Brute Force and Scheming Bastards

However, what Kurosaki Ichigo found somewhat puzzling was that Chiba Makoto did not bring Liltotto, Gadis, and Minina straight back to the Seireitei. Instead, he left them in the "Secret Garden."

After returning to the Seireitei, Unohana Retsu and Chiba Makoto swiftly coordinated to make various arrangements. On one hand, they tried to contact Zero Division; on the other, they prepared to head to the Soul King Palace as reinforcements.

During one of Chiba Makoto's rare breaks, Kurosaki Ichigo could not help but ask.

"Lord Makoto, um... is it really alright to leave those three Quincy—Liltotto and the others—in the shadow space?"

Still wearing that steady expression, Chiba Makoto answered.

"Ichigo, don't worry. Under these special circumstances, the 'Secret Garden' is more suitable than the Seireitei for further research into Auswählen."

As for why exactly it was more suitable, Chiba Makoto did not explain.

However, Kurosaki Ichigo naturally attributed it to safety concerns.

After Yhwach had voluntarily abandoned the Wandenreich, the Secret Garden was undoubtedly safer than the Seireitei, which could turn into a battlefield again at any moment.

Having figured that out, Kurosaki Ichigo could not help asking another question that had been lurking in his mind.

"Lord Makoto, Gremmy's Schrift, 'V,' was practically on the level of a god. How did he just... lose for no apparent reason?"

"For no apparent reason? Ichigo, why do you think that?" Chiba Makoto asked in return.

"Gremmy's body itself was created by his own ability. Even though Captain Ichimaru Gin's Bankai inflicted an outrageously severe injury on him, it was nowhere near enough to defeat Gremmy."

Kurosaki Ichigo poured out the doubts in his heart in one breath, looking eagerly at Chiba Makoto in hopes of receiving an answer.

Faced with Kurosaki Ichigo's question, Chiba Makoto did not show the slightest