"You and Masaki are too close."
In the room.
A young man with glasses and short, side-parted hair covering his forehead walked up to the table.
He glanced at the photo of Kanbaru and Kurosaki Masaki, and said with a cold expression.
Ishida Ryustring.
The young heir of the Ishida family. The future patriarch of the Quincy line.
His talent is terrifying, and all Quincies consider him the hope of their clan's revival.
Most importantly, Ishida Ryustring is a pure-blood Quincy.
At that moment, hearing his words—
Kanbaru narrowed his eyes.
It was clear Ishida Ryustring had something else on his mind.
"I'm just here to deliver the elders' decision."
Ishida Ryustring didn't care about Kanbaru's attitude at all.
Or to put it plainly—he simply didn't like Kanbaru, the half-blood Quincy.
After a short silence—
Ishida Ryustring adjusted his glasses and said slowly:
"Currently, only two pure-blood Quincies exist within our clan."
"One of them is me."
"The other is your sister, Kurosaki Masaki."
"Given our clan's situation—"
"You should understand what pure-blood Quincies represent."
He waited a beat.
Seeing Kanbaru remain silent, he continued:
"To preserve the Quincy's noble bloodline…"
"And to prevent further decline of the core family…"
"The elders have decided Masaki should move into the Ishida household."
"That's what I came to inform you of."
Finished.
Ishida Ryustring raised his eyes to Kanbaru, speaking flatly—just a messenger for the elders.
But Kanbaru's expression turned odd.
Because—
On Ishida Ryustring's body, new glowing notes had appeared before his eyes:
[Fart, fart, fart!]
[What elders' orders?!]
[You're just a pervert obsessed with your friend's little sister!]
[You're shameless!]
Look at you—thick brows, serious face—and you're an LSP too?!
Wait a minute…?!
Why is my system saying "you" like I'm the one doing it?
The corner of Kanbaru's mouth twitched slightly.
"Why are you smiling?"
"I'm conveying the will of the elders."
"Are you mocking them?"
Ishida Ryustring frowned slightly, a bit anxious.
Besides the patriarch, the elders were the most powerful figures among the Quincy.
Sometimes—
Even the patriarch himself couldn't go against their decisions.
But none of that mattered now.
What mattered was—
Ishida Ryustring really liked Kurosaki Masaki.
And this decision from the elders was exactly what he wanted.
"If that's how you want to take it, then yes—I'm mocking the elders."
"But don't forget—you're part of that mockery, too."
Kanbaru said each word clearly.
"???"
Veins bulged on Ishida Ryustring's forehead. His eyes widened in disbelief.
This guy was crazy!
"Ishida Ryustring."
"Let me ask you something."
"The elders made this decision—"
"Did anyone bother asking Masaki what she wanted?"
"Or—"
"Did she already give you her consent?"
"Or are you just treating her like an asset—something to transfer from one house to another?"
"From that perspective, you're no different from the elders."
Kanbaru's tone was calm, but his gaze was sharp.
At those words—
Ishida Ryustring's face turned sour.
"What's so arrogant about a mixed-race guy like you?"
"You're only related to Masaki by blood!"
Ishida Ryustring gritted his teeth.
Even though the difference between pure and mixed blood was only one word—
Its meaning was profound.
Ever since awakening his spirit weapon years ago—
He had completely cut ties with the mixed-bloods and stepped into a higher realm.
On the sofa—
The black cat lazily licked its paw, watching the drama unfold with amusement.
[He's rattled! He's rattled!]
[Naïve little Ryustring clearly hasn't been beaten by society yet.]
[Tell him now—who's boss in this world!]
Boss my ass.
That's nothing to be proud of!
Kanbaru sneered inwardly with a deadpan face.
"I'll show you the difference between you and me."
"That's the gap between pure-blood and mixed-blood—it's a whole dimension!"
Ishida Ryustring's voice turned cold, and his Reiatsu began spiking rapidly!
"Oh? You want to fight?"
"Then come."
Kanbaru grinned.
Just then—
Bang Bang Bang.
There was another knock at the door.
…
"We received a report that someone in here was running a pyramid scheme."
Ishida Ryustring: "…"
"Don't move—what's with your hair floating like that? You trying to start a fight?!"
"Stand still!"
Ishida Ryustring: "…"
The mood instantly turned awkward.
"Misunderstanding. I'm not in any pyramid scheme."
Ishida Ryustring let out a long breath, explaining stiffly.
Look at me—Ishida Ryustring.
Do I look like some pyramid schemer?
I just wanted to punch someone!
"Then the report might be false?"
The officer squinted at him.
"Report?"
"Who filed it?"
Ishida Ryustring narrowed his eyes.
"I did."
At that moment—
Under Ishida Ryustring's stunned gaze—
Kanbaru raised his hand slowly.
Ishida Ryustring: "???"
Have some shame!
You were just about to throw hands with me a second ago!
You already reported me behind my back?!
You shameless bastard!
"He tried to sell me this."
Kanbaru suddenly posed, pinching his fingers under his nose and mimicking a sniff.
Immediately—
The guards' faces changed.
They searched Ishida Ryustring and—somehow—found white powdery substances.
"???"
Hold on! WHAT?!
What are you people even saying?!
And WHY DO I HAVE THIS STUFF ON ME?!
Ishida Ryustring's mouth twitched violently.
"Pfft!"
The black cat who had been sipping water spat it out on the spot, staring at Kanbaru like it had just witnessed the birth of a supervillain.
As if to say—
"You really did that, didn't you?"
"Wait! This isn't what you think!"
"Don't listen to him! That guy's clearly slandering me!"
"Let go! I'll walk myself!"
"Kurosaki Kanbaru!"
"THIS ISN'T OVER!"
The shouting faded.
Kanbaru waved casually at the dragged-away Ishida Ryustring and casually stashed a full bag of flour in the corner.
What are you saying?
That I framed Ishida Ryustring on purpose?
That's slander!
Where's your evidence?
Don't throw around baseless accusations!
Besides—
Am I, Kurosaki Kanbaru, someone who would betray his own kind?
Am I?
Kanbaru smiled, then turned to the yawning black cat beside him.
Without warning—
He picked it up…
And broke its legs.
"Meow meow meow???"