Central 46, Underground Council Chamber.
In the dim council chamber, a beam of light suddenly shone on Ito Makoto's face.
Ito Makoto looked around and found himself in the very center of the council chamber, surrounded by seats numbered one to forty-six, arranged in a three-tiered circle.
"Is this the legendary Central 46?"
The Central 46 is composed of forty sages and six judges, serving as the highest judicial body in the Soul Society. Its members are typically nobles or elders, holding extremely high status and influence.
Furthermore, the Central 46 wields immense power, capable of mobilizing the Gotei 13, Onmitsukidō, Kido Corps, and all other Shinigami organizations except for Squad Zero.
At this moment, Ito Makoto noticed that the sages from seats one to ten were absent, while all seats from eleven to forty-six across from him were fully occupied.
"So, in the eyes of the top ten sages, the deaths of nearly a hundred fallen noble scions don't even count?"
"Eleventh Division Fourth Seat, Ito Makoto!"
Suddenly, a solemn voice came from behind the screen marked with the number seventeen.
"You failed in your duty to protect during the Hunting Tournament incident, leading to the deaths of nearly a hundred talented young noble members!"
"You should have been expelled from the Gotei 13 and never re-employed, but considering your meritorious service in protecting the Kasumioji Clan Head, your punishment will be lightened!"
At this point, the sage from number seventeen ceased speaking.
From behind the screen of number eleven, a female voice echoed:
"Therefore, you are fined three hundred years of salary! Henceforth, no matter what position you hold in the Gotei 13, you shall receive no salary for three hundred years!"
Although the voice deliberately deepened its tone, Ito Makoto recognized it as Kazumichi Asayuki immediately. Hearing her pronouncement, Ito Makoto's mouth twitched.
Ito Makoto glanced at the screen of number eleven, intentionally or unintentionally. Although special Kido obscured the screen, making it indistinct, he seemed to see Kazumichi Asayuki casting a mocking gaze his way.
"Alright!"
He had originally thought Kazumichi Asayuki would use this opportunity to heavily frame him for colluding with a Menos Grande!
He hadn't expected that the situation would truly be downplayed, just as Yamada Seinosuke had predicted, turning a big deal into a small one.
As for publicly exposing Kazumichi Asayuki for wantonly slaughtering lower-ranking nobles to feed the Bakuyoto...
Ito Makoto suddenly thought of that line:
"Who in the court dares accuse this official!"
Not long after, Ito Makoto walked out of the Central 46's Underground Council Chamber, turning his head to look at Yamada Seinosuke, who was waiting for his judgment!
"Yamada Seinosuke, for dereliction of duty leading to the deaths of nearly a hundred noble members, this seat hereby sentences you to expulsion from the Gotei 13, never to be re-employed!"
...
And at the same time that the Central 46 was judging Ito Makoto and Yamada Seinosuke, in the Great Spirit Book Repository's projection room beneath the Underground Council Chamber, Fifth Division Captain Aizen Sōsuke and Third Division Captain Ichimaru Gin were openly watching the events of that day's hunting ground.
However, even the Great Spirit Book Repository's projection room could not see what was happening inside the barrier, only witnessing the scene where the Menos Grande Fleur released a Transcendent Light Beam, directly piercing the barrier to rescue Wonderweiss.
"Oh my, this Menos Grande is truly interesting. Its ability can easily pass through barriers. I wonder if it can deal with the Seireitei's Barrier of Souls?"
"If it can, it might serve as a retreat for us!"
Beside him, Ichimaru Gin said with a sly smile, his eyes narrowed.
Aizen Sōsuke, on the other hand, stared intently at the screen in the void before him, observing carefully. For a fleeting moment, his gaze seemed to fix on Ito Makoto as he emerged from the barrier.
"Gin, what do you suppose happened inside this barrier?"
Aizen Sōsuke adjusted the black-rimmed glasses on his face with his middle finger, his expression as calm as ever.
"Captain Aizen certainly knows how to give people a challenge. If I had to guess, the Kasumioji Family must be playing with dangerous things like the Bakuyoto again!"
Ichimaru Gin shrugged, replying lazily.
Towards Ichimaru Gin's flippant attitude, Aizen showed no sign of anger.
