After emerging from the mountain, while waiting for the bus, there was no one else around. After all, it was a small mountain station. Looking down from the mountain path, you could see the town below.
"As expected, the World of the Living is changing rapidly, just as His Majesty predicted over a hundred years ago. It's truly amazing!"
"Hi~, Shimizu- sensei is truly amazing in this respect."
It was Endless Infinity's words would gain Kariya Jin's approval. However, just when Kariya Jin thought he could have a conversation with Endless, he saw that Endless was looking at him with utter disdain. Kariya Jin was completely bewildered.
"Powerful, huh? Since the abandoned Bakumatsu Courtyard, how many of you Undead have even learned about modern society?"
"Uh," Kariya Jin and Yoshino exchanged a glance, realizing something was amiss.
"How many Undead possess modern travel and accommodation permits? Surely such a developed society couldn't possibly be less efficient in its management than the Edo period!? Ha!?"
"Well"
"Hmph~, Miki Ichirin's gotten senile, isn't he? Is he no longer fit to be the leader of the Undead? A nine-hundred-year-old relic, living underground all this time, has even his brain degenerated into that of a soil-dwelling species!? Ha!? Answer me!"
"If the Lord needs the Undead to engage in certain activities in modern society to divert the Soul Society's attention, how many Undead are available? Tell me!"
"The Lord has perfectly fulfilled the promise He made to you. While He asks for nothing in return, do you truly expect nothing in return? Very good indeed, I've learned something new."
Sweating profusely, Kariya Jin and Yoshino Sōma quickly Ninety-Degree Bow to Endless, saying, "We are so sorry!"
"Hmph! An apology? Do I need to apologize!? This is the action we, the Shimizu Style, follow! Are you truly the Lord's disciples? Heh~ It seems even the Lord can be mistaken~ Or is this the best you Undead?"
"Yoshino, you keep up. I'll catch up with you soon." Kariya Jin was completely convinced this time. The Undead were indeed out of touch with modern society, and they were utterly helpless against the Endless scolding. Kariya Jin could only hurry back to get the Undead moving. It wasn't necessarily for Chun's sake, but for the Undead's own development, these things had to be done.
After Kariya Jin left, Endless, "Impulsive, easily angered, acting before thinking—the Lord once had a very high opinion of Kariya Jin. Why don't I see it that way? Is it because of your existence? You became his suppressor and his aid in thinking, causing him to gradually stop using his brain, is that right?"
"Haha," Yoshino Sōma could only manage an awkward laugh when asked, unsure whether it was a compliment or an insult. In any case, Yoshino Sōma felt like crying; it was truly remarkable for someone hundreds of years old to be insulted like this.
"Hmph! Unqualified."
"Hey~, is the rating really that low?"
"Of course, do you have the Underbelly?"
"The Lord will not agree."
"Hmph, it's none of my business. If splitting it equally won't increase the price, this is the only time I'll cooperate with this bunch of good-for-nothings."
"Suit yourself, since the Lord favors you all."
The conversation between Endless and the Key of Time made Yoshino Sōma feel even worse, but thankfully the bus arrived just then, saving her life. The group boarded the bus, arrived in Tokyo, transferred to two buses, and crossed half a street to reach the Kurosaki Family.
"Kurosaki Clinic, let's go in."
Endless stepped forward and pulled on the door, finding it locked. He then unleashed a flash of light from his eyes, severing the door and the lock behind it, and violently pulled the door open.
It was only a little past seven in the morning, Kurosaki Clinic hadn't opened yet, but the newlyweds, Isshin Kurosaki and Masaki Kurosaki, were already up. Makoto was making breakfast, Isshin was washing his face. Then the couple heard the sound of a lock being broken, and then the door was suddenly pulled open.
With Isshin face covered in foam, Isshin ran to the living room and blocked Makoto's path in the kitchen. Makoto clung to her husband's shoulders from behind, and the couple watched the doorway with a bit of trepidation. Then they saw a group of non-mainstream people (four knives) and the only normal person (Yoshino Sōma) walk in.
"Making breakfast? Just woke up? Captain Shiba ~"
"Who are you people!?" Isshin Kurosaki, formerly known as Isshin Shiba, as everyone knows, was facing this group of people and was terrified. He had no Spiritual Power whatsoever, and the reason he remained in the World of the Living Isshin Kurosaki precisely because he lacked Spiritual Power.
"Ha~, the former captain of the Tenth Division of the Gotei 13 Soul Society, the head of the Shiba Clan family, Isshin Shiba! Faced with the appearance of an unknown person, he resorts to yelling and shouting to protect his wife? Heh~ I've truly learned something new!"
Isshin Kurosaki swallowed hard. These words meant that the other person knew him inside and out. Oh no, he was doomed!
Seeing Isshin Kurosaki's reaction, Wujin snorted Endless, took an Earring from his pocket, and threw it at Isshin Kurosaki. However, Isshin Kurosaki looked completely bewildered at Endless Wujin had thrown, and actually caught the Earring.
