Haschwalth's tone sounded somewhat alarmist, as if exposure would mean certain death.
Although a bit exaggerated, the actual situation was almost the same.
Currently, the main task of these Quincy was to conceal themselves until the day His Majesty awakened and they could display their full power.
If someone were to destroy this mission before that day arrived, that person would undoubtedly become an enemy of all Quincy.
Even if Haschwalth himself would forgive the person, Yhwach, as His Majesty, would never let them off.
Having been together for a thousand years, Haschwalth knew Yhwach's temper better than anyone.
He tolerated those who were useful to him repeatedly, even if they betrayed him, it didn't matter.
After all, The Almighty could change the future, and no one could escape his control; such was the way of a true powerhouse.
Benevolent, magnanimous.
As for those who were useless… like those who were more trouble than they were worth, they were usually killed according to his mood, without considering the thoughts of others.
Because Yhwach was the Emperor, no one could question the Emperor's decisions.
Haschwalth's pair of azure eyes stared at Branda with a hint of doubt.
Even though Branda had transformed into a shadow, actively erased her expression, and concealed most of her inner thoughts, she still felt a chill down her spine from the stare.
It was as if she had done something wrong.
Seeing the atmosphere grow heavier, she complained with dissatisfaction:
"Exposed? I wasn't exposed at all, Haschwalth, don't be so jumpy, alright?"
"I'm a member of the Sternritter, I know His Majesty's importance better than anyone."
"It was just killing a Quincy outside, he didn't see my face or hear my voice until his death."
"Maybe he didn't even know who I was."
Branda had this confidence; in her opinion, that Quincy was simply too weak. A gentle poke from within the shadows and his body was injured.
He couldn't even activate his Blut Vene.
Compared to the Quincy in the Wandenreich, his strength and methods were simply worlds apart.
Pure-blood? Simply ridiculous.
Unwilling to pledge allegiance to His Majesty, and so weak, letting them live was simply an embarrassment to the Quincy.
If Shinigami and other Quincy hadn't arrived later, she would have wanted to toy with him a bit longer.
However, Haschwalth heard the problem in her words: "He?"
"Are you sure you really killed him? Why did you kill him?"
Branda pouted, crossed her arms over her chest, and replied indifferently:
"Does killing require a reason? I don't think those Quincy outside are our comrades."
"I am one hundred percent certain, positive, and convinced that he is definitely dead. I pierced his heart."
"Unless his heart is on the right side, he's certainly dead."
"But is that possible? I don't think I'd be that unlucky, and besides, even if he didn't die, the Shinigami who arrived later would kill him."
"Because the two races are sworn enemies."
Branda's tone was matter-of-fact, as if she could foresee the future.
Although, under normal circumstances, things would indeed unfold as she said.
But Haschwalth still felt a bit uneasy.
Killing doesn't require a reason.
Saving doesn't either.
What if that Quincy didn't die, and his heart really was on the right side…
"Hey, hey, hey." Seeing Haschwalth's solemn expression, Branda thought she had said something wrong and couldn't help but interrupt,
"You don't really think that Shinigami would save him, do you?"
"There's no such thing in the world."
"Rather than believing a Shinigami would save a Quincy they've never met, I'd sooner believe I'll become the strongest of the Sternritter."
"If you're really worried, I'll go out again and confirm it."
"Anyway, I'm a shadow, no one can catch me."
Shadows are formless and intangible, immune to any physical damage.
Shinigami's Zanpakuto attacks and Quincy's arrows were like tickles to her.
Mere traversal ability was not enough for her to gain a firm footing in the Sternritter.
Upon hearing this, Haschwalth snapped out of his contemplation.
He always liked to analyze the current situation and was accustomed to guessing others' thoughts.
Facing Branda's request at this moment, just in case, he spoke a name:
"Gernal Lee, if you want to go out, let him go with you."
Branda frowned slightly, feeling like she had heard that name somewhere, but couldn't recall it no matter what.
Was he a member of the Sternritter?
Of course he was.
However, although he was a member of the Sternritter,
Essentially, he was a figment of Gremmy Thoumeaux, The Visionary's imagination, created centuries ago.
He wielded the false Sternritter V – Vanishing Point.
With this Sternritter, he could make himself disappear, disappear on any level.
He could erase his form from sight, erase his existence from perception, and even erase himself from others' memories.
Unseen, untouchable, unremembered.
Paired with Branda's intangible shadow, no one was more suitable for this investigation mission than him.
In Haschwalth's view, this operation was likely to encounter two scenarios.
If that Quincy died, there was naturally nothing more to say.
But if he didn't die, with Gernal Lee there, even if they encountered Shinigami, they could retreat safely.
