Chapter 663 Residents' Disappearance

A few months later.

In a mansion in the First District of the Rukongai, Reze stood at the doorway, waving her arms and warmly greeting Saeko and her group as they returned from the academy: "Long time no see, Saeko!"

The other girls in the house also poked their heads out of their rooms, waving to welcome Saeko and her group back.

Saeko smiled back and led Hiyori and the others inside.

All the girls sat together in a circle.

"Saeko-nee, how's life at that Shin... Shinji Academy?" Yotsuba asked curiously.

"It's the Shin'o Academy." Shinobu gently reminded her from the side.

"Ahaha, it's all the same~"

Yotsuba scratched her head sheepishly, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Although their plan was to enroll one by one and gradually infiltrate the Gotei 13, Yotsuba had decided from the start not to enroll, nor did she plan to join the Gotei 13.

She was worried she might say the wrong thing due to her absentmindedness and cause trouble for her companions.

"It's fine. Apart from having to hide our abilities from outside this world, there aren't any major problems."

Saeko smiled faintly, sat down on the sofa vacated by the others, and looked around at the girls, some sitting and some lying down, before asking softly, "How has everyone been doing during this time?"

Alice brought out more snacks and tea, her smile carrying a hint of loneliness: "Besides Makoto not being here, everything else is fine."

As soon as she said this, the air in the room seemed to freeze instantly.

Seeing the heavy atmosphere, Chika pulled a deck of cards from under the coffee table and raised it high: "Since Saeko and the others are back, let's play a game!"

Everyone knew Chika was trying to lighten the mood.

The girls exchanged helpless smiles and gathered around the coffee table.

Kaguya reminded her quietly as she sat down: "No cheating."

"I won't!"

Chika slapped the cards on the table indignantly.

The other girls laughed even harder. The earlier tense atmosphere seemed to dissolve quietly in their laughter.

If Chika didn't cheat, she wouldn't be Chika.

In these days without Makoto, it was these familiar bickering and laughter that kept them feeling alive.

Saeko didn't join the card game. She just sat on the nearby sofa, quietly watching Chika, Miku, Hanabi, and the others argue fiercely over a trivial win or loss.

After watching for a while, Saeko suddenly spoke: "For the time being, everyone should try not to go out."

As soon as she said this, all the girls turned to look at Saeko.

Erina asked curiously, "Why?"

Saeko's expression was more serious than usual. "I've recently heard that there have been disappearances among the residents of the Rukongai."

Hearing this, the girls were momentarily stunned.

Kei blinked and said somewhat puzzledly, "Isn't that normal? The Rukongai is already quite chaotic, and there are all kinds of nasty guys fighting all the time. People die every day..."

They had long grown accustomed to the death rate in the Rukongai, especially in the higher-numbered districts, which were just like the non-World Government affiliated countries in the One Piece World.

Before Kei could finish, Saeko interrupted her again: "It's not just death. It's disappearance. And unlike ordinary disappearances, the way these residents vanish is strange. Their clothes are left behind, but the people themselves are gone."

Hearing this, the expressions on all the girls' faces shifted from confusion to shock.

After all these years in this world, they had gradually learned the basic rules of the Soul Society regarding souls.

When people died here, their bodies would dissolve into Reishi along with their clothes, returning to the soil of the Soul Society.

But if only the body disappeared while the clothes remained intact in place, that was far too strange.

In fact, this manner of disappearance wasn't normal death at all, but rather some external force forcibly decomposing the body, preventing it from maintaining its Reishi form and causing it to collapse into nothingness.

Saeko looked around at all the girls' faces and warned seriously, "The incidents have currently been happening in District 6, which is still some distance from us. But I hope everyone stays cautious."

With that, her tone grew more caring: "After all, I want all of us to return to Makoto safely, not a single one missing."

Upon hearing this, all the girls nodded silently.

Another few months passed.

Not only did the disappearances show no signs of subsiding, but more residents continued to vanish mysteriously right under the Seireitei's nose.

What had originally been an occasional occurrence in the higher-numbered districts had now spread to lower-numbered areas. The number of missing persons was growing at an alarming rate.

The situation grew increasingly serious, causing unease throughout the Gotei 13 and even the entire Seireitei.

In response, the Gotei 13 officially dispatched the 9th Division to the affected districts of the Rukongai for on-site investigation.

The Captain and Lieutenant of the 9th Division personally led the team, vowing to uncover the mastermind behind it all.

Another few days passed.

A blaring alarm suddenly exploded over the barracks of the Gotei 13 without warning.

"Emergency assembly! Emergency assembly!"

"All Captains are to report to the 1st Division immediately! The 9th Division has encountered an emergency!"

"The Reiatsu of Captain Muguruma Kensei and Lieutenant Kuna Mashiro has disappeared! All Captains are to report to the 1st Division for emergency assembly immediately!"

Hearing this announcement, Kisuke, Captain of the 12th Division and head of the Technology Development Bureau, turned pale.

Because just this morning, he had personally dispatched his Lieutenant, Sarugaki Hiyori, to deliver supplies to the 9th Division's camp.

Kisuke clenched his jaw.

'Damn it! Why did this have to happen at this time?'

…

Inside the 1st Division's barracks.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto stood at the head of the hall, his eyes half-closed, the pressure radiating from him making the temperature of the entire hall seem to drop several degrees.

He slammed his cane heavily on the floor, producing a dull thud that snapped everyone's attention back to him.

"According to intelligence from the 9th Division's forward camp... the Reiatsu of the Captain, Lieutenant, and several division members has disappeared. Cause unknown."

Yamamoto's voice was resolute. "It is clear that this is an extremely serious situation. Until yesterday, this was merely a simple case of disappearances in the Rukongai. Now, it has become a matter concerning the honor of the entire Gotei 13. It must be resolved immediately."

With that, Yamamoto's expression grew even more solemn, his voice echoing like thunder through the meeting hall: "To this end, I will select five officers to be dispatched to the front line for investigation immediately."

…

On the other side, inside Hueco Mundo, Las Noches.

Las Noches now had even more of a true palace grandeur than a few years ago. With Aizen's assistance, Psykos had created a day-night system just like the one Aizen would later use.

Gin, now wearing the Third Seat armband of the 5th Division, walked through the long corridor of the grand hall, unhurriedly approached the throne, bowed slightly, and said in a casual tone:

"Captain Aizen has made his move. King of Hueco Mundo."

Hearing this, Makoto smiled slightly and slowly rose from his throne.

"Then, let's begin as well."