“The statements from the two individuals involved alone are not enough to determine the root cause of the phenomenon,” Yanagawa spoke slowly, his voice sounding exceptionally clear in the silence.
“We need more information.”
He paused and looked at Isshin Shiba beside him.
“Captain Isshin, I recall that there is a place within Seireitei that records almost all the history and events of Soul Society since its inception.”
Upon hearing this, Isshin slowed his pace slightly, his face revealing an expression of realization, as if to say, “I knew it,” before quickly turning serious.
He lowered his voice and confirmed:
“Are you talking about the Great Spirit Book Corridor?”
“Exactly.” Yanagawa nodded.
“That is an incredible place…”
Isshin smacked his lips and began to explain in detail to Yanagawa, his tone carrying a sense of awe and a hint of complex emotion regarding that mysterious place.
“The Great Spirit Book Corridor is located in the deepest part of the underground chambers of Central 46.
It can be said to be the ultimate repository and gathering place for all information in Soul Society.”
“It is managed by the Tsunayashiro Clan, one of the Five Great Noble Families.
That family is notoriously full of old fogies and control freaks, with a terrifying desire to monopolize knowledge and secrets.”
As he walked, he spoke as if reciting a familiar list:
“That place records the entire series of history, secrets, and major events of Soul Society from ancient times to the present.”
“The conditions for entry are extremely strict,” Isshin continued, his expression serious.
“The use of spiritual power is completely prohibited inside.
Those who enter must surrender their Zanpakutō to be held by specialized guards.”
“On the outside, there is a composite protective wall known as the ‘Thirteenth Layer’ and alert barriers.
Its defense system is jointly constructed and maintained by the forces of Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the Kidō Corps, and the Onmitsukidō under Squad 2.”
“It is said that even a Captain-level entity absolutely cannot break in without official permission.”
He glanced at the white haori on Yanagawa, his tone becoming lighter, carrying a hint of anticipation and teasing:
“However, Yanagawa, you are now a member of the Zero Division.
Although you are only a reserve member, the words ‘Zero Division’ are one of the highest-level passes in Soul Society.”
“Theoretically, in the name of investigating an event ‘involving anomalies in the fundamental rules of Zanpakutō,’ you have every right to request entry into the Great Spirit Book Corridor to consult relevant materials.”
“No matter how stubborn those guys from the Tsunayashiro Clan are, or how unhappy those old fogies in Central 46 are, in the face of the will of the Soul King Palace, they have to weigh the consequences.
This is much more effective than my face as a Squad 10 Captain!”
Yanagawa listened quietly to Isshin’s introduction, gaining a clearer understanding of the Great Spirit Book Corridor in his heart.
This was undoubtedly a treasure trove filled with taboos and opportunities.
His purpose in going there was by no means just to find clues about “Twin Hyōrinmaru.”
The “entire series of history, secrets, and major event records of Soul Society from ancient times to the present” contained in the Great Spirit Book Corridor were, in themselves, an irresistible temptation to him.
Since this investigation into the “Twin Hyōrinmaru” incident gave him a legitimate and hard-to-refuse reason to enter that forbidden place where ordinary people could hardly set foot, he naturally would not let this opportunity slip by.
He needed not only to search for records directly related to the current event but also to broaden his horizons as much as possible, to understand those dusty pasts, covered-up truths, and the core rules that formed the cornerstone of this world.
This was crucial for his future path.
“In that case…”
Yanagawa stopped and turned back in the direction they had come from, his gaze seeming to pierce through the thick stone walls, cast toward the even deeper location beneath Central 46.
“Captain Isshin, I must trouble you to accompany me.”
I’d love to!”
Isshin slapped Yanagawa’s shoulder hard, his face full of eager smiles.
“I’ve long been extremely curious about that damn place!
It’s a pity I never had the chance to enter before.
This time, I’ll ride on your coattails and open my eyes!
Let’s see exactly how many shameful secrets the Tsunayashiro Clan has been hiding!
Let’s go!”
The two no longer hesitated and followed the path they came from, turning back toward the core area of Central 46.
This time, their goal was not the prison cell holding the individuals involved, but the true memory hub of Soul Society hidden beneath all power and secrets.
The interior of the Great Spirit Book Corridor was not the ordinary library filled with bookshelves that one might imagine.
Before them was a wide corridor that seemed to have no end, sloping slightly downward, with walls towering up to the ceiling that appeared to be built from some kind of glowing jade stone.
On the walls, there were not simple bookshelves, but square compartments of varying sizes.
Inside each compartment floated scrolls or jade slips carrying a faint glimmer, inscribed on special Reishi materials.
The air was stagnant, permeated with the scent of dust and the accumulation of ancient information.
“Wow…”
Isshin Shiba couldn’t help but exclaim in a low voice.
Although he tried his best to keep his volume down, it still sounded abrupt in this absolutely silent environment.
He looked around, observing the endless glowing bookshelves extending upward, downward, left, and right, and clicked his tongue:
“This place is even bigger than I imagined.”
Yanagawa did not respond immediately; he was observing as well.
