Restricted Death

Chapter 208 Prophecy
After Shin cured Kurosaki Shingo, everyone expressed their sincere gratitude to Shin, and their wariness lessened.

The two women present asked Shin about some precautions, but Shin never left any aftereffects when treating patients, and simply told Kurosaki Shingo to eat more.

Afterwards, Shingo Kurosaki and the two women, knowing that Shin and Sogen had something to discuss, tactfully left the study.

Shin put on his artificial body again and sat on the sofa.

After a moment's hesitation, Ishida Sogen said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"It seems you want to get some answers from me..."

From the moment they met, the other person kept asking them all sorts of questions and inquiring about their private matters.

Xin nodded. "I guess so."

Ishida Sogen sat down opposite him and pondered, "What do you want to know?"

He also wanted to figure out the purpose of the letter.

As Shin looked at Ishida Sogen's young and handsome appearance, and recalled his tragic end in the original work, an invisible spiritual barrier suddenly unfolded, enveloping the study.

Seeing this, Ishida Sogen was not as wary as before. He realized that this barrier seemed to be used to ensure the privacy of their conversation, but who could be eavesdropping on them in the dark?

This guy seems to be a little too cautious.

The letter slowly asked, "You came from there, didn't you?"

"...Where are you referring to, 'there'?"

"The Invisible Empire".

"..."

Upon hearing this word, Ishida Sogen paused for a moment. He didn't seem overly shocked. The letter had already asked him this question last time, and he had a guess at the time. Now, hearing the name for sure from the letter's mouth, it actually dispelled some of his doubts, and his eyes revealed an extremely complex expression.

"You...so you already knew all along...?"

“You’ve misunderstood,” Xin said. “Among the Grim Reapers, I’m the only one who knows this.”

Ishida Sogen looked at him with great surprise, his expression shifting uncertainly. He didn't ask how Shin knew.

However, in the world of Bleach, it seems there's little difference between one person knowing and everyone knowing. Ishida Sogen is certain that this person will eventually reveal the information about the Wandenreich to the public.

"Why did you leave from there?" the letter asked again.

Ishida Munen bent slightly, rested his arms on his legs, and said with his head bowed, "It's just a difference in ideas."

The letter seemed a little strange: "Because of your ideals, are you willing to fall into this state, watched by death and with your lives out of your own hands, rather than stand with your own people?"

Ishida Munen slowly shook his head: "Not compatriots... We are no longer compatriots with them, or rather, we are not the same species anymore."

These words were cold enough, and they only deepened Xin's suspicion and disbelief.

Ishida Sogen looked up at the letter and said calmly, "Do you know about the 'Ode to the Holy Emperor'?"

"Ode to the Holy Emperor?" Xin pondered for a moment, as if remembering something.

Ishida Sogen slowly began to speak: "The sealed Quincy King took 900 years to regain his heartbeat, 90 years to regain his consciousness, 9 years to regain his power, and finally only 9 days to regain the world."

"..."

He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the sofa, his legs crossed, lost in thought.

The Hymn of the Holy Emperor is a prophetic statement that also reveals the Quincy's undiminished ambition.

The letter asks, "Do you have a way to enter the invisible empire?"

Ishida Munen remained silent. "I can't help the Grim Reaper."

Xin chuckled: "Didn't you say that you and they are no longer compatriots?"

Ishida Muneaki said, “That’s right, but we have a much worse relationship with the Shinigami. At first, I was willing to understand the Shinigami and thought that the two sides could have a harmonious way of coexisting. Later, I realized that I was wrong. The Shinigami are just as arrogant as the Quincy… or rather, all those who have power are arrogant. We will no longer intervene in the struggle between the two sides. You can regard us as Quincy allies if you want. As you just said, we are willing to fall to such a state. The worst outcome is nothing more than death.”

There was a moment of silence between them, then Xin said, "I will try to get you better treatment when I get back."

Ishida Sogen didn't say thank you; he just sat there quietly.

The letter then asked, "Weren't you once a member of the Sternritter?"

"..."

