Hearing such sycophantic words, everyone looked over in unison, then immediately reacted.
"In that case, I don't want my salary either."
"Me too!"
Bang!
Seeing the scene becoming a bit chaotic, the Chief Judge struck the gavel, shouting to suppress the discussion in the hall.
Kenma took a step forward and looked around.
"All of you Sages are dedicated to public service; you are truly models for us all."
"However, although the Seireitei is currently facing difficulties, it has not yet reached that stage. While the establishment of the Onmitsukidō will be arduous, there is no need for you all to sacrifice your fortunes."
"On behalf of the Onmitsukidō, I appreciate your sentiments, but under these circumstances, I ask that you please take back those words."
As soon as Kenma said this, a rather noisy sound rose from the floor.
"That... that is true. Lord Kenma is right."
"Apologies, we were too impatient."
"We naturally want to serve the public, but Lord Kenma's words are not without reason, so let's leave it at that."
Beside him, Tessai Tsukabishi looked at the Sages posturing up above, then swept a glance at the expressionless Kenma next to him, and sighed inwardly.
Yet, he didn't feel the least bit surprised.
Having served as the Grand Kidō Chief in the Seireitei for so long, seeing Central 46 act arrogant at first and respectful later was something he had witnessed more than once.
Even if it was a new batch of people, it was just business as usual.
After another round of discussion, the initial plan for budget allocation was determined. Once confirmed, the Chief Judge said, "Then, regarding the allocation of personnel, especially those graduating students from the Shin'ō Academy..."
With the size of the Gotei 13 halved, they certainly couldn't recruit as many graduates as they did every year.
They needed the Kidō Corps and the Onmitsukidō to help absorb a portion of them.
"Why not allocate them to each organization according to the students' wishes and their aptitude?"
"That's not bad. Those good at Kidō or who dislike combat can be assigned to the Kidō Corps, while those eager to make a name for themselves can be assigned to the Gotei 13."
"What if some graduates are unwilling?"
"Everything is for the sake of guarding the safety of the Seireitei; how can we care about personal opinions?"
"What about the Onmitsukidō?"
"The Onmitsukidō is a unit that operates in the dark. Recruiting students openly like this, isn't it a bit..."
Seeing turmoil rising in the hall again, the Chief Judge silenced everyone and looked down.
"Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō, Lord Shihoin Kenma, do you have any suggestions?"
After groaning in thought for a moment, Kenma slowly said, "The work of the Onmitsukidō is different from the norm after all, so naturally, we cannot recruit students from the Shin'ō Academy in the usual way."
"However, if we encounter students whose concepts align with the Onmitsukidō, we can recruit them, but not publicly. We need to contact them in secret."
"I hope everyone can understand this point."
As Kenma spoke, he turned his head to look at Yamamoto Shigokuni and Tessai Tsukabishi beside him.
"Since it involves the Onmitsukidō, this old man can naturally understand."
"I as well."
The two nodded slowly, agreeing to this point.
As for the future personnel configuration of the Onmitsukidō, Kenma naturally had his choices made long ago.
However, he couldn't tell these people; he could only muddle through with vague words using the vassal families of the Shihoin house. Following that, the group discussed some issues regarding the three major organizations and future development plans for the Seireitei.
Amidst everyone's discussions, half the day passed by slowly without them realizing it.
As the doors of the assembly hall gently closed, the first meeting of the new Central 46 concluded successfully.
The Sages returned to the Seijōtōkyorin to rest under layers of protection.
Meanwhile, Kenma, Tessai Tsukabishi, and Yamamoto Shigokuni—the three of them wearing nearly identical haori—walked out of the underground central assembly hall passage and returned to the surface.
In the sky at this time, although the sun was leaning west, there was not a hint of twilight.
The sunlight was still bright, causing Kenma, who had stayed in the dim assembly hall for half the day, to involuntarily exhale a breath of stale air, his mood instantly becoming much brighter.
At a fork in the road ahead, Tessai Tsukabishi bowed slightly.
"Lord Genryūsai, Lord Kenma, I must go repair those broken barriers and buildings, so I will take my leave first."
After a simple apology for leaving, Tessai Tsukabishi turned onto a side path.
On the entire road, aside from the guards on duty on both sides, only Kenma and Yamamoto Shigokuni remained.
Kenma withdrew his gaze and looked sideways at the Captain-Commander beside him.
"Lord Genryūsai, during the siege of Kuchiki Kōga earlier, my wife could not be present due to family matters and her father's serious illness. I hope you can forgive her."
"I am already aware of this matter. Sasakibe handed me Captain Yoruichi's leave request for approval long ago."
Yamamoto Shigokuni held his wooden staff in his hand, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger.
Kenma adopted a grateful tone: "Thank you for your understanding, Lord Genryūsai."
Yamamoto Shigokuni nodded slowly and asked, "Shun'gen was also a companion who worked alongside me once. I wonder how his condition is?"
"Sigh~" Kenma sighed and shook his head. "Father is in poor health. He can only lie on his sickbed every day, hanging on to life with medicine prepared by Captain Unohana..."
"I hope Shun'gen can recover soon."
Yamamoto Shigokuni sighed with emotion, then turned his head to look at Kenma beside him. Those eyes, usually with restrained fluorescence, suddenly burst forth with amazing light, becoming incomparably sharp.
"Speaking of which, Commander-in-Chief Kenma, can it be said that your wish has been fulfilled today?"
"Hmm? I wonder why the Captain-Commander says such a thing?" Kenma looked confused.
Yamamoto Shigokuni shook his head, his aged voice sounding out.
"You don't need to put on this act in front of me. This old man is much older than you; how could I not see through those little tricks of yours?"
"Are you referring to the power struggle, Lord Genryūsai?"
Kenma raised an eyebrow, not intimidated by Yamamoto Shigokuni's words.
"As long as there are people, there will be conflict. The Shihoin family seizing the opportunity to rise and occupy the majority of seats in Central 46 is nothing more than a repetition of things that have happened many times in the Seireitei before."
"It's just that the protagonist before was the Tsunayashiro family, and now it has become the Shihoin family. There is no difference between the two."
Yamamoto Shigokuni's expression remained unmoved, his pace still steady.
Approaching another fork in the road, he stopped walking.
Noticing the old man's action, Kenma also stopped, listening to the old man's warning without turning his head.
"Shihoin Kenma, this old man is naturally aware of the things you speak of, which is why I did not interfere with your actions over the past few days."
"Whether it be power struggles or political persecution, this old man just wants to tell you one thing."
"Do not go too far and thereby break the peace of the Seireitei. Otherwise, this old man will become your enemy."
"Little brat!"
After speaking, Yamamoto Shigokuni turned and left.
Kenma turned his head to look, seeing only a back as imposing as a mountain.
The white haori with the character 'One' written on the back fluttered along with the old man's steady steps.
"...What a truly terrifying old man."
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