126 Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto's Bottom Line  

Time passed.

Now, it seemed Ailin had adapted to the life of a "Rikudō."

Initially, when he had just transmigrated to the Soul Reaper world, Ailin cherished every single day, let alone a year or two.

But after turning a century old, Ailin felt that the meaning of time didn't seem that important anymore.

Ding! Ding!

"Huh? A captains' meeting?"

The unique sound of wooden staffs being struck together in the Seireitei reached Ailin's ears. After a few seconds, he recalled that this was the gathering signal for a captains' meeting.

Setting out from the Kuchiki Manor, with Ailin's speed, he quickly arrived at the 1st Division grounds.

The twelve captains stood in two rows below the Captain-Commander Yamamoto, with only the Captain-Commander having a seated position at the very top in the meeting hall.

Thump!

The sound of his staff striking the ground had almost become the opening signal whenever the Captain-Commander Yamamoto presided over a captains' meeting.

"Alright, all the captains are present. Captain Ukitake of the 13th Division, present the intelligence you've gathered."

"Yes, Captain-Commander Yamamoto."

Jūshirō Ukitake walked out from the line of captains, his expression grave: "Fellow captains, I have received a report from our personnel in the living world that they have discovered a human youth possessing Soul Reaper powers.

As we all know, Soul Reaper powers are abilities that only Soul Reapers from the Soul Society's Seireitei can wield. For an outsider to obtain Soul Reaper powers, unless a Soul Reaper willingly separates and grants them a portion of their own power, it is impossible for them to master Soul Reaper abilities.

But for a Soul Reaper to privately grant Soul Reaper powers to a human is a grave sin in the Seireitei.

So I requested the assistance of Captain Kyoraku of the 8th Division to investigate whether any Soul Reaper had committed this crime, but our investigation ultimately yielded unsatisfactory results.

We did not find the culprit who committed this crime. To further the investigation, I recently took it upon myself to make contact with this human youth. And then, I discovered that this youth's Soul Reaper powers are innate. In other words, this youth is a natural-born Soul Reaper."

At this point, Ukitake paused.

In fact, after personally coming into contact with that human youth, the right arm of the Soul King within his body had allowed him to perceive the will of the Soul King.

What that youth possessed was not only Soul Reaper powers, but also Hollow abilities, and a certain power related to the Soul King. It was as if this youth had the potential to become the "Soul King" himself.

Of course, Ukitake kept these thoughts buried in his heart, saying nothing. The secret concerning the Soul King, once revealed, no one knew how many troubles it would stir up within the Seireitei.

"Truly a miracle, for a human to be born with Soul Reaper powers naturally, this..."

"The world is vast, with no surprises..."

While the captains were marveling at the world's wonders, Yoruichi Shihōin, the captain of the 2nd Division, did not join their astonishment. Instead, she stroked her chin pensively.

This incident seemed off somehow.

Ever since witnessing some of the creations made by Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi had gained a different understanding of so-called "coincidences."

Could it be that this "natural-born Soul Reaper" human was an experimental subject of some researcher? I should go ask Kisuke Urahara.

"Silence!"

As the captains' discussion grew too loud, the Captain-Commander Yamamoto had to strike the floor again to quiet them.

"Now that everyone is aware of this matter, I have summoned you all to deliberate on how the Soul Society should deal with this human youth."

"Deal with?" Ailin glanced at Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

Regarding this youth with Soul Reaper powers mentioned by Ukitake, Ailin knew who he was referring to.

This was the first person, in a human form, to wield Soul Reaper abilities, and also the one who prompted the Seireitei to propose the "Substitute Soul Reaper" designation.

"Um, Captain-Commander, I have a question to ask."

Before the other captains could speak, Ailin stepped out of the line and stood beside Ukitake.

"Captain Ailin, what is your question?"

"I wish to ask the Captain-Commander, which rule of the Seireitei has this human violated for you to suggest 'dealing with' him?"

"Hm?"

Ailin's words stunned the Soul Reapers present.

Captain Ailin was actually questioning the Captain-Commander?

