Exiting the Central Underground Assembly Hall, Ren held Yoruichi's hand, his tone lightening significantly.
This visit to Central 46 had gone remarkably well.
The Chief Justice was originally a subordinate of the Shihoin family; even as a member of Central 46, that relationship remained unchanged.
Upon hearing of Ren and Yoruichi's arrival, he had come out personally to receive them.
He remained as respectful and humble as ever, observing every formality.
Given the scale of tonight's events, a man in his position had naturally heard the reports.
Faced with Ren's proposal, the Chief Justice glanced at Yoruichi's expectant expression, hesitated for a moment, and then immediately agreed.
His family had served the Shihoin for generations as loyal retainers.
He simply could not refuse a personal visit from the head of the Shihoin family.
Moreover, having followed the previous head, he had watched Yoruichi grow up.
To be blunt, in his heart, he viewed her not just as his lord, but as a junior.
He knew of Kisuke Urahara, who had grown up with Yoruichi, and had even met him several times.
In his view, while Urahara had a somewhat gloomy personality, he was a good person at heart.
He didn't seem like someone who would commit such a heinous act as persecuting so many captains.
He was likely being framed.
Furthermore, the captains forced into Hollowfication were vital forces defending the Seireitei.
It would be a waste to simply kill them.
If possible, he wanted to save them too.
Thus, he followed Ren and Yoruichi's wishes, deciding to hand them over to the Onmitsukidō.
Since most of Central 46 belonged to the Shihoin faction, passing such a verdict was easy.
Having received a satisfactory answer, Ren and Yoruichi didn't linger and returned home.
Too much had happened tonight. They had spent half the night struggling; while they weren't physically exhausted, they were mentally drained.
Upon returning to the Shihoin manor, Yoruichi went straight to her room to sleep.
Before she left, Ren suddenly asked, "Do you want to go see Touichirou?"
"Touichirou?"
Yoruichi thought for a moment and shook her head. "It's so late; he's probably already asleep. Let's not disturb him."
"I'll take a quick look. I won't wake him. You should get some sleep too, Yoruichi," Ren said, turning toward another courtyard.
Yoruichi watched his retreating back and said softly, "Make sure you don't wake him up."
With that, she turned and went into her room.
Ren gave a dismissive wave.
Reaching the gate of Touichirou's courtyard, Ren turned to look at Shisui and Toji, who had been following him.
"You two should go rest as well. We have a busy day ahead tomorrow."
After dismissing them, Ren pushed open the door.
The courtyard was quite dark, with only a few lamps lit along the corridor.
The servants caring for Touichirou had already retired, leaving only a few guards and maids on duty.
When they saw Ren, they moved to bow, but he gestured for them to stop.
"No need. All of you may leave. I'm just here to see Touichirou."
After the servants left the room, Ren sat by the child's bed under the soft glow of the nightlight, silently watching the sleeping boy.
Touichirou's eyes were closed, his breathing was steady, and a bit of saliva clung to the corner of his mouth.
That peaceful appearance was endearingly precious. Ren's heart softened, and a profound sense of tenderness welled in his eyes.
He reached out and gently wiped the corner of the child's mouth. His expression was soft, though it was soon buried under a layer of guilt.
"Touichirou, my Touichirou... After today, your mother might never forgive your father. She will hate me..."
"When you grow up, don't be as calculating and cruel as your father. Be a good person..."
"No, being a good person just leads to being bullied. You must become strong. You can never be weak."
"If possible, I would give everything... Never mind."
At the end, Ren muttered a few words and fell into silence.
He knew that his actions tonight would undoubtedly push Touichirou's mother into opposition.
Even if he could hide it for a while, as his schemes grew larger, Yoruichi would eventually realize the truth.
Hostility between him and Yoruichi was only a matter of time.
Yoruichi would never abandon her lifelong values for him, nor would she abandon her friends.
Especially not after learning of the atrocities he had committed.
Even Ren felt a sense of self-loathing when he thought about the conspiracies he had woven to trap so many innocent people.
For a man of his standing to resort to such dishonest and petty means... it was laughable.
'Your father can never be a good man in this life. But to become a true villain, I can't quite let go of this so-called conscience.'
'I can't be a good person, yet I'm not a complete villain. In the end, I'm just mediocre.'
"Touichirou, don't grow up like your father—someone caught in the middle, a total lowlife."
Looking at the sleeping child, Ren sighed.
He tucked the boy in and tiptoed out of the room.
As soon as he stepped out of the courtyard gate, he saw Toji Fushiguro still standing there.
