You are very strong, but my painting style is better than yours!

Although Mayuri Kurotsuchi had issues with her work attitude, her abilities were impeccable. Iori took the scroll containing a large amount of data, glanced at it briefly, and confirmed that the data was accurate and reasonable. She nodded in satisfaction.

After completing the transaction, Mayuri Kurotsuchi bluntly ordered them to leave, spouting plausible arguments:

After the war, the 13th Division was ordered to purify the corpses of Quincy (including the Holy Sons), while the 12th Division was to raid the enemy's stronghold, sort the seized items, and dispose of some contraband in a harmless manner.

This task is enormous and tedious. Everyone in the Twelfth Division, from the captain to the ordinary Shinigami, is busy with work. Mayuri Kurotsuchi has also been assigned a lot of tasks... He is very busy right now and has no time to deal with others.

"By the way, I also developed the surveillance system targeting the remaining Quincy."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi said with no small amount of pride, "Now you know how hard I've worked, right?"

"The surveillance system...that's fast." Iori's gaze darkened. "Has the higher-ups made up their minds?"

"Yes, not only should the population size of the Quincy be limited, but they should also not be allowed to leave the designated residential areas and can only live in a few specific cities... This lifestyle should be maintained for at least two hundred years."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi said calmly, "Any Quincy who violates these rules can be executed by the Soul Society without any reason!"

This is essentially house arrest... But if they are willing to live the life of an ordinary person, this isn't such a harsh condition. Besides, the Quincy are now just fish on the chopping block, with no right to speak for themselves.

How many Quincy are left?

"It's hard to say. There are still people leading the hunt in the real world... But I have seen a list. Once the sweep operation is over, there should only be five families left on the list."

"Five?"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi thought for a moment: "Uesugi, Kamakura, Ishida... these guys are Westerners, but they took Japanese surnames in order to integrate into the local community."

“Ishida…” Iori carefully savored the pronunciation, a hint of reminiscence appearing deep in his eyes.

"correct!"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi suddenly remembered something: "That guy named Clow... is the Quincy's holy son. Although he has no children, his pure-blood family still has an heir."

They also adopted a Japanese name... uh, was it Kurosaki?

"—!"

Iori's eyes widened slightly as the images of the Holy Son and Tensa Zangetsu overlapped in his mind, followed by a flash of a young and handsome protagonist's face.

If we look at the original Bleach manga from God's perspective, then Ichigo Kurosaki's birth was deeply interfered with by Aizen Sousuke. Without Aizen's planned anomalies, Ichigo's parents would never have met and fallen in love.

But ironically, the people who embarked on this forbidden love affair between a Shinigami and a Quincy were one of the five noble bloodlines and the other one of the few remaining pure-blooded Quincy at the time...

It seems Aizen, the matchmaker, doesn't just tie every knot; he's clearly done his background check!

If the "Saint Child" also exists in the original work, then the Kurosaki family, as his blood relatives, would naturally inherit an extremely pure power of annihilation, and could even be directly linked to Yhwach.

Considering that the "Hymn of the Holy Emperor" is also a prophecy given by the Holy Son, Yhwach is probably not well-behaved even when he's asleep...

Could Ichigo's birth have been a result of a deliberate or unintentional "joint venture" between various parties?

【drop! 】

[CG included]

The familiar notification sound startled Iori slightly, then a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. She turned her head slightly to avoid Mayuri noticing her unusual behavior, while simultaneously reviewing the new CG she had acquired in her mind.

Death God: Child of Darkness

Genre: Drama

quality:--

grade:--

Note: Drawn by unpredictable fate, in the chaotic darkness, the chosen one destined to be born has already sown the seeds that will inevitably sprout sooner or later...

Rewards Overview:

Random matching in progress~

[Dimensional Gate - Shadow Power]

Iori: "Huh?!"

-

Several days have passed since Iori was taken in by Yamamoto, and his life seems to have remained unchanged. However, when he walks down the street, he can clearly feel that there are more eyes on him, and these eyes contain all sorts of complex meanings.

There must be some jealous people, after all, he's just a kid from Rukongai, yet he managed to gain the Captain-Commander's favor and be accepted as a disciple as an exception.

But there are certainly not many fools like him. Most people look at him from afar with envy and respect, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that they admire him.

Because Iori didn't rise to power through family background or anything else, but stood out among many ordinary Shinigami with pure strength. Whether it was the Hueco Mundo campaign or the war in the human world, his achievements were undeniable!

