章節 10: Chapter 10: The Great Bluff
After watching the Ancient One leave, Lod let out a long sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, 'That was close… I almost got exposed… And I didn't even know I was hidden to begin with.'
Only now did the heart that had been pounding in his throat finally settle back into his chest.
Although the Ancient One appeared to believe his lies, Lod knew deep down that the Sorcerer Supreme wasn't that easy to fool. With the Time Stone in her possession, very few things could escape her watchful eyes. Lod's existence just happened to be one of those rare exceptions.
If the Ancient One had insisted on digging deeper into the matter, even with a hundred explanations, Lod doubted he could have talked his way out. Fortunately, for reasons unknown, she chose not to pursue the issue further, and instead, she even extended a gesture of goodwill before leaving.
What was her goal? He had absolutely no idea.
The Sorcerer Supreme could observe the timelines of parallel universes, so who could guess what thoughts were hidden in her mind?
'Forget it…' Lod rubbed his sore temples, his face showing a trace of exhaustion as he sighed, 'Whatever her intentions are, I'll deal with it when the time comes.'
Too many things had happened tonight, and all he wanted now was to get some rest. But before heading home to rest, there was one thing he absolutely had to do.
'The Darkhold…' A glint of sharpness flashed in Lod's eyes. This dangerous artifact capable of summoning Chthon could not be allowed to remain loose in the world. If it fell into the hands of some villain and was used to summon Chthon to Earth, Lod could kiss his peaceful days goodbye.
Not to mention, he had already sabotaged Chthon's newest plan of returning, so the two of them were practically sworn enemies at this point. And just earlier, in front of the Ancient One, he had shamelessly shifted all the blame onto Chthon. If he ever found out, Lod doubted he'd come out of it unscathed.
To be safe, it was better for him to take the Darkhold into his own hands.
---
After recovering some Reiatsu, Lod used a few Shunpo steps to return to the battlefield.
The area was in ruins, with debris and battle scars everywhere, and the Darkhold, being no larger than an ordinary book, could be buried anywhere. Lod spread out his Reiatsu like ripples, trying to sense the Darkhold's location.
But before his spiritual perception could cover much ground, he suddenly noticed two faint life signatures beneath the rubble.
'Crap!'
Lod's eye twitched as he suddenly remembered that the two "employees" he had just recruited were still here. With a single slash, he cleared away the debris, revealing Matt and Jessica trapped in a Six Rod Light Prison, looking at him with expressions full of grievance.
"Lord Haschwalth… you finally come to save us!"
Matt and Jessica looked ready to cry, their voices filled with grievance like mistreated children.
The two had been bewitched by Chaos magic and immobilized by Lod's Bakudō spell. When they came to their senses, Lod was already in the middle of his fight with Chthon. They had wanted to run, but the Rikujōkōrō didn't even let them move a finger, let alone escape.
The result?
All they could do is lie there, watch the battle unfold not far from them and get injured by the aftershocks. All they could do was minimize their breathing and wait anxiously for Lod to remember them.
Lod canceled the Bakudō and used Kaidō to heal them.
"Lord Haschwalth…" Matt looked at him with a mix of resentment and relief.
On the bright side, there was some good news. Under the threat of death, Matt had forcibly awakened his Quincy abilities, absorbing Reishi to sustain his life. A blessing in disguise, perhaps?
After offering a few words of comfort, Lod instructed them to help search for the Darkhold.
Despite their combined efforts, combing through the area thoroughly, the Darkhold remained nowhere to be found.
"Could it be Chthon?" Lod rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Did he toss the Darkhold elsewhere the moment the magic circle was destroyed to keep it from falling into our hands?"
"Lord Haschwalth," Jessica stepped forward and asked, "Should we expand the search area to locate the book?"
After a moment's thought, Lod replied, "That's a good idea. For now, you and Matt should rest, then discreetly gather information about the book."
"As you command."
Jessica and Matt didn't object; they truly needed the rest.
"Wait a moment," Jessica called out suddenly. "If we find the book, how should we inform you?"
"There's no need. Focus on honing your abilities during this time. When the time is right, I will find you."
With that, Lod turned and vanished using Shunpo.
---
Seireitei.
"System, show me the mission progress."
Lod lay lazily on his bed, his eyes narrowing to slits as he spoke.
Earlier, during the fight, notifications had kept ringing in his head, but he hadn't had time to check them. Now that he was back home and relaxed, he could finally review his rewards.
---
[Emergency Mission Activated!
Mission: Expel Chthon!
Details: The Hand, tempted by the Darkhold, has summoned a projection of Chthon. User must expel it from Earth's dimension before the Sorcerer Supreme arrives.
