Uryū rubbed his eyes hard, feeling like his eyeballs were about to pop out.
But no matter how he looked, Cole was unmistakably a Quincy—pure and clean, and even stronger than him.
Thinking it over, Uryū deliberately activated his ability, trying to turn the surrounding reishi into subordination.
Cole found it amusing, so he simply seized all the reishi around them, turning it into countless blue light motes that rose and fell around his body.
He smiled and said:
"In front of another Quincy, stealing reishi isn't a very good habit, you know."
Quincies use the reishi of heaven and earth as subordination to launch attacks, so controlling reishi subordination is basically the prelude to an attack.
So in the Wandenreich, what Uryū just did would be a complete provocation.
Hearing that, Uryū's brain almost crashed.
What the hell!?
This guy really became a Quincy!?
He even knows Quincy etiquette and customs!
Damn it—weren't there only two Quincies left in the world, him and his father!?
How did this guy become one!?
Could it be the Quincy race has some built-in crisis response—like when it senses extinction, it deliberately "replenishes" itself with extra Quincies!?
Do Quincies have that kind of ability!?
Seeing Uryū's numb expression, Cole couldn't help laughing and teasing inwardly:
Still too inexperienced.
You're freaking out just from seeing one Quincy—if you actually went to the Wandenreich, you'd probably faint on the spot.
Cole didn't care about Uryū's stunned state. He walked into the house on his own and said with a smile:
"Alright, don't be so nervous. I'm here to ask you about something—about Quincies."
Uryū finally snapped out of it, hurriedly shut the door, and looked at Cole sitting on the sofa.
Only then did he realize this guy was acting more natural in Uryū's house than Uryū himself—he'd already sat down on the sofa and even poured himself a glass of water.
Cole took a sip, frowned slightly, and put the cup down.
"This water tastes bad. It smells like disinfectant."
Uryū nearly exploded, grinding his teeth.
"Yeah, sorry. My family runs a hospital. To purify the water, we deliberately add something to it."
"Don't be so polite. Get me two cups of juice. Or at least pour me some tea."
Cole waved his hand generously.
Uryū almost laughed from anger.
"What, want me to tidy up a room for you too, so you can sleep here for a few days?"
"No need. Your place reeks of disinfectant. It makes me uncomfortable."
Cole shook his head lightly. He'd thought with Ryūgen's strict personality, he'd be a clean freak.
But from another angle, maybe to him, the smell of disinfectant was what "clean" meant.
Even though Uryū was furious, he still went to the kitchen, got tea leaves and hot water, and brewed everyone a cup.
After finishing, he sat back down on the sofa and urgently demanded:
"Cole, what did you do? Why did you suddenly become a Quincy? Don't tell me you have Quincy blood too?"
He'd heard from his grandfather that Quincies looked exactly like humans.
So if they didn't activate their power, even a Shinigami standing face-to-face couldn't tell the difference between a human and a Quincy.
Because of that, through countless years, many pureblood Quincies chose to reproduce with humans.
That resulted in many hybrid Quincies.
Those hybrids weren't fundamentally different from purebloods—the only real difference was the awakening of their power.
Pureblood Quincies could control reishi subordination from the moment they were born.
Hybrids didn't have that innate talent.
They might live in the Human World as ordinary humans for a large part of their lives.
Until one day, their Quincy blood suddenly awakened, and they passively gained Quincy power.
And according to his grandfather, there used to be quite a few hybrids in the Human World.
Decades ago, humans would occasionally awaken and become Quincies, joining their race.
But what confused Uryū was—
Since the day he could remember anything, he'd never once seen a hybrid Quincy.
That was completely different from what his grandfather described.
In the end, he could only blame it on Shinigami hunting.
As that thought surfaced, Uryū's puzzled expression darkened, and his gaze turned hostile toward the Shinigami in front of him.
Rukia felt ashamed—she knew what Mayuri had done.
But Soi fong's expression remained cold.
Yoruichi didn't care much either.
As for Unohana and Sode no Shirayuki, they didn't seem interested—quietly drinking tea that still carried the taste of disinfectant.
Because they'd already been to the Wandenreich. They knew the truth from more than ten years ago.
It wasn't Shinigami hunting that caused the large-scale deaths of Quincies.
It was because Yhwach launched Auswählen (Holy Selection), swallowing the power, life, and souls of all hybrid Quincies in the Human World.
So Uryū's hatred toward Shinigami was 90% misunderstanding.
The remaining 10% was Mayuri.
Cole acted like he didn't notice the shift in atmosphere. Leaning back on the sofa, he said lazily:
"You're misunderstanding. I didn't become a Quincy because of bloodline. It's for a reason you don't know."
Uryū didn't believe him for a second. His expression turned cold.
"If you don't have Quincy blood, how did you become a Quincy? Hmph! Is it that embarrassing to admit you have Quincy blood!?"
As he said that, he shot a cold glance at Unohana, Yoruichi, and the others.
"Or is it that compared to being a Quincy, you'd rather be a Shinigami—so you refuse to admit your Quincy identity?"
He wasn't like his father.
He was proud of his Quincy blood.
That only made him hate Cole more—having Quincy power but refusing to admit Quincy blood.
How was that any different from being a traitor!?
Cole sighed helplessly.
"That's why I say you're too young. It makes me not really want to talk to you."
His expression then turned serious. He lightly tapped the white table and stared at Uryū.
"If you think that without Quincy blood, you can't become a Quincy… then answer me this."
"How was the very first Quincy in this world born?"
Uryū froze, completely stumped.
How was the first Quincy born?
What kind of question was that?
Quincies are born through bloodline—
But at that thought, Uryū suddenly went stiff.
Right.
