Chapter 204: The Satoru Family
Amid Yonemura's screams, Satoru slowly raised his head.
He seemed completely oblivious to the surrounding carnage, calmly gazing at Sōken instead.
"Mr. Quincy, what are you still hesitating for? Come and sign the contract."
Sōken stared wide-eyed at Satoru as if looking at a monster.
His white beard trembled slightly as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately he remained silent, only letting out a sigh.
"...Understood."
He took a deep breath and walked toward the table.
Among the Quincies, some who couldn't accept reality drew their bows at Satoru again.
However, before they could act, the terrified crowd around them fired spiritual arrows, instantly killing them.
Looking at their comrades killed by their own hands, the Quincies' first reaction was actually "relief."
Realizing this, the Quincies' faces turned pale.
Sōken sighed deeply.
Forget the vast difference in overall strength between Quincies and Shinigami—even if their combat abilities were comparable, with morale this low, nothing could be accomplished now.
He picked up a pen, wanting only to end this quickly.
Just then, Yonemura, who had been holding Inoue's corpse, suddenly stood up.
"SHINIGAMI!!!"
He roared, pulling a silver metal rod from his white suit.
A blade of blue Reiatsu shot out from it, forming a glowing sword over a meter long.
Then, crouching slightly, he prepared to charge at Satoru.
But before he could take a single step, a spray of blood erupted from his chest.
Under Yonemura's disbelieving gaze, a half-meter-long gash split open on his chest, blood gushing out violently.
It was as if an invisible, intangible swordsman stood before him, delivering a diagonal slash.
Thump!
Yonemura Toshiki fell.
Sōken watched this scene quietly.
He couldn't stop it.
Even if he could, he wouldn't.
To protect the remaining Quincies, Yonemura and Inoue had to die.
If these two radical faction leaders remained alive, they would eventually incite the Quincies to cause new troubles.
Just as this Shinigami had said, when that time came, it wouldn't be as simple as signing a contract.
Watching Sōken bow his head to sign, Satoru suddenly seemed to remember something.
He asked curiously:
"You... are called Sōken Ishida, right?"
"That is correct, old man."
"Do you have a son?"
"?"
Sōken looked up, staring at Satoru in shock.
He did have a son, born back in the Wandenreich.
After his wife's death, he fled the Wandenreich.
When escaping, he paid a heavy price to bring his son with him.
Since he hadn't established himself in the living world yet, as a precaution, he used a secret technique to keep his son in suspended animation, hidden in a very secluded place.
Not even the two Quincy leaders, Yonemura and Inoue, knew he had a son.
How did this Shinigami know?!
He stared wide-eyed, remaining silent for a long time.
Then he revealed a bitter smile.
So that's how it is... This Shinigami was telling him that he had no secrets before him.
If he harbored any treacherous intentions, his son would become the price of betrayal.
It must be said, this Shinigami had indeed found his weak spot.
Compared to the rise and fall of the Quincy clan, he truly cared more about his own son.
Sōken lowered his head:
"Please rest assured, I will do my utmost to manage the Quincies in the Human World."
Seeing Sōken suddenly become so submissive, Satoru tilted his head in confusion.
He had merely inquired about Ishida Ryūken—why had the atmosphere suddenly shifted?
He turned to look at Aizen, only to see the latter giving him an approving look.
"?"
After Sōken signed the document, Satoru reached out to take it.
After carefully reviewing it twice, he nodded in satisfaction.
"This will do."
"To ensure compliance, I will assign an inspector to protect the Quincy organization in the Human World."
Hearing this, Sōken frowned slightly.
"Lord Mikami, I dare not object to the assignment of an inspector... but a Shinigami working among so many Quincies—what if an accident occurs..."
Satoru shook his head: "Don't worry, the one I'm sending is also a Quincy."
Sōken: "?"
Putting away the contract, Satoru stood up and directed the nearby Shinigami to come over and transport the Quincy corpses.
Seeing the Shinigami's actions, the Quincies grew restless again.
Sōken initially felt this was inappropriate and wanted to speak up to stop them.
But as soon as he opened his mouth, he remembered Satoru's earlier threat.
After much hesitation, he ultimately gave up on stopping the Shinigami.
