Let's end this battle here!
Just as Shaoling Fon, carrying endless waves of energy, was heading straight for her grandmother, a figure stepped forward and blocked the two who were about to fight head-on.
"Sō... Sōgo?!"
Shaoling Fon looked at the person who had blocked her attack, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.
"Grandmother, has Little Fon passed the trial at this stage?"
"Is there any need to continue the remaining trials?"
Sōgo had seen through everything, prevented the tragedy from happening.
" Sōgo, don't get in my way! This is a trial for our Fon Clan!"
Shaoling Fon thought that Sōgo was planning to force her grandmother to pass the exam, and her expression immediately turned displeased.
"Um..."
"Indeed, having progressed this far in the trial, I now have a clear understanding of Little Shaoling's strength."
"Congratulations! From today onwards, you are Soi Fon of the Fon Clan!"
Grandmother looked at Shaoling Fon with a Shaoling Fon expression, her eyes filled with satisfaction.
"Huh!?"
"But Grandmother, I haven't beaten you yet... Please don't go easy on me just because Sōgo said that."
Shaoling Fon is very persistent; she has always been a strict person about things and serious about herself.
"We lost~"
"When Little Shaoling first made her move against me~"
"Grandma, I've already lost!"
"Regarding Little Shaoling inheriting Soi Fon's title... I can only say that she truly deserves it."
Grandmother gently patted Shaoling Fon's shoulder, showing Shaoling Fon through her actions that she was serious.
"I... I understand!"
Shaoling Fon knelt on one knee and nodded slightly. Since her grandmother had already put it this way, she had no choice but to accept it.
"That's for the best."
Sōgo looked at the harmonious scene of grandfather and grandson getting along, and nodded slightly. This was the best ending.
After Shaoling Fon fully inherited the Fon Clan title through the ceremony, Sōgo and Shaoling Fon rode in a palanquin towards the Second Division barracks.
Congratulations, Little Fon!
Inside the palanquin, Sōgo happily congratulated Shaoling Fon on successfully succeeding Soi Fon as her new title.
"Don't call me Little Fon, from today onwards call me Lady Soi Fon!"
After hearing Sōgo's words, Shaoling Fon gently shook her head. From this day forward, she was no longer the weak Shaoling Fon, nor was she any Little Fon; she was Lady Soi Fon!
"Okay, Little Fon!"
"From today onwards, I will call you Little Fon Lady Soi Fon."
Sōgo gave Shaoling Fon a thumbs-up; he definitely supported his Little Fon unconditionally.
"..."
"You did this on purpose, didn't you?"
Shaoling Fon listened to Sōgo " Little Fon Little Fon " over and over again, veins bulged on her forehead.
"Of course not..."
"You're a treasure of our Second Division, Little Fon... no, I mean, Lady Soi Fon."
Sōgo waved his hands repeatedly. How could he have done that on purpose? He definitely didn't do it on purpose; it was intentional.
"You..."
After hearing Sōgo's words, Shaoling Fon clenched her fists.
"In short, Execution Force will be under your leadership from now on."
Sōgo patted Shaoling Fon's head and began to speak.
"..."
"Don't always treat me like a child!"
Shaoling Fon lowered her head helplessly and muttered to herself.
"What did you just say, Little Fon?"
Sōgo scratched the back of his head and asked.
"Nothing..."
Shaoling Fon turned her head away, looking dejected.
I don't understand...
Sōgo looked at Shaoling Fon's expression, completely baffled as to why.
After Sōgo and the others returned to the Second Division, they entered into another period of ordinary daily life, and soon another ten years passed in the blink of an eye.
" Sōgo's gone~"
Inside the Second Division Captain's room, Shaoling Fon, whose hair was half-grown, called out to Sōgo, who was slumped on the sofa reading a magazine.
"Um?"
"Is it time yet?"
Sōgo looked at the clock hanging above his head and asked in confusion.
"It's not a question of whether the time is up or not, it's a question of whether we're about to go over time."
Shaoling Fon sighed helplessly, pointed to the watch on her slender wrist, and said.
"Are we going to go over time?"
"That wouldn't be good..."
Sōgo hearing Shaoling Fon's words, Sougo hurriedly straightened his clothes and ran towards the door of the squad leader's room.
"Really..."
Seeing Shaoling Fon in a hurry, Sōgo shook her head helplessly and followed closely behind.
The two walked out of the Second Division barracks amidst the respectful salutes of the members of the Kuchiki Clan Stealth Force. Today, they were going to the Kuchiki Clan to attend their ceremony.
The two of them jogged all the way to the noble street.
Even today, several Soul Reaper dressed in Shihakusho still guard the noble district. This is the residence of four of the Five Great Noble Clans, and absolutely no mistakes can be made. Ordinary Soul Reaper are absolutely not qualified to enter, but this "ordinary" certainly does not include Sōgo and Soi Fon.
