Hearing this, Yoriichi Tsugikuni stood silently, offering no opinion.
Instead, Hiyori Sarugaki was the first to grow anxious.
"Captain… Captain!" Her words stammered, sensitive to the word 'mother'.
"What are you talking about? Shouldn't the mission be the priority right now?"
"Let's get to work! By the way, who here has previously exhibited a Second-Class reishi power?"
Hikifune Kirio blinked slightly.
She seemed to know that Hiyori was extremely resistant to this question.
She somewhat helplessly skipped over the topic, sighing softly:
"Never mind."
"Whatever happened between you, as long as it makes Hiyori change a bit and be happy for a while, that's enough."
Slowly turning her head, Hikifune Kirio coughed into her fist, stating formally:
"Alright, Hiyori, calm down. Let's get back to the main topic. Based on the spiritual pressure that erupted here..."
"Those who fought and unleashed Second-Class reishi power were Kuchiki Ginhui, Tsugikuni Yoriichi, and an unknown Shinigami."
"That Shinigami's spiritual pressure is not recorded in the existing archives."
"Preliminary deduction:"
"It's a retainer kept by a noble family. Which noble family specifically is not something we can meddle with."
A hint of helplessness flashed in her eyes:
"To be honest, our work is done now that we've detected this much. The rest needs to be handled by the nobles themselves."
"Understood, little Hiyori?"
"Huh...?" Hiyori Sarugaki found it hard to believe.
Was this job really over so quickly?
It felt like she hadn't done anything...
Wait...
Suddenly remembering something, Hiyori's expression changed.
She looked at Yoriichi Tsugikuni:
"Second-Class reishi power?"
"I remember you were Third-Class before, weren't you?"
"Yes." Yoriichi Tsugikuni nodded.
"But reishi is abundant in Hueco Mundo, and after fighting those Hollows for a short while, my spiritual pressure broke through."
"I must admit, practical combat is the best teacher."
Though he said so, this progress was too fast...
You're not even a hundred years old yet!
If things continue like this...
At the slowest pace...
Two hundred years old... First-Class reishi power?
What was she doing when she was two hundred years old?
She was just over two hundred years old this year, and only barely Fourth-Class reishi power.
To reach Third-Class would require at least two hundred years.
From Third-Class to Second-Class, at least four hundred years...
That would already make her eight hundred years old.
The final jump from Second-Class to First-Class hadn't even been accounted for...
Over a thousand years old compared to two hundred years old.
This gap was no longer something that could be described as heaven and earth.
Hiyori felt a wave of despair.
Compared to ordinary Shinigami, she was already a genius.
But even among geniuses, there were differences.
She suddenly recalled a saying.
—Genius is merely the threshold to see him.
It hurt!
Her chest felt heavy, as if a weighty stone pressed down on it.
She clutched her chest tightly, trying her best not to think about it anymore.
After a long while, she finally caught her breath.
Feigning composure, she said:
"So... your mission is over. Are you going back to the Tenth Division now?"
"It's been half a year since you left. In these past six months, your sister has missed you terribly, often running to my Twelfth Division and even the Second Division to play."
"What are your plans regarding Yoruichi Shihouin's invitation?"
"Hmm?" Yoriichi Tsugikuni raised an eyebrow, "She hasn't given up yet?"
"How could she possibly give up..."
She muttered to herself.
She really wanted to say, With your talent, the future Captain-Commander position could even be yours.
Unless the Shihouin Clan was blind, they wouldn't give up on such a hot commodity.
At the same time, once other noble families found out that you had risen from Third-Class reishi power to Second-Class reishi power in just one year, they would undoubtedly go crazy too.
The commotion that would be stirred up in the Seireitei then would probably be difficult for even the Captain-Commander to quell.
Unless...
Marriage.
Or...
The last thought hadn't even fully formed before Hikifune Kirio interrupted it.
At the same time, after Kuchiki Sōjun finished handling his affairs, he slowly walked over.
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni-dono." x2
Both spoke at the same time.
Hikifune Kirio paused for a second.
Then she decisively stopped speaking.
Signalling for the other person to speak first.
Kuchiki Sōjun felt a bit awkward. He lightly clenched his fist and coughed twice:
"To thank you for your strong assistance this time, we have decided to invite you as a guest to the Kuchiki Clan."
"My father greatly welcomes you."
"He also wishes to discuss your plans."
"Please do not refuse."
"The Seireitei is in turmoil, and there are some things I must tell you."
"Even if you don't wish to participate in our noble affairs, by saving me, you will automatically be categorised by our enemies as belonging to our faction."
"Because I didn't die, their plan failed..."
"For this, I am truly sorry."
"However... this matter is not without a solution."
He raised his head, changing the subject.
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni-dono, you must know about Genryu, right?"
"I do." Yoriichi Tsugikuni nodded.
"The school of thought created by the Captain-Commander."
"Mm."
"Since you know, that makes things easier." Kuchiki Sōjun smiled.
"With my father's intervention, you can certainly become Captain-Commander Yamamoto's disciple."
"With this layer of protection, they will definitely not come to bother you again."
"This is also our gratitude for your intervention this time."
Yoriichi Tsugikuni remained silent.
Neither agreeing nor refusing.
And at this moment.
Kuchiki Sōjun also had another idea in his heart: after Yoriichi Tsugikuni became a disciple, he would have his father convene a noble meeting and elevate him to a noble position.
Although he himself might not need it, or even care about it.
But with the identity of a noble, things would be easier to handle in the future.
As for the merit of becoming a noble...
Saving him.
That was enough.
...
...
After a long while.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni nodded.
Captain-Commander Yamamoto's strength was undeniable.
Offending a high-ranking noble indeed required some protection.
He only wanted to live a peaceful life.
And the prerequisite for a peaceful life was...
Power.
Second-class reishi power was not enough.
So, he needed time.
Seeing this, Kuchiki Sōjun was somewhat pleased.
Although the nobles stood above the Gotei 13.
The Five Great Noble Clans even more so.
But his father and Captain-Commander Yamamoto had a private friendship.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni becoming the Captain-Commander's disciple, given their relationship, would also benefit the Kuchiki Clan.
As the next head of the family, he had to consider the family's interests.
Of course, while considering it, it would be even better to make a few friends.
A smile played on his lips, and Kuchiki Sōjun turned and left.
Recalling their conversation, Hikifune Kirio smiled.
Her gaze towards Yoriichi Tsugikuni grew even more appreciative:
"Not bad, kid. I didn't expect the Kuchiki Clan and you to have such a good relationship. Have you interacted with them before?"
"It seems you'll be rising through the ranks very soon."
"Let me congratulate you in advance."
"Oh, right."
Remembering what she had to say, she then pulled out a notebook from her chest, took out a pen, and with a calm and elegant motion, said seriously:
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni-dono, let's talk about the questions we didn't finish earlier."
"Regarding that man in black, do you know what his Bankai ability is?"