Chapter 43 - Kill order

“Lieutenant Kimura!”

Kimura Muyang already disappeared from his sight before Suitaku Byakuya could even say anything. He just sighed as Kimura Muyang himself was the one who affirmed that this was a crucial time, yet he ran off on his own despite being a Lieutenant.

Suitaku Byakuya shook his head helplessly, wondering if he should report this to Captain.

“Ah! Captain! Why are you here?”

The moment Suitaku Byakuya turned around, he saw Hikifune Kirio was already behind him, unfazed as she gazed towards where Kimura Muyang was heading.

Suitaku Byakuya didn’t know what was on his Captain’s mind, so he took the initiative to  tell her about Kimura Muyang, “Captain, Lieutenant Kimura is…”

Hikifune Kirio shook her head slightly and interrupted before Suitaku Byakuya could finish his sentence: “He knows what he is doing; you don’t have to explain. I’ll leave everything here to you; I have to attend the Captain’s Meeting.”

Realizing that the Captain entrusted the 12th Division to him in this situation, Suitaku Byakuya didn’t want to let her down: “Don’t worry, Captain. Leave the rest to me!”

“Of course, I know how capable you are.”

Hikifune Kirio slightly nodded before she turned around and hurried to the 1st Division.

“Everyone, pull yourself together! it’s the time for the 12th Division to shine!”

Even though all Division Members were in high spirits, Suitaku had a bad feeling, especially because the Captain Meeting was held again within such a short amount of time. Not only that, Kimura Muyang’s strange behaviour earlier really left him wondering.

“Li’l Yangyang, do you know what you are doing right now is acting without orders? That’s against the rules! Is he really too young to be a Lieutenant?

Hikifune Kirio was worried about Kimura Muyang even as she was on her way toward the 1st Division. She began to wonder what was Kimura Muyang thinking about in order to make such a reckless move. Not to mention the opponent he’d be facing was the 5th Division Captain. Even though Kimura Muyang was about as strong as a Captain, he couldn’t use Bankai like the Captains.

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The surroundings immediately changed as Kimura Muyang rushed as fast as he could with Shunpo, and Watanabe Keiryū’s Reiatsu was getting more vivid as he kept going. Watanabe Keiryū seemed to constantly change his route to avoid pursuit, but it was pointless against him.

Aside from Watanabe Keiryū’s, Kimura Muyang could also feel someone else’s Reiatsu. It was somehow familiar. Judging from the intensity, it probably belonged to a 4th or 5th Seat, but he couldn’t figure out whose Reiatsu was that, so he decided to stop thinking about it as he’d know who it was once he caught up anyway.

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1st Division Captain’s Office.

“dong!”

Captain-Commander Yamamoto’s gaze was focused on Azashiro Kenpachi, who was as indifferent as ever as if Captain-Commander Yamamoto’s aura had no effect on him.

“According to Captain Unohana’s report, the 5th Division Captain, Watanabe Keiryū, stabbed the 3rd Division Captain, Sanada Shino, and the 9th Division Captain, Nishino Kenji, in the back, resulting in the failure of Azashiro Sōya’s arrest. The 2 Captains above are still in a coma.”

Yamamoto Shigekuni glared at Azashiro Sōya: “I believe you have an explanation for all this, Azashiro Sōya.”

Azashiro Sōya raised one of his eyebrows and casually said: “He’s just a poor guy who wants to gain more influence for his household but ends up going too far.”

“The so-called privilege, the so-called Noble Houses, are all meaningless things. Only justice should matter in Soul Society!”

“As Shinigami, all we have to do is eliminate every single Hollow, the evil itself.”

“Enough!”

Yamamoto Genryūsai glared at Azashiro Sōya and stopped him from saying another word.

“Stop spouting that kind of fallacy in Captain’s Meeting. It’s just your personal belief that you called justice, that’s all. You, who failed to comprehend Soul Society’s justice, don’t have the right to talk about justice here.”

