Yoruichi's Confrontation

Hearing that the Mistress of the House had come looking for him, Shisui rose to his feet, bowed, and prepared to leave.

"My lord, it seems Lord Yoruichi has urgent business with you. Then this subordinate will take his leave first."

"No need. What urgent business could she possibly have?"

Kenma waved a hand.

He held the Shikokuin Family's financial authority and Information Network in his grasp. Whenever there was Any Disturbance, he was always the first to know.

Even Yoruichi, who was both captain and family head, lagged far behind him.

Yoruichi had come shouting like this, so it certainly could not be anything important.

At most, it was some Trivial Matters, nothing worth concealing.

Bang!

The study doors were yanked open with such violence that the entire room seemed to tremble.

"Kenma, I have something to ask you!"

Yoruichi strode in with two people following behind her.

Only then did she notice that someone besides Kenma was in the room.

"Oh, Shisui, you're here too. I suppose you're just keeping this boring guy company."

Shisui did not dare say anything. He could only scratch his head and offer an awkward smile, trying to hide his helplessness.

One was his Master, and the other was Master's Wife. What could he possibly do?

Only then did Kenma slowly turn his head. His gaze swept over Yoruichi and the two people behind her, and his brows immediately furrowed.

"Yoruichi, I do not recall the Shikokuin Family teaching its people to be so rude."

Yoruichi's expression immediately darkened.

"The Shikokuin Family? Even I, the family head, have never said that."

She mimicked Kenma's tone and repeated it.

"The Shikokuin Family, the Shikokuin Family... I hate that holier-than-thou look of yours."

With that, Yoruichi pulled down her eyelids and stuck out her tongue at Kenma like an underage child, making a mocking face.

Kenma had long grown accustomed to Yoruichi's foolishly spirited behavior.

He set down the scissors in his hand, rose to his feet, and glanced at the Timid Blondie standing slightly behind Yoruichi. He already had a guess.

Still, Kenma asked seriously, "Tell me. What exactly is this about?"

Yoruichi beckoned to the two behind her, then stepped forward until she stood before Kenma.

Her golden Eyes were razor-sharp as she stared straight at Kenma without yielding in the slightest. Her expression was stubborn, and her bearing was no weaker than his.

"Hey, holier-than-thou, why did you reject Kisuke's Funding Application? He submitted it several times, yet you did not approve it even once."

"That did happen."

Kenma's expression remained unchanged. He had expected this.

His gaze shifted toward the doorway, passing over the Slender Girl before settling on the Weak Blondie, whose face was full of hesitation.

Kenma's face showed neither joy nor sorrow.

"Urahara, Third Seat's application contains Logical Flaws. Many sections do not state their Purpose and Intent, remaining Vague and Ambiguous. Furthermore, it does not comply with the Regulations of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads or the Rules of the Onmitsukidō. Procedurally, I cannot approve it."

Kenma gave Kisuke Urahara a slight nod, as though sincerely expressing his apology.

"I understand the tremendous significance of what Urahara, Third Seat is doing, and I also hope to help him. But constrained by the Regulations, there is nothing I can do. I hope Urahara, Third Seat will forgive me."

"You're lying!"

Yoruichi stretched out a hand and pointed at Kenma's chest.

"Holier-than-thou, search your conscience. Is that really the reason? You're clearly holding it up on purpose!"

She had been playing with Saeaya when Kisuke Urahara came running over with a mournful face to ask for help.

The moment she heard Kisuke Urahara's explanation, Yoruichi immediately brought him to find Kenma.

She wanted to see who truly called the shots in the Shikokuin Family now!

"Yoruichi, mind your status. You are the head of the Shikokuin Family," Kenma said coldly.

"You still treat me as the family head? Give me a straight answer. Are you approving Kisuke's Research Funding or not?"

"I already said that I want to approve Urahara, Third Seat's application as well, but there are multiple procedural violations. Therefore, it cannot be approved."

Kenma's gaze fell upon Yoruichi's brow, without the slightest hint of avoidance.

"Yoruichi, as the head of the Shikokuin Family, you cannot take the lead in violating the Rules. Otherwise, the Shikokuin Family's dignity and reputation will not look very good."

"You!"

"The Old Lord entrusted the family's financial affairs to me. Since then, I have worked diligently and never dared slack off in the slightest, fearing that I might tarnish this noble Family Name or allow some oversight to bring about the Shikokuin Family's decline."

Kenma spoke earnestly, entirely devoted to the public good, as though he wished he could cut open his own heart and lungs for Yoruichi to see.

Thinking of all the resources the family had received from Kenma over the past few days, Shisui quietly lowered his head and desperately tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

"Looking at you now, I suppose the Old Lord gave me such great authority precisely to prevent a situation like today's. I cannot betray Old Lord's Trust."

There was not the slightest gloom on Kenma's face. He stood stern and inviolable.

The Shikokuin Family was the Second Division, and the Second Division was the Onmitsukidō. With control over all of the Shikokuin Family's assets, Kenma held the Second Division's most vital financial lifeline in his grip.

As long as he refused, not even Yoruichi could transfer a single coin.

"Bringing up Father again?"

Hearing Kenma invoke her father to suppress her, Yoruichi was instantly at a loss, unsure of how to refute him.

Fortunately, her mind worked quickly, and she immediately changed tactics.

"Since you say it is noncompliant, then point out exactly where it is noncompliant. Tell us, and we'll be convinced. We won't keep pestering you."

Kenma had long prepared for this.

He walked to a bookshelf at the side, pulled out a list from a file folder, and handed it to Kisuke Urahara.

"Urahara, Third Seat, these are all items you applied for, correct? As far as I know, they are all prohibited goods expressly banned in the Seireitei. They cannot be carried or used, and anyone who violates this will face severe punishment."

Yoruichi leaned over and craned her neck to look. The list was packed with items.

She did not understand this sort of thing very well, but seeing Kisuke Urahara's face turn deathly pale in an instant, it seemed Kenma's holier-than-thou words were correct.

But...

"So what? As the family head, I'm issuing the highest order. I approve it."

With a grand wave of her hand, Yoruichi ordered Kenma, "Holier-than-thou, remember to keep it secret too. If it gets out, the Shikokuin Family's Family Name won't look very good."

As soon as the words fell, Yoruichi seemed to reveal a triumphant, sly grin.

Didn't you say you cared about the Shikokuin Family's Family Name? Now that I'm using it to threaten you, let's see whether you give in or not.

Kenma had clearly heard the threat hidden in Yoruichi's words and sighed helplessly inwardly.

As the family head, she did not care about such things herself. Instead, she casually used them as a tool for threats.

Yet he, a son-in-law who had married into the family, was fighting desperately to preserve the family's reputation.

Sigh...

This was troublesome.

"I naturally have no objection."

Kenma's face hardened, and his tone turned icy.

The moment Yoruichi heard Kenma's words, delight instantly appeared on her face.

But before she could rejoice, she heard what Kenma said next.

Rather than looking at Yoruichi, Kenma fixed the Yellow Hair at the doorway with an oppressive gaze.

"However, I recall that Urahara, Third Seat submitted a formal application. It has now been filed and sent to the First Division."

"I clearly rejected it through the proper procedure, yet Yoruichi has now approved this funding. Such inconsistency will certainly be discovered by the First Division, which is responsible for verification."

"When that time comes, I ask Urahara, Third Seat to keep this secret for Yoruichi on the Hill of the Executioners."

At that moment, a brilliant gleam flashed in Kenma's eyes, striking terror into the heart.