There was no doubt that the person complaining earlier was a Shinigami who had committed offenses and joined the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force to have their crimes pardoned.
"Alright, enough with the talk. When we requested aid from the Soul Society before, they said they would send reinforcements as soon as possible. They just need some time to prepare," One Shinigami said.
"And even if, by chance, we die in battle before the Soul Society's reinforcements arrive, it's no big deal. I was prepared to serve the Soul Society loyally the moment I joined the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force," this Shinigami said with a resolute expression.
Clearly, this was a Shinigami who joined the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force out of idealism.
"As long as we kill one more Hollow here, the Soul Society and the Living World become a bit safer," The Shinigami continued.
Hearing his words, the Shinigami who complained earlier couldn't help but feel some respect and fell silent.
Inside the tent at the center of the camp, the leaders of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force were holding a meeting.
The Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force was led by the commander. Under him were four corps, each with over a hundred people, led by a corps commander.
The 1st Corps was led by the expeditionary force's commander himself, who also served as its corps commander.
But now, only three corps commanders and the deputy commander of the 1st Corps were here. Since the expeditionary force's commander had died in battle earlier, they were currently in charge.
"Ando, the Soul Society's reinforcements are supposed to arrive today, right?" asked Ota Masaru, commander of the 2nd Corps.
"That's right. The Soul Society did say they'd arrive today. We just haven't received specific news yet," replied Ando Akimine, deputy commander of the 1st Corps.
"Sigh... If the Soul Society's reinforcements don't arrive soon, we're truly finished," said Kawano Yoshio, commander of the 4th Corps, somewhat pessimistically.
"Haha, Kawano, don't be so down. Be more optimistic. We'll definitely hold out until the Soul Society's reinforcements arrive," said the commander of the 3rd Corps, a Shinigami with slightly curly hair and stubble on his chin.
"Amagai, how can you still laugh when our situation is so dire?" Kawano asked.
"Precisely because the situation is dire, we need to be optimistic," said Amagai, the 3rd Corps commander.
Just as Kawano was about to say something more, a Shinigami hurriedly entered.
"Commanders, the reinforcements... the reinforcements are here!" The Shinigami said excitedly.
"Really?!"
The several of them 'sprang' to their feet.
"Quick, notify everyone to assemble! Let's go welcome them," They hurriedly said.
"Yes!" The Shinigami responded and quickly went outside.
Outside the camp, Toshiro was leading the Soul Society's reinforcements towards the expeditionary force's camp.
The expeditionary force members were also walking towards the reinforcements led by Toshiro.
Finally, both sides 'joined forces' outside the expeditionary force camp.
Toshiro brushed off the sand-colored dust from his clothes. Since most of Hueco Mundo was desert, Momo had made him a cloak to protect against wind and sand before he left. Then, Toshiro looked at the corps commanders leading the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force.
"That... you are the reinforcements sent by the Soul Society? I am Ando Akimine, deputy commander of the 1st Corps of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force. Where is the person in charge of the reinforcements? We have matters to discuss with them," Ando said, looking at Toshiro, who stood at the front of the reinforcement ranks.
Toshiro frowned slightly and said, "I am the one leading the reinforcements from the Soul Society this time."
"You?!"
The corps commanders looked at Toshiro incredulously.
'A Shinigami so young was actually in charge of the reinforcements?'
When they first saw Toshiro, they had felt a bit of sympathy for him.
In their eyes, a Shinigami so young being sent to support the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force must have offended someone.
Otherwise, at such a young age, clearly still a child, why would he come to Hueco Mundo?
The corps commanders looked over the Soul Society's reinforcement ranks again, but to their disappointment, no one from the reinforcements denied Toshiro's words. Meaning, this child in their eyes was indeed the person in charge of the reinforcements.
Toshiro ignored the corps commanders before him and instead looked at the ranks of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force.
Toshiro glanced over the ranks and could only think of one word.
Pitiful! Toshiro had heard before coming that the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force maintained a size of around five hundred. But now, there weren't even fifty left! And of those few dozen, many were wounded, with very few remained unscathed.
"Ah... yes," Ando replied, snapping back to reality.
Toshiro said loudly, "Since everyone is here, I'll directly announce the Soul Society's order!"
Toshiro took out a piece of paper from his robes and read: "Hereby appoint the 10th Division's Third Seat, Hitsugaya Toshiro, as Commander of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, responsible for all affairs of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, with full authority to act as he sees fit! By the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and Captain of the 1st Division, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni."
"Wha-?!"
"How is that possible?"
"Someone so young is to become our expeditionary force commander?"
"Is he from a noble family, here to gain experience?"
"Shouldn't be... Even for experience, they wouldn't come here, right?"
"I just heard he's a Third Seat. To become a Third Seat at this age, must be a genius."
"Even a genius is just a Third Seat. What use is that? The previous commander, Yamazaki, was close to Captain-level strength, but even Commander Yamazaki died in battle, let alone a Third Seat!"
The members of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force were all murmuring, expressing doubt about Toshiro.
Even the corps commanders were very dissatisfied with the Soul Society's decision, looking at him with eyes full of suspicion.
"Good grief... This again," Toshiro said somewhat helplessly.
Toshiro was often doubted because of his age. In the Soul Society, it was better, after all, as his fame grew, many knew of his strength and didn't dare underestimate him.
But the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force had been campaigning in Hueco Mundo for years. They didn't know what the name 'Hitsugaya Toshiro' represented in the Soul Society.
'It seems that to lead the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force in Hueco Mundo, the first step is to prove my strength and establish authority,' Toshiro sighed inwardly.