Status: Completed
Reward: Bankai—Daiguren Hyōrinmaru]
[Random Mission Activated
Mission: Sorcerer Supreme
Details: Face the Sorcerer Supreme.
Status: Completed
Reward: 10 Medium Souls]
[Notice! Unknown energy detected. Can be converted into "Hollowfication" energy.]
[Conversion: Successful!]
[Trial Mission Activated
Mission: Break the Boundary
Detail: A gift from Chthon. Accept it or face death!
Status: Completed
Reward: Special State—Hollowfication Unlocked]
---
Jackpot!
Lod couldn't suppress the excitement welling up in his heart with a grin across his face. The system's rewards were as generous as ever.
Although the task of expelling Chthon had been challenging, the rewards more than made up for it. To his surprise, one of the rewards was Bankai.
The second stage of a Zanpakutō, Bankai represents its ultimate form. In Bankai, a Shinigami's Reiatsu and combat abilities undergo a qualitative leap, becoming 5–10 times stronger than their Shikai state. Only captain-level Shinigamis could master this final trump card.
Daiguren Hyōrinmaru was the Bankai of Tōshirō Hitsugaya, the former captain of the 10th Division. Among all Zanpakutō, Its ability allowed it to control and instantly freeze all the moisture in the atmosphere, making it the most powerful ice-type Zanpakutō.
As for the second reward, it came from Chthon's parting "gift." After being forcefully converted by the system, it became the power of Hollowfication. While this was a double-edged sword, it was still valuable to Lod.
Hollowfication involves merging Hollow powers into a Shinigami's body, breaking the boundaries between the two. However, if the two powers are unbalanced, it could lead to the Shinigami being devoured by the Hollow within, turning into a full Hollow.
But all in all, having it was better than not. At the very least, it gave him one more card up his sleeve.
"System, show me the souls I acquired this time."
Lod calmed his excitement and summoned the system prompt.
[Understood]
[—
- Acquired: Medium Soul x1 (Purple Man)
- Acquired: Medium Soul x5 (Five Fingers)
- Acquired: Lower Soul x920 (Hand Ninjas)
- Acquired: Medium Soul x10 (Mission Reward)
—]
Adding this haul, Lod's current soul inventory stood at.
- Lower Soul x990
- Medium Soul x16
Seeing this, Lod couldn't help grinning ear to ear. Thanks to the Purple Man, the Hand, and the Ancient One, they had all contributed significantly to his bounty, yielding a total of sixteen Medium Souls.
One mission had reaped a windfall. It was evident that to achieve wealth and power, relying on system missions was key. In the past, when he had worked solo, who knew how long it would have taken to accumulate enough for the medium prize pool?
Staring at the sixteen Medium Souls, Lod's heart burned with excitement.
He had never seen the rewards from the medium prize pool before, and today, he could finally get a glimpse.
"Why not… give it a shot?" Rubbing his hands eagerly, he thought, "Surviving a catastrophe brings blessings. With luck like tonight, maybe there'll be a surprise!"
No sooner thought than done.
Eyes sparkling with anticipation, Lod commanded, "System, draw the Gacha!"
[Understood]
[Notice, detected Medium Soul x10. Access medium prize pool?]
"Yes!" Lod answered decisively.
Having the resources made all the difference. Gone was his past frugality; confidence now radiated from his face as he lavishly placed 10 Medium Souls on the table. "Draw! Ten times!"
The gatekeeper of the prize pool was no longer the sly Kisuke Urahara, but… Retsu Unohana?
'Wait a second…' Lod froze. 'Unohana is guarding the medium prize pool?'
The developers sure knew their audience!
They understood what men wanted most.
As Lod's gaze shifted downward, his face instantly flushed red.
'So big... ' Even the loose Shinigami attire couldn't hide it. 'As expected of Retsu Unohana!'
But he had seen the New Year's Special Collector's Edition featuring Unohana. This small scene wouldn't shake his resolve.
'Was it an illusion?' Lod felt that Unohana Retsu's gaze carried a hint of irritation.
"It must be an... illusion…," Lod muttered, as he stared at her breasts. When he looked up again, Unohana's blank expression remained unchanged as if nothing had happened.
[Consumed: Medium Soul x10]
Buzz!
This time, the treasure chest's vibration wasn't as intense. It shook lightly, releasing beams of light that shot out from within.
"Purple… light?"
Seeing the light's color, Lod's heart sank, a chill running through him. A bad feeling surfaced.
