The Second Division Captain only showed slight displeasure because of this.
But the Eleventh Division Captain smiled bitterly, seeming to regret bringing the topic in this direction.
He showed an expression of not wanting to get involved with the nobles without any disguise.
The Second Division Captain noticed the Eleventh Division Captain's expression, and after seeing his bitter smile, he actually smiled instead.
It seemed that his slight displeasure was nothing compared to the Eleventh Division Captain's helplessness.
However, he didn't continue with this topic.
Because simply touching on it to this extent was already sufficient. The Eleventh Division Captain was not a fool.
The Captain-Commander specifically summoned the two of them and explained the current situation while assigning missions.
As the Second Division Captain said, the Captain-Commander just didn't say it explicitly, but had actually already assigned tasks to each of them.
Even the Eleventh Division, which specializes in combat, absolutely cannot interfere in matters between nobles. Otherwise, instead of solving the problem, they would end up causing more trouble for themselves.
In comparison, although the Second Division Captain is also a member of the Gotei 13, he is simultaneously the head of the Shihōin family, one of the five great noble houses and a Tenshiheisōban (Heaven-Granted Armament). He not only commands an absolute military force but also has incomparable top-tier authority among the nobles.
As long as the Captain-Commander and Central 46 are determined to resolve this noble chaos, the Second Division Captain can ignore the nobles' thoughts and the Noble Assembly's indecisiveness, and forcibly end this noble internal strife with lightning speed.
Of course, although this is said, there are certainly many things that need attention in actual operation.
After all, the Shihōin family is only one of the five great noble houses. When it comes to actual action, although he can expect to gain support from the Kuchiki and Shiba families, the Tsunayashiro family, which is the head of the five great noble houses, may not let this go easily.
And the family that opposes the Tsunayashiro family would probably just watch coldly. That family has been more concerned with hell-related issues since its establishment.
However, there was no need to discuss these matters with the Eleventh Division Captain.
These are things that the Second Division Captain, in his capacity as a noble, should pay attention to and consider. They are also things that, even if mentioned, would make the Eleventh Division Captain cover his ears and shout "I don't want to hear it, don't tell me these things."
"So, the Quincy matter will be handled by our Eleventh Division, with assistance from the Second Division. And... well, your side will be handled by Captain Shihōin?"
The Eleventh Division Captain stroked his chin and spoke with a tone of finally being relieved.
Perhaps he immediately chased after the Second Division Captain right after the meeting ended and left the Captain-Commander's presence just to confirm this.
Even though he said verbally that "the Captain-Commander just finds it inconvenient to say it explicitly," if the Second Division Captain also didn't want to take on this mess and said first "we'll go deal with the Quincy," then the Eleventh Division, no matter how unwilling, would have to handle the nobles' situation.
After all, the Second Division could also use assassination methods to resolve Quincy-related battles.
In that case, the Eleventh Division could be said to be prepared to die ten thousand times while getting involved. Yes, getting involved, not fighting.
Fortunately, the Second Division Captain was a decent person and ultimately did the right thing.
"Do you need our assistance? If it's just combat, you won't find anyone more professional than us."
"That won't be necessary. You wouldn't want to get involved no matter what, right?"
The Second Division Captain looked at the Eleventh Division Captain with an expression that said "don't think I don't know you're just being polite," and the Eleventh Division Captain could only laugh dryly and stop discussing this matter further.
"Then, there's only one last thing left. Regarding the recent reports from Rukongai about the abnormal appearance of large numbers of Hollows causing destruction. This can be considered as some kind of movement from Hueco Mundo toward Soul Society, right? Tsk, what bad timing, happening at a time like this."
If it were normal times, the Eleventh Division Captain would have nothing to worry about. He wouldn't even need the Captain-Commander to speak - he would directly lead his team to Rukongai for a killing spree.
But now is a special situation. They must maintain their condition at all times, ready to immediately engage in battle with the Quincy once negotiations break down.
Before that, unnecessary sacrifices and power consumption are not allowed.
