At this moment, the wise sages of the Central 46 were circulating and deliberating over the evidence submitted by Kyoraku.
An eerie silence filled the Council Chamber, broken only by the rustling sound of pages turning.
More than a few wise sages furrowed their brows… clearly, the solidity of the evidence exceeded their expectations.
The Tsunayashiro Clan was the head of the Five Great Noble Clans, so their inclination was naturally toward protecting their interests.
However, Kyoraku's status was special, and with evidence this conclusive, completely ignoring it would make it difficult to convince the public.
Internally, they felt some vexation. Kyoraku was simply too oblivious to propriety.
He was, after all, born into an upper-level noble family himself and should understand the unspoken rules among nobles.
Such matters should be discussed privately. Why drag them out into the open like this?
After a long moment, a highly senior judge cleared his throat, fixed his gaze on the defendant's stand, and spoke in a flat, emotionless voice:
"Tsunayashiro Tokinada, do you have any objections to the charges and evidence submitted by Captain Kyoraku? Is there anything further you wish to state or argue in your defense?"
This was a routine procedural question, but it also implicitly offered a final opportunity.
If Tokinada could present a strong rebuttal or explanation, they might still be able to exploit some 'doubt regarding the evidence'.
All eyes focused on Tokinada.
"No." His voice was clear, betraying no emotional fluctuation. "Regarding the charges, I have nothing to say. The evidence is conclusive. I am willing to plead guilty."
'Guilty?'
Not only did Kyoraku's eyes narrow, but even many wise sages on the high platform showed expressions of surprise.
They had anticipated Tokinada would argue, would leverage noble privilege to exert pressure, might even counter-sue.
But such a straightforward admission of guilt caught them somewhat off guard, while also secretly letting them breathe a sigh of relief.
A guilty plea simplified things… it left more room for maneuvering.
The judge exchanged a few hushed opinions with several core wise sages.
Soon, the judge spoke again, his voice ringing out loudly as he pronounced the judgment:
"Following deliberation by the Central 46, the defendant Tsunayashiro Tokinada stands accused of murdering fellow officers and his wife, Kakyo. The evidence is conclusive, and he has confessed to the crimes. The charges are hereby established."
As his words fell, in a corner of the visitors' gallery, the blind Tosen clenched his fists tightly, his body trembling slightly.
Listening to all this, he felt a sorrowful satisfaction that his great vengeance was about to be realized, yet also a flicker of unease. The trial wasn't over.
Indeed, the judge continued, "However, considering that the defendant Tsunayashiro Tokinada committed these heinous acts due to a dispute over trivial matters, a momentary impulse leading to tragedy, and not premeditated malicious homicide, and given his cooperative attitude after arrest and apparent remorse, he is hereby sentenced to... one hundred years' imprisonment."
"Remorse?" An incredulous voice sharply interrupted the judge's reading.
Tosen shot up from his seat in the visitors' gallery, his voice filled with immense anger:
"Where in his voice is there any hint of apology? From start to finish, I haven't heard him say a single word of sorry! No apology to the deceased Kakyo! No apology to the fellow officers he murdered! What remorse does a person like this possess?"
Tosen's accusation exploded like a thunderclap in the silent courtroom.
On the high platform, an wise sage whose authority was being publicly challenged turned an extremely ugly shade of red. He slammed his hand on the table before him and roared in reprimand:
"Insolent! This is the Central 46! Are you the one passing judgment, or are we? How dare you, a blind Shinigami from the Rukongai, presume to interfere with the court's verdict?"
This condescending reprimand, dripping with discrimination based on birth and disability, was like adding fuel to the fire.
Tosen's heart, already burning fiercely with grief over Kakyo's death and his longing for justice, felt the last shred of his fantasy of fairness completely shattered by this response, transforming into towering rage.
"I am merely stating the facts!" Tosen's voice grew even louder, carrying the desperate resolution of someone with nothing left to lose.
"You are fundamentally unjust! Your verdict is based not on law or fact, but on the defendant's status! You must have accepted bribes from the Tsunayashiro Clan, or you fear their clan's power! You are unfit to sit in that judgment seat!"
"Audacious!" The wise sage trembled with rage, pointing at Tosen. "You dare publicly slander the Central 46, insult an wise sage! Contempt of court! Add that to your crimes!"
Almost without thinking, driven by the fury of being personally affronted, he roared out a supplementary sentence:
"A supplementary judgment is now passed! Tosen Kaname, for slandering the Central 46 and disrupting court order, combining his crimes, he is sentenced to two hundred years' imprisonment, to be carried out immediately!"
'Two hundred years?'
Murmurs rippled through the entire courtroom. Even some of the wise sages showed disapproval, feeling this sentence was excessively harsh and emotionally driven.
Tokinada, who murdered multiple Shinigami, got one hundred years after confessing.
Tosen, who merely voiced doubts and yelled a few angry words, gets two hundred years?
Although there was some dissent, ultimately they did not overturn their colleague's ruling.
Tosen stood frozen, as if struck by lightning. He thought he heard Tokinada emit an almost inaudible, soft laugh.
He felt nothing but absurdity. Utter absurdity.
'What law? What justice? What truth of Soul Society?'
'All lies. All a game of power and status!'
'They protected not truth and justice, but their own privileges and that long-decayed system of rules!'
The last shred of reverence and hope he held for the Central 46 was extinguished completely.
"As expected, Captain was right. Only Captain can break these rotten rules!"
Tosen spoke no further. He allowed the advancing soldiers to seize him and drag him away from the courtroom.
Kyoraku sighed inwardly. This was already the limit of what he could achieve within the bounds of the rules.
After the trial, the oppressive atmosphere did not fully dissipate.
In the corridor outside the Central 46, the light was dim, as if the very air was tainted by the rotten flavor of the preceding judgment.
Aizen walked beside Setsuna, his voice calm as he inquired: "Setsuna-nii, regarding Tosen, do we need to intervene? Two hundred years' imprisonment, especially under those circumstances, will likely be harsh."
Setsuna's pace didn't falter. His gaze drifted towards the seemingly eternally clear sky of the Seireitei beyond the corridor, his tone indifferent:
"Not for now. Sometimes, extreme darkness and injustice paradoxically become the best crucible for tempering one's will and seeing the truth clearly. Hopefully, that cell can become a place for enlightenment for Tosen. Moreover..."
He tilted his head slightly, his peripheral vision sweeping over the nobles and Shinigami with varied expressions filing out of the courtroom:
"It also allows other observers to witness clearly the Central 46's verdict today. Ugliness needs no cover. When it is displayed nakedly in the sunlight, it will naturally chill some hearts and stoke anger in others. The seed has been planted. We need only wait and see."
Aizen nodded knowingly. Hearts do not grow cold in a day. The Central 46 may believe their judgments are truth, but people are capable of thinking. Even among nobles, not everyone will necessarily agree with their actions.