Crossover Anime: Starting with Bankai from Demon Slayer

Chapter 149 Hush Money Is Quite Expensive

"Kisuke Urahara!"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's voice was sharp and distorted.

The strange spiritual energy fluctuations that had just occurred at Zhangzhi Hill have now completely disappeared.

On this mountaintop, ravaged by the folds and twists of space, the once lush vegetation has been reduced to dust, leaving large swaths of reddish-brown soil exposed.

Although the surrounding human inhabitants could not see the Grim Reaper confronting them in the sky, they could not ignore such massive physical destruction.

"Ugh, what's with this pungent smell in the air? My head hurts so much..."

1

"Auntie! Put your mask on properly! Don't come any closer!"

"Emergency! Emergency! Suspected gas explosion! All residents, please evacuate in an orderly manner!!"

"9

Local security personnel have gathered around Zhangzhi Hill, anxiously directing residents to evacuate.

Although Mayuri Kurotsuchi had no direct connection to the disaster, he was, after all, the only Shinigami captain present at the scene, and would likely face questioning from the Central 46 afterward.

But that wasn't what angered him.

"What have you done?! You scum of Soul Society, you parasite of academia!"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi took a sudden step forward, causing ripples in the air beneath her feet: "You noticed it? You actually sensed that space wasn't part of the real world before I did?!"

"What is that? The crevice of Hueco Mundo? The opposite of hell? You damned Kisuke Urahara! Why are you interfering with me at such a crucial moment?!"

He suddenly swung his right hand, and the golden-haired monster hidden behind him stared wide-eyed, its worm-like hands and feet making threatening gestures.

Faced with this fury that could practically ignite the air, Kisuke Urahara simply sighed softly.

"Oh dear, Captain Kurotsuchi, you're still so hot-tempered." Urahara's voice was as languid as ever.

"Academic research is important, but if I hadn't saved you just now, you... would probably be compressed into a two-dimensional picture by now because of that power."

"Stop spreading alarmist rumors! I have my own ways to neutralize that level of spatial tremor!" Mayuri Kurotsuchi's gaze was cold, his left hand resting on the communication device at his waist, seemingly preparing to mobilize members of the Technology Development Bureau for the next step: "If you hadn't intervened, I could have obtained the specific parameters of that area..."

"Then, the head of the Soul Society's Technology Development Bureau will cause an irreversible spiritual disaster in the human world, damaging the souls of tens of thousands of humans and even affecting the spiritual balance of the Soul Society..." Urahara interrupted him directly, his tone cold: "What do you think Captain-Commander Yamamoto will think? What do those old men in the Central 46 think?"

"Director Nie, you haven't forgotten the damp, musty smell of the 'Maggot Nest,' have you?"

"Even though you're now the director, if you cause too much trouble in the real world, to the point that even the Covert Forces can't suppress you... do you think they might put you back in jail?"

When the words "nest of maggots" were mentioned, Mayuri Kurotsuchi's breathing visibly paused for a moment.

That's not some kind of resort...

In that dark and gloomy underground prison, he was driven to madness by boredom and loneliness every day, carving those ideas that could never be realized on the walls.

Until this man appeared outside the iron cage, took him into the Technology Development Bureau, and gave him the opportunity to see the light of day again.

"Are you threatening me, Kisuke Urahara?" Mayuri Kurotsuchi's voice was extremely low.

"No, no, no, this is just a well-intentioned reminder from an old friend. The situation isn't looking good at all..."

Urahara smiled and waved his hand, his expression suddenly turning somewhat forlorn: "Anyway, at this crucial moment, neither you nor I should appear in those negative reports from the higher-ups, right?"

Mayuri Kurotsuchi stared intently at Urahara's face, which was half-hidden by the shadow of his hat.

He knew that what Urahara said was true.

Although he came to the mortal world to monitor abnormal spiritual pressure, he actually brought many prohibited experimental devices with him.

If a real fight breaks out, even if he can use his endless methods of modification to entangle Urahara, the spiritual particle cycle in the present world will definitely be greatly affected without the isolation provided by methods such as the Transcendental Pillar.