[—
- Purple: Medium Crystallized Reiatsu Orb x5
- Purple: Medium Crystallized Reiatsu Orb x5
- Purple: Kido Experience Book x5
- Purple: Kido Experience Book x5
- Purple: Zanjutsu Skill: Dual Slash
- White: Shinigami Woman's Association Sakura Season Special (featuring Rangiku Matsumoto Special Edition)
- Gold: Hōgyoku (Fragmented Piece x50)
- Purple: Hakuda Combat Skill: Shunho
- Purple: Quincy Skill: Ransōtengai
- Gold: Special Building: Bone Hell (a hot spring infused with special Reiatsu capable of extracting the Reiatsu and blood of those soaking in it; immersing patients allows their injuries and illnesses to be expelled along with their Reiatsu and blood).
—]
The medium prize pool ended, and Lod's heart sank like a stone in a lake.
'Only one good gold item, with the rest being consumables and skills? Such a loss!!!' Lod nearly spat blood like his ancestors. This round of draws was a disaster! Even the low prize pool had yielded better results.
In the previous prize pool, he had at least drawn high-tier items like Schrift. In comparison, the best thing from the medium pool was the special building Bone Hell.
"System? Care to explain?!" Lod's lungs were ready to burst with anger.
[Answer]
[Lottery probabilities are completely random. Please maintain a calm mindset.]
"???" He raged, "If that's the case, explain the difference between the medium and low prize pools!"
[Medium Prize Pool Additional Rewards: Characters, Special Buildings]
"Characters? Special Buildings?" He blinked. "What do you mean by… characters and buildings?"
[Character Range: All roles from Shinigami Faction.]
[Building Range: All special buildings from Shinigami Faction.]
Raising an eyebrow, Lod said, "Give me an example."
[Special Buildings: Seireitei, Seki Stone, Great Spirit Book Gallery, Repentance Palace, Sōkyoku Hill, etc.]
[Characters: Byakuya Kuchiki, Gin Ichimaru, Rangiku Matsumoto, etc.]
After listening, Lod pondered deeply.
It seemed the medium prize pool was indeed richer than the low prize pool. It allowed the summoning of original characters and specific buildings from Bleach.
This was good news for Lod. At least when rebuilding the Soul Society in the future, he wouldn't have to worry about structures.
However, it also highlighted just how bad his luck was!
Among so many options, he only drew Bone Hell!
Couldn't it at least summon a character?
"Total… loss…" Lod muttered in defeat, collapsing onto the bench like a gacha addict.
The idea of being "Gacha Gods"? All lies.
There's no such thing as Gacha Gods. The more you draw, the higher the chance of so-called "Gacha God's Blessings."
Gacha God's Blessings couldn't save misfortune; only spending more could he change his fate!
Lod resolved never to believe in Gacha Gods again. Only through "investing" could he escape this pit of despair.
"Forget it…" Lod comforted himself. His luck couldn't always be amazing. A few bad rounds were understandable.
Even if he didn't get highly anticipated items, the rewards this time weren't terrible.
At least… there was Rangiku's Sakura Season Special Edition. In some ways, it wasn't a complete loss, since this reward was above gold to him.
Arriving with high hopes, leaving in disappointment.
Sighing, Lod shook off his dejection and used the consumables he'd gained.
- Reiatsu +1000
- Reiatsu +1000
- Reiatsu +1000
- Kido Experience +1000
[Reiatsu Level Up: LV.6 → LV.7]
[Kido Level Up: LV.4 → LV.5]
Lod exhaled deeply. "System, show me my Status."
[Understood]
Host: Lod Carl
Race: Shinigami, Quincy, Hollow
Gender: Male
Reiatsu - LV.7: Fourth Seat Officer (5000/100000)
Zanpakutō:
- Shikai: Shinso, Senbonzakura, Hyōrinmaru
- Bankai: Daiguren Hyōrinmaru
Zanjutsu - LV.4: (1,000/5,000)
- Sword Pressure, Dual Slash
Hakuda - LV.4: (1,000/5,000)
- Ikotsu, Shunho
Shunpo - LV.4: (1,000/5000)
- Skills: Utsusemi
Kido - LV.5: (0/10000)
-Proficient up to Kido #50; Bakudo #61 Rikujokoro
Hollowfication: Unlocked
Fullbring: Locked
Quincy: Unlocked
- Schrift: X-Axis
- Skills: Soul Distribution—Flawless Healing, Blut Vene, Blut Arterie, Hirenkyaku, Heilig Pfeil, Ransōtengai
Items: Gigai (x3), Shinigami Badge, Jigokuchō, Kiokuchikan, Hogyoku Fragment (55/10,000), Shinigami Women's Magazine (x3), Dimensional Reverse Membrane, Surveillance Bacteria, Sternritter Guard Uniform, Quincy Cross—Adjudgment, Soul Severing Tool, Special Building: Bone Hell (Unused).