Ren was surprised. "It's late. Why haven't you gone to rest?"
Toji walked over to him, slowly exhaling a long breath.
"My constitution is special. It doesn't make much difference whether I sleep or not."
"As for you, Boss, you don't look like you're in a good state. I figured I'd keep you company."
Ren blinked.
He looked Toji up and down, then gestured for him to follow.
"In that case, walk with me."
Ren set off in the lead, suddenly voicing his confusion.
"Toji, I thought my acting was pretty good. I masked my emotions well."
"Even Yoruichi, who I spend every day with, didn't notice. How did you?"
Toji followed and said, "Don't underestimate me. My eyesight has always been sharp, and I've been with you long enough."
"But more importantly, I can smell it. I smelled that you were in a terrible mood."
Hearing this, Ren raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, "Smell my mood? You can actually do that?"
"Naturally."
Toji nodded and continued, "My sense of smell is very keen. I can pick up on hormones or pheromones the human body releases. I don't really understand the science of it."
"But when someone is happy versus when they're sad, the scents are distinctly different."
Ren looked at Toji with surprise.
"This is the afterlife. You can smell it here too?"
"Even if it's the Soul Society, it's basically the same as being alive," Toji said with a wave of his hand. "Everything in the Soul Society is made of Reishi, isn't it? Animals, plants, even inorganic things like buildings—and people too."
"The hormones secreted by the human body are also made of Reishi at the smallest level. From that perspective, there's no difference between life and death. Of course I can smell it."
He twitched his nose and took a whiff toward Ren.
"For example, right now, Boss, your mood is awful."
"The scent is thick with pain, regret, irritation, and guilt."
Toji looked at Ren with slight surprise.
A look of inquiry crossed his rugged features as he asked, "Is it because of tonight... making a move on those captains? Or is it from deceiving your wife?"
"Both, I suppose."
Ren admitted it bluntly.
He let out a deep sigh, his face filled with helplessness.
"I'm a normal person after all. How could I not feel guilty after doing something bad? Not only did I intentionally harm innocent people, but I deceived Yoruichi above all... I..."
"Whatever!"
By the end, Ren's mood turned inexplicably irritable, and he waved his hand dismissively.
He didn't want to talk about these things anymore; it felt like exposing all of his filth and ugliness.
It made him feel utterly ashamed.
Toji understood.
Although he was something of a scumbag himself, he could sympathize with Ren's current state.
It was human nature; nothing to be shocked about.
He suddenly remembered something and asked, "Back at the First Division, you suddenly attacked Old Man Yamamoto. That wasn't in the original plan, and it didn't seem like your style."
"So, was that an outlet for these unbearable feelings, Boss? Did you just want to vent?"
"That was part of it," Ren nodded.
"More importantly, I wanted to use the opportunity to gauge Yamamoto Shigekuni's strength."
"Even though it was just a one-sided attack and the old man didn't hit back, that brief contact allowed me to test the waters."
Toji's interest was piqued. "And the result?"
Ren's gaze darkened, but his lips curled into a slightly grim smile.
"Old Man Yamamoto... he is a literal monster!"
"That old guy isn't just some senior citizen. He's like a humanoid sun with infinite energy sealed inside. Once he explodes, the entire Soul Society will face destruction."
Even though Ren knew how troublesome Yamamoto was from the original story, experiencing it firsthand exceeded his expectations.
"After all, he's the strongest Shinigami who has suppressed the Soul Society for a millennium. Having that level of power is only natural."
Toji remarked, showing little surprise.
He looked at Ren and asked, "Against an old man like that, Boss, what do you think our chances of victory are?"
Ren rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
After a few seconds, his expression dimmed slightly, and he sighed. "I suspect that even the powerful armies I've assembled in various worlds would not be a match for Yamamoto."
"We have the numbers and a clear advantage, but that old man is definitely not an opponent that can be dealt with easily!"
He glanced at Toji.
"Even the most outstanding among my subordinates—you and Shisui—wouldn't be his match."
Yamamoto was an all-rounder in every sense. A thousand years of refinement had left him with no weaknesses.
Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Kidō, Hohō—he mastered them all, a perfect hexagonal warrior.
His Ryūjin Jakka was the strongest fire-type Zanpakutō.
Especially his Bankai; its raw power was simply absurd, a realm ordinary people couldn't hope to reach.
Even if Ren's army successfully captured the Seireitei, Yamamoto Shigekuni alone would have the power to annihilate the entire force.
