I said you are all war criminals

Yukinoshita Yukino didn't say anything, just looked at her quietly.

"We should make the Death pay. They must pay."

"Liuli,"

Yukinoshita Yukino said calmly, "Do you think we have the capital to go to war with Seireitei now?"

Gokou Ruri bit her lip, her eyes wandering. Yukinoshita Yukino's words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing the rage burning within her. Indeed, there was always an insurmountable gap between the Quincies' power and that of the Shinigami. The bloody battles of a thousand years ago, the tragedies of two hundred years ago, all reminded them of how formidable an enemy the Shinigami were.

"Are we just going to swallow our anger like this?"

Liuli asked unwillingly, "Let those gods of death ride on our heads and do whatever they want?"

"Because we have no power?"

Hearing this, Xiangzi stood up.

She said, "No."

"...We are different from the Quincies of two hundred years ago, and a thousand years ago."

Xiangzi said, "I suddenly remembered a saying: 'What you can't gain on the battlefield, you can't gain at the negotiation table.' Perhaps Your Highness really does want us to bring back peace, but it's definitely not like Chamberlain, who used empty words to bring back peace for a generation."

The mistress of the Toyokawa family said to her subordinates, "—We must make the Shinigami understand this. We must make them realize that we are not the Quincies who allowed themselves to be slaughtered by them in the past."

——What should we do?

"Let's fight them."

155

Chapter 155 Captains.

Kyoraku Shunsui sat in the main seat in the conference room.

He wore his signature straw hat and a pink jacket over his captain's haori.

"The old man really pushed the troublesome work to me..."

To be honest, Shunsui didn't want to get involved in the Quincy business at all.

...After all, Shunsui also contributed to the extermination of the Quincy clan two hundred years ago.

"The Quincies are all stubborn fellows. If it weren't for that, the war of genocide wouldn't have turned into one two hundred years ago..."

The spring water weighs down the straw raincoat and hat.

The complete annihilation of the Quincy took place two hundred years ago.

Because when the Quincy destroys the Hollows completely, the number of souls in the three realms will be skewed, which will lead to the collapse of the world... Originally, the Shinigami only asked the Quincy not to continue destroying the Hollows, but the stubborn Quincy always refused this, which finally led to the Shinigami's determination to destroy the entire Quincy clan two hundred years ago.

"This time, the Quincy are planning to launch a 'Quincy Plan for All Humanity'... This is truly ill intentioned."

To be honest, Shunsui didn't have a good impression of the Quincy.

At least when he was still an ordinary soldier, the Quincies he had dealt with were all arrogant. Even though the Quincies were already defeated by the Shinigami, these Quincies had no idea how to submit.

...Why won't these guys give in in order to survive?

"Captain Kyoraku, Captain Kyoraku—"

Chunshui's consciousness, which had been wandering in the sky, returned.

He had been distracted for a moment and didn't realize who was calling him. However, there were only three people in the room: Kuchiki Byakuya, Kyoraku Shunsui, and Urahara Kisuke. Kuchiki Byakuya was obviously the one who would never call for help... So, it could only be Urahara Kisuke.

"…What's wrong, Captain Urahara?"

Chunshui took off his straw raincoat, revealing a pair of eyes that were always smiling but unfathomable.

"Say, why did you call me here? I'm the captain of the 12th Division, and I'm always tinkering with little gadgets. There's no way I should be in a diplomatic situation like this, right?"

As Urahara Kisuke spoke, he played with the cane in his hand, looking nonchalant, as if he didn't care about the meeting at all.

As a well-known idler in the Gotei 13, Urahara Kisuke had little interest in any social activities. Apart from Shihouin Yoruichi being able to pull him out of the 12th Division's research lab, only this kind of formal order could pull him out.

Shunsui laughed heartily and said, "Oh, Captain Urahara, isn't this what Captain Yamamoto specifically requested? He said he needed someone with technical skills like you. If we have to discuss any technical details, it would be helpful to have someone who understands."

In reality, Captain-General Yamamoto only requested Shunsui select two captains for the meeting. After all, the Quincies only had three, and sending all the Shinigami captains would have been seen as overpowering the minority. Shunsui had a clear reason for choosing Urahara Kisuke. This Quincy clearly had ill intentions, and the name "All Humanity Quincy Project" didn't sound promising. To understand this, Urahara Kisuke's intelligence was essential.

