The sky was dim. As dawn approached, the second infiltration began.
Going in twice on the same night was surely outside the enemy's expectations. The route was the same one Shiraishi had used to escape.
The reason was simple: on his way out, he had already triggered every trap there was to trigger. He knew where the traps along this route were, so he could avoid falling for them again.
Shiraishi quickly crossed the thatched-hut district, spreading his Spiritual Sense outward. The patrol routes were tighter than before, but they still posed no obstacle to him.
He easily vaulted into the tiled-roof district and rode the swift wind to the place where he had broken in earlier. Beyond this point, the surroundings were unknown.
Shiraishi swept his gaze over the empty streets and watchtowers, slowly exhaling. Judging by how the earlier traps had been laid, he made a rough guess at where the next ones might be.
He couldn't slip through the shadows, and the rooftops were even more dangerous. The main roads were passable, but he still had to watch for barriers.
There was a strong possibility that a Kidō barrier protected the main building.
Shiraishi's thoughts raced. He decided to sprint in a crouch, staying out of sight as much as possible. At the same time, whenever his Spiritual Sense detected someone standing still, he would have to watch for a barrier ahead.
Whoosh, whoosh. He used Steel Tempest to race down the streets, turning, going straight, then turning left as he avoided the patrolling guards.
As he neared the main building, he found four people standing at the four corners, confirming that a barrier did indeed protect it.
Shiraishi didn't rush in. There were other buildings around the main one, so he pressed himself against the front gate of a residence, out of the watchtowers' sight, and waited patiently.
He was waiting for the cleaners.
Compared with the nobles, the cleaners would obviously get up earlier.
They didn't keep him waiting long. Six cleaners giving off faint Spiritual Power headed toward the main building, ready to clean.
A small opening appeared in the barrier.
Shiraishi seized the chance. Crouching low, he E'd straight through in one burst, passing beneath the cleaners, then quickly and gently pushed open the door and slipped into the building ahead of them.
No one noticed anything amiss.
He had moved so fast that the door seemed never to have opened.
Shiraishi crouched behind the door and watched it open. The cleaners entered; one stayed behind to clean, while the other five went upstairs. It looked like one person was assigned to each floor.
He followed silently.
He did this to test for traps, in case the enemy had placed Reishi traps inside the main building.
If they had, all his earlier efforts would have been wasted.
The cleaners were highly professional. As usual, they never looked around while working, keeping their eyes only on the places that needed cleaning.
That saved Shiraishi a lot of trouble.
He followed them to the sixth floor. Instead of sneaking into the bedroom, Shiraishi entered the study with the cleaner.
The furnishings were simple. Two large bookcases stood against the wall, and a waist-high vase held a great bunch of golden chrysanthemums.
A low desk for work sat on a straw mat.
Fuck, Shiraishi cursed inwardly. There was nowhere to hide in the study. His gaze flicked to the four corners of the ceiling; he could only take a chance.
He sprang up and braced his limbs against one of the corners. There was no Reishi trap here, perhaps because the enemy thought no one could infiltrate this far.
The cleaner finished and left the study.
Shiraishi hid up above, his Spiritual Sense fixed on the person sleeping in the bedroom, and waited patiently.
The wait was boring, and he couldn't help thinking about other things, such as whether Kūkaku had started looking for the Dragon Lantern Fungus. If Retsu Unohana found it, his reward of a kiss would be lost.
After he had thought for a while, the person in the bedroom woke up, left the floor, and went down to the next one. Was it time to eat?
Damn it, I haven't eaten yet.
Shiraishi sighed inwardly and kept waiting.
Before long, the person returned to the sixth floor and pushed open the study door. He had long, dark green hair covering his ears and thin cheeks, and he walked straight to the desk.
Shiraishi began to move as well. If he stayed where he was, he could easily be spotted. He had to move to another corner and hide in the blind spot.
The study was quiet. A brush touched paper, making a faint scratching sound.
Shiraishi narrowed his eyes and could just make out a few words. It was nothing important, only minor matters concerning the compound.
After a long while, Shiraishi's Spiritual Sense caught someone approaching the door. His heart sank. If he stayed where he was, he would be seen as soon as the door opened.
He hurriedly used Steel Tempest, landing soundlessly behind Takehiko Tsunayashiro and crouching down. He prayed silently, Please don't turn around.
Knock, knock. Someone rapped on the door.
Takehiko Tsunayashiro raised his head. "What is it?"
"My lord, Second Division Captain Soi Fon is downstairs. She wishes to see you."
"She's finally here," Takehiko Tsunayashiro murmured, then called toward the door, "Tell her to wait. I'll be right there."
"Yes." The person replied and left the doorway.
Takehiko Tsunayashiro put down his brush, rose, and walked out.
She's finally here? Shiraishi leaped back to the corner, pondering those words. They sounded as though Takehiko had expected her, or even couldn't wait for Soi Fon to arrive.
Something was wrong.
He muttered to himself and didn't follow, instead tracking Takehiko downstairs with his Spiritual Sense.
Ever since hiding in the study, he had stopped extending his Spiritual Sense very far.
A person wasn't a machine. They couldn't absorb vast amounts of information every moment without growing tired.
He got tired, so he adjusted the range of his Spiritual Sense according to his needs.
When Takehiko Tsunayashiro reached the bottom floor, Shiraishi moved. He leaped down from the corner, quietly opened the door, and ran down the corridor to the stairwell on the second floor.
Shiraishi stopped and listened.
"Captain Soi Fon, it's been a long time."
Takehiko Tsunayashiro's tone was dripping with mockery. He hadn't forgotten who had arrested him and taken him to the Maggot's Nest, where he had been locked up in that wretched place for nearly three years.
Soi Fon stood with her hands behind her back and said expressionlessly, "Lord Takehiko Tsunayashiro, I heard someone infiltrated the compound last night. That person had long silver-white hair."
"No."
Takehiko Tsunayashiro cut her off, a mocking smile covering his face. "No one has ever infiltrated the compound. Even if someone had, we wouldn't need the Stealth Force's help. You aren't welcome here."
Soi Fon clenched her hands behind her back and strove to keep her voice calm. "That thief is no ordinary person."
"I said we don't need the Stealth Force's help."
Takehiko Tsunayashiro repeated himself and took two steps forward, his tall figure looming over the one-and-a-half-meter-tall Soi Fon. "A mere lower noble happens to become Second Division Captain and take over as commander-in-chief of the Stealth Force, and you think that puts you on equal footing with the Tsunayashiro Clan, one of the Five Great Noble Clans?"
"Enough arrogance. A lower noble will always be a lower noble. The lowliness of your blood won't change because of your official position. If you understand, then leave."
"Anyone who tries to use forbidden techniques to obtain a Hollow's power will never come to a good end. Please remember that lesson from the past, Lord Takehiko Tsunayashiro."
Soi Fon replied expressionlessly, her pale gray eyes full of coldness. She had long understood what nobles were like and wouldn't be provoked by a few words.
A smile appeared on Takehiko Tsunayashiro's face. "Thank you for the reminder. I'll keep it in mind. Please take care on your way out; I won't see you off."