Kisuke Urahara was about to respond when a figure with an imposing presence approached from the distance.
Both men instinctively turned their attention toward the newcomer.
Narrowing his eyes, Kisuke observed for a moment before speaking casually.
"The captain went to the 1st Division yesterday to meet with the Captain-Commander, and you haven't returned to your squad since you left. Seeing you in such high spirits today… I take it you've brought good news?"
Masatsuki Aozaki raised two fingers.
"Kisuke, I'm leaving those two things in your hands. Otherwise, I won't be able to sleep peacefully."
"Have some shame, will you?" Kisuke shot him a sideways glance. "Is that how you ask someone for a favor?"
"Urahara-san, I'm counting on you." Masatsuki bowed slightly.
"That's more like it." Kisuke nodded. "Fine, I'll reluctantly agree."
Kirio Hikifune walked up to them, chuckling.
"Masatsuki, did you get yourself into trouble again?"
"Something like that." Masatsuki remained unfazed. "But with Kisuke's help, I'll have everything under control."
Kisuke ignored him and instead turned his attention to Kirio Hikifune, smiling.
"Captain, how did it go? Did the Captain-Commander approve?"
"With me personally handling it, how could there be any surprises?" Kirio placed her hands on her hips and declared proudly,
"The Captain-Commander has officially approved the establishment of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute!"
"He appointed me as the Director, and Masatsuki Aozaki as the Institute's Special Advisor—his position will be equivalent to that of the Deputy Director."
She turned to Kisuke with a grin.
"Kisuke Urahara, starting today, as the Director of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, I officially appoint you as the Deputy Director. Your job is to assist me in setting up the Institute."
Kisuke blinked.
"But by rank, shouldn't Lieutenant Sarugaki be the Deputy Director?" he asked hesitantly. "Why me?"
Kirio waved a hand, laughing.
"Because I know exactly what you're capable of, Kisuke. Don't worry—I already appointed Hiyori Sarugaki as the Head of the Research Lab."
Masatsuki raised a hand.
"What about Mayuri Kurotsuchi? Are we giving him an advisory position too?"
"For now, we'll let him hold a consultant position. I can provide him with some experimental equipment, but he needs to stay in the Nest of Maggots for the time being."
Kirio shook her head.
"Once I'm promoted to the Zero Division, the two of you can decide whether or not to release him, depending on the situation."
Masatsuki tilted his head.
"Any particular reason?"
"That man is difficult to control, and I don't have time to train him," Kirio said with a slight smile. "If you two are capable enough in the future, figure out a way to reform him yourselves."
Masatsuki and Kisuke exchanged glances before nodding in agreement.
A group of figures appeared ahead, led by a small girl who sprinted forward, pointing at Kisuke Urahara and shouting,
"Baldie! Slacking off again? I've been looking for you forever!"
Kisuke scratched his cheek awkwardly, glancing away.
Masatsuki Aozaki couldn't help but snicker.
"What are you laughing at, baldie?"
"What baldie? I have hair, you little brat!"
With that, Masatsuki rolled up his sleeves, ready to teach the kid a lesson, but Kisuke quickly grabbed him to hold him back.
"Hah!? Brat!?" The girl was instantly enraged. "How dare you call me a brat!?"
"I'm a woman! Who do you think you are, looking down on me?! You—! You're just some freak who charms people with his looks!"
Kirio Hikifune placed a gentle hand on the girl's head.
"Hiyori, calm down."
Surprisingly, Hiyori Sarugaki actually listened, settling down with a reluctant, "Yes."
Masatsuki was stunned. What's up with this kid?
"Well then, Masatsuki-kun, we'll be going now. Drop by when you can." Kirio waved as she pulled Hiyori along toward the barracks.
"I'll head out too," Kisuke said, exchanging a glance with Masatsuki before following after them.
...
After leaving the 12th Division, Masatsuki returned to the 6th District, where both the 2nd and 6th Division barracks were located.
Passing by the 2nd Division, he went straight to his personal training ground—well, technically, the Nest of Maggots, where he oversaw the prisoners.
Before entering, he signaled to the Detention Unit guards to disable the surveillance from the monitoring bugs in the regular prison.
After all, beating up prisoners wasn't exactly something to publicize. No one would understand he was training.
The Wise Men and Judges of the Central 46 were always looking for excuses to make trouble, and if they decided to brand him as "violent," they might just downgrade his status from prison administrator to inmate.
Activating Kyōka Suigetsu in advance, Masatsuki nodded in satisfaction.
The strongest illusion-type Zanpakutō—though it couldn't boost his combat power beyond his Reiatsu level like Ryūjin Jakka—it had a different kind of advantage.
The ability to deceive the Daireishokairō alone was more than enough.
A must-have for any schemer in Soul Society.
Pushing open the heavy doors, Masatsuki stepped into the underground prison and loaded a few red pills into a pouch.
These were high-density Reishi pills developed by Kisuke Urahara.
For a Lieutenant-class Shinigami, just one could quickly restore their depleted Reiatsu.
The downside? If the body wasn't strong enough, the sudden influx of Reiatsu could cause severe damage.
...
Masatsuki stood in the middle of the prison, bare-chested, his expression relaxed.
These guys had clearly forgotten the fear they felt the last time he beat them into submission.
One after another, they charged at him like rabid beasts.
From here on out, he would only use Reiatsu and Hakuda—no Zanpakutō. His goal was simple: knock every single one of them to the ground.
None of them held back when attacking.
The stronger the prisoners, the better the training.
Masatsuki thrived in this kind of combat.
Dancing on the edge of life and death, pushing his Reiatsu to its limits, depleting and replenishing it over and over again—this was why his Reiatsu grew so quickly.
Whether he could break through to a higher level depended on just how durable these prisoners were.
And this wasn't going to be a short process.
Fortunately, Central 46 always had more criminals to toss in.
Even if he accidentally killed a sparring partner, there'd be a fresh batch before long.
Taking a deep breath, Masatsuki let out a wild laugh and rushed toward the strongest prisoners—those with Lieutenant-level strength.
They were the top dogs in this prison.
Captain-level criminals?
They never ended up here. They were thrown straight into the Central Great Underground Prison.
...
A towering, bald prisoner grinned as Masatsuki approached.
"You've got some guts, kid—coming back here."
With a smirk, the prisoner swung his massive hand, a gust of wind kicking up as his palm's shadow engulfed Masatsuki's upper body.
But in the blink of an eye—
He lost sight of Masatsuki entirely.
Before he could react, an invisible force slammed into him like a tidal wave, sending his massive frame hurtling through the air like a cannonball.
Masatsuki dusted off his hand, flashing a confident grin.
"What are you talking about?"
"I wasn't the one who lost last time."
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