"Captain Ailin of the 11th Division, do you know what you're saying?" Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto slowly opened his eyes, locking his gaze on Ailin.

"Ah, isn't this obvious? Captain Ukitake, you said you conducted a thorough investigation of this human with Soul Reaper powers. So, please tell me, has this human violated any of the Seireitei's rules?"

"This..."

Ukitake hesitated for a moment, but his conviction prevented him from uttering words against his heart: "No. The living world is the realm of the living, while the Soul Society is the realm of the deceased. Even though the Seireitei governs the Soul Society, all its rules were established to maintain the stability of the three realms.

The living world is where souls are born and transmigrate, the most crucial component of the three realms. The laws of the Soul Society do not apply to the living world. However..."

At this point, Ukitake hesitated, but ultimately took a deep breath, "However, if the living world gives rise to existences that could threaten the stable balance of the three realms, the Seireitei has the authority to eliminate such existences in order to protect the three realms."

"Oh? Why is Captain Ukitake so certain that this human youth with Soul Reaper powers is an existence that could threaten the stability of the three realms?"

"This..."

As Ukitake frowned, unsure of how to explain the situation regarding the youth to everyone else.

Just possessing "Soul Reaper powers" alone would make it difficult for others to accept that the youth could threaten the three realms.

After all, weren't those standing here the exceptional geniuses of their generation? To be able to stand here based on their own strength, they would not think that they could be surpassed by a mere human.

"Enough, Ukitake."

At this moment, the Captain-Commander spoke up, "Captain Ailin, Soul Reaper powers belong to Soul Reapers. For a human to use unknown means to steal Soul Reaper powers has already violated the authority of Soul Reapers, and that is his greatest crime."

"Captain-Commander, Captain Ukitake has already said that this human youth did not steal the Soul Reaper powers himself, but was born with them. Furthermore, Captain Ukitake even described this human youth as a 'natural-born Soul Reaper.' Now you're calling him a criminal with just a sentence. Isn't that unreasonable?"

"Then what is Captain Ailin's opinion on how to handle this human with Soul Reaper powers?"

"Since he possesses Soul Reaper powers, why don't we ask the youth if he wishes to become a Soul Reaper? If the youth wants to become a Soul Reaper, then the Seireitei can dispatch a Soul Reaper to provide him with Soul Reaper training, granting him the same rights and status as us.

Of course, with rights come obligations. As an adjunct Soul Reaper, he would have the duty to guide souls, protect humans, and slay Hollows that come to the living world to hunt human souls."

"And if the youth refuses?"

"Then we seal his Soul Reaper powers, and wait for him to die naturally and enter the Soul Society, before guiding him into the Seireitei to join our ranks."

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto looked deeply at Ailin, then narrowed his eyes. "Very well, fellow captains, what are your thoughts on Captain Ailin's proposal?"

"Well, I agree with Captain Ailin's proposal."

As the captains were pondering, Captain Shunsui Kyōraku tilted his straw hat downwards: "It seems too arrogant of us to arbitrarily assign a grave crime to someone who knows nothing about this, labeling them a 'criminal.'"

"Hmph!"

Yamamoto snorted coldly but didn't say anything further.

Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake were both his disciples, but in Yamamoto's heart, Kyōraku's position was higher than the gentle and amiable Ukitake.

If one day he were to step down from the position of Captain-Commander, the only one in the entire Thirteen Court Guard Squads capable of taking over his heavy responsibilities and leading the Seireitei forward would be Kyōraku.

As for the others, including Ukitake, being a Division captain was enough, but not enough to helm the entire Seireitei.

Yamamoto knew that Kyōraku's remark about "arrogance" was directed at him, but although the Captain-Commander was angered inwardly, he was also very pleased with Kyōraku's conduct. It was fine to have objections, as long as he remained rational and knew what he was doing.

"What about the rest of you? Any thoughts?"

"Captain-Commander, I think Captain Ailin's proposal is quite good. Let's just do as he says."

Yoruichi Shihōin smiled, "After all, old man, you don't think that a human who has gained Soul Reaper powers could cause any harm to the Seireitei, do you?"