Both of them are of noble birth and hold positions within the squad, so going to the noble district is like coming home for them.
"Grown ups!"
The sharp-eyed Soul Reaper, upon seeing Sōgo's face, immediately knelt down on one knee and greeted him repeatedly.
Although these Soul Reaper guarding the noble district do not belong to any of the Thirteenth Division, and they do not need to bow even when they see a division captain, Sōgo is different. When they kneel, they are not kneeling to Sōgo's status as the Second Division Captain, but to the Shihoin Family that Sōgo and five dukes who created Soul Society!
"Get up! Don't worry about me." Sōgo casually waved to the group of Soul Reaper guarding the noble street, then continued walking towards the gate... until he had half a foot inside the noble street, Sōgo seemed to remember something, turned around and asked the group of Soul Reaper, "Are many people going to the Kuchiki Clan?"
"The queue started last night and now it's blocking half the block. The Captain-Commander has even dispatched First Division squad from the First Division to help us alleviate the security problem..."
The Soul Reaper guarding the noble district responded repeatedly after hearing Sōgo's words.
"Yeah?"
"Is this really the end?"
Upon Sōgo the guard's words, Sougo's expression changed, and he quickly grabbed Shaoling Fon and ran towards the Kuchiki Clan.
However, before Sōgo could even make any progress, his expression completely fell.
What's going on?
Sōgo looked at the sea of people, the long queue of countless people, and felt completely overwhelmed.
"Didn't I tell you to come earlier?"
Shaoling Fon followed behind Sōgo, muttering to herself.
"I didn't expect this to happen. Isn't it just that brat's 'coming-of-age ceremony'? (The ceremony to officially join the squad and become a full-fledged Soul Reaper )? Is it really necessary to make such a big fuss?"
Sōgo felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at the long lines of noble family heads and their servants carrying all sorts of gifts, or even the direct descendants of the families themselves queuing up.
"That's the eldest son of the Kuchiki Clan, the next head of the Kuchiki Clan, and the future captain of the Sixth Division! Do you think he's just some nobody?"
Shaoling Fon followed behind Sōgo and spoke softly.
"Ah... that arrogant brat, so he has such a powerful background! That's impressive~"
After Sōgo what Shaoling Fon, Sougo nodded slightly, looking as if he greatly admired Big Cabbage.
"You, the acting head of the Shihoin Family... how dare you say that?"
After hearing Sōgo's words, Shaoling Fon sighed helplessly. Sōgo had no sense of responsibility as the acting head of one of the Five Great Noble Clans.
"So, we'll have to queue here then~"
"I'm so unwilling to accept this..."
Sōgo looked at the sun shining overhead, his face full of displeasure.
"It's because you're not in a hurry. At times like this, even if you're unwilling, you have to endure it."
After hearing Sōgo's words, Shaoling Fon huffed and puffed.
"Why don't we just barge in?"
Sōgo thinking for a while, Sougo made a suggestion.
"Absolutely not! As representatives of the Shihoin Family, we cannot do something so shameful. Are you planning to be on the front page of the special edition tomorrow? (The newspaper edited by Kaname Tōsen —don't ask him how a blind man can be the editor-in-chief of a newspaper...)"
Shaoling Fon grabbed Sōgo, afraid he might do something outrageous. The two most dangerous people in the entire Second Division were Lilynette and Sōgo.
"What? We can't force our way in?"
Sōgo was shocked by what Shaoling Fon said.
"Of course not! Forcibly breaking into someone's home is a crime!"
Shaoling Fon really couldn't understand why Sōgo was so shocked. This was common sense... Didn't the Five Great Noble Clans break into a private residence without breaking the law?
"Excuse me, are you Lord Sōgo Shihoin and Lady Soi Fon?"
Just as Sōgo and Shaoling Fon were planning to force their way in, a man wearing a haori with the Kuchiki Clan crest tattooed on his back walked towards them.
"Yes."
Sōgo glanced at the newcomer and nodded slightly.
"Excellent, it seems I hadn't made a mistake. Please come this way; Lady Ginrei Kuchiki has been waiting for you in the banquet hall for quite some time."
The person wearing a haori smiled slightly after hearing Sōgo's words, bowed slightly, and led the way.
"Are we going straight into the Kuchiki Clan to find Old Man Rei and Cabbage?"
After hearing what the man said, Sōgo was taken aback at first, then realized what he meant and asked.
"Exactly."
The guide nodded slightly, indicating that this was exactly what Sōgo meant.
"Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
"Wouldn't that mean we're cutting in line?"
After listening to the guide's words, Sōgo asked a question.
"Hehehe... You're joking."
"Most of the people still standing here at this hour are those who are not qualified to enter the Kuchiki Clan's gates, but still unwilling to leave. The Kuchiki Clan is not a place that just anyone can enter, especially those minor nobles who moved here from other neighborhoods. Do they really think they are nobles?"
