Shihoin

Shihoin Sennichi looked kindly at Kyoraku by the door, and at Ukitake, who stood beside him with a slightly reserved expression. Flanking the two were 2nd Division members who looked on with guarded vigilance.

Sennichi waved a hand at the squad members, signaling them to let the group pass.

Kyoraku bowed to Shihoin Sennichi: "It has been a long time since I last saw you. I never expected you to visit the Shino Academy in person today."

For Shunsui, who had lost his parents at a young age, Shihoin Sennichi was first and foremost an easygoing elder, rather than the head of a Four Great Noble Houses.

Sennichi patted Kyoraku on the head: "Ah, little Shunsui! You seem to have grown taller again! Your brother is very busy lately, so don't be too mischievous and distract him!"

Kyoraku pouted indignantly: "How could I be? I'm a genius! Since I've entered the Shino Academy, I will definitely become the most outstanding Soul Reaper!"

As he spoke, he gestured toward Lin Nan and the Ukitake beside him: "You should already know Lin Nan, and this is Ukitake Jushiro, also a disciple of Master Genryusai."

Sennichi observed Ukitake carefully for a moment, sensing his spiritual pressure, and then nodded in appreciation:

"Indeed, another promising talent. Captain Yamamoto is truly lucky this year to have three such excellent disciples."

Kyoraku smiled politely and obediently at Sennichi: "It seems you have things to discuss with Lin Nan, so I won't intrude any further. Please forgive me for taking up your time!"

He gave a polite bow and prepared to leave the room.

Lin Nan and Ukitake, standing to the side, stared in disbelief.

Was this really the same slacker Kyoraku Shunsui? Did he eat something strange for lunch???

Shihoin Sennichi did not speak, but instead looked over the three Gen Style disciples in the room with interest:

"You three stay as well; there is nothing here that needs to be kept from you."

Sennichi turned his gaze back to Lin Nan's face and said with a half-smile: "I heard it was your suggestion to Okiya to expand the scope of the investigation to the third-year students?"

Lin Nan nodded: "Yes."

"How did you come up with that?"

"I... it's hard to say. I just put myself in their shoes and thought about how I would maximize my gains if I were the mastermind. Then, I realized that students only have the opportunity to draw their blades once they reach the fourth year..."

Sennichi stared at his own toes, thinking as he listened to Lin Nan's explanation, before finally speaking: "You are still just a new student; how are you so familiar with the situation at the school?"

"I heard it from Tsunayashiro Tokinada... By the way, this dormitory originally belonged to him, and he let me have it," Lin Nan answered candidly.

He didn't know what kind of temper this head of the Shihoin House had; if he was dissatisfied with him living in a single room, he could just go out the door and turn left to find Tsunayashiro...

Sennichi realized: "Oh, someone from the Tsunayashiro Clan. No wonder you would know these things—their family possesses even more intelligence than I do."

He looked around at the three youths once more, lowered his voice, and said with a serious expression: "Because you discovered the clues, such a major case was able to be brought to light;

Furthermore, it was your line of reasoning that allowed the investigation to proceed smoothly. Therefore, I would like to entrust you with a task."

As Sennichi's demeanor shifted, Lin Nan felt a faint change in the spiritual pressure emanating from him. He instinctively looked at Kyoraku and Ukitake, but both remained standing there, reserved and showing no reaction.

Did the two of them not notice the change in spiritual pressure?

Lin Nan steadied his mind, turned his gaze to Sennichi, and asked: "I wonder what this task is?"

Sennichi pondered for a moment and waved his hand gently at Lin Nan:

"Never mind, this is not the right place to talk. Besides, I originally intended to speak with you alone, and I didn't expect Kyoraku and the others to be here. Let's just do this: come to my estate as guests tonight! We can discuss the details then. I will send squad members to pick you up later."

Lin Nan was somewhat puzzled. The head of one of the Four Great Noble Houses could be considered the highest-ranking individual in the Seireitei; did he really need to be so secretive about handling business?

He glanced at Kyoraku with a questioning look.

Kyoraku met Lin Nan's gaze and returned a look of confusion. Due to their family connections, he was indeed quite familiar with Shihoin Sennichi, but only on a casual, daily level. He had never seen Sennichi like this when handling official business.

Ukitake watched their silent exchange and felt a bit frustrated. He hadn't fully grasped the complex etiquette of the Seireitei yet, and when faced with the head of one of the Four Great Noble Houses, he had no idea how to respond.

Seeing that none of the three raised any objections, Shihoin Sennichi's smile returned to his face: "Then it is settled. Tonight after dark, at eight o'clock sharp, two of my squad members will come to take you to the Shihoin estate.

Remember, do not wander around before eight o'clock; just wait obediently in your dormitory. Do you understand?"

With that, he turned around and walked out the door, leaning on his cane, the scarf at his collar fluttering gently.

It was only after the footsteps of Shihoin Sennichi and his party faded away outside that the others finally let out a sigh of relief.