That old man was just that terrifying!
"He really is a scary old man."
Toji sighed. Ren's words weren't outside his expectations.
His brow furrowed slightly with gravity before he looked back at Ren.
"Then... what about you, Boss?"
"Faced with such a terrifying Yamamoto Shigekuni, what are your chances?"
Ren chuckled at the question.
"Haha, Yamamoto Shigekuni is the strongest Shinigami in a thousand years."
"Even for me, it would probably take some effort to defeat him."
Ren thought of something and teased, "Yamamoto is strong, but he is old. Toji, why not ask if that old man fears me?!"
"Haha, fair enough." Toji's brow relaxed. "Then I'm relieved."
In the midst of their chatting, they unknowingly arrived at Ren's study.
Seeing that they were there, Ren invited Toji in.
"Have a drink with me. I still have some good wine here."
Ren dug out some wine he had stored away and brought out some snacks to go with it.
Toji was quite familiar with Ren's study; he moved a low table out onto the corridor outside.
Under the clear brightness of the moon, Toji raised his cup and took a small sip, his expression softening.
"This really is good. Sweet, with a hint of tartness. Great flavor."
"Of course. I got this from Kaido. He practically lives on this sweet wine." Ren finished his warning, "Don't overdo it, though. We have important business tomorrow."
"I know." Toji nodded, then thought back and realized something. "Kaido is that giant who can turn into an azure dragon, right?"
He had spent most of his time in the Jujutsu world over the years and rarely stayed in the Soul Society.
He had only seen Kaido and the others a few times.
When he first saw them, he had been shocked by their massive heights.
How could normal humans grow that big?
But he had heard that in Kaido's world, people of that size were everywhere.
What was that about? Compared to them, his own sub-two-meter height made him look like a dwarf!
Toji shook his head, pushing those trivial thoughts aside.
He saw Ren drain his cup and set it heavily on the table before letting out a deep sigh.
"Sigh..."
"What now?"
"Nothing."
Ren looked up, staring blankly at the bright moon hanging in the night sky.
The moon shed its light, eternal and unchanging, silently watching everything that happened on the ground.
Whether it was a good deed or an atrocity, she saw it all but remained unmoved.
So noble, yet so cold.
He wondered if she saw the filthy things he had done.
"Toji, I've done too many bad things in this life. There won't be a good end for me."
"Hmm?"
Toji looked at Ren, whose eyes were downcast.
"You actually believe in that stuff?" he said. "People say good and evil are rewarded in kind, but the ones living comfortably in this world are always the ruthless villains."
"In contrast, it's the kind-hearted people who usually meet a bad end."
Toji pointed at himself.
"Look at me. I've harmed so many people in my life. It wasn't for some grand ideal; I killed just for money."
"Yet here I am, being treated like this after death. It just goes to show that whole theory is absolute garbage."
Ren nodded. "I know that in the end, might makes right, but I still can't bring myself to agree with it."
Seeing Ren like this, Toji understood him even more.
"You're caught in a bind... On one hand, you were raised with those moral standards, but on the other, you're violating your conscience with these deeds."
"These two sides are squeezing you in the middle, leaving you torn."
Ren glanced at Toji and sighed. "You make it sound easy. I know it's a difficult position, but even so, I can't stop. I have to keep going."
"True..."
The two of them continued to talk about anything and everything while sipping their drinks.
Feeling a slight buzz from the alcohol, Ren stopped drinking, lay down on the floor, and unknowingly drifted off to sleep.
When he woke up, the bright moon was still high, but rays of light were already breaking through the eastern horizon.
"You're awake."
Toji's voice sounded from beside him.
Ren looked over and saw the table covered in wine bottles.
It looked like Toji had drunk most of his stash.
"What time is it?"
"I don't know, but it's probably still early," Toji said, looking at the sunrise.
"I see."
Ren stood up, stretching his limbs.
Just then, Shisui's figure flickered into the courtyard, rushing to Ren's side.
Seeing the urgency on Shisui's face, Ren frowned.
"Shisui, what happened now?"
"My Lord, the situation has changed!"
Shisui spoke with gravity, his voice hurried.
"The verdict from Central 46 has been issued. Urahara Kisuke and Tessai Tsukabishi are to be sentenced to death! The Gotei 13 is ordered to carry out the execution today without delay!"
"Hirako and the others are facing the same fate!"
"What?"
Ren was shocked.
"How is this possible?!"
"Weren't they supposed to be handed over to the Onmitsukidō? And immediate execution?!"
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]