"The Central 96?" Setsuna revealed an amused smile. "Don't worry. Soon, that institution will cease to exist."
Many Shinigami gasped, 'He wanted to abolish the Central 96?'
Such thing was even crazier than directly becoming Captain-Commander.
After all, it was the highest legislative and judicial body of Soul Society, the core symbol of the ruling class.
However, those Shinigami who had lived through the era over three hundred years ago all showed excited expressions.
They knew very well that abolishing the Central 96 was merely the most insignificant measure of this great one.
The skies over Soul Society were finally going to clear!
Setsuna continued, "Actually, I don't have much interest in the title of [Captain-Commander] itself. I only need the authority and nominal position it provides for the sake of convenience."
He looked at Kyoraku. "If I truly wanted to be Captain-Commander, I could have done so over three hundred years ago."
Kyoraku was stunned and couldn't help asking, "Setsuna, what do you mean by that?"
Setsuna smiled slightly. "Now that matters in Hell are concluded, I no longer need to hide it. My 'conflict' with the Captain-Commander, and even my exile to Hell, were merely a deliberate act we put on."
"What? An act?"
"Who were you acting for?"
Exclamations rose and fell. Many people instinctively looked at the monk.
If there was anyone in Soul Society worth Setsuna and the Captain-Commander putting on an act together, it seemed it could only be this one.
Ichibe'e's voice was dry. "Could it be that the five great ones in Hell all..."
Setsuna nodded calmly. "Four of the five Ancestors of the Great Noble Families were devoured by the Tsunayashiro Clan's Ancestor. As for the Tsunayashiro Clan's Ancestor himself, he was devoured by the Hollow within my body."
This simple sentence was like a bombshell, stunning everyone and leaving them dizzy.
'The Ancestors of the Five Great Noble Families?' Some young Shinigami were confused, 'Weren't there only four Great Noble Families?'
'And weren't those figures from myths millions of years ago?'
Ichibe'e asked in confusion, "Hollow?"
Setsuna explained, "It's the one who just rescued Yhwach. He is a Hollow born from within my body. His main body and mine are still fighting in Hell right now. The ones that appeared in Soul Society are merely clones of us."
"Clones?"
"That power that nearly destroyed Soul Society was just from clones?"
The crowd erupted again in an uproar. A single clone could easily defeat Yhwach. How powerful had this legendary Captain become?
Ichibe'e realized, "I understand. As expected of the genius who became the strongest Shinigami in just two years. You deliberately entered Hell because Soul Society could no longer allow you to continue growing!"
"You have trained in the world of Hell for over three hundred years, becoming an existence that transcends everything. Even that great one is no match for you."
Toshiro couldn't help but gasp. Becoming the strongest Shinigami in two years, then training in a terrifying world like Hell for over three hundred years… no wonder he was so powerful.
"Something like that. You can understand it that way if you like." Setsuna's tone was calm.
Ichibe'e took a deep breath. "Since you have defeated that great one of the Tsunayashiro Clan, I am willing to obey your commands."
Setsuna chuckled. "You changed your tune quite quickly."
Ichibe'e remained stoic. "I am merely a pen in the hands of powerful figures. Whether the one holding the pen is the five Ancestors, Tsunayashiro, or you… to me, it makes no difference."
"Since you have defeated the five Ancestors and proven you possess the power to control everything, then I am naturally willing to follow your will."
"Follow my will?" Setsuna repeated softly, then shook his head. "I don't need a pen that has been stained black. I don't want to get my hands dirty."
The instant his words fell, Ichibe'e's form instantly turned to dust.
This leader of the Zero Division, the monk who had lived for countless tens of thousands of years and knew the true names of all things, was erased like a speck of dust.
Of the remaining four members of the Zero Division, aside from Hikifune Kirio, who had a good relationship with Setsuna, the other three all felt a wave of fear.
Some of the younger Shinigami of the Gotei 13 also felt their hands and feet turn cold. This new Captain-Commander was truly decisive in killing.
A combatant that powerful, erased without hesitation.
Setsuna, however, acted as if he had merely done something trivial. His gaze turned to Aizen behind him.
"Aizen."
"Yes, Setsuna-nii." Aizen bowed slightly, his posture impeccable.
Setsuna said, "I hereby, under the authority of... well, [Acting Captain-Commander], appoint you as the [Supreme Justice of Soul Society] and grant you temporary supreme judicial and executive authority."
As for whether the Captain-Commander actually had this authority, Setsuna didn't care.
His authority as Captain-Commander was unlimited.
Many Shinigami could barely keep their composure. Appointing Aizen, who had once massacred the Central 96, as the Supreme Justice of Soul Society… the judges of the Central 96 would surely weep.
Setsuna continued, "Your task is to conduct a thorough and public judicial review of all members of the Central 96 and all nobles of Soul Society."
"I have only three requirements: fairness, fairness, and F**KING fairness!"
Aizen nodded slightly. Fairness was the most difficult, but also the simplest.
"Hmm..." Setsuna thought briefly. "Truly upright individuals may remain. The reconstruction of Soul Society also requires people who understand the rules to handle affairs."
"But as for all noble titles, privileges, and the system of hereditary succession... from today onward, they are all permanently abolished. Soul Society does not need nobles."
At these words, everyone's minds shook violently.
The noble system had lasted for a million years, existing since the very beginning of Soul Society's creation.
Completely abolishing the nobles would be no less than a super earthquake.
Many people looked at Yoruichi. She was the head of the Shihoin Clan, one of the 'four' Great Noble Families.
However, Yoruichi couldn't care less.
After learning the sordid history of the Five Great Noble Families, she no longer held any hope for the so-called honor of the nobles.
Kuchiki Rukia, among the crowd, looked at her brother with concern.
She knew Byakuya, knew how much responsibility and pride the name 'Kuchiki' and the noble honor it represented meant to him.
Now, all of this was to be stripped away and denied. How much pain would her brother feel?
However, when Rukia's gaze fell on Byakuya's face, she was stunned to find that…
On her brother's usually ice-sculpted face, though it remained expressionless, deep in his eyes there was a faint hint of liberation, as if the word 'noble' had been merely a shackle to him.
After discovering that the Shihoin and Kuchiki clans had no intention of stepping forward, the lower and upper noble Shinigami turned their gazes to the Tsunayashiro Clan, only to find them already drenched in sweat.
The Shinigami of the Tsunayashiro Clan were utterly despairing. Their clan had been severely damaged over three hundred years ago, and it had taken these years to barely recover some strength.
And now, that man who had once 'trampled the bones of nobles across the streets' had returned.