And also erase others' memories to avoid the risk of the Wandenreich being exposed.
Although Branda couldn't remember who Gernal Lee was, since Haschwalth said so, he must be a strong individual.
Thus, the two set off again together.
… …
… …
"Tch, the body's gone?"
Branda returned to the scene of last night's incident and did not see the Quincy's body.
It made sense; even if the Shinigami neglected the body, the Quincy who arrived later would take it away.
They couldn't just leave the body exposed in the wilderness, especially since there were police in the Human World.
"Sha—"
Gernal Lee beside her made a strange sound.
His eyes rotated erratically, and his appearance, like that of a mad scientist, looked even more bizarre on the empty street.
After making his form disappear, he muttered to himself:
"Oh, oh, you're really quite careless."
"If even the body is gone, how are we supposed to determine whether he's dead or not?"
Gernal Lee was now only a voice, and that echoing voice entered the shadow where Branda was hiding under the street lamp.
Branda heard it and responded disdainfully:
"Nag, dead or not, just keep investigating."
"If we really can't find any clues, no one will care if we just assume he's dead."
"Anyway, it won't affect His Majesty's grand plan."
"Let's slowly search along this road."
"I'll go check the other side."
With that, Branda fell silent.
Gernal Lee mumbled a few more words, and seeing no response, he couldn't help but show a hint of displeasure on his face, muttering softly:
"Sha, what a willful little girl."
"Forget it, no one can find me anyway, I'll just look around casually."
Concealing his own existence, Gernal Lee slowly began to move.
He walked down the street without a care, even though he was dressed in strange clothes, and passersby were completely unaware as he brushed past them.
Like an invisible breeze.
Everything in the Human World was unknown to him.
So, as he walked, he became attracted by his surroundings.
Unconsciously, he arrived in another city.
… …
… …
Abarai Renji was a bit restless.
Because the city he was stationed in and the city Rukia was stationed in were very close, right next door.
Learning that Rukia seemed to have encountered an incident last night, he eagerly wanted to know if Rukia was injured.
Although he knew through the Denreishinki that Rukia was fine, he still wanted to confirm it with his own eyes to be at ease.
Unfortunately.
Under non-special circumstances, Shinigami could not leave the city they were located in.
So, Renji could only worry about Rukia's safety while performing his duties with a somewhat distracted mind.
After sending a Whole to the Soul Society, he suddenly remembered something.
He couldn't leave, but that didn't mean his Zanpakuto couldn't leave…
"Zabimaru, please!"
Renji clasped his hands together, facing Zabimaru, his face full of sincerity,
"Just tell me what the situation is over there, and what happened."
"I heard Captain Tsugikuni is also here, I really can't imagine what could be important enough for him to make this trip."
"What if…"
Renji hadn't finished speaking when Zabimaru interrupted him, holding her forehead, sighing helplessly:
"I say, Renji, can't you be a little braver?"
"Everyone knows what's on your mind, except for Rukia herself."
"Otherwise, that Shinigami named Jūshirō Ukitake wouldn't have arranged for you to be here."
"It's been five years, do you not even have the courage to care for her?"
"Don't bother me with everything, alright?"
"Yeah, yeah." Zabimaru also chimed in from the side.
He stretched out his white wide sleeve, his tail erect, sitting cross-legged in mid-air, his childlike appearance lending a playful tone to his voice,
"It only takes ten minutes to travel between the two cities, yet you need to bother us with even such a small matter."
"Renji, where's your courage?"
Courage? The prerequisite for courage is to possess an unyielding spirit.
However, their respective backgrounds made him feel inferior, so how could he possess courage?
Even a tough guy would probably feel awkward in this situation, regardless of time.
Renji was left speechless by the two, feeling an urge to find a hole to crawl into.
However, before he could act, Renji's gaze suddenly turned to a certain spot.
His sharp eyes scrutinized, and even Zabimaru turned their gaze there.
Too bad.
They saw nothing, felt nothing.
"What's wrong, Renji?"
"What's there?"
Renji's gaze was solemn, and he said nothing was wrong, but he couldn't shake off his unease no matter what.
Just now, he had vaguely sensed a hint of hostility.
But for some reason, when he looked over, the hostility vanished without a trace…
In the depths of his intuition, it told him danger was nearby, but…
… …
"Sha sha—"
"Interesting, truly interesting."
"So this is a Shinigami, they seem quite ordinary. I didn't expect them to be able to make His Majesty sleep for a thousand years…"
Gernal Lee smiled eerily.
He stood in the middle of the street with his hands in his pockets, gazing at Renji without restraint.
Although he really wanted to test the other party's capacity right now, considering his mission, he decided against it.
If he met him again before leaving, it wouldn't be too late to try.
