"Ah, Kenma is here..."
Hearing someone enter the room, the old man sat up with the help of his attendants. His voice was hoarse and weak.
His cloudy eyes looked over, past his daughter Yoruichi, and finally settled on Kenma, who was striding towards him.
"Father, are you alright? Please lie down first."
Kenma quickly went to support the old man, gently trying to lay him back down, but the old man stopped him with a hand.
"It's nothing. I know my own body. I won't die just yet. I can at least hold on until the day you and Yoruichi get married."
Shihoin Shun'gen said stubbornly, his face still showing a trace of the fearlessness and flair of his youth.
"If I don't see you two happy after your marriage, I won't be able to rest in peace."
"Father, don't say such disheartening things. It's not just my and Yoruichi's wedding, but even our grandchild's birth that you must not miss."
A hint of sorrow appeared on Kenma's face, his eyes flickering, breaking his usual calm expression.
Ever since he had been chosen by Shihoin Shun'gen, the man had treated him extremely well, giving him whatever he asked for. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was treated like a biological son.
He considered himself a cold person, but how could he remain indifferent in the face of such kindness?
Perhaps, in his heart, he truly had some affection for Shun'gen, regarding him as an elder.
Shun'gen shook his head gently, his gaze falling on his daughter, full of gentleness and pity.
"Yoruichi, I know you are dissatisfied with this marriage, and even feel some aversion towards this child, Kenma. If you must blame someone, then blame me, the culprit. Don't let it affect your relationship," the old man said earnestly.
"I will... Father."
Yoruichi, on the other side of the door, was also visibly moved. She bit her lower lip to keep herself from showing weakness.
She was now the head of the Shihoin clan, no longer a child hiding under someone else's wing.
Although she resented the marriage her father had forced upon her, what could she say?
Was she really going to be willful and disobedient, and anger her own father to death?
He was the only father she had.
The old man nodded slightly and looked again at Kenma beside him.
"Child, I know you have your own thoughts, but I don't have much longer to live. Right now, I can only implore you."
"Father, please speak. I will definitely do as you say."
Seeing Kenma's serious expression and his steady character, Shun'gen was satisfied.
"This child, Yoruichi, has been spoiled by me since she was young, which has led to her current reckless and audacious nature. Sooner or later, she will cause trouble, and it may even implicate the Shihoin clan. In the future, if she does anything wrong, you must pull her back in time, give her a hand."
"If she is truly difficult to assist, then I'll have to ask you to look after Yūshirō, to look after this Shihoin clan."
The old man's words were basically no different from entrusting his family to him.
Hearing this, Kenma couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The old ginger was truly spicier; the old man hadn't lived all these years for nothing.
He was a good judge of character.
In a few dozen years, Shihoin Yoruichi would indeed elope with a certain blond kid and become a wanted criminal. The Shihoin clan would lose its pillar and fall into decline.
Even though their reputation was later restored when the mastermind's plot was revealed, what was lost could not be regained.
"I will. Please rest assured," Kenma said solemnly.
Seeing his son-in-law's calm and commanding presence, Shihoin Shun'gen felt even more satisfied.
'It seems my choice to recruit a son-in-law was not wrong, and I picked the right person.'
No one knows a child better than their father.
How could Shun'gen not know his own son and daughter?
Although Yoruichi was outstanding, she was prone to impulsiveness, was wild and untamable, and lacked foresight. When she got an idea in her head, she would disregard everything else; there was nothing she wouldn't dare to do.
Although Yūshirō was sensible, he was too young, and his strength was not up to par, making it worrisome for him to hold a position of power.
After seeing the actions of the Kuchiki clan, who were also nobles, he immediately understood and followed their example.
He carefully selected from the Shinigami who had graduated in those few years, and finally took a fancy to the handsome and steady Kenma.
Although his background was not as "clean" as the Kuchiki clan's son-in-law, his maturity and reliability were enough to make the old man's decision.
Moreover, he had also met the Kuchiki's son-in-law and had a faint feeling that the fellow had an arrogant personality and would surely cause no small amount of trouble in the future.
It would be enough to give Kuchiki Ginrei a headache.
"By the way, this is for you."
The old man stretched out a withered hand and took out two yellowed old books from under his pillow, handing them to Kenma.
Kenma looked at them, and his heart stirred.
"This is?"
"These two books are the most important things in the Shihoin clan. One records the Shihoin clan's assets and cash, land, real estate, including some secret bases, it's all in here."
"The other is a record of the Shihoin clan's connections, including its vassals, its network of relationships with various noble families, and the moles and informants planted in various key positions. It's all recorded clearly."
The old man tremblingly pushed them into Kenma's arms.
"Finances and intelligence connections, these two crucial things, I am now entrusting to your hands, for you to manage..."
"Father..."
Kenma's expression couldn't help but be moved.
Anyone with common sense knows the importance of money and information. Now, the old man had handed it all over to him, which spoke volumes.
Seeing the determination in the old man's eyes, Kenma nodded heavily.
"Rest assured, Father. I will not disappoint your expectations!"
Ever since he and Yoruichi had been engaged, Shihoin Shun'gen had immediately handed over Squad 2 to Yoruichi, making her the captain and giving her the official title.
Although he had been recuperating during this time, he hadn't slacked off on the necessary actions.
During this period, he had been methodically transferring his power to Yoruichi.
And he, Kenma, had taken the opportunity to gain such great benefits and authority, and also had sufficient power to assist Yoruichi.
'The love of a parent for their child is far-reaching. I suppose this is it.'
The old man had arranged almost everything he had considered for after his death, all to ensure the status and safety of Yoruichi and the Shihoin clan.
After explaining everything, a clear look of fatigue appeared on the old man's face.
Seeing this, Kenma didn't disturb the old man's rest any longer and took his leave.
As he was leaving, he carefully instructed the attendants in the room once more to take good care of the old lord before he walked out with a sense of relief.
Watching Kenma's departing figure, the old man sighed with emotion and said to his daughter, who had not yet left, "He is a good child. After you're married, you must restrain your temper and not bully him. You must live happily with him, and it would be best to have a few grandchildren. That way, when I meet our ancestors in the afterlife, I can hold my head high."
"Tch, so prim and proper..."
Hearing her father's praise for Kenma, Yoruichi became even more indignant.
"Old man, you saw that guy's pretentious attitude when he left. It's simply unbearable."
"Heh, at least he's willing to pretend a little," the old man said, looking at his daughter sideways. "Unlike someone who doesn't even bother to pretend in front of me."
"You are both adults now, no longer children. So-called 'true nature' can sometimes offend people. Appropriate social etiquette is what allows relationships to last longer."
"I know. You should focus on getting well."
Yoruichi waved her hand and chased after him.
After seeing Kenma's figure ahead, her expression returned to her usual liveliness, and she called out from a distance.
"Hey, Mr. Prim-and-Proper, wait for me! I have something to tell you."