If Quincies are born from bloodline…
Then how did the first Quincy become a Quincy in the first place?
Did they suddenly mutate from a human!?
Uryū swallowed hard, trying to dig up Quincy history from his memory.
But as the saying goes—when you need knowledge, you regret not reading.
He'd never cared about history before, so now he couldn't remember anything.
Just as Uryū was struggling—
A cold, calm voice came from the doorway.
"The first Quincy in this world, of course, awakened Quincy power suddenly—and passed it down as bloodline."
Everyone turned to look.
The girls' expressions changed immediately, staring at the silver-haired handsome man with grim alertness.
Because they hadn't noticed when he arrived.
If he hadn't spoken, they still wouldn't have known he was there.
And to them, that was extremely dangerous.
It meant that if he wanted, he could approach them silently and strike with a killing blow.
Luckily, he didn't seem to have any hostility.
Cole was also surprised as he looked at Ryūgen Ishida. He hadn't expected this pureblood Quincy to possess such a skill.
But with one glance, Cole already understood what Ryūgen had done.
It was just basic Reishi Subordination—wrapping reishi around himself to isolate and conceal his aura.
Simple, yet not simple at all.
At the very least, as far as Cole knew, no one in the Wandenreich could do this.
Cole evaluated silently:
This guy could probably trade hands with Haschwalth.
Reaching that conclusion, Cole inhaled sharply.
Ryūgen Ishida was genuinely frightening.
A hospital director who'd hidden for years without fighting…
Yet his strength might be even greater than Kurosaki Isshin's.
Add in the hatred he carried, and that was basically a perfect "big villain" template.
If this guy ever seriously pursued power, he'd be another Aizen—maybe even worse.
At that moment, Uryū also looked over. Staring at the silver-haired man, he spoke stiffly:
"Father… why are you back?"
He remembered his father's personality was extremely strict.
His return time every day—exactly 8 PM, never early, never late.
It hadn't changed for decades.
Ryūgen didn't answer directly.
He took off his white suit, hung it on the rack, changed into clean slippers, and walked inside, speaking flatly:
"I sensed Reishi Subordination, so I came back to meet the guest who came to our home."
Hearing his father say "Reishi Subordination," Uryū's discomfort only deepened.
Because even after getting close to Cole, he hadn't noticed the change in reishi at all.
Yet his father—dozens of kilometers away—could sense what was happening at home.
What terrifying perception.
And yet he'd never pursued power.
A complete waste of talent.
Ryūgen ignored his foolish son.
He sat down on a chair and looked at Cole calmly.
"I apologize. My son is far too arrogant. He's only read a few books, yet always thinks he knows everything—believing power can dominate everything."
Uryū's face flushed red. He sprang up furiously.
"What's the point of learning useless knowledge!? If you have that time, you should improve your strength—then maybe Grandpa wouldn't have been killed by Shinigami!"
Ryūgen said blandly:
"That was his own choice. He wanted to exchange his life for space for Quincies to survive."
He'd known his father's decision back then, and he didn't stop it.
Because even if he did, given his father's age, he would die soon anyway.
It was his father's choice.
And Ryūgen chose to respect it.
"Why did Grandpa have to be sacrificed!?"
Uryū erupted, slamming the table hard.
"We didn't do anything wrong! It was the Shinigami who kept hunting us down! Why couldn't you fight back!?"
Ryūgen pushed his glasses up slightly.
"I'm not interested in that kind of thing. That's all."
"That's why I hate you! You're a Quincy, but you choose to rot away—now you can't even beat me!"
Uryū roared at Ryūgen.
Ever since Uryū could remember, his father had always opposed him becoming a Quincy.
And Ryūgen himself hated Quincy power and never used it.
Cole watched in peak awkwardness—like he was sitting through a trashy family drama.
Thankfully, after the shouting match, Uryū stormed back into his bedroom and slammed the door.
The slam echoed.
The living room returned to silence.
Ryūgen's expression remained indifferent, as if nothing happened. He looked at Cole and said:
"I apologize. I spoiled that child too much, so he's unable to think calmly."
Honestly, I can't see any 'spoiling' at all… Cole complained inwardly, then smiled.
"It's fine. Kids are like that in their rebellious phase. I understand—I've been through it too."
The girls beside Cole all twitched at the corners of their mouths.
If they remembered right, Cole was about the same age as Uryū—both sixteen-year-old high schoolers.
How could he possibly say that with a straight face?
Inside the bedroom, Uryū—pressed against the door and eavesdropping—was furious.
That damn Cole.
Actually trying to take advantage of him.
He'd definitely fight him later.
Ryūgen didn't react. Just as Cole thought he was about to start talking—
Ryūgen said calmly:
"This is my family matter. There's no need to discuss it with you. You should leave now."
"Huh?"
Cole blinked, momentarily not processing it.
Wait.
He's kicking them out already?
This uncle is way too unfriendly, isn't he?
Though it did match his cold, handsome face. In an idol drama, he'd be the classic domineering CEO.
Cole smiled.
"No rush. The main reason I came here is to ask about Quincies. I'm sure you know a lot about that, right?"
Then Cole suddenly smiled and looked toward the front door.
"Perfect timing—the other person I wanted to call is here too. He also has some Quincy blood. It'll be good for him to learn as well."
As the words fell—
The pure-white front door opened again.
Ichigo Kurosaki, with orange hair, a single-strap bag on his back, and that delinquent vibe, walked in casually and said to Cole:
"Yo, Cole—where've you been these past half a month? And the moment you come back, you're already looking for Uryū?"
While speaking, he noticed the silver-haired handsome uncle sitting in the chair, smiled, and said:
"You must be Uncle Ryūgen, right? I brought you something."
(End of Chapter)
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