White mist curled gracefully around the edge of the Spirit Spring. The diffused spiritual power flowed slowly through the air, giving the laboratory an exceptionally peaceful atmosphere.
Yet beneath this peace lay a silent, probing tension.
Hasumi Ren maintained his usual indifferent expression.
He walked over to the stone table, picked up a cucumber, and took a slow bite. His gaze swept over the cultivation racks and the Spirit Spring in the laboratory as he spoke in a casual tone.
"The current effects of your Spirit Spring are more than enough for the mass cultivation of spiritual fruits and poultry. It's time to move it outside and expand the scale."
Urahara Kisuke leaned against the experimental bench, still tinkering with the bottles and jars on it, but the corner of his eye remained fixed on Ren.
Seeing that Ren never once glanced at that particular vial of reagent, the doubts in his heart gradually began to rise.
Urahara could clearly sense the Hollow reiatsu within that vial slowly dissipating and drifting through the air.
During his last test, the reiatsu concentration had been so low, yet Ren had still noticed the cuff of his sleeve where he had sprinkled the potion.
With the dosage this time, it was impossible for Ren not to notice.
But Ren's current demeanor was far too calm, making it impossible for him to discern the truth.
"You're right. I was thinking the exact same thing."
Urahara smiled and nodded.
"I just wonder if you've prepared the location we discussed earlier?"
Ren turned around, looking at Urahara with a steady tone.
"I've purchased a plot of land in West Rukongai. The location is remote, far from the sphere of influence of the Seireitei nobles, so we won't be easily disturbed."
"I've already had Old Man Ichiraku arrange for people to clean it up. Rest assured, all the necessary preparations are complete."
A flash of surprise crossed Urahara's eyes before he chuckled.
"You certainly act with lightning speed. I thought you would need a few more days to consider it, but to think you've already secured the venue."
"Early preparation yields early results."
Ren said flatly, walking over to the experimental bench to stand opposite Urahara.
From the corner of his eye, he had long since caught sight of the Hollowfication fragments dissipating from the dark red reagent, slowly drifting in his direction.
The fine specks of light flickered in the air, carrying a familiar, icy aura.
Ren focused his mind slightly but made no movement, allowing those Hollowfication fragments to surge into his body.
A system prompt quietly chimed in his mind, though he deliberately ignored it.
As the spiritual power entered his body, Ren felt the reiatsu within him become significantly more abundant.
These fragments were several times purer than the Hollowfication fragments he usually absorbed in the Rukongai. They lacked any trace of a manic aura, clearly having been harmonized and refined by Urahara.
With this, Ren was finally certain.
Urahara Kisuke was indeed researching something, and it was highly likely that the inspiration had come directly from him.
This vial was obviously a test, just like last time.
Ren sneered inwardly, yet his face remained completely impassive.
"Once the site is built, the Spirit Spring will be relocated there. You will be responsible for the initial setup of the ingredient cultivation. I won't interfere with the technical aspects; I'll only provide the funds, materials, and distribution channels."
"The final ingredients produced will be graded by quality. A portion will be sold to merchants in the Rukongai, and another portion will be sold at a premium to the nobles. We'll split the profits, twenty percent for you and eighty for me."
"A twenty-eighty split?"
Urahara raised an eyebrow, a playful smile appearing on his face.
"I developed all of this technology. Only giving me twenty percent is a bit too ruthless, don't you think?"
"Twenty percent is plenty. Even if you wanted to do this yourself, do you have the channels and the energy for it?"
"Handing these things over to me now means you can just lie back and collect the money later. What's there to be dissatisfied with in such a sweet deal?"
Urahara Kisuke blinked and held up three fingers.
"Thirty percent, and I'll handle all your future iterations. In my opinion, this technology still has a lot of room for improvement."
The two locked eyes, sparks seemingly colliding in the air between them.
Finally, Ren slowly nodded.
"I still trust the abilities of Third Seat Urahara."
"Deal."
Ren looked straight into his eyes. His tone was flat, yet it carried an unquestionable certainty.
"From now on, you need to take this project even more seriously than I do. If it operates at a loss, you'll be the one losing more."
A playful smile graced Urahara's face.
"Naturally. You don't need to worry about that."
Ren said evenly.
"It's getting late, so I'll be heading back to the Fourth Division."
"As for the follow-up, draft a detailed proposal first and send it to me at the Fourth Division. Once I've reviewed it, I'll start preparing for the next steps."
With that said, Ren turned and walked toward the laboratory door.
Urahara stood by the experimental bench, watching Ren's retreating back. The smile on his face gradually faded, and the contemplation in his eyes grew heavier.
His gaze fell upon the vial of reagent.
Yet from beginning to end, Ren hadn't spared the vial a single glance.
He hadn't even shown the slightest abnormal reaction.
*Did he truly not notice, or was he deliberately pretending not to?*
*If he was deliberately pretending not to notice, then his shrewdness is simply too deep.*
Urahara's fingertips tapped lightly against the experimental bench as he repeatedly replayed Ren's every move in his mind.
Every word he spoke, every action he took, seemed incredibly natural.
When discussing their cooperation, his thoughts were clear and his considerations thorough, leaving absolutely no flaws.
But it was exactly this perfect naturalness that made Urahara feel something was amiss.
He recalled the last time in the Rukongai, when he had quietly released the potion.
Although Ren hadn't exposed him on the spot, he had later swept a subtle glance over him, clearly harboring suspicions.
This time, he had deliberately placed the reagent in a conspicuous spot just to see Ren's reaction.
Yet Ren's behavior left him completely baffled.
Just as Urahara's thoughts were churning, Ren had already reached the laboratory's hidden door, his fingertips about to touch the stone wall outside.
"Hasumi Ren."
Urahara Kisuke suddenly spoke up. His voice wasn't loud, but it reached Ren's ears clearly.
Ren's footsteps paused, but he didn't look back.
He could feel Urahara's gaze resting on him, carrying inquiry and scrutiny, along with a trace of irrepressible probing.
After a few seconds of silence, Ren slowly turned around and looked at Urahara Kisuke.
His face still bore that same indifferent expression, with a perfectly measured hint of confusion in his eyes.
"What is it, Third Seat Urahara? Is there something else?"
Urahara Kisuke didn't answer. He simply raised his hand slowly and picked up the dark red vial of reagent from the edge of the experimental bench.
Pinching the neck of the vial, he pulled it out from among the other bottles and jars, holding it up in midair.
The slender bottle gleamed faintly under the light. The reagent inside sloshed gently, exuding a strange sense of temptation.
Urahara Kisuke's gaze landed on Ren's face, the corners of his mouth curling into a half-smile.
The inquiry that had previously been hidden deep in his eyes was now displayed without any concealment.
At the same time, he asked, enunciating every word clearly.
"Do you know what this is?"
At this moment, the air suddenly froze.