The battle in the Living World this time not only shocked Aizen but also greatly surprised the Soul Society.
A direct summon order from the 1st Division arrived!
Captain-Commander Yamamoto was summoning Ichigo!
"... That's essentially the situation."
In the Soul Society, in the 1st Division's Captain's meeting room, Ichigo concluded his report on the Arrancar battle in the Living World.
Hearing Ichigo's report, Kyoraku stroked his chin, sighing deeply:
"Hmm, Arrancar, directly comparable to Captains. This is truly a troublesome development!"
"Indeed!" Hitsugaya nodded, a look of anger appearing on his young face:
"The Gotei 13 has had three Captains defect, leaving ten Captains. So Aizen created the Espada to counter us."
"Hmph, does he really think using that Hogyoku to modify some Hollows can stand against us?"
"Correct!" Komamura expressed agreement with Hitsugaya's words: "Be it ten Espada or a hundred, I will bring Tosen back!"
Sui-Feng also stated: "We, the many Shinigami of the Seireitei, are not something a mere ten Espada can match!"
Zaraki revealed a fierce grin: "Heh, the Espada, huh? Seems like there are many things worth cutting! Hope they can satisfy me!"
Regarding the Espada created by Aizen, the Gotei 13's Captains showed varied reactions, yet all expressed strong fighting spirit.
Seeing this, Yamamoto tapped his cane, quieting the meeting room.
Unlike in the original work, this time, he was controlled by Aizen to have Sasakibe use his Bankai and slash him, so the current Yamamoto was even more wary of Aizen.
"Save such grandstanding speeches for when we deploy!"
"Now, let's discuss our response to the Espada and organize the current intelligence!"
Saying this, Yamamoto looked at Ichigo:
"Lieutenant Kurosaki, you may temporarily step down to rest. But do not leave just yet. There is something I need to discuss with you later!"
"Understood!" Ichigo nodded.
Although he didn't know what Yamamoto wanted with him, since he was summoned, he would comply.
After greeting the familiar Captains, Ichigo stepped back and left. Under the guidance of 1st Division's Third Seat, Okikiba Genshiro, he went to a waiting room.
However, while navigating the solemn atmosphere of the 1st Division, just as Ichigo was about to pass a corner, faint footsteps came from another direction.
Following the sound of footsteps, both Genshiro and Ichigo were taken aback.
"Lieutenant Sasakibe, have you recovered?" Ichigo exclaimed in surprise.
Because he had injured the respected Yamamoto, Sasakibe had been deeply distressed.
When Ichigo left last time, he heard he hadn't recovered yet, so he was surprised to encounter him here now.
Hearing Ichigo's words, Sasakibe sighed: "Ah, it's rather shameful!"
"Despite possessing a Bankai meant to exist for Genryusai-sama's sake, I ended up severely injuring Genryusai-sama instead. For such an act, such a failure, I should have committed seppuku to atone."
"But Genryusai-sama graciously forgave me, saying this failure was not my fault, but because Aizen is too cunning and sinister."
"If I committed seppuku over a single mistake, wouldn't people outside say Genryusai-sama is inconsiderate of his subordinates, like that cruel Yhwach?"
"Therefore, Genryusai-sama scolded me back to my senses. I am now back to my normal working state."
Sasakibe explained. After finishing, he looked at Ichigo and Genshiro, asking: "By the way, what are you two doing here?"
Genshiro answered rigidly:
"Lieutenant Kurosaki encountered new enemies in the Living World. Captain-Commander Yamamoto summoned him to report, and also has matters to discuss with him. So I am currently taking Lieutenant Kurosaki to the waiting room."
"I see!" Sasakibe nodded.
After thinking for a moment, he looked at Genshiro and said:
"In that case, I'll take Lieutenant Kurosaki to the waiting room. Okikiba, you return to the meeting room."
"I wish to brew Lieutenant Kurosaki a cup of tea, as an apology for the previous battle."
"Alright!" Genshiro turned and left.
Sasakibe directly took Ichigo to his office, taking out tea utensils and busying himself.
However, surprisingly, Sasakibe did not perform a dazzling cherry blossom tea ceremony for Ichigo.
Instead, he brewed a cup of English black tea with added sugar, milk, lemon slices, cinnamon, and rose petals!
"How is it? What do you think?"
