"Um... speaking of which, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm the Third Seat of the Second Division, and I also serve as the Captain of the Detention Unit, the third squad of the Stealth Force."
"Even though I don't really like throwing my rank around... there are some things I hope you'll tell me truthfully."
Urahara's words carried weight, but Hasumi Ren remained unfazed.
"Words are cheap. Don't you think you should prove your identity?"
Urahara Kisuke scratched his cheek at the remark.
A moment later, Urahara's figure blurred, and Ren felt a tap on his shoulder.
Ren looked back, but no one was there. Urahara was still sitting in his spot, as if he hadn't moved at all.
Only two Shunpo fragments drifted slowly down from the air.
Ren blinked; he hadn't been able to see the movement clearly just now.
He looked surprised and glanced back again, as if to confirm that no one was really there.
Then, using the motion of turning around, he touched the two fragments.
[SYSTEM: Obtained Advanced Shunpo Insights x2, Shunpo EXP +200]
[SYSTEM: Shunpo: lv4 (EXP: 350/5000)]
The next instant, Ren cupped his hands respectfully, his expression sincere and earnest.
"So it's Third Seat Urahara. I've heard much about you."
Urahara Kisuke looked curious.
"Oh? You've heard stories about me?"
"Not really. I'm just being polite."
A metaphorical question mark practically floated over Urahara Kisuke's head.
"Regarding that valley you mentioned, I did go there. However, I didn't find anything special—just a few wild fruit trees."
"And then?"
Urahara pressed further, his tone growing more serious.
"Did you find anything unique there? Or perhaps encounter something unusual?"
'Here it comes.'
Ren assumed a pensive expression and frowned slightly.
"Now that you mention it, things were a bit strange back then... though it might have just been my imagination. One tends to get paranoid in the deep mountains."
He paused for a beat before adding.
"We didn't stay long before leaving. I heard later that a big fire broke out and all the trees were burned down. It's quite a shame, really."
Urahara stared at Ren for several seconds, as if trying to see through his facade and into his true thoughts.
"Is that so..."
Urahara finally looked away and put the fruit back into the cloth bag.
"Thank you for the information. To be honest, those fruit trees were actually planted by me a long time ago."
"After hearing they were burned down, I started investigating the cause out of curiosity. Since that's the case... perhaps it really was just an accident."
Ren put on a regretful expression.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help."
"But since you're the one who planted them, does the unique Reishi content in those fruits come from your hand as well?"
Urahara's eyes sparked with a hint of interest.
"You actually noticed? That's right. I was trying to stimulate plant growth with a special catalyst, but unfortunately, it was a failure."
"While I succeeded in breaking the internal Reishi structure of the plants, the structural stability of the plants themselves was too low. The more spiritual power they nurtured, the closer they came to collapse."
"Those trees were relatively young, which is why they managed to survive for a while. But after some time, once the spiritual power capacity exceeded their limits, they would have inevitably self-destructed."
He sighed, sounding genuinely regretful.
"That's a real pity."
Ren chimed in, his tone also full of regret.
Although he had his suspicions before, he finally knew for sure where the Hogyoku fragments from those trees had come from.
"Alright, I've learned enough. Thank you for your help, Student Hasumi Ren."
"I won't bother you any further. The yakitori was excellent, very delicious."
Urahara stood up, preparing to leave.
"Wait."
Urahara paused and looked quietly at the boy who had stopped him.
"Mr. Urahara, I'm actually quite interested in some of the things you just mentioned."
"Are you interested in collaborating? I have some ideas that you might be able to help me realize."
Curiosity rose within Urahara Kisuke.
"What do you mean by that?"
Ren steadied himself and then spoke slowly.
"You praised our shop's yakitori just now, so I assume you know I'm the one in charge here."
"Even though business seems booming, we're currently facing a major problem."
Urahara Kisuke didn't say a word, simply listening to Ren's description.
"And that is... an insufficient supply of ingredients."
"Resources in the Rukongai are too scarce. Since most souls with low spiritual power can survive just on water, they don't need to eat."
"Without consumption, there is no production. Resources in the Rukongai are extremely scarce; in the lower-numbered districts, people will even draw swords and kill over a single scrap of food."
"Similarly, even though we're in a higher-numbered district, our ingredients are also constantly in short supply."
"Especially after our recent expansion, to meet the demand, our buyers have to travel all the way to South and North Rukongai just to procure raw materials."
"Regarding the plant stimulation you mentioned... if you could accelerate the growth of crops, or even the breeding and growth of livestock, it would be of great significance to me."
"That's why I was interested in those fruits."
"I wonder if you have any ideas in that direction, Mr. Urahara?"
Urahara Kisuke looked thoughtful. He already had several solutions in mind, but...
"But why should I help you, Student Hasumi Ren?"
Ren flashed a slight smile.
"Since you enjoy scientific research so much, Mr. Urahara, I imagine your investments and expenses must be enormous."
"And I... happen to be quite wealthy."
Urahara's eyes narrowed.
"Oh? Do you think... I'm short on funds?"
Ren waved his hand dismissively.
"Not at all. It's just that one can never have too much funding, right?"
Urahara Kisuke stared silently at Ren, and for a moment, it felt as if sparks were flying in the air between them.
Then, a sharp glint flickered in his eyes.
"You say you're wealthy, but I wonder just how much you can provide?"
The corner of Ren's mouth curled upward. Hearing Urahara's words, he knew he had most likely won him over.
He slowly held up two fingers.
Urahara stroked his chin as he looked at this young Spiritual Arts Academy student, making a rough estimate in his head.
"Two million?"
Currently, Urahara Kisuke served as the Third Seat, with a monthly salary of 300,000 Kan from the Gotei 13. He also served as the Captain of the Detention Unit in the Stealth Force, where Yoruichi paid him a bit more—500,000 Kan.
Altogether, his monthly income was 800,000 Kan, which was already at the level of a Lieutenant.
Picking up a simple side project that would earn him two and a half months' worth of salary was definitely a good deal.
Furthermore, he had recently started a secret project that required a massive investment.
Although he had swindled a lot of money out of Yoruichi before, she seemed to be getting smarter.
Especially lately, whenever he vaguely brought up the topic of funds, Yoruichi would always change the subject.
Thus, to his current self, even the smallest scrap was still meat.
"Two million... I suppose that's—"
Just as Urahara was acting reserved while actually being on the verge of accepting.
He saw Ren shake his head slightly.
"Two million? No, no, no..."
"Twenty million."
Ren wagged his finger.
"And that's just the initial investment. If the project goes well and the results are significant, there will definitely be more funding in the future."
"What do you think, Mr. Urahara?"
Urahara Kisuke froze for a moment, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.
"How much?"
"Twenty million?"