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

"The captain's haori is not only proof of identity but also a symbol of the glory of the Gotei 13. It is as precious as the dignity of the Grim Reaper and should not be discarded lightly. Yet you have lost your haori in such a trivial matter. What a disgrace!"

Tell me, what exactly is a haori in your eyes?!

"burden?"

"Hot and humid?"

"That's outrageous!"

The captain's anger was almost palpable, and one could even feel the air growing drier.

Saito looked impatient. She was in a terrible and complicated mood and just wanted to go back to her room and get drunk. She didn't want to care about anything else.

At this moment, Iori took the initiative to apologize, which made Saito look at her with surprise: "Captain-Commander, please calm down!"

The reason this incident escalated into a commotion was entirely due to my immaturity, and has absolutely nothing to do with Captain Saito. I am willing to take full responsibility!

"..."

Saito's eyes widened as he looked at Iori as if he were seeing him for the first time.

Yamamoto's already narrow eyes now appeared even more sharp: "Saito... are you still going to shift the blame to a junior?"

"—!"

The dignified captain of the Seventh Division immediately stiffened his neck, but was speechless.

"No, you misunderstood."

Iori said with a guilty look on her face, "Captain Saito did nothing wrong... I just couldn't resist playing a prank on Captain Saito because his sleeping face was so cute, but I was caught... Please punish me!"

"Ok?"

Yamamoto sensed something was wrong. "Is this true, Captain Saito?"

"This……"

"Of course it's true."

Iori said earnestly, "It's all my fault. I did something as shameless as 'attacking someone while they're sleeping,' and I have no excuse for it!"

"...It is true."

Saito turned her head away, bit her lip, feeling both angry and ashamed, a mixture of guilt and resentment that gave her an impulse she had never felt before.

That is... the desire to teach someone a lesson!

"Ah~"

Seeing their reactions, Yamamoto knew there was more to the story, but he was powerless to investigate further.

"The matter of compensation will be handled by the court. You... will be let off this time, but you should be more careful with your words and actions in the future."

The so-called 'captain' is a role model for the Gotei 13 and even the entire Seireitei. As the leader among the Shinigami, one must set an example and show a reliable side to one's subordinates and juniors.

Do you understand?

"Yes!"

Iori was completely convinced and said earnestly, "I am still young and lack experience and qualifications, but I will definitely learn more from the other captains in the future, just like Captain Kyoraku, and become mature and reliable as soon as possible!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Yamamoto suddenly regretted it.

"Ahem... It's good that you have this idea, but... as a Grim Reaper, it's also very important to stick to your beliefs."

True maturity lies in not being influenced by others and pursuing your own path.

As long as the major principles are followed, such a trivial matter as a haori... well, there's no need to worry too much about it.

"The teacher's words are truly profound!"

Iori laughed heartily.

……

"Hey, kid!"

As Saito walked out of the First Division and into the corridor with its white walls and yellow tiles, he called out to Iori.

"Don't think you can just let this go."

"This is really... what on earth is going on?"

Iori turned around calmly, seemingly unfazed by the murderous aura emanating from Saito.

"I don't remember doing anything to offend Captain Saito."

"...Tsk!"

Saito pursed her lips, slung her sheathed Zanpakuto over her shoulder, and walked over with the air of a ronin thug, glaring at Iori with displeasure.

What angers me is... your attitude is completely like you're teasing a child!

Don't think I'm in the wrong. Although I did 'ambush' you, I never dwell on who's right or wrong.

So... don't expect me to apologize.

Saito completely ignored the truth. She knew that if things got serious, she was definitely not in the right... but if she admitted her mistake, she would have to confess to things that made her extremely ashamed, even to the point of wanting to commit suicide...

Therefore, we must take the initiative, muddy the waters, and let the matter pass by in a confused manner!

Her tone of "I know I'm in the wrong but I don't care," and her unreasonable behavior made Iori laugh.

“I don’t treat you like a child, Captain Saito.”

On the contrary, from the very first day I met you… I remember it was a beautiful moonlit night, and you were drinking, just like yesterday… From that moment on, I felt you were a very charming woman.”

