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

Furthermore, due to the sudden disappearance of the Tenth Division, the balance of souls in the three realms must have been affected. In order to restore balance, an expeditionary force must be dispatched to Hueco Mundo to reduce the number of Hollows.

"So, could we recruit some qualified people from Rukongai to temporarily fill these positions?"

Chapter 271: Captain Aizen, When Something Serious Happens (4K)

The suggestion made by the head of the Shihouin family did not violate the rules of the Seireitei; on the contrary, it was quite reasonable. Recruiting heroes and warriors from Rukongai to supplement the fighting force also conformed to the long-standing tradition of the Gotei 13.

It should be noted that at least half of the original Gotei 13 members came from Rukongai, and the majority of the captains were from commoner backgrounds. This organization has been closely connected with Rukongai since its inception, and it still is today.

The Seireitei's attitude towards Rukongai is highly divided:

By carefully managing the top-ranked Rukongai, it has become a source of human resources for the Seireitei. Many forms of entertainment prohibited within the Seireitei, such as casinos and red-light districts, can also be found in Rukongai, making the relationship between the two similar to that between the city and the suburbs.

The lower-ranked Rukongai are left to their own devices, neither cared for nor suppressed.

As for the Rukongai, which is ranked last and is commonly known as the "lawless zone," the Seireitei could sweep away the powerful figures there with its strength, but it deliberately allowed them to go unchecked, leaving a place where villains could vent their bloodlust at will.

The reason for this division is that it is indeed impossible to eliminate all lawbreakers. Rather than increasing the cost of governance, it is better to gather the scum and villains together and let them kill each other.

But the second reason, and the most important one:

In order to maintain the balance of souls in the three realms, Soul Society needs to reduce the number of "whole" souls from time to time, which means that the Gotei 13 must take action against the residents of Rukongai.

This is undoubtedly a huge psychological burden, after all, most Shinigami believe that they belong to the "righteous" side and do not understand the fundamental meaning of the Seireitei's existence... Many of them are from Rukongai.

Therefore, the higher-ups devised a system to divide Rukongai into different levels.

If they were to take action against the villains in lawless areas, the Grim Reapers would naturally feel no psychological pressure.

Even the Grim Reaper who comes from there would take it for granted and wouldn't have any other thoughts about it.

In a sense, the lower-ranked Rukongai are the "pressure valve" and "dumping ground" of the entire Soul Society.

Of course, it is undeniable that some relatively strong individuals will emerge in such harsh environments.

Under normal circumstances, the number of people from Rukongai who have enrolled in the Shinigami Academy is enough to supply the thirteen squads with the replacement of the old ones.

However, in an emergency, such as now, recruiting strong individuals from the back of Rukongai or even the outlaw zone becomes a very "cost-effective" option.

The downside is that they come from unorthodox backgrounds and are often difficult to manage, while the upside is that even if they die in battle, there is no need to feel regret, and it is almost no loss to the Seireitei.

This matter was brought up by the head of the Shihouin family; one can only say that he's a veteran captain, truly experienced!

"Now is the perfect opportunity. If we want to launch an expedition to Hueco Mundo, it would be difficult for the Seireitei to spare the forces that give them an advantage. It is the right time to make use of the power of these Rukongai heroes."

The brown-skinned Shihouin Hyakushu said solemnly, "After the expedition, the selected people can be used to fill the core of the 10th Division."

"Hmm... what does Captain Kuchiki think?" Yamamoto asked his old friend.

Kuchiki Ginrei nodded slightly: "Although it is not the noble and righteous path, it is the only way to make do in times of emergency. Besides, even lawless areas can produce talented people, and it may not be impossible to replenish the Seireitei with a lot of new blood."

The white-haired old man didn't actually like this plan. After all, people from that godforsaken place, the Unbreakable Zone, might have commendable fighting skills, but they were either wild and untamed or bloodthirsty and sadistic, with all sorts of flaws that didn't suit his tastes at all.

However, he must also admit that the Gotei 13, as a violent organization, can abandon all unnecessary honors in extreme circumstances—this is in itself their duty as Grim Reapers.

Ultimately, when it comes to the grand theme of "maintaining the balance of the three realms," pursuing justice and elegance is a luxury.

In order to fulfill his duty, he had to accept even the most sordid methods, even though he was the head of the noble family, the Kuchiki family head, who was known for his integrity and uprightness.

"This will be a long and difficult task. We are currently short-handed and probably cannot assign someone to handle it. We can only select someone from among the team leaders to take care of it."

Yamamoto squinted as he scanned the two classes to his left and right. As his gaze swept over them, everyone either closed their eyes, tilted their heads, or stood there dumbfounded, looking as if they were lost in thought.

Even the head of the Shihōin family, who proposed the plan, looked away and avoided meeting Yamamoto's gaze—which made the Captain-Commander's veins bulge.

These guys... not one of them is willing to work overtime!

Because the captain must be a Bankai-level expert, and Shinigami who can reach this level are often inclined to fight and are not good at handling trivial matters, they naturally reject the tasks assigned by their superiors and try their best to pass on even their daily work to others—that is why the vice-captain is often busier than the captain.