All Captains looked at Yamamoto Genryūsai in astonishment. After all, Yamamoto Genryūsai rarely said this much.

“It seems that Old Yamamoto really values Azashiro highly~” Kyōraku Shunsui sighed. As the person who has known Yamamoto Genryūsai longest out of other Captains, Kyōraku Shunsui knew Yamamoto Genryūsai very well. In Yamamoto Genryūsai’s case, if he cared about someone, the stricter he’d be toward that person. Yamamoto wouldn’t say that much if he didn’t fancy Azashiro.

Azashiro Sōya’s complexion changed. He was about to say something back, but he suddenly pondered about his action and belief because of Yamamoto Genryūsai’s words.

“Upon compiling Azashiro Sōya’s report, Captain Unohana’s report, and the injured Shinigami’s testimony, Watanabe Keiryū is hereby branded as a traitor to the Soul Society. Arrest him on sight, or execute him if necessary! This order applies to all Gotei 13, including the Captains.”

“Captain Hikifune.”

Yamamoto looked towards Hikifune Kirio.

“According to the 12th Division’s report, it’s safe to say that Watanabe Keiryū is fleeing to Human World. He was also accompanied by 5th Division Lieutenant Ryūzaki Sengyo and 5th Division 5th Seat Watanabe Ichiro.”

“I’ll be sending 2 Captains to lead their men in pursuit of these 3 to the Human World.”

“Captain-Commander.”

“Hm?” Yamamoto Genryūsai looked towards Hikifune Kirio.

“The moment we discovered that Watanabe Keiryū and two others tried to flee to Human World, Lieutenant Kimura Muyang from our division immediately went on pursuit, so can I specifically request participation in this case?”

“Oho?”

Both Yamamoto Genryūsai and Hikifune Kirio exchanged gaze briefly.

“Alright, in that case, 8th Division Captain Kyōraku Shunsui, 12th Division Captain Hikifune Kirio, I hereby order you two to go to Human World and pursue the three traitors from the 5th Division. You may execute them if you deem it necessary.”

“6th Division Captain Kuchiki Ginrei and 13th Division Captain Ukitake Jūshirō, I’ll have you two accompany me to escort the criminal Azashiro Sōya to Central 46.”

“The rest of the Captains shall remain standby in Captain’s Office until further orders are given.”

“Dismissed.”

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“So, Kimura Muyang actually went after them.”

“Yeah, he charged forward the moment he sensed Watanabe Keiryū’s Reiatsu.”

“He sensed Watanabe Keiryū’s Reiatsu and immediately went after him…?”

Both Hikifune Kirio and Kyōraku Shunsui glanced at each other and smiled shortly after. Although Kimura Muyang did go off on his own without orders, they both knew that small things like this happened from time to time and just laughed it off.

“Kyōraku, have you notified your men?”

“Didn’t I tell you?” seeing the puzzled look on Hikifune Kirio’s face, Kyōraku Shunsui elaborated, “Lisa-chan basically always eavesdrop on Captain’s Meeting, so she should be preparing our men by now, so it’s fine if I head straight to Kimura.”

Hikifune Kirio now seemed confused. His Lieutenant Kimura Muyang went off without orders, and Kyōraku Shunsui’s Lieutenant actually eavesdropped on Captain’s Meeting. She was at a loss for wods

“How about yours?” Kyōraku Shunsui asked casually.

“I have notified my 3rd Seat with Kakushitsuijaku, so we should head straight to our objective.”

“I didn’t notice at all. Since when did you…? You’re really something else.” Kyōraku Shunsui couldn’t help but admire her as even he didn’t notice when she had the time to use Kidō.

“It’s just a little trick that I came up with. That aside, I am even really worried about  Kimura. That little… If he really catches up, I don’t know what will happen…”

“If that’s the case, let’s pick up the pace.” Kyōraku Shunsui and Hikifune Kirio sped up towards where Kimura Muyang was.

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