Undercurrents

Mayuri Kurotsuchi, dragging his shackled hands, slowly raised his head, his tone full of mockery.

Urahara stood before the iron bars of the prison gate, his gaze piercing through the gaps in the bars.

He stood at the doorway, looking at Mayuri Kurotsuchi, his face showing only a resolute certainty born of deep thought.

"Mayuri Kurotsuchi, I need your help."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's eyes narrowed slightly.

He looked at Urahara as if he were examining an experimental subject he had never seen before.

"Help... Kisuke Urahara, what are you talking about in your sleep?"

He stood up, walked to the iron gate, and tilted his head to look at Urahara.

"I'm just a prisoner you've locked up here, why should I help you? You boring bastard, get out of here."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi sat back on the stone chair, turned his head away, and stopped looking at Kisuke Urahara.

"This request is different. It concerns Guan Ping's safety in Soul Society. I... discovered a space hidden in the shadows."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's body suddenly stopped, his previously relaxed aura instantly vanished, and he slowly raised his head.

"... What did you say?"

Space in the shadows?

The Soul Society explicitly prohibits all unofficial research into unknown spaces; unauthorized exploration of unknown spaces is a serious crime punishable by imprisonment.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi narrowed his eyes, sizing up Kisuke Urahara, his tone sinister.

"Are you exploring space technology without authorization?"

He repeated it, as if savoring the meaning of those words.

"This is a serious crime that violates the laws of Soul Society. Just the fact that you're telling me about this is enough to warrant you coming in and sitting with me."

He paused, then took a step forward, almost pressing himself against the iron fence.

"What, aren't you afraid I'll report you? Or is this matter so serious that you'd do it even if it meant being punished?"

Urahara didn't speak, he just nodded slightly.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's smile deepened.

"That's really interesting. Tell me, what could have driven you to this point? If I hear..."

If things get interesting, I might consider helping you.

Kisuke Urahara remained silent, his expression turning somewhat somber, his loose hair obscuring his eyes.

"I have discovered a space, hidden in the shadows of Seireitei."

"There's a force inside, secretly plotting something. I need to find a way into that space and uncover their true nature and purpose."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi listened, the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"So, you want me to help you crack their space technology?"

"Right."

Urahara looked up and met his eyes.

"Within the current Seireitei, only you can keep up with my analytical pace."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi paused for a moment.

He looked at Urahara, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Then, a slight smirk appeared on his lips, and his piercing laughter echoed through the empty prison.

"Kukuku... Kisuke Urahara, you've finally met your match."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi smiled happily.

"It's quite pleasant to see you acting so humble."

Urahara remained silent.

He simply stood there, waiting for Mayuri Kurotsuchi to finish laughing.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi finally stopped laughing, and his expression became much more serious.

"But for something this serious that threatens the Seireitei, wouldn't it have been better to just report it directly? The Central 46 should have given you a lighter punishment."

"Or is it that this matter isn't what you say at all, and is merely driven by your personal selfishness?"

"You contacted me privately, is there some other purpose behind it?"

Urahara looked at him.

Smart people are indeed very shrewd.

However, this matter involves too many things: Aizen, the Hōgyoku, the Hollowfication Experiment...

These are things he cannot express.

"I only discovered this by chance while researching space technology in my private life."

His voice was calm.

"If it's reported, my research into space technology will be exposed."

"Unless there is concrete evidence, the Central 46 won't care what I discover; they'll only care what I do."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then pursed her lips.

Clearly, he did not believe Kisuke Urahara's explanation.

"Kisuke Urahara, you're the one who should be locked up."

Urahara ignored his taunts.

"Of course, there's a reward for this."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's brow twitched slightly.

What kind of compensation?

"I will appropriately remove the Reiryoku restriction on your shackles, allowing you to move freely within this space, as long as you do not exceed the jurisdiction of the Maggot's Nest."

Urahara's voice was calm.

"Until I become the captain and take you out."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi narrowed his eyes, looking at Urahara with a sharp gaze.

"Team leader?"

Urahara nodded.

"Kirio Hikifune is going to be promoted to the Zero Division. After that, with Captain Yoruichi Shihōin's recommendation, I will undergo the captain's exam to try and earn a position in the Twelfth Division."

