"What do you mean?"
Karin's eyes showed confusion.
She didn't understand the meaning of Kyoya's words.
What did it mean that he couldn't restore her mother's soul, but possessed the ability to have her mother avoid that crisis?
"Wait, Kyoya-sama, how is something like that possible?"
Hitsugaya, standing beside her, understood.
But precisely because he understood, Hitsugaya exclaimed.
"What do you mean?"
Hitsugaya didn't respond to Karin but looked solemnly at Kyoya's projection. "Kyoya-sama, are you serious?"
"Haha, Hitsugaya, when have you ever seen me joke about something others care about?"
"But..."
Hitsugaya hesitated.
This was the power to interfere with time.
In the Seireitei, Kido related to time and space were classified as forbidden arts.
Even learning them was prohibited, let alone using them.
Of course, that's what they said, but if someone could truly resist learning forbidden arts of time and space, they'd really be an idiot.
As long as one wasn't discovered using them publicly, no one would inquire.
But if discovered, they would be sentenced like the former Kido Chief of the Kido Corps, Tsukabishi Tessai.
Now, the Revolutionary Army and the Gotei 13 were in a sort of honeymoon period, but some special prohibitions were the Seireitei's bottom line.
Also, even Kido involving time and space couldn't resurrect a human who died seven years ago.
"Hitsugaya, don't let Shinigami power cloud your perception."
"This world is far more mysterious than you imagine."
"If some possess the ability to foresee the future, naturally others possess the ability to change the past."
"Foresee the future, change the past..."
Hitsugaya's gaze turned deep.
Foreseeing the future… he knew about that.
The prophecy more than two years later was a prophecy set by Yhwach, the progenitor of the Quincies.
This was an ability of 'foreseeing the future'.
Because he saw his future success in the future, he chose to return a thousand years later.
The reason everyone in the Gotei 13 and Kyoya took this so seriously was because this future was already 'determined'.
The present was their present, but also the 'past' for the future Yhwach.
Without a doubt, the power to change the past could be said to counter the power to foresee the future.
Which was it? Did foreseeing the future foresee all possibilities and choose the most beneficial one, or did changing the past obscure the future, hiding the future one wanted to change within the past?
"I don't really understand."
Hitsugaya shook his head.
These abilities, whichever they were, exceeded his comprehension.
"Hitsugaya, you must know that the past is determined, but the future holds countless possibilities."
"Among these countless possibilities, seizing the desired future, making the world develop towards a determined future… this is an ability only the Soul King possesses."
"For someone with the ability to change the past, they don't live in the 'present' or 'future', but in the 'past'."
"Our present is just one of their countless future selves."
"If someone could use their ability to go back to the day your mother was attacked, and shield her from a fatal crisis, would your mother still have died?"
"Once the power ends, the two worlds will merge into one, allowing your mother to witness your growth!"
"Kyoya-sama, please!"
"Please, you must save my mother..."
"I'm willing to do anything you ask."
"Hahaha, Karin, no need for that."
Kyoya laughed. "Even without your appearance, I had already decided to save Ichigo's mother."
"However, if you want to repay me, I'd ask you to explain to this idiot disciple of mine about modern development in the Living World, and strategies on how to develop ancient times into modern times."
"After all, this is something this idiot disciple of mine struggles with now and likely in the future."
"Idiot disciple?"
Karin looked at Hitsugaya, then at Kyoya, and nodded in understanding.
"Hey, who are you calling an idiot disciple? You salary thief!"
Even the Revolutionary Army had salaries.
Kyoya, as the Supreme Leader of the Revolutionary Army, naturally received the highest salary.
But in reality, Revolutionary Army's matters were now handled by Koga and the various Army Commanders. Kyoya often existed more as a mascot.
Moreover, if there weren't urgent major matters, Kyoya almost never appeared in the Revolutionary Army.
Therefore, Hitsugaya calling Kyoya a salary thief wasn't wrong.
