Control of Wealth and Connections

"So Kenma has come..."

Hearing someone push the door open and enter, the old man sat up with the attendant's support, his voice hoarse and weak.

His cloudy eyes looked over, passing across his daughter Yoruichi before finally settling on Kenma as he approached.

"Father, are you all right? Lie down first."

Kenma hurried over to support the old man, gently easing him back down, only for the old man to stop him with an outstretched hand.

"It's fine. I know my own condition. I won't die anytime soon. At the very least, I can hold on until the day you and Yoruichi are married."

Shihōin Chunyan spoke stubbornly, traces of his youthful fearlessness and bearing still visible on his face.

"If I do not see your happiness after marriage, I will not rest easy even in death."

"Father, do not say such discouraging things. You must not only attend Yoruichi's and my wedding—you cannot miss the birth of your grandson either."

A trace of sorrow flickered across Kenma's face, his eyes shifting as his usual calm expression cracked.

Ever since Shihōin Chunyan had taken a liking to him, the old man had treated him exceptionally well, giving him whatever he asked for. It would not have been an exaggeration to call him a biological son.

Kenma considered himself a cold-hearted man, but how could he remain unmoved by such kindness from another person?

Perhaps, deep down, he truly did feel some affection and regarded Chunyan as an elder.

Chunyan gently shook his head, his gaze falling on his daughter, filled with tenderness and fondness.

"Yoruichi, I know you are dissatisfied with this marriage, and perhaps you have even come to dislike Kenma. If you must blame someone, blame me, the one responsible. Do not let it affect the feelings between you two," the old man said earnestly.

"I will... Father."

Yoruichi, standing by the door, was equally moved, but she bit her lower lip and refused to show weakness.

She was now the head of the Shikokuin Family, no longer a child sheltered beneath another's wings.

Though she resented the marriage arrangement her father had forced upon her, what could she say?

Was she really supposed to act on her temper, defy him, and anger her own father to death?

She only had this one father.

The old man nodded lightly and looked once more at Kenma beside him.

"Child, I know you have thoughts of your own as well, but I do not have long to live. Now, I can only beg you."

"Father, tell me. I will definitely do it."

Seeing Kenma's serious expression and steady disposition, Chunyan felt satisfied.

"I spoiled Yoruichi too much when she was young, and that led to her current reckless, audacious temperament. Sooner or later, she will cause trouble, perhaps even drag the Shikokuin Family into it. If she does anything wrong in the future, I need you to pull her back in time and lend her a hand."

"If she truly proves impossible to support, then I ask you to watch over Yushiro. Watch over the Shikokuin Family."

The old man's words were practically the same as entrusting an orphan to another's care.

Hearing this, Kenma could not help sighing inwardly. The old man had not lived all these years for nothing. Old ginger was still the spiciest.

He truly had a sharp eye for people.

A few decades from now, Shihōin Yoruichi really would elope with some yellow-haired brat and become wanted, leaving the Shikokuin Family without its pillar and sending it into decline from which it never recovered.

Even though its reputation was later restored when the conspiracy of the mastermind behind it all was exposed, what had been lost could never be recovered.

"I will. Please rest assured," Kenma said solemnly.

Seeing such calm, General-like bearing in his future son-in-law, Shihōin Chunyan grew even more satisfied.

"It seems my decision to bring in a son-in-law was not wrong. I chose the right person as well."

No one knew a child better than their father.

How could Chunyan not understand his own son and daughter?

Though Yoruichi was outstanding, she was impulsive, wild and hard to tame, and lacked long-term vision. Once she got worked up, she stopped caring about consequences. There was nothing she would not dare to do.

Though Yushiro was sensible, he was far too young, and his strength had yet to reach the required standard. Letting him take charge was worrying.

After seeing what the equally noble Kuchiki Family had done, he immediately caught on and followed their example.

Among the Shinigami who had graduated in those years, he selected carefully and ultimately set his eyes on Kenma, who had a dignified appearance and a steady temperament.

Though his background and identity were not as spotless as the Kuchiki Family's son-in-law, his maturity and composure alone were enough for the old man to make up his mind.

Moreover, he had met the Kuchiki Family's son-in-law before, and he had vaguely felt that the man was arrogant by nature and would surely stir up no small trouble in the future.

Enough to give Kuchiki Ginrei a headache.

"Oh, right. This is for you."

The old man extended his withered hand, took two yellowed old books from beneath his pillow, and handed them to Kenma.

Kenma looked at them, his heart stirring.

"These are?"

"These two books are the Shikokuin Family's most important possessions. One records the Shikokuin Family's wealth and liquid funds, lands, properties, and even certain secret bases. Everything is recorded inside."

"The other records the Shikokuin Family's connections: its subordinate retainers, its network of ties with the various noble families, and the hidden agents and informants planted in key places. Everything is recorded in meticulous detail."

The old man shakily pushed them into Kenma's arms.

"Finances and intelligence networks—these two crucial things will be entrusted to you from now on. You will handle them..."

"Father..."

Kenma could not help but be moved.

Anyone with even a little common sense understood the importance of money and information, yet the old man was handing both of them over to him. That alone said a great deal.

Seeing the determination in the old man's eyes, Kenma nodded heavily.

"Do not worry, Father. I will never disappoint your expectations!"

Ever since he and Yoruichi had become engaged, Shihōin Chunyan had immediately handed the Second Division over to Yoruichi, making her its captain and securing her rightful position.

Though he had been recuperating during this period, he had not neglected any of the necessary arrangements.

All the while, he had been steadily transferring the authority in his hands to Yoruichi bit by bit.

And Kenma had taken the opportunity to gain such enormous benefits and authority, while also obtaining enough strength to support Yoruichi.

"When parents love their children, they make plans for them far into the future. This must be what that means."

The old man had practically arranged everything that would happen after his death, all to ensure Yoruichi's and the Shikokuin Family's status and safety.

After explaining everything, obvious exhaustion appeared on the old man's face.

Seeing this, Kenma no longer disturbed his rest and withdrew.

Before leaving, he carefully reminded the attendants in the room once again to take good care of Old Lord, only then departing with peace of mind.

Watching Kenma's departing figure, the old man sighed and said to his daughter, who had yet to leave, "He is a good child. After you marry, temper that personality of yours and do not bully him. Live happily with him, and preferably give me several grandsons. Then, when I meet our ancestors in Hell, I will be able to hold my head high."

"Tch, that self-righteous act..."

Hearing her father praise Kenma, Yoruichi became even more indignant.

"Old man, you saw how that guy put on such an act when he left. It was downright unpleasant."

"Heh. At least he is willing to put on an act." The old man shot his daughter a sidelong glance. "Unlike someone who cannot even be bothered to pretend in front of me."

"You are both adults now, no longer children. So-called sincerity can sometimes offend people instead. Proper social etiquette is what allows relationships to last longer."

"I know. You should hurry up and recover."

Yoruichi waved her hand and chased after him outside.

Once she spotted Kenma ahead, her usual lively expression returned, and she shouted at him from far away.

"Hey, fake goody-two-shoes! Wait up! I have something to tell you."