As time slowly passed, even the most complex and turbulent emotions gradually calmed down.
Liltotto's psychological defenses were being eroded and shattered by loneliness, bit by bit.
Even at this moment, Liltotto still couldn't understand why Tokito Iwákatsu chose to act at this time.
Also, what exactly was this strange ability that had immobilized her?
He wanted her to reveal Giselle and Leah's locations, or perhaps, to lure them into Hueco Mundo...
What kind of grudge did they have with Tokito Iwákatsu?
Liltotto really didn't want to do this; it was undoubtedly a betrayal of her comrades.
But if she didn't, she would surely die...
She had no choice either way.
Chaotic thoughts flashed rapidly through her mind. She desperately wanted to speak and negotiate, to seize a glimmer of a chance to survive.
However, under the two thousand times accelerated time flow, her movements were slower and clumsier than a turtle's.
The words she had organized in her mind seemed to be dragged down by her sluggish body, making it difficult to express them smoothly.
Clearly, in war, there is only cooperation or not, life or death; begging for mercy is meaningless.
These two thousand minutes were, in fact, also the time given to them to face reality and repent for their mistakes.
Countdown: one thousand eight hundred minutes...
One thousand four hundred minutes...
One thousand minutes...
Sixteen long hours passed in a flash, while only thirty seconds had elapsed in the outside world.
During these sixteen hours, the three of them, including Liltotto, endured an indescribable torment.
Unable to speak, unable to eat, unable to drink, even breathing and blinking slowed down by two thousand times...
She felt like she was going insane.
Just thinking that this situation would continue for another sixteen hours filled Liltotto with an inexplicable fear.
Because she had no idea if another round of such torment would follow after the sixteen hours ended...
If there was no escape anyway, it would be better to surrender now.
At worst, she could play along in the future, and she would always find a way to escape.
Similar thoughts flashed through Bambietta's mind, only more intensely than Liltotto's.
To survive, she even overlooked the fact that Tokito Iwákatsu had deceived her earlier.
Meninas McAllon, on the other hand, had a completely resigned, 'broken pot, broken lid' mentality.
She and Tokito Iwákatsu had almost no interaction; even with what was happening now, it was merely a change from colleague to enemy.
She thought that once she was free, she would definitely punch him.
Whether she could win or not was another matter, but her attitude had to be firm; after all, she was a Quincy.
The three had different thoughts and expressions, while Yoriichi sat quietly on the sofa, taking it all in.
Sixteen hours...
Yoriichi had a premonition that among the three, Bambietta would be the first to break.
Sure enough, after another two hundred minutes, Bambietta was the first to utter a complete sentence with difficulty.
"Let... me... go..."
"I... sur... render..."
Although it was two sentences, not one, Yoriichi was not particularly surprised.
He slowly rose from the sofa, walked over to Bambietta, and gently brushed his hand across her eyes.
Immediately after, some particles, imperceptible to the naked eye, were drawn out and disappeared.
Bambietta suddenly found that her facial expressions had returned to normal, and she could blink.
Her voice was no longer sluggish; the feeling of being tightly bound by time instantly vanished.
She didn't understand how this was done, but instinctively wanted to retaliate. However, in the next second, she was shocked to discover that only her head could move.
Her hands and feet, just like before, were still under a two thousand times slower time flow.
"Tell me, what do you want to reveal?"
Yoriichi saw the changing expressions on Bambietta's face, from initial relief to instant anger, then to helplessness upon realizing she couldn't resist...
He understood... she had harbored murderous intent just now.
This was normal; after all, no one could maintain composure after being immobilized for twenty hours.
Hearing this, Bambietta snapped back to reality, her silver teeth almost grinding to dust, and she demanded:
"Tokito, what exactly is going on? Why did you betray us?"
"Are you really not afraid of Haschwalth's retribution?"
"There shouldn't be any deep hatred between us. I even showed you kindness; why are you holding us hostage?"
"You surrendered just to say this?" Yoriichi retorted, a hint of disappointment in his tone.
