Chapter 59: ‘Spirit King Authorization

The Judge fell silent, and the Judge's retainers looked at each other in bewilderment; they, who have never touched the core of the Soul Realm's authority, have never even heard the name of the Zero Squad, just as if they were like Aizen during his tenure as Vice‑Captain of the Fifth Squad…

"Stop standing there like a fool. Hurry and have your subordinates investigate: what crime should the Zero Squad member who 'assaulted' the Judge of Central Office 46 be charged with?!"

Araki looked at the stunned Judge on the ground and teased.

"I…"

At this moment the Judge was in a bind, his expression slightly tense as he stared at Araki, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, his mind racing yet unsure how to handle Araki's provocation.

Undoubtedly, the situation had already exceeded the expectations of the Judge and even of the 'elder' behind him; no one could have imagined that Yuan Liuzhai's disciple, merely sent by the Spirit King to the Spirit King's Palace, returned as a Zero Squad Royal Agent.

"Whaa~ Wahh~"

Before the Judge could speak further, among the retainers behind him, the quick‑witted Xianyan Bao pulled out a hefty law codex he always carried and began leafing through it, trying to relieve his lord's worries.

"Judge, don't panic! I'll tell this impolite scoundrel right now what crime the Zero Squad member who assaulted the Judge of Central Office 46 has committed!"

The Judge's retainers, while leafing through the codex, flattered their own Judge, displaying an air of unwavering loyalty and dutiful responsibility.

"Don't tell me not to panic? Just having you all is enough to make me uneasy..."

The Judge stared at the scene, his face turning black! Good grief! It seems that ever since he became the Judge of Central Office 46, even his own retainers have gotten used to his domineering ways! Their minds are almost completely overrun…

Even if you've never heard of the Zero Squad, don't you know how to read the situation? Didn't you see that they completely ignore your Central Office 46? Moreover, who gave that damned 'short‑sighted' fool the nerve to question the crimes of a Zero Squad member?! Fine, it seems it was he himself…

"Damn!"

At this thought, the Judge cursed inwardly. Realizing that the idiot before him was his own retainer made his anger flare even more! Want to accuse the Zero Squad? Have some shame! It's not just these retainers lacking the right—no one in the Soul Realm has that authority…

What is the Zero Squad? They are Royal Agents! Directly under His Majesty the Spirit King! In short, what the Thirteenth Squad cannot handle, the Zero Squad does; what the Thirteenth Squad cannot kill, the Zero Squad kills! 'Spirit King Authorization', 'First Strike, Then Report'! That's the Zero Squad.

"Good fellow, first time I've seen someone carry a codex on them! You really love the law…"

"Since you've produced the codex, make sure you read it thoroughly and don't miss anything! I'm waiting for the Judge to sentence me~"

Araki watched the scene, a slight smile on his lips, and urged the Judge's retainers.

"You wait! Do you think you can get away after offending our Central Office 46?!"

The aristocratic retainer's mouth curled up, assuming a smug 'petty triumph' pose, as if he himself were the Judge.

"Get out of the way! You disgraceful eyesore!"

The Judge could no longer stand it; he had been signaling to his retainers, his eyes swelling from the constant blinking, while the fool kept shouting. In a rage, the Judge lifted his foot and kicked his own retainer.

"Hey~"

The retainer, not watching, was knocked to the ground by the Judge's kick.

"J‑ Judge! Please calm down…"

After the retainer fell, his anger flared, and he was about to vent it, but seeing that the one who kicked him was his own lord, his fury instantly evaporated.

"You want me to calm down? You fool! You're insane to dare punish the Zero Squad's lord! The Zero Squad are Royal Agents, representing His Majesty the Spirit King! How dare you indict the Spirit King's crimes? Get out now!"

The Judge appeared to berate his retainers, but in fact he disclosed Araki's identity to them.

"Royal Agent…"

The retainers, hearing this, instantly sobered, hurriedly set aside the codex and knelt before Araki.

While kowtowing they shouted, "I, blind to the gems, have collided with the Zero Squad's lords; please forgive us!"

"..."

Araki simply ignored the incessantly kowtowing retainers; these 'little thugs' the Judge had summoned from who knows where were merely sacrificial pawns! Once Araki reached a consensus with the nobles, these people would likely be abandoned and used as scapegoats to appease his fury…

The scapegoats, even without hearing, remarked that the Zero Squad was just too ordinary, or rather that their mission was to provoke Araki, so they didn't bother caring about his identity; fortunately they knew what a Royal Agent was…

Of course it was more likely because of what their lord said earlier; after the Judge scolded these retainers, the scapegoat retainers knelt and begged Araki for mercy.