"Completely lost his Spiritual Power? An interesting fact. Although the master had suspected it, he didn't expect it to be so complete. Mrs. Kurosaki, please help your husband put on that Earring."
Instead of doing it directly, Masaki Kurosaki asked, "What are you going to do? What's the purpose of this Earring?"
Do you two have a choice?
"Put it on me."
"Isshin!"
"Put it on!"
Reluctantly, Zhen put the Earring on Isshin's head. Isshin instantly gained Spiritual Power, a feeling that made her very uncomfortable and somewhat dazed. Zhen then grabbed Isshin's hand. In an instant, Isshin's body transformed into a conduit, and the massive amount of Spiritual Power from the Earring flowed into Zhen's body, as if this woman's body were a bottomless pit.
"Well"
"Huh?"
The couple were completely dumbfounded, Endless slapped his forehead repeatedly. "Are you idiots?! Really?! Huh?!"
"Hey~!" Zhen still didn't dare to shout loudly at Endless, but this time she was really unhappy. "Why do you talk so rudely!"
"Unpleasant to hear? Ha~, haven't you two ever considered why Isshin Kurosaki, a Soul Reaper, a Captain-level Soul Reaper, has lost his Spiritual Power!?"
"That's because Isshin has lost his Soul Reaper abilities, of course."
"Loss? The only way Soul Reaper can lose their Soul Reaper powers is through death. I've never heard of losing Soul Reaper powers while wearing a Gigai. So if you're not stupid, who is?"
"It was Mr. Urahara who told us!" Shin shouted indignantly, but Isshin couldn't stop him. Only after shouting did Shin realize that he had given away information.
"Kisuke Urahara is alright in scientific advancements, but his research in spiritual science is far behind our Lord's. That quack doctor misdiagnosed him."
"Then tell me why!?" she asked defiantly, "Why does my Isshin have no Spiritual Power?"
However, Endless remained silent. He walked over to the Kurosaki Family's sofa, sat down, and stared intently at himself, his thumb gripping the pad of his middle finger. "Is this how the Kurosaki Family treats guests? The master of the house doesn't even wash his face, and the mistress doesn't even cook."
The couple, Isshin stifled, stubbornly retorted, "We still don't know if they're friend or foe!"
"You guys are really stupid! I've already said it, did you even have a choice!?"
The couple was upset, but they really had no choice. Isshin and Zhen exchanged a glance, and one of them washed their face, while the other cooked. Isshin quickly finished washing her face and brushing her teeth, and when she went to the sofa, she saw that it was full of five people, so she had to get a small stool and sit down.
"I do know why you have no Spiritual Power, but give me a reason why I should tell you."
"Uh," Isshin mind raced, "If you weren't going to tell me, what are you doing here?"
This reason was incredibly compelling, so compelling that even Tianci looked at Yixin with the eyes of Isshin looking at an idiot. Tianci might be a bit silly and cheerful, but that didn't mean his logic was flawed.
Isshin scratched his face awkwardly, looking helpless, and said, "Then what do you want?"
At that moment, soup was being cooked. Shin was peering through the kitchen door Endless glanced at her, pointed at her, and said to Isshin, "I need information about Quincy, the more the better. Give us one piece of information about Quincy we don't have, and we'll give you one piece of information you want to know. If it involves information we can't disclose, we'll give you the chance to ask again. One question at a time, you have no choice."
"Ugh~", she was really having a headache. Although she didn't care about the Quincy's identity, she didn't really like Quincy stuff. Isshin didn't want her beloved to reveal any information, but even the couple couldn't reveal anything because Endless continued...
"Please take notes of the Quincy information we currently have, but don't give us duplicates. For example, we already know about the Ishida Family; Ishida and Kurosaki are cousins."
"Quincy can absorb Reishi. Quincy, the soul is completely annihilated, with no chance of reincarnation. Quincy's attack method is bows and arrows. You can tell me about the small items they use, so I can see if there's anything else we don't know."
Endless Wujin finished speaking, Isshin was completely dumbfounded, because he didn't know either. He looked up and saw Zhen's face was deathly pale. Endless looked at the couple and snorted disdainfully.
"What a wasted trip! Although we gained a tiny bit, it's far from what I expected. You two really think you're living in seclusion in the city? Have you really forgotten that one of you is Soul Reaper and the other Quincy?"
"Do you really think you've escaped your identities, escaped the intrigue and backstabbing, escaped everything in the world of the Dead Souls?!"
Isshin each question, Yixin felt a chill creep into his heart. He said weakly, "I have no Spiritual Power left! Won't you let me go? Let us go?"
"Let you go?" Endless continued scratching his fingertips, a disdainful smile on his face. "Ha~ You talk as if we're enemies. Have you ever seen an enemy who's so reasonable?"
The couple was speechless for a moment after hearing this question. "Someone like you thinks you can reason with people?" Endless continued.
"Aren't you seizing the opportunity? If you don't know, go ask! Are you an orphan?!"