"……well?"

The unexpected attack seemed to have struck Saito's unguarded weakness, causing the thousand-year-old Grim Reaper to take a half-step back in astonishment.

"Huh? Me? Charm... You must be kidding me?"

"A dashing demeanor, a lithe figure, a lovely appearance, a forthright manner... If necessary, I could list many more of her charms, but that seems unnecessary to me."

Because when we first met, as I walked out of the dojo, I saw that girl, clad in a haori and holding a sake cup, looking down at me with a playful smile under the bright moon... I... ah, sorry, I seem to have said a bit too much.”

Iori scratched his head: "Looks like the effects of last night's drinking haven't worn off yet, hehe~"

“Iori, you…”

The immortal Saito, who had just been acting wickedly, was now in a daze, and his Zanpakuto had somehow fallen to the ground.

She instantly thought of Iori graduating early and applying to join the Expeditionary Force... Now that she thought about it, Iori had no legitimate reason to do so, and he had never had any connection with Hueco Mundo. Most people, given the opportunity, would choose the 13th Division, not the hopeless Expeditionary Force...

To outsiders, this seems utterly unreasonable.

But upon closer examination, Iori's illogical and unbecoming actions seem to have started only after their encounter... Could it be...?

An unbelievable thought quietly surfaced in Saito's mind, and he murmured to himself in a daze, "So that's how it is. You applied to join the expeditionary force because...you...you actually..."

"Haha, I suddenly remembered that I've become the commander-in-chief this time, and there are still a lot of things waiting for me to do... I'll take my leave now."

Iori chuckled and turned around, seemingly hesitating for a moment before speaking gently:

"Looking back now, I'm really glad I made that choice, because... back then, if I hadn't gone to Hueco Mundo, the expeditionary force might not have been able to resist Barragan... and I probably wouldn't have had the chance to see you again."

"Iori!"

call out!

The man vanished in an instant, startling Saito. With her keen eyesight, she hadn't been able to detect even the slightest sign or trace of his movements. She couldn't help but admire Iori's mastery of the Instant Step technique, which was second to none in the Seireitei.

When they first met, Iori was just a talented novice, and Saito even taught him the Shunpo technique.

It hasn't been that long, and she's already far behind. And there's something even more unsettling about her—

"What...what is this feeling in my chest?"

Soon, Saito, left alone in the same spot, became melancholy, thinking of the past, experiencing moments of joy and moments of turmoil...

Chapter 416 The Remains of a Saint, A Strange Fetus.

Seireitei is the most solemn and majestic place in Soul Society, with rows of buildings in a strong Japanese and Buddhist style. The pure white walls and golden tiles create a Shinigami garden that inspires awe.

But where there is light, there is shadow; where there are strict laws, there is also unbridled behavior; where there is light and holiness, naturally shadows and filth will arise.

In this vast Seireitei, all sorts of bloody and dark things have never stopped, and the Gotei 13, understanding all of this, are determined to protect the stability of Soul Society and even the three worlds.

They are willing to give everything for this and disregard worldly morality and reason. Although they have the same appearance and feelings as humans, Death's stance is completely different.

Iori's Hueco Mundo conquest plan received full support from the high-ranking officials, represented by Yamamoto. This was not only because the 46 Chambers hated Tokinada to the core, but also because the Gotei 13 was now preparing for war and eliminating all hidden dangers before the "Day of Destiny" arrived.

Tsunayoshiro Tokinada was undoubtedly the one who caused Seireitei the most distress!

They must be eliminated and the Hollows in Hueco Mundo stabilized so that the Gotei 13 can focus their efforts on Soul Society and the Human World.

All of this was to accumulate power in preparation for the return of the "Queen King" from the darkness, who might return at any time!

...A thousand years ago, the Land of Light, founded by Yhwach, was destroyed after being defeated in a war against the first Gotei 13.

The remnants of the Quincy who remained in the mortal world were also wiped out by the army led by Shunsui Kyoraku in a recent conflict. This clan, which was once prosperous a thousand years ago, is now reduced to a few remnants, and is monitored by the Soul Society like a rare animal, barely surviving in the mortal world.

