Every word and phrase was filled with disdain for Kisuke Urahara.
It was as if no matter how intelligent or high his status, in their eyes, he was nothing more than a dog that could never straighten its back.
Tsunayashiro Hikaru, who had long indigo hair and a handsome appearance, frowned slightly upon hearing this.
He gently stroked his chin with a slender finger, then looked up at the silver-haired youth who had offered the suggestion, nodding in approval:
"Third Brother is right. The Gotei 13 is nothing to us."
"Even if the other party is the Captain of the Twelfth Division, we can summon and dismiss him at will."
"If I'm not mistaken, he must have made those things. As long as we invite him over, the Shihouin Clan's business will collapse without a fight."
"How can such an important business, a merit that benefits all Shinigami, be entirely handed over to the Shihoin Clan?"
"Recalling back then, when the Artificial Soul technology was created, its profits were divided among our Four Great Noble Clans."
"Only those self-righteous fellows from the Shiba Family gave up these profits."
"Otherwise, after all these years, why would they have declined so severely?"
"One step slow means every step slow. We absolutely cannot let them stand above us."
If not for the massive blow the family suffered from the previous years' losses, from which they still hadn't recovered, the Kucihki Clan wouldn't have surpassed their Tsunayashiro Clan to become the head of the Five Great Noble Families.
The title "Second" was already unpleasant, and now with Shihouin becoming "Third."
Their ancestors would likely be furious, scolding them for being idiots and ruining the family.
Heaven help them, all of this was the old family head's problem.
The old family head had been determined to become the Soul King but ultimately failed.
If not for that, how could he have been suppressed by the other Four Great Noble Clans and confined within the clan, never to inquire about worldly affairs again?
His children, during the old family head's absence, naturally had to shoulder their respective responsibilities.
If nothing unexpected happened, whoever handled this matter best would become the new family head.
Some people secretly pondered, exchanging glances, understanding each other's thoughts.
However, due to their excellent noble conduct, they did not let these thoughts show on their faces.
Elegant smiles remained on their faces, but in their hearts, they were each devising their own plans.
At this moment.
Creak...
A long, grating sound suddenly broke the silence in the room.
Everyone looked towards the sound, only to see the room's large door slowly pushed open. A carefree young man, with one hand in his pocket, leisurely walked in.
"Fifth Brother, why are you only just arriving?" Tsunayashiro Hikaru frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure in his tone.
Tsunayashiro Yashin slowly raised his head, glancing at him indifferently, his expression full of unconcern:
"Nothing, it took some time to teach a lesson to a servant. Those fellows were too noisy, actually thinking a simple 'sorry' would make me dismiss them."
"I had someone cut out his tongue. Servants don't need to speak anyway."
"You..."
Seemingly anticipating the lecture Hikaru was about to give, Tsunayashiro Yashin directly interrupted him:
"Big Brother, I don't need you to tell me how to do things."
"I'm not a child anymore. You all discuss what you need to, just tell me what to do in the end."
"Don't tell me you still feel pity for some servants."
"I am a noble. Even if I execute him, no one can say anything about it."
"Just cutting out his tongue is already a great mercy. Do you believe me if I call him here now, he'd still be grateful to me?"
His tone was as calm as water, yet his demeanour was incredibly arrogant.
His attitude greatly displeased Tsunayashiro Hikaru, and it was bad enough that he lacked noble grace; he didn't even have the punctuality a noble should possess.
If he weren't the youngest child of the current head, and his father hadn't doted on him so much before, Hikaru would have wanted to expel him right then.
Almost everyone present had a chance to become the family head; only he did not.
Tsunayashiro Hikaru took a deep breath, trying to suppress his dissatisfaction, and said in a muffled voice: "Since you're here, never mind, it's just a servant."
"Let's discuss together how to snatch the cake from the Shihoin Clan."
"Currently, we have a general idea: to invite the creator responsible for this business, Kisuke Urahara."
"Whether by coercion or enticement, as long as we can make him work for our Tsunayashiro Clan, it will be our victory."
Tsunayashiro Yashin calmly sat down. He looked at his eldest brother and asked, "Why can't we touch Tsugikuni Yoriichi?"
"I heard about the situation on my way here. Besides him, there should also be a Vice-Captain of the Tenth Division, right?"
"Normally, isn't touching a Vice-Captain easier than touching a Captain?"
"Theoretically, yes, but unfortunately, he's not just a simple Vice-Captain." Tsunayashiro Hikaru glanced at Yashin.
Despite his displeasure with the younger man's interruption, as an elder brother, and for the position of family head, he chose to ignore it and explained:
"His teacher is Yamamoto Genryusai. If we touch him, that Head Captain will certainly not let it go."
