"Ivan."
Yhwach's heavy voice emerged from the throne once more.
Hearing this, Ivan below trembled. He quickly responded:
"Y-yes, sir!!"
Yhwach leaned back slightly, speaking calmly:
"You have nothing worthy of reward or punishment. As a chess piece in this Hollow extermination operation, the role you played... was adequate enough."
Ivan looked up, flattered and cautious:
"Yes... th-thank you for the praise!!"
Yhwach smiled lightly. He rose from the throne, then walked slowly before Ivan. He lowered his eyes:
"Now, your mission is complete. You may serve as... a cornerstone toward peace."
BOOM!!
The instant he finished, another massive explosion erupted!
Ivan didn't even have time to blink. His thoughts hadn't begun to turn before death arrived.
So fast he couldn't even register the fact of his own 'death.' His body already became spraying blood mist, staining the ice-white palace crimson.
Yet Yhwach didn't spare a single glance. He continued walking forward unhurriedly.
Just then, a figure appeared suddenly behind him, following slowly.
He had an upright build. Golden hair draped behind him. He wore the same pure white Sternritter uniform.
Beneath golden lashes, he kept his eyes lowered. His expression neither happy nor sad.
His identity—
Sternritter, Schrift "B," Jugram Haschwalth.
The one and only... Imperial Aide of the Vandenreich!
Only he could exercise authority above all knights within the Vandenreich.
Even calling him the current sole heir to the emperor—no knight would object.
Because everyone knew—
Haschwalth, from the very beginning, was Yhwach's only "kindred."
He was currently the only person in this world who could stand alongside His Majesty the Emperor.
After walking a moment, Haschwalth finally spoke:
"...Is it wise for you to do this?"
His voice was very calm. But also exceptionally cold, like deep ice layers.
Hearing this, Yhwach showed no expression:
"What do you mean?"
Haschwalth kept his eyes lowered, speaking flatly:
"Arrancar soldiers are precious combat power that requires no battle training from us before deployment to war."
"Executing them like this may be wasteful."
Hearing this, Yhwach's face showed a light smile instead. He raised his eyes slightly:
"It doesn't matter."
"That type of Arrancar soldier... we can just pick up a few more anytime."
"Hueco Mundo now belongs to us. It's merely a stepping stone for attacking Soul Society."
Hearing this, Haschwalth fell silent.
He naturally knew the facts matched what His Majesty said.
Two days ago, even the woman called the 'King of Hueco Mundo' in Las Noches had been easily defeated by them. Now imprisoned in the empire's dungeon.
Currently, under the empire's banner, there was even a 'Hueco Mundo Hunting Corps' composed of Quincies, subjugating and managing all Arrancar in Hueco Mundo.
Even if this Ivan died, replacements could be found anytime.
Yhwach continued forward while speaking:
"Now then, Haschwalth..."
"It's time you reported to me your two years of 'surveillance' records."
Hearing this, Haschwalth raised his eyes slightly, speaking evenly:
"Your Majesty, you mean... the current Gotei 13 Fifth Division Captain 'Segawa Shigure'?"
Out of thoroughness, Haschwalth asked once more.
Though he understood—this was the only person he'd been surveilling for two years.
"...Correct."
Yhwach answered in that heavy voice.
When Haschwalth mentioned it, an image immediately surfaced in his mind—
High in the sky, beneath torrential rain.
Segawa Shigure's massive storm and lightning wings, and that... eerily unpredictable Bankai.
Hearing confirmation, Haschwalth lowered his eyes again:
"Please allow me to organize briefly before presenting to Your Majesty all useful intelligence regarding him from these two years."
Haschwalth's expression unchanged, memories began turning continuously in his mind.
Several minutes later, he finished recounting all information about Segawa Shigure he deemed relevant.
Halfway through listening, Yhwach had already stopped walking.
By the time he finished, Yhwach's expression was no longer casual. Instead—profound depth filled his eyes.
After a moment, he turned back, looking at Haschwalth. He narrowed his eyes slightly, speaking heavily:
"Haschwalth, two years of surveillance, the intelligence gained from it—why does it..."
"Make the mysteries surrounding him... only multiply?"
Hearing this, Haschwalth lowered his head. After a moment of silence, he spoke calmly:
"Your Majesty, this point became clear from the moment you had me surveil him."
"Even in that battle against Aizen, Segawa Shigure used his Bankai."
"But still, he remains the one surrounded by the most mysteries in all of Soul Society."
"Moreover, as time passes, these mysteries will... only increase."
Hearing this, beneath Yhwach's black hair, his eyes flickered lightly.
Haschwalth's expression remained uniformly calm, without any ripples. He continued:
"In fact, I once advised you to cease surveillance on him."
"Because perhaps from the moment I began surveilling him, our traces were already noticed by him."
"And having escaped your 'Omniscience' range, he may well be in this holy war—"
"Your only obstacle."
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