Chapter 156: You Weren't Even This Dedicated When Dealing with Yhwach
The following night, in the Noble District of the Sixth Division.
During wartime, the noble clans had looked pale and powerless. In peacetime, however, they displayed financial strength so overwhelming it could only be described as absurd.
The proof stood right before Takeru's eyes.
"Efficient, yes... but this probably has nothing to do with any passion for rebuilding a home."
Located in the eastern part of the Sixth Division's district, this area, which combined lavish mansions, exclusive restaurants, and high-end facilities reserved for nobles, had once suffered devastating damage at the hands of the Quincy.
The masters of the Noble District, an area that could almost be called an "independent kingdom" within Seireitei, had nearly been wiped out.
And yet now, by mid-January, the reconstruction of the Noble District was already more than halfway complete. Some businesses and institutions had even resumed operation.
As lights gradually came on, the whole district looked magnificent.
There were no bustling crowds, but the place still felt like a paradise, elegant and quiet in its own way.
Even the scenery had been carefully restored. Sacred ropes were tied around the trees outside the shops, and wind chimes hung from the branches, swaying gently in the breeze and giving off clear, pleasant notes.
It did not look like a place that had just experienced a great war.
It looked more like an old quarter that had gone through a luxurious renovation.
Without a doubt, once the repairs were complete, the Noble District would be even more extravagant than before.
Its residents would enjoy an even higher quality of life.
But ever since the fall of the Tsunayashiro Clan, one of the remaining great noble houses, the entire noble class had been in chaos. Before they could recover, the [Central 46 Abolition Act] arrived on top of that.
Now, there were likely very few nobles who could still hide in their mansions, lower their threshold for pleasure, and calmly enjoy the hard-won peace that had come after surviving the war.
The moment Takeru stepped into the Noble District, he could feel the weight of countless gazes landing on him, heavy as Mount Tai. Fear, eagerness, expectation, all of it was there.
Old men in fine robes and graceful noblewomen could be seen everywhere.
They likely wanted to imitate Kuruyashiki and block his path to seek an audience, hoping to establish a connection with the newly crowned, uncrowned king of Soul Society.
But the guards at Takeru's side were not there for decoration.
A single murderous glance from them, together with the oppressive pressure they radiated, was enough to freeze those people in place and keep them from taking a single step closer.
On Takeru's left was the current head of the Onmitsukidō, the ruler of Seireitei's shadow side, and the second in command of the First Division: Suì-Fēng.
On his right was the Divine Bird, who had not even taken human form. She walked with more pride than a swan and cared even less than Suì-Fēng about releasing spiritual pressure far beyond captain level to intimidate weaklings.
She was the light attribute Zanpakutō now known as the strongest of its kind, [Endonemī].
Forget nobles whose strength was barely above that of ordinary souls. Even the elite ranks of the Gotei 13 would not have been able to endure that pressure for long.
"From here, the Tsunayashiro estate really does stand out."
Ignoring the eyes around him entirely, Takeru walked toward the Kuchiki residence while calmly surveying the district as though inspecting his own territory.
Then, almost inevitably, his eyes landed on the Tsunayashiro mansion.
There were few high-rise structures in Soul Society. Even among the noble houses, that unwritten rule was usually followed, so the overall style still resembled the capital architecture of the Heian era in the Human World.
The Tsunayashiro Clan, however, had always been the exception.
Its walls towered over all the others, perfectly embodying the phrase "lofty gates and grand mansions."
The structures inside rose like a palace complex.
Even though it stood on level ground, it gave the impression of being built halfway up a mountain, overlooking the whole Noble District and showing no regard for the other noble houses, including the Kuchiki Clan, which effectively governed this area.
Now, though, not even a shadow could be seen there.
It looked bleaker than a haunted house.
It was hard to say whether the radicals among the nobility, the ones Suì-Fēng had been ruthlessly dealing with these past few days, had been shaken by this painfully conspicuous "precedent" and developed a strong sense of crisis.
That was probably why they had rushed to act, desperate to fight for some tangible rights before the [Central 46 Abolition Act] fully took effect.
After a while, Takeru arrived at his destination.
From a distance, he saw Byakuya, dressed in casual attire, standing before the gate together with the Kuchiki Clan's steward, Sei Nobutsune, waiting for him.