However, that was impossible.
Because this was not the target city.
After wandering for so long, it was time to go back.
Thinking this, Gernal Lee's eyes swirled, and a cold sneer once again curled his lips.
—Shinigami, be grateful.
You successfully escaped a calamity.
...
Shortly after, Kanzaki City.
"How was it? Any findings?"
Gernal Lee and Branda met at the place where they first appeared.
Twilight, carried by the breeze, outlined their ethereal figures; they were unchanged from when they departed.
The former still looked as mad as ever, while the latter remained in her shadow form, unwilling to reveal herself.
Branda's impatient voice echoed around them:
"Nothing. I've searched the morgues, police stations, and crematoriums of nearby hospitals one by one, but I couldn't find that guy's corpse at all."
"But even so, I believe he couldn't possibly still be alive."
"Besides being rescued, there's another possibility: his body was taken to another city by another Quincy."
"What about you? Did you find anything?"
Branda asked Gernal Lee.
Although she knew this old man in front of her was probably empty-handed like herself, she still had to maintain the proper attitude.
She might be held accountable when she returned, but it was better than being eliminated for dereliction of duty.
Fortunately, Haschwalth was quite lenient with his subordinates.
Until now, he hadn't told Yhwach about this matter.
Solving the matter quickly was good for everyone.
Unfortunately, Gernal Lee thought the same as Branda, shaking his head lightly and saying:
"Nothing, absolutely nothing. I did encounter a Shinigami, but there were no useful clues."
"Perhaps that guy really ran off to another city."
"However, little girl, I suddenly thought of a question: about that Quincy's home, have you checked it?"
At these words, as if struck by lightning, Branda instantly sobered up.
Yes, to judge whether someone is dead, wouldn't it be clear by looking at their family's reaction?
Unless they were a lone wolf, if they learned of their death and still acted normally, there would clearly be a problem.
Branda immediately vanished from where she stood, completely ignoring Gernal Lee, and rushed towards the Kurosaki residence.
Gernal Lee was speaking when he saw himself being ignored again, and he couldn't help but snort coldly once more.
What was wrong with this little girl?
But, never mind, he could understand. If, due to a moment of carelessness, the existence of certain things were leaked...
Facing a deadly peril, no one could remain calm.
Just wait.
Anyway, there was still plenty of time.
Thinking this, Gernal Lee once again leisurely strolled around.
...
Kurosaki residence.
Ishida Ryūken and Yoriichi Tsugikuni had been waiting for Branda for a long time.
Because they had long anticipated that Wandenreich might conduct a second search to conceal its existence.
So, after properly hiding Kurosaki Yōya and his wife Kurosaki Yuzu, they came to their home with Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
They thought it wouldn't matter if they didn't come.
The enemy was in the dark, and they were in the light.
If they wanted to catch them, without endangering others' lives, they could only wait for them to come.
A few days, a few months, that's all.
Unexpectedly.
The opponent appeared in just one day; their speed was truly fast enough.
If you asked why they could discover Branda hidden in the shadows.
Naturally, it was...
"Ah!"
Only a sharp scream pierced the silence, and a dazzling light suddenly shone, instantly illuminating all the dark corners around.
Shadows had nowhere to hide.
Branda struggled out of the shadow in a mess; the light was too intense, stinging her eyes with pain, and her brain instantly went blank.
Following that was a strong dizziness, and her whole body felt unsteady.
But even so, she knew she had been ambushed, and she was instantly enraged, gritting her teeth.
—Who did this!?
When she finally recovered and saw the two people in front of her, her scarlet eyes seemed to spit flames, staring fixedly at them.
—Shinigami!
Quincy!
Had these two guys teamed up!?
Since they appeared here, that guy must not be dead.
No... it's possible he died, and they appeared to seek revenge.
Because the Quincies in the Human World can team up with Shinigami, why couldn't that Quincy be a Shinigami's friend?
The reason they could make arrangements in advance might be that guy, on his deathbed, informed others of his abilities...
Damn it!
Branda grew up in Wandenreich from a young age, deeply influenced by Yhwach's teachings, and her loyalty to the empire was deeply ingrained.
Seeing such a scene at this moment, she felt as uncomfortable as if she had swallowed a fly.
Traitors!
However, she forgot one thing.
Had her attack not been discovered by Rukia, Yoriichi Tsugikuni would not have come to the Human World, nor would he have teamed up with Ishida Ryūken.
Under normal circumstances, this should have been a battle Ishida Ryūken faced alone.
"A woman?"
Ishida Ryūken frowned slightly, muttering to himself, then pushed up his glasses and snorted coldly,
"How arrogant. One attack wasn't enough; she even wants a second. What a lunatic."
