Chapter 237: Would You Be Willing to Become One of the Five Noble Clans?
After playing with Byakuya for a while, Satoru casually handed him over to an elderly woman nearby.
Ginrei looked at him.
"Lord Mikami, if you have time, please join me in the reception room for a discussion."
Satoru shook his head:
"Wait a moment, old man. I need to take care of something first."
Under Sōjun's curious gaze, Satoru circled around the room a few times.
After confirming the structure of the house, he nodded.
Then, spreading his fingers, several threads of Reishi flew out, scattering to every corner of the room.
These Reishi threads wove patterns throughout the space.
Each pattern concealed several types of Kidō.
Once the patterns took shape, Satoru went back to refine them further.
Next, he went outside and repeated the same process.
After completing everything, he nodded with satisfaction and returned indoors.
"I've set up a barrier around the room."
"From now on, even with the windows and doors open, the cold wind from outside won't blow in."
"New mothers and infants shouldn't be exposed to cold drafts, but staying cooped up indoors without sunlight or a view of the outside isn't ideal either."
"With this barrier in place, there's no need to worry!"
"The energy required for the barrier can be drawn autonomously from the atmosphere... The Reishi concentration in the Seireitei is much higher than outside, fully sufficient to sustain its operation."
"It's a fully automated, comprehensive safety measure!"
As he spoke, Satoru proudly lifted his chin.
Hearing this, Sōjun was somewhat surprised.
He hadn't expected his friend to be so considerate.
Even he, as the husband, hadn't thought to protect his wife from the wind.
He felt a pang of shame.
"Thank you, Satoru. If not for you, I would have made a grave mistake."
The elderly women in the room nodded subtly among themselves.
This Lord Mikami truly knew his craft!
After bidding farewell to the bowing, grateful wife of the Kuchiki household, Satoru headed toward the reception room.
Seeing Satoru, Ginrei nodded and gestured for him to take a seat.
Although Satoru was his son's friend and he could reasonably interact with him as an elder, Ginrei's nature was rigid and formal.
Since the other party was a noble, he must treat him with the etiquette befitting nobles.
Otherwise, it would violate the Kuchiki Clan's rules.
"Lord Mikami, I am aware that you do not care for excessive formalities, so I shall speak plainly."
"Although the Mikami Family has been demoted to a lower noble house, in reality, it has little impact on you."
"The standing of the Mikami Family depends entirely on your strength and connections."
"Ultimately, the Mikami Family now consists of you alone. If not for the residence gifted by the Ōmaeda Family, you likely wouldn't even have land."
Satoru took a sip of tea.
He was well aware of these matters.
Why was the old man Kuchiki bringing this up now?
Under his gaze, Ginrei spoke slowly:
"Lord Mikami, I am well aware that you have no interest in power or status."
"But... the rule of the Soul Society is that nobles hold supremacy."
"Although you disregard fame and fortune, from what I have observed, you value your friends deeply."
"Whenever a friend is in trouble, you never hesitate to risk yourself to aid them."
"With your abilities, defeating enemies and helping friends is indeed not difficult for you."
"But... Lord Mikami, what one person can accomplish is ultimately limited."
"If the Mikami Family had sufficient rank and capability, its reputation alone could suppress most petty troublemakers."
Hearing Ginrei's words, Satoru showed a puzzled expression.
"Old man, are you suggesting using the Kuchiki Clan's influence to restore me to a middle-rank noble?"
"I don't think it's necessary... In your noble circles, high and low status matters greatly, but to most people, the hierarchy among nobles makes little difference."
"Those who dare to target lower nobles probably wouldn't fear middle-ranking nobles either."
"And those who could be intimidated by the title of middle-ranking nobles... probably wouldn't dare provoke lower nobles in the first place..."
Before he could finish, Ginrei shook his head.
"Of course, merely returning to being a middle-ranking noble holds no real significance for you."
Under Satoru's gaze, Ginrei Kuchiki spoke gravely:
"The Tsunayashiro Clan has lost Tsunayashiro Senzaemon, and all the capable members of the main family have left with him."
"What remains of the Tsunayashiro Clan now are only incompetent fools who know nothing but pleasure, along with some branch family members who lack the power to change things."
"If... the Kuchiki Clan takes action, joined by the Shihōin Clan, completely removing the Tsunayashiro Clan from the Five Noble Clans would not be difficult."
"At that time, the Kuchiki Clan would undoubtedly become the foremost among the nobles."
"With the full support of both Kuchiki and Shihōin, recommending the Mikami Family to fill the vacancy and become one of the new Five Noble Clans is not impossible either!"
Hearing this, Satoru couldn't help but show a surprised expression.
Good heavens, this old man actually has such grand ambitions?
The Soul Society has existed for over a million years, and the Five Noble Clans have always firmly held their positions, never replaced.
Now, this old man actually wants to carry out a complete reshuffle?
Seeing that Ginrei didn't seem to be joking, he asked doubtfully:
"Old man, there's an old saying that the heavens won't drop pies from the sky."
"Although Sōjun and I are good friends, it shouldn't warrant such desperate efforts from you to help me, right?"
"After all, my friend is Sōjun Kuchiki, not Ginrei Kuchiki."
Hearing Satoru's somewhat pointed words, Ginrei wasn't angered but instead smiled faintly.
"That statement is precisely why this old man is helping you."
"?"
Satoru slightly furrowed his brow.
Ginrei looked at him quietly, then suddenly said:
"This old man is about to die."
Seeing little change in Satoru's expression, he sighed with emotion: "It seems Lord Satoru has already noticed."
"Yes, when we sat together discussing the gaming console collaboration, I had a rough sense of it."
Satoru nodded.
Ginrei smiled.
"This old man knows his own condition best."
"In less than a century, I will reach the end of my life."
"After my death, Sōjun will become the head of the Kuchiki Clan."
"You should be well aware of that child's abilities and temperament."
"If the Kuchiki Clan falls into Sōjun's hands, it will become a delicious feast in the eyes of the noble families, with everyone wanting a piece."
"This old man lacks the confidence and time to groom Sōjun into a qualified clan head... but I can cultivate someone with sufficient capability and magnanimity to help Sōjun when the worst comes."
"Lord Satoru, this old man believes in you."
"Both in ability and character, I trust you."
"If you're willing, I will use the Kuchiki Clan's full resources to elevate you to one of the Five Noble Clans before my death!"
"In return, when that time comes, you must spare no effort to help Sōjun, protect the Kuchiki Clan, protect Sōjun, protect Byakuya!"
After speaking, the old man stared intently at Satoru, awaiting his response...