"Captain Kyōraku, was what you said true?"
Ailin set down his wine cup and asked Ise Nanao in a grave voice.
Ise Nanao pressed her lips together, lowered her head, and remained silent.
"...Sigh."
Seeing Ise Nanao like this, how could Ailin not understand?
"Nanao, you need to know that anyone who could attack your father in the heavily guarded noble district without leaving behind any evidence possesses strength and influence far beyond what you can handle now."
"Even if you truly found something, what could you do with your current strength?"
A trace of disappointment appeared in Ailin's eyes as he looked at Ise Nanao.
"Nanao, this is a world where personal strength reigns supreme."
"When you become strong enough to disregard all rules, all it would take is one sentence—tell the entire Seireitei to help you find the person who assassinated your father, or you would destroy the entire Seireitei. I'm afraid that within three days, every bit of information on that person, including the information on whoever ordered them, would be placed before you."
"Hey, hey, hey, Captain Ailin, that's too much. Too much."
Hearing Ailin say this, Shunsui Kyōraku coughed several times and quickly raised a hand to stop him.
"See, Nanao? Just like Captain Kyōraku."
Ailin ignored Shunsui Kyōraku and said to Ise Nanao, "Do you know why Captain Kyōraku got nervous when I said that?"
"Because he knows I have the strength to do those things."
"But what about you? Even if you went out and said the same thing, people would only treat you as a joke."
"Why spend your time digging through documents and intelligence instead of training hard to become stronger?"
"Let me ask you this. Suppose you found that killer today. Then what?"
"What if that killer was the retainer