichi's fault. As for the current research on soul modification, that was done by Shimao Xu! What does it have to do with Shuichi?!

Why erase this?

After hearing what Yujima Oshu said, Higashino Shuichi really wanted to roll his eyes at her. Sometimes he really wanted to crack open Yujima Oshu's little head and see what she was thinking all day long.

Is this something that can be solved by simply destroying the evidence?

"Wouldn't leaving these corpses here be very disadvantageous for you, sir?"

Well, it seems Yujima Oshi doesn't have the potential to be a strategist.

Or rather, among the entire Grim Reaper team, there seem to be very few Grim Reapers with sufficient intelligence; most of them, due to their superior strength, have given up on thinking about such matters, either voluntarily or involuntarily.

"Where is the disadvantage? If I don't admit it, can the missing spiritual particles in these Grim Reapers prove that I caused it?"

On the contrary, it's the person who specifically seeks out these Grim Reapers who deserves our attention.

With that, Higashino Shuichi abandoned the corpses of the Grim Reapers that he had just taken down from under the dome and went to the unfinished products in front of the Grim Reapers and Gillian that had been fused together.

Looking at these experimental failures—neither quite like Grim Reapers nor Hollows, unable to speak or move, yet possessing faint spiritual pressure reactions—a strange idea suddenly sprouted in Higashino Shuichi's mind.

"Speaking of which, if I remember correctly, isn't our second phase of soul modification experiments already in the final preparation stage, the kind that can be put into testing at any time?"

Following Higashino Shuichi's lead, Yujima Ouko arrived at the site of the failed experiments. He looked at Higashino with some confusion, wondering why his master would suddenly ask about this. However, he still answered Higashino's question truthfully.
"Yes, Lord Shuichi, based on my and Captain Mayuri's analysis and past experimental data, we estimate that this prototype will be successfully produced in a few months. At that time, we can begin to plan a riot operation against Rukongai."

Thanks to the valuable data from the previous experiment, coupled with the increased investment this time, the experimental subject itself has undergone an iterative upgrade in strength.

For this test, both Yujima Osh and Mayuri Kurotsuchi had raised their expectations slightly. Therefore, their initial plan wasn't to choose the human world, where Shinigami support and reaction speed were slower, but rather the Rukongai (Soul City). Higashino Shuichi had already heard about this arrangement for Yujima Osh and the others; after all, it was for this very reason that he had chosen to initiate that operation, ostensibly an assessment but actually a favoritism program for Yujima Osh, ahead of schedule.

However, due to a series of unexpected events, the operation ultimately came to nothing.

The replica of the Transcendental Body still lies quietly in Shuichi Higashino's home.

Considering the uncertainty of conquering one's own Zanpakuto, and the special nature of Yujima Osh's own Zanpakuto (its Shikai is too powerful), Higashino Shuichi plans to personally protect Yujima Osh's mastery of Bankai after he has resolved the trouble from the West Frontier Bureau.

"So strictly speaking, this experimental product is not yet finalized, is it?"

Higashino Shuichi said something else that was unclear.

However, Yujima Oshi remained straightforward in his answer, though he had vaguely guessed some of the general idea, so in this response, he had a biased direction.

"Yes, and because of the special nature of soul modification, their consciousness and soul are essentially being shattered and reshaped. Currently, their newborn souls should still be in the budding stage, which is the most tedious and highest failure rate step in the whole process."

Higashino nodded. He actually knew this information, and he was just asking here to confirm it with Yujima Ouko.

After all, Higashino Shuichi had never personally participated in the entire experimental project of modifying souls. He only learned about the progress through his usual conversations with Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Ousho Shima. He certainly didn't know the specific details as well as Ousho Shima, the actual operator.

"Go back and inform Mayuri Kurotsuchi that he may have to suspend this experimental project!"

Higashino's words were always startling, and Yujima Ouko's eyes widened in shock upon hearing them.

