The group knocked and opened the door to the Captain's office. Shihoin Yoruichi was sitting in the main seat, reviewing the documents in her hands.
Seeing the three enter, she looked up, a hint of curiosity in her tone.
"You're back. How did the mission investigation go? Are there any clues about the missing Soul Reapers?"
Urahara Kisuke dropped his lazy demeanor, his expression gradually turning serious before he slowly spoke.
"The mission went smoothly enough. Although we encountered an Adjuchas-class Hollow, it has already been dealt with. However, the process... was somewhat abnormal."
Hearing this, Yoruichi furrowed her brow slightly.
*Why is it another Adjuchas-class Hollow?*
*Although Hollows frequently enter the Soul Society through the Garganta to devour souls, hasn't it been far too frequent lately?*
Seeing Yoruichi's thoughtful expression, Urahara paused before continuing.
"When we arrived at the scene, the Hollow was already severely injured."
"Hasumi Ren heavily damaged it with a Kido in the thirties, and then it collapsed on its own, dissipating into Reishi and vanishing."
"Only torn Shihakusho, bloodstains, and a few Hollow scales were left at the scene."
"We didn't find the remains of the missing Soul Reapers, nor did we find any other valuable clues."
"Right before it died, the Hollow muttered a few words. It seemed to be acting under someone's orders. Furthermore, its body had been tampered with; once it sustained heavy damage, a self-destruct formula was triggered, causing it to completely dissipate without leaving a single trace."
Yoruichi's expression grew even more solemn upon hearing this.
"Acting under orders? A self-destruct formula? If that's the case, these Soul Reaper disappearances aren't as simple as a Menos running amok."
Urahara Kisuke nodded. His gaze swept over Hasumi Ren and Soi Fon beside him as he spoke slowly.
"Yes, there is definitely a hidden agenda behind this. However, with so few clues at present, we cannot yet determine the truth behind the matter."
"Captain, the team members expended quite a bit of Spiritual Pressure during this mission. It would be best to let them step down and rest for now."
"I will report some of the finer details to you in private, along with a summary of the previous disappearance cases."
Hearing this, Yoruichi understood that Urahara Kisuke intended to share the truly vital information with her alone.
Thus, she gave a slight nod and looked toward Hasumi Ren and Soi Fon.
"You two may step down and rest. Recover your strength; there may be other missions requiring your participation later on."
"Yes, Captain Yoruichi."
Hasumi Ren and Soi Fon bowed simultaneously, then turned and left the Captain's office.
As he reached the door, Ren subconsciously glanced back at Urahara Kisuke. This time, however, he only saw the man's back.
Urahara Kisuke did not turn around, but he could feel Ren's eyes on him right before he left.
The next moment, Ren looked away and stepped outside with the others.
Soi Fon noticed Ren's actions. She glanced back at Urahara Kisuke inside the room, the confusion in her eyes deepening.
But she didn't ask any questions, simply leaving alongside Ren.
Once their figures completely disappeared past the doorway, the calm expression on Urahara Kisuke's face entirely faded, replaced by a heavy solemnity.
He walked up to Yoruichi and spoke slowly, his tone low and serious.
"Yoruichi-san, I have a feeling that this matter is far more severe than we imagined."
"I just compiled all the previous Soul Reaper disappearance cases and discovered a bizarre commonality."
"Many of the previous incident locations are connected to areas secretly controlled by noble factions like the Tsunayashiro family."
"And there are indeed many nobles secretly pulling strings in the dark. Because of this, we assumed the soul disappearances were the result of secret noble experiments, and these activities perfectly interfered with our judgment."
Urahara Kisuke's tone carried a trace of imperceptible heaviness.
"Is it possible that there is a mastermind behind the scenes, constantly using the nobles' influence to cover up their own actions?"
Hearing this, a sharp glint flashed in Yoruichi's eyes.
"Using the nobles' influence... The Tsunayashiro family has always been arrogant and domineering. Secretly colluding with outsiders, framing and assassinating personnel within the Seireitei, and even having family members directly commit murder—they've done plenty of that."
"Are you saying someone is using the nobles' dirty deeds to carry out their own illicit activities in the shadows?"
"It's a possibility."
Urahara Kisuke nodded gently, his tone grave.
"If that is truly the case, then the victims who have fallen prey to them are far more numerous than those in the disappearance cases we know of, as well as those in the cases that were hastily closed."
Urahara Kisuke glanced out the window, his expression becoming increasingly unreadable.
"According to my deductions, the mastermind is not only assassinating Soul Reapers on active duty, but perhaps also secretly abducting souls in the Rukongai who possess the aptitude to become Soul Reapers."
"Those souls haven't officially joined the Gotei 13. Even if they go missing, it wouldn't be easily noticed, much less attract significant attention."
"The interference from the noble factions perfectly helps him cover all this up."
At this point, a flash of unconcealable gravity appeared in Urahara Kisuke's eyes.
"Assuming my theory is correct, then the number of souls this person has killed will far exceed our imagination."
"But there is one thing I truly cannot figure out: what is his purpose for doing this?"
"Is he trying to cultivate his own faction, or is he conducting some sort of taboo experiment?"
Urahara Kisuke's brows furrowed tightly, the doubts in his heart piling up deeper and deeper.
The Captain's office fell into a dead silence.
Yoruichi remained silent, her expression dark, a trace of solemnity and worry flashing in her eyes.
Urahara Kisuke's speculation was far too shocking.
If the mastermind truly had such massive ambitions, and the number of victims truly far exceeded expectations...
Then the Soul Society would undoubtedly face a massive storm.
And that hidden mastermind, lurking in the shadows, using the nobles' influence to manipulate everything...
Was like a giant beast lurking in the darkness, silently watching the Gotei 13, watching the entire Soul Society.
Waiting for the perfect opportunity to completely erupt.
"Keep investigating."
After a long while, Yoruichi finally spoke slowly, her tone firm and carrying an unquestionable authority.
"No matter the cost, we must find clues about this mastermind and uncover his true purpose."
"Furthermore, keep a close eye on the movements of the noble factions, especially the Tsunayashiro family. We might be able to trace their subtle tracks to find their connection to the mastermind."
"Yes, Captain."
Urahara Kisuke bowed slightly, his tone grave.
"I will uncover all the clues as quickly as possible. There is also one more thing, which is..."
Urahara Kisuke trailed off into silence.
"If there's something on your mind, feel free to speak."
"Hmm, it's nothing. I haven't fully thought it through yet. I'll report to you, Captain, once I've figured it out more thoroughly."
Urahara Kisuke shook his head and didn't elaborate further.
Yoruichi looked at Urahara Kisuke, then lowered her head to look at the documents in her hands.
"Then we'll talk about it once you've made up your mind."
Urahara nodded. After bidding Yoruichi farewell, he exited the Captain's office.
He walked into the courtyard. The night breeze was cold, rustling the tips of his hair.
Urahara hadn't explicitly mentioned the anomaly within Hasumi Ren's body, nor had he spoken of his own experiment.
It wasn't time to lay his cards on the table with Yoruichi just yet.
Ren's special constitution faintly made him feel that it might play an unexpected role in their subsequent investigations.
*If I use Hasumi Ren as bait, would it be possible to attract the attention of that mastermind?*
Even though he didn't know who the mastermind was, nor what their objective entailed.
He felt that this person would also be curious about the origin of such power.
Perhaps even... covet it.
However, this matter still required careful, long-term planning.
Pondering this, Urahara Kisuke shifted his steps, slowly walking in the direction of his own barracks.
Only a single shadow stretched longer and longer beneath the pitch-black veil of the night.
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