He sat back on the sofa, his voice casual:
"You've misunderstood. It's not that I betrayed you; it's that I never belonged to you."
Since Zanpakuto couldn't be used within the Wandenreich, Yoriichi didn't mind chatting with them a bit longer, so they would willingly cooperate.
Anyway, there was plenty of time; he had all the patience in the world.
He raised his eyes, gazing calmly at Bambietta, and slowly said:
"As for Haschwalth's retribution, I've never worried about it."
"He knows very well that even if one of me dies, there are still thousands upon thousands of me who can enter the Wandenreich."
"Rather than a confrontation, it's better to compromise for now."
"Things have been peaceful until now, except for this time. For some unknown reason, he launched the war early, and he kept it a secret from both you and me."
"Coincidentally, the main participants in the war are Giselle and Leah."
At this point, Yoriichi slowly clasped his hands together, his tone gradually softening,
"Now do you understand why I'm looking for you?"
"Hostage-taking... perhaps."
"But, Bambietta, don't forget, everything has a cause and effect."
"As long as you tell me their location, you will naturally be safe."
"But if you insist on shielding evil..."
Yoriichi didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: for the safety of all Shinigami, the deaths of a few Quincy were irrelevant.
It was only because they might still be useful later and their identities were temporarily clean that he was communicating with them this way.
Otherwise, after a round of interrogation and torture, they would confess everything in less than ten minutes.
Bambietta's face was pale. She could clearly feel the intense hostility emanating from Yoriichi Tsugikuni, as well as his unshakeable powerful aura.
In front of him, she felt like a helpless chick waiting to be slaughtered.
Damn it... he really would kill her!
This fear spread through her heart like a plague.
And then, Yoriichi slowly rose again, each step echoing heavily in Bambietta's heart.
When he stood before her again, his previously calm eyes seemed to have lost some patience, looking down at her from above.
Bambietta dared not look up, because she clearly knew the desperate situation she was facing.
All the anger, resentment, and hatred in her heart dissipated like fleeting clouds.
Like a human encountering a tiger, no matter how much they lament the injustice of the world, in the face of the predator's attack, they can only helplessly accept their fate.
Her voice was low and trembling slightly:
"You... you can't do this. I'll cooperate, but, but, I really don't know the location of those two."
"Liltotto and the others might know... What exactly happened in the war? Why am I completely unaware?"
Bambietta was utterly confused. As she said before, she had been kept in the dark the entire time.
Her surrender at this moment was not to betray her teammates, but merely to save her own life, which was why she was so humble.
With her life secured, she began to ponder a question: what exactly had Haschwalth been hiding from her?
He had even discarded his identity, which he had maintained for decades, just like that.
And Giselle and Leah...
How could anyone betray their teammates like this...
Biting her lip, the frustration, indignation, and long-suppressed emotions in her heart burst forth like a breaking dam.
Bambietta transferred all her hatred for Tokito Iwákatsu to Haschwalth.
Beside her, Liltotto was somewhat surprised. She had never expected Bambietta to compromise so quickly.
It had only been twenty hours.
Also, if you're going to surrender, why drag me into it? I don't know either!
However, she did know a little about the war.
But Haschwalth had issued a gag order, strictly forbidding her from revealing it.
At first, she thought the gag order was to prevent the Shinigami from knowing.
Now it seemed...
It was to guard against Bambietta and Tokito Iwákatsu?
Why?
Things were getting stranger and stranger. Liltotto had an ominous feeling that all members of the Sternritter seemed to be Haschwalth's pawns.
Would she even live to see the day His Majesty was resurrected?
Gremmy, save me!
...
Liltotto's earnest plea in her heart went unheard by anyone.
At this moment, Gremmy was carefully observing every aspect outside the 1st Division.
He watched PePe's every move and was very satisfied with PePe's attitude.
It was clear that this fat Shinigami was quite diligent and hadn't rashly broken into the 1st Division, which would have scared Tsugikuni Ai.