After reading the letter for a while, Ishida Sogen suddenly looked sad. It wasn't because he had once held a prestigious position, but because he realized how much the letter understood the Quincy. The "Holy Emperor's Hymn" foretold the return of the Quincy King, but the time before the prophecy was fulfilled was still a long way off.

The person before him already knows everything about the Quincy. Will he sit idly by and wait for his doom? Will the Soul Society sit idly by and wait for its doom?
Ishida Sogen felt sorrow because he could foresee the ultimate destruction of the Quincy.

Shin then said, "Actually, you're right. It's not just the Quincy and Shinigami who are arrogant, but all people with power. And not all Quincy and Shinigami are beyond redemption. Aren't there people like you among the Quincy?"

After leaving the Ishida family, Shin also returned to Soul Society.

According to the so-called "Hymn to the Holy Emperor," Yhwach has not yet fully awakened, and it is estimated that it will be about 20 years before he truly awakens.

Twenty years is a long time, but it can also be short.

The pressure Yhwach exerted on him was far greater than that on Inzen.

The main reason is that, on the one hand, Shin is confident that he can break through Kyoka Suigetsu, and on the other hand, Aizen's strength, apart from Kyoka Suigetsu, is purely limited to extremely high numerical values.

Yhwach's "omniscience and omnipotence" is entirely a conceptual ability.

Because of my existence, this world has already embarked on a different path. How should I deal with Yhwach in the end?

The millennium blood war is about forty years away from breaking out. In these forty years, will I be able to rely on the system to raise my strength to a level that can completely contend with it?
The 10th Squadron barracks.

Hitsugaya had already returned ahead of him, and upon seeing the letter, he immediately reported the details of his trip to the mortal world.

"I see."

Xin lay back in the chair, propped his legs up on the desk, and took a nap in a very relaxed manner.

Seeing this, Hitsugaya said helplessly, "You specifically asked me to go there, so why do you seem so indifferent now?"

"Isn't everything alright now?" Xin replied casually.

After Hitsugaya left.

Shin stayed in the office for a short while, then suddenly got up, left his own barracks, and walked towards the direction of the Twelfth Division.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Technology Development Bureau, the on-duty team members immediately went to report to the letter.

A short while later, a tall, slender, and graceful girl came out, bowed slightly to Xin, and said calmly, "Captain Tachikawa, is there anything I can help you with?"

"I've come to see Captain Nie."

"The captain is busy and doesn't have any time today," Nie Yinmeng replied. Xin chuckled upon hearing this. Was it because of what happened last time that she was becoming distant?

He said, "I brought something that Captain Necrophosa was interested in."

Nie Yinmeng paused for a moment, then said, "Please wait a moment."

She turned back to report.

Shin was observing Nemure's back. Her shihaka outfit was quite unique, resembling a short skirt kimono, and she had a braided hairstyle. She seemed to combine the characteristics of many women Shin knew, and her personality was full of asceticism.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi came out, still dressed in that strange outfit, wearing a mask, and his gaze toward Shin was not very friendly.

"Captain Tachikawa, what's the matter?" Mayuri Kurotsuchi's voice was still sinister, high-pitched and flippant.

The tone of his voice is somewhat similar to that of Kisuke Urahara, but while Urahara's is merely frivolous, Mayuri Kurotsuchi's voice sounds more morbid and manic.

"Aren't you going to invite me in to talk?" Xin said, and started to walk inside.

"..."

Seeing this, Mayuri Kurotsuchi didn't say anything, but his eyes flickered for a moment before he followed Shin into the Technology Development Bureau.

Together with Nie Yinmeng, the three of them arrived at a reception room.

"You said you brought something that interests me?"

Xin sat down on the sofa, then took off the shallow sword from his waist and placed it on the coffee table.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi frowned and said, "This is what you're talking about?"

The sword looked plain and unadorned, no different from an ordinary Asauchi. Fortunately, Mayuri Kurotsuchi knew that it was Shin's Zanpakuto and did not show any disdain. However, he was not interested in other people's Zanpakuto.