He completed the leap from a mere cadet to a high-ranking member of the Thirteenth Division in an extremely short period of time, setting a record for the fastest promotion in history (excluding the first captain), and has become a legend in Seireitei.

It's no exaggeration to say that he has now become an idol for many ordinary people who are destined to die!

However, some troubles also followed:

"It's been a long time since I last greeted you, Aizen-kun."

"I have received much kindness from you in the past, and today I have prepared a small feast to express my gratitude."

In a private room of a high-end restaurant, Yoruichi Shihōin, dressed in a gorgeous kimono, sat properly. Her short, dashing hair was styled with a hairpin, as if by some kind of magic, and her beautiful face was clearly adorned with rouge.

A heroine transforms into a refined lady, hosting a banquet for her colleagues in the company of her elders to express her gratitude for their help on the battlefield—this seems perfectly acceptable.

If we could ignore the unspoken awkwardness on Iori and Yoruichi's faces...

"I'm so sorry my family has caused you trouble!"

Chapter 197: Sis, Stop Being So Naïve (4K)

Iori never imagined that she would be involved in a blind date... Although it was ostensibly a thank you speech, the atmosphere clearly indicated what was really going on.

When Iori first received the invitation, she didn't think much of it and readily accepted the invitation.

That's the Shihouin family, one of the five great noble families. Countless Shinigami would dream of establishing a relationship with them. Although Iori has no ulterior motives, she has no reason to refuse this invitation, whether from a moral or social standpoint.

When he arrived and saw Yoruichi's attire, he immediately knew he was in trouble, but it was too late to escape...

He was in an awkward situation, while Yoruichi Shihouin across from him also looked quite troubled. The Shihouin family members, who were there as guests, were quite composed.

"Because the young lady refuses to cooperate, we can only meet in this way. Please forgive us."

The speaker was a noblewoman with black hair and fair skin, appearing to be around forty years old, with glimpses of her youthful charm still visible. She wore a dignified and elegant kimono, and although her tone was soft, it conveyed an air of someone who had long held a superior position.

She bowed humbly: "However, as a retainer who has served Shihōin for generations, and also the young lady's wet nurse, I must personally meet with you and express my gratitude."

I serve as the head lady-in-waiting in the inner court; you may call me 'Crimson'.

"This is an elder in my family; we usually call her 'Madam Red,'" Yoruichi whispered. "Be careful, she's not someone to mess with."

"cough!"

“Greetings, Lady Red. Please don’t do this. Yoruichi and I… Lady Shihouin are not only friends but also comrades-in-arms. Helping each other on the battlefield is our duty. It’s not a matter of who saved whom,” Iori quickly said.

“That is true,” Lady Red straightened up, glanced at the restless Yoruichi, and then focused her gaze on Iori, “one must repay a great favor, otherwise it will damage the reputation of Shihouin.”

"Reputation..."

Iori smiled wryly and said, "It doesn't matter whether I repay her or not. If I encounter danger on the battlefield in the future, I believe she will help me. That's enough."

"Hey, leave it to me! Let's team up and next time we'll definitely beat the enemy to a pulp!"

Yoruichi patted her chest, and her first words completely shattered her aloof and noble demeanor.

The wet nurse's eyes twitched suddenly, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on the folding fan, making a slight creaking sound.

"Lord Yoruichi... no, Lord Aizen, I've heard that you were born in Rukongai and don't have a fixed residence in Seireitei. You've just moved from your dormitory at the Shinigami Academy to the 12th Division's barracks. Is that true?"

"Uh, that's true." With nothing to hide, Iori nodded frankly.

"Your Excellency is a man of outstanding military achievements and refined manners. You are a man of exceptional talent and loyalty, and you will surely shine brightly in the Seireitei. Your current predicament is only temporary, so there is no need to worry about your accommodation."

Lady Red tapped her palm with her folding fan and said seriously, "But this temporary predicament is also a fact. Since Lord Aizen has been kind to Shihouin, why not let Shihouin provide you with accommodation?"

Although outsiders cannot be allowed to live in the main household, the Shihōin family owns many properties within the Seireitei, and we are sure to find one that will satisfy you.

"what?"

"what?"

Iori and Yoruichi were both surprised, but Lady Red remained calm and continued, "It's just a small token of my appreciation, nothing compared to Lord Aizen's kindness."