"Hehe..."

Araki merely smiled; the scapegoats' pleas were a façade, while the Judge's softening was genuine—the retainers were just tools reflecting his mood.

"Get up! No more kneeling! This person isn't worth your kneeling!"

Araki ignored the little thugs the Judge had summoned as scapegoats and instead helped the Eleventh Squad warrior targeted by the Judge to his feet.

"Hmm..."

At this moment the Eleventh Squad warrior wore a bewildered expression; events unfolded too quickly, and their captain inexplicably became a big figure in the Zero Squad, leaving him unadjusted.

"I, thank you, Captain Araki!"

Before the Eleventh Squad warrior could stand, the kneeling aristocratic retainers prepared to rise, smiling as they got up.

"You continue!"

Araki glanced at the retainers about to rise and instantly used spiritual pressure to pin them firmly to the ground.

"We continue, we continue!"

The scapegoat retainers, upon hearing this, were not angry and displayed complete obedience; they treated Araki just as they had obeyed the Judge. Even under Araki's keen perception, he sensed their genuine willingness to follow him, which surprised him and led to further realization…

These people pledged loyalty not to any individual of the Soul Realm, but to its power holders. Araki had no intention of acting against them; when the Judge was in power they flattered him by any means, and when the Judge fell they led the charge, even possessing 'nine ways' to kill the Judge…

The real problem lies with the Judge and this decaying system.

"This is our valiant Eleventh Squad guardian! He was the hero who resisted the invading Youhabach and the annihilation master!" Araki first patted the warrior's shoulder, introduced his identity to the crowd, and, as the warrior blushed, Araki turned to the Judge: "As for why he blocked you earlier…"

"That's because I gave him the order to stop anyone who 'intrudes' into our Eleventh Squad's quarters! I also granted him the right to 'cut down' all intruders."

"I was sent by His Majesty the Spirit King specifically to the Eleventh Squad to discuss the mission personally assigned to me by the Spirit King, together with Captain Maozhihua and Vice‑Captain Saitou!"

"What? Does the Judge also want to hear what His Majesty the Spirit King told me?!"

Araki repeatedly emphasized the four words 'His Majesty the Spirit King' throughout his speech.

"I dare not! How could I dare listen to the Spirit King's secret orders to you, sir?"

The Judge waved his hands repeatedly upon hearing this.

"I see you're bold! You claim you're afraid, yet you still want to punish my subordinates!"

"I dare not punish… there is no crime to begin with, how could I dare punish?"

The Judge continued to wave his hands.

Very good! Then lead the way.

After obtaining a satisfactory answer, Araki continued speaking to the examiner.

Lead the way? Lead what way?

The examiner was stunned for a moment, then asked Araki.

Think carefully, why exactly did you come here to find me?

Araki looked at the examiner's puzzled expression, his eyes slightly narrowed as he lowered his voice and spoke close to the examiner's ear.

This...

The examiner suddenly realized, and for a moment his aged face smiled like a blooming chrysanthemum.

I understand! I understand!

The examiner nodded at Araki, and at the same time a hint of admiration arose in his heart toward Araki.

It turned out Araki had long guessed why this examiner had come, and also guessed correctly that these aristocratic factions, before trying to win over Araki, wanted to first give him a setback...

Therefore Araki deliberately prepared 'this play', not only cleverly resolving his setback, but actually giving these aristocrats a lesson and establishing his prestige!

This person is absolutely not easy to deal with! We all underestimated him; this is no mere vicious dog, but clearly a hungry wolf, even the kind that eats people and doesn't spit out bones! Our aristocratic trick of 'give a stick then a date' won't work on him at all! I hope that esteemed adult can handle it properly, lest we ultimately invite the wolf into the house.

The examiner thought helplessly, at present their 'Central Forty-Six Chamber' and the various aristocratic factions are in a tough spot: ahead there is the 'mad killer' Yuan Liuzhi, who descended the mountain under the banner of 'protecting the court', a 'ferocious tiger'; behind there is Araki the Eighth Sword, who flies the banner of the 'Zero Division', a 'hungry wolf'.

Then please~

The examiner thought so, but he still had to bring Araki along, after all this is his duty.

Please, Excellency Examiner, go first.

Araki smiled and nodded at the examiner, lightly stroking his waist-worn Soul-Cutting Sword: 'It's time to see blood!'

Shen Yi!

(End of chapter)