What? You Want to Assassinate Captain-Commander Araki? Even a Villain Like Me Thinks You're Insane!

Kasumioji Clan territory.

When Chōjirō Sasakibe arrived at the Kasumioji Clan and explained his purpose to the guards waiting outside the gates, he was invited into the clan's highest-ranking reception hall to wait. At the same time, after confirming Sasakibe's identity, another guard immediately ran off to notify the head of the Kasumioji Clan...

Times had changed. Ever since Araki became Captain-Commander, the nobles' authority within the Seireitei had steadily declined. Forget servants like them who were not nobles—even members of the Five Great Noble Clans had to be exceptionally polite when facing members of the Gotei 13, leaving no room for criticism...

Thus, although the Kasumioji Clan was among the strongest of the upper noble families beneath the Five Great Noble Clans, they still had to receive Sasakibe, Araki's envoy and a representative of the Gotei 13, with the highest etiquette. The clan head was even supposed to speak with Sasakibe personally.

Before long, while Sasakibe sat calmly in the Kasumioji Clan's reception hall and drank tea, an elderly man with glasses perched on his nose and a head full of white hair approached him with steady steps and a smile...

"Hehe, my apologies for keeping you waiting, esteemed envoy! I had some matters to attend to just now. May I ask what Captain-Commander Araki requires of me? I will certainly do everything in my power to offer my full support..."

The old man respectfully nodded to Sasakibe as soon as he appeared. While asking about Sasakibe's purpose, he did not forget to offer some flattering pleasantries and praise Araki.

"You are the head of the Kasumioji Clan?!"

Sasakibe frowned at the old man before him. If he remembered correctly, the Kasumioji Clan had always been headed by women. According to the clan, if a man became the head,