"Even if this is my first visit, there is no need to receive me so formally."
"If you had not brought a gift, that would be true."
Sei Nobutsune bowed respectfully, his tone humble yet tinged with humor.
Hearing that, Takeru smiled slightly. He took a long box from Suì-Fēng and handed it to Byakuya.
"I know your household lacks for nothing. But you seem to lose or damage your captain's haori often enough to earn a lecture from the Captain Commander. So I made a Sixth Division captain's haori using regenerative metal thread. This way, it won't be easily damaged, and even if it goes missing, it can be located."
"...Thank you very much for your generosity. I accept it with gratitude."
Byakuya paused, slightly surprised, then received it with both hands in all seriousness before passing it to Sei Nobutsune for safekeeping.
Even the steward looked somewhat overwhelmed by the gesture.
The shinigami uniform had already become standard equipment after the recent improvements.
The captain's haori, however, was still considered an accessory rather than standard issue, so it still had to be specially commissioned.
But no matter who made one, no captain's haori could compare in value to one personally made by the Captain Commander.
Its practical worth alone was considerable, and beyond that, it carried an additional symbolic meaning.
Perhaps, alongside the Kenseikan and the Ginrei Shaku, the Kuchiki Clan, which had produced captains of the Sixth Division for generations, would now have a third "family heirloom" to pass down.
Soon after, the group entered the estate, followed the stone path across the wooden bridge in the garden, circled the pond, and finally arrived at the banquet hall.
"Oh, you finally made it. I'm starving."
There were very few people in Soul Society who could provoke Suì-Fēng's glare with a single sentence.
Yoruichi was one of them.
Dressed once again in a captain's haori and a shinigami uniform, the only obvious change in her appearance compared to a hundred years ago was her hairstyle.
Time seemed to have left no mark on her at all.
That was probably because, by a Shinigami's standards, she was still barely considered young.
"Yoruichi, show some respect."
"Yes, yes. So... when are we eating? It has been a long time since I came to little Byakuya's house for dinner. After all these years, the cooking should at least be better than before. I'm looking forward to it."
Yoruichi sat cross-legged at the long table, leaning back with both hands braced behind her, relaxed and completely unrestrained. Her grin was full of her usual mischief.
At once, another hostile gaze fell on her.
It came from the very "little Byakuya" she had just mentioned.
On the other side, Nayura, Ruri Chiyo, and Kishinoshin also greeted Takeru and Suì-Fēng in turn.
As for the Divine Bird, she went out to the veranda and perched there to watch the moon.
She had no interest in Shinigami cuisine in the first place, nor did she need to eat.
Once everyone had taken their seats, familiar faces naturally found familiar topics. Before long, the conversation turned to the same issues the noble houses had been most preoccupied with in recent days. And since Takeru himself was present, they could finally confirm everything directly from him.
"Was it truly an edict from the Soul King? For the Soul King to intervene so directly in the way Soul Society operates... as far as I know, this may be the first time in a million years."
A deep worry sat between Nayura's brows.
And Kishinoshin, Ōmaeda's father, Suì-Fēng's former superior, and one of the people who had helped Takeru the most, wore his usual look: sunglasses hanging from his collar and a pompadour that made him look like a cross between a nouveau riche thug and a gang boss. Crude at a glance, yet meticulous in truth.
He immediately picked up on Nayura's concern.
"My years in the Onmitsukidō tell me this much. When a person, or a group, that has always behaved itself suddenly does something completely out of character, it often means something huge is about to happen."
"Something huge? You mean the nobles causing unrest?"
Ruri Chiyo blinked in confusion.
That innocent question left both Nayura and Kishinoshin speechless.
What did some unrest among the nobles even matter?
Even if they openly rebelled, so what?
It still would not compare to Yhwach... no, not even to Ichimaru's group in terms of destructive potential.
"In any case, let's eat first. We can discuss business afterward."
Takeru cut cleanly across the growing tension and, at the same time, the Kuchiki Clan's servants began carrying in the dishes one after another.
It was a proper kaiseki meal.
Using seasonal ingredients, each dish brought out the color, fragrance, and taste of the food to the utmost, wasting nothing at all.
Every course had been prepared with the persistent, almost obsessive spirit of perfectionism.
