Shigure's words fell.
Everyone's eyes moved simultaneously.
They'd just realized what Shigure mentioned.
If Muramasa's true purpose was using them to break the Captain-Commander's barrier, then to ensure success, he'd need to make the Gotei 13 discover the Captain-Commander's location.
So they'd assumed Shigure would wait for the right moment and turn the tables.
After all, Shigure's style had always been cautious and reactive.
But unexpectedly, this time, Shigure wanted to... launch a proactive counterattack.
Hearing this, expressions varied. After a moment, Shunsui's eyes flickered. He smiled lightly. "Segawa... looks like we're thinking alike. I agree."
Clearly, he'd already wanted to counterattack proactively.
Beside him, Unohana nodded thoughtfully, then looked at Shigure, her gaze serious. Softly: "I also support your decision, Segawa."
Two deeply experienced captains immediately agreed with Shigure's view.
Naturally, no one else would oppose.
Mayuri's expression returned to neutral. He turned and walked back to his position without a word.
His questioning wasn't—as Soi Fon claimed—to sow discord between Shigure and the other captains.
From the bottom of his heart, he'd never consider Shigure an enemy.
He asked purely from intense curiosity about Shigure.
This curiosity made him unable to suppress his thirst for knowledge. Stirring up the other captains was just to extract information from Shigure.
But in the end, he got almost none of the answers he wanted.
However, he wouldn't ask further.
Because from this moment, he'd discovered that Segawa Shigure's status... had long since changed.
This status didn't refer to his position as 5th Division Captain.
But rather... his status in the hearts of the Gotei 13 captains.
Before, he was just a highly anticipated genius Soul Reaper with infinite potential and mysterious colors.
At most, like Hitsugaya after tremendous growth.
But after Aizen's betrayal and the fake Karakura Town battle, his identity had quietly transformed.
Somehow, he'd become another center besides Captain-Commander Yamamoto—
The Seireitei's... center.
And this was why the other captains, even knowing he had certain irregularities and unknown secrets, wouldn't... question him.
Because they'd already begun trusting Shigure and recognized his status as "center."
Shunsui was like this. Ukitake was like this. Unohana was also like this.
And Captain-Commander Yamamoto, temporarily absent, had long shown immense trust in Shigure.
These facts, Mayuri was completely certain of.
However, the other captains and lieutenants had also gradually accepted these facts.
So when Mayuri questioned Shigure just now, their hearts hadn't wavered.
Now, Shunsui and Unohana agreeing to Shigure's decision without hesitation wouldn't surprise them.
But just then, Byakuya spoke.
He raised his eyes slightly toward Shigure. Calmly: "Segawa, regarding proactive counterattack, I have no objections."
"However, if we're counterattacking, we must find the Captain-Commander's location before Muramasa acts."
"Making this decision... do you have some method?"
As Byakuya's words fell, everyone's expressions sharpened, looking toward Shigure.
Shigure's face showed a faint smile. "Captain Kuchiki, the method to find the Captain-Commander has actually existed before everyone from the start."
"It's just that due to this method's uniqueness, everyone doesn't often think of it."
"...Hm?"
At this point, Hitsugaya on the side made a puzzled sound.
The surrounding captains also looked confused.
Shigure's smile remained unchanged. He raised one finger lightly. "Then let me give a simple hint."
"That place is arguably the most mysterious location in the Seireitei."
"Independent of Soul Reapers' will, it forcibly collects and records everything in Soul Society, past and present..."
"And the Captain-Commander's current whereabouts have likewise already been recorded there."
"?!"
Everyone's expressions froze sharply, then showed complete realization.
Soi Fon beside him looked over, somewhat incredulous. "Shigure, are you talking about... the Great Spirit Book Corridors...?"
Shigure smiled at her, nodding lightly. "Correct."
Hearing this answer, everyone's eyes flickered.
In fact, without his answer, what he'd just said already indicated the place.
After all, the Great Spirit Book Corridors' uniqueness was one-of-a-kind in all of Soul Society.
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