This is how it usually is; don't expect them to take the initiative to do things, especially for jobs that sound extremely troublesome.

Kiryu Hikifune's willingness to establish the "Technology Development Bureau" is purely out of hobby, an exceptional case among exceptional cases!

Since that's the case, I'll have no choice but to forcefully assign it—Yamamoto's gaze turned cold!

Putting aside the pure warriors, like the idiots in the Eleventh Division... to be honest, there are some people in the Thirteenth Division who are both literate and skilled in martial arts.

Yamamoto's gaze first swept over Shihouin and the head of the Kuchiki family, but did not linger for long: these two were experienced and qualified, but they were already quite old, and unlike him, they were still vigorous in their old age. In fact, they should have retired long ago, and were really not suitable to be sent to the lawless zone.

Next up are Unohana and Saito. These two are the most senior besides him, and they are quite familiar with Rukongai and the lawless zone. They should be excellent candidates, as they should be very experienced in the work.

However, Unohana has already "sheathed her sword," and Saito was already seriously injured after returning from Hueco Mundo. Her injuries worsened further in this incident, and she may never be able to use Bankai again... Forcing her to go is practically murder.

Next was Jushiro Ukitake, who was strong enough, but unfortunately his physical condition was even worse than Saito's...

Finally, the old man's heavy gaze fell on Kyoraku Shunsui:

Well, he meets all the requirements and doesn't have the various hidden dangers that others do. He's really a good candidate to take the blame!

Come out, Chunshui! Let your teacher see your resolve!

Yamamoto stared expressionlessly at his beloved disciple, while Kyoraku Shunsui quietly broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead... pulling down his straw hat to cover the upper half of his face.

Well!

The old man's long beard moved without wind, and the atmosphere in the room became heavy—like a classroom when the teacher is taking attendance.

"Did I fail in my parenting?" Yamamoto felt a slight pang of pain in his heart.

This also made him realize an even more important issue:

After the Quincy War and the Spirit Explosion, the Gotei 13 is now plagued by old, weak, sick, and disabled members, and there is a lack of young talent!

As the supreme leader, how could Yamamoto not sigh upon seeing this?

Just as Yamamoto was about to forcefully designate someone, Iori spoke up again: "I wonder what exactly needs to be done?"

Ok?

Everyone looked at Iori with surprise, and a sense of admiration arose spontaneously: first, he shut down the Seireitei Research Institute, and then he went to the lawless zone... This kid is capable, and he really goes all out when something happens!

"You're too young, this isn't something you can handle!"

Yamamoto was slightly taken aback at first, then criticized him without any politeness, but his stern tone also concealed a barely perceptible admiration.

Shunsui had assumed this matter would fall on her own, so she had been feigning death under the old man's watchful eye. But when Iori spoke up, she couldn't help but drop her pretense and said urgently, "Perhaps you think you're strong enough to suppress those thugs, but this isn't that simple. You need a strong hand and ruthless actions to carry out the Seireitei's will to the end... Iori, you're a gentle person at heart, and you're not suited for this job."

"Perhaps that's why I'm suitable."

Iori said seriously, "This time, we are not going to cleanse the lawless lands, but to demonstrate the majesty and tolerance of the Seireitei and to recruit more compliant local heroes. We need not only sufficient military force, but also a certain amount of appeasement."

"That seems to make some sense."

Shunsui glanced at Ukitake across from her: If it weren't for her health issues, this kind of thing would actually be most suitable for Ukitake...

"But upon closer inspection, it seems that you really are the only suitable candidate."

"...It seems that's indeed the case."

After pondering for a while, Yamamoto glanced at the existing thirteen team members again and sighed almost imperceptibly.

"Then I'll entrust this mission to you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shihouin Hyakushu further explained: "Aizen-kun, this mission is different from the past. We don't need to reduce the number of souls, but rather we need to control those unruly guys and make them carry out the mission in place of the Shinigami. This is very challenging."

"...But since it's you, you shouldn't need to worry about that."

Bai Zhou smiled and nodded slightly. The other captains reacted similarly. They all believed that although Yi Zhi was inexperienced, his strength was undeniable, and he would not fail in this mission no matter what. Even if the process of subduing those people was difficult, the result would be correct.

—They all got soaked in that rain.

Only by experiencing it firsthand can one understand just how powerful Iori is. The passive effect of her Bankai alone can alter the celestial phenomena and cover most of Seireitei. She can effortlessly bring monsters to the brink of death using her strongest Destruction.

What's most remarkable is that while defeating the enemy, she controlled the scope of the destruction, preventing any innocent bystanders from being caught in the crossfire. This means that Iori is not only powerful, but also possesses exceptional crowd control and combat skills... and her spiritual pressure is also more than sufficient.

Anyone who experienced Iori's spiritual pressure release back then had a general impression of Iori's power, which has led to rumors circulating within the Seireitei such as "the strongest water-type Zanpakuto" and "its potential surpasses that of Ryujin Jakka."

Iori stepped forward to take on the task, and most people felt he was qualified.

Even if he accidentally messes things up... it can become a stepping stone for Iori, allowing him to grow further, which is quite beneficial for the future of Soul Society.