"Afterwards, I will establish an organization called the Research and Development Institute, and you will be its deputy director."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's eyes narrowed slightly.

He thought to himself, "That's certainly possible."

Kisuke Urahara's strength and intellect are both top-notch in Seireitei.

If he really becomes the captain and has more power, it wouldn't be difficult to get him out of the Maggot's Nest.

Although he had no interest in working under Kisuke Urahara or in the so-called deputy director position, well...

Researching space-related technologies certainly piqued his interest.

Moreover, this way, he essentially gained leverage over Kisuke Urahara.

This leverage might come in handy later.

"It's actually quite interesting."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi said softly.

"Since you asked me to help you, how do you plan to do it? Without a venue or equipment, how can you conduct an experiment in this the Jail?"

He raised his hand and shook the shackles on his wrists.

The magical runes on the shackles glowed with a faint blue light under the Reishi lamp, suppressing most of the Reiatsu within his body.

"And this, how am I supposed to experiment freely with this?"

Urahara did not answer.

He walked to the iron gate and placed his hand on the lock.

Reiatsu seeped in from his fingertips, and the spell patterns on his palm lit up one by one, emitting a soft buzzing sound.

Then, the door lock popped open.

The iron gate creaked open.

Urahara walked into the cell, stood in front of Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and placed his hand on the shackles on Mayuri's wrists.

As the same Reiatsu seeped in, the spell patterns gradually extinguished.

The shackles loosened and fell to the ground with a crisp metallic clang.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi stretched his wrists, feeling a long-lost sense of ease.

The Reiatsu flowed slowly within his body, like a river that had been cleared.

"Come with me."

Urahara turned and walked out of the prison.

"I have a laboratory inside this Maggot's Nest."

As Mayuri Kurotsuchi walked out of the prison, he glanced back at the cell where he had lived for who knows how long.

The sealing incantations on the wall were still flowing slowly, and the smell of decay still lingered in the air.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's eyes flickered as he turned to look at Kisuke Urahara's retreating figure; he had already walked far away.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi lifted his leg and followed, the two walking past the prison.

On both sides were rows of closed cells, containing all sorts of prisoners, all deemed dangerous individuals and the Soul Reaper.

Some remained silent in the darkness, some trembled in the corner, and some clung to the iron fence, watching the two passersby with resentful eyes.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi ignored these stares.

He simply followed Urahara, going from one shop to another.

Then, he stopped.

Urahara also stopped.

He followed Mayuri Kurotsuchi's gaze and saw an ordinary prison, no different from any other.

But there's someone locked inside...

A boy who's not quite grown up yet.

His figure was huddled in the corner, wearing a baggy prison uniform, with a strange little horn peeking out from his messy hair.

His face was hidden in the shadows, so his expression was not visible.

"Let this guy out too."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's voice was calm.

"Maybe I can be of some help."

Urahara looked at the child and remained silent for a moment.

"The fewer people who know about this, the better."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi snorted coldly.

"Then I'll add one condition: release him after this matter is completed."

Urahara looked at the child, and memories of him surfaced in his mind.

He was imprisoned with Mayuri Kurotsuchi Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and it seems they had some connection.

He hadn't delved into the specifics of their relationship, but since Mayuri Kurotsuchi had brought it up...

"He can be allowed to roam freely, but he mustn't know anything about our relationship."

Upon hearing Urahara's words, Mayuri Kurotsuchi nodded, which was taken as an agreement.

At that moment, the figure inside the cell noticed the commotion and looked up.

"Akon, are you adjusting well to life in the Maggot's Nest?"

Upon hearing that somewhat familiar voice, Akon's eyes widened suddenly, as if they were shining with light in the darkness.

When he saw the people outside the prison, he rushed to the iron bars, gripping them tightly with both hands, his voice filled with barely concealed excitement.

Hey! What are you doing outside? Are you going out? Take me with you, hey!

Mayuri Kurotsuchi scratched his ear.

"Don't worry, I won't forget you. It's not time to go out yet, so you just stay put."

After saying that, Mayuri Kurotsuchi turned and left.

Only behind him, Akon's voice still echoed in the cell.

"Nie, you can't lie to me, Nee!"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi didn't turn around; he simply raised his hand and waved.