"Father and he are of the same age, but Father's mental state is not as good as his. In a direct confrontation, we would be at a great disadvantage, so we cannot take that risk."
"A gentleman does not stand under a crumbling wall. You should understand this principle. In contrast, only Kisuke Urahara poses the least risk."
"Although he is friends with Yoruichi Shihouin, the relationship of friends..."
He showed an expression that implied: "It simply cannot withstand the test of profit or human nature."
"This is our opportunity."
What a load of rubbish.
Tsunayashiro Yashin scoffed inwardly. That's why he hated his elder brother's demeanour the most—seemingly steady, but in reality, just cowardly.
In this day and age, the bold thrive, and the timid starve. If one isn't aggressive, how can one succeed?
Like the assassination of Kuchiki Sōjun, besides him, who else thought of it?
No one at all.
But unfortunately, a variable appeared in the middle—Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
He hadn't wanted to bother with this kid, but he kept appearing before him again and again.
Even Tsunayashiro Yashin, who wanted to ignore him, couldn't help but secretly grit his teeth now.
—He must die.
However, due to his lack of status, his words were not adopted by anyone.
After the meeting, everyone unanimously agreed that kidnapping Kisuke Urahara was the best course of action.
—They were all cowards. Letting them inherit the family head position was an insult to the family.
A true family head should be like Father, daring to challenge the authority of the Soul Society, daring to challenge the Soul King.
Since these elder brothers couldn't be relied on, he would do it himself.
Tsunayashiro Yashin's eyes immediately gleamed with a sharp light. As he walked out of the room, he met someone approaching.
His appearance was somewhat familiar, yet also somewhat strange, like a cunning viper.
He thought for a moment...
Hmm, he remembered now.
It was a distant relative from a branch family, at the lowest rank.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada.
If he remembered correctly, this fellow had previously been reported by the Gotei 13 for murdering his wife and was subsequently placed under house arrest.
What was he doing here?
Was this a place he was allowed to be?
Tsunayashiro Yashin frowned slightly.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada, in his eyes, was so glaring.
This was not a place they should be.
Because within the family, the hierarchy was strict.
The status of a branch family was almost the same as that of a servant in the eyes of the main family.
Let alone someone at the very bottom.
They were like annoying parasites, barely surviving in the corners of the family.
Under normal circumstances, Tsunayashiro Yashin felt that even speaking a single word to someone from a branch family would be beneath him.
Moreover, at this moment, Tsunayashiro Tokinada was brazenly heading straight for him.
This action was like throwing a huge stone into a calm lake, instantly stirring up Tsunayashiro Yashin's aversion.
The repulsion in his eyes grew even stronger.
The reprimand was just at the tip of his tongue.
The next second.
"Greetings, Young Master Yashin."
Tsunayashiro Tokinada suddenly stopped. He bowed slightly, gesturing respectfully, as if facing a monarch.
His etiquette made it difficult to find fault.
Tsunayashiro Yashin narrowed his eyes slightly, also stopping, and spoke slowly: "Ah, Tokinada. Do you have business here?"
He wanted to see what this fellow was up to.
Previously, he had not failed to meet Tsunayashiro Tokinada.
At that time, Tokinada was just like him.
Arrogant, brazen.
Because of a minor lapse in etiquette from a subordinate, he mercilessly killed the subordinate, and even his wife, who came to mediate, died at his hands.
While both could be considered scoundrels, Tsunayashiro Yashin believed he was undoubtedly the more benevolent of the two.
At least, he wouldn't kill people at the drop of a hat.
Of course, his attitude towards disobedient subordinates wasn't good either.
The two were practically birds of a feather.
However, the only thing Tsunayashiro Yashin could not tolerate was someone being more arrogant than himself.
Therefore, when he saw Tsunayashiro Tokinada suffer a setback and be confined, the schadenfreude in Yashin's heart was practically overflowing.
Now, Tsunayashiro Tokinada was adopting an extremely humble posture in front of him.
Heh... does he think this will win my favour?
Trash is trash. They'll never amount to anything.
Tsunayashiro Yashin's expression remained normal, but the disdain in his eyes was unconcealed.
He quietly looked at Tsunayashiro Tokinada, and after a moment's pause, his tone was full of mockery:
"Little Brother Tokinada, this isn't where you should be. You haven't forgotten your status, have you..."
"Of course not."
Despite sensing the other party's unconcealed condescension, Tsunayashiro Tokinada's attitude remained respectful:
"I came here this time to find you, Young Master Yashin."
"I've heard about what's happening outside. The Shihouin Clan's actions are truly inappropriate. I can help you reclaim their industries."
"Oh?" Tsunayashiro Yashin smiled, a hint of mockery in his grin.
He put one hand in his pocket. "What method do you have?"