He began to move with purpose, his gaze sweeping over the information labels marked outside those compartments, written in ancient spiritual scripts.
“General History of Soul Society,” “Tracing the Lineage of Zanpakutō,” “Study of Spiritual Power Evolution,” “Chronicles of Major Events”…
the classification was detailed.
He first walked toward the area marked “General History of Soul Society” and began to quickly filter and browse.
A thousand years ago, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto defeated the ancestor of the Quincy, Yhwach, subsequently founded the Gotei 13, and established the basic form and responsibilities of the Shinigami organization…
He had long heard of the framework of these grand narratives, but the details seen here were much more specific.
It even included some tragic descriptions of that war, the chaos during the early founding of the Gotei 13, and the iron-fisted methods Captain-Commander Yamamoto used to integrate various forces with absolute martial power and will.
Suddenly, a familiar name jumped out, causing his browsing speed to pause slightly.
“Founding of the Gotei 13, First Captain of Squad 11, Captain Retsu Unohana.”
Captain Retsu Unohana?
That Squad 4 Captain who always wore a gentle smile and possessed a temperament as quiet as water?
She was actually the First Captain of Squad 11?
The founder of that division that took pleasure in battle and slaughter?
The image of the smiling Captain Unohana from the previous Captains’ meeting instantly appeared in Yanagawa’s mind.
It was truly difficult to connect such a healer with the title of First Kenpachi, a name so full of blood and combat.
The contrast was simply too great.
“That really…
is unexpected.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Yanagawa’s mind, but he was not overly shocked.
In the long history of Soul Society, changes in identity and responsibility were not rare, but the contrast in Captain Unohana’s case was indeed peculiar. The source of this chapter is novelping(.)com.
He noted this information and continued browsing.
The historical records of Squad 11 seemed particularly “colorful,” or rather, full of oddities.
His gaze was drawn to the record regarding the “Seventh Kenpachi.”
“Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, Seventh Kenpachi, Battle Record: Single-handedly slew a Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande, Zanpakutō ‘Gagaku Kairō,’ Biological type, summons giant biological entities to devour the area.
Once refused recruitment by the Zero Division.”
Refused Zero Division recruitment?
Yanagawa raised an eyebrow.
An invitation from the Zero Division was almost a symbol of the highest honor and recognition in Soul Society; could someone actually refuse it?
Afterward, Yanagawa thought about himself; if he were to be forced to live in the Soul King Palace forever, he would probably refuse as well.
Moreover, this person’s strength was clearly extremely formidable, capable of dealing with the highest-level Vasto Lorde alone, and his Zanpakutō ability was quite special.
Such a person…
The record continued:
“Later, in a challenge for the position of Captain, he was defeated by the Eighth Kenpachi, Sōya Azashiro, and died in defeat.”
Defeated?
Yanagawa immediately searched for records regarding “Eighth Kenpachi Sōya Azashiro.”
Sōya Azashiro, Eighth Kenpachi.
Zanpakutō “Urozakuro,” ability is to fuse his own Reishi with all Reishi-containing matter in the outside world and manipulate it.
Once secretly conducted the “Rukongai Spirit Body Modification Project,” intending to transform ordinary souls into war weapons for use in conquering Hueco Mundo.
After the plan was exposed, he surrendered to Central 46.
Judgment: Permanently imprisoned in the lowest level of the underground prison, Muken.
“…”
Yanagawa was silent for a moment.
Fusing his own Reishi with all things and manipulating them?
This ability was simply born for large-scale war and infiltration.
What was even more startling was that he had secretly conducted such appalling modification experiments, and the goal was to conquer Hueco Mundo?
However, the fact that he surrendered in the end was baffling; it seemed there must be some hidden story behind this matter.
“The captains of Squad 11,” Yanagawa couldn’t help but mutter to Isshin, who was also browsing beside him with an increasingly fascinating expression, “all seem to be somewhat unusual.”
From the First Captain, Retsu Unohana, to Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, who refused the Zero Division, to Sōya Azashiro, who attempted to modify the residents of Rukongai, the succession of Squad 11 captains was simply an encyclopedia of extraordinary powerhouses.
“More than just unusual!”
Isshin also lowered his voice, his expression strange.
“It’s practically a concentration camp for lunatics!
Fortunately, that guy, the current Kenpachi Zaraki, although he is also a battle maniac, at least…
uh, at least he’s relatively simple-minded?”
He was uncertain by the time he finished speaking.
Yanagawa shook his head and temporarily put these shocking pieces of information about the successive Kenpachi to the back of his mind.
He continued to focus his attention on other historical records, especially the parts related to the Zero Division and technical development.
Soon, another familiar name came into “view.”
“Squad 12 Captain, Kirio Hikifune.
Achievements: Pioneered the basic theory of ‘Soul Candy,’ and based on this, initially constructed the conceptual framework of ‘Gigai.’ Due to her pioneering contributions, she was promoted to a member of the Zero Division.”
This senior—before long, perhaps he would be able to see her at the Soul King Palace—Yanagawa silently noted.