Among the newly appointed Central 46, forces related to the Shihoin family occupied more than half the seats; their power could be described as monstrous.
And the one who had raised the Shihoin family to such heights was the son-in-law of the Shihoin family standing before him.
It was no exaggeration to say that in the current Seireitei, the Shihoin family... no, this son-in-law of the Shihoin family, covered the sky with one hand.
He was the actual person in power within the Seireitei, secretly manipulating the laws of Central 46. Even Captain-Commander Yamamoto had to obey their orders.
Today, Tessai Tsukabishi had been suddenly summoned by Central 46, and there was certainly the handiwork of this young man before him involved.
He just didn't know what the other party's purpose was in doing this.
Could it be that because the Kidō Corps had taken so long to seal Kuchiki Kōga, they were calling him in to be held accountable?
"How would I know the thoughts of the Sages of Central 46?" Kenma looked at the Grand Kidō Chief before him and said softly, "However... it should be a good thing."
Hearing Kenma say this, Tessai Tsukabishi couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.
As long as it wasn't to hold him accountable, that was good.
Presumably, the young man before him had some task to entrust to him, which was why he had Central 46 step forward.
As the two conversed, time passed little by little.
Inside the Central Underground Assembly Hall.
Forty newly appointed Sages and six Judges sat high behind a screen, their figures hidden in the gloom.
A beam of dim light fell from the roof above, illuminating the central area of the hall.
Kuchiki Kōga was bound all over, firmly locked onto a chair, nowhere to hide under this faint light. The first decree exercised by the new Central 46 was to pass judgment on the great villain, Kuchiki Kōga, who had caused massive casualties in the Seireitei.
From the highest point, the Chief Judge pronounced the final verdict on Kuchiki Kōga.
"Former Third Seat of the Sixth Division of the Gotei 13, Captain of the First Division Special Forces, Kuchiki Kōga. You slaughtered all members of the previous Central 46, murdered fifty-three people including members of the Tsunayashiro family and many high-ranking nobles, and killed five Captains of the Gotei 13. After verification, the evidence is conclusive and unmistakable."
"After our collective discussion, we hereby announce the judgment decree."
"The sinner Kuchiki Kōga shall be imprisoned in Muken, the eighth and lowest level of the underground prison. The sentence is twenty-three thousand eight hundred and thirty-four years, to be executed immediately!"
Hearing this from below, Kuchiki Kōga rolled his eyes upward to scan the room, the corners of his mouth hooking up to reveal a mocking smile.
"Hmph, people like you are worthy of passing judgment?"
"This is truly comical. If not for me, how would you bunch of trash have your current high positions?"
"Even your master behind the scenes doesn't dare speak to me like that."
As soon as these words came out, an uproar erupted in the hall.
"Arrogant!"
"You treasonous person! We spared you from death, yet you dare to be so carried away!"
"Quickly, seal his eyes and mouth! Leave only his ears so he can obediently listen to the sentence!"
"We must increase the sentence and increase the punishment!"
Some of the Sages looked left and right, especially those colleagues with traces of the Shihoin family.
All of these people looked ugly, gritting their teeth.
Although some things were indeed true and tacitly understood, they could not be spoken of so brazenly and without scruples. Under the orders of the Sages, Kuchiki Kōga's entire face was completely sealed.
Then, the Chief Judge made a new ruling.
"Kuchiki Kōga, the sentence is increased to twenty-five thousand years!"
At the moment the sentence was heard, Kuchiki Kōga's five senses, Reiatsu, breathing, and even his heartbeat were all sealed away.
His consciousness was also cut off at that moment!
The broad-bodied Vice Kidō Chief, along with four members of the Kidō Corps, entered from the entrance and took the corpse-like Kuchiki Kōga down.
The matter of Kuchiki Kōga was hereby officially concluded!
Bang!
The sound of a gavel striking rang out, silencing the many Sages and bringing quiet to the hall.
The Chief Judge's voice resounded.
"Next is the second matter."
"Summon Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigokuni!"
Under the order of the attendant below the hall, the main door at the entrance opened. Yamamoto Shigokuni, draped in a white haori, stepped into the hall.
The fluorescent light in his eyes was restrained as he looked at the Sages of Central 46 before him.
One of the Judges above asked as a matter of routine, "Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigokuni, correct?"
"It is this old man!"
Yamamoto Shigokuni's aged voice resonated through the hall, causing the Sages to whisper among themselves.
All of them had long heard of this legendary figure of the Seireitei.
But they never imagined that one day they would stand at such a height, looking down on this Captain-Commander.
Although Kuchiki Kōga was a sinner who slaughtered the innocent, to them, he was truly a great benefactor!
"Silence!"
The Chief Judge struck the gavel, causing the buzzing whispers in the hall to instantly dissipate and quiet down. "Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigokuni, during the Kuchiki Kōga incident, the Gotei 13 failed to provide effective protection, leading to the deaths of the entire previous Central 46, numerous nobles, and several Captains. Do you have any defense for such negligence?"
"No."
Yamamoto Shigokuni lowered his gaze and admitted it directly.
Protecting the Seireitei was the duty shouldered by the Gotei 13 from its inception until now!
With Kuchiki Kōga causing such a huge mess, regardless of the cause or whether there was an inside story, in the end, it was the negligence of the Gotei 13.
For this, the Gotei 13 bore an absolutely unshirkable responsibility.
What made Yamamoto Shigokuni feel even more stifled and ashamed was that dignified Captains of the Gotei 13—five of them—had been killed in head-on combat by a Third Seat who had lost his Zanpakutō.
It had completely lost the face of the Gotei 13; where was there any glory left as a Shinigami?
Disgrace!
This was a disgrace the Gotei 13 could not wash away no matter what!
It went against the name "Gotei" (Court Guard)!
Regardless of whether Central 46 held him accountable this time, Yamamoto Shigokuni himself would not let this matter go so easily!
Seeing this, the Chief Judge above spoke, "Since Captain-Commander Yamamoto has confessed without reservation, we have discussed and decided on a punishment."
"From now on, all funding for the Gotei 13 will be halved, and the personnel quota will be cut by half. Are there any objections?"
"None." Yamamoto Shigokuni nodded, accepting the judgment.
He had already formed sufficient psychological expectations when he was summoned.
If he were the one judging, the punishment might have been even stricter than this.
However, he still had a question. "With the Gotei 13 personnel halved, it will be inevitable that some areas within the Seireitei will not be covered regarding future security. How will this be resolved?"
"We have our own considerations regarding this matter."
A Judge above reassured him, then glanced at the Chief Judge.
Seeing the Chief Judge nod slightly, he ordered the people below:
"Come in."
As the Judge's order was given, the door at the entrance opened.
Yamamoto Shigokuni turned to look as two tall men walked in.
They were unmistakably Tessai Tsukabishi and Shihoin Kenma!
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