He will then face a severe trial.

"Tsk..." Mayuri Kurotsuchi clicked his tongue in disgust and sheathed his Zanpakuto.

"Want reconciliation? Fine. But it's absolutely impossible for me to return to Seireitei empty-handed."

"Urahara, I admit you do have a repulsive talent for certain crooked and unorthodox methods."

"Hand over all your data and materials related to soul enhancement, and also..."

He leaned forward, his tone becoming extremely viscous: "Regarding the Hollowfication incident from back then, I don't care how involved you are, hand over all the information you know!"

Kisuke Urahara's eyes narrowed slightly, but he quickly regained his playful grin: "Oh dear, Director Kurotsuchi, how would I know anything about Hollowfication?"

"Don't play dumb with me!" Mayuri Kurotsuchi sneered. "My [Sleep] plan has encountered several annoying bottlenecks in terms of the self-replication of the soul core and the resilience of the soul. Those decaying ancient texts of Soul Society are of absolutely no help..."

"You must have secretly developed quite a few forbidden techniques behind the backs of the Soul Society, right?"

He stretched out his slender finger and pointed at Urahara's chest.

"Give me the information I need, and I'll pretend I don't know anything about what happened today."

Kisuke Urahara remained silent.

While this request touches on some sensitive topics, it's not unreasonable compared to the need to keep one's whereabouts secret.

He was just a little worried that if this data fell into the hands of a madman like Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who knows what kind of terrifying products it would give rise to.

"...What a greedy junior." Kisuke Urahara scratched the back of his head, revealing a distressed expression as if he had been taken advantage of.

But he also knew that if he didn't give Mayuri some tangible benefits, this stubborn madman would cause just as much trouble...

"Okay, okay, I can give you this data, but I must state that it is based on the analysis of very few special cases. If you mess up your plan in the experiment, don't blame me."

"That's my business, it's none of your concern, you exiled vagrant."

""

Mayuri Kurotsuchi sneered and pulled out a strangely shaped data transmission terminal from his pocket.

"Now, immediately."

Over the next half hour, an extremely bizarre scene appeared in the sky above Zhangzhi Hill:

Two of the most intelligent, and perhaps the most eccentric, scientists in the current Soul Court are conducting a clandestine deal through some kind of spirit particle conversion device.

As the progress bar reached its end, Mayuri Kurotsuchi looked at the complex formulas and spirit particle fluctuation curves jumping on the screen, and his eyes finally revealed ecstasy and fascination.

"I see... There's a way to induce resonance between souls? Urahara, you're still as unpleasantly clever as ever."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi quickly put away the terminal, his madness gradually subsiding, and he reverted to being the gloomy and arrogant king of the laboratory.

"Deal reached."

He turned his back to Urahara and focused his attention on the valuable data he had just acquired: "Get lost, Urahara Kisuke, I haven't seen you today."

"Enjoy these boring, peaceful days. Once my research is complete, I will prove whose technology is the most perfect masterpiece."

"Ah, of course, Director Kurotsuchi has always been the best." Kisuke Urahara stood still and waved to his back.

But just before Kisuke Urahara was about to leave, he suddenly turned around and said in a low voice, "Hey, Chief Kurotsuchi."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi turned her head to the side, revealing half of her eerie mask: "Any last words?"

Kisuke Urahara spoke softly, "For the sake of our past as colleagues, I'll give you a free piece of advice."

"Beware of Aizen Sousuke."

Mayuri Kurotsuchi narrowed his eyes, as if trying to see through Kisuke Urahara's hat brim to understand what he was thinking.

He let out a harsh, scoffing laugh: "Aizen? That sullen, nauseating Fifth Division Captain who just follows Yamamoto around all day?"

"You're not developing some kind of paranoia, are you? Urahara, you've regressed, actually paying attention to such mediocre guys."

"Mediocre?" Kisuke Urahara let out a soft, ambiguous laugh.

"In that case, I wish you a safe journey."