---
The night slowly faded as dawn broke.
In the attic room, Lod was fast asleep.
A ray of sunlight streamed in through the window, carrying the faint fragrance of flowers in the breeze. The white curtains swayed gently in the soft wind.
Suddenly, Lod felt a weight on his stomach, and a soft, childish voice followed in his ear.
"Wake up~ Brother!"
"The sun~ is shining on your butt!"
Lod groggily opened his eyes to see Nemu sitting on his stomach and pushing him gently with her small hands.
"Good morning… Nemu." Lod brushed aside the messy hair on his forehead, revealing a face with puffy eyes that were still heavy with sleep. "What time is it now?"
"Nine o'clock, Brother!" Nemu said sweetly. "Hurry up! I made breakfast for you!"
"Alright…" Lod sat up, picked up Nemu, and playfully tapped her nose. "Little Nemu is so good; you even learned how to make breakfast."
"Of course!" Nemu puffed out her chest proudly. "Nemu is amazing~"
"Hahaha..." Lod chuckled as he carried Nemu downstairs to the living room.
The Seireitei's front housed the store, while the back was the living area, which was split into two floors. The upper floor was for resting, and the lower floor had the living room, the kitchen, and the bathing area.
Nemu wriggled free from Lod's arms and hopped into the kitchen. Moments later, she clumsily brought out two plates.
"Brother~ Look at the breakfast I made just for you!"
The meal consisted of half a sausage, two slightly burnt toasts, an overcooked fried egg, and a cup of warm milk.
Despite its simplicity, the smudges on Nemu's face showed the care she had put into preparing it.
"Nemu is amazing," Lod ruffled her hair and kissed her cheek. "You've even learned to make breakfast now!"
"Yep!" Nemu's big dark eyes sparkled as she propped her chin on her hands, eagerly watching Lod. "Try it and see how it tastes!"
"Alright~" Lod sat down, took the knife and fork she handed him, and cut off a piece of sausage. After chewing for a while, he smiled. "Hmm… Nemu, it's delicious."
"Ehehe~" Nemu beamed with joy at the praise.
Thus, a warm and light-hearted breakfast ended with laughter and chatter.
---
"Ding-dong~"
Just as Lod was about to head to his playground, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Who could it be at this hour?
Curious, Lod went to open the door.
Standing outside were Coulson, who was slightly balding, and Natasha.
"Good morning, Mr. Lod." Coulson wore a professional smile. "I'm very sorry to disturb your rest."
"It's you?" Lod's expression changed. "Why are you here?"
"Well, Mr. Lod…" Coulson looked apologetic. "Could I ask if you know anything about the explosion in Hell's Kitchen last night?"
It seems SHIELD is getting anxious!
The explosion in Hell's Kitchen last night must have drawn a lot of attention, especially from the council. They likely pressured Fury, which is why Coulson showed up so early.
"I don't know." Although Lod was well aware the explosion was his doing, he feigned surprise. "I went to the Soul Society last night and wasn't in the human world. Did something happen?"
'The Soul Society?' Natasha, who had been silent until now, caught the key point in his words.
'He could return to the Soul Society at will! This meant the connection between the Soul Society and Earth could be opened at any time!' This revelation startled her, but she quickly concealed her shock and kept her expression neutral.
Coulson studied Lod's face carefully. Seeing no sign of deception, he hesitated before saying, "The situation is too complicated to explain in a few words. Could you come to our headquarters to review the footage from the incident?"
Lod thought for a moment. Going there would allow him to meet Fury and secretly plant surveillance bacteria on him.
"Alright, give me a moment to get ready."
"No problem!" Coulson looked relieved. "Take your time. We'll wait outside."
From afar, other SHIELD agents watched this interaction with stunned expressions.
Coulson, an eighth-level SHIELD agent and Fury's trusted aide, was showing such deference to an ordinary person?
"Who is that man?" a younger agent asked curiously. "Why would Agent Coulson treat him so respectfully?"
"Shut up!" An older agent glared at him sternly. "Tote, if you don't want to die, don't ask questions you shouldn't!"
In SHIELD, curiosity could get you killed. Many spies from other organizations met their end because they pried into sensitive matters.
"Sorry, sir!" Tote wiped the sweat from his brow nervously.
"Remember, no next time." The older agent's gaze softened slightly.
"Yes, sir!" Unbeknownst to the older agent, Tote's eyes briefly flashed with malice.
