Chapter 160
"Um..."
"The laboratory is naturally not open to casual peeks, but the Great Spirit Book Gallery is more like part of the rules of Soul Society, so it's impossible to completely shield it."
"But don't worry, trying to retrieve information about me through the Great Spirit Book Gallery... keyword searches will probably take a very, very long time."
The Great Spirit Book Gallery is all-encompassing, but searching for information within it precisely requires a great deal of time and effort.
With Kirio Hikifune's words, as long as the Tsunayashiro Clan didn't already have a plan to eliminate him, Haruto should be able to hold out for a while longer.
"That's good."
Haruto also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Don't you have anything else to add?"
"Miss Kirio, I admit your skills are indeed superb, but no matter how much ability you have... why don't you wait until I've used it for a while before giving me your feedback?"
"... Okay, that'll do."
After thinking for Kirio Hikifune didn't press the matter further.
You've basically fulfilled all your requests.
"It's time..."
Kirio Hikifune made a circular gesture.
"Ah?"
"Money, of course."
With a casual flick of his wrist in mid-air, Kirio Hikifune a burst of Reiatsu, clearly from the Tenteikūra, which rapidly wove into a data stream resembling a virtual screen.
Let me see...
"Uh-huh."
Kirio Hikifune nodded to himself.
"You bought quite a lot of things from Sae. Come to think of it, even those cheap junk pieces sold for so much money—"
"Surgery... no, you're not going to skimp on the cost of this meal, are you?"
Five minutes later.
Haruto walked out of Kirio Hikifune's laboratory, shirtless.
"Oh?"
He originally planned to slip away using Shunpo, but since he still needed to return the "access card" to Hikifune Sae, he had to go through the main gate.
"Your sister actually left you a pair of pants?"
As Sae her mouth, Haruto knew that Kirio Hikifune was definitely a repeat offender... The Seireitei Research Institute was not originally that large, and that laboratory full of Kidō was probably obtained by her from her allies in the Gotei 13.
"..."
Haruto paused, then said with a serious expression:
"You've misunderstood. This is something I need for my spiritual practice."
"What kind of spiritual practice requires going shirtless?"
"Um..."
Haruto lowered his body and leaned close to Sae's ear.
"The secrets of the Shihoin Clan must never be revealed to outsiders."
"Oh~"
Sae nodded as if she understood.
"But why would you need your sister's help to practice the secret techniques of the Shihoin Clan?"
"Of course, it's through food therapy."
"But Haruto, after you finished the treatment, you've become skin and bones!"
"..."
Haruto was speechless.
So, he's shirtless... There's one thing he's right about. Because Reiatsu can be released from anywhere on his body, in battles that aren't a complete stomp, the Shihakushō will most likely become a burden: even with the Reiatsu enhanced, the Shihakushō doesn't have as much defense as Haruto's skin, and any random Hadō will tear off his clothes.
Not wearing them saves the trouble of changing them.
Pity...
These explanations are rather weak and unconvincing.
In the end, almost all of Haruto's possessions were used by Kirio Hikifune to pawn for his meals, leaving him only a few gifts from the Four Great Noble Clans:
The Kukai Box, the Silver Dragonfly (glasses), the Heat Haze Edict.
And a Silver Cross Quincy Medallion used as a memorial for the Konsō.
Haruto was also learning for the first time that the Heat Haze Edict, which he had seized from Satō Tsunayashiro, was actually issued by the Kuchiki Clan.
The original item was even commissioned by Ginrei Kuchiki to Kirio Hikifune, but it became the spoils of war for the Tsunayashiro Clan during their conflict.
Besides.
Haruto's accumulated Soul Gold over the past year, including the Giant Hollow -catching net he smuggled from the Thirteenth Division and the Reigai he obtained from the Rikujō Kyōya, all went into Kirio Hikifune's pocket.
Regarding Reigai--
"This idea is very interesting. I'll study it for a while and then return it to you."
This is what Kirio Hikifune said.
Her words also indirectly prove that the value of the Reigai should be several levels higher than that of other items, otherwise there would be no need to make a special promise.
As for Haruto's discarded upper body clothing, it's obvious that Kirio Hikifune used it to study his Reiatsu.
