You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

In the original work, Aizen is considered a perfect Shinigami, but without Kyoka Suigetsu, he would not have had a chance to develop in the early stages, and he would not have been so relaxed in the final battle.

Iori hasn't obtained his own Zanpakuto yet, so he can only focus all his energy on honing his spiritual pressure.

There's not much to say about this process; it's simply a matter of rigorous training and refinement!

Of course, with the help of his talent and art style, his growth rate was different from that of ordinary people. In just three or four days, he had already caught up with the current spiritual pressure limit, and only then did his progress finally slow down.

What is his current spiritual pressure limit?

After the events of "Akatsuki no Akame" and Tosen Kaname, Iori's art style, combined with his own foundation, has now reached "490".

Considering his actual combat capabilities, he is fully capable of competing for a vice-captain-level position!

Of course, without a Shikai (initial release), it would be impossible to convince the public, and Iori did not intend to expose her strange growth rate to others.

He needs a suitable reason to explain his rapid improvement in strength, preferably a life-or-death battle. After all, it's a shonen manga, and breakthroughs during battle are always a classic trope.

Fortunately, this is the Soul Society, where similar opportunities are not uncommon...

Iori went to Mayuri Kurotsuchi's place beforehand. Although the eccentric scientist didn't give him a friendly look, the spirit particle device was still completed.

He paid Mayuri Kurotsuchi the agreed amount and quickly went to a safe and secluded place to re-enter the [Dangai], thus jumping to "Akame ga Kill!", bringing back Kurome's blood sample and the medicine and snacks, and handing them over to Mayuri Kurotsuchi for analysis.

Making an antidote wasn't a big problem. Mayuri Kurotsuchi was even interested in making an enhanced version of the drug, which could improve the opponent's physical abilities while also making them completely obedient to Iori. However, Iori refused after careful consideration.

After all, he had already promised Akame. If he couldn't bring back the antidote and instead brought back an upgraded version of "candy"... it would make him seem like a bad person.

After all, since ancient times, whether in novels or anime, using poison to control people to work for you has been a very low-level behavior—except in the underworld.

While Iori awaited the antidote, a rumor began to circulate in Seireitei that piqued his interest:

Negotiations with the remnants of the Quincy have broken down, and the higher-ups have decided to take coercive measures!

Chapter 28: Drugs? Brainwashing? Hypnosis?

As is widely known, the Seireitei has wanted to exterminate the Quincy clan for a long time.

The reason is simple: old grudges and new ones.

Eight hundred years ago, Yhwach, the King of the Quincy, led his elite forces in a surprise attack on Soul Society, causing heavy casualties to the Seireitei. In order to cope with the war, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni formed the Gotei 13, which is the origin of the Gotei 13 system.

That battle was extremely fierce. Nearly half of the first-generation captains, including the immortal Saito, were killed in action, and the casualty rate among the lower-ranking members was even more staggering.

After that, the Grim Reaper did not completely wipe out the Quincy, and some descendants still live in the world. However, in the last hundred years, the Quincy population has begun to increase rapidly, which has raised another question:

Both Quincy and Shinigami are dedicated to eliminating Hollows in the mortal world, but their approaches are drastically different.

The Grim Reaper maintains the balance of the three realms; even if he kills a Hollow, its soul will return to the cycle of the three realms.

The Quincy, literally meaning "to exterminate," means that the Hollows killed by them are completely wiped out!

One or two cases may not be obvious, but once the souls dissipate on a large scale, it will definitely affect the balance of the three realms, and may even destroy the world!

Given the past hatred and the current conflicts, the Seireitei was destined to be unable to tolerate the continued existence of the Quincy, so it had been preparing for a war of extermination against the Quincy for a long time.

At first, the Seireitei made some efforts, hoping that the Quincy would repent...

But clearly, the "power of annihilation" flows in their blood, and the Quincy cannot resist this instinctive behavior, so the negotiations naturally broke down.

For a standard violent organization like the Gotei 13, fighting is nothing new; in fact, the 11th Division was essentially a vanguard suicide squad. However, this time their opponent isn't the Hollows, but the Quincy, who are equally well-organized. Therefore, they cannot act hastily and must prepare carefully for some time.

—At the very least, the noble sons sent to the 13th Division of the Gotei 13 for gilding should be transferred to the logistics and support units.

Iori was somewhat surprised by the news, but upon reflection, the Second War against the Quincy did indeed take place about two hundred years before the start of the anime's storyline, so it wasn't surprising that he encountered it.

There might be a 10 or 20-year discrepancy in the timeline, but it's not a big problem. After all, I'm just a reserve trainee; how could this possibly affect me?