One by one, the Quincy corpses were transported to the Soul Society.
Most of them would be sent to the Mikami Technical Bureau and handed over to Mayuri and Kisuke for Quincy research.
A few exceptional specimens would be given to Aizen.
For instance, Toshiki Yonemura—that earlier slash hadn't actually killed him. After being treated upon returning to the Soul Society, he could still be of use.
One Senkaimon after another opened in the air.
The Shinigami lined up neatly and jogged into the Dangai.
Just as Satoru was about to enter, Sōken suddenly called out:
"Lord Mikami!"
Satoru turned to look at him.
The old Quincy wore a complex expression, his gaze fixed intently on Satoru.
"Lord Mikami, I hold... a great secret concerning the survival of the Soul Society."
"I wish to exchange this secret for your assistance."
"If one day, the Quincy clan in the Human World truly faces a catastrophe, I hope you will intervene and help the Quincies once!"
Hearing this, Satoru grinned:
"A secret?"
"I, Satoru Mikami, know the heavens above and the earth below. I am aware of everything from two hundred years past to two hundred years in the future. Why would I need to learn a secret from you?"
The old Quincy shook his head: "This matter concerns a grudge from over eight hundred years ago."
"If the Soul Society does not prepare in advance, when the calamity arrives, not even bones will remain!"
He had intended only to describe the severity of the crisis to make Satoru take it seriously.
But before his words even faded, Satoru's expression changed drastically.
In a flash, he moved so fast that Sōken couldn't even see him clearly, appearing right in front of the old man.
"You know about Yhwach?!"
"How could a Human World Quincy know such things?"
"No... you're not a Human World Quincy. Are your parents from the Wandenreich? Or even earlier?"
"Old man, tell me everything you know right now, or I'll slaughter every Quincy here alive!"
Sōken's eye twitched.
What crude language is this?
Then, his eyes widened.
This Shinigami... knows about Yhwach?
He even knows the name Wandenreich?!
Just how many secrets has the Soul Society uncovered during the years he had been in hiding?
Though he wanted to bargain, feeling the palpable killing intent emanating from Satoru, he had no choice but to slowly reveal everything he knew...
...
...
As one Senkaimon after another opened, the Soul Society grew incredibly lively.
A large number of Shinigami gathered at the Great Senkaimon Square to witness Satoru's triumphant return.
The first thing that caught their eyes were the rows of stretchers.
Seeing the bloodied corpses on them, the Shinigami were initially shocked, assuming the mission had once again resulted in heavy casualties.
Upon closer inspection, however, they realized these corpses had physical bodies and were not the spiritual forms of Shinigami.
Some who recognized friends among the returning Shinigami went over to inquire and learned that these were the bodies of Quincies.
Incidentally, the heroic feat of Third Seat Satoru single-handedly battling the Quincies and suppressing three thousand... ahem, suppressing the entire army, also became widely known.
Upon hearing this, the Shinigami erupted in excitement.
"Third Seat Satoru is truly a mighty warrior, unparalleled in battle!"
"Lord Satoru possesses divine prowess, invincible and unstoppable!"
"Fierce! Majestic! Unstoppable!"
"Who in this world could possibly stand against him now? Who could possibly stand against him?!"
In the crowd, Aizen listened to the surrounding shouts, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
Seinosuke let out a yawn.
He was just a military dog... no, just a military doctor. Matters of battle had nothing to do with him.
Thanks to Satoru, aside from the first group of Shinigami dispatched to the living world, none of the subsequent ones had suffered any injuries. His workload had diminished to almost nothing.
Sōjun, however, felt a bit regretful.
Although he was happy for Satoru's achievements, he felt like a complete freeloader during this operation, having contributed nothing at all.
But after some thought, he realized he had still officially completed a mission.
The first step is always the hardest. Since he hadn't messed up this time, it should be easier to apply for missions in the future.
He instinctively glanced at Satoru.
Having handled his first mission as a leader so perfectly, would his friend be overjoyed?
Instead, he saw Satoru lost in thought, seemingly miles away.
From Sōken, Satoru had obtained some information.
Most of it overlapped with what Bambietta had told him.
Though redundant, it was still good—at least it corroborated Bambietta's intel.
