The massive estate had been reduced to ruins, leaving behind only a dead silence.
In the pin-drop silence, everyone turned their eyes toward the figure who radiated like a blazing sun, their faces filled with awe.
The Soul Reapers might not have fully understood, but as Quincies, they knew all too well.
The moment the Sanrei Gloves were removed, Kimura Shunji and Miura Takayuki were undoubtedly the strongest among the Quincies in the World of the Living.
Yet, such powerful beings had been reduced to ash with a single strike of a blade.
At this moment, they could no longer muster even the slightest thought of resistance. Unconcealed despair filled their eyes.
Even Ishida Sōken's eyes widened, staring at the figure standing amidst the ruins as if looking at a monster.
On the other hand, the Soul Reapers were still immersed in the apocalyptic scene, seemingly yet to process what had happened.
But soon, expressions of fanaticism and excitement surfaced in their eyes.
"Submit or die... So intense! That was even more domineering than when he forced the treaty!"
"Terrifying... So this is Lord Naraku's true strength!"
"As expected of Lord Naraku! He easily accomplished what even the Captains couldn't!"
"Lord Naraku, we adore you!"
He had truly suppressed the entire battlefield single-handedly. Wherever his gaze swept, the Quincies' faces instantly paled, and they instinctively lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.
After confirming there were no more troublemakers, Naraku Sora nodded at Aizen and the others nearby.
The follow-up work could now begin.
The subsequent matters had little to do with him.
It primarily involved registering the Quincies' names, specific power levels, addresses, and other personal information—essentially creating a comprehensive database to use as a strategic deterrent.
All Quincies present were required to unconditionally submit to the Soul Society.
If Soul Reapers stationed in the World of the Living encountered an irresistible enemy, Quincies living nearby had to provide immediate assistance.
Furthermore, the terms of the previous treaty had to be strictly observed.
For instance, hunting Hollows or Menos Grande in any form was strictly prohibited unless their lives were in immediate danger.
Any large-scale gatherings, like the current one, had to be reported to the Soul Society in advance. Any violations would be severely punished.
Yadōmaru Lisa's combat strength might have been average, but when it came to paperwork, she was incredibly versatile—a necessity when dealing with a hands-off boss like Kyōraku Shunsui.
Naraku Sora picked up the various regulations and cautionary notes she had drafted, skimmed through them, and nodded in satisfaction.
*Yes, very good and comprehensive. Second only to our esteemed Document Dragon.*
Aizen seemed to sense an inexplicable malice and subconsciously glanced at Naraku Sora, only to see him hastily turn his head away, pretending nothing had happened.
He hadn't been sure before, but seeing Naraku Sora's reaction, Aizen was now certain of the source of that unknown malice.
He regretted it.
*I shouldn't have intervened earlier. A thick-skinned guy like him deserved to be thoroughly humiliated by the Quincies.*
To prevent any loopholes, Aizen specifically reviewed the regulations. After a moment of thought, he suggested, "Add one more rule. The movements of the stronger Quincies should be monitored to prevent any unnecessary accidents."
Yadōmaru Lisa looked at Aizen in surprise. She hadn't expected this seemingly average Third Seat of Squad 5 to be so thorough.
She remembered that he had a good relationship with Naraku Sora.
Sure enough, geniuses attracted each other.
Although this Third Seat Aizen was a bit lacking in strength, his mind was far sharper than the other Soul Reapers.
"But the monitoring method won't be easy to set up. Cross-world Kidō consumes too much energy, and the Soul Reapers stationed in the World of the Living have other duties," she noted.
"It doesn't need to be that complicated," Aizen replied calmly. "Squad 12 has an invention called the Substitute Soul Reaper Badge. It has multiple miniature Kidō implanted within it, which can track the bearer's approximate location in real-time."
"We just need to modify the design and the name."
"Additionally, prohibit any form of contact with Quincies outside the World of the Living, and require all newborns to be registered..."
Hearing this, Yadōmaru Lisa's eyes widened.
*He actually thought of all this? Do he and Naraku Sora really share a common language? How did these two even end up hanging out together?*
Seeing the shift in Yadōmaru Lisa's gaze, Naraku Sora's face darkened. He had a feeling she was thinking about something highly offensive.
The representative chosen by the Quincies this time was Ishida Sōken.
With the few notable powerhouses executed on the spot, the strongest remaining was this Quincy who had defected from the Wandenreich.
"Lord Naraku."
Compared to the previous two, Ishida Sōken's attitude was remarkably sincere.
"Although it might be presumptuous to say this, for the sake of the future of the Quincies in the World of the Living, I still wish to ask a favor of you."
Naraku Sora looked at the middle-aged man with curiosity.
His appearance differed slightly from the Ishida Sōken in his memories, but his Reiatsu was formidable—even fiercer than the ones who had just died. He definitely possessed strength surpassing even Kensei's level.
Speaking of which, this man was also a key figure who would leverage the fate of the world.
"Speak freely."
Naraku Sora grinned. He always extended a certain degree of tolerance toward good-natured people who firmly stood on the side of kindness.
Moreover, Ishida Sōken hadn't attacked the Soul Reapers from start to finish, proving he had his own bottom line.
"It concerns the Wandenreich."
