How About a Cup of Oolong Tea? (4K)

This is a world filled with death, and the growth of each Hollow is built upon the bones of its own kind!

All Iori did was "standardize" and "make" this competition more efficient.

This is not tyranny, but rather a form of benevolence, because even such a cruel "God Ascension Stairway" is infinitely better than the chaotic Hueco Mundo of the past countless years!

"Knight, having witnessed all these scenes along the way, what are your thoughts?"

Iori paused, and before Nirggeyeluudoudeushufank could answer, continued, "You believe in the principle of helping the weak and punishing the strong, and you have maintained a Pure Land in this cruel world. I admire you for that. But ask yourself honestly, do you really think you have done it?"

Even on your territory, do you think the Lesser Hollows and Gillian would behave themselves and never attack their own kind?

"Hmm!"

The Antelope Knight pursed his lips. "No!"

"Then you should be able to understand what I'm doing."

Iori smiled knowingly and didn't press the matter further, lest she upset her.

"You did a great job. I could never have imagined such an order... but maybe I'm nitpicking. Just thinking about people of my kind devouring each other like wild beasts, fighting for that tiny sliver of hope... makes me feel utterly powerless."

The Antelope Knight seems to be taking on too much responsibility.

Iori shook her head. "Why deny your own nature? Whether you admit it or not, Hollows are inherently beast-like beings."

The human soul loses its reason and humanity, thus degenerating into nothingness—this is common knowledge, and the empty holes in the body are proof that we have lost something.

Lesser Hollows was indeed driven by greed; aside from a sliver of intelligence, it instinctively sought out every palatable spirit, even more so than the hungriest wild beast.

The Antelope Knight nodded; it was an undeniable fact.

"But!"

Iori changed the subject. "As they continue to evolve, from Lesser Hollows to Gillian to Adjuchas Vastolorde, the appearance of Hollows gradually changes from demons to beasts, and then from wild beasts to humanoids or half-humans. Hollow Hole will also get smaller and smaller."

In other words, with each evolution, the Void takes a step closer to humanity, regaining its rationality...

If we can continue to evolve without limits, I think it might even be possible to regain all of our humanity and fill the 'Hollow Hole' that we have lost!

At that time, the Menos Grande will become another kind of human, and will be freed from its original constraints!

"This is my dream, and the reason I'm rebuilding Las Noches. Do you believe me?"

"I believe that day will definitely come!"

Overwhelmed with excitement, the Antelope Knight agreed without a second thought.

Iori nodded and said seriously, "In the Las Noches, only those of Adjuchas and above can enter the palace to live. This is because their beast forms are different from ordinary Hollows. Most of them can communicate normally and control their 'appetite.' They only indulge their beastly nature for the sake of evolution."

In order to manage them, I created several facilities, such as the "God Ascension Stairway"... But to be honest, I don't have enough energy on my own, and I need someone to help me to complete that goal as soon as possible.

Ordinary Adjuchas don't have that ability; there aren't many suitable candidates who can stand alone for me.

At this point, how could the Antelope Knight not understand Iori's meaning? Connecting it with his previous words about recruiting her, Nirggey only thought for a moment before kneeling on all fours, bowing her head in obeisance, and expressing her obedience to Iori in the peculiar posture of a half-antelope.

"If there is anything I can do to help you with your grand dream, please don't hesitate to ask!"

There was no hesitation, nor was there any need to weigh the gains and losses.

She was originally a defeated opponent of the king, and to put it bluntly, even her life was given to her by him. According to the rules of Hueco Mundo, she should submit to him. She only refuses to cooperate easily because of her Human Order.

But now, seeing what Iori has accomplished as king, she suddenly realized that there is a lot she can do too. As long as she is under his command, she will surely see the day when Hueco Mundo is transformed!

"Then it's settled."

Iori's gentle voice was filled with strength and solemnity. "Subjects pledge their loyalty to their king, and kings must fulfill their promises to their subjects. From now on, you can supervise me. If I forget my duties, you can use your spear to warn me—I grant you this right!"

"King..."

The Antelope Knight changed his way of addressing Iori out of genuine admiration.

"Can you tell me your name now?"

"Certainly!"

The Antelope Knight removed her bone mask— Vastolorde already looked very human. The mask wasn't very big to begin with; it only consisted of the top part of her head plus two horns. As for the bone plates covering her face, they were actually specially made like protective gear.

Beneath the mask lies a girl's face, with long green hair and beautiful features that contradict her cold exterior. Her spirited eyebrows soften everything else, and even the paint graffiti between her noses looks exceptionally beautiful...

Nirggeiyellu.

