The guards did not dare openly refuse Ichiryu.
He was a vice-captain, and he was not forcing entry—only requesting an audience with the head of the Kasumiōji family.
But as Kumoi’s loyal dog, the retainer felt no such fear.
He understood his master’s plans with the Shihōin governor.
Ichiryu had been marginalized.
This vice-captain would never dare to openly disobey.
Crack—
By the time he reacted, he was already on the ground.
Ichiryu stood before the gates of the Kasumiōji estate and slapped the steward’s lackey into the dirt.
The retainer’s reiatsu was not weak.
He knew some Zanjutsu.
As a “noble armed retainer” unattached to any of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, however, he was a non-standard Shinigami.
He possessed no Zanpakutō.
At least, no legitimate one.
The blade at his waist was forged from ordinary reishi.
A true Zanpakutō provided feedback to its holder.
With equal power, the side without a soul sword was at a severe disadvantage.
With equal talent, the Shinigami with a Zanpakutō trained faster.
That was why it had become standard issue.
Most noble houses, especially the ancient ones, maintained their own forces.
Zanpakutō had only existed for two thousand years.
Before that, the nobles wielded similar armaments—precursors to the soul sword.
Some were not inferior, though most carried side effects.
The most famous in this regard was the Shihōin clan and its so-called “Heavenly Armory.”
Nowadays, some private noble forces applied for Zanpakutō.
Allocations were not unlimited.
The true ancient families still maintained cadres of “non-Zanpakutō Shinigami.”
The Kasumiōji family’s ancestral armament, the Tapirao Blade, was somewhat taboo.
Kumoi dared not equip his men with it openly.
The retainer’s reiatsu was merely “not weak.” Ichiryu’s was “barely captain level.”
He never expected Ichiryu to act.
By the time he understood, he was prone and stunned.
“You… damn you!
How dare you—”
The retainer was uninjured but utterly dumbfounded.
He was no longer a mere assassin, but a proper retainer accustomed to giving orders.
This humiliation was too abrupt.
Shing—
Ichiryu drew his Zanpakutō and leveled it at the man’s throat.
“Apologize,” Ichiryu said.
A gurgle escaped the retainer’s throat—part rage, part fear.
He had sensed the killing intent.
It froze him.
“V-Vice-Captain Shihōin… you are…” The gate guard was also dumbstruck.
His hand had gone to his own blade, but one look at Ichiryu made him hesitate.
“A mere running dog, daring to offend a noble of the Shihōin clan.” Ichiryu’s voice carried righteous authority.
“I, the Fifth Elder of the Shihōin clan, have come to see your family head.
Do you understand?
Apologize at once, or I will execute you here for the crime of assaulting a noble”
“I… you… the Shihōin governor… ah!”
As the retainer tried to speak, Ichiryu severed his arm.
Ryūsei rushed over just in time to see the limb fall.
His face was scarred, his purple hair bristling.
Once the leader of Kumoi’s assassination corps, he now wore the fine robes of a Kasumiōji attendant.
“Ichiryu!
What is the meaning of this?” Ryūsei shouted.
“This man assaulted a noble.
When ordered to apologize, he then attempted to attack the vice-captain of the Second Division and the head of the Inspection Corps.” Ichiryu’s tone was even.
“I judge his intent was treasonous.
Is there a problem?”
“You… don’t go too far!
We are not as before.
We are now the Kasumiōji family—”
Ichiryu raised his left hand, wagging a finger.
“So?
When I see Lord Kasumiōji later, I will offer my sincere apologies.
That is a matter between us nobles.”
Ryūsei said nothing.
From his perspective, Ichiryu was simply playing the fool while Kumoi was absent.
But theoretically, they were retainers of the Kasumiōji family.
The family head was that little girl.
“The steward and your Shihōin governor have—” Ryūsei tried again.
“Silence!” Ichiryu cut him off.
“Did I ask about your master’s dealings?
I am here to see Lord Rurichiyo.
I will explain this fellow’s matter to her myself.
So… shall I explain it with an arm, or with an ugly head?”
“Or perhaps, after we finish here, I should report to my captain that certain Kasumiōji retainers attacked a vice-captain with treasonous intent?”
Finally, the wounded retainer clutched his bleeding stump.
The pressure broke him.
“My… my deepest apologies…”
His eyes screamed the rest: When the steward returns, you will—
Tap—tap—tap—
Ichiryu used the spine of his blade to tap the retainer’s shoulders, forcing him to bend.
Several cuts appeared on the fine robe, staining it with blood.
“A stray dog remains a stray dog.
Do you truly not understand?
The basic etiquette of apologizing to a noble.”
The retainer’s expression grew ferocious.
Ichiryu, who had seemed merely to be bullying a subordinate, allowed his reiatsu to surface.
He didn’t release a shred of it.
His presence simply intensified.
“Barely captain level” was more than enough deterrent here.
“Kneel.” Ichiryu enunciated each word.
“Press your ugly face to the ground and apologize.
Otherwise… die.”
The pressure swelled.
“I beg your forgiveness!”
Before he knew it, the retainer’s face was pressed into the dirt.
His resentment could not stiffen his spine any longer.
Ichiryu’s pressure vanished.
He sheathed his sword and strode toward the gate.
“I am here to meet with Lord Kasumiōji.
We have a prior appointment.
No need to escort me.” He ignored Ryūsei and walked past.
As he passed, Ichiryu paused.
He straightened the open front of his own kosode and whispered, “The robe is not bad.
Far better than the rags of a stray dog.
You should take care of it.”
Done with the chapter?
You got thoughts?
Drop them.
Simple as that.