Urahara watched this scene with a hint of interest in his eyes.

He didn't say anything, but simply led Mayuri Kurotsuchi towards the laboratory.

In the secret laboratory of the Maggot's Nest, the light from the Reishi lamps illuminated the entire space.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi stood in front of the experimental table, holding Urahara's document on space exploration techniques, and flipped through it.

His brow furrowed and relaxed intermittently, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Urahara was tinkering with the experimental equipment.

With Mayuri Kurotsuchi involved, this matter became much easier.

The Shadow Domain, the Wandenreich.

Haschwalth walked down the long corridor into the depths of the prison.

Cang Du led the way for him, his steps steady and his face stern.

"I never expected that I could capture a Captain-level character so easily."

"That organization lurking in Seireitei is not to be underestimated."

Haschwalth didn't say anything, he just kept walking forward.

Cang Du continued.

"Loyd has arrived. Once he transforms into the blind man's appearance, he will be able to access his memories."

"By then, we will know their purpose and their secrets."

Haschwalth nodded.

The two walked to the deepest part of the prison.

It was even darker inside than outside, and the air was filled with a mixture of rust and blood, along with some indescribable smell of disinfectant.

Kaname Tōsen was bound to iron chains.

His hands were shackled and he was hoisted high up, his toes barely touching the ground.

His body was covered in wounds, his Shinigami uniform was torn apart, revealing his bloody and mangled skin underneath.

His head was bowed, and his expression was not visible.

The special chains completely suppressed his Reiatsu; he could not resist, could not escape, and could not even commit suicide.

In the shadows opposite Kaname Tōsen, stood another person.

Same build, same face, same Shinigami uniform.

Loyd Lloyd.

At this moment, he transformed into the appearance of Kaname Tōsen, standing with his head bowed and his fists clenched, as if suppressing some kind of emotion within him.

His body trembled slightly, and his Reiatsu fluctuated unstablely around him, as if he were adapting to something.

Haschwalth walked up to Loyd and looked at him.

"How about it?"

Loyd looked up.

Even his voice is exactly the same as Kaname Tōsen's.

His memories... are very complex.

Loyd's voice was hoarse, tinged with weariness.

"There's someone who's always on his mind."

"It was a woman... She died, murdered by nobles of the Seireitei. Hatred for Soul Society consumed a large part of his emotions."

Haschwalth's brow twitched slightly.

"And what else? What is their purpose?"

Loyd closed his eyes, as if recalling something.

"To overturn the Soul Society, to break the limits of the Soul Reaper... the Hōgyoku?"

Loyd opened his eyes and looked at Haschwalth.

"The Hōgyoku! They're researching something called the Hōgyoku, which can break the boundary between Soul Reaper and Hollows."

"Their leader is Sōsuke Aizen; he's very capable and a real headache."

Overthrowing Soul Society?

Hōgyoku?

Haschwalth's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Then why did they find us?"

Loyd shook his head.

"It's unclear. His memory in this area is incomplete. There are some things he doesn't know either."

"But in his memory, that probe wave wasn't ordered by Aizen."

Haschwalth's pupils contracted slightly.

"How is this possible... But that location is their experimental base, isn't it? If it's not Aizen, then who else could it be?"

Loyd closed his eyes, his brow furrowed, as if trying to recall something.

"I'm not sure, but I suspect... it might be related to that person named Wang Xun."

"Wang Xun was in charge of the experiment to activate the Garganta; perhaps he discovered our location by accident."

Haschwalth fell silent.

His gaze fell on Kaname Tōsen, then on Loyd.

The name Wang Xun was echoing repeatedly in his mind.

"Loyd, dig out everything he knows, compile it into a document, and give it to me."

Loyd lowered his head.

"Yes."

Haschwalth turned and walked out of the cell.

"Cang Du."

"Exist."

"Give the order to strengthen surveillance of the Soul Society. Report immediately if anyone tries to approach or probe our space again."

Cang Du nodded.

"Clear."

Haschwalth said nothing more and strode into the darkness.

Behind him, the Reishi lamps deep within the prison slowly went out, swallowing everything back into darkness.

Only Kaname Tōsen's faint breathing echoed softly in the empty prison.