Chapter 205
"I already said..."
The final Reishi thread completely stitched the wound shut.
Haruto flicked two fingers to his side and behind him, and a slender, pale blue arc quietly drew out in the night.
"Don't move."
"Buzz!"
The arc of light rapidly expanded the space, and the summoned Reishi expanded into an incomparably sharp crescent moon— the Zanka no Tachi version of the Quincy shot out into the air!
"Whoosh."
The hidden figure dodged the attack using Shunpo.
The two versions of the Zanka no Tachi are almost identical in power, but unfortunately the Quincy version is slightly slower in its release speed.
But.
Haruto's attack was not over.
He spread all the fingers behind him out in his palm, and the gathered starlight transformed into a confluence of light, compressing in his hand into highly concentrated Reishi that shimmered with lightning:
"Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō!"
"Sizzle!!"
A dazzling column of lightning erupted forth!
But just before hitting the target--
"Beep."
The combined pillar-shaped hammers absorbed all of Lei Pao's Reiatsu.
"?"
Vice-Captain-level couldn't withstand Haruto's thunderous attacks.
"... Another Heavenly Bestowed Armaments?"
Haruto quietly turned around and saw clearly for the first time the culprit behind the incident.
Five vice-captains, each with different equipment except for their dark green Shihakushō, and a white-haired man surrounded by them:
The silver color was not due to any ability, but rather the most natural aging and withering from black to white; a dark red scar ran diagonally across his left eye, and his tightly furrowed brows and the corners of his mouth gave him a very stern and cold look.
The jet-black cloak billowing behind him was a stark contrast to the captain of the Gotei 13, its color devoid of any luster.
In his arms, the empty bag, like Agata was fast asleep, has yet to awaken.
"It lives up to its reputation."
His voice, though seemingly cold and ruthless, was also full of leadership qualities.
"The Thirteenth Division, Fourth Seat Haruto."
"..."
Haruto did not reply.
The other party knew his identity, which means they had a considerable understanding of the current state of Soul Society.
"Who are you?"
A simple conversation reveals that the other party is not Soul Reaper like Baishin, who has been sealed away for a long time and has just regained his freedom.
"Ganryū Ryūdōji."
Men do not shy away from revealing their background.
"The former head of the Ryūdōji Clan family, a high-ranking noble family."
Is the upper-class noble in charge?
At his age, he doesn't look like a newly appointed clan leader, so it's almost a certainty that he possesses Captain-level strength.
"... once?"
Haruto excels at capturing these details.
"A thousand years ago, during the civil war among the nobles Quincy Rebellion had just been suppressed, we were ordered by our superior, Tsunayashiro, to target the Shihoin Clan Five Great Noble Clans."
"The civil war was forced to a halt thanks to Shigekuni Yamamoto's intervention. Our Ryudoji Clan was abandoned by the Tsunayashiro Clan, and all members were exiled to Dangai after being tried by the Central 46 Chambers."
The man named Ganryū Ryūdōji was completely responsive to any question: he displayed extraordinary "magnanimity" regarding these past glories and humiliations.
"..."
"Just exile?"
We were ready to fight to the death, why did Your Majesty surrender first? -- Even from Haruto's perspective, the Ryūdōji Clan was a complete sacrifice.
It's already quite remarkable that they didn't execute all of them for daring to attack a high-ranking noble family.
The Third-Class Reii Captain-level, which serves as a symbol of the combat strength of upper-class nobles, is not something that cannot be abandoned or difficult to deal with.
"Because there was a system among the nobles at that time: if a condemned prisoner could defeat the Giant Hollow in the execution ground with his bare hands, his death sentence could be reduced to exile."
Ganryū Ryūdōji said it casually.
"..."
It sounds simple.
However, it should be noted that the execution grounds where nobles entertained themselves were entirely constructed of Sekkiseki: in such an environment, even Soul Reaper, Zankensōki, were difficult to employ.
