Hearing that the lady of the house was looking for him, Shisui stood up, bowed, and prepared to leave.
"My lord, it seems Lady Yoruichi has urgent business with you. I will take my leave."
"There's no need. What urgent business could she have?"
Kenma waved his hand in dismissal.
He held the financial power and information network of the Shihoin clan; he was the first to know of any disturbance.
Even Yoruichi, the captain and clan head, was often far behind.
For Yoruichi to come shouting like this, it certainly wasn't anything major.
It was likely just some trivial matter, not worth concealing.
Crash!
The study door was yanked open with such violence that the room shook.
"Kenma, I have something to ask you!"
Yoruichi strode in, followed by two others.
Only then did she notice there was someone else in the room besides Kenma.
"Yo, Shisui, you're here too. You must be just passing the time with this boring guy."
Shisui didn't dare to speak, only scratching his head with an awkward smile to hide his helplessness.
One was his master, the other his master's wife. What could he do?
Only then did Kenma slowly turn his head. His gaze swept past Yoruichi and the two people following her, and his brow furrowed.
"Yoruichi, I don't recall the Shihoin clan teaching such rudeness."
Yoruichi's face immediately fell.
"'My Shihoin clan'? Even I, the clan head, don't talk like that."
She then mimicked Kenma's tone, repeating his words.
"'My Shihoin clan, my Shihoin clan'... I just hate this prim-and-proper act of yours."
After speaking, like an immature child, Yoruichi pulled at her eyelid with her hand and stuck out her tongue at Kenma in a mocking gesture.
Kenma had already grown accustomed to Yoruichi's silly, tiger-like antics.
He put down the scissors, stood up, and his gaze swept past the weak-looking blondie behind Yoruichi's side. He already had a guess.
Still, Kenma asked in a serious tone, "Tell me, what is it exactly?"
Yoruichi beckoned to the two behind her and took a few steps forward, coming right up to Kenma.
Her golden eyes were incredibly sharp, staring straight at Kenma without yielding, her expression stubborn, her aura not the least bit weaker.
"Hey, Mr. Prim-and-Proper, why did you reject Kisuke's funding request? He's already submitted it multiple times, but you haven't approved it even once."
"That is true."
Kenma's expression was as usual; he had expected this.
His gaze shifted to the doorway, past the slender figure of a young girl, and landed on the hesitant, weak-looking blond man.
Kenma's face showed neither joy nor sorrow.
"Third Seat Urahara Kisuke's application has logical inconsistencies. Many areas do not state the purpose and origin of the items, the wording is vague and unclear, and it does not comply with the regulations of the Gotei 13 or the rules of the Onmitsukidō. Procedurally, I cannot approve it."
Kenma gave a slight nod to Urahara Kisuke, as if sincerely expressing his apologies.
"I understand the great significance of what you are doing, Third Seat Urahara, and I also wish I could help you. But due to the regulations, my hands are tied. Please forgive me, Third Seat Urahara."
"Liar!"
Yoruichi thrust out a hand, pointing at Kenma's chest.
"Mr. Prim-and-Proper, ask yourself, is that really the case? It's obvious you're deliberately holding it up!"
Just now, she had been playing with Suì-Fēng when Urahara Kisuke had run over with a long face, begging for help.
Upon hearing Urahara Kisuke's explanation, Yoruichi had immediately brought him to find Kenma.
She was determined to see who was really in charge of the Shihoin clan today!
"Yoruichi, remember your position. You are the head of the Shihoin clan," Kenma said coldly.
"You still see me as the head? Give me a straight answer. Are you going to approve Kisuke's research funding or not?"
"I've already said, I also want to approve Third Seat Urahara's request, but there are multiple procedural non-compliance issues, therefore it cannot be approved."
Kenma's gaze locked onto the point between Yoruichi's eyebrows without a hint of evasion.
"Yoruichi, as the head of the Shihoin clan, you cannot be the one to lead the breaking of rules. Otherwise, the dignity and face of the Shihoin clan will be compromised."
"You!"
"The old lord entrusted me with the great matter of finances. Since then, I have been diligent and conscientious, not daring to slack off in the slightest, for fear of tarnishing this noble family name or even causing the Shihoin clan to decline due to an oversight."
Kenma spoke earnestly, his heart seemingly devoted to the public good, wishing he could tear out his own lungs to show Yoruichi.
At the side, Shisui thought of the various resources his clan had received from Kenma's hands these past few days and couldn't help but lower his head, trying desperately to minimize his presence.
"Seeing you like this now, I imagine the old lord gave me such great authority precisely to prevent a situation like today's. I cannot fail the heavy trust he placed in me."
Kenma's face was unclouded, his righteousness inviolable.
The Shihoin clan was Squad 2, was the Onmitsukidō. With Kenma controlling all the assets of the Shihoin clan, he had a chokehold on the most important financial lifeline of Squad 2.
As long as he disagreed, not even Yoruichi could move a single cent.
"Bringing up Father again?"
Hearing Kenma use her father to pressure her, Yoruichi was instantly at a loss, not knowing how to refute.
Fortunately, her mind worked fast, and she quickly changed her approach.
"Since you say it's non-compliant, then point out where it's non-compliant. If you tell us, we'll be convinced and won't pester you anymore."
To this, Kenma was already prepared.
He walked over to a bookshelf, pulled a list from a file folder, and handed it to Urahara Kisuke.
"Third Seat Urahara, these are all the items you requested, correct? As far as I know, these are all contraband items explicitly banned by the Seireitei. They cannot be possessed or used. Anyone who violates this will be severely punished."
Yoruichi leaned over, craning her neck to see. The list was filled to the brim with items.
She didn't understand much about this sort of thing, but seeing the color drain from Urahara Kisuke's face, she figured that this prim-and-proper Kenma was right.
But...
"So what? As the head of the family, I'm giving a direct order. I approve it."
Yoruichi waved her hand grandly and commanded Kenma, "Mr. Prim-and-Proper, you'd better remember to keep this a secret. If it gets out, the Shihoin family name will be tarnished."
As her voice fell, a triumphant, wicked smile seemed to appear on Yoruichi's face.
'You said you cared about the Shihoin family name, didn't you? Now I'll use that to threaten you. Let's see if you submit or not.'
Kenma clearly heard the underlying threat in Yoruichi's words and sighed helplessly in his heart.
Yoruichi, as the clan head, didn't care about it herself, instead using it casually as a tool for threats.
Yet he, a son-in-law, was desperately trying to maintain the family's face.
Sigh~
This was difficult.
"Naturally, I have no problem."
Kenma's face was stern, his tone becoming ice-cold.
The moment Yoruichi heard Kenma's words, a flash of joy appeared on her face.
But before she could get happy, she heard what Kenma said next.
Kenma didn't look at Yoruichi, instead fixing his oppressive gaze on the blondie at the door.
"But I remember that Third Seat Urahara submitted a formal application, which has now been filed and sent to Squad 1."
"I have already procedurally rejected it, yet Yoruichi has now approved the funds. With such an inconsistency, Squad 1, with its verification duties, will certainly discover the discrepancy."
"At that time, I will have to ask Third Seat Urahara to keep this secret for Yoruichi... on Sōkyoku Hill."
At that moment, a bright, soul-stealing light shone in Kenma's eyes.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]