"Then let's decide on this."

Seeing that no one had any objections, Yamamoto raised his cane and tapped the ground lightly: "I appoint Kiryu Hikifune of the 12th Division to organize and incorporate the research data and resources within the division, and Iori Aizen of the 3rd Division to be responsible for identifying and recruiting heroes from Rukongai into Seireitei."

"""yes!"""

Everyone agreed in unison, and the resonant spiritual pressure caused the ground to tremble slightly.

-

"Captain, this is the list of people who will be entering Rukongai with you. Would you like to take a look?"

"Hmm... I've taken a quick look, and there are a lot of people. We're not going to raid them, but to 'recruit'... Seven or eight people with me will suffice."

"Understood, I'll simplify it again."

Inside the Third Division barracks, Vice-Captain Rojuro Touhashi received the list and planned to go back to screen suitable candidates a second time, while Iori handled the team affairs that had piled up over the past two days with considerable skill.

Before leaving, Rojuro Fengqiao said with some concern, "Captain, can people recruited in lawless areas really be made to obey orders?"

If they were assigned to the Third Division, I'm afraid…

"Lou Shilang, you've thought this through very well. But don't worry, I'll find a way to solve it."

Iori's smile was incredibly infectious, putting the powerful but sensitive Rojuro Touhashi at ease.

"I'm very good at communicating with people, and I'm sure I can get those people to quiet down and listen to me."

"As expected of Captain Aizen~"

Lou Shilang nodded, accepting the answer without any doubt, and left the office with the document in his hand.

Iori watched her retreating figure, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

Rojuro Ootori is a very talented guy. His spiritual pressure level, Zanpakuto ability, and four basic skills are all above those of an average vice-captain. He is only one step away from Bankai.

Logically speaking, he should be a very good subordinate. However, after spending time together, Iori discovered that his vice-captain was a bit insecure or even neurotic... Tosen and Tenbei were more suitable to be his vice-captains.

"But Esdeath is definitely the most suitable one after all~"

Iori imagined what it would be like to have the Ice Queen as her secretary... just thinking about it made her smile.

Of course, if Esdeath were to actually be brought into the Gotei 13, a mere vice-captain position would be beneath her.

The future captain of the 10th Division?

The proportion of women in the team captain meetings definitely needs to be adjusted.

Iori took on this mission because he saw it as a good opportunity to infiltrate his own people into the Gotei 13.

Sera needs to guard the "Red Blade," which is Iori's rear base, especially since the Holy Grail and the Dragon Vein must not be lost.

However, Esdeath and Akame have already materialized their souls and are fully capable of entering the Shinigami system—it's normal for them to have some unorthodox skills and techniques, given their background in Rukongai.

Once Yuuki, Tosen, and Amagai have all grown into captains, they will maintain friendly relations with Shunsui, Ukitake, Yoruichi, and Hibiki, and later use the "Third Method" to elevate a few trusted confidants from other worlds and infiltrate them...

It's fortunate that the Gotei 13 isn't a democratic system, otherwise Iori would have definitely forced the old man to quit by competing for his position!

Chapter 272: Beauties are only fit for the strong! (5K)

Iori acted on his idea immediately. After handling the team's affairs, he entered "Mugen" at night when everyone was asleep, activated the plot CG, and traveled to the world of "Shadow Reality".

Coincidentally, Esdeath wasn't at headquarters at the time; instead, she had gone to have some fun at a newly discovered cult base, leaving Yukihime, Alpha, and the others to look after the place.

In the cold-toned hall with a gothic style, Iori sat on her long-unseen throne, looking down at the many organization members who bowed respectfully. The girls, who were regarded as "Grim Reapers" outside, put away all their coldness and arrogance at this moment and sincerely offered their loyalty to their savior, who was also the only man present.

Their well-tailored black military uniforms and synchronized movements demonstrated their strong discipline.

The two leading figures, one large and one small, are a charming fox woman with five tails and a dignified, aloof, golden-haired elf girl.

As expected of a beastman, Yukihime develops much faster than elves and humans. Despite being a young adult, she possesses a voluptuous figure like a young woman, and her skin is as white and flawless as her name suggests. She exudes a wild allure... but this charm is usually sealed beneath a dignified and gorgeous kimono.

After all, as the leader of the beastmen alliance in the great forest, she ruled over a vast territory with calm wisdom and extraordinary skills, and was known as the "Heavenly Fox," her majesty resembling that of a ruler of a country.

She is no longer the pitiful fox spirit who lost her family and home. Now that she holds such a high position and power, it is unlikely that any man could see her hidden fragility and beauty.

—Perhaps the man on the throne is an exception.

Otherwise, Queen Tenko wouldn't have needed to change her heavy kimono into an off-the-shoulder style before the audience... Her snow-white collarbone and slender neck were indeed quite eye-catching, and from Iori's height, one could see the soft curves peeking out from deep within the collar when she bowed.

It wasn't blatant, just the edge of the swelling, but it was enough to evoke the image of that proud curve. From clothing to movements, everything was just right.

She launched her attack without making a sound... Yukihime, what a terrifying woman!