---
After tidying up his room, Lod sealed and concealed his playground with Kidō to prevent SHIELD or anyone else from discovering it.
He then took Nemu's hand and got into the backseat of an Audi. Coulson drove, with Natasha in the passenger seat.
"Mr. Lod, we're ready to leave."
Coulson started the car and sped off, the engine roaring as they raced down the street and ignored traffic laws entirely.
Of course… nobody dared to stop a FBI car.
SHIELD often operated under the guise of the FBI since it had a more recognizable reputation.
The car sped through the city and arrived at SHIELD's headquarters, the Triskelion, the iconic building destroyed in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
The Triskelion featured transparent, bulletproof glass and was heavily guarded. Ordinary visitors required rigorous checks to enter.
However, with Coulson and Natasha escorting him, Lod bypassed all the formalities and reached Fury's office on the top floor.
With a soft ding, the elevator doors opened, revealing a spacious office with floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Welcome to SHIELD Headquarters."
Fury stood up from his chair, his single eye fixed on Lod. "Hello, Lod. I'm Director Nick Fury. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Hello, Nick Fury."
Lod's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smile curling his lips.
At last… they meet.
---
After watching Lod and the other two leave, Tote parted ways with the older agent. He then went to a secluded corner, checked his surroundings to confirm that no one was present, and pressed a communication device near his ear.
"Fox, this is Hamster."
"Speak."
"The mission failed."
"Why?"
"The man is highly classified, at least Level Eight. I couldn't approach him, and probing too much would have revealed my identity."
"... Understood."
"What should I do next?"
"Keep a close watch on that man and Coulson, and report any actions immediately."
"Understood!"
After ending the communication, Tote double-checked his surroundings for eavesdroppers, and then he confidently walked away.
---
"Thank you so much, Lod, for taking the time to help us analyze last night's explosion," Nick Fury said earnestly with his face donning a professional smile eerily similar to Coulson's "nice guy" demeanor.
If Lod hadn't already known Fury's nature as a paranoid person, he might have believed Fury was a genuinely good person.
'With his acting skills... If Fury ever retired, he could probably win an Oscar in Hollywood!' Lod lampooned internally.
"No need," Lod replied while maintaining his high-and-mighty and aloof demeanor. "Can we get to the point? What exactly happened with the explosion in Hell's Kitchen last night?"
"Of course." Fury smiled and pressed a button on his desk and said, "This is the footage captured by a satellite over Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen last night."
A 3D holographic projection immediately appeared before everyone.
The footage had been reconstructed from street surveillance, nearby cameras, and satellite data, all processed and synthesized by SHIELD's technicians.
It showed a blonde-haired, green-eyed man in a white, double-breasted military-style coat with sharp features and indifferent eyes, wielding a silver revolver. He was engaged in combat with a shadowy figure.
Massive energy arrows and dark flames clashed, creating visible shockwaves that caused devastating destruction to the surroundings.
Even on a second viewing, the three SHIELD agents present couldn't hide their shock.
The footage showed Lod, disguised as Haschwalth, battling a projection of Chthon while using the X-Axis.
Because Quincies relied on their physical bodies for combat—unlike Shinigamis—they could be observed through conventional surveillance and human eyes.
This visibility heightened SHIELD's and global politicians' alarm.
Heroes weren't scary—they had families, weaknesses, and consciences.
What they feared were uncontrollable superhumans.
The devastation in Hell's Kitchen had jolted oblivious SHIELD council members awake, making them realize such a terrifying superhuman existed nearby.
No history, and no records.
A "superhuman" who seemed to have materialized out of thin air, capable of wielding destructive power, definitely left Fury and others uneasy.
Being paranoid by nature, Fury had immediately begun concocting dozens of conspiracy theories after seeing the dangerous blonde man, and he was desperate to uncover his origins.
Fury closely observed Lod's reactions, He suspects he might know something about the man. Meanwhile, Coulson and Natasha scrutinized Nemu's demeanor.
For agents, reading subtle expressions was essential for uncovering useful information.
However, they were destined to be disappointed.
For Shinigamis, Gigais (Faux Bodies) were just "clothing." Observing "clothing" revealed no subtle expressions.
And with Lod's powerful soul, he could perfectly control his Gigai's expressions, leaving the experienced agents empty-handed.
As for Nemu, despite her youth, she had been groomed by Mayuri Kurotsuchi himself. Oblivious to the incident, she wouldn't show any flaws.
Still, since SHIELD wanted answers, Lod didn't mind giving them a taste.
