Wind Rises in Seireitei

In North Rukongai District 43, the ancient streets bustled with crowds, vendors on both sides enthusiastically soliciting passersby. This was the most prosperous commercial district in the 43rd district.

In a second-floor room at this moment, two men chatted and laughed while swirling wine glasses, the bright red liquid swirling along the glass walls. The two were Nodt Futz and Diezuka Hiroe, who was demanding compensation, and the so-called compensation was the red wine in their hands.

"Stop swirling, you're making foam..."

"Sorry, I haven't drunk this much before."

Seeing the wine Hiroe downed in one gulp, Futz felt a pang of heartache. It was already difficult to bring out his private collection, but seeing good things being wasted was even more unbearable. The feeling was truly terrible.

However, Hiroe had no psychological burden. He smacked his lips with great seriousness, a look of enjoyment on his face, and said with lingering satisfaction, "As expected of Lafite, the aftertaste is endless~"

"While I'm happy you say that," Futz elegantly took a sip of wine and continued, "Soul Society's red wine, to be honest, isn't great, even Lafite."

"You know, we have to start by growing grapes," Futz shrugged, his smile unwavering. It was amusing to see a country bumpkin trying to act elegant.

"So this is actually cheap stuff?"

"Be more optimistic, Hiroe!" Futz picked up the wine bottle and refilled Hiroe's glass halfway, saying slowly, "Even if it's not as good as in the human world, this is still one of the best red wines in Soul Society. It cost a lot of money."

Upon hearing that the price was right, Hiroe's displeasure vanished instantly. He smiled and clinked glasses with Futz before leaning on the windowsill, watching the lively crowd below. After spending so long in the Plain of Slaughter, such a scene was particularly beautiful.

"What are your plans next?" Futz leaned against the window in a similar fashion, but his gaze was on Hiroe beside him.

"I'll rest for a while and then go play in the Plain of Slaughter. If I get bored, I'll come back for a vacation. One hundred and fifty years, heaven knows how long that is!"

"You know I'm not asking about that."

"It seems you have a very deep family fortune!" Hiroe turned his head, looking at Futz with a sly smile, "Keep talking, I still want to try the taste of caviar."

Futz raised both hands in surrender. He had wanted Hiroe to reintegrate into the Soul Reaper group, but unfortunately, the man had no such intention. If that was the case, why trouble his own wallet?

However, he could understand Hiroe's attitude. He and Hiroe had met in North Rukongai District 60, but at that time, it was only a fleeting encounter.

It wasn't until later, during a battle in the Zaraki District, that Hiroe happened to pass by and helped them, and only then did they truly get acquainted. Over the next two months, Hiroe stayed with them, and they experienced many battles together, forging a deep friendship.

During these two months, Futz had seen Soul Reapers ignore them more than once. Even when injured, Hiroe would return to Rukongai to find someone to treat him. In short, the current situation of complete estrangement was by no means solely caused by Hiroe.

"Futz, I've always wanted to ask you. Soul Reapers go to the Plain of Slaughter to protect Soul Society, but what about you guys? Why abandon a good life and wander around there?"

Futz was stunned for a moment. Looking at Hiroe, whose eyes were already a little hazy, he seemed to be a bit drunk.

"To let their smiling faces spread to every corner of Soul Society," Futz pointed at the crowd below and said, putting his arm around Hiroe's shoulder, "A world without Hollows, don't you look forward to it?"

"I do, who wouldn't look forward to carefree days..."

Hiroe, who had already fallen asleep by the window, enjoying a moment of peace, was unaware that the storm that had swept through Seireitei earlier would soon reach him.

Two days ago, in Seireitei, in a room that was still somewhat dim by candlelight, five men whose faces could not be seen clearly sat in a row, discussing something with the slender figure seated opposite them.

"The order from Central 46 has come down. The old man has fallen, and the little brat won't last long!"

"It's just a pity that Central 46's order is to capture him alive, so there are still variables."

One day ago, Seireitei received another piece of news, also concerning Hiroe. However, if Hiroe himself were present, he would probably be so shocked his jaw would drop.

A Gillian appeared in the Plain of Slaughter, and Diezuka Hiroe, in order to escape, deliberately harmed two Squad 11 members, resulting in their deaths on the spot!

This news caused the already turbulent Seireitei to explode! Those two Squad 11 members were from two lower-ranking noble families. Led by these two families, various nobles besieged Yamamoto's residence daily, demanding that Yamamoto come forward and severely punish Diezuka Hiroe!

Hiroe had only been disrespectful and had improper thoughts before. But now, deserting in the face of danger and harming comrades had truly violated the laws of Soul Reapers. Surely Yamamoto couldn't protect him now?

But to everyone's surprise, this Yamamoto did protect him! Regardless of the commotion outside his gate, he stayed indoors, his protective stance evident.

If the previous incidents were just minor skirmishes with a lot of noise but little substance, the nobles would not let this matter go. The various families conferred and took the matter directly to Central 46, jointly impeaching Yamamoto.

It must be said that based solely on the transmitted information, Hiroe and Yamamoto were definitely in the wrong. Central 46 quickly issued a ruling.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni was temporarily stripped of his position as Captain-Commander. Squad 11 Captain Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was ordered to bring Diezuka Hiroe back to Seireitei for investigation. Until the investigation was concluded, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni was not allowed to leave his residence, and Squad 1 was temporarily managed by Central 46.

Yamamoto, who had suppressed Soul Society for a thousand years, had fallen. It was so easy it felt unreal. Although it wasn't a foregone conclusion, everyone with eyes could see that the person who decided Yamamoto's fate was Hiroe, and Hiroe's transgression was an indelible fact! This was a dead end!

Was this truly a dead end? Of course not! But the six people currently plotting in the room were working hard to make it one.

"Everyone!" the man at the head spoke, interrupting the remaining five's arguments, "We have taken the first step, an important step. Congratulations!"

"At the same time, we have no turning back," the man's voice was very light, as if it could be scattered by a gust of wind. "The road ahead must be trodden more cautiously!"

"Please instruct us, my lord!" a rough voice said respectfully.

"First is Diezuka Hiroe. I don't want to actually see his face, a moving face."

"He has already left the Zaraki District, and his destination should be the Fujiang District. We have already sent people there."

The man nodded slightly and turned to the burly figure on the far left. "And those few, I hope you haven't forgotten their existence."

"Of course, I haven't forgotten. But in my opinion, can we make those few people more valuable?"

A brief silence fell in the dim room. The burly man looked at the slender fingers tapping the armrest opposite him. A layer of fine sweat had appeared on his forehead at some point, and his heart tightened, as if the man wasn't tapping the armrest but his heart.

"How?! More valuable?" the voice, like a gentle breeze, sounded again.

The burly man, relieved, quickly said, "Since they are going to die, why shouldn't they die at the hands of Diezuka Hiroe? My lord can simply instruct his family, and that little brat will have died in vain, won't he?"

"No need."

"But just like this, both sides of the matter will easily arouse suspicion!"

"Don't do anything superfluous!" the man at the head reprimanded, "Diezuka Hiroe kills people, but not a few minor characters! I have other arrangements for his death!"

"But those few people? Are we going to frame the Hollows?"

"A sudden attack by Quincy. Only one survived."

Seeing the five below open their mouths in unison, the man slowly stood up, a slight smile on his lips. "To scheme with a tiger, as tigers, shouldn't we take a few bites and taste the flavor?"