In District 43 of the Northern Rukongai, crowds bustled along the quaint streets. Vendors on both sides enthusiastically beckoned to passersby. This was the most prosperous commercial area in District 43.
At this moment, inside a second-floor room, two men were chatting and laughing while swirling the goblets in their hands, the bright red liquid spinning along the glass walls. The two were none other than Knott Vohtz and Kōe Shihouin, who had demanded compensation. The so-called compensation was the red wine currently in their hands.
"Stop swirling it, you're making it foam up..."
"Sorry, I haven't really drank this stuff before."
Vohtz watched as Kōe downed the wine in a single gulp, feeling a sudden ache in his chest. Bringing out his private stash was painful enough, but watching good stuff get wasted was even worse. It was an absolutely terrible feeling.
Kōe, however, felt no such psychological burden. He smacked his lips with exaggerated seriousness, a look of pure enjoyment on his face as he said, still craving more, "As expected of Lafite, the aftertaste is endless."
"While I'm glad you say that," Vohtz took an elegant sip of his wine and continued, "to be honest, the red wine in Soul Society isn't that great, even if it is Lafite."
"You know how it is. After all, you have to start from planting the grapes." Vohtz shrugged, not bothering to hide the smile on his face. Watching a country bumpkin pretend to be elegant was truly amusing.
"So this is actually cheap stuff?"
"Look on the bright side, Kōe!" Vohtz picked up the bottle and poured Kōe another half glass, speaking slowly. "Even if it's not as good as the World of the Living, this is still one of the best red wines in Soul Society. It cost a fortune."
Hearing that the price was right, Kōe's displeasure was instantly swept away. Smiling, he clinked glasses with Vohtz, then leaned against the windowsill to watch the bustling crowd below. After spending so much time in the Plains of Slaughter, such a sight was particularly beautiful.
"What are your plans next?" Vohtz followed suit and leaned against the window, though his gaze remained fixed on Kōe beside him.
"Rest for a while, then go play around in the Plains of Slaughter again. If I get bored, I'll come back for another vacation. A hundred and fifty years... heaven knows how long that is!"
"You know that's not what I'm asking."
"Looks like you've got quite the deep pockets, my friend!" Kōe turned his head, looking at Vohtz with a sly expression. "Keep talking. I still want to taste some caviar."
Vohtz raised both hands in surrender. He had wanted to get Kōe to reintegrate into the Shinigami ranks, but unfortunately, the guy had absolutely no desire to do so. Since that was the case, why make things difficult for his own wallet?
However, he could understand why Kōe acted this way. He and Kōe had first crossed paths in District 60 of the Northern Rukongai, though back then it was merely a passing encounter.
It wasn't until later, during a battle in the Zaraki District, that Kōe happened to pass by and helped them out, officially acquainting the two. Over the following two months, Kōe had tagged along with them. The two had gone through numerous battles together, forging a deep friendship.
During those two months, Vohtz had seen Shinigami treat them with cold indifference more than once. Even when Kōe was injured, he had to return to the Rukongai to find someone to treat him. In short, the current situation of them completely cutting ties with each other was by no means solely Kōe's fault.
"Vohtz, I've always wanted to ask you. Shinigami go to the Plains of Slaughter to protect Soul Society. What about you guys? Why give up a good life just to wander around blindly out there?"
Vohtz was taken aback for a moment. He looked at Kōe, whose eyes were already a bit glazed over. It seemed he was getting a little drunk.
"To let their smiling faces spread to every corner of Soul Society." Vohtz pointed at the crowd downstairs and slung an arm over Kōe's shoulder. "A world without Hollows... don't you look forward to it?"
"I do. Who wouldn't look forward to carefree days..."
Having already fallen asleep leaning against the window, enjoying a moment of tranquility, Kōe had no idea that the storm which had brewed earlier in the Seireitei would soon spread to him.
Two days ago, in the Seireitei. Inside a room that remained somewhat dim despite the candlelight, five men with obscured faces sat in a row, discussing something with a slender figure seated in the position of honor opposite them.