Watching Ichigo cautiously sip the tea, Sasakibe asked with a smile.
Drinking this English black tea, or rather this alternative milk tea, Ichigo's eyes lit up:
"Unexpectedly quite good! Lieutenant Sasakibe's skills are excellent!"
"It's just a bit regrettable…"
Ichigo looked somewhat ruefully at the spirited, meticulous Sasakibe, who resembled an English gentleman butler.
What he regretted was that his first time drinking the famous black tea wasn't served by a perfect head maid, a noble young lady, or a beautiful witch, but by an old man.
So Ichigo felt a bit greedy.
However, an elder like Sasakibe clearly couldn't understand Ichigo's desire for a young lady.
Hearing Ichigo's words, Sasakibe's expression brightened:
"Is that so? It's good that you like it. The Captain-Commander prefers traditional tea and isn't very fond of black tea. All along, I've only been brewing it for my own enjoyment."
"Hearing your positive evaluation, I feel fulfilled!" Sasakibe laughed heartily.
"By the way, you said it's regrettable. What is regrettable?" Sasakibe looked at Ichigo.
"Uh, nothing..." Ichigo felt a bit guilty inwardly.
He certainly couldn't tell Sasakibe that he disliked this old man and wanted a beautiful girl to brew tea for him instead, right?
Looking at Sasakibe, Ichigo casually changed the subject:
"By the way, Lieutenant Sasakibe, do you know why the Captain-Commander asked me to stay?"
Ichigo didn't expect to get an answer to this question.
But unexpectedly, Sasakibe only pondered slightly before nodding: "I actually do know a little about this!"
However, after silently organizing his words, Sasakibe asked a seemingly unrelated question:
"Lieutenant Kurosaki, let me test you. How much do you know about the concepts of Reishi, Reiatsu, Reiryoku, and so on?"
Hearing Sasakibe's question, Ichigo was very puzzled.
But he still answered:
"Reishi is the basic constituent of the Soul Society. Reiatsu is a person's spiritual pressure, similar to water pressure. Reiryoku is our power. That's roughly it."
"Correct, Lieutenant Kurosaki's answer is very standard!" Sasakibe shook his head: "But there's one point you got wrong!"
"Strictly speaking, we don't have a concept called 'Reiryoku'."
"The strength of a soul is judged by Reiatsu, and the amount of energy is also judged by Reiatsu. From beginning to end, we directly manipulate Reishi, and then call the gathered Reishi 'Reiryoku'."
"Reiryoku is merely a term for easier understanding!"
"And besides these three terms, there is another vocabulary: Reio!"
"Reio?" Ichigo showed a confused expression.
He was a veteran Bleach fan, having read the manga up to the Thousand-Year Blood War arc before transmigrating. How come he didn't know about this concept of [Reio]?
"Yes, Reio!"
Sasakibe nodded, continuing:
"The so-called Reio refers to the concentration of Reiatsu contained within a Shinigami's Reishi. It can also be said to be the intensity!"
"Generally, a Shinigami's Reio is graded into 20 ranks. Lieutenants are usually around the fifth rank. The third rank and above are for Captains!"
"Lieutenant Kurosaki's current Reio level has surpassed the ordinary Captain's third rank, having already reached the second rank, and is considered strong even within the second rank."
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto likely asked Lieutenant Kurosaki to stay because of this!" Sasakibe explained.
But after listening to his explanation, Ichigo was utterly bewildered, completely failing to understand Sasakibe's meaning.
'What's going on? Am I a fake transmigrator, or is this a setting introduced by Kubo later?' Ichigo wondered inwardly.
Meanwhile, the live stream audience felt the same.
"Huh huh huh? Reishi, Reiryoku, Reiatsu… I originally understood these, but now this suddenly appearing [Reio], why don't I get it anymore?"
"Yeah, Reio represents the concentration of Reiatsu within Reishi... Is he even speaking human language? Why do I recognize every words, but when put together, I completely don't understand?"
"Originally, we understood Reiatsu as water pressure. The stronger a Shinigami's Reiatsu, the stronger their Reiryoku output. But now Reiatsu is measured by concentration?"
"Intensity, it should be intensity. Didn't this Sasakibe also say concentration or intensity?"
"But the fact that the word 'concentration' can appear is really emmmm..."
"Feels like our entire perception has been overturned, right?"
The bullet comments were abuzz.