Urahara Kisuke narrowed his eyes and stared at Shunsui for a long moment, as if trying to read something from his face. However, Shunsui's Tai Chi skills were top-notch, and his face still had that grinning expression, making it impossible to guess his true thoughts.

"Captain..."

Urahara Kisuke chewed on the words meaningfully, but ultimately didn't press the issue further. He stretched and said lazily, "Since it's the captain's order, I'll respectfully obey. But then again, what's this Quincy doing? Hasn't he learned his lesson two hundred years ago? Doesn't he have to be taught another lesson before he behaves?"

Chunshui shrugged, indicating that he didn't know either.

"Who knows? Maybe they think they can make a comeback this time."

Having said that, Chunshui was a little confused.

Two hundred years ago, Shunsui was already the captain, and he was also responsible for the extermination of the Quincy. Logically, the Quincy should all be dead...but now, the Quincy has reappeared.

Are these Quincies really the descendants of the Quincies who were exterminated two hundred years ago?

"...By the way, Captain Urahara,"

Shunsui smiled and asked, "I don't know much about technology... Your Technology Development Bureau has preserved the remains of the Quincy, right? I remember you issued a report saying that the Quincy is not a profession, but a race?"

"Oh my, Captain Kyoraku has read the report. What an honor!"

"As for the Quincy..."

Urahara Kisuke held down his white bucket hat and said, "Yes, the difference between Quincies and humans comes from their bloodline."

"The source of power? Do you mean the source of spiritual pressure?"

Chunshui asked curiously.

Urahara Kisuke nodded, "The power of a Shinigami comes from within, from their soul. As long as the spiritual pressure is strong enough, anyone can become a Shinigami, even a commoner in Rukongai."

He paused, his tone becoming somewhat meaningful, "But the Quincies are different. Their power comes from their bloodline, from their ancestor - Yhwach."

Yhwach, that was a name known to all the Shinigami because he was written into the textbooks of the Shino Spiritual Academy.

A thousand years ago, Yhwach led the Quincy to attack Soul Society. After the Shinigami paid a huge price to repel the Quincy, Yhwach was killed by Captain-General Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.

"So, only the descendants of Yhwach can become Quincy?"

Chunshui asked.

Urahara Kisuke pulled out a fan from somewhere and held it with the words "Don't know, don't speak" written on it in front of his mouth. "No, no, no, Captain Kyoraku. Current research can only prove that 'all Quincies are descendants of Yhwach,' but it can't prove that 'only descendants of Yhwach can become Quincies'... Maybe there are other ways to become a Quincy."

"I see……"

Kyoraku Shunsui thought, as expected.

During the extinction event two hundred years ago, some people must have softened their hearts and let some Quincies escape. The most likely person to have done so was probably Kyoraku Shunsui's good friend, the former captain of the 13th Division, Ukitake Jushiro.

Ukitake Jushiro is a kind person.

He is kind, gentle, honest and peace-loving. He treats Shinigami and humans equally, and of course the same goes for Quincies.

If it was Ukitake, there was indeed a chance that he would let the Quincy go.

"...If you hadn't gone to Gensokyo to recuperate a hundred years ago and I hadn't been able to contact you until now, I would have complained to you."

Chunshui whispered.

One hundred and ten years ago, a large number of Shinigami migrated to Gensokyo.

This happened because the Hakurei Miko activated the Hakurei Great Barrier, separating Gensokyo, a land filled with demons and monsters, from the human world. To maintain the number of souls, the Soul Society sent a significant number of people to Gensokyo to assist in the reincarnation process... However, as the Soul Society severed its connection with the human world, those Shinigami also left, never to return.

Now that Soul Society and the living world have been reconnected, Kyōraku has sent people to search for Gensokyo, but it seems that Gensokyo, like the Soul Society of the past century, has completely vanished from the living world. It's likely that the captains and the Shinigami, including Ukitake, will never return.

...If Oh Ukitake were still here, Shunsui could still confront him. But now, Shunsui could only sigh.

Then, Shunsui set his sights on Kuchiki Byakuya.

Kuchiki Byakuya is the captain of Division 6, the noble division that protects the interests of the four great noble families. Shunsui chose Byakuya as the third captain to attend the meeting because he needed someone to represent the interests of the nobles.

...Hey, Mr. Yamamoto probably just said a number casually, but I'm the one who has to worry about it.

While thinking about this, Chunshui spoke gently, "Captain Kuchiki, what are your thoughts on this treaty?"

What Shunsui was actually asking about was not Byakuya's personal thoughts, but the overall will of the nobles behind him.

