Chapter 147: Silver City

Chojiro first laid eyes on Kugo Ginjo several decades ago.

Strictly speaking, Chojiro’s initial impression of Ginjo was rather favorable—composed, warm, and exceedingly compassionate.

Had he not known the subsequent plot and been aware of Ginjo’s true future visage, Chojiro felt he surely would have been deceived by the man’s present appearance.

What kind of person was Ginjo Kugo, really?

Chojiro did not know.

To be precise, when Ginjo first assumed the role of Substitute Shinigami, his execution of duties was virtually flawless. The casualty rate of souls in the city under his protection dropped to an all-time low, while his own powers continued to steadily grow. If nothing unexpected happened, when Ginjo’s physical body perished, smoothly entering the Seireitei and attaining a captain’s position would have been no difficult task.

Regrettably, a few years prior, the Soul Society lost all contact with Kugo Ginjo.

Although what could only be described as massive resources had been mobilized to search for him, Ginjo seemed to have vanished into thin air, completely disappearing from the sight of the Shinigami. Not long after, the matter was shelved.

Before long, Kurosaki Ichigo entered the purview of the Shinigami. After creating a great uproar within the Soul Society, Ichigo was bestowed the title of the new Substitute Shinigami.

Even so, Chojiro had continued to investigate news of Ginjo in secret, yet not a single clue surfaced.

Not long after the Aizen incident, Ginjo once again reappeared within the vision of the Soul Society.

Simultaneously returning under the identity of an "enemy."

Troublesome though it might be, Chojiro had not accepted the mission ordered by Yamamoto Genryusai to "support" Kurosaki Ichigo in the Living World and ascertain his "choice."

Ginjo Kugo was not an "enemy."

Chojiro had told Yamamoto Genryusai this more than once, but unfortunately, Yamamoto had never taken it to heart.

Well, it seemed it hadn't fallen completely on deaf ears, at least regarding the agreement to allow Kurosaki Ichigo to bring Ginjo’s corpse back to the Living World for burial.

"Then I'll leave the rest to you, little Kukaku."

"Don't call me that! What's 'little' about me?!"

Having just stepped out of the Shiba residence in the Rukongai, Chojiro, who hadn't forgotten to tease Kukaku, cheerfully embarked on his journey back to the Seireitei.

A full year had already passed since the decisive battle against Aizen in Karakura Town, and Kurosaki Ichigo, who had once lost his Shinigami powers, had regained them once more—appearing even stronger than before.

However...

"Speaking of which, why on earth can you be so leisurely drinking tea in my room? This is the First Division, you bastard! Get back to your Fifth Division!"

The fellow leisurely sipping tea with a rogue-like expression right before Chojiro was none other than Shinji Hirako, who had resumed his post as captain of the Fifth Division.

"So stingy. It's just a cup of tea; I'll pay for it if worst comes to worst."

"You always say that! When have you ever paid for anything?"

"We'll settle the tab all at once."

"Are you planning to settle it a few centuries from now?!"

"Ah, you caught me."

"Don't say it in such a matter-of-fact tone!"

Shinji Hirako was one of the few Shinigami since Chojiro entered the Gotei 13 who could drive him to such helpless exasperation.

No matter how he retorted, the man always wore a carefree look. Being around him was even more irritating than dealing with Kyoraku.

"Hey, have you heard?"

"I'm older than you by a few centuries at least, so use some honorifics, you bastard."

Twitching his mouth in annoyance, Chojiro downed the tea in his cup in a single gulp.

"...Are you talking about what's happening in Hueco Mundo?"

"That's right. Word is that the number of Hollows is unnaturally decreasing, completely vanishing altogether."

Shinji set his teacup down on the mat before him, wearing a rare expression of seriousness.

"Are you trying to say the balance of the worlds will be disrupted?"

"Not at all. That sort of thing should fall within the jurisdiction of the Department of Research and Development; it has nothing to do with me."

Looking at Chojiro with an expression that clearly said *'are you an idiot?'*, Shinji successfully provoked the ire of the man before him once again.

"Then what on earth are you trying to say! Talk nonsense again and I'll kill you!"

"Don't play dumb. You should know. What I want to talk about is something else—"

"They've returned."

"..."

Who "they" referred to was something Chojiro understood all too well.

Across all these myriad worlds, aside from them, there were no others capable of completely obliterating the very existence of Hollows.

The tribe that ravaged the Soul Society a millennium ago and was subsequently repelled—

The Quincies.

"I don't know why they've chosen to appear at this exact time, but I have heard rumors of what happened a thousand years ago."

"...What are you trying to say?"

Vaguely guessing Shinji's intent, Chojiro ultimately decided to ask for clarification. After all, the sudden emergence of the Quincies was by no means a trivial matter.

Yhwach, defeated and driven away by Yamamoto Genryusai a thousand years ago, was going to return, leading an even more formidable army of Quincies.

Yet...

"With the current Soul Society, is victory even possible?"

A thousand years ago, the Quincies launched a massive invasion, and victory was only achieved after the Soul Society paid a tremendous price.

Yet anyone with knowledge of that era knew that the price paid went far beyond merely the lives of "Shinigami."

Only after the souls of the Living World, Hueco Mundo, and the Soul Society endured unbearable and catastrophic devastation had that battle finally been decided.

But now, would the Soul Society—or rather, Yamamoto Genryusai—allow such massive devastation to happen again?

"I don't agree with the notion that there is no victory without sacrifice, but every victory..."

"...is inevitably built upon sacrifices."

Calmly taking a sip of the tea before him, Chojiro had participated in the bloody war a thousand years ago; he naturally understood just how tragic that battle had been.

Yamamoto Genryusai's Bankai, which alone had nearly brought total destruction upon the entire Soul Society, would undoubtedly be used again in this conflict if things went as expected.

Yet, that would also spell the demise of Yamamoto Genryusai.

A stolen Bankai would not vanish with the death of its master. If such a stolen Bankai were left unchecked, it would spell absolute catastrophe for the entire world.

Zanka no Tachi, along with his own *Koko Gonryo Rikyu*.

These two Bankai capable of destroying the world together must never fall into the hands of the Quincies.

However, the phrase *'Bankai must never be used on the battlefield'* was simply impossible to voice aloud.

He was no god; he possessed no inherent ability to foresee the future. In other words, he could only make such a judgment after a certain amount of sacrifice had already been made.

Who would be the one to sacrifice?

Within the Soul Society, it wasn't as if there were no other Bankai that could fall into enemy hands, but once that happened, it would mean a drastic reduction in the combat power of the Soul Society.

Could the Soul Society in its current state withstand such a loss?

"Regardless, things are not going to end so easily."

Setting down his teacup, Chojiro lightly tapped his finger against the rim, then raised his gaze toward the clear sky outside the window.

A few white wisps of cloud drifted across the air, right as they happened to block the brilliant radiance of the sun.

"They're coming..."