Chapter 197 – Aizen’s Art of Persuasion
As long as one possessed sufficient strength, everything in the world would treat them with kindness.
Even Aizen couldn't refute this point.
However, while he couldn’t argue against Ailin’s viewpoint, Aizen didn’t agree with it either.
Because that was the cruelest truth of this world - betrayal.
The Soul King's power was undeniable.
However, his overwhelming strength had given the Five Great Noble Houses under his command different ideas.
In the end, the Soul King was betrayed by the five subordinates he trusted.
However, through the future he could see, the Soul King believed his sacrifice was worthwhile.
Therefore, despite being sealed within the amber crystal, despite enduring centuries of torment by the Tsunayashiro clan and being reduced to a limbless torso, the Soul King still harbored no thoughts of destroying the world.
Even when he could no longer bear it and sought death as a release, he chose the path that would cause the least harm to the world among countless futures, guiding it towards that specific future.
In that future, a being capable of killing him would be born, along with three or four others who could perfectly replace him as the "lynchpin" to stabilize the world.
No matter what the world might become after his demise, its future wouldn’t change significantly.
Therefore, when Captain Ailin called him a precedent, Aizen chuckled softly.
“Captain Ailin, are you sure I am truly a precedent? If I'm not mistaken, Captain Ailin is still so leisurely at this moment. I presume there hasn’t been any chaos within Seireitei.
In other words, Captain Ailin has inherited the fruits of my centuries of labor, using Kyōka Suigetsu to hypnotize all of Seireitei and allowing someone else to become the captain of the 5th Division. Under such circumstances, no one knows that I have been silently replaced by you. How can anyone learn from my example?”
Indeed, in the recent incident with Baishin, no one knew that Sōsuke Aizen was behind it, nor did they know that Aizen had been silently replaced by Ailin.
As a result, those who harbored ill intentions towards Ailin or the Kuchiki clan might misunderstand Ailin’s nature.
“Captain Ailin, you possess the strength to overturn Seireitei, but you must also demonstrate the will to use that strength. Otherwise, many might perceive you as kind-hearted and employ despicable means to threaten you.”
Aizen's words were not unreasonable.
However...
"Captain Aizen, I must say, you are truly worthy of being the one who wielded the strongest illusion-type Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu. Your ability to deceive with words is no less potent than Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnotic power."
Ailin stretched lazily and spoke nonchalantly. “Do you think there's anyone else in Seireitei, besides you, who would dare to target the Kuchiki clan, or me?
Previously, perhaps due to a lack of information, I could only react to those who surfaced, eliminating anyone who dared to act against me. But now, Captain Aizen, the network of informants you cultivated for hundreds of years delivers interesting intelligence to me almost every day.
Do you think that with this intelligence capability, I can crush the plans of those ambitious families before they even have a chance to act?”
Aizen’s persuasive skills were truly on par with Orochimaru from another world.
However, since Captain Aizen had deliberately allowed them to experience his Zanpakutō’s ability, there was naturally no danger.
Therefore, the students wandered through the mist, experiencing the sensation of being affected by its power.
Observing the students as they stumbled around like headless flies on the training ground, Ailin's gaze quickly settled on a few individuals.
Renji Abarai, Momo Hinamori, and Izuru Kira!
They were the three most talented students in this year’s class.
However, among them, only Renji Abarai's behavior in the white mist earned Ailin's approval.
Renji Abarai truly possessed the strongest combat instincts. Even though he knew this was Captain Aizen allowing them to experience his Zanpakutō’s ability, his right hand never left the hilt of his training sword.
Momo Hinamori was no different from the other students. She marveled at Captain Aizen's Zanpakutō ability but never considered how she would react if she encountered a similar ability in a real battle.
About thirty seconds later, sensing that some students were becoming anxious, Ailin dispelled Kyōka Suigetsu's hypnosis over their five senses.
“Captain Aizen's ability is so powerful!”
The students looked at Aizen with admiration and yearning.
Seeing was indeed believing.
Captain Aizen was truly one of the strongest individuals in the Gotei 13.
This ability was far more powerful than many seemingly impressive Zanpakutō abilities.
After all, in that thick fog, they couldn’t even see their enemies. Attacking blindly would likely result in friendly fire.
“Hahaha, among the captains, my ability is quite unremarkable. Moreover, you are still in the learning phase. Perhaps after you obtain your own Zanpakutō, the abilities you cultivate might even surpass mine.
Well, students, today's lesson ends here. Train diligently and strive to achieve good results in the Shin'ō Academy's graduation exams so that you can join the Gotei 13.
We are the ones guarding Seireitei now. But Seireitei’s future requires you to grow strong and protect it yourselves! Do your best. I have high hopes for you.”
After his customary motivational speech, Ailin sheathed Kyōka Suigetsu, bid farewell to the students, and left the training ground.
During his conversation with Aizen in Unlimited Blade Works that day, Ailin had ultimately agreed to Aizen’s proposal. However, he didn't release him prematurely.
The time wasn't right yet.
Although it was Aizen who had brought it up, even if he hadn't, Ailin had planned to release him at some point in the future.
It was part of his plan.
For one thing, Ailin didn't want his left arm, which was currently impersonating Aizen, to be sealed in Muken for 18,000 years.
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