Chapter 197: Scumbag-sama, Please Hurry Up
"...So that's how it is, no wonder the Captain-Commander is so furious."
In the laboratory, Aizen nodded as he organized materials.
After returning from the First Division, Satoru had come directly to him and shared the secrets he had heard from the Captain-Commander.
The war over eight hundred years ago, the progenitor of the Quincies, Yhwach, the Sternritter…
One unfamiliar term after another left him feeling somewhat emotional.
Throughout the long history of the Soul Society, waves of turmoil truly emerged endlessly.
Back then, the strongest Quincy, Yhwach, led his knights to invade the Soul Society, and Yamamoto personally led the forces to confront them.
In the final battle, Yamamoto activated his Bankai and annihilated Yhwach.
Unexpectedly, that fellow had not died but instead constructed a new empire within the shadows of the Seireitei and reassembled his forces.
The only good news was that although Yhwach was alive, he was not fully alive.
He left his subjects with a rhyme:
900 years to regain a heartbeat, 90 years to regain consciousness, 9 years to regain power, 9 days to reclaim the world.
If these words were true, it would take at least another hundred years for Yhwach to awaken.
Such a long period would be more than enough for the Soul Society to make all kinds of preparations.
The most crucial step was to abandon reliance on the "Soul-Sleeping Membrane."
Whether Yhwach awakens in a hundred years or in one, the Soul Society must act swiftly, constructing a series of defensive fortifications within the Seireitei as quickly as possible.
Additionally, special attention must be paid to guarding against the Quincy ability to control Reishi.
After Quincies activate "Vollständig," they can forcibly control the surrounding Reishi.
Everything in the Soul Society—every blade of grass, every tree, every brick, and every tile—is composed of Reishi. If we don't take precautions, it would be a real joke if the defensive facilities end up being absorbed as snacks by the Quincies.
Yamamoto has already gone to the Kidō Corps to have them develop Kidō that can resist forced Reishi manipulation.
If the Quincies really come, these Kidō will protect the Soul Society's important facilities, preventing them from being forcibly destroyed by the Quincies.
Although these arrangements will require some future negotiations and explanations with Central 46, as long as they are implemented, they will significantly reduce casualties when war breaks out.
Satoru was quite satisfied with this outcome.
He lounged in his chair, swinging his legs, and said:
"Sōsuke, I've realized that the old man is starting to understand just how reliable I am."
"Bambietta, the Quincy… such an important prisoner, and he entrusted her to me."
"What does that mean? It's trust in my abilities!"
"Is that so."
Aizen generated heat in his hand, smoothing out a protrusion on the wall, then turned to look at Satoru.
"Satoru, I also trust your abilities."
"Oh?"
Satoru's eyes lit up, and he perked up.
Getting such praise from Aizen even once was no easy feat.
"Go on, tell me more! Where exactly do you trust me?"
He sat up and looked at Aizen expectantly.
"I trust that you can separate materials that have already fused with the wall. I trust that your precision in separation is so high, it reaches the level of individual Reishi particles."
"Even I can't achieve that."
Hearing this, Satoru proudly raised his head.
"Of course, something like that is a piece of…"
Mid-sentence, as if realizing something, his voice trailed off, and his expression froze.
Aizen said calmly:
"However, upon reflection…"
"Last time, I asked you to help me separate some mixed Shinigami souls, but the result was quite crude, just at the level of an ordinary Shinigami's work."
"Satoru, what's the explanation for this?"
Satoru laughed heartily: "Sōsuke, I just remembered, the Captain-Commander has some tasks for me. Let's talk another time, another time!"
With that, he hurriedly stood up and dashed off in a flash.
Aizen crossed his arms and shook his head helplessly.
After helping Satoru clean up the laboratory, he left the Mikami Technical Bureau and headed toward the Fifth Division.
Tonight, he planned to visit the Great Spiritual Library again to look up records about Yhwach.
...
...
"Haa!!"
In a hidden training ground of the Shihōin Clan, Yoruichi, with weighted bands on her legs, delivered a fierce kick.
Her leg, wrapped in dazzling lightning, shattered the massive boulder in front of her with a single strike.
Yoruichi flipped in mid-air and landed steadily.
Looking at the shattered boulder, she curled her lips into a smile.
Two months ago, she would have needed a full combo to break a boulder of that size.
But now, even with weights on, she could shatter it with one kick.
Such progress—even that guy Satoru couldn't take it lightly, right?
In high spirits, she walked into the bath, took off her training clothes, and bathed with the assistance of two maids.
After freshening up, she changed into a new Shinigami Uniform and headed toward the Second Division.
She wondered how the Quincy situation was progressing… With Suì-Fēng handling it, the interrogation should be going smoothly, right?
That guy Satoru, having such a good kid like Suì-Fēng following him around to help, is truly a lucky bastard.
Arriving at the Mikami Technical Bureau, she wanted to find Satoru but was told he wasn't there.
Yoruichi raised an eyebrow.
At this time, it was almost dinner, and Satoru usually wouldn't be too far away.
That guy is always at the forefront when it comes to rushing to the cafeteria.
After thinking for a moment, she went to Satoru's office study.
Sure enough, she could sense a familiar presence inside.
Yoruichi smiled, planning to give this guy a little surprise.
She looked around, confirming no one was watching in this direction, then Yoruichi shrank her form, turning into her small cat form, and ran toward Satoru's study.
Reaching the window, she was about to burst in but suddenly stopped.
Yoruichi's cat ears twitched slightly.
In her cat form, she could hear many sounds that were difficult to detect in her human form.
Through the paper window, she showed a puzzled expression.
The sounds inside... seemed a bit strange.
Out of curiosity, Yoruichi extended her small cat paw and used her sharp claw tip to poke a small hole.
Then, she pressed her round cat eye against it.
The room wasn't lit, dim and gloomy. If she were human, she probably wouldn't be able to see much even inside.
But Yoruichi was different. In her cat's vision, the scene inside the room was clearly visible.
In the room, Satoru leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowed, slightly tilting his head up.
Suì-Fēng sat opposite him, her pretty little face full of disdain.
"Trash-sama... ahem, I mean, Lord Satoru, please hurry up. I'm already very tired."
While working, Suì-Fēng urged him.
Satoru gave vague responses, not saying much.
Suì-Fēng's gaze grew even more disdainful.
"You haven't accomplished much work, but these strange requests are increasing."
Satoru shook his head. "That's not right. I'm dedicating myself to work."
"After all, I'm a youthful, handsome young man in my prime. Constantly watching... oh oh... watching Bambietta like that, how could I possibly endure it?"
"Trash."
Suì-Fēng coldly gave her evaluation, speeding up her hands.
Outside the window, Yoruichi was so surprised that her cat tail couldn't help but twitch.
A cold light flashed in Suì-Fēng's eyes as she suddenly turned her head.
"Who's there?!"
At the same time, the hidden weapon Satoru had prepared long ago came flying toward her—