"Hitsugaya, besides you, do I have any other disciples here?"
"It seems your intelligence has regressed after not seeing you for a while."
"You!!"
"Pfft, hahahaha..."
Seeing the exchange between Kyoya and Hitsugaya, Karin clutched her stomach laughing.
She hadn't been this happy in a long time.
"Alright, your request, I agree!"
"Hey, aren't you going to ask for my opinion?"
Hitsugaya frowned.
"Then, Hitsugaya, don't you want to understand more about the Living World, or know how to develop the Rukongai's future to be like the Living World?"
Kyoya's single sentence silenced Hitsugaya.
Indeed, after witnessing the Living World's prosperity, Hitsugaya very much wanted to develop the Rukongai into a utopia no less splendid than the human world.
But he also knew that without someone familiar with the living world explaining and strategizing for him, he couldn't achieve it.
Now that Kyoya had Karin solve his problem, he really couldn't miss this opportunity due to personal issues.
"Hitsugaya, if you're really angry, then grow up quickly. Take over my position sooner, and fire me, the biggest salary thief in the Revolutionary Army!"
Seeing Hitsugaya had acquiesced, Kyoya didn't linger further. He dispersed his power, letting the projection vanish like a bubble.
"Let's go. What do you want to know?"
Seeing Kyoya disappear, Karin wanted to say something, but remembering how Kyoya appeared earlier and fearing he might hear, she turned and asked Hitsugaya.
"First, tell me about the history of the Living World!"
Hitsugaya learned from Kyoya that the best way to understand an era was to see what happened during it.
Over a hundred years ago, the living world was still in the Warring States period, comparable to the last twenty-some districts of the Rukongai.
But now, over a hundred years later, if not for Kyoya leaving the Seireitei to form the Revolutionary Army, the people of the Rukongai would have seen little change.
And the Living World?
In this place, almost no one suffered from hunger or lack of clothing.
Even if life was tough and tiring, they could support a family.
Additionally, children had many entertainment facilities, with food, clothing, shelter, and transportation guaranteed.
Those living well weren't inferior to the nobles in the Seireitei.
Karin was also very curious about the Soul Society.
After all, it was the world of the dead.
Even though her brother, Kurosaki Ichigo, was a Substitute Shinigami who had entered the Soul Society several times, Karin never asked him about the Soul Society's situation.
Because in Karin's view, living people worrying about the world after death was pointless.
Even if you knew, so what?
Were you going to die now?
But now, with hope of saving her mother, Karin felt it might not be bad to learn a bit.
"Haha, calling me a salary thief..."
"If you have the ability, go steal a salary too!"
"But with Hitsugaya's personality, he probably couldn't become a salary thief."
In the City of Daylight in Hueco Mundo, Kyoya chuckled softly.
Having been in the Bleach World for so many years, Kyoya had taught quite a few people.
Gin, Byakuya, Rangiku, etc., were ones Kyoya invested considerable effort in.
But none compared to Hitsugaya.
Gin was a snake, but he was a snake solely for Rangiku.
Except for Rangiku, Gin cared about nothing.
Therefore, Kyoya never held any expectations for Gin.
Byakuya… his entire life was bound by the 'Kuchiki' name, destined never to break free from the noble framework.
Rangiku...
Well, she was a slacker, forcibly pushed by Kyoya to Captain-level.
But Rangiku's limit was only this far.
She couldn't bear more responsibility.
Only Hitsugaya did Kyoya nurture as a successor.
Although Kyoya would leave the Bleach World in the future, he still hoped to leave something behind in this world.
Hitsugaya was the one to continue Kyoya's dreams, to complete what Kyoya hadn't finished.
"Oh, Aizen is making a move?"
Dispersing the projection in the Living World, Kyoya shifted his gaze towards Las Noches.
Although the light in Hueco Mundo couldn't compare to the living world, Kyoya could still see Gin approaching his location.
"Aizen actually sent Gin over..."