As Quincy, the act of kidnapping Yoriichi Tsugikuni's wife and daughter could not be carried out openly, as it would enrage Yoriichi Tsugikuni, leading to an inevitable loss of control.
But if they were kidnapped by coincidence, that would be a different matter.
All accidents in the world follow an elusive rule: they are unpredictable.
Therefore, in the face of an accident, no matter how powerful Yoriichi Tsugikuni was, no matter what emotions he displayed, he could only helplessly accept his fate and cooperate with them.
"Soon. These Shinigami are truly tenacious, but it doesn't matter."
"There are so many Gillians in the Forest of Menos; with the strength of these Shinigami, they couldn't kill them all in seven days and seven nights."
"It's estimated that in another five minutes, they will be able to invade the 1st Division."
Gremmy muttered to himself. Then, he suddenly remembered something and looked at Haschwalth beside him, asking:
"Has Tokito Iwákatsu not left yet?"
"Going to find Bambietta at this time..."
"He hasn't discovered our plan, has he?"
"What did the surveillance say?"
His clone had already told him everything. Although the encounter seemed coincidental, Gremmy always had a faint sense of unease.
Haschwalth heard this, calmly raised his eyes to look at him, and said:
"The surveillance was destroyed. He must have come prepared."
"However, there's no need to worry."
"It's already too late."
"Hueco Mundo, 1st Division, Noble District, Spiritual Arts Academy, Fourth Division... these places are the Shinigami's vital points, and they have been fully invaded."
"No matter how capable he is, he won't be able to solve all the problems there."
"And as long as one place cannot be resolved, it will be our victory."
Although Haschwalth said this, Gremmy still felt that something was not quite right.
To ensure that Tokito Iwákatsu wouldn't mess things up.
He decided to send Candice to investigate.
A clone accompanied her.
This way, even if they encountered danger, his main body wouldn't be affected.
His thought and command fell simultaneously.
The clone appeared immediately, then vanished in an instant.
Looking in the direction where the clone disappeared, Gremmy couldn't help but sigh, realizing he had become increasingly cautious over the years.
And all of this, without a doubt, was thanks to Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
The incident of being cut into 3,600 pieces was still vivid in his mind.
Even if Tokito Iwákatsu was him, he shouldn't possess such terrifying strength...
Gremmy's eyes narrowed slightly, but time wouldn't stop for his apprehension.
In the short minute he spent communicating with Haschwalth and issuing orders, time had quietly slipped away.
Just then—
Bang!
At Bangbi's house, after Meninas regained her ability to move, she suddenly threw a punch at Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Her seemingly slender arm bulged high at this moment, her bicep instantly becoming thicker than a normal person's thigh.
Veins bulged, and a sonic boom erupted.
Yoriichi saw this and didn't dodge; instead, he met the punch head-on with an open palm.
The next second, the collision of flesh against flesh unleashed a roaring white shockwave, blowing the candy out of Liltotto's mouth beside them, shattering it on the floor.
Paper scraps flew everywhere inside the house.
"This... this kid is a monster!"
Liltotto was stunned, her eyes wide, completely unprepared for Tokito Iwákatsu to effortlessly block Meninas's punch.
As the wielder of the Sternritter [Power].
Don't let her cute appearance fool you; she's extremely violent, and tearing down a building with one punch is easy for her.
But now, the opponent had blocked it without any effort?
Liltotto took a deep breath, and despite her shock, she quickly recovered, wanting to call for help.
As soon as she turned around—
The next second, whoosh!
A cold light flashed, and Liltotto only felt a chill over her head; her military cap was sliced in half.
A cold wind blew over her head, and she watched half of her white military cap slowly fall, the words on the tip of her tongue instantly choked, as if something was blocking them.
Immediately after, she felt the muscles in her throat twitching, and she understood this was a premonition of death.
Before death, all are equal; even the most rational person facing such imminent death will instantly fall silent...
Liltotto stood rigid, not daring to make any more moves.