"Don't tell me it's that same old trick of kidnapping Kisuke Urahara. I'm tired of hearing it; it's too foolish."
"No." Tsunayashiro Tokinada decisively denied.
"Of course not, Young Master Yashin. Aren't you curious how that weapon was actually made?"
"Logically speaking, any technology needs prerequisite conditions to achieve breakthrough progress."
"And you know the technologies the Twelfth Division previously researched."
"Artificial Soul and reishi absorption are unrelated."
"If it were Kisuke Urahara's own technology, then he wouldn't need to bring along Shinigami from other divisions."
"Even if the other party is Yamamoto Genryusai's disciple."
"It's clear that the source of this technology is not the Shihouin Clan."
"This... is our breakthrough point."
At this point, he looked around and lowered his voice:
"Young Master Yashin, if I'm not mistaken, your thoughts should be similar to mine, right?"
"That's why you find the idea of kidnapping Kisuke Urahara too foolish."
"..."
Is that so?
Tsunayashiro Yashin's brow furrowed slightly.
The reason he didn't want to kidnap Kisuke Urahara was simply because Tsugikuni Yoriichi's performance made him too uncomfortable.
He had ruined his plans repeatedly.
However...
In front of a branch family member.
To prevent the other party from noticing his slowness, he feigned composure and coughed twice:
"Indeed."
"You're a clever fellow; you managed to figure that out. I felt the same way."
Bullshit.
Seeing Yashin's attitude, a hint of disdain rose in Tsunayashiro Tokinada's heart.
Such trash becoming the head of the family was an insult to the clan.
He had long been displeased with these main family members.
But there was no choice, because his status was too low, and subsequent plans still required the help of these people.
So he could only pretend to be respectful as much as possible, lowering his posture, and speaking slowly:
"I knew it. With your wisdom, Young Master, how could you not have discovered these things?"
"I believe that to seize this industry, digging up their roots is the quickest and most reasonable method."
"If I'm not mistaken, this technology was provided by Tsugikuni Yoriichi."
"Although he is Yamamoto Genryusai's disciple, as long as we only seek wealth and fame, and don't harm anyone, we will most likely not be targeted by Yamamoto Genryusai."
"It's the same no matter whose hands this technology is in; it's just that the Shihouin Clan got involved first."
"Young Master Yashin, please hear me out..."
...
...
Some time later.
Bang.
A loud noise broke the silence. Tsunayashiro Tokinada was violently kicked to the ground by Tsunayashiro Yashin.
The latter coldly looked at Tsunayashiro Tokinada, who was sprawled on the ground, hands in pockets, and scornfully laughed:
"You're trash. Look at your own status. You actually dare to cooperate with me? Are you worthy?"
"My listening to your plan doesn't mean I agree to let you join my ranks."
"Outside, you might be a high-ranking noble,
but in my eyes, you're just a branch family member whose status is slightly higher than an ant."
"If you understand, then scram!"
Now that he had the complete plan, Tsunayashiro Tokinada was useless.
Tsunayashiro Yashin wouldn't be foolish enough to share the credit with others.
Although the plan was provided by Tsunayashiro Tokinada, who would believe a branch family member?
Even if it went to Father, he would still be in the right.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada's thoughts were in disarray from the kick.
He propped himself up with his hands, looking at Tsunayashiro Yashin in disbelief, his tone hard to comprehend:
"Why, Young Master Yashin? I was loyal to you!"
While saying this, he scoffed inwardly.
He had long known the character of the main family members; each one was a refined egoist.
When a plan was about to succeed, they would mercilessly kick out collaborators to prevent the loss of credit.
The current development was as he had envisioned, so next, he would likely be mercilessly thrown out.
This was also what he hoped for; only this way could he place himself outside the vortex.
Tsunayashiro Yashin looked at him, spat, and his eyes were full of contempt:
"Why? Good question. Because I am the main family, and you are a branch family."
"A branch family should sacrifice everything to help the main family climb to a higher position."
"I will remember you, but only remember."
"Uncle Feng."
As his voice fell, the butler appeared beside him like a ghost.
His brows were lowered, and his posture was as elegant as a gentleman: "This old man is here."
"Throw him out." Tsunayashiro Yashin glanced at Tsunayashiro Feng and ordered, his tone indifferent.
Then he added another sentence.
"And make sure he remembers what to say and what not to say."
"I don't want someone to question my plan someday."
"Yes." Tsunayashiro Feng accepted the order.
Upon reaching Tsunayashiro Tokinada, one hand, like an iron clamp, lifted the "bewildered" man, and he slowly walked out of the building.
As he left, Tsunayashiro Tokinada symbolically struggled twice.
Then.
Thud.
A pain in his neck, everything went black, and he knew nothing more.