Following behind Kensei Muguruma, Mirai stepped into the Noble District for the first time as an "invited attendant."
Two tall stone walls cut off the noise from the Seireitei residential areas where ordinary Shinigami lived.
The gates in the walls looked ordinary but were equipped with Reishi identification barriers. The sentries standing guard on either side were not regular Shinigami, but private soldiers belonging to the nobility.
Even with a formal invitation, and even with the ranks of Captain and 5th Seat, they were subjected to a thorough inspection at these two checkpoints.
The guards cross-referenced the orders, asked about their purpose, and let their gazes linger on Mirai's face for a few extra seconds.
Even Captain Kensei Muguruma kept a stiff face, answering the routine questions about being "invited by the Kuchiki family for the ceremony".
Once they stepped past the inner wall, the scenery changed.
The streets were wide and clean, paved with white stone.
The architecture on both sides was old and elegant, with deep courtyards that showed the wealth behind the walls.
Even the Reishi in the air seemed different.
To celebrate the Kuchiki family's occasion, the streets had been decorated early.
Reishi lanterns hung under the eaves, and silk decorations bearing the "Kuchiki" family crest were visible everywhere, adding a festive air to the solemn surroundings.
As expected of the head of the Five Great Noble Houses, the display was grand and proper.
Looking at this "other world" so different from what lay outside the walls, a doubt flickered in Mirai's mind.
He leaned in toward Kensei and lowered his voice.
"Captain, I heard Captain Shinji mention before that the ceremony was supposed to be at the Sixth Division. Why was it moved inside the Noble District?"
He remembered that the Sixth Division, as the dedicated noble guard unit, had its barracks built on the outskirts of the district.
Kensei walked forward without looking aside, answering low.
"It was originally set for the Sixth Division barracks, but too many nobles were invited this time. Important figures from every house are attending. Some people..."
He paused, then continued, "Maybe out of caution, they felt that the barracks were a public-facing institution and weren't as secure as the Noble District.
"The Kuchikis went along with the suggestion and moved the main ceremony and reception to their private estate."
He stopped for a beat and added, "That's why I didn't bring Mashiro along."
Mirai understood. Putting that over-energetic Lieutenant in a place filled with antiques and stiff-necked nobles was a recipe for disaster.
As they drew closer to the gates of the Kuchiki manor, Mirai's sense of unease grew.
Sure enough, while still a distance away, he spotted two familiar figures standing under an ancient tree outside the gates. They didn't seem in a hurry to enter, looking more like they were waiting for someone.
Can't avoid it, Mirai sighed inwardly, though his face remained unreadable.
"Captain Shinji? You're here early?" Kensei was also surprised and took the lead in greeting them.
There was at least an hour before the official start. Given Shinji Hirako's reputation for laziness and his habit of arriving at the very last second, appearing this early was unusual.
Shinji turned around, a flippant smile on his face.
"Oh, it's Kensei. You're the same as ever."
His gaze skipped lightly over Kensei's shoulder and landed on Mirai, his golden eyes flashing with amusement.
"What's this? You brought our 'Soul Society's Most Beautiful Noble' along? Are you planning to show off some commoner charm at the Kuchiki estate? Looking to crash the party?"
Mirai stepped forward to stand level with Kensei, responding evenly.
"Captain Shinji is joking. I wouldn't dare act out in front of the Kuchiki gates. I'm just an ordinary soldier following my Captain to see the world."
Kensei scratched his short silver hair, explaining with a hint of annoyance.
"You know how things are lately. I planned to just show my face and leave, but I expect there will be plenty of people looking to chat. Having Mirai handle them will make things easier for me."
"True enough." Shinji's gaze returned to Kensei's face. His smile faded a little.
"The situation lately hasn't been peaceful. It's making it impossible to enjoy a drink in peace."
Wait.
Mirai whipped his head toward his Captain and lowered his voice.
"Captain Kensei, you never said anything about things 'not being peaceful.' You said I was 'blocking people' because the situation was complicated?"
He felt a headache coming on.
What was going on? Even the straightforward Kensei was starting to speak in riddles? There was hidden information he hadn't shared?
Kensei blinked, looking a bit blank. "I told you I needed you to help handle people. Wasn't that specific enough?"
"You said 'help,' you didn't say what the reason was!"
Mirai struggled to keep his expression neutral. He squeezed the words out through gritted teeth.
Other invited nobles and Shinigami were already approaching from a distance, so he had to maintain his composure.
Kensei looked at Mirai, then at Shinji, and finally at Sosuke Aizen, who stood silently by Shinji's side with a gentle smile.
Shinji nodded, seemingly indicating it was fine to speak.
Kensei let out an "Oh," as if it had just clicked.
"Actually, it's nothing that needs to be kept secret. It's just that there's been some friction between factions in the Noble Council lately. There are undercurrents everywhere.
"Plenty of ambitious nobles are reaching out to us Captains, openly or in the shadows, trying to test our stances or seek support. It's annoying."
Conflict? Chaos? Mirai recalled the road they had just traveled. the Noble District was decorated and orderly. There wasn't a single sign of trouble.
"Has Captain Commander Yamamoto... not taken a stance?" Mirai asked cautiously.
With the old man's prestige and power, a clear statement from him should have been enough to suppress most of these ambitions.
Kensei shook his head, looking irritated this time.
"The Captain Commander hasn't given clear instructions. After all, the daily governance of the Seireitei, resource allocation, and the enforcement of many rules still sit in the hands of the Noble Council.
"The Captain Commander and the Gotei 13 are primarily responsible for defense against external enemies and maintaining basic order.
"Without clear evidence of rule-breaking or threats to the Seireitei's stability, the Captain Commander can't easily interfere in the internal affairs of the nobility."
"?" Mirai was genuinely stunned.
This was different from the information he "knew."
He couldn't help but press further.
"Captain, wasn't the Central 46 established decades ago? Theoretically, the highest judicial and legislative power should be in their hands. They should be the ones managing the Seireitei's government, right?"
Kensei gave Mirai a frustrated glare.
"You! I tell you to handle squad affairs and learn about the Seireitei's current state, but you always make excuses and push it off!
"The Central 46 was established, yes. And it does have representatives from various levels, including minor nobles, mid-tier nobles, and even symbolic commoner representatives."
He paused, his voice taking on a sharper edge.
"But that place mostly handles daily legal rulings and approves routine matters.
"The ones who truly decide the direction of the Seireitei, distribute core interests, and control resources are still the 'Noble Council', controlled by the top-tier nobility.
"Many resolutions from the Central 46 can't go anywhere without the tacit approval or backing of the Noble Council."
As he finished, Kensei looked into the distance.
He saw the Eighth Division Captain, Shunsui Kyōraku, approaching with his usual lazy gait.
Kensei snorted. "Otherwise, do you think I'd be willing to run over here for a gathering that's purely meant for the nobility to flaunt their connections and power?"
Mirai fell silent.
He had been relying on his bits of "prophetic" information, and he had neglected to learn the actual power structure of the Seireitei in this era.
He had assumed the Central 46 already held absolute power and that noble influence had been constrained by the system.
Now it seemed that at this point in time, the scales of power in the Seireitei were tilted.
There was a significant discrepancy between his "common knowledge" and the reality.
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