"My King, I am Nirggeyeluudoudeushufank, and from this day forward I swear to protect My King with my spear!"

~~~~~

Chapter 309 How about a cup of oolong tea? (4k)

Hueco Mundo is a great place. Saying this might make people laugh, but Kuchiki Sōjun genuinely felt that way at that moment.

The Reishi density here is far higher than that of the World of the Living and the Soul Society, making it much more difficult to breathe. It's like wearing a diving mask, requiring a lot of effort every time you breathe.

However, as long as one can adapt, this environment is excellent nourishment for the spirit. There is not much need for food. The free Reishi absorbed naturally can maintain daily consumption. After each exhausting battle, one can feel that one's spiritual pressure has become a little purer.

Kuchiki Sōjun was in poor health and had more difficulty adapting than the other team members when he first arrived. However, he did not tell anyone and quietly worked on improving his health. Now he can move around freely and has gradually discovered the benefits of Hueco Mundo.

If you ignore the potential dangers at any time, it really is a good place to train yourself...

Standing at the door of his private room, Soujun slowly surveyed the situation in the camp.

Unlike the simple camps of the past, Iori and his men put a lot of effort into building fortifications and facilities. At this time, there were not only barracks and a council hall, but also Technical Development Department, Logistics Maintenance Department, a canteen, a training ground, solitary confinement cells, and a special prison specifically for imprisoning the grotesque.

With so many buildings placed together, it's almost like returning to the Soul Society, only much smaller than Seireitei.

For a time, everyone in the Expeditionary Army felt like they weren't there to fight, but to be bricklayers... Of course, with the help of the Kido, the project wasn't as difficult as it was in the World of the Living, and many steps could be completed quickly. Under Iori's guidance, while also taking care of their main job (slaying Hollows), they completed the project in just two months of spare time.

Every time he saw the newly renovated camp, Kuchiki Sōjun couldn't help but feel a deep admiration for his superior Iori Aizen.

He had never seen such a multi-talented person before!

In combat-related fields, it's one thing; although he's an unprecedented genius, it can be explained by his extraordinary talent.

But he handles copywriting, art appreciation, literary skills, organization and management, resource integration... all with ease and without any pressure; he's practically a...

Although it was very impolite to say it like that, the only word that came to Soujun's mind was "monster".

Soujun is a typical aristocratic elite, whose artistic and literary cultivation is by no means inferior, at least more in line with the public's imagination of aristocracy than the crooked Shunsui... But he felt that he had nothing to be proud of in front of Iori.

God knows what he felt when he saw Iori's hand-drawn architectural plans...

As far as Kuchiki Sōjun knows, Iori's "academic qualifications" are only the Soul Reaper Academy, and he has no family-inherited resources.

The Soul Reaper Academy is a typical "military academy" that teaches all the basics of combat, as well as the rules of the Seireitei and basic cultural courses—some students even have to start by learning kanji (Japanese characters).

However, advanced Kido and Shunpo techniques must be learned gradually in actual combat under the guidance of senior Seated Officer after joining a team!

Iori came from an ordinary background, yet she was able to master more than eighty levels of Kido right after graduation, and her Shunpo technique, such as the Utsusemi, is quite rare.

Of course, this is entirely plausible. After all, he had already come into contact with Captain-level figures. Back when he was still in school, he became friends with Kyōraku Shunsui and even gained the appreciation of Saito Furufushi, who took him to Hueco Mundo.

Countless people within Seireitei are watching this supernova closely, knowing his resume inside and out. Iori has displayed astonishing strength several times, with the biggest difference being before and after his trip to Hueco Mundo. Therefore, it is generally believed that the stimulation of life and death allowed his potential to "awaken".

Such things have happened before in the history of Soul Society, so there's nothing unreasonable about it.

His extraordinary skills in Zan, Kendo, Ho, Ki were undoubtedly due to Saitō Fuyōfushi acting as his "mentor"—so it was perfectly normal for Saito to introduce Iori to Yamamoto later.

However, putting aside the "Zan, Kendo, Ho, Ki" technique for the moment, how Captain Aizen accumulated such a vast knowledge base in his head... remains a complete mystery!

Soujun racked his brains but still couldn't figure out how someone under thirty could possess the wisdom and experience of a centenarian, so he simply gave up thinking about it!

After all, Captain Aizen is hailed as the "Greatest Genius of the Millennium," so it's normal for unusual phenomena to occur to him.

[Dear Father...]

As usual, after writing his letter home, recounting what he had seen and heard during this time, as well as some of his own insights, Kuchiki Sōjun smiled as he sealed the letter away, recalling his wife's gentle and kind face.

After doing all this, he walked toward the council hall, in a very good mood.