At the current rate, their bodies, still made of flesh and blood, will likely weaken completely within two hundred years, their bloodlines losing their destructive power, turning them into ordinary spiritual beings or even mortals.

The reason for keeping this hopeless race under strict guard is not out of fear of this last bloodline—even the Land of Light at its peak lost to the Soul Society.

The one name that truly alarmed the higher-ups was always the same: the man who created the Quincy clan and brought such painful memories to the Soul Society.

Yohabach!

The Seireitei is so tense because, during the war several years ago, the Holy Son, whose strength was similar to that of the young Yhwach, sang a hymn of praise before his death, prophesying that Yhwach would return and reclaim the entire world.

According to their thinking, if they wanted to stop this prophecy, they would naturally have to find Yhwach at his weakest moment after his resurrection and kill him to solve the problem once and for all.

Therefore, it makes sense to monitor the descendants of the Quincy in this way, since every Quincy can be regarded as Yhwach's "child". If Yhwach wants to make a comeback, he will definitely gather his bloodline!

However, the Gotei 13 and the bigwigs of Soul Society would never know that what they should really be focusing on is not the human world, but the Seireitei, which they are so proud of!

Right here, lies the greatest factor that disrupts the stability of the Three Realms!

That is the nemesis of death, another dimension hidden in the shadows.

——【The Invisible Empire】!

A thousand years ago, not all the surviving Quincy fled to the human world. Some of them invaded Soul Society and stayed behind, going against the grain, and chose Seireitei, where the Shinigami were most lax in their defenses.

At that time, Seireitei was completely destroyed, and everything was in ruins. The newly established Gotei 13 was by no means a disciplined force; they couldn't even organize patrols properly, so they naturally lacked the ability to conduct thorough investigations to eliminate potential threats.

In fact, apart from Chojiro Sasakibe, none of these brutes realized that there was another form of warfare called "infiltration"...

With extraordinary courage and by utilizing the Quincy's unique technology, the elites of the Land of Light constructed a spiritual space within the "Shadow of Seireitei," namely the [Wanken Empire]!

This is not a metaphorical statement; they truly opened up an alternate dimension with "shadow" as the portal, making them essentially two sides of the same coin as Seireitei.

Over the course of this millennium, the Quincy guarded the King's coffin, lurking in the shadows, biding their time and gradually rebuilding their power...

……

"Hasward, although you are the No. 1 of the Knights, I don't remember when His Majesty made you the Crown Prince."

In the spacious hall, a straight path for pilgrimage is paved with pure white flooring, and at the end of the path is a steep staircase, at the top of which sits a throne with a cross as its symbol.

Above the throne was a white coffin in the Western style, with a golden cross inlaid on the front and star symbols on each of the four sides.

Now, about twenty or thirty people are scattered around the hall, all dressed in white robes and cloaks in the style of the Quincy. One person stands in front of the steps, coldly facing his comrades.

"Arrogant fellow!"

The one shouting and cursing was a middle-aged man with a hairstyle resembling a mountain peak and a rough appearance. He stood two steps away from Hasward, looking as menacing as a black bear, but he never dared to take a step forward.

The person he was confronting had a completely opposite image to him:

With long, flowing golden hair, a handsome face, and a pair of indifferent yet cold eyes, he has a tall and slender figure. He is a character who would only appear in Western knight stories, and even if he is not the protagonist, he would be a very important supporting character.

Unlike the furious middle-aged man, the blond youth maintained a poker face, unmoved by the other party's accusations, his indifferent gaze as if he hadn't heard a word the other party said.

"How long are you going to stand there, Hasward!"

The middle-aged man gritted his teeth: "Is the king's coffin really still intact? Why are you preventing us from checking it?!"

The blond youth, Hasward, the commander of the Sternritter, simply said after being questioned: "This is not something you can question. As the highest-ranking commander currently in the Empire, I will never allow you to get close to the King's body... If you want to use violence, please do so. I will always stand firm at my post."

"hateful!"