Then Iori received some "surprising" good news:

The formation of the Expeditionary Force has left the Seireitei's defenses vulnerable, so elite students from the Shinigami Academy must be recruited to ensure the Seireitei's security remains unaffected.

Because of Iori's outstanding performance at the academy, and the "good impression" she left on the teachers, a group of teachers, led by the kendo instructor, strongly recommended Aizen Iori!

"Iori, it's been decided. From today onwards, you will be the temporary ninth seat of the 12th Division!"

"..." The boy hesitated, wanting to say something but then stopped.

The instructor patted Iori on the shoulder, looking very concerned about Iori's future: "The 12th Division usually doesn't go to the battlefield, they just handle some miscellaneous matters in Seireitei, but this is an important resume."

When the war ends and you return to finish your studies, with this resume, maybe a captain will be willing to give you a formal officer position directly... You have to do a good job!"

"First, I will definitely not let down the teachers' good intentions..."

As Iori felt the weight on his shoulders, he seemed to become more dignified and solemn, though his thoughts were quite the opposite.

'What happened? I, a top student who did freelance work and received official subsidies, have suddenly been reduced to a 9-to-5 wage slave? Thank you so much!'

Although extremely unwilling, the teachers were indeed well-intentioned. Iori could only blame himself for being too good at acting, leaving others with the impression of an overly ambitious Prince of Magnus...

So, being the "King of Rolls" really shouldn't be a job!

Actually, I don't want to get involved; I just want to make money while lying down...

"The captain of the 12th Division has just stepped down, and the vice-captain, Lord Hikifune, has taken over."

The kendo instructor clearly didn't know much about Shutara Senjumaru, so he only mentioned the major event of the captain's change of leadership in a single sentence.

"The position of vice-captain has been promoted to Chief Inspector Mayuri. You can go and report to him later."

"Who? Mayuri Kurotsuchi?"

"Hey, do you know him? This official seems quite mysterious; I've never heard of him before."

"Oh, I wouldn't say we know each other."

Iori's mood suddenly improved: "Just from the name, I know that she must be a kind and easy-going person!"

-

It's hard to describe Mayuri's expression when he saw Iori arrive; it was as if he suddenly realized that the world's malice was directed at him.

"Here you go, the antidote you wanted." Without further ado, Mayuri Kurotsuchi took out the medicine, and Iori, as always, generously paid the full amount.

This kind of thing can't be delayed. Even if you've had a long-standing relationship, the money and goods must be exchanged.

"Oh, right, I haven't congratulated you on your promotion yet." Iori smiled and congratulated Mayuri Kurotsuchi when she saw his armband.

To everyone's surprise, Mayuri Kurotsuchi's expression was as if she had eaten something unclean: "That woman went back after finishing her own business, leaving us with a mess to clean up. To make matters worse, war broke out, and I didn't even have time to do my research!"

It seems that Shutara Senjumaru has returned to the Spirit King Palace... and Hikifune Kiryu has taken over. It seems that there is no difference from the original work. I just don't know when Mayuri Kurotsuchi was imprisoned in the "Nest of Maggots".

But it'll probably only last a few decades at most. Anyway, by the time Kisuke Urahara takes over, old Natsume will be practically rotting away inside.

As a person who values ​​relationships and loyalty, Iori naturally couldn't stand by and watch such a brilliant mind go to waste, so—

"Old Nie, I've decided to increase my investment and place more orders!"

Don't limit yourself. Share your creative ideas and let me see what you have. I'll do my best to support you.

"I'll figure out the funding problem. The important thing is speed. Every little thing you can research is a success. The advancement of technology in Soul Society depends entirely on you!"

Holding the antidote, Iori said sincerely to Mayuri Kurotsuchi, "Don't worry, I will cherish these crystallizations of wisdom."

“Iori, you…”

Mayuri Kurotsuchi was genuinely surprised this time. This was the first time that this mentally unstable man, who was always disliked and despised, had been treated with such importance.

That alone would have been fine, but what touched Mayuri Kurotsuchi the most was that this boy didn't treat him as a tool, but genuinely believed that his mind had such important value, and was even willing to spend money on some meaningless whimsical ideas.

This is something none of his major investors could do!

"It seems... you're a little smarter than those idiots, at least in terms of judgment."

Even so, he was Mayuri Kurotsuchi after all, and the difficulty of conquering him was among the top in Soul Society. Although he was touched, he didn't say he would send Iori a CG.

"I'll give you a small discount."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi took out another bottle of medicine from her wide sleeve: "This is a further enhancement drug based on the sample you gave me."