Life in Hueco Mundo was far from idyllic; the scarcity of resources and the harsh natural environment caused immense suffering for every member of the Expeditionary Army. However, the experience of being trapped in a lonely city was quite different from the bloody battles one might imagine.

From Soujun down, everyone knows what their mission is, what they need to do, and their plans for tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and even the more distant future.

Those with outstanding performance are rewarded, the disabled receive treatment, and those who make mistakes are punished. Every judgment is strictly implemented in accordance with the laws that are recognized by everyone.

As a "general," Iori Aizen was neither particularly harsh nor lenient; his actions were imbued with "Humanized Reason," and even when he severely punished his subordinates, he did so with the respect and acceptance of those around him. He employed no Retsu methods, but rather subtly influenced everyone around him like a gentle spring breeze, relying on personal charisma, established rules and regulations, and his authority and power, treating everyone equally...

Unbeknownst to them, this Expeditionary Army had become a unified whole.

—Cang Soujun thought this was remarkable.

It's easy to get people to obey you, but according to the tradition of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, strength is enough to earn the respect of others, not to mention that most of the members were recruited by Iori from Rukongai.

Soujun was not surprised at all that he was able to establish absolute authority within the team.

Soujun found it incredible that Iori could get everyone to reach a consensus, making nobles and ronin fight side by side, turning yesterday's enemies into today's allies, achieving true "Shared Desire"!

You have to understand, this was a team that was forcibly put together. A large part of the noble troops led by Soujun were simply conscripts... How could they not have complaints!

But now, apart from some differences in the words they use, there is no longer a distinction between nobles and commoners.

Life in Hueco Mundo wasn't easy, but the feeling of being able to resonate with everyone and move towards the same goal as a collective... even made him somewhat intoxicated.

Having grown up as the eldest son of Great Noble, he was used to holding himself to strict standards, careful with every word and action, which must have exhausted him long ago... So, in Hueco Mundo, where there are no such constraints, even though the frequency of battles has increased significantly, his mental state is quite good.

"It's only been a short time, and I'm already starting to feel reluctant to leave... Honestly, I wonder what the future holds for me."

Kuchiki Sōjun smiled and opened the hall door, dispelling the Kido at the entrance.

"Out!"

"Safe!"

"Rock, paper, scissors!"

Snap!

He closed the door, rubbed his eyes, his face pale, and the tall, slender young nobleman stroked his chin in thought for a moment before opening the door again—

"OHOHOHOH!!!"

"..."

The meeting hall, originally used for pre-military meetings and supposed to be filled with a serious atmosphere, is now filled with billowing heat and a strong smell of alcohol, making one frown.

A group of muscular men were drinking and playing drinking games. Each of them was quite scantily clad, but at least they had some sense of shame and didn't tear off their last shred of modesty...

What happened?

Soujun looked slightly confused.

Just then, he saw Iori Aizen standing behind a counter deep inside the room, wiping glasses like a bartender.

"Captain Aizen!"

Kuchiki Sōjun walked over. Although he was interested in Iori's unusual attire, he clearly had something more important to do:

"Since you're here, why do you allow them to act so recklessly!"

"Nonsense?"

Iori smiled and shook her head, saying, "This is with my permission. They're all on shift today, and they really haven't touched these things in a long time. They need to let these beasts relax occasionally."

As Iori spoke, she pointed to the wall behind her. The bookshelves, which should have been filled with files and documents, were now lined with bottles of alcohol, including common Japan sake as well as imported goods in glass containers.

"Liquor?"

Soujun was even more puzzled. "Where did these come from?"

Naturally, food was nowhere to be found in Hueco Mundo, and when the Expeditionary Army set out, there didn't seem to be a large amount of alcohol in the logistical supplies, not to mention that many of them were types that even Soujun had never heard of.

"I brewed it myself using a World of the Living recipe."

Iori gracefully washed, dried, and set aside the heavy beer mug, then opened her hand and said to Soujun, "Wouldn't you like a drink?"

Kuchiki Sōjun frowned slightly, looked at the chaotic scene in the hall, then at Iori looked expectant, and after hesitating for a moment, decided to speak frankly.

"Isn't this a bit too reckless?"

How do you know?

"This is Hueco Mundo. The team members have worked hard on their missions, and it's only right that they relax during their shifts. But they shouldn't do it in a way that destroys their own rationality. What if a Menos Grande attacks at this time?"

Kuchiki Sōjun said with a serious expression, "A thousand-mile dike can be breached by an ant hole. Captain, you have done a great job in every aspect. I don't want anything that would damage your reputation because of a moment's negligence or indulgence."

"No, don't worry."

Iori waved his hand, his tone quite relaxed. "There's absolutely no chance of Menos Grande launching a surprise attack."