The entire arrangement carried the refined sense of ritual that came from a Zen setting, maximizing the dining experience itself.
The version prepared by the Kuchiki Clan, however, differed from the modern schools of the Human World that blended styles freely. This was a more traditional and severe lineage.
It felt a bit extreme, perhaps, but there was no denying that it was the kind of culinary treasure countless wealthy people in the Human World would pay a fortune to taste.
It was something entirely beyond the reach of ordinary people.
To entertain guests of this level, the chefs of the Kuchiki Clan had spared no effort.
And they did not disappoint.
At the end of the meal, when the servants began bringing in the tea utensils and preparing the final stage, the tea ceremony, conversation naturally resumed.
"...So? What exactly do you plan to make us do this time? Let's hear it. For the sake of this meal, I don't mind helping out a little."
Yoruichi rested her chin on her hand and smiled lazily.
"As if you would dare refuse even without being fed first."
Suì-Fēng let out a light snort.
"Well, that depends on what it is. If you're talking about making me the Commander in Chief of the Onmitsukidō, then absolutely not. Being the Captain of the Second Division is one thing. That isn't Shihōin land, so coming and going doesn't matter to me. But letting my name be added to the list of the Onmitsukidō's past commanders? I can already imagine future generations criticizing me for it. So that is completely out of the question."
"Heh. So someone like you actually does care about what others think. I really could not tell. Yoruichi, do you really possess something like shame? Did Urahara make it for you later? I'm curious what it looks like. Want to show me?"
"...Suì-Fēng, your fighting style isn't the only thing that's gotten vicious. Your tongue has gotten a lot sharper too. No man would ever be pleased by that."
"As if I care about pleasing anyone!"
"You two, that's enough."
Kishinoshin's face darkened. Even after retirement, he had never expected to still be mentally exhausted by his former problem superior and his former problem subordinate.
At least his warning worked. Both Suì-Fēng and Yoruichi shut up, though neither looked satisfied.
"Since Yoruichi asked, I will be direct."
Takeru's gaze passed over everyone present.
Suì-Fēng, Byakuya, Yoruichi, Kishinoshin, Nayura, and Ruri Chiyo all instinctively straightened a little.
" I intend to establish a [New Forty-Six Council]."
"The New Forty-Six Council?"
"..."
"What?"
"Take a look at this first."
Takeru took a rolled report from the subspace pocket inside his haori, undid the red cord around it, and passed it to the others.
"This is... who wrote it? Strange as it is, it's surprisingly... no, quite talented."
The more Yoruichi read, the stranger her expression became.
"I agree."
Nayura spoke with the same reaction, the text seemingly still lingering in her eyes.
"The person who wrote this doesn't appear to know Seireitei that deeply, but... the proposals for the development of Seireitei and its various industries are all very reasonable."
"What do you think?"
Takeru turned toward Byakuya and Kishinoshin.
He did not bother asking Ruri Chiyo, whose face was basically screaming, Is it finally my turn? Ruri Chiyo, like Nayura, was the new head of a major noble house and had some overlapping experiences, but in overall capability, the two were still far apart.
Takeru had other plans for her. He had not brought her here to offer a formal opinion.
"...Impressive."
Kishinoshin took a long moment before offering that single assessment.
Byakuya thought in silence for even longer before finally speaking.
"The writer's understanding of Seireitei, and even Soul Society as a whole, is somewhat one-sided. However... the development proposals for the various industries and for Seireitei in general are extremely coherent. More specifically, they are highly professional. I do not know who wrote it, but they are clearly capable. With a bit of refinement, such a person could easily take up an important position in the Seireitei Administration Bureau."
"Mm. I think so too."
Takeru nodded lightly.
"So then... who exactly wrote this development plan for Seireitei? One of the prospective members of the [New Forty-Six Council]?"
Yoruichi waved the report in her hand, looking as if she had already pieced most of it together.
"You could say that."
Takeru admitted it without hesitation and continued.
"The person who wrote that report is a sociologist from the Human World. I had someone find him, gave him information on Soul Society, and asked him to produce a satisfactory answer within a given period. My original intention was simply to gain some inspiration for how to govern things more effectively."
"As it turned out, he finished it in under an hour. At that point, I began to think... perhaps compared to the 'sages' and 'judges' recommended by the forty-six families, several scholars like him, people who were forced into giving advice, would actually be better suited to participate in the governance of Soul Society."
