Ryoka  

"Oh? They're back?"

Ailin sensed Byakuya Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, and an unfamiliar spiritual pressure appear within the Seireitei. The curtain was about to rise on the main events of the Bleach world!

As expected, everything unfolded just as in his memories.

After being apprehended, Shino Madarame wasn't imprisoned within the Ninth Division's detention center, nor was she sent to the Second Division's "Worm's Nest." Instead, she was confined within the "Palace of Penitence," a facility controlled by the Central 46.

As its name implied, the Palace of Penitence was a luxurious prison reserved for nobles who had committed crimes. It was a place of "repentance" rather than punishment.

Typically, only those with noble connections were sent to the Palace of Penitence. Even those who committed grave sins wouldn't face severe punishment.

Shino's imprisonment there relieved both Ikkaku Madarame and Renji Abarai.

The Central 46's actions indicated they were wary of Ailin and was unwilling to make a big deal out of the incident. After all, Byakuya had already destroyed the Saketsu and Hakusui of the human who received Shino's powers. The threat had been neutralized. They couldn't hold onto the issue indefinitely.

However, their relief was short-lived. The Central 46, seemingly driven by madness, repeatedly adjusted Shino Madarame's punishment. Their actions fueled the Eleventh Division's anger. Every day, the division members trained relentlessly, their rage simmering, refusing to accept any missions.

Head-Captain Yamamoto even summoned Ailin to discuss the situation. After all, the Gotei 13's duties couldn't be neglected because of a few Shinigami's personal feelings.

Ailin's response was ambiguous. He didn't express his own stance, seemingly allowing the situation to unfold on its own.

However, neither the nobles nor the Eleventh Division dared to act rashly.

…

A week later…

Clank, clank, clank, clank…

"Sigh…"

Shunsui Kyoraku, hearing the captain summons, let out a weary sigh. It seemed the Quincy prophecy was weighing heavily on everyone's minds. Earlier, he had sensed Gin Ichimaru's spiritual pressure flaring. He didn't know the details, but it was clear that the captain of the Third Division had engaged in a battle.

Could Gin's actions be the catalyst for a conflict between the Seireitei's factions?

With the Quincy invasion looming, no one wanted to be betrayed by their supposed "allies" while fighting for the Soul Society.

"Nanao, let's go. We need to see what's happened."

…

"Oh my, Captain Kyoraku, it seems you're always the last to arrive at these meetings."

Ailin stood at the entrance to the First Division barracks while smiling.

"Well, well, it can't be helped, Captain Ailin."

Shunsui adjusted his straw hat.

"There are only three years until the Quincy's prophesied conquest of the world. I need to gather intelligence, find the location of their hidden empire. Don't you agree?"

"I see."

Ailin nodded, not questioning his words. However, he knew that even when the Quincy, having transformed their "Empire of Light" into the "Invisible Empire," launched their assault, Shunsui still wouldn't have uncovered their true location.

After all, who could have imagined that the Quincy's courage and cunning would surpass the Shinigami?

"The most dangerous place is the safest place."

The Quincy embodied this saying perfectly.

A millennium ago, after Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto defeated them, the Quincy from the "Empire of Light," instead of fleeing, had returned to the Seireitei within its shadows.

For a thousand years, the Shinigami hunted them, believing they had eradicated all remaining Quincy.

But the Quincy's true forces had never left.

Ailin even suspected that some of the Shinigami deaths within the Seireitei over the past millennium might have been at the hands of the "Invisible Empire."

Of course, even though he knew the Quincy's true location, he wouldn't reveal it to Shunsui.

The Seireitei, like a windmill, had been stagnant for a million years, its gears frozen by the nobles' oppression.

Ailin intended to use the Quincy's return as a catalyst, a powerful wind that would shatter the nobles' hold and allow the Seireitei to finally turn its gears.

Ailin and Shunsui entered the meeting chamber. As expected, all the other captains were already present.

Clank!

Yamamoto struck the floor with his staff, opening his eyes slightly.

"Captains, moments ago, Captain Kurotsuchi of the Twelfth Division alerted me to a situation. Humans from the World of the Living have infiltrated the Soul Society through the Dangai. There's no doubt about it. They are Ryoka."

His aged voice resonated through the chamber.

"Ryoka" was the term used in the Soul Society to describe souls who entered their world without authorization. They were considered a potential threat, hence the "ka," meaning calamity or disaster.

Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions, having entered the Soul Society without permission and causing a commotion in Rukongai, had been classified as Ryoka by Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

"However, Captain Ichimaru, I heard that you encountered these Ryoka at the North Gate. Why were they able to cause chaos within Rukongai?"

Yamamoto's gaze locked onto Gin Ichimaru.

Gin was Ailin's second disciple, after Byakuya Kuchiki. A hundred years ago, during Gin's captain's exam, Yamamoto had been present. He knew that once Gin released his Bankai, few captains could survive.

Therefore, the fact that Gin and the Ryoka had encountered each other, both emerging unscathed, enraged him.