Kotetsu Isane felt as if all the strength in her body had been drained by that single word, "Congratulations," and she slumped directly onto the floor. Tsukikage, separated from her by one person, wasn't faring much better. He remained completely motionless, staring blankly at Kōe.
Kōe didn't say anything more to the two of them. He suddenly grabbed Azashiro Kōzō by the hair and forcefully yanked him up to eye level. Without a word, his narrow eyes coldly scrutinized the man's pale, sweat-drenched face.
"No, it wasn't me," Kōzō explained, his eyes wide and his voice trembling. "I didn't hold back just now. I really wanted to prove my innocence!"
"You didn't hold back, true. But just a moment ago you had a clear conscience, and now you 'really want to prove your innocence'? Besides, I never said that taking action makes you innocent!"
*Exposed!* Azashiro Kōzō's expression changed drastically. His right hand reached for the hilt of the sword embedded in his chest—not to resist, but to end his own life!
But Kōe was faster. He yanked the Zanpakutō out of Kōzō's body in one swift motion. A roar of agony instantly tore through Kōzō's throat, echoing across the hall.
"Quiet down, you're too loud!" Kōe knocked the wailing Kōzō unconscious with a backhand strike of the hilt. Then, he turned and shot a look at Kotetsu Isane. Seeing no reaction from her, he shouted helplessly, "Wake up! Hurry up and stop the bleeding! If he dies, I'm holding you responsible!"
Poor Kotetsu Isane had been completely reduced to a tool at this point. As long as it was Kōe's command, her body would subconsciously execute it without her brain even needing to process it. This young Shinigami, who was much younger than her, was simply too terrifying.
In truth, let alone her, even the heads of the Five Great Noble Clans—men accustomed to weathering massive storms—felt a sense of trepidation as they looked at Kōe right now.
Kōe's plan could actually be summed up in a single sentence: the more someone wants to prove their innocence, the more suspicious they usually are. It sounded simple, but putting it into practice was no easy feat.
First, the suspect list couldn't include hotheads like Uesawajiri or Yamagata. Those two never took their own lives seriously, so dying to prove their innocence wasn't entirely out of the question for them. If those two had been involved, they probably would have been clamoring for death over dishonor without Kōe even needing to prompt them.
Obviously, Azashiro Kōzō and the others were not like that. How much could people who hesitated time and time again just to save someone truly value honor?
Secondly, the false accuser absolutely could not know what had transpired over the past one hundred and forty-three years. Kōe was quite lucky in this regard; he had sealed the life force of the seven individuals, meaning their memories were still stuck one hundred and forty-three years in the past.
Finally, he needed the old man and the others to play along, making the three awakened suspects believe that only half a month had passed. They had absolutely no idea about things like Yamamoto being completely marginalized or the massive reshuffling of key positions within the Seireitei.
As a result, the false accuser, Azashiro Kōzō, made a fatal misjudgment, underestimating just how seriously the people before him were taking this matter.
With how things had developed, this could no longer be explained away as a petty squabble or a clash of egos. They either had to definitively catch the mastermind, or spare no one. Trying to escape suspicion through suicide? Their lives simply didn't carry that much weight!
Poor Kōzō didn't know that while he was secretly rejoicing over winning his gamble, Yamamoto and the others were already looking at him like a dead man. Decisiveness was his strong suit, but it was also this very decisiveness that doomed him to exposure. 'Death before dishonor' was never his style to begin with.
"Everyone, I didn't disappoint you, did I?"
Yamamoto and the other five did not respond to Kōe's attempt to claim credit. Kōe was puzzled. What did this mean? Were they going to discard him now that he had outlived his usefulness? Yamamoto really couldn't stand it anymore. He let out a deliberate cough and, with the hand covering his mouth, pointed to the spot behind Kōe.
Kōe turned around and locked eyes with Tsukikage's bewildered face. Alright, he had gotten a bit carried away. First, he knocked Tsukikage out with a backhand strike of his hilt, and Kotetsu Isane, having just finished her healing duties, quickly followed suit. With the room cleared, the conversation could finally continue!
"You brat, you won't be shortchanged when the time comes, so rest easy." Kamidera Miya teased Kōe, his voice becoming ethereal once more. "With this matter settled, Daisuke and I will take our leave. We'll leave the rest in your capable hands, Yamamoto."