"Side effects!"
"It's a secret technique, so not everyone can master it."
Haruto, returning in Haruto, could only offer vague answers.
"Oh~"
Her voice was soft and drowsy, sounding like she was about to fall asleep.
Is there anything you want to buy before you leave?
"... Not today."
Haruto checked the seams of his trousers; the inside-out pockets were specially made by Isane according to Haruto's preferences.
I didn't bring any money.
"Alright then..."
Before she could finish speaking, upon hearing that she didn't need to work, Sae swayed and fell asleep standing up.
"..."
Haruto looked around and carefully closed the cabinet door.
"Well."
It has to be said.
The sun, combined with a cool breeze, can indeed make someone fall asleep.
Spring fatigue, autumn drowsiness, summer lethargy, winter hibernation --
This description is absolutely perfect for Hikifune Sae.
"The gains were truly significant."
Haruto walked out of the Seireitei Research Institute.
"The Hakusui of the Soul King"
Haruto rubbed his lower abdomen, erasing the impulse he felt upon seeing Sae Big Wave from his mind—after fusing with this thing, he had already found it difficult to control himself upon seeing Kirio Hikifune's true form, and he hadn't expected to almost fail here.
Fortunately, his perseverance was superior.
"Although there's a possibility that Aizen, Tsunayashiro, or even the Wandenreich might target it, the amplification from this thing is just too powerful."
"Before I advanced to the Third-Class Reii, I already possessed the means to completely contend with Captain-level opponents. Even after officially advancing to the Third-Class Reii, my almost limitless Reiatsu reserves allow me to easily handle one-against-many situations."
Even the smallest Soul King organ can bring about a dramatic change in one of the holder's abilities.
"This is still a rudimentary form that hasn't been further activated."
"If only I could collect enough souls..."
Haruto thought about it and decided to abandon the plan for the time being.
"That's probably not going to happen anytime soon. There's no reason to go to Hueco Mundo right now, and joining the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force would be too dangerous."
"As for hunting and merging with humans..."
"I'm not the villain."
Haruto wants to become stronger, but he must never become stronger without any bottom line. Just look at how Kirio Hikifune was killed without even being mentioned by Sakai Shukugo. You'll know that the saying "those who do many evil deeds will surely perish" is not a joke.
If he dared to do that, he might be the Ichigo cuts down... or be sacrificed to a monk to be made into a wedge.
"This time, the future is truly promising."
Haruto placed his hand on the hilt of his Zanpakuto.
"And..."
"For me, the biggest achievement was actually confirming that guess."
A pale green light appeared.
Like the "soul" of Seisen, another Zanpakuto appeared in Haruto's palm for a few seconds before disappearing again.
"A pure Soul Reaper could not generate such power."
This sword doesn't even have a prototype yet, but it is definitely the first Zanpakuto in Soul Society that wasn't forged by Ōetsu —because the materials used in its construction didn't come from Soul Reaper, but from souls from another world.
This power belongs to...
Fullbring.
Two weeks later.
The library of the Thirteenth Division.
In the innermost quiet room, Haruto sat on a futon with his palms facing upwards, while Seisen, who had been sheathed, rested quietly on his lap.
Beside him.
From bamboo slips to bound volumes, records and books from different eras were unearthed and piled up somewhat haphazardly to one side.
The news Haruto received was neither good nor bad:
There are indeed records of Kūgo Ginjō, who is Substitute Soul Reaper, and his Fullbring partner has been besieged by the Tsunayashiro Clan.
Just like Kiyone joining the Fourth Division, the future of Soul Society took a different turn, and events that should have happened more than a hundred years later were brought forward.
This means...
The Soul King's Saketsu Aura Michibane, was born in the World of the Living and has even been taken under the command of Tsunayashiro Tokinada.
But.
Haruto is not without a chance.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada was merely a branch family disciple, and one of the very late in the line of succession.
Although at this point in time, Tsunayashiro Tokinada was not confined to his home due to the decline in the Tsunayashiro Clan's reputation caused by the murder of Kakyō, he became a disgrace to the family because of being expelled from the disciples by Shigekuni Yamamoto.
So.
Tsunayashiro Tokinada had virtually no say in the family.