"Hmph."

The Captain-Commander snorted coldly, but didn't refute Yoruichi.

Indeed, as Yoruichi said, Yamamoto didn't think that a human could do anything to disrupt the balance of the three realms.

"What about the rest of you?"

"Captain-Commander, I don't understand. This is just a human who accidentally gained Soul Reaper powers. Why are we discussing this so seriously?" Captain Love Aikawa of the Seventh Division asked in confusion.

"No, Captain Love Aikawa, whether this human with Soul Reaper powers gained them accidentally or not, we won't discuss that for now. However, this human is a matter that concerns all Soul Reapers of the Seireitei."

Seeing that most of the captains still didn't understand the gravity of the situation, Kyōraku could only explain it to them with a resigned sigh.

"Everyone knows that a person with spiritual pressure is highly likely to have children who also possess spiritual pressure. Similarly, if a human with Soul Reaper powers were to have offspring, their offspring would also be highly likely to possess Soul Reaper powers..."

"This..."

Upon hearing what Kyōraku said, all the captains immediately understood.

No wonder they felt this Captains' Meeting had such a tense atmosphere.

Not only was Captain Ailin opposing the Captain-Commander, but even the Captain-Commander's beloved disciple, Captain Kyōraku of the Eighth Division, had taken Captain Ailin's side.

It turned out that what they were discussing was not just the fate of one person, but potentially the fate of an entire "clan."

According to the Captain-Commander's opinion, they would define this human youth with Soul Reaper powers as a "criminal" who had stolen Soul Reaper powers, and punish him, directly eliminating the possibility of another Soul Reaper clan emerging in the living world, thus maintaining the orthodoxy of the Seireitei's Soul Reapers.

Of course, there were always two sides to every matter.

If they followed the Captain-Commander's approach, then any human discovered in the living world with Soul Reaper powers would become a "criminal" subject to punishment by the Seireitei.

And if they failed to eliminate a "criminal" even once, the Soul Society might face a formidable "enemy" – Soul Reapers who could contend with the Seireitei for orthodox authority.

On the other hand, following Captain Ailin's proposal meant choosing to accept humans with Soul Reaper powers from the living world, providing them with Soul Reaper training and granting them adjunct Soul Reaper status with equal rights and privileges as the Seireitei Soul Reapers.

This would essentially give the Soul Reapers another major base in the living world.

After understanding the "truth" behind this Captains' Meeting, the captains either supported the Captain-Commander or Captain Ailin according to their own beliefs.

Soon, the voting concluded.

Captain Ailin's side won with a four-vote advantage.

"Captain Ukitake."

"Yes, Captain-Commander."

"Compile the duties and obligations of Soul Reapers and give them to Captain Ailin."

"Understood."

After responding, Ukitake returned to his position in the line.

Then, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto looked towards Ailin, "Captain Ailin, since this proposal was put forth by you, the task of instructing this human shall be entrusted to you."

"Yes, Captain-Commander." After nodding in acknowledgment of Yamamoto's request, Ailin also returned to his line.

"Very well, this Captains' Meeting is now concluded. Captain Ailin, you stay behind."

After all the other captains had left the meeting hall, Yamamoto finally spoke slowly.

"Captain Ailin, you should know my true intention for keeping you behind."

"Then please speak plainly, Captain-Commander." Ailin shook his head, denying knowledge of Yamamoto's thoughts.

"Hmph!"

Yamamoto snorted coldly, not caring whether Ailin truly didn't know, and slowly began speaking, "Powerful Hollows from Hueco Mundo will be dealt with by the Soul Reapers of the Seireitei.

The Hollows that go to the living world to hunt are not particularly powerful, nor do they possess any special abilities. So when you go to instruct this human in Soul Reaper abilities, focus mainly on the Zanpakutō's abilities. Just briefly overview Shunpo. Kido training is too time-consuming, so skip over it."

Seeing the cold glint in Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's eyes, Ailin's heart skipped a beat. He realized that this might be Yamamoto's bottom line for agreeing to his proposal.