Note: For those who keep asking Saitō — yes, she has already been released from Muken
--
While Mayuri was searching for his things in the house, Sora used his Denreishinki to contact Akon, asking him to come and take away the Bount captives.
He and Mayuri were heading to Naruki City and couldn't conveniently bring the two captives along.
So, Sora had Akon come to take them back to the Technology Development Bureau.
"Captain, I've found the items."
Mayuri came out of the courtyard holding a box.
"Let's see what you buried."
It would be a while before Akon arrived. With nothing else to do, Sora took Mayuri's box and looked through the contents.
"I've seen this spiritual tool on the battlefield," Sora took out something that looked like a bullet casing. "This is a standard-issue 'Gintō', right? Was this worth burying?"
'Gintō' (Silver Tubes) were standard-issue Quincy spiritual tools used for storing reishi.
A Quincy's combat strength was heavily dependent on the external reishi environment. In a place with low reishi concentration, their power would be greatly affected.
This type of tool was designed to solve that problem.
It could store a certain amount of reishi for a Quincy to use in battle.
"This storage tool was found in the pack of an elite Quincy. It's not a standard-issue product,"
Mayuri shook his head and explained. "Its storage capacity is over 100 times that of a regular one. The reishi compression technology within is very valuable."
What Mayuri valued was not the tool itself, but the technology inside it.
"A storage capacity of over 100 times?" Sora was somewhat surprised. "Then it is indeed of great research value!"
There was no reishi stored in it now, so he hadn't noticed anything unusual about it.
"It's likely new Quincy technology," Mayuri speculated. "They were found by the Shinigami before it could be widely distributed."
"The priority for this technology can be raised. If we can figure out the reishi compression technique, we can create more effective 'Nōreitan' pills," Sora nodded.
Shinigami couldn't manipulate external reishi at will like Quincy, but they could replenish their consumption by taking medicine like 'Nōreitan'.
Sora continued to look through the other items.
He took out something that looked like a sword hilt from the box.
"This also looks like a standard-issue spiritual tool. So it's different from the ordinary ones too, right?"
Sora asked.
Quincy could use this type of hilt-like tool to create reishi blades and arrows.
After the example of the special Gintō, he didn't think Mayuri would keep an ordinary standard-issue tool.
"This is a standard-issue spiritual tool," Mayuri threw up his hands. "Quincy and Shinigami reishi technologies follow different paths and are very different. Even an ordinary standard-issue tool is of great research value."
Quincy items were basically incompatible with Shinigami. The Shinigami either destroyed or collected any captured Quincy spiritual tools.
But Mayuri was a researcher, and his interest in the principles of the technology was greater than in the objects themselves.
Mayuri continued: "The reishi arrows created with this tool have high-frequency vibrating reishi on their surface, which can obstruct the flow of spiritual pressure in a Shinigami's body. The principle is simple, but making reishi vibrate at such a high frequency is not an easy task."
"Hmm..." Sora nodded. "The reishi technology within is the accumulation of hundreds or thousands of years of Quincy knowledge. It is indeed of great research value."
Sora looked through the box. Most of the items were standard-issue spiritual tools; Mayuri had collected a nearly complete set.
There were some non-standard spirit bows, but Sora already had the ring-shaped tool Yoruichi had given him and was not interested in them.
"Is the Captain looking for a rarer spiritual tool?" Mayuri saw that the Captain was more interested in non-standard items. "I remember there was one more interesting thing."
Mayuri rummaged through the box and took out a rather inconspicuous silver bracelet from a corner.
"This tool, like that special 'Gintō', was something I found in the pack of an elite Quincy."
Mayuri said with great interest, "Based on its characteristics, I've looked up some information. The Quincy seem to call it 'Seiren'. It is a rather rare piece of equipment."
Before running into the Onmitsukidō, Mayuri's luck in looting had been quite good.
He had encountered a dying elite Quincy on the battlefield, and both the 'Seiren' and the special 'Gintō' were scavenged from him.
"The ability of this 'Seiren' is very interesting," Mayuri wrapped the silver bracelet around his hand. "It allows even a Shinigami to experience some of a Quincy's abilities."
Mayuri opened his hand, and a small, rice-sized ball of light quickly gathered in his palm.
"This is..." Sora raised an eyebrow. "You're drawing on the reishi in the air?"
The ball of light in Mayuri's hand was condensed from reishi drawn from the air!
This was the core ability of a Quincy!
Quincy could rely on their 'Reishi Manipulation' ability to control and use external spiritual particles.
Through the 'Seiren', Mayuri had experienced this ability.
"That's right. This is the most core ability of a Quincy—to use external reishi. Its value is very high, to be able to let a Shinigami experience this."
Mayuri nodded, a look of regret on his face. "Unfortunately... this tool seems to have been damaged in battle. Its effect is probably greatly reduced. I'll have to study it when I get back and see if I can repair it."
"Let me try."
Sora took the silver bracelet and wrapped it around his arm.