"Unbelievable... It's them!" Lod's face suddenly darkened while exuding deep apprehension. "They... have returned?"
Seeing this shift, Coulson, Natasha, and Fury were taken aback. Was this still the arrogant Soul Reaper they knew?
Coulson exchanged a glance with Natasha.
Clearly, Lod recognized the blonde man. From his apprehensive expression, it seemed they were adversaries—possibly even enemies.
"Lod?" Fury narrowed his single eye and asked, "You seem to know that man?"
Though Lod remained silent, his grave demeanor confirmed their suspicions.
Lod indeed knew the blonde man.
Fury subtly signaled Coulson, who nodded and stepped forward.
Playing the victim, Coulson said sorrowfully, "Mr. Lod, many innocent Americans died in Hell's Kitchen last night. They were good, law-abiding citizens, and this disaster has shattered over a thousand happy families. The streets were littered with corpses, and blood flooded the tunnels. All of this was caused by that blonde man. Can you really allow him to continue wreaking havoc?"
Innocent?
Law-abiding?
Blood flooding the streets?
Lod's eye twitched with every word.
Seriously? You're talking about Hell's Kitchen here. Are you kidding me?
"Your guesses aren't wrong," Lod feigned reluctance and said, "That man is a Quincy. I've seen records of him before."
"Quincy?" Hearing the unfamiliar term, Fury frowned, feeling a bad omen.
"Jugram Haschwalth," Lod sighed deeply with a trace of shame and anger in his voice. "Once... a member of the Sternritter."
"Sternritter?" Fury's wrinkles deepened as he muttered, "Mr. Lod, what's the connection between this Sternritter and Soul Reapers?"
"Although I hate discussing this..." Lod hesitated before sighing, "Very well, it's caused you significant trouble. There's no harm in telling you."
"This... dates back to a great war."
"After the establishment of the Soul Society several thousand years ago, a mysterious organization suddenly emerged."
"They called themselves the Quincy, with the Sternritter as their most powerful faction, possessing strength rivaling the captains of the Gotei 13!"
"Due to certain irreconcilable conflicts, the Soul Society and the Quincy engaged in a great war."
"The war lasted a long time, with heavy losses on both sides. It ended with the Quincy's defeat, but the Soul Society was so severely weakened that it chose to seal itself for a millennium."
"We believed that the Quincy race had been entirely wiped out."
"But unexpectedly, one of the Sternritter from that time is still alive today."
Through Lod's vivid and detailed description, the three agents felt as though they were experiencing the brutality and bloodshed of that great battle firsthand!
The Quincy versus the Soul Society!
Quincy versus Shinigami!
The Sternritter versus the Gotei 13!
Even a thousand years later, just hearing these fragmented descriptions allowed Fury and the others to feel the overwhelming sense of carnage and bloodshed!
This left the three senior agents deeply puzzled.
What exactly happened between the Soul Society and the Quincy a thousand years ago? What was the "special reason" that led them to wage war?
Both organizations, dedicated to eliminating Hollows, should have cooperated to protect humanity. Why would they draw their swords against each other, even at the cost of total annihilation?
Fury's instincts as a spy told him that the situation was far more complex than Lod had let on!
For two massive organizations to aim for each other's extinction, there must be some deeply buried secret at play!
Furthermore, there was one other key point.
Fury was exceptionally skilled at extracting useful intelligence from others' words.
From what Lod had just revealed, one critical piece of information stood out:
The Soul Society suffered severe damage during its war with the Quincy, forcing it to seal itself off for a thousand years.
This information was crucial!
Firstly, it partially explained why they had never found any records about Soul Reapers—perhaps someone intentionally concealed the evidence!
Secondly, based on the recent reappearance of Soul Reapers, it seemed the Soul Society had ended its millennium-long isolation and was recovering from the war, preparing to re-enter the world!
Misfortune never comes alone!
With the return of the Soul Society, the appearance of the Quincy, and the mysterious entities known as Hollows, Fury's mind was already spinning.
"Can you tell us what you meant by the 'irreconcilable' special reason?"
Agent Coulson was clearly more concerned about why the two factions chose to go to war and aimed for each other's total destruction.
Lod remained silent, his expression tinged with hesitation, clearly unwilling to discuss the matter further.
This reaction was all too familiar to the three veteran agents.
When it came to significant secrets, people always showed this kind of expression.
Fury thought about it and decided not to pressure Lod too much for now. "It's okay. If you can't talk about it, we understand."
"Hmm."
Hearing this, Lod responded coldly, his tense expression and furrowed brows relaxing slightly.
"Sigh…"
Seeing this, Fury couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
When had SHIELD ever been this restrained?
