The Girl's Modesty, My Secretary Alone

Facing Isshin Shiba's doubts, Rangiku Matsumoto appeared perfectly composed.

She tugged at her peach-colored scarf, straightened it, and answered calmly:

"Didn't I tell you back when I joined the Tenth Division, Captain?"

The time Rangiku Matsumoto joined the Tenth Division was almost the same as when Isshin Shiba became its captain.

However, at that time, that genius white-haired boy had yet to be discovered by Rangiku Matsumoto in Rukongai.

In other words, if she chose to transfer divisions—

The burden on Isshin Shiba's shoulders would increase severalfold.

"Damn it, what benefits did that brat Su Feng promise you?!"

Isshin Shiba protested indignantly. "I, Isshin Shiba, am absolutely no weaker than him—and I'll double that on top of it!"

Rangiku Matsumoto fiddled with her slender fingers and replied without even raising her head:

"Actually, it was nothing much. He offered me a rather high salary."

"How much..." Isshin Shiba's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and his voice grew weak.

"Ten times my current pay."

"Cough, cough. Since you've made your own choice..."

Isshin Shiba took a deep breath, his expression solemn. "Then I won't continue stopping you."

"By the way..."

"If I remember correctly, the Ninth Division's third seat seems to be..."

Rangiku Matsumoto: "..."

Isshin Shiba's bottom line was far lower than she had imagined.

"Don't look at me with such rude eyes."

Isshin Shiba rapped on the desk, dissatisfied. "You don't understand the hardships of running a household."

"There's a whole family waiting for me to support them!"

"That brat Kaien just became a first-year student at the Soul Reaper Academy, and there are far too many places where money is needed."

"And just a few days ago, that girl Kūkaku actually blew up the residence that had only recently been built!"

When speaking of his hardships, Isshin Shiba, a grown man, actually put on such a grief-stricken display that tears and snot seemed ready to flow.

Even Rangiku Matsumoto could not bear it any longer, and she said awkwardly:

"Then... should I ask for you?"

The moment the words left her mouth, Isshin Shiba shot to his feet. His weeping expression vanished instantly as he gave a solemn bow.

"I'm counting on you, Miss Rangiku!"

Ninth Division, Captain's Office.

Su Feng listened to Rangiku Matsumoto's account with a strange expression, remaining silent for quite a while.

"That's how it is."

Rangiku Matsumoto asked cautiously, "Su Feng, is there something inappropriate about Captain Isshin's situation?"

"Inappropriate?"

Su Feng leaned back in his chair, a trace of appreciation hidden in his smile.

From his angle, he happened to have a clear view of that unfathomably deep cleavage.

"There's no need to consider that guy's request."

"The Shiba Family is one of the Five Great Noble Clans of Soul Society, the upper class among the upper-class nobility."

"Even if their past pride led to the family's decline, their foundations are still there."

Su Feng spoke carelessly of the Five Great Noble Clans' secrets.

"Besides, there are only a handful of people left in the Shiba Family now."

"With Isshin Shiba's salary, it is more than enough for them to live extremely comfortable lives."

To outsiders, the Shiba Family was a noble house that disdained associating with other nobles, a pure stream among the aristocracy.

But in Su Feng's eyes, that entire family could only be considered a muddy torrent.

When filth became the norm, purity itself became a mistake.

There was no way to judge whether the Shiba Family ancestor's choice had been right or wrong, but one thing was beyond doubt: he had changed nothing.

The Soul King still became the wedge that maintained the stability of the Three Worlds.

Of course, the Tsunayashiro Family ancestor had undoubtedly been the mastermind behind it all.

Though the development of everything at the time had merely been an extension of the Soul King's will.

However, the actions of the Shiba Family's founder had undoubtedly affected his descendants, causing such a great family to be gradually worn away by the passage of time until it ended up in its current state.

This was also the fundamental reason Su Feng found it difficult to judge those actions.

When those below could not fathom the thoughts of those above, they might bring calamity upon themselves that exceeded their own capabilities.

"Then his earlier behavior..." A hint of hesitation appeared on Rangiku Matsumoto's delicate face.

Su Feng spread his hands helplessly. "That guy just thinks I ran off with his Lieutenant and wants some compensation."

Rangiku Matsumoto's pretty face flushed red.

She felt that Su Feng's wording could easily lead people to the wrong idea.

At this point, although Rangiku Matsumoto was still forthright and generous by nature, she was still somewhat different from how she would be in the future.

Especially when facing Su Feng.

The two could not exactly be called childhood sweethearts, but they had spent quite a long time together.

This was also one of the reasons why Rangiku Matsumoto's already extravagant nature had become even worse.

Of course.

To Su Feng, these were all minor issues.

The Tsunayashiro Family might not match the Kuchiki Family, the representative of the nobility, in terms of wealth, but it still far surpassed ordinary high-ranking noble families.

Money was not a problem.

"Alright, since you've already become a member of the Ninth Division."

Su Feng snapped his fingers, drawing the attention of the daydreaming Rangiku Matsumoto.

"Then the position of Lieutenant is bound to be yours."

"From now on, you'll be my personal secretary..."

Rangiku Matsumoto's choice to transfer divisions had little to do with the high salary.

The main reason was still the agreement between her and Su Feng.

"And your work will begin with organizing the case files."

Su Feng pointed toward the bookshelf on the right, which was crammed full of piled-up case files.

"The other division members have already sorted the files by date."

"As for where to begin, I'll leave that to you..."

Looking at the shelf full of case files, Rangiku Matsumoto instinctively widened her beautiful eyes, her red lips parting slightly.

"Three years' worth actually..."

At that, Su Feng showed a helpless expression and sighed.

"More than three years."

"Kensei Muguruma left behind quite a mess."

"He wasn't a noble himself, and to spare Central 46's dignity, most files concerning nobles were simply allowed to pile up."

At this point, he shook his head. "And that guy had quite a bit of selfishness too."

"Quite a few friends he knew well were never dealt with."

Su Feng had expected this, so he did not take it particularly to heart.

In his view, if one did not use power for personal gain, then that power had little meaning.

The Tsunayashiro Family's founder was like that, Kensei Muguruma was like that, and even he himself would be the same.

Su Feng did not think he would be some lotus that remained unstained despite growing from the mud.

He was a rather worldly person.

Just as Rangiku Matsumoto stood there shocked and confused, a large hand suddenly reached out and rested on her orange hair.

Su Feng gently ruffled it and said slowly in a mild tone, "I'll be relying on you during this time..."