With all seven Sins now fully established, Gabriel took a moment to organize their positions.
Each Sin would be stationed across the four cardinal directions, ensuring that the empire's rule remained absolute across Hueco Mundo.
North: Wrath – Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez
Tasked with leading relentless offensives against any upstart Hollows who thought they could resist.
South: Gluttony – Yammy Llargo
Deployed to regions that needed total eradication, devouring enemies and ensuring nothing remained.
East: Envy – Belial Cabrón
Controlled the strategic trade routes of Reishi and resources, keeping an eye on anything worth... "borrowing."
West: Sloth – Starrk (TBD)...
Anyway, Gabriel had to find a way to convince Starrk to join the Four Horsemen, yet the man was lazy to his bones.
He refused to do it. For Christ's sake, the man didn't even have a second-in-command.
Last he checked, the man split his soul, created a small green-haired girl, and called her his second-in-command.
So after Gabriel had touched him—okay, that sounded wrong—after Gabriel had fused that fragment of his soul back, the man looked bored, as if nothing in life was important.
"Starrk, you must join the Horsemen," Gabriel said, looking at his lazy second-in-command.
"Mm... yeah, no thanks."
Gabriel's eye twitched.
"Starrk!"
"Nah, man, I'm good. Lotta responsibility. Lotta moving around. I like it here."
"It's not an if nor a but. You will join it," Gabriel said calmly.
"Hm." The man seemed to be acting like a moody woman. The heck?
"You barely get to do shit, so unless some threat that quite literally threatens to destroy Hueco Mundo or the foundation of this kingdom shows up, you won't have to do much, really. Maybe some meetings here and there, but for the most part, you'll be free to do as you wish," Gabriel added.
Starrk seemed to weigh the pros and cons.
The kingdom Gabriel had built was very strong. Even with Gabriel or Harribel gone, Starrk himself would not be able to 1vAll. The Sins were powerful, and although they couldn't beat him, they could do chip damage, and their overpowered abilities were kind of... well, OP.
Then... there was the Nephilim Squad.
Shinigami bodies that Gabriel had injected with Hollow power. Gabriel would then inject the soul of a loyal Hollow into them, granting that Hollow not only Shinigami abilities but also Hollow abilities—so Bankai and Resurrección type of BS.
Granted, they were a work in progress, and the current models would die after one fight, but still, the fact that they could seal his ass was concerning.
And with Gabriel mass-producing so many Arrancar... Hm.
Hm, okay. So unless some guy with a wish-granting orb came in, who just so happened to be overpowered as fuck with hypnotic abilities... yeah, they were fine.
After weighing his options, Starrk sighed.
"...Deal."
Starrk closed his eyes again. "I'll get to it... eventually."
Good enough.
POV Change
Sun-Sun had just finished delivering her latest findings—namely, that she had recruited a small but powerful group of new Hollows into the empire.
"...And I also found something else," she added, her golden eyes glinting with amusement.
Gabriel tilted his head. "Oh?"
She nodded. "There's a pit somewhere in the western territory. I didn't go in because... well..."
She hesitated, which was rare for her.
"...It smelled like danger."
Now that got his attention.
For a Hollow of her level to actively avoid something meant it was serious.
He would check it out later.
Might send Starrk just for shits and giggles.
Actually, Nelliel would be a good option. She was like the Top 4 Sin.
The list went:
Starrk////Harribel//Belial//Grimmjow or Nelliel/Yammy/Aaroniero
So, depending on the threat, the Sin assigned was either the closest one or just the Sin with the most suitable power level.
Yeah, this would be a mission for Nell.
Grimmjow's dumb ass would probably try to fight whatever was down there.
Sun-Sun smirked, tilting her head playfully.
"So~ don't I deserve a reward for my hard work?"
Gabriel raised a brow.
Then, without hesitation, he leaned down and kissed her.
Her eyes widened.
Her whole face flushed red.
Gabriel pulled back. "Good job."
Sun-Sun blinked. Stared. Looked at the ground.
"...I—"
Seemed like she wasn't expecting it. That was fine. She did well.
He even booped her nose.
"You did well. You earned yourself a week off."
He gave her a smile. She blushed at that.
Wasn't he just pampering her?
Well, who cared... Experimenting on Hollows kind of desensitized him to a bunch of stuff. Couldn't believe it took him this long to realize she had a crush on him.
Though, he did wonder—when did it start?
Meh.
That was a problem for his future self.
He would welcome her love with open arms. Not like it would change the fact that Harribel was still his wife.
His main wife.
Might have to teach Sun-Sun some manners.
Well, who cared?
Either way, ensuring her safety was always a good thing.
Plus, she did a good job, so she deserved a reward. Maybe a power-up.
Who knows?
A/N... Harribel is still the main love interest, just feel like making this clear, her priority in his heart will never go beneath 50%.
So yea, there that.