Moreover, Rukongai covers a vast area. Even though Soul Reapers have special movement techniques for long-distance travel, from the reports received, these Hollows are scattered throughout various parts of Rukongai. This means there's no possibility of legion warfare - only small teams can be dispatched for separate battles.
If it were normal times, they could leisurely send everyone out for a killing spree, but now they have neither the time nor the mood for that.
"There's also the possibility that they specifically targeted this timing to start causing trouble."
The appearance of Hollows in Rukongai causing destruction is not particularly unusual, but having so many appear densely in such a short time and distributed throughout various parts of Rukongai is not normal.
This is also an incident that the Seireitei must pay attention to, investigate, and resolve.
The Captain-Commander summoned the Second Division Captain and Eleventh Division Captain and discussed three matters in total.
The first two matters can be said to correspond one-to-one. Now the troublesome one is the third matter.
The Eleventh Division has reasons why it cannot handle it, and the Second Division is also facing more severe challenges.
It can be said that neither side can easily spare manpower.
Actually, worrying about whether the Second Division Captain would be unreasonable was unnecessary from the start. The real problem was concentrated on this matter that normally wouldn't be considered a problem.
Because now is not normal times.
"Really, what is the Captain-Commander thinking? The mission is already heavy enough, and he's adding this kind of unnecessary task. Wouldn't it be fine to give it to other divisions? Third Division, Fifth Division, or Ninth and Tenth Divisions."
"Captain Kuchiki, watch your words. Since the Captain-Commander made this decision, he must have his considerations."
The Second Division Captain gave the Eleventh Division Captain a well-meaning reminder.
However, he also knew that even if someone else heard these words and spread them, it wouldn't cause any problems.
After all, this is the man who bears the title of "Kenpachi." He has such privileges.
However, the Second Division Captain, who said this, began to think about whether the Captain-Commander's decision really had deeper meaning.
Then he connected it to the mission he would be responsible for completing.
The catalyst for the entire incident was the failed execution of the Shiba family.
He was the first person to sense something was wrong at the time. When he personally rushed to the scene, what he saw was a scene that even he found difficult to bear.
The victims didn't have uniform death conditions - they were killed in different ways. The stench of internal organs and the smell of blood permeated the scene. The nobles' miserable death conditions didn't leave complete corpses, and it was even difficult to calculate how many bodies were actually at the scene. Several victims' remains had already turned into spirit particles and scattered into Soul Society's atmosphere.
Only a stupid Hollow at the bottom of the pit, used for execution, survived with its life intact.
It was precisely because it was so terrible that it triggered the internal strife among nobles.
After all, the Second Division Captain knew his own people - most nobles are the type who are useless at everything but first in oppressing others. Once their own interests are damaged, or they might suffer the same harm, they break down more easily than ordinary people.
It can even be said that they are a group of people with persecution complex. Once they think they might encounter the same thing, they could do anything.
But the key is not here.
The key is that in the entire execution ground, even though there were noble corpses that had turned into spirit particles and scattered, making it impossible to account for all the people, the most crucial point was...
In the entire execution ground, there was no sign of the Shiba family's son - Shiba Sōya.
After that, no news about him was heard either.
If Shiba Sōya is no longer in the Seireitei, where would he be now?
The Second Division Captain slightly narrowed his eyes and spoke calmly.
"In that case... I'll go take a look."
"Eh? Don't, don't joke around! Captain Shihōin, you can't spare that time, can you?"
The Eleventh Division Captain was shocked by the Second Division Captain's statement.
"If it's just me alone, it's possible. Although the problem on my side must be dealt with, it's obviously not at its worst point yet."
When he said this, the Second Division Captain's face showed a trace of genuine disgust.
"When they die a bit more, they'll know fear, and then it will actually be easier for me to handle than it is now. Before that, my being unable to handle things due to being away from the Seireitei for investigation is actually a perfect excuse. And taking advantage of this opportunity, I can also investigate what Hueco Mundo is really planning. At the same time, let them know that Soul Society is not their backyard where they can come and go as they please!"