The New Year's atmosphere did not spread in Silbern, even though Soul Society and Hueco Mundo were hyping up the New Year, filling the internet with the festive spirit, and even human TV dramas broadcasting the New Year's Eve special.
Silbern was completely unprepared, deserted and quiet, with snowflakes drifting outside the city and the ground covered in a layer of silver frost.
Haschwalth did not choose to take a vacation and continued to handle official business as usual. He was like a tireless machine that would never rest until its master pressed the switch.
The door was gently pushed open, and a female Quincy with slightly dark skin and large eyes approached silently, placing a steaming cup of black tea on the table.
Silbern has no heating, and ice and snow are eroding in from the outside in.
"Lord Haschwalth, please take a rest."
The woman offered a soft reminder.
Haschwalth shifted his gaze from the documents to the steaming teapot and asked, " Elena, how are the residents of the West End?"
"This year, we have achieved self-sufficiency in food and no longer need to purchase it from outside."
Elena had followed him for many years and naturally understood what he cared about, always showing a tacit understanding in official matters.
This tacit understanding was also the reason Haschwalth chose to keep her by his side. "Is that so? That's good. Our long-cherished wish of a thousand years is about to be fulfilled. Until then, we still can't rely on Shinigami."
Elena poured him a cup of black tea and said gently, "Lord Haschwalth, there's something I'm not sure if I should tell you."
"Speak."
Haschwalth picked up his teacup, blew on it, and the steam from the hot tea seemed to dispel the chill between his brows. He quite liked Elena's black tea, and it tasted even better with sugared toast.
Elena mustered her courage and said, "Shouldn't we be holding an annual party? The atmosphere in Silbern has been too tense lately, and people are restless."
"There's no need."
Haschwalth shook his head, interrupting her, and said, "We don't need those kinds of holidays."
"Hi." Elena replied, bowing her head. There was a hint of worry in her eyes. The opening of the internet had opened up the previously closed Wandenreich, Quincy, who had been living in a stagnant pool, were now facing external shocks.
Glamorous movies, various TV series, novels, comics, games; some people even secretly stick posters of the movie "The End-of-the-Road Revelry," directed and starring Rangiku Matsumoto, on their walls.
Under the lights, the woman's alluring figure and the charm between her brows were like a captivating poison, and many Quincy became her fans.
Can someone like that really fight?
Elena was puzzled, yet she understood that Lord Haschwalth wouldn't care about such trivial matters. Ultimately, he was too powerful to comprehend the Quincy's feelings of weariness and complacency.
"I heard that Uryū Ishida is celebrating the New Year today."
This was the only reason she could use to try and persuade Haschwalth.
"He is him, and I am me," Haschwalth replied calmly. His Majesty's will will not change because of the wavering of the lower classes. If war truly comes, everyone will be drawn into that endless slaughter.
The sealed King of the Quincy, after 900 years of regaining his heartbeat, 90 years of regaining his consciousness, and 9 years of regaining his power, reclaimed the world in just 9 days.
The Kaiser Gesang will not change.
Northwest corner of Silbern.
Uryū Ishida was a little confused. He just wanted to celebrate the New Year by himself, so why did it turn into a New Year's Eve party in the cafeteria?
"Lord Ishida, everything has been done as you instructed."
A Quincy whose name was unclear Quincy forward and spoke.
Uryū Ishida pushed up his glasses, feeling it would be impolite not to remember the man's name, so he simply nodded and said, "Hmm, well done."
"We absolutely support you."
The man left happily.
The big screen was playing Zuellni's New Year's Eve gala, which seemed to be a comedy routine, and there was a little girl playing the role on it.
Uryū Ishida looked closely and realized it was Yuzu. Then he looked at the person dressed as a tree and, lo and behold, it was Ichigo...
[Honestly, I've been following the updates lately, switching sources, and using various reading voice options. yeguoyuedu is available for both Android and iOS.]
His usually composed face almost betrayed a smile; that guy's impersonation of a tree was truly exceptional.
However, he didn't forget to get to the bottom of things. He stepped towards the grass-green figure by the table and asked, " Candice, did you do this?"
Candice wasn't dressed as lightly as she would for summer; she was wrapped in a down jacket, obscuring her figure. She turned her head and said, "No, I had no idea. Weren't you the one organizing the New Year's party?"
Someone else just said it was me, but I don't remember it.
Uryū Ishida shook his head, not recalling that he had specifically instructed anyone to organize a New Year's Eve party.
"Darling~"
A deliberately cute voice rang out, Bambietta coiled around his back like a snake, pressing her cheek close and saying, "I took the initiative to organize this New Year's party. You didn't say you wanted to celebrate the New Year, so I specially had this large-scale New Year's event prepared. Aren't you happy?"
"... I didn't plan to invite this many people."
Uryū Ishida made a comment.
Bambietta blushed and said, "No rush, I'll keep you company tonight, any position is fine."
"I did not mean that."
Uryū Ishida's face flushed red. Even after so many days, he still couldn't get used to talking about that kind of thing. He said, "It's not good for you to force others to participate in the New Year's celebration."
Bambietta explained, "No, I know Darling is kind-hearted, so it's fine to join; they came entirely on their own initiative."
Uryū Ishida asked in confusion, "Why?"
Candice chimed in, " Ishida, when you were training, you always gave the Quincy there pointers on techniques. When it was time to eat, you always lined up patiently, and if someone was blocking your way, you would politely let them go first."
Is there a problem?
Uryū Ishida was puzzled, unable to understand what the connection was between those people and these individuals.
"Your prestige is truly exemplary compared to the rest of the Sternritter."
Candice remarked that she used to believe in the law of the jungle, the survival of the fittest, and didn't see anything wrong with it.
After meeting Uryū Ishida, his mindset gradually changed, and the boy used his gentleness to slowly dismantle the foundation of the Wandenreich.
The best proof is that even Gremmy, who doesn't even respect Haschwalth, attended this New Year's Eve party.
Although it was probably largely due to that person's interest in the New Year's Eve party, and also because of Liltotto's influence.
The fact that the other party was able to come here, to some extent, indicates that they do not dislike Uryū Ishida.
Otherwise, Gremmy would never have had a dojo.
"... This is a real headache," Uryū Ishida muttered. Had he infiltrated the undercover operation and become the second-in-command?
Looking at the Quincy participating in the party, he fell into deep thought. For the first time, he felt the responsibility on his shoulders, not because he wanted to serve Yhwach, but because he wanted to save the Quincy from Yhwach's selfish desires.
In today's world, they have absolutely no need to be bound by old hatreds.
Uryū Ishida secretly resolved that, in addition to seeking revenge, he also wanted to change the atmosphere of the Wandenreich and save more people.