Hasumi Ren opened his eyes and struggled to break free from Garenge's playful, rolling entanglement.
'You've got to be joking. Where am I supposed to get something like that for you?'
He let out a long sigh. Although he had developed a new ability, he wasn't particularly happy. Instead, he felt an unexpected wave of exhaustion.
He wondered what had been going on with Nanao just now.
Glancing at the pitch-black sky, he decided it was time to leave.
On the way back to the dormitory from the training grounds, Hasumi Ren didn't see Nanao anywhere.
'I guess she really did head back already.'
While he was a bit confused, at least she didn't seem as downcast as before.
He would ask her what happened later.
However, the words Tsunayashiro spoke today had left him quite serious.
There were indeed things he needed to guard against.
It was time to make some preparations in advance.
Back at the dorm, Hasumi Ren dug out the items Urahara Kisuke had left for him.
An address and a token engraved with the words 'Detention Unit Commander'.
It wasn't appropriate for him to keep holding onto this.
It was time for a visit.
The next day, having no important classes, Hasumi Ren simply skipped them.
Following the address Urahara Kisuke had left, Hasumi Ren made his way there.
It wasn't until he stood before the Squad 2 barracks, staring at that familiar gate, that Hasumi Ren clicked his tongue wordlessly.
'As expected. I'd had a premonition.'
'Here we go again.'
Fortunately, he hadn't been summoned this time.
"Who goes there? State your business with Squad 2."
Two members dressed in Stealth Force attire appeared before the gate with a shunpo, eyeing Hasumi Ren warily.
Hasumi Ren looked down at the token in his hand and then held it out.
"I'm here to see Urahara Kisuke. Please inform him."
One of them took the token, examined it closely, and then frowned deeply.
"This is indeed Third Seat Urahara's token. Why do you have it?"
"He gave it to me. He said to show this to prove my identity when I came looking for him."
The guard's expression became even stranger.
If it were Third Seat Urahara, that certainly sounded like something he would do...
The guard looked at the token, then at Hasumi Ren, and finally lowered his head to think for a moment, whispering a few words to the other guard.
"Please wait a moment, sir."
The man disappeared with the token. Without a doubt, he was going to consult his superiors.
A moment later, he reappeared and nodded to his companion.
"Please follow me."
"Third Seat Urahara is currently within the Detention Unit. I can only take you that far; you'll have to explain the rest yourself when you get there."
"Thank you."
Hasumi Ren nodded and stepped into the Squad 2 barracks.
Following the guard through the Squad 2 barracks, Hasumi Ren didn't feel like a stranger since he had been here once before.
Most of the Soul Reapers passing by wore the form-fitting attire of the Stealth Force, moving in a hurry.
When they saw Hasumi Ren's unfamiliar face, they would cast wary glances before silently looking away.
Led by the guard, Hasumi Ren crossed several corridors and arrived at a mountain area at the back of the barracks.
Passing through a grove, he saw a suspension bridge.
Below the suspension bridge was a moat several dozen meters wide. In the center was an island surrounded by tall stone walls, with only this narrow bridge connecting it to the shore.
There were two guards at each end of the bridge. As Hasumi Ren approached, one of them stepped forward to stop him.
"Halt. This is the area under the jurisdiction of the Detention Unit. Do you have authorization?"
"By Lady Yoruichi's order, I am bringing this person to where Third Seat Urahara is located."
The escort gestured toward Hasumi Ren.
Hasumi Ren presented the token once more.
The two guards exchanged a look and finally stepped aside.
One of them said in a low voice.
"We received orders that if a white-haired youth came with a token, he was to be allowed directly into the Maggots' Nest."
"Unit Commander Urahara is inside. Please follow me."
After the exchange, the guard who had brought Hasumi Ren turned and left, while Hasumi Ren continued inward, led by the other man.
The suspension bridge swayed slightly, with bottomless water below.
When he reached the middle of the bridge, Hasumi Ren clearly felt a change in the concentration of Reishi in the air.
A subtle sense of oppression washed over him, as if an invisible energy was isolating his Reiatsu.
Looking at the gray walls surrounding the island, Hasumi Ren recognized the special material capable of isolating Reiatsu.
Sekkiseki.
The entire island was enclosed by walls made of Sekkiseki, forming a natural Reiatsu-isolating barrier.
After crossing the bridge and the Sekkiseki wall, he walked a bit further inward until he saw a heavy iron door embedded in a stone cliff.
There were no markings on the door, only a simple lock.
Although it was quiet around him, Hasumi Ren could feel numerous faint gazes from the shadows, watching him without a single blind spot.
"Is this..."
"This is the Central Underground Detention Center, commonly known as the Maggots' Nest. Commander Urahara is on duty today. You can wait at the door for a moment while I inform him."
After gesturing to Hasumi Ren, the guard opened the iron door and went inside.
A moment later, Urahara Kisuke appeared alongside him.
"Yo, Hasumi-kun. You've come to find me so soon? By the way, today isn't a holiday, is it? Don't you have classes at the Academy?"
"Just some boring history lectures. It doesn't really matter if I go or not. I suddenly thought of the commission I gave you, so I came to check on the progress."
Urahara Kisuke's smile didn't waver, but a glint of contemplation flashed in his eyes.
"I see."
"It's just quite unfortunate. I've only just finished the initial experimental planning and outlines. If you want to check the progress, it'll take a bit more time."
"Besides... I get the feeling you didn't come to see me just for that."
Looking at the inquisitive glint in Urahara Kisuke's eyes, Hasumi Ren remained silent for a moment.
"There are indeed some issues. I just don't know if you have the ability to help me solve them."
"Hmm, it seems it's no small matter then... How about this? It's not appropriate to talk while standing out here. Come, let's head inside."
Watching Urahara Kisuke move to push the door open, Hasumi Ren felt a slight sense of unease.
"Inside where?"
"Here, of course. My experimental logs are inside, so I can show them to you while we're at it."
"Don't worry, the prisoners inside are all branded with special restrictive spiritual seals. Their Reiatsu is heavily suppressed; they're no threat."
As Urahara Kisuke spoke, he pushed open the iron door to the entrance of the Maggots' Nest.
'Well then...'
Seeing that Urahara had already entered, Hasumi Ren scratched his head and followed him in.
Before his eyes was a vast underground limestone cavern, with steps extending continuously downward. Pale blue Reishi lamps lined both sides, lighting the way.
This sight certainly lived up to the name 'Maggots' Nest'.
Reaching the very bottom, another large door was pushed open, and the view ahead suddenly cleared.
Inside the door was a wide, open space.
The ground was paved with flat stones, and above was a towering cavern ceiling illuminated by bright lights.
Simple tables and chairs were scattered throughout the cavern.
Prisoners in white prison uniforms were scattered in small groups. Their expressions were somewhat vacant, as if they had been imprisoned for untold days.
However, their movements weren't restricted; they could walk freely within the open area.
Rather than a prison, it looked more like a small, confined community.
Urahara Kisuke looked back at Hasumi Ren and introduced the place in a low voice.
"This place is the Maggots' Nest. Your Academy classes should have mentioned it; it's a place where potential threats are detained."
"Let's go. My lab is further inside."