How to defeat the Giant Hollow in such an environment?
Aside from a very few exceptional users who Hakuda, everyone else is basically throwing their lives away... even Captain-level face a near-certain death situation.
"Are you seeking revenge against the Tsunayashiro Clan?"
Haruto wants to try to assimilate the other party: if the opponent is the Tsunayashiro Clan, Haruto is very willing to lend a hand.
"No, it's revenge against this corrupt Soul Society."
However, the resentment that has lasted for thousands of years cannot be changed by a few words from a mere young man like him.
"..."
"What does this have to do with her?"
Haruto and Ganryū Ryūdōji both fixed their gazes on Agata, who was being held captive by the latter.
"Then why do you protect her?"
Volume 1: 124, When you are sad, you don't need to hold back any tears.
"..."
Haruto was unable to answer Ryudoji's question.
He had indeed noticed Agata's difference long ago, and his statement that someone might attack her was not unfounded.
But.
Haruto's purpose was not simple; he intended to use Agata to lure the enemy here.
Reason?
There are too many suspicious points about Agata:
He wasn't attacked by the Hollow that was struck by lightning when helping the spirit; he couldn't find his floor in his company; the name on his tracksuit didn't match the nameplate on his desk; and the information about the Thirteenth Division Soul Reaper was inconsistent with what Haruto already knew.
At last.
Although their opponents had feigned ignorance, they did indeed carry out their plan to abduct Agata during Haruto and Baishin's initial battle.
Individually, none of these pieces of information would be enough for Haruto to make a judgment, but when put together...
The enemy's objective is to find and take Agata away at the right moment.
... This was enough for Haruto to be certain of his guess.
"You are very clever, Fourth Seat Haruto."
Ryudoji took a small step back, while Haruto stepped forward a little, keeping the distance between them unchanged.
"If you hadn't still had ties to the Seireitei, you, who were killed by the stench Soul Society, would have ended up on the same path as us sooner or later."
"..."
Haruto ignored the other party's provocation.
Such one-way information transparency indicates that the situation is very unfavorable to them.
"Otherwise, I'd be happy to invite you to come with me."
Ryudoji's words were very tempting; the fact that a nobleman who had been exiled a thousand years ago could still hold on to this day shows that his ability to make empty promises and stir emotions is truly first-rate.
You're overthinking it.
Who knows?
Ryudoji's smile was meaningful.
"Alright."
"Whoosh!"
The five Soul Reaper who had been quietly surrounding Haruto returned to the vicinity of Ryudoji Shunpo.
The time has come.
Ryudoji glanced around.
Let's talk about this another time.
"... Do you think you can get away with this?"
Haruto's right hand, which was hanging down, rested on the hilt of his sword.
"While you were recovering, my Fourth Seat Haruto weren't idle either."
"Buzz!!"
The square quadrilateral boundary unfolds around Haruto.
"?"
Haruto was very cautious and did not immediately draw his sword.
" With Fourth Seat Haruto, there's no need to waste your energy trying."
"The pillars of light surrounding you emanate from the Dangai, their strength comparable to the Negación used by the Gillian Clan, the only difference being that the defense is now designed to be difficult to destroy from within."
You will be free in twelve hours.
"..."
24 hours?
Given the other party's efficiency, this time should be enough for Ryudoji to achieve his goal.
I'm so glad.
The figures of his subordinates around Ryudoji gradually disappeared.
"It's wonderful that Baishin is willing to cooperate with our operation. Otherwise, with my combat strength in the World of the Living, I'm not sure I would be able to take you down."
It was as if the body was slowly merging into the Yoruichi —a special spatial movement ability, but it did not originate from these Soul Reaper themselves.
"Now it seems..."
Ryudoji's body, along with Agata, gradually disappeared.
My friend is indeed incredibly wise.
... friend?
Perhaps feeling confident of victory, Ryudoji revealed some information Haruto was unaware of before leaving.
Unfortunately.