The King's Seal?  

On Zaraki's side, after receiving the eyepatch to suppress his spiritual pressure, due to the restrictions in Seireitei, he began wandering Rukongai to battle strong swordsmen he encountered to improve his sword skills.

Moreover, with the spiritual pressure suppressing eyepatch, Zaraki subconsciously felt that with the eyepatch on, his spiritual pressure was on par with his opponents. Taking it off would restore his spiritual pressure to its peak state.

In this way, he would no longer unconsciously suppress his spiritual pressure, weakening himself.

To a certain extent, the spiritual pressure suppressing eyepatch indeed suited Zaraki well.

Aside from Ailin's battle with Zaraki, nothing much happened within Seireitei.

After all, with the presence of that millennium-strong Shinigami, there were no vacant captain positions among the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

Those scheming in the shadows didn't dare show themselves yet. It was only over a hundred years later, after Sōsuke Aizen successfully defected from Soul Society, that these people saw the weakness of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads and began emerging one by one.

But at least for now, the surface of Seireitei was peaceful.

***

At the Kuchiki Manor, Ailin sat cross-legged in the training room, immersing his mind into the Innate Field to continue creating new weapons and absorbing the experiences of their owners, gradually enhancing his strength.

Currently, of the 99% of Zanpakutō in his Unlimited Blade Works, aside from allowing Ailin to use their abilities when gripping them, they could no longer provide further improvements.

Ailin's current level of swordsmanship had surpassed the innate abilities of many Zanpakutō in his Unlimited Blade Works.

Like the Tessaiga he loved initially, Ailin's casual slashes now far exceeded its "Wind Scar" ability.

Even the Bankai abilities Ailin had recovered later for Tessaiga - Explosive Blast, Diamond Splitter, Flame Tessaiga, Dragon Scale Tessaiga, Crimson Tessaiga - the slashes unleashed by those forms couldn't match the power of Ailin's sword strikes.

For the current Ailin, unless it was among the strongest few Zanpakutō, releasing a Zanpakutō would only limit and decrease the power of his attacks to a certain degree, rather than amplify them.

However, continuing to create Zanpakutō not only allowed Ailin to gain spiritual pressure from the "Unlimited Blade Works " feedback, but the Innate Field "Unlimited Blade Works " itself seemed to be enhancing as well.

From Ailin's perception, the evolution of "Unlimited Blade Works " was not far off.

Blue spiritual energy gathered in Ailin's hands, with a vast amount of "sword" elements from Unlimited Blade Works surging wildly into the blade.

After over ten minutes, a tachi appeared in Ailin's hands.

Also part of the "One Piece Series", it was the sword of the Pirate King from that world - the Supreme Grade Sword Ace.

Like the "Gryphon" of the Pirate Emperor Shanks, Ace's ability was to condense one's spiritual pressure (Haoshoku Haki) into the blade, forming a powerful slashing attack called "Godly Avoidance" or "Divine Departure".

Unlike the powerful slashes Ailin executed with his supreme swordsmanship, the "Godly Avoidance " specialized in unleashing a spiritual pressure blast.

Moreover, this blast carried immense "vibration" energy that could shatter all existences within its range.

This "vibration" had a certain "anti-defense" effect. It would be most effective against Hollows with "iron skin" abilities.

In fact, after completing Zaraki's Zanpakutō "Nozarashi", Ailin had considered creating the Supreme Grade Sword "Yoru" of Dracule Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman in the pirate world, based on "Nozarashi's" ability to grant immense strength.

However, he later decided against it after recalling Ōetsu Nimaiya's "Sayafushi", realizing its ability suited "Yoru" better.

After all, "Nozarashi's" ability was to grant the user tremendous physical strength to unleash more powerful attacks, whether in Shikai or Bankai form.

The key aspect of "Yoru" wasn't increased strength, but strikes befitting the "world's strongest" swordsman.

Ailin didn't care if Mihawk could truly "cut through all existences" before him. But in Ailin's view, only strikes that could "sever all existences" deserved to be called the "world's strongest".

The ability of "Sayafushi" was undoubtedly most suited for "Yoru". Once "Yoru" was created, it would become Ailin's strongest slashing-type Zanpakutō.

Closing his eyes, Ailin soon accessed Gol D. Roger's battle memories through "Ace".

Having previously absorbed the memories from Shanks' "Gryphon", Ailin quickly assimilated Roger's as well.