"Something is sealed inside this knife."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi asked in slight surprise, "What is that?"

Nie Yinmeng then brought Xin tea. Xin took a sip of tea slowly, glancing at the beautiful and gentle adjutant out of the corner of his eye. However, her always expressionless face gave her a special kind of thrill.

"The right hand of the Spirit King."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi froze, then instinctively exclaimed, "What did you say?!"

Xin did not reply further and slowly began to drink his tea.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi reached out and took the knife in his hand, examining it carefully. He did not doubt the truth of Shin's words. Shin had obviously come here to ask him for something, and this knife was the bargaining chip. If Shin were to lie to him about this, that would be the most foolish decision.

He glanced at it sideways and said, "This is your Zanpakuto. You're just handing it over to me like that? Aren't you afraid I'll do something strange with it?"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi has modified his Zanpakuto many times; he certainly has the ability to do so.

The letter said, "I'm just lending you some time to study. I also want to know what you can figure out. The fact that the Spirit King's right hand is residing inside has always been a mystery to me."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi seemed to cherish the Asauchi in his hand as if he had obtained something precious.

The Soul King's right hand only exists in legends. Even Mayuri Kurotsuchi was unsure if it actually existed, and he would never have thought of it before Shin took out the sword.

He then asked the letter, "What do you want?"

Shin smiled calmly: "Don't try to take advantage of those Quincy in the present world."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi narrowed his eyes and asked, "You're here for that Ishida Sōken?"

"That's it."

"Why?" Mayuri Kurotsuchi asked.

"For no other reason than to protect them. Over the years, quite a few Quincy have died at your hands, haven't they?"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's eyes flickered as she said, "You think doing this will make them grateful to you? You underestimate the hatred between the Quincy and the Shinigami races."

“I have my own way of doing things. If Captain Negi wants to study my knife, then do as I say.”

Mayuri Kurotsuchi looked at the Asauchi in his hand, paused for a moment, and then said, "Fine, the lives of those Quincy are yours. But I advise you, the Soul Society's attitude towards Quincy is not my decision. You can contact them, but it's best not to do anything strange. Don't blame me if you get into trouble."

"That won't trouble Captain Neh."

Having reached an agreement, Shin also said, "By the way, regarding the matter of the Spirit King's right hand, Captain Nie should keep his research secret. If the Captain-Commander finds out, he might order you to stop."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi just sneered when he heard this. Hadn't he conducted a lot of "special research" over the years?
He turned around, took the knife, and left the reception room.

"I won't see you out, Captain Tachikawa."

Nemu bowed to Shin expressionlessly and left behind Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

Xin looked at Nie Yinmeng's back with some envy, wishing he had a secretary or assistant like that.

Hinamori is nice, of course, but she's too noisy. However, if I really had a secretary like Nemu, I'd probably find her too boring before long.

Shin understood this clearly. Sometimes he was just seeking a little novelty. One of the reasons Shin didn't want Hinamori to come to the 10th Division was that he was afraid that spending so much time with her would make him lose his passion for her. After all, it's human nature to get tired of the old and crave the new. For the same reason, Shin didn't want her to live in his house.

In contrast, his relationship with Rukia is quite good now, and Shin often misses her and her youthful body.

Upon returning to the 10th Division barracks, they found Hinamori sitting alone in her seat, listlessly lounging there.

The moment she saw the letter, her eyes lit up with joy.

"team leader!"

She quickly stood up and came to greet him: "Captain, where have you been? I haven't seen you all day."

"Of course, I had to go out on business."

"Oh..." Hinamori pouted, then eagerly pulled Shin to sit down and began massaging his shoulders.

"Captain, are you tired?"

"good."

Xin enjoyed her service and relaxed completely.

Hinamori asked with a grin, "Captain, can I come to your house tonight?"

Thinking of everything Hinamori had done for him, a pang of guilt arose in his heart, but it vanished in an instant.

"……Um."

Hinamori's smile widened: "Then tomorrow?"

"Don't push yourself too far."

"Oh."

(End of this chapter)