Although Kuchiki Byakuya didn't like doing this, he still conveyed the request discussed by the four nobles.

Kuchiki Byakuya spoke coldly, "The Four Nobles mean that for the next ten years, Soul Society will no longer interfere in the affairs of the living world. Aside from destroying the Hollows, the Shinigami cannot interfere with the Quincies' actions."

The smile on Kyoraku Shunsui's face froze, and he wondered if he had misheard. He put down his wine glass and said, "Captain Kuchiki, what do you mean by this?"

"literal meaning,"

Byakuya glanced at Shunsui, "As for the present world, I'll leave it to the Quincy to handle completely."

"what!"

Chunshui stood up suddenly, spilling his drink along with it. He ignored all that and stared with wide eyes, "Handing this world over to someone else, are you crazy?"

Urahara Kisuke also put away his cynical expression. He put down the fan in his hand and said, "Brother Byakuya, this is no small matter. Are you sure the four nobles agree?"

"This is the will of the Spirit King,"

Byakuya said calmly, "I'm just delivering the message."

The Soul King? Shunsui and Urahara Kisuke looked at each other in bewilderment. They hadn't expected this matter to involve the Soul King.

"Spiritual King..."

Chunshui muttered to himself. He sat back in his chair and rubbed his brows. "What on earth is going on?"

Byakuya ignored Shunsui's question and continued, "It's only ten years, a blink of an eye for us."

He glanced at the two people present, "Besides, the reason we are hostile to the Quincy is because the Quincy destroys the Hollows. Other than that, we have no reason to oppose them."

"The will of the Spirit King?"

Shunsui repeated these words, "Captain Kuchiki, with all due respect, His Majesty the Soul King has not directly interfered in the affairs of Soul Society for a long time. Why is it that he suddenly…"

He paused, choosing his words carefully, "Are you so 'concerned' about the present world?"

Urahara Kisuke chimed in, "Yes, Byakuya-kun, this sounds a bit mysterious. Even if His Majesty the Soul King really has some instructions, they have to be conveyed through the Central Forty-Six, right?"

He waved his fan, with a hint of disbelief in his voice.

Baiya's expression remained unchanged, his tone still cold.

"This is the result of communication between the Noble Council and the Spirit King Palace. The specific details cannot be disclosed."

Kyoraku Shunsui's bony fingers tapped rhythmically on the table. "Soul King..." Those two words carried too much weight, so much so that even he couldn't easily dismiss them.

"Captain Kuchiki, are you sure this is the Spirit King's will, and not the Four Nobles'?"

Chunshui deliberately used a frivolous tone, "To be honest, even if it really is the intention of the four nobles, we will not reject it."

Byakuya didn't even raise his eyelids, "Captain Kyoraku, be careful with your words. This matter concerns the honor of the Kuchiki family... I can't lie about something like this."

Urahara Kisuke waved his fan, "Having said that, Byakuya-kun, these past ten years... ten years! I've always felt uneasy. What if Yhwach takes advantage of this opportunity to do something? It will be difficult to clean up the mess then."

"I personally think so,"

Byakuya actually nodded. "But that's the Soul King's will. If Captain Urahara doesn't believe it, you can ask Captain Shihōin for confirmation... Captain Shihōin was also present at yesterday's meeting of the Four Nobles."

Urahara Kisuke gave Shunsui a look and then excused himself. After leaving the conference room, he turned into a secluded corner and pulled out a strange-looking communicator from his pocket.

"Hello, Bee, it's me, Urahara Kisuke."

——Kisuke Urahara did not contact Shihouin Yoruichi immediately, but instead broadcast the message to Yoruichi's vice-captain.

An impatient female voice came from the other end of the communicator: "What? I'm very busy and don't have time to chat with you."

"Don't be so cold, Bee,"

Urahara Kisuke said with a grin, "I have something important to ask you."

He paused, his tone becoming serious, "What are those Quincies doing?"

"Huh, you're still asking."

There was a hint of sarcasm in Aya Hoshigaki's tone. "You actually asked me to help you investigate... Do you think you're the captain of the second division?"

"That's because I believe Vice Captain Bee learned the technique from Yoruichi. Now that Yoruichi is not in Soul Society, you are the most reliable eavesdropper."

Urahara Kisuke praised Aya Hachiko a few more times, which visibly brightened her mood. "That leading Quincy, someone called Toyokawa Shoko, is planning a mock battle. She says she wants to demonstrate their strength before the official meeting so they can secure better terms."