Urahara Kisuke ignored the sounds of fighting behind him and opened a small door in the wall to step inside.
Behind the door was a deep corridor, lit only by a faint, dim light that failed to illuminate the entire space.
Unlike the open recreation area outside, this section consisted of prison cells separated by iron bars.
Those imprisoned here were far more dangerous or important than the rabble outside.
Urahara Kisuke walked slowly inward until he reached the very end.
A single person was held in this cell.
Someone Urahara Kisuke held in high regard.
In the dim light, the prisoner was looking over several sheets of data.
He was thin with pale skin, and his face was painted with a streak of black oil, giving him an eerie appearance.
Chains around his ankles bound him within this cramped prison.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri heard the footsteps and shifted his attention away from the papers.
He looked up, saw that Urahara Kisuke had returned, and snorted coldly.
"There is an unfamiliar Spiritual Pressure outside... Urahara Kisuke, you brought an outsider in without permission. That's a violation of the rules, isn't it?"
"It is fine. Captain Yoruichi won't say anything."
Urahara Kisuke waved his hand dismissively.
"Well, Mayuri? Do you think these experimental proposals are feasible?"
Mayuri was no longer looking at the papers. He tossed them back to Urahara.
"A reishi gene modification method to increase reproductive capacity and growth speed... How boring."
"When did you start getting interested in this garbage? There is no complete data to support it. What do you expect me to see in such a sloppy proposal?"
Seeing Mayuri's disdainful expression, Urahara Kisuke smiled slightly.
"You are the expert in this field, after all. Your research into soul modification is certainly deep, though... a bit dangerous."
"So? Any better ideas?"
Mayuri snorted at the question.
"I have nothing to say to you."
"Oh? I thought you would have a much more brilliant strategy than mine. It seems... my expectations were too high."
Urahara's tone carried a hint of disappointment, and his gaze toward Mayuri reflected it as well.
Mayuri stared at Urahara for a few seconds before laughing in a particularly unsettling way.
"Boring. Such a cheap provocation, Urahara Kisuke. You are too dull."
"Get lost. I want some peace and quiet."
With that, Mayuri turned his head away, no longer looking in Urahara's direction.
Seeing that Mayuri was unmoved by either soft or hard tactics, Urahara scratched his cheek helplessly.
"Oh? So heartless? I was even thinking of finding a way to get you out of here if the opportunity arose later."
Mayuri ignored him, as if he had closed off his heart and refused to reply further.
"In that case, I will stop bothering you."
Urahara Kisuke turned around.
"Actually, I know you can't come up with a better method."
"After all, this plan I threw together on a whim probably looks like an unattainable masterpiece to you."
Hearing Urahara's contemptuous tone, Mayuri's eyes snapped wide open.
He glared intently at Urahara's back, his gaze filled with killing intent.
"Urahara Kisuke!!"
Hearing him, Urahara chuckled and glanced back.
"What? Are you still unconvinced?"
He shook the experimental proposal in his hand.
"Do you have a more refined concept than mine?"
Mayuri's eyes bulged, and he gritted his teeth.
The thing he hated most was being looked down upon.
Especially when it was by the person he loathed the most.
Even though he knew Urahara was baiting him with a half-baked draft to serve some hidden agenda.
He simply could not swallow this insult.
"Bring me paper and a pen! I will show you today what a genius design actually looks like!"
"I will make you realize that you will pay for underestimating me!"
Urahara glanced back at the roaring Mayuri, eyes narrowing with a look of feigned doubt.
"Oh?"
"I thought you found this experiment boring?"
"Stop talking nonsense! Give me the paper and pen!"
Urahara gave a noncommittal response before pulling a pen and paper from his robes and handing them to Mayuri through the bars.
At the same time, he quietly activated a surveillance insect hidden in a corner.
With that, everything was set.
He just had to wait for a complete and feasible plan to emerge.
Urahara took one last look at Mayuri, who was writing furiously, and turned to leave.
After all, his recent focus had been on that strange Spiritual Pressure; he really had no interest in such a trivial experiment.
Fortunately, there was a talent like Mayuri in the prison. It would be a waste not to use him.
Speaking of which, the owner of that Spiritual Pressure was currently outside.
It was time to gather more experimental data.
When Urahara left the prison area and returned to the open section, people were already lying scattered across the ground.
Hasumi Ren's breathing was ragged, and several new wounds marked his body.
But the fighting spirit in his eyes had not dimmed in the slightest.
[SYSTEM: Obtained Spiritual Power Shards x45, Spiritual Pressure EXP +225]
[SYSTEM: Obtained Hakuda Insights x92, Hakuda EXP +460]
Since his training sessions with Kaien, he had begun to suspect that his system had another way of being used.
This method of leveling up seemed even faster than his plan to join the Eighth or Tenth Squad and wander the streets.
The surrounding prisoners had Ren surrounded. Even though there were casualties everywhere, some reckless ones still charged forward.
"Oh my, I didn't realize you enjoyed fighting so much, Hasumi-kun."
In the next instant, Urahara Kisuke appeared at Ren's side, stopping him from continuing the brawl with the prisoners.
"All right, that's enough. We have serious business to discuss."
Ren kicked the last man over and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"True. I'm actually a bit tired."
Urahara glanced at the groaning prisoners on the floor and gave orders to the squad members hiding in the shadows.
"Come out and clean this up."
Only then did some members of the Detention Unit emerge from the shadows, carrying off the injured prisoners one by one for basic medical treatment.
"Hasumi-kun, follow me."
Urahara led Ren toward a secluded corner.
When no one was watching, Urahara reached out and peeled back a section of the wall, revealing a door hidden behind it.
Seeing the look of surprise in Ren's eyes, Urahara smiled.
"Just a little trick. Come in and have a seat."
As Urahara pushed the door open and entered, Ren's vision suddenly expanded.
The place looked more like a meticulously arranged small-scale research facility.
Ren glanced around. The tables and walls were covered in dense rows of data and charts, with hand-written notes scattered throughout.
Looking further back, Ren noticed that a vegetable patch had actually been cultivated nearby.
Next to it was a small fenced area where chickens and pigs were being kept.
"You keep your lab here?"
Ren was somewhat surprised.
"It can't be helped. Since I have to work, this is more convenient."
"I do research whenever I have free time. Of course, Captain Yoruichi permits it, so don't worry."
Urahara didn't mind. He walked over to Ren and handed him a sheet of paper.
"Here, this is the preliminary proposal for the plant yield experiment. Take a look. The full follow-up plan will be finished soon."
At that moment, Urahara's expression became more serious.
"There is no need to worry about being overheard here. Hasumi-kun, why don't you tell me the real reason you came to see me today?"