On the other side, after successfully entering the prison, Shunsui quickly arrived at his destination.
"Captain Kyōraku?"
Rukia, who was staring blankly in her cell, was startled, a look of surprise on her face.
"Why are you here?"
"I'm here to visit on behalf of your Captain."
Shunsui sat down cross-legged, pulling out a pot of sake as if by magic, and motioned towards Rukia.
"Want some? It tastes quite good."
"Uh... no thank you." Rukia waved her hand, refusing.
She wasn't interested in drinking, and she felt like something bad would happen if Byakuya found out.
"That's a shame. Then I'll be the only one who gets to enjoy it."
Shunsui took out a sake cup, pouring the drink while asking.
"How have you been in prison lately? Is there anything you need help with?"
Rukia shook her head. "Everything is fine. Captain Soi Fon is gentler than I imagined, she didn't use overly rough methods during the interrogation."
"Heh heh, after all, you are a member of the Kuchiki clan."
Shunsui lowered his head and took a sip of sake.
In fact, Soi Fon wasn't a gentle person. As the Captain of the Second Division, she could be more ruthless than him at times.
In this incident, Yamamoto personally ordered a strict investigation, and for various reasons, Rukia would not have a good outcome. The reason she could stay in her cell like this, quietly waiting for her execution date to approach, was 99% due to Byakuya.
Recalling Byakuya's Reiatsu that appeared within the Second Division barracks on the day Rukia was taken away, and the subsequent separate meeting between Byakuya and Yamamoto, Shunsui chuckled softly, concealing the truth, and turned to ask Rukia another question.
"Rukia, what do you think of the Red Dragon Emperor?"
Rukia said, "Tatsuma? He's a very capable person who helped me a lot."
"What if... I mean, what if the Red Dragon Emperor were to manage Soul Society? What do you think would happen?"
"?"
A question mark slowly rose above Rukia's head, and her expression became subtle.
After looking at Shunsui for several seconds, unable to figure out what he was thinking, Rukia hesitated for a moment before giving her reply, "If Tatsuma were to manage it, Soul Society would probably become quite astonishing."
"Astonishing? Can you give me some examples?"
"Some systems within the nobility would disappear, and residents of the lower-ranked areas of the Rukongai would be able to live in peace."
"I see, that would indeed be astonishing."
Shunsui nodded thoughtfully and asked some other questions.
A moment later, Shunsui put away his gourd and sake cup, patted his backside, and got up from the ground.
"This visit ends here. The next time we meet will likely be on the day of the execution."
Rukia suddenly called out to him, "Captain Kyōraku, I have a question. You've been asking about Tatsuma. What did Tatsuma do?"
"He hasn't done anything yet."
Shunsui left the prison without looking back, arriving at the Thirteenth Division barracks and meeting with Ukitake.
"Shunsui, how is Rukia doing?"
"She seems to be doing quite well."
"That's good." Ukitake breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ukitake, what are you planning to do next?"
"What aspect are you referring to?"
"Of course, I'm talking about those Quincy."
Shunsui glanced at the shadows in the corner.
Just a few days ago, the Underworld sent a message, reminding them about the Wandenreich. With the information, they naturally had to verify it.
Shunsui secretly contacted Mayuri and spent several days investigating. It wasn't long ago that Mayuri sent a message.
The information from the Underworld was correct. There were indeed Reiatsu fluctuations within the shadows of Seireitei.
Although there wasn't further investigation, at this point, it could be confirmed that Sirzechs's information was correct.
Yhwach was not dead and had even built a Quincy empire beneath Seireitei.
Shunsui naturally understood the seriousness of this matter.
Normally, what he would need to do is report to Yamamoto and make preparations in advance.
However, the current problem was that the situation within Seireitei was not stable.
With Aizen acting in the shadows, Shunsui could not guarantee that the Yamamoto he saw was the real one.
