Chapter 301: Truly Unfamiliar

"Enough, Gerard."

Haschwalth's tone was calm, his voice carrying a chilling indifference and an undeniable sense of authority.

Gerard stared down at Haschwalth in shock, his face betraying his surprise. Was this really the Haschwalth he knew?

At this moment, he felt both familiar and unfamiliar—like he had become a different person, yet one Gerard strangely recognized.

The others, too, were stunned, their expressions shifting from disbelief to growing unease.

The presence radiating from Haschwalth wasn't just overwhelming—it was suffocating. But it wasn't just his Reiatsu that had changed. His entire demeanor, his very essence, had undergone a complete transformation, as if he had been reborn.

Now, standing before them, Haschwalth carried an aura befitting an emperor, an absolute ruler whose authority was unquestionable.

"He's not here anymore."

Haschwalth's gaze shifted to a dark corner, his deep, composed eyes reflecting an eerie omniscience.

"Damn it… that bastard got away?"

Gerard gritted his teeth in frustration, his tone laced with unwillingness.

He had become even stronger. With the power he now possessed, he was sure he could have crushed that opponent.

His eyes swept fiercely across the ground as if searching for something crucial—but in the end, he found nothing.

Furious, he slammed his fist into the hard ground, the impact echoing in the silence.

"Pernida is gone! That damn Shinigami even took him!"

Gerard roared in frustration, his voice seething with hatred toward Masatsuki Aozaki.

The Quincy around him gawked as if they had just seen a ghost.

Gerard… worried about a comrade?

This was the same man who once told Yhwach that any Quincy without achievements should be executed.

Coming from him? A man who had no humanity to speak of? A man who never even acknowledged others as comrades?

If not for Haschwalth's opposition, who knew how many Quincy would even be left in the Wandenreich?

Not that Gerard cared about their thoughts. Even if he did, he wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone who spoke ill of him.

The only person he truly cared about was Yhwach. His connection with Pernida? At best, it was indifferent.

But still… they had originated from the same being—both fragments of the Soul King's body.

And after centuries of fighting side by side in the Schutzstaffel, resisting the King of Heaven together, there was a bond, however unspoken.

Perhaps that was why, for once, Gerard showed a rare moment of concern for Pernida's disappearance.

Or perhaps, more than anything, it was the humiliation—that someone had stolen Pernida right in front of him.

Yet Haschwalth remained composed.

He frowned slightly, pausing in thought before speaking in a measured tone.

"I already know everything."

He cast Gerard a fleeting glance before closing his eyes and stating flatly:

"Haschwalth, recall all the Sternritters who are still outside."

Gerard froze.

That command… wasn't directed at him.

Haschwalth was giving an order—to himself?

A realization struck him, and instinctively, he lowered his head.

He still remembered that piercing, imperious gaze—the kind only a ruler should possess.

A brief silence followed. Then, as if the moment had passed, Haschwalth's eyes regained their usual clarity.

Turning in one direction, he bowed deeply and spoke with utmost reverence.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

...

As time passed, the eerie shadows gradually settled into silence.

At that moment, Masatsuki Aozaki emerged from the darkness, flanked by three stunning women.

However, before he could fully step forward, a figure suddenly rushed out from the side.

"Captain Masatsuki seems to have made quite the haul, heh heh heh..."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi chuckled in his distinct tone, rubbing his hands together in excitement.

It was unclear how long he had been waiting for Masatsuki Aozaki, but the greed in his eyes made one thing certain—his obsession with the Quincy ran deep, down to his very bones.

Masatsuki Aozaki glanced at the Banshō Senran sisters and Enrakyōten before casually tossing Candice, Bambietta, and Cang Du onto the ground. Then, he turned his gaze to Mayuri with curiosity.

"What are you doing here?"

Trying to back out?

Mayuri's expression shifted instantly, his face darkening faster than a turned page.