Especially regarding the detail about Yhwach's thousand-year slumber, Sōken was absolutely certain, without a hint of doubt.
Though Satoru remained somewhat cautious, he did feel considerably more at ease.
There were still over a hundred years until Yhwach's revival.
That was more than enough time for Aizen to grow stronger.
And as a beneficiary, he would naturally develop the power to confront the Quincy by then.
Considering he had Aizen, Kisuke, and Mayuri—the three great technical powerhouses—under his wing, perhaps he could even find a way to break through before Yhwach's revival.
Thinking this, Satoru shook his head slightly, a pleased expression on his face.
Sōjun approached him.
"Satoru, are you heading straight to the First Division to report?"
Satoru shook his head. "No rush. Let's go home and get some sleep first."
"I'm exhausted after all that. Let the old man wait a bit."
"At his age, he's long lost any sense of time. He won't notice whether I report early or late."
He crossed his arms, wearing a smug grin.
"Is that so?"
A voice suddenly spoke up.
Satoru was about to nod when he abruptly froze.
Slowly, like a poorly oiled machine, he creakily turned his head.
There stood Yamamoto, who had arrived at the Senkaimon plaza at some point with Sasakibe in tow.
The old man narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing at him from a distance.
As Yamamoto opened his mouth to speak, Satoru stomped his foot, accelerating at an incredible speed and charging straight toward him.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Satoru dropped to one knee, dragging up a long trail of dust, raised his hands in a salute, and slid on his knees all the way to Yamamoto.
"Reporting, Master! Your student has fulfilled his mission, successfully quelling the Quincy rebellion in the living world!"
"The credit for this hard-fought battle belongs entirely to the soldiers, not to me alone. If you wish to commend anyone, please commend the entire army!"
Yamamoto: "..."
Watching Satoru kneeling like some righteous hero claiming credit, he felt his blood pressure rising.
When it came to shamelessness, his disgraceful disciple truly had no equal.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his rising blood pressure.
Then, he turned his gaze to the "spoils of war" Satoru had brought back.
Seeing the rows upon rows of corpses, likely numbering close to two hundred, he gave an almost imperceptible nod.
If Satoru had been too soft-hearted and failed to strike decisively, he would have had to send someone else to finish the job.
Simply subduing these Quincy through force was ultimately useless.
He had been dealing with the Quincy for over a thousand years.
These humans with special powers possessed an extremely strong fighting spirit.
No matter how the Shinigami negotiated, the Quincy stubbornly clung to their honor, refusing to abandon their mission of exterminating Hollows.
Moreover, no matter how badly they were defeated, given enough time to recover and rebuild, they would inevitably rebel again.
The best way to stop them was to control their numbers.
Glancing at Satoru, who stood nearby with a foolish grin on his face, Yamamoto struck his cane against the ground and declared loudly:
"Second Division Third Seat, Satoru Mikami! For leading the mission to the living world to resolve the Quincy rebellion and successfully controlling their development, you have rendered great service!"
"I shall report this achievement to Central 46, and you will be duly rewarded."
Hearing this, Satoru instinctively looked toward Aizen.
Aizen had contributed significantly to this operation as well.
Without the overwhelming deterrence of Kyōka Suigetsu, the Quincy might not have surrendered so completely.
Should he also request some rewards for Aizen?
As soon as his gaze shifted, Aizen guessed what he was thinking.
Aizen frowned slightly and shook his head with a serious expression.
Since childhood, he had never been one to enjoy the spotlight.
As he encountered more events and gained more knowledge, his resolve to remain hidden only grew stronger.
If absolutely necessary, and if no one around him could step up as a leader, he might force himself to fulfill that role.
But now... with Satoru here, there was no need for him to do so.
Let Satoru handle the public-facing matters.
The shadowy affairs would be his responsibility.
That was the perfect partnership.
Seeing that Satoru understood his meaning and didn't say anything, Aizen nodded in satisfaction.
By the evening of the next day, the rewards for Satoru had been delivered to the Second Division.
Central 46 unanimously approved the rewards for Satoru.
Satoru was granted the status of a middle-ranked noble, with permission to establish his own family.
Thus, a new noble house was born in the Soul Society—the Mikami Family!