"It seems he still values the City of Daylight quite a bit."
"Should I give him a surprise?"
Kyoya stroked his chin, then finally shook his head.
Back in the Seireitei, Aizen was already quite frightened by him.
If he scared Aizen again in Hueco Mundo, Kyoya couldn't be sure if Aizen's evolution would go awry.
After all, judging from Aizen's battle with Ichigo, Aizen's mentality at this time wasn't very good.
His previous dignified demeanor was because he prided himself on his strong strength and invincible abilities.
But after being defeated by Ichigo's even greater power, his mentality collapsed, leading him towards an erroneous evolution path.
If not for his final evolution being interrupted by Kisuke, Aizen might have truly become the King of Hueco Mundo under the Hogyoku's power.
After being imprisoned in Muken, Aizen's mind regained calm. Though sealed, under the Hogyoku's power, he achieved a more perfect evolution.
The Aizen of the Thousand-Year Blood War was the truly perfect Aizen.
'It's been a long time since I properly chatted with Gin. This time, let me see how much Gin has improved over the years!'
Thinking this, Kyoya glanced at the Zanpakuto at his waist.
After completing the [Emperor] achievement in the pirate route, Kyoya obtained the Davy D. Jones bloodline, gaining a physique that could consume two Devil Fruits.
Translated to the Bleach World, it meant Kyoya could possess a second Zanpakuto.
Among the many achievement rewards, Kyoya naturally obtained several very powerful abilities.
After much screening, Kyoya ultimately chose the fruit that would boost his strength the most as his Zanpakuto.
This fruit's ability was very strong, but its original user was somewhat lacking, not showcasing its full potential.
But in Kyoya's hands, it was an ability that could allow him to make an ultimate leap.
In fact, if this fruit's ability and the Pika Pika no Mi were placed together back then, Kyoya might have chosen this fruit.
Patting the Zanpakuto at his waist, Kyoya rose from his throne.
Having obtained this fellow for so long without letting it come out for air, this time, he'd use this ability to play with Gin!
'The City of Daylight...'
'Who could it be?'
In the sky, Gin flew towards the location given by Tosen while pondering the master of the City of Daylight.
The City of Daylight… just from the name, one could guess it was a force opposing Las Noches.
And Las Noches had been under Aizen's control for over a hundred years.
The battle defeating the former king of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan, was one Gin participated in.
That was also the first time Gin witnessed the terrifying ability of Aizen's Zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu.
Aizen merely released his Zanpakuto, and the senses of all Hollows in Las Noches were under his control.
They thought they were fighting the three of them, but in reality, they were fighting each other.
Even the king of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan, was ultimately toyed with by Aizen's ability, forced to bow his head and let his crown fall to the ground.
The City of Daylight appeared within the last twenty years.
Meaning, the master behind the City of Daylight targeted not the former king of Hueco Mundo, Baraggan, but the current master of Las Noches, Aizen!
Otherwise, Aizen would probably have had Baraggan deal with the City of Daylight.
Mentally sorting through Aizen's enemies one by one, Gin's pupils suddenly contracted.
With such ability, such strength, and so much time... counting them all, Gin felt Kyoya seemed the most likely possibility.
'That guy actually entered Hueco Mundo this way?'
'Was he here to protect me?'
Although Gin knew Kyoya protecting him was more likely to prevent Rangiku from being sad if something happened to him, being protected to this extent, even with Gin's ice-cold blood, evoked a sense of warmth.
Over all these years, only the time serving as Lieutenant of the 11th Division was Gin's happiest period.
He could spend time with Rangiku every day without worrying about making a mistake and having Aizen detect his flaws, nor having to wear a mask all day doing things he disliked...
'If it really is Kyoya, what should I do?'
The more Gin thought, the more he felt the person behind the City of Daylight was Kyoya.
But figuring it out, Gin felt troubled.
Aizen ordered him to bring the person behind the City of Daylight back. Was Kyoya someone he could bring back?