"Yeah. Give me some time."
As Kenma's voice faded, neither of the couple spoke for a moment.
They both fell silent.
A slightly oppressive atmosphere gradually filled the room.
After a short while, Kenma spoke up to break the mood in the room.
"In a while, I will no longer hold a position in the Second Division, nor will I be the Third Seat of the Second Division."
"What's going on? You're resigning?"
Yoruichi reacted, her expression changing drastically as confusion surfaced.
Connecting this to Kenma's earlier words, she felt a wave of nervousness rise in her heart for some reason.
He was a man unwilling to be lonely, who held a very poor opinion of Shinigami; she felt like he was going to cause some major incident in the next second.
"Shinigami squad members aren't allowed to just quit; otherwise, there will be punishment."
Kenma scoffed coldly. "Even if there is punishment, it can't touch the Shihoin family."
He looked at Yoruichi and, seeing her rather apprehensive state, realized his earlier words must have frightened her.
His expression immediately relaxed; he was no longer tense, and his tone softened.
"Don't worry, I don't have rebellious thoughts like Kuchiki Kōga."
"I am currently a high-ranking great noble. In the Seireitei, aside from Yamamoto Shigokuni, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I cover the sky with one hand."
"Why would I put down such wealth, glory, and monstrous power just to chop the legs off the chair I'm sitting on?"
Yoruichi subconsciously nodded in agreement.
Then, thinking of the Shihoin family retainer who had just left, she sighed inwardly.
In the past few days, her husband had aggressively secured more than half the seats in Central 46 and appointed the Chief Judge as if by decree. How could such behavior not count as causing trouble? However, such power struggles were actually quite normal within the Seireitei—standard operations between nobles.
At least he was operating within the rules of the game in the Seireitei.
He wasn't planning to flip the table directly like Kuchiki Kōga, nor was he using means as disgustingly heinous as the Tsunayashiro family.
Even if others saw through it, aside from sighing at how domineering the Shihoin family was, they couldn't pick out any negligence.
"Then... Mr. Uptight, what exactly are you thinking?"
"Let me say this first: if there isn't a legitimate reason, I won't approve your resignation application."
"I won't make things difficult for you, Yoruichi. It's just..." Kenma paused, then said, "It will lighten part of your current workload."
"Which part?" Yoruichi narrowed her eyes.
Kenma looked solemn. "The Onmitsukidō!"
...
Several days had passed since the great battle between the Gotei 13 and Kuchiki Kōga.
The buildings in the Seireitei destroyed by Kuchiki Kōga were also gradually being repaired.
With the support of Yamamoto Shigokuni, order in the Seireitei was being rebuilt at a rapid pace after the war.
The most important part of this was filling the vacancies in the highest authority of the entire management system, Central 46.
Fortunately, although the destruction caused by Kuchiki Kōga had a huge impact, it was limited to the highest levels and did not affect the entire system of the Seireitei.
They simply needed to select a new batch of Sages for Central 46 to act as the brain, and the management system of the Seireitei could be restarted.
After several days of open strife and secret maneuvering, selection voting, and heavy pressure from Yamamoto Shigokuni—who only wanted to restore the original order quickly—the new Central 46 was quickly selected. And the result was exactly as Kenma had expected.
People associated with the Shihoin family occupied more than half the seats in Central 46, and the position of Chief Judge was taken by the Shihoin retainer he had designated in advance.
Now, using the turmoil caused by Kuchiki Kōga, the Shihoin family had risen with the tide. Their power was so great that it far surpassed the Tsunayashiro family of the past.
Their momentum in the Seireitei was unparalleled for a time, making them the genuine head of the Five Great Noble Families.
After the successful formation of Central 46, the first thing they did was to issue a formal judgment on the great villain, Kuchiki Kōga, who had slaughtered many Sages, nobles, and Shinigami.
The Kidō Corps brought the sealed Kuchiki Kōga to the central underground assembly hall of the Seireitei, ready to announce the verdict.
Kenma also arrived at this core hub of the Seireitei today.
"Lord Kenma, that man is inside. Please be careful."
"I really must thank you for this trouble, Chief Judge."
Hearing Kenma's words, the man who had just become the new Chief Judge shook his head immediately, maintaining a humble appearance on his face.
"I dare not accept such words from the Main House."
"It is just that the trial is to be held shortly, so please make the best use of your time, my Lord."
The Chief Judge stopped at the entrance, personally pushed open the door, and bowed to Kenma in front of him.
"My Lord, pardon my rudeness, but I will return to the conference room first to soothe my colleagues."
Kenma nodded slightly, then stepped inside.
Bang.
The door at the entrance of the room closed automatically, blocking out all the light that had swept in.
Kenma looked inside and walked toward the depths of the room. The spacious room was very dim; only a few candles burned on the walls, emitting a light that wasn't very bright, preventing him from seeing things clearly.
In the deepest part of the room, a blurry figure was firmly locked onto a stone chair. Aside from him, there was no one else.
This imprisoned figure was bound all over with black restraint straps, revealing only one eye, a mouth, an ear, and the red short hair exposed beside the ear.
Tap, tap, tap.
Kenma's footsteps rang out in the silent room, sounding very distinct.
It also woke the bound prisoner.
Hearing the sound, the prisoner opened his eye. That single emerald eye looked at Kenma, who had already arrived in front of him, revealing a trace of complexity in his gaze.
"I wondered who it was; turns out it's you, brat."
"It's me. Long time no see, Senior Kōga."
Kenma's gaze swept over a patch of darkness in the room, then he looked at the restrained man, his gaze darkening.
"It seems that in the few days you've been sealed, you haven't had a very good time, Senior."
This person was unmistakably Kuchiki Kōga, who had turned the Seireitei upside down just a few days ago.
Hearing this, Kuchiki Kōga's mouth cracked open upward in a hint of a mocking smile.
"Kenma, did you come here now to laugh at my pathetic state?"
"How could I? You underestimate me, Senior," Kenma said. "I had business at the Central Assembly Hall today, and thinking that you were here, I just came over to take a look."
"But seeing that you still have such vigorous spirit in this state, that is truly for the best."
Kuchiki Kōga sneered, "So, you just came to see me, the great sinner of the Seireitei?"
"You did such big things these past few days, Senior. Your battle record is shocking, and your momentum in the Seireitei was unparalleled for a time. As a junior, it is only right to come and visit you."
Kenma's gaze was deep and eerie.
"Furthermore, you haven't been judged yet, Senior. Before being convicted, one cannot be forced to call themselves a sinner."
"Although your actions this time were somewhat extreme, Senior, whether you are truly guilty... cannot be easily decided at this moment..."