"Why bother? You don't want to experience thirty-three hours of torment again, do you?"
Yoriichi's voice was calm and unhurried, as if he had anticipated their actions all along.
"I told you before, two thousand minutes was your last chance to consider."
"Now two thousand minutes have passed, Liltotto, Meninas, make your choice."
Saying this, Yoriichi slightly tightened his grip on Meninas's arm.
When Meninas's other hand came crashing towards him, he reacted extremely quickly, also seizing that hand to prevent her from causing too much commotion by tearing down the building.
Under non-essential circumstances, Yoriichi didn't want to use that Kido again.
Thirty-three hours was torment for them, and it was the same for him, and it could easily lead to time displacement, thereby missing opportune moments.
Meninas gritted her teeth, exerting all her strength, trying to pull her arm free.
Unfortunately, Tokito Iwákatsu's body possessed some of Yoriichi Tsugikuni's cells and talent.
Therefore, even if his strength wasn't as great as the original, it was not something the Sternritter [Power] could contend with in its normal state.
She struggled for a long time, but not only did her arm not come free, her previously bulging muscles gradually shrank, slowly returning to their original appearance.
Clearly, she was running out of steam.
Liltotto swallowed, a surge of impulse rising within her, wanting to turn around and use her Sternritter to devour Tokito Iwákatsu whole.
It was just a pity she wasn't completely confident.
The activation of 'Gluttony' required time, though only a few tenths of a second; weaker opponents couldn't escape it, but for stronger ones, it was very easy to evade.
Should she use it?
No.
She didn't dare to gamble, nor did she have the confidence.
She was still young, with countless beautiful things awaiting her in the future; why should she die here for a cross-dresser?
Liltotto gradually understood.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to keep her voice steady, and with her back to Tokito Iwákatsu, she tentatively asked:
"If I agree to you, can you guarantee that the news here won't leak out?"
"Having lived in Wandenreich for so many years, you should know that Haschwalth won't let any traitor go."
"If helping you means death either way, then I'd rather die gloriously."
As if fearing Tokito Iwákatsu would misunderstand, Liltotto finished speaking and then explained:
"Of course, don't misunderstand, I'm not making conditions."
"Like Bambi, I just want to live. I pledge loyalty to His Majesty, not Haschwalth."
"Now that His Majesty hasn't awakened yet, even if Gigi and Leah are killed, all of this can be blamed on others, but... Your Excellency..."
Liltotto was mainly worried about Tokito Iwákatsu's identity being exposed.
If it wasn't exposed, and no one knew, they still had a glimmer of hope, perhaps even a chance to fight.
But once it was exposed...
As if knowing what Liltotto was worried about, Yoriichi's voice was cold, like ice and snow in winter, without a trace of warmth:
"Whether it's exposed or not, you have no choice. I never like to make promises to enemies, because you are enemies."
"Liltotto, you should know very well what the word 'enemy' means."
Liltotto fell silent instantly; she completely understood the meaning in Yoriichi's words.
Although somewhat absolute, she didn't refute. She took a deep breath and said:
"Even if we are enemies, you must tell us the probability of surviving after helping you."
She felt Yoriichi's "sincerity"; at least he wouldn't discard them after use, which was good news, but far from enough.
They could certainly endure humiliation, and for the sake of survival, for His Majesty, betray friends who weren't so important.
Because after all Quincy die, their power returns to His Majesty.
It didn't matter how many died.
But, they needed some chips to bet their lives with.
Yoriichi was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke a chip that they couldn't refuse.
Liltotto's eyes instantly widened.
Meninas had no interest in this, but seeing her two friends join Tokito Iwákatsu's team, she, having no other choice, sighed helplessly and could only temporarily agree.
Immediately after, the four disappeared from their original spot.
One minute later.
When Gremmy arrived at Bangbi's residence with Candice, all that greeted them was a mess.
He instantly realized something big had gone wrong.
However, he didn't know what exactly had happened.