"And as for this kid, it wouldn't hurt to listen to his opinions sometimes. However, we still need to discuss the matter regarding the Azashiro clan. For now, keep them under control." After Tsunayashiro Daisuke finished speaking, he and Kamidera Miya departed together.
"That girl Yoruichi talks about you every single day. If you don't bring her a gift, she probably won't let you off easy, haha!" Shihōin Dōzō laughed heartily, then turned and continued, "Let's go as well. We'll leave him and Yamamoto to catch up."
The remaining two didn't tease Kōe any further. After nodding to Yamamoto, they disappeared from the room along with Dōzō, leaving only Yamamoto and Kōe behind.
"You have worked hard these past years. You did very well and did not disappoint me."
"It was alright!" Kōe rubbed the back of his head, smiling smugly. "Just a tiny bit harder than what you had to go through, Master!"
"Have you no shame!" Yamamoto scolded with a laugh. Kōe's words were subtle, but he could still hear the disguised complaining! After all, from Kōe's perspective, the Five Great Noble Clans trusted him and had always been on his side.
But how could this trust be without reason? Kuchiki Ginrei had been 'recuperating from illness' at Yamamoto's estate for over a hundred years. So, the marginalization was real, the surveillance was real, and the eventual trust naturally followed.
Yamamoto had no intention of explaining this. Instead, his expression turned serious. "The Star Cross Fortress—are you confident you can breach it?"
"Simply breaching it isn't actually that difficult, but achieving your goal, Master, will be incredibly hard!" Kōe shook his head and reported everything he knew to Yamamoto in full detail.
Time ticked by. Yamamoto stroked his beard as he listened, seemingly deep in thought. By the time Kōe finished, he had stopped his movements, his brows furrowed tightly together.
"I originally intended to deal with those traitors first, but now it seems we must act simultaneously." Yamamoto looked up, staring at Kōe as he continued, "How many days do you need to formulate a plan against the Star Cross Fortress?"
"What are my parameters?"
"No more than six captains, excluding the captains of Squad 11 and Squad 12, and a maximum of one thousand squad members!"
Kōe thought for a moment, then held up five fingers. "Five days. A complete plan will take at least five days!"
"On the evening of the fifth day, bring them back to the Seireitei under the identity of Ao. Go directly to the Kuchiki estate; I will be waiting for you there!" As Yamamoto spoke, he dismantled his walking stick, drawing out a Zanpakutō with a black scabbard and a silver hilt from within, and handed it to Kōe.
On the surface, "Ao" was a friend of Yamamoto's living in seclusion in the Rukongai. In reality, it was an alternate identity he had prepared for Kōe. And the Zanpakutō he just pulled out was, naturally, Kōe's other Zanpakutō.
"I am leaving now. Remember, do not release this blade unless absolutely necessary!"
After giving his warning, Yamamoto was about to leave, but Kōe stopped him, clearly having something else to say.
"Um, Master..." Kōe lowered his head, stammering, "You still need to help me settle the bill..."
"Settle the bill?"
Kōe turned his head away and pointed at the floor. Booking the entire place cost money, after all! Yamamoto didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He hadn't brought any money with him, so how was he supposed to pay?
"Even though you are fully grown, if you ever come to a place like this again, see if I don't break your legs!"
"No, Master, you have to believe me!" Kōe waved his hands, hastily explaining, "I didn't do anything! I just needed a place to hide!"
"Then find somewhere else to hide!"
With that, Yamamoto used Shunpo to leave, leaving Kōe standing there at a loss. He had booked the place using a Zanpakutō as collateral. Even if it belonged to someone else, he couldn't just leave it behind, right?
Now that the old man had run off, Kōe had no choice but to follow his example and ruthlessly dine and dash. Stuffing the seven people on the floor back into his sack, Kōe left the Huaixiang Pavilion before the sun came up.
As dawn broke, the staff of the Huaixiang Pavilion woke up to find that the scarred man from yesterday had vanished without a trace, taking with him the Zanpakutō that the boss had treated as a precious treasure.
They had no idea how many important figures had visited this place. Nor did they know how many people's lives and deaths had been decided here.
"Exactly the hour of the Rabbit. A new sun replaces the old moon. Just another day!"
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