[Two Years Later]
During these two years, Soul Society fully returned to calm.
It was also this year that Kurosaki Ichigo and Ishida Uryu started their first year of middle school, with less than four years remaining before the major event would begin.
And during these two years, beneath the seemingly calm surface of Soul Society, dark undercurrents had been constantly surging.
The destruction of the Tsunayashiro family left a huge vacancy within the noble power circle.
And within this massive vacancy, many families obtained seats in the Central 46.
Originally, this was just a normal situation, but one of the seats ended up going to the Feng family that Sui Feng belonged to, which made so people within the Gotei 13 feel that sothing was off.
After all, the Feng family was rely a subordinate noble family under the Shihouin clan, and in this generation it was the ninth. Aside from Sui Feng, all other mbers of the ninth generation had already died.
With the Shihouin family close to decline and the Feng family currently being held up by Sui Feng alone, the fact that the Feng family could still gain an additional Central 46 seat was an abnormal situation enough to put everyone on guard.
Who exactly was backing the Feng family behind the scenes also beca one of Kyoraku Shunsui's investigation targets.
———
Seireitei, the mobile tavern opened by the Tenth Division—
"Ah... the Tenth Division has really made great contributions to Soul Society. A mobile tavern like this is just too convenient for an old man like with bad legs."
Kyoraku Shunsui lazily sprawled over the drinking table, with empty bottles placed beside him.
"Captain Kyoraku has nothing to do with having bad legs, and it's also because of Captain Kyoraku's support that the mobile tavern could open inside Seireitei."
Rosse smiled slightly beside him, raised the cup in his hand to toast Kyoraku Shunsui, and downed the drink in one go.
Seeing this, Kyoraku Shunsui also straightened up slightly and picked up the freshly filled drink to return the toast.
As the liquor went down his throat, Kyoraku Shunsui narrowed his eyes and shouted instinctively, "Refreshing!"
Just as Kyoraku Shunsui finished drinking, a Tenth Division mber in charge of the stall hurried over with a wine bottle and refilled both captains' cups.
To the Tenth Division, Rosse was basically their god now.
Ever since Rosse took on the Eleventh Division, and they beca the Eleventh Division's creditors, they could now walk sideways throughout Seireitei.
What? Soone dares to ss with the Tenth Division?
No problem, close the doors and release the Eleventh Division.
By using debt forgiveness as a model, the Tenth Division could freely ask mbers of the Eleventh Division to take action.
And in order to pay off their debts as soon as possible, the Eleventh Division could only pinch their noses and accept it. It was basically wherever the Tenth Division pointed, they would fight.
And whether it was fighting or doing chores, it still counted as fighting.
Whether it was Tenth Division building renovations or pulling mobile stalls around Seireitei as hard labor, it was all done by Eleventh Division manpower, while Tenth Division handled collecting money and providing services.
"Captain Kyoraku, I heard that things haven't been peaceful over in the noble district recently?", Rosse asked curiously.
This wasn't his first ti drinking with Kyoraku Shunsui. After many days of this habit, Kyoraku would often share so fresh news with him, so asking like this wasn't anything out of place.
"Looks like the trouble really has gotten pretty big, if even Captain Rosse has heard about it," Kyoraku Shunsui frowned slightly but still told him truthfully, "Previously, the Tsunayashiro family was completely wiped out. That included ten related Central 46 seats becoming vacant, including seats belonging to the Tsunayashiro family itself as well as seats belonging to families affiliated with them. Captain Rosse should have heard about this already, right?"
"Of course. These past two years, all the noise has been about this. I heard Captain Kuchiki of the Sixth Division has been annoyed to death every day," Rosse laughed with schadenfreude.
After the Tsunayashiro family was gone, the Kuchiki family was the only one among the Five Great Noble Houses that hadn't weakened.
Naturally, the Kuchiki family beca the target of flattering crowds of nobles.
Now it was almost like this: as long as the Kuchiki family spoke up, many things could proceed smoothly.
But unfortunately, the Kuchiki family remained the sa as always. Seeing themselves as representatives of the nobility, they strictly adhered to rigid rules and naturally wouldn't use power for personal gain or do anything reckless.
From this perspective, the Kuchiki family truly deserved to be a model of the nobility.
But because of the Kuchiki family's attitude, it was said that so nobles were dissatisfied. Over the past two years, so nobles had been constantly banding together to compete for Central 46 seats against those nobles affiliated with the Kuchiki family.
This matter had already continued for two years. What Rosse was asking about was naturally not this issue, but another matter derived from this background.
"Ah! That's how it is. But recently, also because of Central 46 seats, the Feng family and the Shiba family have completely co into conflict," Kyoraku Shunsui shrugged.
"A subordinate noble family, the Feng family, and one of the Five Great Noble Houses, the Shiba family?"
Rosse showed a strange expression, even a bit incredulous. This was a normal reaction for anyone hearing this.
A cal, even when dead, is bigger than a horse.
No matter how much the Shiba family had declined, the main family still currently had a vice captain, and they also had two elders in Central 46. No matter what, it was not sothing the Feng family could compare to.
Of course, the Feng family wasn't weak either.
Backed by the Shihouin family, while the family head Sui Feng was also the captain of the Second Division.
From so angles, they could be said to have the ability to fight back.
But in the end, this was an internal noble affair. Strength didn't play much of a role here, and in the end it still depended on connections.
"Originally, the Feng family's seat could have belonged to the Shiba family, but now it's been taken away, so it's only natural for the Shiba family to be unhappy," Kyoraku Shunsui explained.
This matter was actually sothing he had pushed behind the scenes.
The Kyoraku family was a high-ranking noble family, and one that was still at its peak.
Plus, with the Captain-Commander supporting him from behind, it was extrely easy for him to pull so small strings.
The Feng family's Central 46 seat made him feel both suspicious and surprised, but at the sa ti it made him even more convinced that Sui Feng was the Hollow King's Palace's spy within Soul Society.
However, he still had no evidence at the mont, so it was impossible for him to do anything to Sui Feng, who was both the head of a subordinate noble family and the captain of the Second Division.
For this reason, he pulled in Ukitake Jushiro's vice captain, Shiba Kaien, using Soul Society's safety as the reason, and had the Shiba family test the Feng family.
He wanted to see how Sui Feng would respond when faced with such a situation.
As long as she revealed a flaw, he wouldn't be polite.
"So that's how it is. Having their position stolen, that kind of struggle is understandable. But the Five Great Noble Houses really have declined now. Aside from the Kuchiki family still being at its peak, the others all seem to be barely holding on," Rosse couldn't help but sigh.
"Hey, these are all matters among nobles. What does it have to do with us in the Gotei 13. No matter how things change, it won't involve us. Captain Rosse, drink, drink," Kyoraku Shunsui smiled and raised his cup.
Seeing this, Rosse made the sa motion. The two exchanged smiles and drank the wine in their cups.
However, happy tis are always short-lived.
Just as the two were drinking with great enthusiasm, Matsumoto Rangiku and the Eighth Division vice captain, Ise Nanao, appeared at the sa ti.
Upon seeing Rosse, Matsumoto Rangiku shouted urgently, "Captain, sothing happened over at the 13th Division. They've already asked us for help and are requesting captain-level involvent."
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