A cloud of worry immediately enveloped his heart.
...
Seireitei.
"It's done."
Yoriichi Tsugikuni breathed a sigh of relief; once the three joined Tokito Iwákatsu's team, he knew that Giselle and Leah had no escape.
Although finding them would still take time, it would undoubtedly be greatly shortened.
This shortened time was the lives of the Shinigami.
He would save as many as he could.
The previous training was precisely for this moment.
He took a deep breath.
After Tokito Iwákatsu led the three to rendezvous with him in the Forest of Menos, Yoriichi Tsugikuni left the control panel.
As soon as he came down, before he could even catch his breath.
Kisuke Urahara, sensing the consciousness link had been severed, hurried in and reported several ominous pieces of news to Yoriichi.
The 1st Division was under siege, and Tsugikuni Ai was in grave danger.
To make matters worse, the Noble District was also attacked by some Menos Grande.
Although Kuchiki Byakuya and Yoruichi Shihouin were resisting with all their might, they were steadily retreating, and a quarter of the area had already fallen.
It looked like they were about to reach the central upper Noble District.
Upon hearing this, Yoriichi's expression tightened: "It's fallen? Where is Teacher?"
"It hasn't fallen yet, but it's close. The former Captain-Commander is being held back.
Currently, within the entire Seireitei, you are the only one who can resolve this crisis!
Please, turn the tide and save the Seireitei from this predicament!"
Kisuke Urahara spoke very quickly; though he maintained some composure, he was mostly anxious.
Yoriichi's expression was grave; he gripped his Zanpakuto and hurried out.
According to Kisuke Urahara, all of this had happened within the five minutes he had been gone.
It seemed the Quincy were indeed prepared, and everything they did was to hold him back.
First, the 1st Division.
Shi had eaten Kiryu Hikifune's cooking before, so she at least had second-class spiritual pressure.
Ordinary Menos Grande couldn't get close to her, and the Tsugikuni Clan clan was located in the middle-to-back of the Noble District.
It would take at least another ten minutes to fight their way there.
Ai was different.
The 1st Division falling was imminent.
...
Blood and flesh splattered everywhere, and a strong smell of blood permeated the air; Pepe grew increasingly excited.
This was because in just a few minutes, he had acquired about thirty slaves.
These people included both Menos Grande and Shinigami.
Not long after, he used these people to forcibly open a passage into the 1st Division.
After the passage opened, the 1st Division inexplicably fell.
Menos Grande and Shinigami swarmed in.
He, meanwhile, quietly followed behind the Shinigami and Menos Grande, while creating the illusion of intense battle, attempting to find Tsugikuni Ai.
He knew well the principle that delay breeds change.
A powerful weapon like Tsugikuni Ai, only when in his hands, could he feel at ease.
Even if Yoriichi Tsugikuni appeared before him, he could use Tsugikuni Ai as a shield... no, it should be a get-out-of-jail-free card.
With these thoughts, Pepe's smile became increasingly lewd, but as he delved deeper into the 1st Division, he realized the surrounding environment was a bit off.
Why was there no one, not even a sound...?
Could it be that everyone had fled? That shouldn't be.
They were surrounded on all sides; unless they could fly, but even if they could fly, they shouldn't have escaped his sight.
Soon, Pepe discovered the truth: he had fallen into an illusion.
He snorted coldly, thinking it was a petty trick, and commanded:
"Tear it down for me!"
As the 1st Division's buildings were dismantled piece by piece, the illusion gradually dissipated.
Just then, he saw the group of people in the depths.
Among them, the most conspicuous was the red-haired girl in the center of the crowd.
"Hehehe... So you're here..."
Pepe rubbed his hands like a fly, laughing aloud, seemingly seeing his future of borrowing power to intimidate, and drooling from the corners of his mouth.
However, even at this moment, he still didn't show himself, only giving orders in the dark, letting his slaves charge forward.
At the same time, he formed a heart shape with both hands, quietly aiming at Tsugikuni Ai.