Masatsuki Aozaki couldn't help but chuckle. Waving his hand lightly, he reassured him, "Alright, alright, I know what you want. You're after pure-blooded Quincy, aren't you?"

He gestured toward the three figures on the ground and continued, "Well, here you go. They're all pure-blood Quincy."

Mayuri's face transformed as quickly as a Sichuan opera mask, lighting up with exhilaration. His eyes gleamed as he asked, almost in disbelief, "All of them are pure-blood Quincy?"

Pure-blood Quincy—an extreme rarity.

Even if one searched the entire World of the Living, they might not come across a single Quincy, let alone a pure-blood.

And now, three of them lay right in front of him.

How could he not be excited?

"Exactly."

Masatsuki Aozaki nodded, absentmindedly running a hand through Nemu Kurotsuchi's hair as she appeared beside him.

"Not only that, but they've also received Yhwach's power. They're elite Quincy, possessing their own Schrift."

Nemu let out a contented hum.

Mayuri observed the three unconscious Quincy thoughtfully before, after a long pause, asking with dead seriousness—

"Can I dissect them?"

Bambietta and Candice shuddered. Their heads snapped up, eyes filled with disbelief.

"...Huh?"

Was there something wrong with this guy?

Two beautiful women were lying right in front of him, and his first instinct was to dissect them?

Was he even a man?

Judging by his voice, not really—he sounded more like some alien overlord from a completely different anime.

Masatsuki Aozaki glanced at them, amusement flickering in his eyes.

He wasn't surprised.

They had regained consciousness on the way here but hadn't dared to resist.

Who would?

Silbern was filled with powerful fighters, yet Masatsuki Aozaki had led them all out, completely unharmed.

Bambietta and Candice had seen firsthand how terrifying his strength was.

Back then, challenging him had been pure recklessness.

But the battlefield had been their stronghold. They had confidence, knowing they had backup.

Now, it was just the two of them—plus a half-dead Cang Du.

Resisting would be suicide.

Their eyes darted toward Mayuri, who was grinning with eerie delight.

A chill ran down their spines.

They hurriedly turned to Masatsuki Aozaki, their expressions filled with silent pleading.

Was this handsome Shinigami really going to hand them over to this lunatic?

No, no, no—please, no!

Just imagining being dissected was horrifying.

They didn't want to end up like some grotesque experiment.

And more than anything—they didn't want to die.

Both women locked their desperate gazes onto Masatsuki Aozaki.

He looked refined, elegant—he couldn't possibly be as twisted as this creep, right?

Surely, he had some compassion for beautiful women?

Noticing their pleading stares, Masatsuki Aozaki smirked slightly and casually spread his hands.

"They're my spoils of war. I'm not planning on letting them die just yet."

Bambietta and Candice's eyes lit up instantly.

A glimmer of hope in the darkness.

As expected, good-looking people have good hearts!

"I only want this one."

Mayuri furrowed his brows slightly.

His sharp mind worked quickly, and in an instant, he made the most practical choice.

Lifting a finger, he pointed at Cang Du, who lay motionless on the ground.

Masatsuki Aozaki stroked his chin and, after a brief consideration, nodded.

"Alright. Since I promised you, I'll give you one. He's of no real value to me anyway."

"But let me warn you—this Quincy is no pushover. You wouldn't stand a chance against him."

"If you plan to experiment on him, I'd recommend killing him first."

This guy really isn't a good person, either.

That cold, matter-of-fact tone sent another shiver through Bambietta and Candice.

For a moment, they vividly recalled their battle with him in the Wandenreich.

That brutal, merciless fighting style.

It was almost impossible to believe it was the same man standing before them now, speaking with such a refined and composed demeanor.

He wasn't a nobleman.

He was a monster.

But knowing that their own lives had been spared, they couldn't help but feel relieved.

Even if a trace of guilt lingered in their hearts…

Cang Du's fate had nothing to do with them.

They barely even knew him.

...

(40 Chapters Ahead)

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