Chapter 685 Yoruichi: I'm His F*cking S*xtoy!

Because Hueco Mundo was perpetually night, the expedition team couldn't easily tell how much time had passed.

Kanae kept track using a pocket watch she had brought from the Living World.

Several days had passed, and they had encountered many Menos Grandes, but they were all the lowest-level Gillians without self-awareness.

They hadn't even encountered a single slightly stronger, intelligent high-level Gillian.

This puzzled everyone on the expedition. Before they had set out, their Captains and Lieutenants had repeatedly warned them that Hueco Mundo was now extremely dangerous, with no shortage of Vasto Lorde. If they sensed anything wrong, they were to flee immediately.

But after several days, not only had they not seen a Vasto Lorde, they hadn't even encountered a high-level Gillian with self-awareness.

None of the anticipated fierce battles had occurred.

Of course, opponents of this level posed no problem for the expedition team.

After all, everyone present was an elite seated officer who had mastered their Zanpakuto's Shikai.

But the huge gap between expectations and reality left many members, who had been itching for a real fight, feeling rather frustrated.

"How disappointing. Could it be that all the stronger Hollows have killed each other off?"

Beside the campfire, Ikkaku added wood to the fire while complaining to his teammates.

Ikkaku had also volunteered for the expedition to break through his own power bottleneck. Before departure, he had heard members of other divisions talking about how dangerous Hueco Mundo was.

How it seemed like Vasto Lorde were everywhere and Adjuchas were as common as dogs.

But all they had encountered along the way were the lowest-level Gillians that couldn't even speak. There's no challenge at all.

"How could that be, you bald idiot."

Just then, a gruff, middle-aged man's voice came lazily from behind Ikkaku and the others.

Ikkaku's shiny bald head immediately bulged with veins. He opened his mouth to shout back, "Who are you calling bald, you—"

Before he could finish, the curse got stuck in his throat.

Because when he turned around, he saw a black cat lying lazily on the sand behind him, looking at him with an expression that said 'what an idiot'.

Ignoring the looks of the others that seemed about to crack, the black cat shifted to a more comfortable position and continued in that gruff voice, "The strong Hollows don't live here. The place you're in now is just the outskirts of Hueco Mundo."

"Why is there a cat in a place like this?!"

Renji's eyes widened in shock as he stared at the black cat scratching its ear with its hind leg.

Hearing the commotion from the men's side, the female Shinigami from the nearby group also put down their rations and water canteens and gathered around, just in time to hear the black cat continue in its gruff voice, "Spreading outward from Las Noches, the closer you get to Las Noches, the higher the level of the Hollows that live there."

"Vasto Lorde basically live in Las Noches. Beyond that are the Adjuchas. Further out are the high-level Gillians that have gained intelligence."

"As for these lowest-level Gillians you've been cutting down these past few days, they're not even qualified to approach Las Noches... hey, don't just pet me randomly."

Toward the end, the black cat's voice carried clear displeasure.

Because Asuna had already scooped it up from behind, rubbing her cheek against its sleek fur.

"Wow! I can't believe there's a kitty here!" Asuna said blissfully.

"Let me pet it too, let me pet it!"

Shinobu also leaned in eagerly, her eyes sparkling with rare curiosity.

Isane, Rukia, and other female Shinigami also gathered around, one after another reaching out to gently stroke the cat's back.

Seeing Rukia also reach out to pet the mysterious cat, Renji quickly leaned in from the side. "B-be careful! What if it's a Hollow?!"

Hearing this, the hands of the women petting the cat all paused simultaneously.

Megumi silently reached out, grabbed the black cat by the scruff of its neck, and lifted it out of Asuna's arms.

"Probably not. It doesn't have a Hollow Mask."

In the few days they had spent in Hueco Mundo, they had seen many small animals living in this desert. Whether it was the lizards in the sand or the birds flying through the night sky, all of them, without exception, wore the white bone masks symbolizing Hollows on their faces.

But this cat's face had nothing.

The black cat... Yoruichi... twisted her body to free herself from Megumi's grasp, licking her front paw in annoyance. "Honestly, Shinigami these days are getting more and more rude."

Kanae stepped forward, crouched down in front of the cat, and met its gaze. But her eyes now carried a hint of caution and wariness. "Who exactly are you?"

She had observed carefully as well. This cat indeed had no Hollow Mask.

And when the cat had approached the camp, her Observation Haki hadn't sensed any killing intent.

The black cat Yoruichi stopped licking its paw and glanced at Kanae. "It's complicated to explain... Anyway, you're the Hueco Mundo Expedition Team, right? You can go back now."

Hearing this, the expressions of all the expedition members changed.

The black cat Yoruichi continued, "Don't worry. I'll report to the King of Hueco Mundo about the recent surplus of Menos Grandes. He'll figure something out. In short, don't go near Las Noches."

"And who do you think you are?"

Ikkaku couldn't help but sneer, still holding a grudge for being called bald earlier.

'Who did she think she was, to be able to talk to the King of Hueco Mundo?'

The black cat Yoruichi rolled her eyes.

'Who am I? I'm his f*cking s*xtoy, alright?'

"I'm sorry, but we can't trust a... cat that won't even reveal its identity."

After a moment's thought, Kanae decided to refuse.

Besides the official mission of hunting Menos Grandes to maintain the balance of the three worlds, this expedition also had the secret task of gathering intelligence on Hueco Mundo for the Seireitei.

Since this black cat had also said that Hueco Mundo's main forces lived in a place called Las Noches, they needed to go check it out.

Even if they didn't engage in direct conflict, they had to at least gather some useful intelligence before heading back.

With that thought, Kanae turned and ordered the squad members, "Three people on guard duty, shift changes every three hours. Everyone else get some rest. Tomorrow, we head for Las Noches."

Everyone responded in unison, extinguishing their campfires and returning to their tents.

"Hey, weird cat uncle, don't try anything funny. I'll be watching you."

Renji, who was on the first guard shift, walked up to the black cat lying beside a tent and warned.

"Who are you calling uncle?"

Yoruichi rolled her eyes.

Watching these young Shinigami completely ignore her warning, Yoruichi began to hesitate whether she should just reveal her true identity to them directly.

But after thinking it over, she decided against it.

Her reputation in the Soul Society was probably quite bad right now.

Even if she told them, these young ones probably wouldn't trust her anyway.

Then, Yoruichi noticed the armband on Megumi's arm, symbolizing her position as Lieutenant of the 2nd Division.

'This girl was from the 2nd Division?'

'Since she was a Lieutenant, the current Captain must be that girl Sui-Feng.'

'Sui-Feng actually chose someone who didn't seem to have much of a temper as her assistant… That was surprising.'