Facing Lod, they were almost entirely helpless. They couldn't afford to push him too hard because they had no means of containment. If provoked, the situation could spiral out of control.
Even a single misstep could ignite a war!
Confronting a colossal, mythological organization with millennia of history, Fury didn't have the confidence to prevail!
At least...
Not until they found a power capable of standing against them.
But from today's conversation, Fury had at least one lead: the mysterious Sternritter might be the key to countering the Soul Reapers!
The enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?
To Fury, both Soul Reapers and Quincy were just chess pieces to be used!
'We must develop our own power!' Fury sighed inwardly, resolving to restart an old project: 'The Avengers Initiative… it must move forward faster.'
Both Lod and Fury, like foxes with their own agendas, were scheming against each other.
Unnoticed, Lod subtly squeezed Nemu's palm.
Nemu blinked, understanding immediately. She stepped forward and tugged at Fury's coat. "Hey, Bald Uncle, I want some soda!"
If one looked closely, they'd notice a faint, barely visible powder on Nemu's small hand.
This nearly invisible powder was the "surveillance bacteria" Lod had acquired, and Nemu had already placed it on Nick Fury.
Now, whatever Fury did would be within Lod's grasp.
"…"
Fury's facial muscles visibly twitched.
"Bald Uncle?"
'Don't laugh… I mustn't laugh out loud! Otherwise, the director might make me pay for it!' Hearing this, Coulson and Natasha's expressions turned strange as they struggled to suppress their smiles.
'Hold it in! She's just a child! There's no need to get angry with a child!' Fury took a deep breath and forced a kind smile. "No problem. Coulson, please get this lovely girl an ice-cold soda."
Nemu clapped her hands happily and sweetly thanked them. "Thank you, Bald Uncle and Balding Uncle!"
'Pfft!' Lod's mouth twitched slightly. He hadn't expected Nemu to be so mischievous at such a young age.
Every word stabbed straight to the heart!
A moment ago, Coulson had been internally mocking Fury. Now, he was metaphorically clutching his chest just like Fury.
"Alright, Nemu, stop playing." Lod suppressed his laughter and put on a serious expression. "We need to go back to the Soul Society and report this matter to the captain."
"Go back… to the Soul Society?"
"Report to the captain?"
Fury and Coulson were instantly alarmed with their expressions changing dramatically.
This statement clearly revealed that there was a direct and accessible pathway between the human world and the Soul Society!
"Mr. Lod, there's no need to rush, is there?" Coulson said anxiously. "Perhaps if we work together, we can eliminate them?"
He feared that if the Soul Society and the Quincy went to war again, the destruction seen last night could be repeated several times over in New York City alone.
"Impossible!" Lod's expression was cold and unyielding. "The Quincy have reappeared after a millennium, and a Sternritter at that, I must be reported to the Gotei 13 immediately to ensure appropriate actions are taken!"
The trio's faces turned grim.
It was clear Lod didn't consider their opinions and had no regard for their concerns.
"Let's go, Nemu."
Lod took Nemu's hand, and the two left without a second glance at the grim-faced trio.
He guessed that Fury wouldn't be getting any sleep for a while.
After leaving the Triskelion, it was already night.
"Brother, how did I do earlier?" Nemu affectionately hugged Lod, asking in a coquettish tone.
"You did very well." Lod smiled as he ruffled Nemu's hair, praising her generously. "My Nemu is the best. You've already started helping your brother."
"Hehe~" Hearing Lod's compliment, Nemu felt elated, her happiness visible in the dimples that appeared on her cheeks as she smiled brightly.
Even while inside SHIELD, Lod showed no reservations as he discussed implanting surveillance bacteria on Fury with Nemu. Strangely, the agents walking past them showed no reaction, as if they were oblivious to their conversation.
This was due to one of Lod's newly developed abilities after gaining Quincy bloodline—manipulating the Reishi in the atmosphere to construct an absolute Reiatsu field within a certain radius around himself.
The absolute Reiatsu field had two main benefits. First, it increased the Reishi concentration inside the field, accelerating the absorption rate for Shinigamis and Quincies while aiding in the slow recovery of physical injuries. Second, it provided immunity against most detection devices, psychic probes, and even erased one's presence.
Lod developed this ability as a precaution against the myriad dangers of the Marvel Universe. He couldn't risk someone with psychic abilities delving into his mind.
While chatting, Lod and Nemu exited the Triskelion.
"Wait… Mr. Lod!"
Suddenly, Coulson's voice called from behind.
Lod and Nemu stopped and turned to see Coulson jogging towards them.