"Wait... you don't mean to...?"
Yoruichi's expression changed sharply.
The others were startled too.
"Don't misunderstand. I do not plan to harm them and drag their souls into Soul Society to work for me."
The relief that appeared on their faces lasted only a moment before Takeru calmly added:
"However, they are all already under my watch. The moment they die, I will have someone guide their souls into Soul Society and place them in the [New Forty-Six Council]."
"For now, I intend to scout gifted minds from all across Soul Society. Scholars of every field will be gathered from the Rukongai and beyond, and the best among them will be chosen to join the [New Forty-Six Council]."
"The [New Forty-Six Council] will serve as a superior body to the Seireitei Administration Bureau, overseeing civil affairs and answering directly to me. I myself will act as the Chief Judge of the [New Forty-Six Council], overseeing the other forty sages and five chief adjudicators, just as the Captain Commander oversees the Gotei 13."
"...That doesn't actually sound bad."
Yoruichi said it after thinking for a moment.
"It really doesn't."
Nayura also fell into thought.
"The Seireitei Administration Bureau was already going to recruit staff from within Seireitei. Expanding the scope to include souls from all over Soul Society who originated in the Human World and possess extensive knowledge is not a big problem."
"Cases like Captain Commander Takeru and Captain Ichigo likely will not happen again. But for clerical positions, spiritual power aptitude isn't necessary. In that sense, this is actually quite appropriate."
"But why specifically call it the [New Forty-Six Council]?"
The answer came before Takeru could speak.
"Isn't that obvious?"
Yoruichi glanced sidelong at the silent Byakuya and smiled with a trace of mockery.
"The Captain Commander intends to rise by trampling all over the name of Central 46."
"If he does even a little better than Central 46 did, he will be showered with praise. If he used any other name, there would inevitably be people saying it isn't as good as the old Central 46."
"But now that he's setting up a [New Forty-Six Council], that problem disappears. And once this new council begins producing results and winning applause, everyone will become far more aware of just how incompetent the people who created and upheld the old order actually were."
The seats of the original Central 46 had been passed down through forty-six families for generations.
Not just the Shihōin and Kuchiki. Nayura's Amakado family had also taken part in that system.
So those words were undeniably a little unpleasant to hear.
But even Yoruichi, a member of the Shihōin Clan, could say them. Nayura could hardly bring herself to offer excuses for her own father.
Byakuya likewise remained silent, which in itself was no different from agreeing with Yoruichi.
The Kuchiki Clan, for all its pride as a guardian of order, had only existed in its current line for twenty-eight generations.
The Shihōin Clan, if counted up to Yoruichi's generation, stood at twenty-two.
Compared to the million-year history of the great noble houses, the reign of each generation was suspiciously long.
Longer, on average, than a normal Shinigami's proper span of office.
Which raised the question.
During all the time that exceeded an ordinary lifespan, in what form had those families truly operated?
Who had really been in control?
And what, exactly, had those people been thinking?
Countless murky thoughts gathered together into a foul river. That river was the history of the current Four Great Noble Houses.
And from within that river, the Central 46 of previous generations had become some of the filthiest and most unbearable things ever born.
"Even so..."
Takeru suddenly spoke, his tone serious.
"I still want the Shihōin, Kuchiki, Amakado, and even the Kasumiōji noble houses to join the [New Forty-Six Council]. Of course, what I need are people like Nayura."
"I am flattered by your praise, but would that not cause chaos?"
Nayura frowned.
"Even a reform-minded noble like me still carries a noble mentality. If I were placed together with scholars from common origins, there would definitely be conflict."
"Not conflict. Suppression."
Byakuya suddenly spoke.
He looked directly at Takeru, his tone cold and certain.
"Knowledge alone does not guarantee benefit for Soul Society. Everyone has selfish motives. Motives like changing things for the sake of change, or chasing power and status, are as common as dust. So... there must be those who stand on the side of Seireitei itself and suppress overly fashionable or dangerous ideas."
"Out of that suppression, and out of the friction it creates, the decisions that emerge through compromise will become the most suitable 'standard solutions' for the current age."
"In the end, this is merely about finding a better replacement for Central 46. There is no need for radical reform, much less reckless leaps."
