Early the next morning, just as Hasumi Ren had finished the light breakfast sent over by Squad Four, there was a soft knock on the door of his hospital room.
"Come in."
Hasumi Ren felt a bit curious, wondering who would be coming to visit him.
The door opened, and Urahara Kisuke's face poked inside.
"Hasumi-kun, I've come to see you."
"Third Seat Urahara," Hasumi Ren sat up straight, "what are you doing here?"
"It's not just me. Captain Yoruichi and Lieutenant Omaeda are here too."
Urahara Kisuke walked in, revealing Shihoin Yoruichi and Omaeda Marenoshin behind him.
"Yo, kid. You look like you're in high spirits."
Shihoin Yoruichi walked in casually, holding two skewers of yakitori meatballs.
Behind her, Omaeda was doing the same, his paper bag stuffed with chicken skewers.
Yoruichi wasn't wearing her captain's haori today, opting for simple deep purple leisure clothes. Her long purple hair was tied in a high ponytail, making her look sharp and relaxed.
She sat down naturally on an adjacent empty bed.
Hasumi Ren greeted them both and eyed the yakitori in their hands.
"Is that from the Ichiraku Ramen shop?"
"That's right. The shop in the West Rukongai district. You're the one who opened it, aren't you?"
Yoruichi took a bite of a chicken skewer and squinted with satisfaction.
"It's just a bit far. It's a pain having to make the trip every time I want some."
"How's your recovery? Soi Fon said your injuries weren't serious."
"Just some superficial wounds. I'm basically healed. Thank you for your concern, Captain Shihoin."
Hasumi Ren looked at Yoruichi and asked what he was currently most concerned about.
"I wonder how the shop is doing. Since you were able to buy food, Captain Yoruichi, I assume everything is fine?"
"Ah, you don't need to worry about that."
Urahara took over the conversation.
"Captain Yoruichi sent people to stake out the area around the shop in advance. A few destitute Soul Reapers who went there to cause trouble were essentially pinned down as soon as they showed up, so there's no need to worry."
Hasumi Ren fell silent for two seconds, then looked up at Urahara.
"You knew Captain Yoruichi would send people, didn't you?"
"Oh, don't put it like that."
Urahara scratched his head, his smile unchanging. He knew what Hasumi Ren was getting at.
"I'm just a Third Seat responsible for guarding suspects. How could I possibly know the Captain's deployments?"
"But then again, it's always better to be safe than sorry, don't you think?"
Hasumi Ren stared at him for a few seconds before finally sighing in resignation.
"Forget it," Hasumi Ren shook his head. "As long as the people in the shop are safe, that's all that matters."
Urahara Kisuke brushed the topic aside and promptly changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, that yield-increase research you commissioned has been progressing smoothly lately."
Hasumi Ren's interest was piqued. This was one of the few bits of good news recently.
"We've designed some small Kido barriers to regulate the reishi concentration in local environments. Supplemented by special spiritual structure intervention techniques, we've adjusted the plant's spiritual genetic segments..."
"We estimate that the growth cycle of several crops in the test fields can be shortened by nearly forty percent, while the yield increases by fifty to seventy percent."
Urahara spoke nonchalantly, but Hasumi Ren could imagine the technical complexity involved.
The former involved changing the environment, similar to fertilizing soil, but the latter...
"'Spiritual structure intervention'..." Hasumi Ren chewed on the term. "That sounds strange. Is this thing safe?"
Urahara looked at him calmly.
"Relax. The spiritual structure of plants is much simpler and more stable than that of souls. The risk and difficulty of intervention are low."
"If this technology matures, it will be a major improvement for food production. Of course, the prerequisite is getting technical permission and sufficient resource support from Central 46."
Hasumi Ren understood what he meant.
This technology was highly valuable, but since it involved operations at the spiritual level, it would inevitably require review and endorsement from the Gotei 13 and Central 46.
"Can you handle it?"