This really stumped him, because Higashino Shuichi was the original initiator of this project, without exception.

Yu Shimao can responsibly guarantee that without Higashino Shuichi, this soul modification project would not have been born.

He and Mayuri Kurotsuchi have devoted over twenty years of their efforts to this project, and now they are about to enter the second phase of acceptance. If all goes well, with a few minor optimizations, it will be a new technology ready for official use.

As a result, Xiuyi called a halt at this crucial moment.
I can't understand it, I absolutely can't understand it!
"Lord Xiuyi, if you're worried that what's happening here will affect the Soul Transformation Project, you can put all the blame on me, and I'll take it all!"
Anyway, I'll still be the sole instigator of the soul-modification project, so I'm not afraid of taking on another charge!

Yujima Ouko tries to change Higashino Shuichi's mind.

Seeing Yushima Oshi's excited expression, Higashino Shuichi smiled gently.

He knew perfectly well what Yujima Oshu was so excited about.

Although Higashino Shuichi had no research talent and had never been a scientist, he completely understood Yujima Oshu's mentality.

For Yujima Oshu, this soul-modification project was like the first "child" of his life, the one he poured his heart and soul into, and wanted to see it have a perfect ending. This was definitely Yujima Oshu's greatest wish.

"You might have misunderstood, Oush. I said 'pause,' not 'abandon' the project."
Instead, I plan to replace the engine for this project!

"A new engine?"

"Sir, I... don't quite understand."

Upon hearing that Lord Shuichi didn't intend to cancel the project outright, Ouko's mood improved somewhat, but he was still filled with confusion.

"It's okay if you don't understand. You just need to answer one question for me."

"What's the problem, sir?"

"I told you the story of the Spirit King, you should still remember it, right?"

"Remember."

"Then answer me, Osh, do you want to create a candidate for the Spirit King yourself?"

In the dim space, apart from the painful low growls of the nearby Kylians, there was only the rapid breathing of Yushio.

Yushima Oshna was trembling uncontrollably with excitement.

"Lord Xiuyi" (swallowed hard) "You just said that I can personally create a candidate for the Spirit King?"

Are you surprised? Or even find it a little unbelievable?

But Osh, believe me, it's not difficult.

Yushima Oshu's reaction was exactly what Higashino Shuichi had expected.

After all, unless one is someone who has lived in the world of Shinigami and received brainwashing-like education for hundreds of years, it is hard to imagine what the title "Soul King" means to these ordinary Shinigami in this world.

This is like someone telling you in your past life that they can create a substitute for the Yellow Emperor or the Yan Emperor. In that case, Higashino Shuichi's performance would probably not be much better than Yujima Ou, and he might even faint from lack of breath.

Especially at this point in time, not only is the term "Spirit King" extremely rare, but the term "Spirit King Substitute" has not become widespread due to the actions of some future overpowered shopkeeper.

Yujima Okyuu certainly believed in Higashino Shuichi, but a figure suddenly flashed through his mind...
"But what about Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi?"

"He won't have any problems, because for Nie, he has already obtained the most important part of this research project. The rest is just him fulfilling his promise to me!"

If even Yushima Osh could think of Mayuri Kurotsuchi, how could Higashino Shuichi not?
However, Higashino Shuichi knew very well what Mayuri Kurotsuchi wanted to gain from the entire soul modification project.

It doesn't mean that the final product will be a batch of consumables with caps that were locked from the moment they were created.

Instead, like a true god, it creates a truly artificial Grim Reaper with infinite possibilities.

Now, Mayuri Kurotsuchi has obtained that crucial technology.

Therefore, the remaining soul modification projects have lost their value for Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

"Understood, Lord Shuichi!"

After receiving a positive answer from Higashino Shuichi, Yujima Oshu completely lost the last worry in her heart.

For him, the remaining word was just one word.

Fuck him!

(End of this chapter)