"No, no, I'm quite used to living in the barracks," Iori quickly declined. "I live alone. If I were to move into some big house, I wouldn't know how to live."

"You don't need to worry about that; servants and maids will be provided as needed."

Lady Red stared directly at Iori. Although she was not a strong person, she still had a certain aura about her.

"Only living in such a mansion is worthy of your status."

"Status? I am but a minor official."

"There are no outsiders here, and there's nothing to hide... Lord Aizen, you don't need to do this. We both know that the position of the seat commander is temporary, and sooner or later you will be waiting for the position of squad leader."

Lady Red frankly stated, "The captain of the Thirteenth Squad holds a position equivalent to the head of a high-ranking noble family. Although he has no demands regarding food, clothing, or shelter, it would be truly inappropriate for him to continue staying in the squad barracks and mingling with ordinary Grim Reapers."

“That makes sense, I might really need to pay attention… but what does that have to do with Shihouin?”

Iori remained expressionless, her tone slightly stiff: "I think I've made myself clear. I'm very happy with Shihouin's intentions, but I have no intention of accepting any 'repayment'."

"That's right, I told you, Iori isn't interested in those things, look at me—"

"Miss, please forgive me for interrupting you, but how can we know the outcome if we don't say it out loud?"

Lady Red gave Yoruichi a rather intimidating look. The carefree girl pouted, somewhat unconvinced, but said nothing more.

Next, Lady Red, who was both a retainer and a wet nurse, bowed to Iori again, then raised her head to observe the excessively young Grim Reaper from an upward perspective.

"Let's put the matter of the mansion aside for now. There's another matter I hope you'll consider carefully."

"please say."

What is your impression of Miss Yoruichi?

"red!"

"Well..."

"Young lady, please calm down. Lord Aizen, please don't be frightened. Although it may seem a bit abrupt, I think this is truly a rare and wonderful thing."

Hong straightened up, waved slightly, and the maids who had accompanied her took their leave, leaving only the three of them in the room.

"How much does Lord Aizen know about the inner workings of Shihouin?"

Iori laughed upon hearing this: "Look at what you're saying. I'm not a nobleman, and I have no connection with Shihouin except for Yoruichi. How could I possibly know the so-called inside story?"

"Then, to avoid any misunderstanding, let me give you a brief explanation."

Lady Hong organized her thoughts and briefly explained the primary and secondary distinctions among the various branches within the Four Maple Courtyard.

"...That's how it is. Although they are all five great noble families, each family's situation is very different."

The Shiba clan has always been abstemious and has little interaction with other noble families. There is no internal power struggle or strife; there is only one main family and one branch family.

The Kuchiki family has excellent family precepts and traditions, and they are the strictest in disciplining their members.

The internal struggles within Tsunayoshiro were quite intense, with clear positions held by the branch family and the main family. However, the situation remained relatively stable because the main family always controlled some family heirlooms that symbolized righteousness.

As for the other one... it's not even located within Seireitei, and outsiders have no way of finding out about it.

Our Four Maple Inner Courtyard is different from the other four:

Each generation's head of the family must command the Second Division and lead the Execution Army, thus placing high demands on the head's physical strength; lineage (legitimate or illegitimate) is not the decisive factor.

According to Lady Red, this tradition of "the virtuous should reside there" is above the distinction between primary and secondary, so if the main family does not have a Bankai master, they will choose one from a branch family.

If there is no division of the family, the scope may even be expanded to include retainers and dependent families.

(In the original story, after Yoruichi's defection, Yushiro was still a child, and Soi Fon, as a retainer, was the first to learn Bankai, so she took over his position.)

In short, Shihouin must ensure that there is a Bankai master in his faction in order to control the Second Division and the Execution Army—which is actually the most powerful part of the Thirteen Divisions.

Although Shiba and Kuchiki would send their family members to the Gotei 13 and often have them occupy a captain's position, they didn't really care about it. It would be best if someone could master Bankai, but if not, they wouldn't mind waiting for several decades or even a hundred years.

However, for various reasons, Shihouin cannot relinquish this power and responsibility at any time!

Therefore, the main family and branch family of Shihōin are actually in competition, because even if one is a member of the branch family, as long as one can learn Bankai, one is qualified to inherit the Shihōin family name!

"I think I understand, but what does this have to do with me and Yoruichi-san?"

"In the current Shihōin family lineage, from the main family to the branch families to the retainers, no one in the younger generation has mastered Bankai."