"Let's deal with her quickly. Although she's a Quincy, I don't want to acknowledge these guys as my comrades."
"Get rid of her. I think, for a short time, they probably won't act rashly again."
Yoriichi Tsugikuni nodded with a calm expression.
Neither of them asked Branda's name, because there was no need.
In an instant, the battle began.
The next moment.
The battle ended.
Branda was indignant, but having lost her ability to merge into shadows, she could only be slaughtered.
Her muscles were torn, her body was pierced, her proud Blut Vene was completely ineffective, blood flowed everywhere, even staining her clothes red.
She struggled on the ground, unable to absorb reishi, continuously cursing.
The two ignored her, deciding to proceed according to their previously set plan.
Clack—
As the Garganta slowly opened, Kisuke Urahara emerged, holding a fan that partially obscured his face.
He watched the Quincy on the ground with deep eyes, a smile appearing on his face:
"Not bad. It seems my device did indeed effectively counter this so-called shadow."
"Sternritter... Heh heh, very interesting, but unfortunately, every ability has a weakness."
Clap.
Kisuke Urahara suddenly closed his fan, looked at Yoriichi, and expressed sincere gratitude:
"You've truly worked hard, Yoriichi. Having captured her alive, I presume we'll soon learn the location of Wandenreich from her."
Saying this, he took something from his person and handed it to Yoriichi Tsugikuni,
"This is the new device you asked me to develop earlier. As long as you put her inside, you'll get a 100%reduction (perfectly replicated) corpse."
"Aside from having no breathing or heartbeat, every mole and even every scar on the body can be replicated one-to-one."
"It's perfect for misleading them."
This action was primarily to delay Wandenreich from discovering Branda's disappearance.
Dead people don't talk, but living people do.
Once Wandenreich realized Branda had been captured alive by the Shinigami, its leader would certainly make corresponding arrangements.
But if the "corpse" were made public, the situation would be different.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni nodded lightly, and after receiving the "corpse," he handed it over to Ishida Ryūken.
The two had clear divisions of labor.
"Ryūken-kun, you should know what to do, right?"
"I know," Ishida Ryūken replied, "I killed her because she killed my friend, so I got rid of her for revenge."
Saying this, Ishida Ryūken pushed up his glasses again, "This is the statement that must be made public to Wandenreich."
"Only this way will they not retaliate against the Quincies in the Human World."
"After all, there was a reason."
"Very good." Kisuke Urahara listened, nodded with satisfaction, and a relieved smile appeared on his face,
"That's it. Just follow the plan."
"Without knowing who is leading the current Wandenreich, maintaining the high ground will shift the advantage to our side."
"Go ahead and do it. Once Wandenreich is destroyed, the conditions we promised you will naturally be fulfilled one by one, so you can rest assured."
"Even if you don't trust me, you should trust Yoriichi. He has never held a repulsive attitude towards you Quincies from the beginning."
"Except for those madmen who want to destroy the world."
After Kisuke Urahara finished speaking, he pondered for a while, seemingly reviewing the plan in his mind, then turned and left with Branda.
Not long after, the matter was handled properly, and as a gust of wind swept through, the Kurosaki residence returned to its usual silence.
...
At this moment, about ten kilometers away.
"What's going on?"
Gernal Lee seemed to suddenly notice something, instinctively looking in one direction, a distinct tremor rising in his chest.
His heart felt as if it was being clutched, making it difficult for him to breathe.
It was as if something bad was about to happen.
He instinctively quickened his pace.
Suddenly.
Step.
He abruptly stopped, his expression becoming extremely grim.
Simply because he felt Branda's reishi.
That reishi was very faint.
Similar to the feeling of being on the verge of death.
—Who did it?
Gernal Lee took a deep breath, a hint of anger first flashed across his aged face, followed by a clear expression of lingering fear.
No matter who did it, he knew in his heart.
The guy who could beat Branda into a near-death state in such a short time was definitely someone he couldn't afford to provoke.
—Something went wrong.
"Is it a Shinigami? No, it's not a Shinigami; I didn't feel their reishi."
"Until just now, there was only Quincy reishi here..."
"Is it them?"
Gernal Lee quickly speculated on various possibilities in his mind.
After some deliberation, he felt that this matter was no small thing and he had to leave here quickly.
A Sternritter member dying in the Human World needed to be reported to Haschwalth as soon as possible.
But just as he used his ability and had just opened his Shadow Realm.
A trace of reishi leaked.
Immediately after.
Before he could react, a surge of cold air, like a raging cold tide, quickly swept over him.
Everything in its path was frozen, and pure white snowflakes began to drift in the air.
"Tsugi Mai: Hakuren!"