Chapter 1511 - 34: Guest

Chapter 1511: Chapter 34: Guest

Momo Hinamori stared in shock at the empty sword rack. It took her a moment to come to her senses. In the centuries since becoming a Soul Reaper, she had never imagined a Zanpakutō could be stolen; it seemed utterly impossible.

The bond between a Soul Reaper and their Zanpakutō is deeply rooted in the soul. Unfortunately, Bubu Wang had managed to block this connection or, more accurately, blend the Zanpakutō into its surroundings.

After her initial shock, Momo Hinamori swiftly gathered her thoughts, her gaze scanning the area. She could feel that her Zanpakutō, Pi Slayer Jizo, was nearby.

"No need to hide. Come out."

Momo Hinamori let out a cold snort, disdain on her face. Though she appeared calm, anxiety gnawed at her inside. She had already notified the hidden sentries in the lab, instructing them to seal off the building.

Not far away, Bubu Wang glanced at Momo Hinamori, having encountered such low-level tactics countless times.

"Since you refuse to reveal yourself, you’ll perish here."

Momo Hinamori flexed her fingers, each resembling withered branches, giving off an unnatural vibe.

If others were present, they might think Momo Hinamori was about to strike, yet she remained still, unable to sense Bubu Wang.

Boom!

A loud noise erupted from outside the lab. This was the signal. Bubu Wang dashed towards the exit, with Momo Hinamori in hot pursuit, oblivious to Bubu Wang’s presence.

Moments later, Momo Hinamori reached the lab’s main entrance, finding the metal door, reinforced with Killing Stone, blown open, surrounded by a few corpses, each with sword-inflicted wounds.

"Captain, the thief fled that way!"

A Soul Reaper with a severed arm leaned against a corner, his face pale, teetering on the brink of unconsciousness.

"This can’t be right."

Momo Hinamori sprinted to the hole in the door, blocking the path. She had deduced the sequence of events.

First, an invisible enemy infiltrated the lab, stealing her Zanpakutō. Simultaneously, the thief’s accomplice assaulted the lab head-on, wrecking the main entrance, clearly providing an escape route.

Momo Hinamori’s hypothesis was almost correct, except she miscalculated one detail: the attack on the main door was merely to lure her out.

Just as Momo Hinamori secured the main entrance, the sound of a side of the lab collapsing echoed, her face shifting. After a brief hesitation, she didn’t head to the side; it was too late, finding it meaningless now.

Momo Hinamori’s lips twitched violently, aware of the consequences of losing her Zanpakutō. Seventy percent of her power resided in it, and if lost, her old foes would surely seek her demise.

Thus, Momo Hinamori had to recover her Zanpakutō as swiftly as possible. The Soul Society was a ruthless place, where only personal strength ensured safety.

Although losing her Zanpakutō wouldn’t cost her the captaincy of the Twelfth Division, given her contributions to the Soul Society, her safety was no longer guaranteed.

Realizing this, Momo Hinamori’s expression darkened further.

"Captain, someone has invaded our base."

A slightly chubby Soul Reaper rushed over, looking flustered.

"Do you think I’m blind?"

Momo Hinamori lowered her eyes, simmering with rage inside.

"Captain, we should..."

Smack!

Momo Hinamori slapped her hand over the chubby Soul Reaper’s mouth, nearly knocking him out with the force.

"Shh..."

Momo Hinamori placed her index finger on her lips, a smile slowly emerging on her face.

"So that’s where it is."

As the words fell, Momo Hinamori vanished, stomping the ground beneath her.

Momo Hinamori could sense her Zanpakutō purely because Bubu Wang abandoned its efforts to block it, testing how far she could maintain the bond with her Zanpakutō. This time, it tested for half a kilometer.

Arriving as quickly as possible, Momo Hinamori found only a message etched in the ground nearby.

’Give up, you’re not capable.’

Reading this message, Momo Hinamori’s lips trembled with anger, but this was only the beginning.

0.5 kilometers, 1 kilometer, 1.2 kilometers, 2 kilometers, Bubu Wang gradually tested the sensory range between Momo Hinamori and her Zanpakutō, leaving her constantly on the chase.

Three hours later.

"Damn it!!"

Momo Hinamori clenched her fists, roaring in frustration as passing Soul Reapers looked on.

She had yet to inform the other captains about losing her Zanpakutō, for it was unthinkable; being the Captain of the Twelfth Division and losing it at her own base was beyond comprehension.

Bubu Wang had already determined the sensing range between Momo Hinamori and her Zanpakutō to be approximately 2.3 kilometers; beyond this distance, she couldn’t locate it.

This extensive range explains why Soul Reapers seldom feared losing their Zanpakutō, for thieves would be immediately detected and pursued.

Within the First Squad Station, in Su Xiao’s room.

The door opened without warning and then closed on its own, a sign that Bubu Wang had returned.

Bubu Wang didn’t bring back the Zanpakutō, knowing bringing it to Su Xiao’s quarters was unwise. Instead, it hid Momo Hinamori’s Zanpakutō in a forest in the Hollows Street region, guarded by the shadow.

Ever since Aizen’s demise, Su Xiao frequently ventured out, often between the First Squad and Fifth Division Stations, in the name of investigating Aizen’s death.

Following Aizen’s murder, Komamura Sajin’s death at the White Road Gate, and intruder chaos in the Soul Society, the Guard Court Thirteen Teams were left in turmoil.

At midday, explosive news spread among the captains: Momo Hinamori’s Zanpakutō had been misplaced.

All captains were stupefied, leading the Twelfth Division’s entire force to conduct a large-scale search.

Su Xiao remained indifferent, maintaining his routine, continuously crafting Spirit Particle Balls. The more, the better, albeit these extras weren’t meant for Jingling Court’s submission.

At four in the afternoon, the door opened to reveal a petite girl with short bangs, her expression cold.

"Bai Ye, come with me."

The girl’s eyes glinted with frost; she was the Second Squad Captain, Soi Fon.

Su Xiao, at the workbench, set aside the test tube and picked up a wooden box containing 100 Spirit Particle Balls.

"Catch."

Su Xiao tossed the box to Soi Fon and headed for the door.

"This way."

Soi Fon didn’t seem intent on leading Su Xiao out of the wooden building; instead, she headed deeper inside. With so many occurrences within Jingling Court, any level-headed captain would suspect Su Xiao, but he was already prepared.

After weaving through the building, they arrived at a room on the basement level.

Creaking, Soi Fon pushed open the door, gesturing for Su Xiao to enter.

"Even now, you continue to disguise yourself."

Soi Fon crossed her arms, a finger guard blade on her right middle finger, revealing her Zanpakutō’s Initial Release form.