In addition to the original effects, as long as you put a drop of bodily fluid rich in spiritual particles on it, you can imprint your mark on the soul of the person taking the medicine, making them instinctively want to be close to you, and as obedient as a fledgling bird.

However, note that this is meaningless to the Grim Reaper; it only has an effect on ordinary souls of average strength or living people.

"what?"

Iori took the medicine, her brow furrowing. "What do you mean by this? Do you think I'm the kind of despicable person who uses drugs to control others?"

With that, the boy put the modification drug and the antidote into his pocket, and then reached out to Frankenstein's monster.

"And while you're at it, bring me a brainwashing device."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi: "..."

Chapter 29: Iori suffers, and Kurohime bears the infamy.

Iori is a gentleman—at least that's what he thinks.

While I enjoy reading doujinshi featuring drug control and hypnosis/brainwashing, fantasy is fantasy, and reality is reality. If that kind of operation were actually done... Iori simply couldn't accept it from a moral standpoint.

To be honest, the sister bowl is indeed very attractive, especially when Iori has all the necessary conditions and the outcome is up to him... It takes a lot of composure to stay calm.

At this moment, as Iori struggled with her inner turmoil, it seemed as if two little people were whispering to each other.

One of the little devils, holding a trident, with a tail and ram's horns, whispered seductively, "Isn't the point of working hard to be able to do whatever you want?"

Now it's time to drop the pretense, starting with these two sisters, and let lust consume you!

Meanwhile, another tiny figure with angel wings on its back spoke with righteous indignation—

"Yes yes yes!"

-

"Hmm? Iori, are you listening to me?"

"what?"

Iori, who had just come to her senses after her internal struggle, paused for a moment and looked at the cloaked girl across the table: "Excuse me, what did you just say?"

"Has something happened lately? You seem a bit restless." Akame, disguised, didn't answer immediately but instead showed concern for Iori's well-being.

“It’s nothing,” Iori naturally wouldn’t reveal her true thoughts. “I’m just a little tired from running around for these things lately.”

After saying that, he took a long box, almost as tall as a person, from behind him and placed it on the table, making the sturdy wooden table creak as if it could not bear the weight.

From the moment Iori entered, the pure white box of unknown material attracted the attention of everyone in the hostel lobby. However, after someone recognized Iori, they reminded each other and turned their attention elsewhere, deliberately avoiding the table.

Akame glanced at the box, then looked at Iori with guilt: "You've really gone to a lot of trouble... I didn't have high hopes, but I didn't expect you to actually get it... I really don't know how to thank you."

She naturally assumed that Iori's exhaustion was due to obtaining the antidote, and Akame, who was already quite grateful to him, became even more uneasy.

"It's good that you didn't say 'I have nothing to repay you with but my body'."

Iori chuckled deliberately, "Otherwise, I'd not only lose money, but I'd also lose myself. You sisters would be getting a great deal!"

"...I'll take it as a joke."

Akame was clearly holding back her anger, but if you looked closely, you could see that her ears were slightly red.

"Don't even think about making a move on Kuro-tomi!"

Hmm, does this mean I can make a move on you?

"Don't be so nervous. I won't use gratitude to pressure you. After all, there are plenty of beautiful women who are ready to 'repay me with their bodies,' so I don't need you."

"...A lot?"

Akame frowned almost imperceptibly: "You're very popular with women?"

"You want to know?"

"Well!"

Before provoking Akame, Iori turned the white Seireitei-style box over, pressed the yin-yang symbol in the center, and slowly rotated it once. Subtle spiritual light flashed through the seams, and then it opened from the side.

This is the transformation device created by Mayuri Kurotsuchi, capable of freely converting its contents between the states of "matter" and "spirit particles," controlled by the yin-yang symbol in the center. Even more astonishing is the outer box; it's unclear what Mayuri Kurotsuchi did to it, but the box itself can also change shape according to its external environment.

While it doesn't quite achieve the same level of spiritual particle transformation as Kisuke Urahara in later generations, this box is definitely cutting-edge technology, and the money was well spent.

...After opening the box, Iori hesitated for a moment, but still decisively took out the antidote and handed it to Akame, telling her the specific dosage and precautions.

Next came a brainwashing device that resembled a sleep mask. Iori explained it in detail: "Considering your feelings, we didn't choose a type that was too strong."

It can untangle a chaotic mind, delve into the subconscious, and simultaneously provide mental suggestions to the target.

I believe that Kurohime's feelings for you are very strong, but they have been distorted by external forces. If you use it according to the instructions, you can gradually correct her awkward personality, develop her 'sister complex' nature, and slowly train her into a tsundere little sister who can't live without her older sister~