Hasumi Ren asked.
"I'm not sure. If Captain Yoruichi could help, it might go faster."
"What's all this nonsense? I don't get it."
Yoruichi didn't pay much attention. She finished a skewer in a few bites, wiped her hands, and looked at Hasumi Ren with her golden eyes.
"I say, have you considered opening a branch inside the Seireitei?"
Hasumi Ren was stunned by the question.
"Inside the Seireitei? A branch?"
"Yes. That's one of the reasons I'm here today."
Yoruichi's smile turned a bit sly.
"Open it inside the Seireitei, specifically in the noble district. I'll act as your guarantor and have it registered under the Shihoin family's estate."
"That way, if certain people want to use underhanded tricks again, they'll have to weigh the consequences."
Hasumi Ren understood.
This wasn't just a business proposal; it was blatant protection.
Opening a shop in the noble district with Yoruichi's support was equivalent to announcing to everyone that the Shihoin family was backing it.
"But... opening a shop isn't that easy. You need to raise funds, secure a location, and handle the paperwork."
Hasumi Ren calmly listed the difficulties.
Doing business in the noble district required more than just skill.
"Funds and location are the easy parts."
Yoruichi pointed at Omaeda beside her.
"This is Squad Two's Lieutenant, Omaeda Marenoshin. He's also a subordinate noble of my Shihoin family and the head of the Omaeda clan."
Yoruichi introduced him.
"He'll be responsible for investing in your shop."
Hearing this, Omaeda gave Hasumi Ren a small smile.
That smile was overflowing with confidence in his financial power.
Hasumi Ren understood immediately.
Yoruichi had brought the person who would provide the money and labor.
"I've already gone to inspect it. The name Ichiraku Ramen is widely known in Rukongai, and the taste is quite good. If we can open it in the Seireitei, business won't be a problem. It's a sound investment."
"Lieutenant Omaeda, you flatter me."
Hasumi Ren responded politely.
"However, regarding opening a shop in the noble district, what about the profit distribution and responsibilities?"
"Simple."
Omaeda clearly already had a plan in mind.
"You provide the skill, the staff, and the recipes. The Omaeda family provides the capital, the location, and handles all the paperwork. As for the profits... how about a seventy-thirty split?"
At the end, he glanced secretly at Yoruichi.
The fact that he didn't suggest ninety-ten was already a massive concession.
Yoruichi remained noncommittal.
Hasumi Ren looked at Yoruichi, then at Omaeda.
"I need to retain control over all recipes and core production processes. Lieutenant Omaeda must not leak or modify them without permission."
"Of course."
Omaeda agreed readily.
"The recipes are your livelihood; we wouldn't dream of touching them. As for the operation and management of the shop, we can discuss those as we go. How does that sound?"
"Fine. I have no objections. It's a pleasure doing business with you."
Yoruichi smiled, clearly pleased with Hasumi Ren's decisiveness.
"Then it's settled. You two can discuss the details later. I'll have Omaeda handle the paperwork and location scouting. Let's get it up and running as soon as possible."
Opening a shop in the noble district, even if this split seemed low, the profit returns would still far exceed his imagination.
Moreover, he didn't have to put up any money himself.
Furthermore, Hasumi Ren knew the real value of this cooperation wasn't the profit or revenue.
It was the security it provided and the tighter bond with the Shihoin faction.
Hasumi Ren nodded, then looked at Yoruichi.
"Captain Yoruichi, is this your way of protecting me?"
Yoruichi glanced at Hasumi Ren.
"Indeed. Regarding the attacks on you and your shop, the Tsunayashiro family didn't leave any substantial evidence. It's hard to give you a proper explanation for that."
"However, you don't need to worry about the aftermath. Captain Kyoraku and I have discussed it; he'll be paying a visit to the Tsunayashiro family."
Yoruichi looked at the yakitori meatball in her hand.
"As for what we discussed today, consider it... a bit of compensation."