"The only thing necessary is to remove the shackles and allow Soul Society to evolve naturally and steadily over time, just as the Human World did."
"That is the role of the [New Forty-Six Council]: to truly protect order and ensure that Soul Society functions properly and develops in a regular manner, like gears that never rust in the machine of the era."
"Whether they are scholars or nobles, all members of that council are merely gears. They will mesh, clash, and grind against one another. If one breaks, another is selected. In essence, they are all consumable parts."
The room went silent.
Even Yoruichi and Suì-Fēng, bold as they were, instinctively held their breath.
Takeru did not avoid Byakuya's eyes.
"So... is the Kuchiki Clan willing to become such a consumable part?"
"There is no reason not to."
Byakuya answered without hesitation.
"Because that, too, is the duty of the Kuchiki Clan."
"...Won't your elders oppose such a thankless role?"
Yoruichi asked without thinking.
"What are you talking about, Yoruichi..."
Kishinoshin rolled his eyes.
"Right now, there are probably more nobles outside who want to work, no, who want to die, for the Captain Commander than there are grains of sand."
"...That is true. They have no choice."
Yoruichi paused, and then something clearly clicked in her head.
"Wait..."
She looked at Takeru in surprise.
"Takeru, did you specifically choose the name [New Forty-Six Council] so that they would instantly understand what it was, then wait for them to crawl over one after another and offer you talent?"
"Since I am the Captain Commander, I have to point out a clear path for others."
Takeru's tone remained as calm as ever.
"...You clearly just want to shut them inside a cage, don't you? Aren't you worried they will try to seize control of the new organization in return? No, of course you already thought of that..."
Yoruichi studied his face suspiciously, found nothing, and then correctly guessed the answer from the disgust on Suì-Fēng's face.
"...I get it. Because the collapse of Central 46 drastically reduced their influence, and because there is no longer any worry about formal sanctions, you have most likely already had the Onmitsukidō infiltrate the various families and dig up all sorts of dirt on them. The moment any of them start acting up, they'll become the next Tsunayashiro Clan. Or perhaps you're already prepared to liquidate a few especially filthy houses..."
"But even then, there is still the Golden Seal Society."
"That is the second thing I wanted to discuss."
Takeru's expression did not change.
There was no trace of special hostility toward the Golden Seal Society in his eyes. He was simply laying out a plan.
And in truth, there was no need to specifically target an organization that had never been military in nature and had already lost its umbrella and isolated itself politically.
"In addition to the [New Forty-Six Council], I plan to establish a [Golden Seal Chamber of Commerce]. I hope the Shihōin, Kuchiki, Amakado, Kasumiōji, and Ōmaeda families will become its first members."
"..."
"..."
"What?"
Unlike Ruri Chiyo, whose face clearly said, So it really is my turn now, and who looked ready to jump at the chance, Yoruichi, Byakuya, Nayura, and Kishinoshin all fell silent.
"Hmm. It seems none of you object. That's good."
"What objections could there even be? It is the same kind of two-birds-one-stone move as the [New Forty-Six Council]."
Yoruichi twitched the corner of her mouth and spoke in resignation.
"I can see it without you explaining. The [New Forty-Six Council] will govern it, and the [Golden Seal Chamber of Commerce] will serve as a channel to funnel money into the Seireitei Administration Bureau so the Bureau can push development according to the directions of those above it."
"At the same time, most of those nobles who cannot get their own people into the [New Forty-Six Council] will settle for the next best option. In order to establish a lasting foothold in Seireitei and preserve themselves, they will have no choice but to join this organization and play by your rules."
"One small cage and one large cage."
"Do you really hate the nobles of Seireitei that much? You put this much effort into restructuring everything, turning the nobility into money-making tools and a commercial collective..."
"It honestly feels like you weren't even this dedicated when dealing with Yhwach."
"I was still a little more dedicated when dealing with Yhwach."
Takeru replied calmly.
His answer left everyone even more speechless.
"If our five families join, then once the Golden Seal Society is reorganized, its influence will be far below what it once was. After all, the [Golden Seal Chamber of Commerce] has the backing of Captain Commander Takeru, while the institutions that once belonged to the Golden Seal Society and had their own law-enforcement capabilities will likely be unable to continue normal operations without outside support. At that point, the choice everyone makes will be obvious..."