"The orders from Central 46 have come down. The old man has fallen, and the little brat won't be jumping around for much longer!"
"It's just a pity that Central 46's order is to capture him alive. There are still variables."
A day prior, the Seireitei had received another piece of news. The contents were once again about Kōe, though if Kōe himself had been present, his jaw likely would have dropped in shock.
A Gillian had appeared in the Plains of Slaughter. In order to escape, Kōe Shihouin had deliberately harmed two Squad 11 members, resulting in their deaths on the spot!
It was this very news that caused the already restless Seireitei to completely explode! Those two Squad 11 members hailed from two lower noble families. Led by these two families, various nobles gathered outside Yamamoto's residence every day to cause a ruckus, demanding that Yamamoto step forward and severely punish Kōe Shihouin!
In the past, Kōe was merely disrespectful in speech and unorthodox in thought. But now, fleeing from battle and murdering his comrades had tangibly violated Shinigami law. Surely, Yamamoto couldn't shield him this time.
But to everyone's surprise, Yamamoto did exactly that! No matter how much of a scene they made at his door, he simply refused to step outside, his blatant favoritism clear for all to see.
If the past incidents were just minor squabbles with more bark than bite, the nobles were not going to let things go this time. *You may be a forceful Head Captain, but we aren't pushovers either.* The families colluded and escalated the matter directly to Central 46, jointly petitioning to impeach Yamamoto.
It had to be said, based solely on the transmitted news, Kōe and Yamamoto were absolutely in the wrong. Central 46 swiftly handed down their ruling.
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni was temporarily stripped of his status as Head Captain. Squad 11 Captain Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was ordered to bring Kōe Shihouin back to the Seireitei for investigation. Until the investigation concluded, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni was forbidden from taking a single step outside his residence, and Squad 1 would be temporarily managed by Central 46.
Yamamoto, who had suppressed the Seireitei for a thousand years, had fallen just like that. It was so easy that it felt unreal. Although it wasn't set in stone yet, anyone with eyes could see that the person deciding Yamamoto's fate was Kōe, and Kōe's transgressions were already an indelible fact! This was already a dead end!
Was it truly a dead end? Of course not! However, the six people currently scheming in the room were working hard to make it one.
"Gentlemen!" The man in the seat of honor spoke up, interrupting the arguments of the other five. "We have successfully taken the first step, a crucial step. Congratulations are in order!"
"At the same time, we have passed the point of no return." The man's voice was very soft, as if a gust of wind could blow it away. "We must tread the path ahead with even greater caution!"
"Please give us your instructions, my lord!" a gruff voice rang out, speaking with reverence.
"First is Kōe Shihouin. I do not wish to actually see his face—a living, moving face."
"He has already left the Zaraki District. His destination should be the Tomie District. We have already sent people there."
The man gave a slight nod, turning his head toward the burly figure on the far left. "And those few... I hope you haven't forgotten their existence."
"Of course not. However, I was thinking... could we make those individuals a bit more valuable?"
The dim room fell into a brief silence. The burly man stared at the slender fingers tapping against the armrest opposite him. Without realizing it, a layer of fine sweat had formed on his forehead. His heart clenched rhythmically, as if the other party was tapping not on the armrest, but directly on his heart.
"How so? More valuable?" The breeze-like voice spoke again.
The burly man felt a wave of relief and hurriedly said, "Since they have to die, why shouldn't they die by Kōe Shihouin's hands? When the time comes, Your Lordship only needs to give the word to the family, and wouldn't that little brat be as good as dead?"
"Unnecessary."
"But if we just leave it at that, the events on both sides will easily arouse suspicion!"
"Do not do anything superfluous!" the man in the seat of honor reprimanded. "Kōe Shihouin will kill people, but not a few nobodies! I have other arrangements for his death!"
"But what about those people? Are we going to pin the blame on Hollows?"
"A sudden Quincy attack. Out of six, only one survives."
Seeing the five men below all gape in shock, the man slowly stood up, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly. "They think they can ask a tiger for its skin. But as the tiger, shouldn't we take a few bites of flesh to taste something fresh?"
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