Furthermore, Yamamoto subjectively believed that Rukia and the Quincy were working together, which was also a problem.
If the matter of the Wandenreich were exposed, Rukia would likely be executed on the spot.
With internal and external threats, Seireitei appeared stable on the surface, but in reality, it had reached the brink of collapse.
As a veteran Captain of the Gotei 13, Kyōraku naturally had to take action.
"The letter has been sent out. Captain Soi Fon will go to Karakura Town to find Yoruichi next. If things go smoothly, we might have a chance to bring Captain Soi Fon into our camp."
"But the old man is still a problem. The matter of the Wandenreich..."
"Leave Yamamoto-sensei to me."
Ukitake suddenly interrupted.
"I have a way to break through Kyoka Suigetsu's blockade and see Yamamoto-sensei himself."
"As for Rukia... Although sensei is sometimes rigid, he is not impossible to persuade."
"As long as I explain it properly, he should be able to understand that Rukia was framed."
"Then I'll leave this matter to you." Shunsui felt relieved.
He was afraid that Ukitake would act emotionally and conceal the information about the Wandenreich to save Rukia. Since the other party was willing to cooperate, the next steps would be much simpler.
Gather all the strength of Soul Society and fight with all their might.
At the same time, at the Gremory Main Estate.
Tatsuma walked out of the magic circle and met up with Rias, who was waiting for him in the corridor not far away.
Rias asked, "Did something happen?"
Tatsuma replied, "When Grayfia was hunting Hollows in Hueco Mundo, she was ambushed by a Quincy."
Rias was startled. "A Quincy?"
Tatsuma nodded. "Don't worry, I've already dealt with it. Grayfia wasn't injured."
"That's good." Rias's expression relaxed.
The two chatted as they walked and soon arrived at the banquet hall.
Asia and the others had already taken their seats, and Rias's parents were also present.
After Tatsuma and Rias arrived, the banquet officially began, and various delicacies were brought out by the servants.
While enjoying the Underworld cuisine, Tatsuma chatted about everyday topics with Rias's parents.
"Tatsuma, do you have any future plans?"
"Making money, getting stronger, developing technology."
"That sounds like plans for the Human World. Do you have any thoughts on the Underworld?"
"The Underworld?"
Tatsuma thought for a moment and replied, "I don't have many thoughts on the Underworld. At most, I'll work part-time as a Satan to get by."
"Work part-time as a Satan?" Venelana was startled.
Having lived for so long, Venelana had never heard anyone say they were working part-time as a Satan. However, coming from Tatsuma, these words somehow seemed strangely reasonable.
"Do you need me to help you attract investment? I have some connections among the nobility."
Tatsuma waved his hand. "That's not necessary. Wait another month, and those old fogeys will personally invite me to take the position."
"Then I'll look forward to it."
Venelana looked at Tatsuma thoughtfully but didn't press further, changing the subject with a shift in tone.
Time passed, and after a hearty meal, the banquet quickly came to an end.
Leaving the banquet hall, Tatsuma took his instructor badge and went for a walk around the Gremory Main Estate.
A few minutes later, three guards dressed in uniform, who appeared well-trained, walked past him.
"Tatsuma-sama, good evening."
The guards took the initiative to greet him.
Although it was Tatsuma's first official visit to the Underworld, his reputation in the Underworld was not low.
The Three Factions Meeting, the MAR offensive, bringing the Vampires into the alliance...
Driven by Sirzechs and the others, Tatsuma's various deeds had long spread throughout the Underworld.
And as servants of the Gremory clan, these guards had even more respect for Tatsuma.
Their young lady's boyfriend, who, if nothing unexpected happened, would be the one in charge of the Gremory clan in the future.
Being proactive and leaving a good impression would definitely be a guaranteed profit in the future.
However, just as these three guards finished greeting him and were about to continue their patrol, Tatsuma suddenly reached out and stopped them.
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave. Let's spar."
"Huh?"