He simply smiled faintly:
"The so-called Bakuyoto is merely an external object. True power is seeking within, reaching one's limit, and then taking measures to surpass that limit. This is the true essence of the strong remaining strong!"
"What the Kasumioji Family has pursued for centuries is putting the cart before the horse!"
"They consider themselves the rule-makers, deeming themselves strong, but in my eyes, they are merely larger ants!"
"And the Central 46, which similarly adheres to this theory, is nothing but a bunch of dried bones in a tomb."
"This decaying and dilapidated Soul Society is truly regrettable!"
After listening to Aizen's lengthy discourse, Ichimaru Gin smiled as usual:
"Oh, Captain Aizen's words are always so philosophical!"
...
After Ito Makoto exited the Central 46's Underground Council Chamber, he headed straight for the Eleventh Division Barracks. Thanks to the Kasumioji Family's maneuvering, the Hollow incident at the hunting ground was now considered concluded.
As for the so-called punishment of fining him three hundred years of salary, Ito Makoto didn't take it to heart at all. Not to mention how long he would remain in the Soul Society, the person who set the disciplinary rules for him would certainly not live to see that time.
Just as Ito Makoto approached the Eleventh Division Barracks, he saw someone he had expected.
It was a disheveled, emaciated old man.
Seeing the person before him, Ito Makoto sighed helplessly:
"Ah, Yano Masahiko, why do you torment yourself so?"
This person was indeed Yano Masahiko. The last time Ito Makoto had seen him was half a month ago, when he was still a spry old man. Now, in just a short time, he had become so miserable.
"Ito Fourth Seat, you were also inside the barrier at the time. This old man… just wants to ask one thing: how did my poor granddaughter, Chie, truly die…?"
Looking at the now nearly deranged Yano Masahiko, Ito Makoto was silent for a moment before slowly speaking:
"How your granddaughter died, hasn't the Kasumioji Family already stated? She died in a Hollow incident!"
Ito Makoto's tone was flat, but he emphasized the words "Kasumioji Family."
Upon hearing this, Yano Masahiko said nothing more, simply bowed to Ito Makoto, then turned and walked away, his back appearing somewhat desolate.
As soon as Ito Makoto stepped into the Eleventh Division Barracks hall, he noticed the atmosphere was off.
At this moment, Zaraki Kenpachi, Kusajishi Yachiru, Ikkaku, and Ayasegawa Yumichika were all standing in the hall, looking at him.
"Oh, isn't this Fourth Division Vice-Captain Ito! What brings you to our Eleventh Division?"
The moment Ito Makoto stepped into the hall, he heard Madarame Ikkaku speak with a mocking, sarcastic tone.
"Huh? Ikkaku-senpai, what are you talking about?"
Just as Ito Makoto was about to say something else, Madarame Ikkaku, looking displeased, handed him a letter of appointment.
Looking at the appointment letter in his hand, Ito Makoto genuinely felt a bit overwhelmed.
"The Central 46 just fined me three hundred years of salary and now directly appoints me as Fourth Division Vice-Captain…"
"What exactly is the Central 46 up to?!"
However, this actually suited Ito Makoto's wishes. His original plan was to find an opportunity to transfer to the Fourth Division. He hadn't expected the Central 46's appointment to come through so quickly; it was like someone bringing him a pillow just as he was getting sleepy.
"Little Ito Makoto, you've been promoted! Aren't you going to treat us to a drink?!"
Ayasegawa Yumichika, standing nearby, chimed in.
Ito Makoto chuckled wryly, rubbing his forehead:
"Seniors, please have mercy on me. I just got fined three hundred years of salary!"
At this moment, Zaraki Kenpachi, who was sitting in the main seat, stood up:
"Hey, Ito, you're about to leave the Eleventh Division. Why don't we have another fight right now?!"
Zaraki Kenpachi looked at Ito Makoto, his face filled with fighting spirit!
Seeing this, Madarame Ikkaku, standing nearby, also laughed loudly and drew his Zanpakuto.
...
The next day, early in the morning, Ito Makoto, covered in bandages, arrived at the Fourth Division Barracks to report.
"Vice-Captain Ito, what happened to you? Do you need me to treat you?"
Retsu Unohana looked gently at Ito Makoto, who had almost wrapped himself into a mummy.
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