Shunsui Kyoraku stared intently at the old classmate before him. By all rights, this fellow should have been rotting in the Nest of Maggots for a full two hundred years. Yet, simply because of his surname—even if he was merely from a branch family and held the lowest seat—the man was able to sit here, chatting and laughing while continuing to enjoy fine sake.
"Do you think you have any credibility left with me at this point?"
"Then you should have just stood up and left. It is inconvenient for you to pry for intelligence within the Tsunayashiro family estate, but it is much simpler in the Rukongai. The fact that you are still willing to sit here and chat with me... isn't it because you have actually obtained similar intelligence?"
Tokinada Tsunayashiro was clearly smiling, yet the corners of his mouth were turned downward.
He would never underestimate Shunsui Kyoraku's capabilities. Back then, he had thought his actions were seamless, yet this man had still managed to produce concrete evidence, forcing him to accept a public trial. Although his sentence was ultimately reduced, Tokinada Tsunayashiro had never forgotten that incident.
"Are you looking to make an intelligence trade with me?"
"You must be quite envious. Even though the Seireitei possesses the Great Spirit Book Gallery, which can record all things, the Gotei 13 still has to rely on the various informants and spies you have developed to obtain intelligence—because the only ones who can use the Great Spirit Book Gallery are the Tsunayashiro family."
"At least I can apply for usage. But as for you, although you still bear the surname Tsunayashiro, does the main house still allow you to continue using the Great Spirit Book Gallery?"
Shunsui Kyoraku's biting sarcasm did not change the man's expression. On the contrary, he was certain that Shunsui Kyoraku was already tempted.
"Human effort can achieve anything. Besides, don't you want to know why the nobles far away in the Seireitei are so agitated over a mere disturbance in the Rukongai this time? Why even the Tsunayashiro family is charging at the forefront, not hesitating to deploy Captain-level combat power to forcibly resolve this issue?"
This sentence struck deep into Shunsui Kyoraku's heart.
The nobles might react to the expansion of the Yellow Turbans, but it should not be this intense. One must realize that they couldn't be bothered to manage anything beyond District 40, so why would they care what a faction beyond District 70 does?
Although the measures implemented by Suzuki Makoto might be considered treasonous in the eyes of the nobles, does a single crow cawing hundreds of miles away make them feel it is announcing a death?
Moreover, after Captain-Commander Yamamoto proposed the negotiation plan, Central 46 immediately voiced their opposition. When the Captain-Commander persisted, they even directly dispatched personnel attempting to intercept and kill the peace envoy—these signs all indicated that the nobles harbored a definite intent to kill Suzuki Makoto and the Yellow Turbans.
And now, the Tsunayashiro family had even mobilized Captain-level combat power. Such individuals were rare even within the Five Great Noble Houses, yet they actually transferred them to District 70 of the Rukongai, merely to kill a wandering soul who had never even approached the Seireitei?
"If you are able to access the Great Spirit Book Gallery, then why do you need to learn anything from me?"
"I just like that personality of yours. If Jushiro Ukitake were here, he would probably have flung his sleeves and left long ago—no, he probably wouldn't have come at all."
Tokinada Tsunayashiro felt very satisfied with Shunsui Kyoraku's cooperative attitude. He raised his sake cup once again, clinked it against the air, and drained it in one gulp.
"The Great Spirit Book Gallery is only responsible for recording; it does not contain anything more. For example... His Excellency the Captain-Commander's attitude toward this matter."
Shunsui Kyoraku stood up expressionlessly, turned around, and began to walk away.
"Hahahaha, just a joke. I only want you to help me investigate something. In the World of the Living, exactly how many people possess that kind of bizarre ability?"
"What bizarre ability?"
"What's this? How could Jushiro Ukitake not even tell you about such matters? The 13th Division is responsible for stationing troops in the World of the Living, and they have already reported quite a few examples. They say that after saving pregnant women who were attacked by Hollows, the children born to those women all possess abilities that exceed the ordinary."
Tokinada Tsunayashiro wore a look of ridicule.
"The Great Spirit Book Gallery only records existences related to the Soul Society. I am indeed somewhat beyond my reach regarding the World of the Living. However, I am still very interested in this situation. Is it due to the immersion of Spiritual Power, or is it because of the invasion of the Hollow's power? Such matters are quite worthy of research, you know."
Such matters were indeed worthy of research, but those were words that someone from the 12th Division would say, not words that Tokinada Tsunayashiro would say.
"Fine."
Shunsui Kyoraku composed himself.
"Come find me again in three days."
The man had no intention of seeing his guest out, continuing to pour and drink for himself right where he sat.
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"Impossible! I have clearly used the Heavenly Armament borrowed from the Shihōin family! How can you possibly still maintain your current combat power?"
The man, covered in wounds, roared in disbelief. The combat situation was completely different from what they had predicted.
"Hah? Heavenly Armament? The name sounds quite bluffing, but that's about all it is. No matter how good the weapon is, it's useless if the person using it is no good."
Black Jeanne maintained her cat-playing-with-a-mouse attitude. Although this guy in front of her had used a move called Bankai and instantly burst forth with extremely strong combat power, backed by Suzuki Makoto—this super Holy Grail—she could even use her Noble Phantasm as a basic attack. Coupled with the fact that Suzuki Makoto's magical energy carried its own sharpness property, cutting down these glass cannons was indeed easy work.
"How can this be? You are clearly a self-liberated Zanpakuto. This armament can suppress the power of Zanpakuto, so why aren't you being suppressed?!"
The enforcer of the Tsunayashiro family still could not accept this reality. Previously, even they had been equally suppressed in their Zanpakuto abilities. Yet, the opponent had gone on a rampage instead. In the end, unable to bear it, he had withdrawn the armament and used Bankai, but he was still crushed by the opponent.
"What Zanpakuto? My name is Jeanne d'Arc! I am the Judge Witch who will burn all of you nobles to ashes!"
The young girl sneered, and a violent black dragon rose from her sword, fiercely lunging at this powerhouse who could use Bankai.
After a desperate resistance, only a patch of ash remained.
Black Jeanne picked up the object that looked like an enlarged scabbard from the ashes. This must be that so-called Heavenly Armament the opponent had mentioned earlier.
She hadn't told the truth. When this scabbard was activated, she had indeed felt a certain suppression. However, her unique existence mechanism meant this suppression force wasn't too strong. Coupled with Suzuki Makoto's supply of magical energy, she had been able to crush her way through so easily.
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