Hearing Kisuke Urahara's words, Kaelith looked at him quizzically.
"Didn't you just say that the Kuchiki family and Sensei had joined forces and already held an absolute advantage? Why are you changing your tune now?"
Kisuke gently shook his head.
"I'm not changing my tune; it's just that the opponent isn't someone you can reason about with common sense."
"In fact, what I just said was very basic speculation—anyone with a bit of intelligence could think of it."
"So, we have to assume that the Tsunayashiro family has also realized this."
"Kaelith, please consider: knowing they've fallen into an absolute disadvantage, how would the Tsunayashiro family react?"
Hearing this, Kaelith glared at him. "You think I wouldn't know? Aren't I testing you right now?"
After two seconds of silence, he sighed and said, "Barring any surprises, there are three possibilities."
"First, the Tsunayashiro family might have already anticipated this and prepared countermeasures."
"For example... they might have reached agreements with those fence-sitting nobles, having them pretend to side with the Kuchiki but betray them at a critical moment."
Kaelith was startled. "Wouldn't that spell disaster?"
Kisuke hurriedly waved his hand. "It's just speculation; we can't take it seriously. Actually, this possibility is quite low... The old patriarch of the Kuchiki family is quite shrewd; how could he be so easily deceived?"
"That's hard to say..."
Kaelith showed a somewhat complicated expression.
"The second possibility is that the Tsunayashiro family is prepared to fight to the death. If the final meeting results are unfavorable to them, they'll just flip the table."
Hearing this, Kaelith laughed. "That would be great; then the old man can take action and finish them off."
"Yes," Kisuke nodded. "So this possibility is also low."
"The most likely is actually the third possibility."
Looking at the Sekkiseki stone gate not far away, he showed a worried expression.
"I've learned a bit about the Central 46's meeting procedures."
"For this kind of highest-level meeting, they usually last three days."
"In these three days, if the Tsunayashiro family can use underhanded tactics to disrupt the situation the Kuchiki family has established, they can naturally resolve the crisis."
Kaelith folded his arms, nodding occasionally.
Upon hearing this, he suddenly paused.
Disrupt the situation... What's the simplest way?
Naturally, it's to win over the opponent's major supporters or to bring them down.
On the Kuchiki side, who is the most vulnerable major supporter?
Undoubtedly, it's the Shihōin family.
Thinking of this, he looked at Kisuke appreciatively.
"As expected of one of the only two men in the Soul Society who can match me in wisdom. Your analysis is excellent!"
Kisuke wiped his sweat and said, "If you really want to thank me, could you remove that title from me?"
"Ah, don't be so modest." Kaelith patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, when you're being hunted by the Soul Society in the future, I'll save your life."
"Well, thank you very much....I think"
"Sensei! Sensei!! I have important information!!"
In the Captain-Commander's study within the First Division barracks, Yamamoto was quietly meditating when he heard a voice that made his blood pressure rise.
He opened his eyes and looked around the room.
Good grief, by the timing, Kaelith had just finished his shift and already came to bother him.
What did he do to deserve this?
Under his annoyed gaze, Kaelith opened the door and walked in quickly. "Old man, I've figured out your plan!"
Hearing this, Yamamoto was slightly stunned.
Under his somewhat surprised gaze, Kaelith, with an air of mystery and wisdom, repeated the analysis he had just heard from Kisuke Urahara.
"...In conclusion, Yoruichi is now in danger; we must do something!"
After saying it all in one breath, Kaelith couldn't help feeling a bit thirsty.
He looked around, and spotted Yamamoto's teapot, his eyes lit up, and reached out mischievously.
Before he could touch the teapot, Yamamoto's cane smacked his hand away.
Yamamoto sat there, looking at him strangely.
"What you just said—did you come up with that yourself?"
Kaelith raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that, Sensei? This is just basic reasoning; it didn't even take me a cup of tea's time to figure it all out... I'm really thirsty; let me have a sip."
As he spoke, he once again reached out, grabbed Yamamoto's teapot, poured a cup for Yamamoto first, then poured himself a cup, and happily sipped.
Yamamoto's eyes were full of doubt.
His foolish disciple suddenly using his brain so effectively made him feel a bit unaccustomed.
Picking up the tea Kaelith had poured, he took a small sip.
Then, he slowly said:
"I didn't expect you to think of all this."
"Indeed, the path of education is full of surprises; even you have moments of inspiration occasionally."
Putting down the teacup, Yamamoto chuckled.
"Boy, you think I wouldn't think of these things?"
"Even if you didn't come to me, I was about to look for you."
Under Kaelith's somewhat surprised gaze, Yamamoto said calmly, "Since this morning, I've already arranged for two people to protect Yoruichi Shihōin."
"Just in terms of strength, these two are more than enough to ensure Yoruichi Shihōin's safety."
"However, considering that Yoruichi is a woman, and the protection work might have some gaps because of this, I've included you as well."
"If there are situations where those two are inconvenient for close protection, you must take responsibility to ensure Yoruichi Shihōin's safety. Do you understand?"
Kaelith couldn't help but be surprised. "Such a flawless plan?"
"I haven't been Captain-Commander for these few thousand years for nothing."
Seeing Kaelith's somewhat shocked and admiring gaze, Yamamoto was in a great mood.
Among his three students, only one was a good person but sickly; the other two were all scoundrels.
Usually, to make Kaelith listen, he had to rely on his fists.
Rarely did he get the chance to win with wisdom; how delightful!
As Yamamoto was enjoying himself, Kaelith suddenly thought of something.
"Old man, besides me, who are the other two in the protection team?"
If Yamamoto arranged two weaklings, and something really happened, not only would they be of no help—they'd be a burden—that would be really troublesome.
Seemingly guessing Kaelith's thoughts, Yamamoto directly said two names.
"Shunsui Kyōraku and Kōga Kuchiki!"
Now, Kaelith was completely at ease.
One top-tier captain, one master illusionist—with these two, not to mention Yoruichi, even if they were protecting a vase, it would be foolproof.
However, just in case, after leaving the First Division, he returned to his quarters and brought along the various tools he had previously swiped from Aizen.
Just as he gathered his things and was about to leave, a sentence Aizen had once said suddenly flashed through his mind.
Thinking of that sentence, Kaelith stopped in his tracks.
An eerie chill crept over him...