Ishida Sōken pondered for a moment before speaking in a low voice. "Perhaps you are unaware of the Wandenreich's existence. It is ruled by the Emperor of the Quincies..."
Naraku Sora blinked. He hadn't expected this good-natured old man to actually know about the Wandenreich.
And from his words, it wasn't hard to tell that his understanding of the Wandenreich was no less than Quilge's.
After briefly introducing the structure of the Wandenreich, Ishida Sōken's expression grew increasingly solemn. He enunciated every word clearly:
"Emperor Yhwach is not the savior of the Quincies!"
"Or rather, his true goal is to bring an end to the world!"
Hearing this, Aizen also looked over with great interest.
Others might not have noticed, but Ishida Sōken had observed carefully. The person who had cast the Bakudō to block Kimura Shunji's fatal strike during the battle was this seemingly ordinary young man.
Perhaps, like Naraku Sora, he was a genius Soul Reaper who, despite lacking a Captain's haori, was no weaker than a Captain.
Ishida Sōken lowered his gaze and poured out all the intelligence he had gathered within the Wandenreich.
After his recounting.
Aizen nodded slightly, a trace of gravity flashing behind his glasses.
Combined with the information previously obtained from Quilge, it was basically certain that the man was hiding nothing.
The history of the Quincies was far older than he had anticipated. The so-called Emperor's title was actually an honor won through countless campaigns and conquests.
After the war with the Soul Reapers back then, Yhwach fell into a deep slumber due to severe injuries. The Quincies then took him and infiltrated the Soul Society once more.
Utilizing their ability to gather Reishi, they constructed a spatial dimension within the shadows of the Seireitei, forging the Wandenreich anew within it.
Strictly speaking, the Quincy nation was originally called the Empire of Light. It was only after entering the shadow dimension that they renamed it the Wandenreich—the Invisible Empire—based on their environment.
Useless trivia increased.
Because Ishida Sōken disagreed with Yhwach's world-ending ideology, he voluntarily defected from the Wandenreich, coming to the World of the Living to survive and search for a way to save the Quincy race.
"That is all I know," Ishida Sōken said with utmost sincerity. "If the Quincies in the World of the Living ever face a catastrophe in the future, I implore Lord Naraku to lend a helping hand and save us from annihilation."
Naraku Sora didn't speak, instead tossing a glance at the person beside him.
Aizen: "?"
As the Senkaimon opened once again, the Soul Reapers guarding the vicinity immediately perked up, craning their necks eagerly to look inside.
The conflict between Soul Reapers and Quincies wasn't a matter of just a day or two.
Therefore, they were highly curious about what kind of results the legendary non-Gotei 13 member, Lord Naraku, would bring back.
The first to come into view was Captain Muguruma Kensei, his chest wrapped in bandages.
Wearing his sleeveless white haori, he looked utterly miserable, his face pulled as long as a horse's.
Seeing this, the crowd's hearts skipped a beat.
Even a Captain was injured? Did that mean the battle with the Quincies had been tragically brutal?
How many of the Soul Reapers who went to the World of the Living for the mission had even survived?
Next to emerge was Aikawa Love.
His haori was damaged, his Shihakushō was covered in tears, and a chunk of his afro had been sliced off, making him look incredibly bizarre.
Although he looked a bit battered, he hadn't actually sustained any real injuries.
It seemed that veteran Captains were indeed a cut above the newer ones; he didn't even have a scratch on him.
The Soul Reapers gathered around the Senkaimon nodded in agreement, expressing their approval of Aikawa Love.
However, upon seeing their affirming gazes, the Captain lowered his head in shame.
Next was the completely unscathed Yadōmaru Lisa.
Seeing this, Kyōraku Shunsui, who had been waiting there for some time, instantly relaxed. With his hands tucked into his sleeves, he grinned at her from afar.
*His little junior brother still cared about his senior brother. Little Lisa doesn't have a single scratch on her; it seems she was protected very well.*
Once the mission debrief was over, he would definitely treat him to drinks at the newly opened izakaya.
By now, the other Soul Reapers had vaguely sensed that something was off.
Why did the Captains look so battered, while the Lieutenant, Yadōmaru Lisa, didn't even have a speck of dust on her?
Immediately after, the rest of the Soul Reapers filed out, every single one of them in fantastic condition.
They looked excited and full of energy, not at all like they had just been through a massive battle.
Finally, someone curiously stepped forward to ask.
When they learned that Lord Naraku Sora had single-handedly ended the conflict, the Soul Reapers' expressions turned to absolute shock. And when they heard the details of the battle...
The area around the Senkaimon completely boiled over.
Countless words of praise blurted out, proclaiming Lord Naraku's unmatched valor, comparing his presence to that of Yamamoto himself.
Human joys and sorrows are not interconnected.
Watching the cheering Soul Reapers, Muguruma Kensei only felt that they were exceptionally noisy. He was depressed to the extreme.
As the only casualty of this mission, not only did he receive zero glory, but he was also firmly nailed to the pillar of shame.
*Perhaps I really need to start training seriously.*
If this continued, he was terrified he would truly become the shame of the Captains.
And with the triumphant return from this mission, Naraku Sora's name once again resounded throughout the Seireitei, making him the center of everyone's attention!
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