As Shanks was Roger's chosen heir to the Will of D, their fighting styles shared many similarities, making it easier for Ailin.

Releasing his grip, the "Ace" blade flew up and planted itself beside "Gryphon" on the Sword Hill.

Exiting the Innate Field, Ailin stretched lazily.

This was the life...

However, Ailin had barely finished that thought when a Hell Butterfly flew before him.

"Hm?"

"Who's looking for me? Lady Yoruichi or Shinji Hirako?" Puzzled, Ailin extended his hand, letting the Hell Butterfly land on his index finger.

"Head-Captain Yamamoto?"

Although surprised that the Head-Captain would seek him out, Ailin still summoned a servant to pass a message to Haruko, before leaving the Kuchiki Manor towards the 1st Division.

"Captain Ailin, please follow me. The Head-Captain has been waiting for some time."

Upon reaching the 1st Division gate, Vice-Captain Chōjirō Sasakibe was already waiting outside, puzzling Ailin.

What matter did the Head-Captain need him for that required Vice-Captain Sasakibe to await him in advance?

"Indeed, my thanks to Vice-Captain Sasakibe."

Upon seeing Head-Captain Yamamoto, Vice-Captain Sasakibe courteously exited the meeting room.

As someone who had served as Yamamoto's vice-captain for nearly a millennium, Chōjirō knew what he could and could not hear.

After the vice-captain's departure, Ailin asked Yamamoto curiously, "Head-Captain, might I ask what matter you've summoned me for?"

"Hm."

With a slight nod, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto asked Ailin solemnly, "Captain Ailin, can I trust you?"

Ailin was taken aback. What did that mean?

"Pardon me, Head-Captain, could you please clarify?"

"I want to ask if you are worthy of my trust."

Seeing Yamamoto's serious expression, Ailin didn't understand why he would ask such a question.

"Head-Captain, you might as well directly tell me why you summoned me. If I accept the mission you assign me, then I will complete it and not betray your trust. And if I refuse your mission, it also means I do not wish to betray your trust in me, leading to the mission's failure. So whether I accept or refuse the mission, I am still worthy of your trust. Is that what you mean?"

Yamamoto's eyes opened slightly as he glanced at Ailin.

"Do you know of the 'King's Seal'?"

"Hm? The King's Seal?"

Ailin was momentarily puzzled before rapidly searching his memories about the "King's Seal".

Soon, he realized what task the old Head-Captain wanted him to undertake.

The so-called "King's Seal" was said to be a powerful artifact belonging to the "Royal Family" of Soul Society. To prevent others from coveting and seizing this treasure, its location was changed every hundred years.

The escorts tasked with relocating the "King's Seal" were captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

Based on the timing of Tōshirō Hitsugaya's escort of the "King's Seal" two centuries later, the relocation period was indeed around this time.

"Head-Captain Yamamoto, what exactly is this 'King's Seal'?" Although he understood, Ailin still asked Yamamoto.

After all, the "King's Seal" was a secret of Soul Society, not something ordinary people knew about.

While now part of the Kuchiki Family, Ailin wasn't the type to pry into Soul Society's secrets. At least in others' eyes, Ailin was a lazy captain who would sit if he could, unwilling to stand.

"The King's Seal is a treasure of Seireitei. To prevent others from coveting its power, someone must escort it to a new location every hundred years. The escorts are chosen from the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Every century, I select a division to undertake this mission.

This year is the time for the King's Seal's relocation, but in recent years, casualties among the Shinigami divisions have increased several-fold compared to before. I suspect someone is coveting the King's Seal's power and has been preemptively weakening the Thirteen Court Guard Squads' ability to escort the relic.

To prevent their success, this year I intend for you to assist Captain Kensei Muguruma of the 9th Division in escorting the King's Seal's relocation."

"..."

Ailin felt somewhat speechless.

From what he knew, this relocation of the King's Seal, and even the next century's relocation, would proceed without incident.

It was only during Tōshirō Hitsugaya's escort that Sōjirō Kusaka would take advantage to seize the King's Seal from him.

The Shinigami casualties in the various divisions were likely due to Sōsuke Aizen creating the Vizard Hollowfication incident. In other words, everything the Head-Captain said was based on his own speculation.

"Very well, I accept this mission. On the day of departure, simply have a Hell Butterfly deliver a message to me, and I will join Captain Kensei Muguruma."