Chapter 364 - 364 Forced Entry!
After Kibune left, Kumoi suddenly called out, "Someone!"
"Kumoi-sama, what are your orders?"
A servant walked in from outside.
Kumoi glanced at the bodies on the floor and said calmly, "Clean this up. Then prepare some gifts. I want to visit the Kannogi Clan."
"Yes!"
The servant quickly responded.
…
10th Division.
"Lieutenant Sasakibe, you've come. Please, have a seat."
Seeing Sasakibe visiting, Toshiro quickly stood up to welcome him.
"You flatter me, Hitsugaya-dono. You are too polite."
Sasakibe said modestly.
"No, it's you who is too polite. Speaking of which, back when I was learning Kendo from Genryusai-sensei, you often practiced with me. So stop calling me 'Hitsugaya-dono'. Just call me Toshiro."
Toshiro directly poured a cup of tea for Sasakibe.
Sasakibe quickly took the teacup but still said respectfully, "You can't say that. Practicing with you was on Yamamoto-dono's orders. I am merely Yamamoto-dono's subordinate, while you are the successor he chose. It is only natural to be respectful to you."
"Yare yare, you're only this polite to me because of Genryusai-sensei? That's quite saddening."
Toshiro couldn't help but joke.
Sasakibe quickly explained: "No, it's not..."
"Alright, alright, I'm just joking. You came about the Kumoi matter, right?"
Toshiro asked seriously.
Sasakibe also became serious: "Mm, that's right. Captain Amagai sent word that Kumoi agreed to give him some more Bakkoto. However, Kumoi said he needs some preparation time, and the specific handover time and place will be notified later."
Toshiro mused: "Is that so? I see... Could Kumoi have sensed something? But that shouldn't be. Kumoi shouldn't know yet that Amagai and Genryusai-sensei have resolved their misunderstanding..."
"I don't think Kumoi has sensed anything. Maybe he really just needs some preparation time?"
Sasakibe guessed.
"Well, maybe."
Toshiro said noncommittally.
"Never mind. Since we can't figure it out, there's no need to think about it. We'll know what Kumoi is up to when the time comes."
"Besides, even if Kumoi does find out about our plan, it doesn't really matter. Kibune Makoto should also have a Bakkoto. If the plan fails, we can use his Bakkoto as evidence and forcibly search the Kasumioji Residence."
"Well, although Kumoi will vehemently deny any connection to Kibune and the Bakkoto at that time, relying solely on the Bakkoto as evidence isn't very sufficient, and we might inevitably be criticized. But as long as we ultimately find irrefutable evidence in the Kasumioji Residence, Kumoi won't be able to overturn the case. The newly formed Central 46 might just use this to cause us trouble later."
"But it's no big deal. Those Central 46 guys can only criticize us verbally at most. Could they really overturn Kumoi's case?"
Toshiro said somewhat disdainfully.
Seeing Toshiro's words and actions indicating he didn't take the Central 46 very seriously, Sasakibe couldn't help but frown. It wasn't dissatisfaction with Toshiro, just some concern.
Toshiro would eventually succeed as Captain-Commander. Judging by his personality, he wasn't one to endure humiliation. If he were to conflict with the Central 46 then... once the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and the Central 46 fell out, the consequences would definitely be very serious.
However, Sasakibe ultimately did not voice his concerns. He believed that since Yamamoto had chosen Toshiro as the next Captain-Commander, he must have considered this issue.
Having considered this issue and still chosen Toshiro, Yamamoto must have his own plans.
So Sasakibe did not meddle by advising Toshiro to be more forbearing towards the Central 46 in the future.
After discussing some plans for dealing with Kumoi with Toshiro, Sasakibe did not linger and returned to the 1st Division.
The next day at noon.
Unexpectedly for Toshiro, Kumoi suddenly arrived at the gates of the 10th Division with a large group of people.
"I am Kumoi Gyokaku, a retainer of the Kasumioji Clan. I heard that our princess, Rurichiyo-sama, is a guest at your 10th Division, is that correct?"
Outside the 10th Division's main gate, Kumoi asked the two gate guards with a smile.
"Ah, yes. Princess Rurichiyo is indeed a guest at our 10th Division."
The two 10th Division gate guards did not lie to deceive Kumoi, as there was no need.
Although Rurichiyo and her group had been very careful when coming to the 10th Division, during her few days here, she had toured the entire division several times, causing chaos wherever she went. Almost all 10th Division's members knew that the princess of the Kasumioji Clan was their guest.
And it wasn't just the 10th Division's members who knew Rurichiyo was here. Even people from other divisions who had passed through the 10th Division these past few days knew.
Moreover, Kenryu, Enryu, and Toshiro all believed that as long as they stayed in the 10th Division, there would be no danger. So they hadn't deliberately kept Rurichiyo's presence a secret.
Therefore, with a little investigation, it wasn't hard to discover that Rurichiyo was at the 10th Division.
"Good, good that the princess is here. Her sudden, unexplained departure from the Kasumioji Residence the other day frightened these old bones. So as soon as I heard she was here, I came immediately."
Kumoi said with a hypocritical air.
"Um... could you please take us to see the princess? I have important matters to discuss with her in person."
Kumoi said again.
The gate guards hesitated: "Could you please wait a moment? We need to report this to our Captain."
Kumoi's expression suddenly turned cold: "Hmph, although your 10th Division is part of the Gotei 13, our Kasumioji Clan is an upper-class noble family in the Soul Society. Do I, as a retainer of the Kasumioji Clan, need your permission to see our own princess? What kind of logic is that?"
"Well..."
The two gate guards were momentarily speechless.
"Hmph, I'm merely trying to see our princess, and you are so evasive. I have ample reason to suspect that the princess is not here as a guest, but is being detained by you!"
Kumoi snorted coldly and directly led his people into the 10th Division.
The two gate guards instinctively moved to stop them.
Kumoi immediately shouted loudly: "You'd better think carefully! We are from the upper-class noble Kasumioji Clan. If you hurt us, can you bear the responsibility!!"
Faced with Kumoi's harsh tone, the two gate guards instinctively hesitated.
Kumoi seized the opportunity to barge in. Sensing Rurichiyo's Reiatsu, he quickly headed in a certain direction.
"Yanagi, you immediately go report to the Captain. I'll follow them first!"
"If we both leave, who will guard the gate, Masuda?"
"Oh, even if we're not here, nothing will happen for a short while. The most important thing now is to notify Captain quickly. Those people from the Kasumioji Clan seem to have ill intentions!"
"Alright then!"
The two gate guards quickly discussed and split up. One went to report to Toshiro, while the other followed Kumoi's group to prevent them from causing trouble in the 10th Division.