"Wait! Lord Kyoraku! You do not have an invitation; you cannot enter the Tsunayashiro family estate!"
"My Lord! You cannot force your way in!"
"My Lord!"
Not a single guard dared to point a blade at Shunsui Kyoraku, yet they all threw themselves forward, one after another, attempting to delay his footsteps.
After all, although the Gotei 13 was powerful, the nobles were the ones they feared more. Especially the master of this very estate beneath their feet; he was the most terrifying existence among all these nobles.
"Shunsui Kyoraku, my Tsunayashiro house is not a place where you can run wild. Although the Kyoraku family is also a high-ranking noble house, you should be very clear about the gap between you and the Tsunayashiro family!"
A clan elder walked out, shouting sternly.
Shunsui Kyoraku's expression was icy cold. Without any scruples, he pressed the arrest warrant in his hand directly onto that clan elder's face.
"By order of the Captain-Commander, I have come to arrest and interrogate the criminal who escaped from the Nest of Maggots, Tokinada Tsunayashiro!"
This single sentence caused the clan elder's expression to change drastically. Letting Tokinada Tsunayashiro stay under house arrest within the estate was technically against the rules to begin with. It was simply that having a member of the Tsunayashiro family stay in the Nest of Maggots was far too disgraceful, even for a member of a branch family. Out of respect for the Tsunayashiro family, as long as the matter wasn't brought into the open, no one would pay it any mind.
But now, the Gotei 13 was obviously prepared to flip this matter onto the table and get serious about it.
If it were just Shunsui Kyoraku, or even an order from the 2nd Division, the elder could have pushed back. But unfortunately, this was a handwritten order from the Captain-Commander, Shigekuni Yamamoto—an entity that even the Gold Seal Noble Assembly dreaded.
"Lord Kyoraku, surely there is some misunderstanding regarding this matter?"
The clan elder wanted to maneuver around the issue, but Shunsui Kyoraku had no time to dawdle with him here. His hand rested on the hilt of his Zanpakuto as he stared at the old man, asking word by word:
"Hand over Tokinada Tsunayashiro, or I will go inside and find him myself."
The nobles wanted to pit the Yellow Turbans against the Gotei 13. Both Suzuki Makoto and Shigekuni Yamamoto had detected this open conspiracy. The problem with an open conspiracy, however, was that even if detected, both sides were forced to helplessly continue accepting this scheme—unless Suzuki Makoto was willing to abandon the entire Yellow Turban Army, or Shigekuni Yamamoto was willing to abandon his duty.
But accepting the scheme was one thing; regarding the unscrupulous recklessness of the nobles, both sides harbored an anger far beyond the ordinary.
Suzuki Makoto could not yet extend his reach inside the Seireitei, but for Shigekuni Yamamoto, wanting to beat the nobles into line was something he could do with ease.
As for Shunsui Kyoraku, he was simply convinced of one thing: even if this plan was discussed and decided upon by the noble side collectively, Tokinada Tsunayashiro must be the mastermind! Otherwise, the operational style of this plan would not be so decisive, nor so vicious.
Looking at the various situations reported by the intelligence division—the destruction of water sources and the devastating blow dealt to the Rukongai—this was something he absolutely could not accept.
Thus, while arranging manpower to provide secret protection, Shunsui Kyoraku immediately reported to the Captain-Commander—and consequently, he obtained this warrant, charging directly into the Tsunayashiro family's residence.
"Yo, Kyoraku. Such a big scene, isn't it?"
A familiar, slick, and slippery voice rang out. Even the clan elder looked over in shock, completely expecting that Tokinada Tsunayashiro would choose this moment to walk out.
"Tokinada Tsunayashiro, I am under orders to take you back into custody at the Nest of Maggots!"
"Shunsui Kyoraku! Don't you think you're taking anyone from my Tsunayashiro home today!"
Before the man with dark green hair could speak, the clan elder instantly threw Shunsui Kyoraku's words back at him.
Although he also disliked Tokinada Tsunayashiro, and even more so could not stand how a brat from a branch family could now recklessly enter and exit the main house and hold secret talks with the Patriarch, defending the Tsunayashiro family was the only thing he had to do right now.
If Shunsui Kyoraku had come secretly, chatted with him privately, and promised not to leak any rumors, then the clan elder would have been very happy to kick a man when he was down, or even help Shunsui Kyoraku send Tokinada Tsunayashiro back to the Nest of Maggots—such things were not non-negotiable!
But as it happened, Shunsui Kyoraku was wearing the Captain's haori of the 8th Division, bringing along enforcers and shackles, and beating upon their door with great fanfare to forcibly take Tokinada Tsunayashiro away from the Tsunayashiro estate!
In this way, the nature of the entire matter changed completely. This would be the most public conflict between the Gotei 13 and the nobles. The two sides would shift from a nominal superior-subordinate relationship into an equal competitive relationship!
Right now, everyone outside was watching. Whether it was the other nobles or the people of the Gotei 13, if Shunsui Kyoraku was allowed to swagger out of the Tsunayashiro estate taking anyone away today—even if it were just an ordinary guard—it would imply that even the Tsunayashiro family, the head of the nobles, could not resist the orders of the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto!
If that happened, Central 46's administrative power over the Gotei 13 would immediately become empty and void. And those nobles who had originally followed the Tsunayashiro family firmly would immediately see an opportunity to replace them—they would only need to choose to support the Gotei 13 instead!
The Four Great Noble Houses were not irreplaceable. Whether it was the Shiba family, which had been going downhill for so many years, or the Shihoin family, which had closed its doors, or even the Kuchiki family, which seemed to be somewhat lacking in successors—the cracks were there.
Once even the Tsunayashiro family revealed signs of decline and fell into a disadvantage in a power conflict with the Gotei 13, the entire noble class would become unstable, leading to the Tsunayashiro family completely losing control over the Seireitei!
Therefore, even if a fight broke out today, the clan elder could not let Shunsui Kyoraku take Tokinada Tsunayashiro away in front of so many people. What he would be taking away was not a junior from a branch family; what he would be taking away was clearly the glory of the Tsunayashiro family as the head of the nobles!
Even in his heart at this moment, he was constantly cursing furiously. He cursed Shunsui Kyoraku for not understanding the rules despite being a noble, betraying his own class—couldn't he just have given them a heads-up in private? It wasn't as if they wouldn't let him take the person.
He also cursed Tokinada Tsunayashiro for being a villain intoxicated by success, not knowing how to lay low. You could have just hidden well inside the mansion, yet you insisted on coming out to show your face and mock the guy who cemented your crimes?
If even one of these two people had a bit more sense, today's situation would never have reached this point!
"Kyoraku family's... Shunsui, is it?"
A heavy voice rang out. The guards immediately knelt down, and both the clan elder and Tokinada Tsunayashiro bowed in salute.
"Lord Patriarch!"
Even Kyoraku took off his straw hat and bowed to the man.
"Lord Tsunayashiro."
"Since the Captain-Commander insists on taking a member of the Tsunayashiro family away from here today, then I shall go personally. It has indeed been a long time since I visited Lord Genryusai."
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