"Do you need something?" Lod asked with his demeanor exuding impatience.
"I'd like to apologize for what happened earlier." Wiping sweat from his brow, Coulson offered a slightly awkward smile. "We acted hastily out of concern to avoid another incident like last night. That's why those words were spoken."
Lod responded indifferently, "It doesn't matter. Whether you agree or not won't influence the decisions of the Soul Society."
"Uh…" Coulson felt momentarily awkward but quickly switched to his professional smile and changed the topic. "Mr. Lod, how about I give you a ride back?"
The distance to Manhattan was significant, it spans an entire district. Unless Lod wanted to use Shunpo to carry Nemu back, a car ride was the better choice.
Thinking of this, Lod felt a tinge of envy towards Yoruichi. If he possessed the same level of Shunpo mastery as her, returning to Manhattan would only take a few steps, eliminating the need for a car.
Once inside the car, a vintage Chevrolet Corvette, Nemu curiously explored its interior, poking and prodding at everything with childlike glee.
"It seems she likes Laura," Coulson, seated in the driver's seat, remarked with a smile.
"Laura?" Nemu's dark, wide eyes gazed adorably at Coulson as she tilted her head. "Is that its name?"
"Yes, I call her Laura," Coulson replied, stroking the steering wheel as if caressing an old lover. A smile crept onto his face. "This is my favorite car. It took me a lot of effort to acquire it."
Nemu made a playful face and pouted. "Balding uncle, you're weird. How can you have feelings for a car?"
Crash!
Lod could almost hear the sound of glass shattering. Turning, he saw Coulson's awkward expression.
"Ahem…" Coulson cleared his throat, attempting to ease the embarrassment. "You're too young to understand. To a man, a car is like the most loyal partner. It never betrays you and only requires occasional fuel."
'Impressive logic!' Lod lampooned and thought, Coulson might as well challenge opponents with his 'martial prowess.'
The vintage car, despite its age, had been upgraded with SHIELD's advanced technology, making its horsepower superior to most modern sports cars.
"Hold on tight!" Coulson warned them cheerfully. "Laura can be quite 'wild.'"
With a roar, the engine emitted a beast-like growl as "Laura" shot forward.
"Wow!" Nemu cheered excitedly, spreading her arms to relish the sensation of wind rushing past her.
"Mr. Lod," Coulson began with one hand on the steering wheel, "can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead." Leaning on his hand Lod's gazed at the rapidly retreating scenery outside the window. "If it's to dissuade me from reporting to the Soul Society, don't bother."
"Of course not," Coulson said while shaking his head. "I just want to know, what will the Soul Society do after receiving this information?"
That was his true concern, as well as Fury's—what actions the Soul Society would take upon discovering the continued existence of Quincies.
Lod smirked. "Who do you think I am? I'm just an ordinary Soul Reaper. How could I know what decisions the Soul Society will make?"
While Coulson had expected this answer, he couldn't help but press further. "Please, Mr. Lod, even a guess would help. If the Soul Society learns about the Quincies, will they launch a large-scale invasion of New York and reignite the previous war?"
'A large-scale invasion?' Lod sighed inwardly. He didn't even have a single shred of authority in the Soul Society. How could he lead an invasion?
It seemed the fabricated story had thoroughly spooked SHIELD, prompting Coulson to go to great lengths to probe the Soul Society's next move. However, this worked perfectly with Lod's plans—gradually bringing the Soul Society into the spotlight and reinforcing its credibility in SHIELD's eyes.
The key to deception lay in the imbalance of information. SHIELD's understanding was entirely based on details Lod intentionally leaked to them. Given such an unequal knowledge base, not even Nick Fury could pierce through the layers of lies to uncover the hidden truth.
Lod rested his head on his hand and reassured him, "Don't worry. The Soul Society isn't an assassin organization. They wouldn't recklessly endanger humanity's safety by reigniting a war."
Coulson's heart, which had been racing with anxiety, slightly calmed. But before he could fully relax, Lod's next words sent his pulse soaring again.
"However… based on my experience, the Soul Society might send a 'Captain' to the world of the living."
Lod's casual remark landed like a thunderbolt.
Screech!
"Laura" came to a sudden halt, its tires screeching loudly against the asphalt, leaving deep black skid marks. Coulson nearly slammed into the steering wheel, while Lod and Nemu remained unaffected, as steady as ever.
"What's wrong?" Lod asked nonchalantly.
Coulson's complexion had turned pale with his voice stammering. "C-Captain?"
TN: Nemu is such a treasure Lol. What did you think about the chapter? And I hope you enjoyed it.
(End of Chapter)
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