Starrk was not intimidated by her presence. Instead, he simply smiled.
"So… I take it Lilynette agreed to your terms, didn't she, Your Majesty, King of Hueco Mundo?"
As he spoke, Starrk turned his gaze toward Masatsuki Aozaki.
Masatsuki Aozaki smiled faintly, nodded, and said softly,
"You're right. Lilynette has agreed, and from now on, you two belong to me."
"Don't worry, sticking with me won't be a loss. I guarantee you'll only go hungry nine times out of ten…"
"…Anyway, just drop my name when you're out and about, and no one will dare mess with you."
Then, still smiling, he extended his hand toward Starrk and introduced himself.
"I'm Masatsuki Aozaki. Looking forward to working with you."
Is this how a master and servant are supposed to talk?
Starrk tilted his head slightly but still responded politely,
"Nice to meet you. I'm Coyote Starrk. Looking forward to working with you as well."
Masatsuki Aozaki turned toward Lilynette, the corners of his mouth curling into a slight smirk.
"Lilynette-san, looks like Starrk doesn't need any convincing. Your worries were completely unnecessary."
His voice carried a teasing edge.
Hearing this, Lilynette's face flushed red with frustration.
She shot Masatsuki Aozaki a glare and snapped,
"Of course I saw that! I don't need you pointing it out!"
Then, turning toward Starrk, she jabbed him in the arm with her elbow, gritting her teeth as she demanded,
"And you, Starrk! You just up and became someone's subordinate without a second thought? You don't feel even a little resistance to this?"
Her eyes were filled with doubt and irritation.
Starrk sighed, shaking his head with a helpless smile.
"Well, honestly, I was planning to surrender anyway… I just got knocked around so much that I didn't get the chance to say it."
As he spoke, he shrugged as if to say it couldn't be helped.
Lilynette's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Huh!?"
Her voice was filled with both shock and anger.
She had agonized over the decision, struggling internally before finally choosing to surrender and join Masatsuki Aozaki.
And now he tells me he was already thinking about it from the start!?
Sensing Lilynette's growing fury, Starrk quickly tried to explain.
"Well, the power gap was just too big. We had no chance of winning anyway."
He waved his hands dismissively, showing that he was just as resigned to the situation.
"And besides… it's not every day you run into someone like this…"
His words trailed off suddenly, and for a brief moment, a complex emotion flickered in his eyes.
Lilynette also fell silent.
She understood what he had left unsaid.
Meeting someone who could be a companion.
She knew that was what he meant to say.
"The real surprises are still ahead," Lilynette muttered under her breath.
After arriving at Las Noches, she had come to a realization—there were more than just one or two people here who could be called companions.
Even "terrifying monsters" weren't limited to just Masatsuki Aozaki.
Looking for comrades?
This place might just be the best place for that.
"Next, let me introduce you two to our company's rules and regulations. As for your positions…"
As Masatsuki Aozaki spoke, he suddenly stopped.
Starrk, noticing the pause, looked at him with a hint of curiosity.
"What's wrong, Masatsuki-sama?"
Masatsuki Aozaki furrowed his brows, his expression turning serious.
"I just realized… our company doesn't seem to have any rules, nor do we have defined positions."
Lilynette and Starrk: "?"
…Did we just walk into a shady operation?
...
"When the wind rises, the clouds scatter; when might reigns, I return home. Where shall I find warriors to guard the four directions?"
"The Shinigami must always be eradicated. There's no other way."
"Think about it—you and your subordinates are roaming Hueco Mundo, feasting on souls, singing songs, and then out of nowhere, a Shinigami comes and purifies you."
"That's why… the days without Shinigami are the best days!"
Inside Las Noches, seated atop the White Bone Throne, Masatsuki Aozaki sat with a heroic posture, delivering a passionate speech.
Below the throne, murmurs spread among the gathered Arrancar.
"What exactly is His Majesty talking about?"
"I have no idea!"
"I think I get it… he's planning to take action against the Shinigami?"
"But… isn't His Majesty a Shinigami himself?"
"Wait, does this mean Masatsuki-sama has finally decided to lead us in a counterattack against Soul Society? Is he aiming for that old man Yamamoto's position?"
This speculation caused a stir.
Attacking Soul Society—this had been the dream of countless generations of Hollows…
Next to the throne stood five figures.
The most eye-catching among them was Harribel.
As Masatsuki Aozaki's loyal follower and queen, she listened quietly.
Even though she didn't entirely understand what her king was talking about, her expression remained serious.
"Masatsuki-sama, no matter who the enemy is, I will always be the sword in your hand."
Masatsuki Aozaki's face lit up with delight.
"Excellent! You already know I like sleeping with my sword every night. Be sure to come on time tonight."
"Understood."
Harribel responded firmly.
Nelliel, watching from the side, narrowed her eyes at them and let out a soft grumble, clearly displeased.
But there was nothing she could do. She had taken it upon herself to manage security in Las Noches.
And tonight… it was her turn to patrol.
Even if she wanted to, she couldn't stay.
Ulquiorra stood still, one hand resting on the hilt of his Zanpakutō, his expression as unreadable as ever, like a machine staring into the distance.
Whether he was deep in thought or just spacing out was anyone's guess.
Besides them, there were two others—Aizen and Lilynette.
Meanwhile, Starrk was slouched lazily beneath the throne, leaning against the steps as if he hadn't fully woken up.
To him, everything Masatsuki Aozaki was saying sounded like something from a completely different world.
And in truth, it was.
For someone who had never left Hueco Mundo, Soul Society really did feel like another world.
At the end of the day, none of this concerned him much.
He was perfectly content with his current life—
Surrounded by people who wouldn't die just from being near his Reiatsu.
If he could just learn to control it properly, then he could even interact with ordinary Hollows without a problem.
He wasn't the talkative type, but being able to exchange a few words with others now and then was enough to satisfy him.
"So… you really intend to invade Soul Society?"
Aizen finally spoke.
Masatsuki Aozaki, at his core, was still too softhearted—he couldn't fully let go of the people in Soul Society.
If it were Aizen, he wouldn't hesitate.
The moment he completed his evolution, he would immediately lead an attack, seize the throne of the Soul King, and take control of everything.
If Masatsuki Aozaki could finally come to his senses and cast aside his lingering attachments, it would be ideal.
Especially now, after his recent return to Soul Society, Aizen had discovered the Daireishokairō and learned how to create the Ōken.
By sacrificing key spiritual locations, they could forge the Ōken, open the gates to the Soul King's Palace, and ascend to its throne!
But before Aizen could say more—
"You're getting impatient again."
Masatsuki Aozaki clapped his hands together and chuckled.
"What's the point in rushing in now? Do you really think we're guaranteed to win?"
"This…" Aizen faltered, momentarily speechless.
After all, everything he knew about the Royal Guard's strength had come from Masatsuki Aozaki.
And truthfully… he wasn't entirely sure if they could win.
"Alright, alright. Just focus on your research."
Masatsuki Aozaki waved a hand dismissively.
"Leave this kind of thing to me. I still have a speech to finish."