The Central 46.
The wise sages' eyes were dull, their hearts furiously complaining:
"Here we go again, just like before! Major cases that used to occur once every few thousand years are now erupting in clusters!"
"Especially that Chiaki Setsuna, he always makes things known to everyone, leaving us no chance to secretly maneuver and make a mountain out of a molehill!"
"Cough..." The chief judge cleared his throat, trying to maintain his dignity.
"Given that this case involves important nobles and serious conspiracy allegations, to ensure the trial proceeds smoothly and prevent accidents..."
"We will now once again inspect the Sekiseki Restraints on the defendant Kuchiki Koga!"
Having learned from the previous incident with Szayelaporro, the Central 46 was now wiser.
Several specialized Corps of Punishment's members stepped forward, using specially made Reiatsu Detection Instruments to repeatedly inspect the heavy Sekiseki Shackles on Koga's wrists, ankles, and neck.
Only after confirming that his Reiatsu was completely suppressed, with absolutely no possibility of escape, did they nod to the judge.
The judge breathed a sigh of relief and finally officially announced:
"The court is now in session! Defendant Kuchiki Koga, do you admit to the charges against you: murdering fellow officers, murdering the Central 46 guard, murdering Tsunayashiro Tokiomi, and fleeing?"
Koga raised his head and accepted responsibility for killing Tokiomi:
"I admit it. I killed them all."
But immediately, Koga shifted his tone:
"However, the reason I killed and fled was because, prior to that, I had already been framed and driven into a corner."
"And the instigator of all this was Tsunayashiro Tokiomi, and the Tsunayashiro Clan behind him."
He raised his shackled hand and pointed to a temporary evidence display stand nearby: "I have a complete Reiatsu Recording here."
"It records the entire process of Tsunayashiro Tokiomi personally admitting to framing me, revealing his plot against the Kuchiki Clan, and commanding over a hundred assassins wielding Bakkoto to surround and attack me. I request the court to play the evidence."
"Permission granted to play." The judge said, bracing himself, while inwardly cursing, 'Here we go again, this kind of ironclad evidence!'
The recording device activated, light projected, and the various shameful acts of Tokiomi were displayed.
The courtroom fell into a deathly silence, then erupted in tremendous uproar.
"The Tsunayashiro Clan actually made a move against the Kuchiki Clan, another of the Five Great Nobles?"
"They even wanted to use such despicable means to substitute one thing for another and seize control of the Kuchiki Clan?"
"And those Bakkoto, Tsunayashiro Tokiomi personally admitted they were the real backers of the Kasumioji Clan."
"My Soul King, what exactly does the Tsunayashiro Clan intend to do?"
The listening nobles, regardless of their previous positions, now felt a chill rise from the soles of their feet.
Framing a peer-level noble family, manipulating inheritance… this had touched the bottom line of all nobles.
This was no longer ordinary power struggles… this was about breaking the most basic understanding and rules of the game among nobles that had existed for a million years.
Today it was the Kuchiki Clan… tomorrow, could it be their own?
Relatively speaking, developing Bakkoto and such were minor matters.
The wise sages of the Central 46 were numb. Tokimune had come to the Central 46 that day, looking wise and confident, mysterious and unfathomable.
He even talked about reconvening the Five Great Nobles Conference and leading them into a 'new era'.
And the one he sent to carry out the plan was this idiot Tokiomi?
They had thought Tokimune was a far-sighted strategist, but was he actually a moron?
Tokimune himself was also numb, his face livid.
'This idiot, this fool, this worthless trash! If you're going to capture someone, just capture them. Why say so much?'
'How did I never realize he was this stupid before? Now it's all exposed!'
Murderous intent boiled within Tokimune. He wished he could drag Tokiomi's corpse out and whip it ten thousand times.
He immediately began damage control: "Regarding the actions of Tsunayashiro Tokiomi, I am deeply shocked and distressed."
"After an urgent internal investigation, the clan has now determined that all of this was Tokiomi's personal doing."
"He secretly stole the family's heirloom Zanpakuto, [Enrakyoten] and falsely conveyed my orders, mobilizing some of the clan's hidden forces."
"I personally had no knowledge whatsoever of Tokiomi's plot against the Kuchiki Clan, nor of his role as the mastermind behind the Kasumioji Clan's Bakkoto development."
Many nobles felt like laughing, 'You had no knowledge?'
Tokimune continued: "I feel extremely ashamed for this and offer my deepest apologies to the Kuchiki Clan and all victims."
"As a sign of sincerity and fairness, I hereby immediately remove Tokiomi's name from the family register. All records, materials, and remaining samples related to the Bakkoto will be completely sealed and destroyed."
"At the same time, the Tsunayashiro Clan will compensate the Kuchiki Clan for the losses and reputational damage suffered due to this matter. We will also provide solace and compensation to the families of all victims of the Bakkoto experiments."
As his words fell, some wise sages immediately chimed in:
"Tokimune-sama places righteousness above family loyalty! His conduct is noble and exemplary! Truly a model for nobles!"
"Since this matter was Tokiomi's personal crime, unrelated to the main Tsunayashiro Clan, and Tokimune-sama has already made such sincere amends, let the matter of the Tsunayashiro Clan rest here for now."
"Now, let us continue the trial of the defendant Kuchiki Koga!"
The wind direction shifted so quickly, so naturally.
As if the shocking conspiracy allegations just moments ago had vanished into thin air with Tokimune's statement and a few promises of compensation.
The judge composed himself and looked back at Koga:
"Defendant Kuchiki Koga, although your initial ordeal is sympathetic, and you have provided evidence proving you were framed..."
"Your subsequent actions of murdering fellow officers and the guard are clear in fact and conclusive in evidence. They seriously violated the laws of Soul Society and disrupted its order and stability."
"This court, after comprehensive consideration... leniently reduces the original sentence of ten thousand years imprisonment to five thousand years. We hope you will deeply reflect on your actions in prison and reform yourself."
"Ha... hahaha..." Koga suddenly burst into laughter, laughing until tears streamed down his face.
"Five thousand years, haha, you are truly generous! The Tsunayashiro Clan drove me to ruin, burdened me with the stigma of a traitor, nearly destroyed my very soul..."
"And then, with a casual 'personal actions', a bit of compensation, it's all over."
"While I, the real victim, must spend five thousand years in that dark, sunless prison for resisting and defending myself?"
He suddenly lifted his head, his gaze like a blade, sweeping across the faces on the high platform… some indifferent, some awkward, some containing hidden anger:
"I finally understand now. You are all birds of a feather. What Central 46? Just forty-six stupid pigs!"
"Insolent!"
"Audacious madman! How dare you insult the Central 46!"
"Add to his crime! Increase his sentence back to ten thousand years immediately! No! Twenty thousand years!"
The wise sages flew into a rage, slamming their tables and standing up, shouting harshly.
However, facing the raging shouts and the instantly doubled sentence, Koga no longer argued or grew excited.
He merely looked coldly at the people on the platform:
"Add it, add as much as you like. Ten thousand years, twenty thousand years, or eternity. I will remember you all. When I get out, I will kill every single one of you!"
The wise sages first felt a pang of unease, but then they sneered. 'This fool really thought he still had a day of release?'