Chapter 160: Aristocrat District


    <span style="font-weight:400">Mansions, high-ss restaurants, and exclusive establishments lined the roads leading into the eastern sixth ward — the aristocratic district. Inessible to themoners without an invitation or formal authorization, this district was among the most protected ces in the Soul Society.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Along one such prestigious road, a group of six figures made their way. At the forefront, two formidable Shinigami, embodying the ideal of stoic bodyguards, cleared the path. Following closely were Ginrei Kuchiki and his grandson Byakuya, dignified andposed, epitomizing aristocratic pride. Apanying them were two aspiring Shinigami from Rukongai, and trailing the group silently was a cat with glistening ck fur.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Byakuya maintained his usual serene fa?ade, but a rare glimmer of agitation flickered in his eyes — a result of the silver-haired youth''s interactions with his sister-inw, who bore a strong resemnce to his wife.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Rukia, your legs look shaky. Let me carry you.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Rukia, you’re about to fall.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Hey, do you think I can’t carry you?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Rukia, why aren’t you saying anything?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Each remark from Kazuya tinted Rukia’s cheeks a deeper shade of red. Kazuya, relishing the moment, was inwardly grateful for the absence of Toshiro, Momo, and Renji. There was no one to interrupt his yful teasing of Rukia, allowing him to go all out.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Finally reaching her limit, Rukia swung her fists, hitting nothing but empty air. “Leave me alone!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“But we’re friends,” Kazuya responded smoothly, effortlessly lifting her onto his shoulder. “A good friend shares in burdens, while a great one carries them. I consider myself a great friend.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Elevated to this new vantage point, Rukia found herself looking down at Byakuya rather than up, a refreshing reversal that made her reconsider her annoyance.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Enjoying the view, huh?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Your voice,” Rukia said, frowning slightly. “I know that for a fact you use it to seduce women.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t need it to seduce women. My charm is enough to melt any heart.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rukia ruffled his hair. “It sounds like pure bullcrap, but I don’t feel like you’re lying.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">His unwavering confidence had a big effect on her judgment. It wasn''t blind confidence — it stemmed from his close rtionship with Tier and others.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Because I’m telling the truth.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rukia crossed her arms. “There’s a girl who is deeply in love with you. What are the odds of you quitting your yboy life and getting into a serious rtionship with her?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Like serious serious?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah, serious serious. ‘I might spend the rest of my life with her’ type of serious.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">He threw his head back and hit her belly. “Are you talking about Momo?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">The silence that followed his question was priceless. She clearly underestimated him, believing him to be ignorant of Momo’s feelings.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He chuckled. “I know Momo is kind of obsessed with me.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She attempted to put him in a chokehold, trying to make him pass out. Of course, she failed miserably. Her efforts couldn’t bear fruit against his superior physical resilience. “And yet, you did nothing?!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It was toote by the time I realized the change in her feelings,” he said with a sigh. “An innocent, pure attraction blooming into twisted love — the unsung tragedy makes my heart ache. Yet I can’t help but root for her sess.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">His words, shamelessly honest, left her momentarily speechless. “How can you say that when you’re the man of her affection?!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“If that’s the case, then I’ll graciously ept her love,” he replied, nodding solemnly as though making a solemn vow. “Protecting one more maiden heart is feasible with my current abilities.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rukia gritted her teeth. “Can’t you just be content with Momo?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Nope. I have many women I love dearly. Look there, Rukia. Doesn’t that ce look elegant?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ahead of them was an extravagant estate with an expansive roof that towered over the surrounding structures. Unlike the typical architecture of the Soul Society, which more closely resembled Japan in the Heian era than the high rises of the current world of the living, this estate seemed like it was designed to look down at the other nobles’ mansions. It was as if the owners of the estate asserted that they were the ruler of the neighborhood.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It’s over the top!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya anticipated the Kuchiki duo to enter this grand estate. Instead, they veered towards a manor directly opposite it. While the Kuchiki Manor was undoubtedlyvish, it paled inparison to the grandeur of its neighbor.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He yfully tapped Byakuya’s back with his sheathed Zanpakutō. “Byakuya.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Byakuya swiveled, his expression one of restrained irritation. “Do not touch me.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“It was my Zanpakutō. Why would I even want to touch another man? That’s just gross.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Byakuya gave him a piercing, unblinking stare. “One day that mouth of yours will bite more than it can chew.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“True,” Rukia chimed in, siding with Byakuya. “Just stay happy with one loving woman. Why do you gotta make it aplicated mess of rtionships?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">He closed his eyes, pulling his lips in a slight smirk. “Fools mock the king’s ambition, not knowing it’s the seed of greatness. I was born in this world to be a king.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">{Wrong. You were born to be a god.}


    <span style="font-weight:400">His dignified voice convinced Rukia that his ambition wasn’t foolish and arrogant, and his real ambition was beyond his hedonism. Recalling Momo’s words about him using those women to achieve his goal further solidified her impression.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I give up,” Rukia yielded to his sweet talk. “I tried my best. It’s between you and Momo now.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">He acknowledged her concession with a nod, then turned his attention back to Byakuya. “That estate we saw earlier — who owns it? Care to indulge the curiosity of the man who outdid you in Shunpo?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“The head of the Five Great Noble ns,” Byakuya spoke coldly, disdain dripping in his voice. “Tsunayashiro n.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya’s eyebrow arched in genuine surprise. “Who?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">The nobles usually came to boast to him about their ns, but no Tsunayashiro had done so. He didn’t even know a n named Tsunayashiro existed within the Soul Society.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rukia gave his ear a quick pinch. “Didn’t your Sensei teach you about the Five Great Noble ns?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I nap during lectures.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Rukia couldn’t help but let out a weary sigh. Without the presence of Momo and Renji, his yful approach to everything shed with her typically serious demeanor. “Listen, the Tsunayashiro n is the most influential family. They are kind of crazy.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“How so?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“They,” Rukia trailed her voice intentionally. “They kill their weak members in the name of ‘survival of the fittest.’”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What an extreme motto.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I heard that their n Zanpakutō, Enrakyōten, is very powerful. It’s also cursed. No one in the family uses it.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">{The curse is nothing to us for we are a walking gue.}


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘No, I am the storm that is approaching.’</i>


    <span style="font-weight:400">{Hoooold up, Partner. Did you cut your hair short because you wanted to cosy Vergil?}


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Ahem. Maybe?’</i>