Nayura felt bitterness on her tongue. She did not know whether it came from the tea or from the strange sympathy she now felt for the nobility as a class.
The [New Forty-Six Council] and the [Golden Seal Chamber of Commerce].
Those two organizations were not a formal reorganization of Central 46 and the Golden Seal Society, and yet what was the difference? This was practically a forced restructuring.
The people involved would largely still be the same, with only a few new faces added here and there.
And yet, these two new institutions would function in an unprecedentedly powerful way.
Better yet, they would not even face the same resistance that an open restructuring would have created.
In fact, many people would likely develop a huge misunderstanding.
While cursing the Soul King's coldness, they would praise Captain Commander Takeru's righteousness.
Central 46 had clearly been abolished, and yet he had stubbornly withstood pressure and created a [New Forty-Six Council] in response.
The [Golden Seal Chamber of Commerce] was a way to bypass the limits of spiritual law and allow the new council to continue supporting people tied to the Golden Seal Society as legitimately as before.
This was no exaggeration.
Looking back over Takeru's rise as a Shinigami, he had never been openly hostile to the nobility.
He had even protected the Noble District in battle.
The fall of the Tsunayashiro Clan had also occurred under an order issued by Yamamoto Genryūsai.
And when the Soul King's decree had arrived, the one who carried out the dirty work over these last few days had been Suì-Fēng, who at least on the surface had acted only after others moved first, and always in a strictly impartial and professional way.
Because of all that, once the [New Forty-Six Council] and the [Golden Seal Chamber of Commerce] were formally introduced, all those nobles now trembling for survival would likely throw themselves at the opportunity.
They would enjoy the protection that came from the new rules and power structure.
They would continue their old habit of struggle and competition within those rules, while gradually and unknowingly adapting their way of life to the new order.
Thus, a complete ideological shift would be achieved without them ever fully realizing it.
These two obvious "substitutes" would ensure that the nobles, desperate to survive and being forced to transform, would not feel too much confusion or pain.
It was a little opportunistic.
But the effect would be very real.
"The headquarters of the [Golden Seal Chamber of Commerce] will be placed here in the Noble District."
Takeru spoke slowly, laying out the picture he had in mind.
"If nothing unexpected happens, the Noble District will eventually become the commercial center of Seireitei. And from that, an even more prosperous financial and trade system will naturally emerge."
"Captain Commander Takeru."
Ruri Chiyo raised a hand.
"May I ask whether the Kasumiōji Clan can sell makakyō blades?"
"No. Those are contraband. Supply can be restricted, but they absolutely cannot be sold on a large scale."
"However, the forging spiritual law inherited by the Kasumiōji Clan from the royal lineage can absolutely cooperate with the Ōmaeda family's jewelry business and with the Technical Development Bureau. No matter the field, tools are indispensable. That means the ability to produce tools has tremendous room for development. That is precisely why I called you here."
"Understood! Kumoi was right. Captain Commander Takeru really does have remarkable insight and is someone the Kasumiōji Clan can fully trust! This young lady will definitely become an outstanding head of the family, inherit Kumoi's will, follow in your footsteps, and bring glory to the Kasumiōji Clan!"
"...I look forward to it."
Though several things about her words felt slightly off, Takeru still gave her a sincere blessing.
"In addition, Senior Kishinoshin will serve as president of the [Golden Seal Chamber of Commerce]. As for the first five chief adjudicators of the [New Forty-Six Council], Nayura will take one seat. The Kuchiki, Shihōin, and Kasumiōji families will each provide one capable person as well. Such people may be few, but I believe they can still be found."
"Does anyone object?"
Seeing that everyone had fallen silent and into thought, Takeru raised the teacup Suì-Fēng had just poured for him.
"If there are no objections... then let us treat this as a toast."
"...This is tea."
Yoruichi said that, but she still raised her own cup.
The others were not nearly as casual or relaxed.
Even so, they all lifted their cups and drank, as though swallowing Takeru's will along with the tea itself.
"Everyone... I look forward to working with you from here on as well."
Takeru lowered his cup and drank calmly.
The tea was not particularly clear.
And yet somehow, it made one feel clean.
The world, too, ought to be like that.
.....
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