Kyoraku muttered: "This is the first time I've ever seen Lord Shihoin so serious. He's always laughing and joking..."

Lin Nan and Ukitake exchanged a look and interrupted Kyoraku in unison: "Were you possessed by something just now?"

The investigation within the Shino Academy continued in an orderly fashion. However, because the shortage of investigators was so severe, the progress of the interrogations was significantly delayed. Left with no choice, Okiya Genshiro, who was leading the investigation, issued a unified deployment order.

The students and faculty who had not yet been questioned were lined up in the central plaza according to their grade levels. For the time being, everyone's movements were subject to unified control; even for meals, they had to sit on the ground and wait for the cafeteria to deliver food.

Night had fallen, and lights had been lit around the outdoor plaza of the Shino Academy, illuminating the anxious faces of those waiting in the square.

"The Shino Academy seems to have turned into a prison overnight!" Lin Nan stood by the window, looking at the brightly lit plaza, and sighed.

Following Sennichi's instructions, he had come to Kyoraku's dormitory to wait after finishing dinner.

"Indeed, it makes one feel very anxious," Ukitake stood beside Lin Nan, his eyes also fixed on the window, his face full of worry.

Behind the two, Kyoraku lay with his hands behind his head, his right leg crossed over his left knee, his foot swinging back and forth, looking completely relaxed: "Why worry so much? It's not something we need to concern ourselves with. Just wait calmly for the people from the Shihoin estate to arrive."

Ukitake looked back and said helplessly: "Kyoraku has returned to his usual lazy self."

Lin Nan was already used to it: "This guy is just like this. You've only known him for a few days, so you're not used to it yet. After you spend a few more days with him, you'll really want to hit him."

After speaking, he glanced at the sky outside and asked in confusion, "It should be time by now; why haven't we seen anyone from the Shihoin House yet?"

The sidewalks surrounding the plaza outside the window were brightly lit by lamps. If anyone had passed by, they would have been spotted immediately. Yet, at this moment, there wasn't even a shadow of a person on the road.

As soon as he finished speaking, a light knock suddenly sounded at the door. The three of them turned their heads in surprise at the same time.

Kyoraku was closest to the door, so he stood up and slowly opened it a crack—

Standing outside were three figures wearing Soul Reaper uniforms with their faces masked.

"We have been ordered by Lord Sennichi to escort you to the Shihoin House."

Lin Nan and the others exchanged glances, secretly astonished. Before the knocking, they hadn't seen a single shadow outside the window, nor had they heard any footsteps in the hallway.

These people were truly silent.

"What's the need for an escort? I can find the place myself; can't I just take these two along?" Kyoraku asked, putting on his shoes with a hint of excitement.

The masked figure shook his head: "The Lord has ordered that no one must see you leave. Therefore, the three of us will take you there using Shunpo."

Above the training grounds of the Spirit Arts Academy, the students and teachers waiting in line could no longer hide their impatience, voicing their dissatisfaction in a cacophony of chatter.

Around the perimeter of the grounds, members of the 1st Division's special investigation team and the sixth-year students helping out temporarily watched the people in the center of the field with expressionless faces.

No one noticed that high above their heads, several black shadows were flying past, crossing over the treetops and walls before disappearing outside the Spirit Arts Academy.

Lin Nan and the others were each carried on the back of a masked figure. Traveling through the night, the surrounding scenery blended into the darkness, with only the cool night breeze whistling past their ears.

Lin Nan quietly felt the flow of the air, secretly shocked. Even while carrying people, these masked figures could maintain such speed with their Shunpo. Could they be members of the Stealth Force?

Thinking that his Shunpo proficiency had already reached two points, he suddenly felt the urge to perform Shunpo himself and compete with these people. However, having no idea of the route, he had to give up on the idea.

In less than ten minutes, the group took advantage of the night to arrive at the Shihoin House. On the tall main gate was painted the hexagonal crest of the Shihoin House—a crescent moon surrounded by two rectangles and four maple leaves intertwined within the hexagon.

"The head of the house is waiting for you in the main hall. The guards along the way have been dismissed, so you may enter now!" The three masked figures opened the gate and gestured for the trio to proceed.

"This is a bit strange. Surely it doesn't take such a grand display just to meet us?" As they walked through the ancient and magnificent garden, Kyoraku's expression grew increasingly puzzled as he looked at Lin Nan and the other two beside him.

In the home of a great noble, security would never be abandoned at any time. Yet, to their surprise, they hadn't seen a single guard along their route tonight.

Lin Nan and Ukitake exchanged a look with him, noncommittal. No one knew exactly what the rules were in these great noble houses.

Soon, the three arrived at the entrance of the majestic main hall.

At this moment, the tall and spacious main hall was brightly lit and completely empty. Through the open doors, the Shihoin crest could be seen hanging high on the wall.

Shihoin Sennichi leaned on his cane, with a young man in a Soul Reaper uniform standing beside him. Seeing Lin Nan and the others arrive, Shihoin Sennichi smiled and reached out to welcome them:

"Welcome to the Shihoin House!"