Kisuke Urahara

"Uh... come to think of it, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm the Third Seat of the Second Division, and I also serve as captain of the Detention Unit, the Third Division of the Stealth Force."

"Although I don't really want to pull rank... there are some things I hope you'll tell me truthfully."

There was pressure in Urahara's words, but Wang Xun's expression didn't change.

"Your word alone isn't proof. Shouldn't you prove who you are?"

Kisuke Urahara scratched his cheek at that.

The next moment, Kisuke Urahara's figure froze, and Wang Xun felt someone tap him on the shoulder.

Wang Xun looked back, but no one was there. Urahara was still sitting in his seat, as though he hadn't moved.

Only two Shunpo fragments drifted slowly down through the air.

Wang Xun blinked. He hadn't seen it clearly.

A startled look appeared on his face, and he looked back again, as if checking that no one was really there.

Then, as he turned, he touched the two fragments.

[Obtained advanced Shunpo insights ×2, Shunpo experience +200]

[Shunpo: lv4 (experience: 350/5000)]

The next moment, Wang Xun cupped his fists, his expression earnest and sincere.

"So you're Third Seat Urahara. I've heard so much about you."

Curiosity appeared in Kisuke Urahara's eyes.

"Oh? You've heard my story?"

"No, I was just being polite."

A little question mark rose above Kisuke Urahara's head.

"As for the valley you mentioned, I did go there, but I didn't find anything special. There were just a few wild fruit trees."

"And then?"

Urahara continued questioning him, his tone growing serious.

"Did you find anything unusual there? Or did anything out of the ordinary happen?"

Here it comes.

Wang Xun looked as though he were recalling the past and frowned slightly.

"Come to think of it, something did seem a little strange at the time... Maybe it was just my imagination. It's easy to get spooked deep in the mountains."

He paused, then added,

"We didn't stay long before leaving. Later, I heard there was a big fire over there and all the trees burned down. It was a real shame."

Urahara stared at Wang Xun for a few seconds, as if trying to see past appearances and find something deeper.

"I see..."

Urahara finally looked away and put the fruit back into the cloth bag.

"Thank you for the information. To be honest, I planted those fruit trees myself a while ago."

"After learning that the trees had burned down, I got curious and started looking into the cause of the fire. In that case... perhaps it really was an accident."

Wang Xun looked regretful.

"Sorry I couldn't be more help."

"But since you planted those trees, was the unusual Reishi content in the fruit also your doing?"

A hint of interest appeared in Urahara's eyes.

"You noticed? That's right. It was the result of an experiment in which I used a special catalyst to accelerate plant growth. Unfortunately, it was a failure."

"Although I succeeded in breaking down the Reishi structure inside the plants, the plants' own structures weren't stable enough. The more Reiryoku they produced, the closer they came to destruction."

"Those trees were relatively young, which was why they could survive a little longer. But given more time, the Reiryoku they contained would have exceeded their own limits, and they would have annihilated themselves."

He sighed, sounding genuinely regretful.

"That really is a shame."

Wang Xun echoed him, his voice full of regret as well.

Although he had suspected as much before, he finally knew where the Hōgyoku fragments dropped by those trees had come from.

"All right, I've learned enough. Thank you for your help, Wang Xun."

"Then I won't take up any more of your time. The yakitori was good, very tasty."

Urahara stood up, ready to leave.

"Wait."

Urahara stopped and quietly looked at Wang Xun, who had called out to stop him.

"Mr. Urahara, I'm actually very interested in some of the things you just mentioned."

"Would you be interested in working together? I have some ideas you might be able to help me realize."

Kisuke Urahara grew a little curious.

"What do you mean?"

Wang Xun collected himself, then slowly began to speak.

"You complimented our yakitori just now, sir, so I imagine you already know that I run this shop."

"Although business seems to be booming, we're facing a major problem."

Kisuke Urahara said nothing, simply listening as Wang Xun explained.

"That problem is... we don't have enough ingredients."

"Rukongai has too few supplies. Since most souls with low Reiryoku can survive on water alone, they don't need to eat."

"Without consumption, there's no production. Resources are extremely scarce in Rukongai, and in the higher-numbered districts, people will even draw their swords and kill over a piece of food."

"Likewise, although we're in a lower-numbered district, our ingredients have always been in short supply too."

"Especially since we expanded recently, our buyers have had to go all the way to South Rukongai and North Rukongai to purchase ingredients just to meet demand."

"As for the accelerated plant growth you mentioned... if it could speed up the growth of crops, or even the reproduction and growth of animals, it would mean a great deal to me."

"That's also why I was interested in those fruits."

"I wonder if you have any ideas in that regard, Mr. Urahara?"

Kisuke Urahara looked thoughtful. He already had several solutions in mind, but...

"Why should I help you, Wang Xun?"

Wang Xun smiled slightly.

"Since you enjoy research so much, Mr. Urahara, I imagine your investment and expenses must be considerable."

"And I... have a fair amount of money."

Urahara's eyes narrowed.

"What, do you think... I'm short of money?"

Wang Xun waved a hand.

"Not at all. It's just that when it comes to funding, you can never have too much, can you?"

Kisuke Urahara quietly met Wang Xun's gaze, sparks seemingly flying in the air between them.

Then a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes.

"You say you have a fair amount of money, but just how much can you put up?"

The corners of Wang Xun's mouth rose slightly. Hearing Kisuke Urahara say that, he knew he had most likely secured the deal.

He slowly held up two fingers.

Seeing this, Urahara rubbed his chin and made a rough estimate as he looked at the young Spiritual Arts Academy student.

"Two million?"

Urahara was currently a Third Seat, earning a monthly salary of 300,000 kan from the Gotei 13. He was also captain of the Stealth Force's Detention Unit, for which Yoruichi paid him a little more: 500,000.

Together, his salaries came to 800,000 kan a month, putting him on the same level as a lieutenant.

Earning two and a half months' pay for an easy little commission was definitely a good deal for him.

Besides, he had recently undertaken a project he couldn't let others see, and he really had spent quite a lot on it.

Although he had previously wheedled a good deal of money out of Yoruichi, she seemed to be getting wise.

Lately in particular, whenever he hinted at needing funds, Yoruichi always changed the subject.

So, for him at present, every little bit helped.

"If it's two million, then..."

Just as Urahara was playing it cool on the surface but was actually about to agree,

he saw Wang Xun shake his head slightly.

"Two million? No, no, no..."

"Twenty million."

Wang Xun wagged his fingers.

"Of course, that's just the initial investment. If the project goes well and produces significant results, there will certainly be further investment later."

"What do you think, Mr. Urahara?"

Kisuke Urahara froze for a moment, surprise flashing in his eyes.

"How much?"

"Twenty million?"