After hearing Sōgo's words, the guide glanced smugly at the crowd still queuing up, as if he were a fox borrowing the tiger's might. With the Kuchiki Clan as his backer, he looked down on these minor nobles.
"Yeah?"
After hearing what the guide said, Sōgo Shihoin frowned slightly.
Sōgo.
Shaoling Fon noticed the change in Sōgo's expression and grabbed Sōgo hand.
"Um?"
Sōgo, holding Shaoling Fon's hand, relaxed, realizing he had worried Shaoling Fon.
"Don't worry, I can't do anything about it, and it has nothing to do with us anyway."
Sōgo gently patted Shaoling Fon's shoulder, then silently followed behind the guide.
There are certain things and places that require certain thresholds to enter; there are too many such things... The Shihoin is no exception.
The guide sensed a slight change in Sōgo's emotions, realizing he might have said something wrong, so he kept quiet and dutifully completed his task.
"Arrive..."
After leading Sōgo and the others to the entrance of the Kuchiki Clan's residence, the guide looked at Sōgo, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
"You can leave now. There's nothing for you here."
Sōgo understood why the other person was hesitant to speak. He smiled faintly and said to the person, "There's absolutely no need for me to argue with someone over such a trivial matter."
"Yes, sir!"
After receiving Sōgo's response, the guide nodded repeatedly, indicating that he understood.
With Sōgo's response, the guide's expression relaxed considerably.
Let's go~
After the Sōgo left, Sougo took Shaoling Fon's hand and walked into the Kuchiki Clan's gate.
"Yo~ Young Master Sōgo."
As soon as Sōgo and Shaoling Fon entered, they saw several heads of high-ranking noble families chatting casually, a stark contrast to the tense expressions of the lesser nobles who were lingering and queuing outside the Kuchiki Clan's gates.
"Um."
Sōgo simply nodded to the unfamiliar family heads and continued to lead Shaoling Fon inside, showing no intention of wasting any time there.
"Tsk~"
What kind of attitude is that?
"The head of the Shihoin Family has already defected, yet they still act like one of the Five Great Noble Clans, looking down on everyone here. If you ask me, the Central 46 Chambers is useless. A family whose head has defected should have its status as one of the Five Great Noble Clans revoked, and the Kasumioji Clan should fill the vacancy. Don't you agree, head of the Kasumioji Clan?"
After Sōgo and Shaoling Fon entered the inner courtyard, one of the high-ranking noble family heads with a mustache commented on the Shihoin Family with displeasure, then bowed slightly and smiled at the other family head beside him.
"You can't say that. The Shihoin Family has been one of the Five Great Noble Clans since ancient times. How can we strip them of their status over such a trivial matter? Besides, Young Master Sōgo is a man of exceptional talent; he was promoted to the Gotei 13!"
Upon hearing the other Kasumioji Clan's words, beads of sweat immediately appeared on the patriarch's forehead. He dared not follow suit. He knew perfectly well the size of the Shihoin Family and the size of their own Kasumioji Clan. If he didn't, he would have been devoured by those eyeing their Kasumioji Clan's assets long ago.
"I'm more interested in the girl who's always by Young Master Sōgo's side than Young Master Sōgo. Has Young Master Sōgo gotten married this year?"
Besides the head of the mustache family and the head of the Kasumioji Clan, another family head also spoke.
"I don't think so?"
"Although I don't know the specifics of Young Master Sōgo's situation, I do know a thing or two about the girl who's with Young Master Sōgo. She should be the current vice-captain of the Second Division, the new Soi Fon of the Fon Clan."
The head of the mustache family kept referring to the Shihoin Family, Sōgo Shihoin Family, he still added the title "young master."
" The Fon Clan? Which newly risen noble family is this? They made their move so quickly? Faster than the three of us?"
The patriarch, curious about Shaoling Fon, touched his chin and asked with a troubled expression, as he really couldn't remember anything about the Fon Clan.
"What high-ranking noble family? The Fon Clan is just like any other waiting family outside..."
The patriarch with the mustache shook his head dismissively, his words revealing arrogance and prejudice.
"That's just like Lady Yoruichi."
After hearing the words of the mustachioed family head, the one who was curious about Shaoling Fon remained silent for a moment before finally uttering these words.
"Hahaha..."
Immediately, the other heads of the high-ranking noble families all burst into laughter.
"What's wrong, Sōgo?"
In the inner courtyard, Shaoling Fon suddenly felt Sōgo pulling her hand, and then he suddenly tightened his grip.
"Fine."
After Sōgo what Shaoling Fon said, Sougo didn't say anything; he just held Shaoling Fon's hand tightly.
After I revised that chapter three times, it seems it has finally been unblocked.
(End of this chapter)