He instantly felt his 'Reishi Manipulation' ability become somewhat stronger.
With a thought, Sora checked his panel.
The information on his base panel had indeed changed.
[Reishi Manipulation Lv 50 (+1)]
While wearing the 'Seiren', his 'Reishi Manipulation' ability received a direct +1 level bonus!
Moreover, Sora could feel that the enhancement he received was much stronger than what Mayuri had experienced.
Mayuri was not a Quincy and could only bring out a fraction of the 'Seiren's' effect.
When Sora wore it, the bonus effect was based on his original 'Reishi Manipulation' ability.
"To let a Shinigami experience a Quincy's ability... it is indeed a fine collector's item."
Sora looked at Mayuri and smiled.
He wasn't interested in the other standard-issue items in the box. Handing them over to Mayuri to crack their technology would be a great benefit to the bureau's technical accumulation.
However, this 'Seiren' was different. It could enhance a Quincy's basic abilities.
For a Quincy, it was a piece of core equipment.
"Then this 'Seiren' is a gift for you, Captain, as a reward for helping me find these items!" Mayuri was very sensible, but he didn't want to give up on studying it. "It's just that it's severely damaged now. I'd like to try to repair it first."
The 'Seiren' Mayuri had found was already damaged in battle. There was a clear break in the silver chain, and a section was missing.
"Repairing the 'Seiren' is the highest priority."
Sora nodded, took off the bracelet, and handed it to Mayuri.
A damaged 'Seiren' could give him a +1 level to his ability. After being repaired, it would surely provide an even stronger bonus.
Besides the spiritual tools, there were also some books in the box.
These were also related to the Quincy. Sora randomly picked one up and began to read.
This book was the training journal of a certain Quincy, recording some of their training insights. Sora was immediately engrossed.
Just as he was absorbed in his reading, a Senkaimon opened above the courtyard.
Kisuke Urahara and Akon stepped out.
"Why did you come too, Kisuke?" Sora closed the book. The book could be read anytime.
He had only notified Akon and was a bit surprised by Urahara's arrival.
"When the Captain contacted Akon, I happened to be discussing a technical issue with him,"
Urahara scratched his face. "I've read some information about 'Bounts' in the past, but I've never seen one with my own eyes, so I thought I'd come along to see."
He had seen files on 'Bounts' in Kirio Hikifune's lab, so he had some knowledge about them.
Urahara had also come because Mayuri was here.
If he hadn't come, the Captain would most likely have sent the 'Bount' captives to Mayuri's lab.
Mayuri was always very protective of his own research projects and would definitely not let Urahara get involved.
"If you want Bount specimens, go catch them yourself."
Mayuri had no intention of handing the captives over to Urahara.
"I knew it would be like this," Urahara shrugged helplessly. "Coming along was the right choice."
If he hadn't come on this trip, he probably wouldn't have been able to participate in the 'Bount' research through normal channels later on.
"If you're interested in Bounts, Kisuke, then come with me to Naruki City. Their leader should be there."
Sora had just accepted a nice item from Mayuri and felt it wasn't right to give the captives Mayuri had helped capture to Urahara.
"There's intel on other Bounts? Then I can't miss this!"
Urahara nodded, deciding to catch a Bount himself.
"The Bounts are very good at hiding. We don't have any definite intel yet," Mayuri said sarcastically. "The Captain and I are both moving around in 'Gigai'. If you go looking like that, you'll most likely alert them."
Mayuri coveted Urahara's position as Deputy Director, and there was always some tension between them.
"Oh, so I have to wear a Gigai to join the operation..." Urahara smiled slightly. "Good thing I came prepared!"
He took out an incubation tank that simulated the environment of the human world from his reishi-space pocket.
Inside lay a Gigai that looked exactly like Urahara.
"What!" Mayuri saw that this incubation tank was identical to the one he had modified and quickly realized the problem. He was instantly furious. "When did you make this?!"
This incubation tank was a transitional product he had quickly put together; it hadn't been mass-produced at all!
Yet Urahara had pulled out an identical one.
"Aiya... Third Seat Mayuri, don't be so angry..." Urahara touched the back of his head. "I just happened to see the data you left in the public rest area... I thought the plan was very good, so I used it."
"I never take experimental data to the public lab!"
Mayuri was furious. He would never take such data outside of his laboratory.
Moreover, Mayuri had never even recorded the data for this incubation tank.
It was obvious that Urahara had been in his lab, seen the incubation tank and the Gigai, and had replicated it!
"Hmph, my lab isn't a place where just any cat or dog can enter. The security measures must be upgraded!"
Mayuri decided to upgrade his lab's security when he got back to guard against someone's overly exuberant curiosity.
"Third Seat Mayuri's lab security is already very high. An upgrade is unnecessary, isn't it?" Urahara said with a silly grin. "Such a waste of money!"
"But it still didn't stop you, did it?" Mayuri pouted.
What angered Mayuri the most was that he had actually tried to sneak into Urahara's lab as well.
But he had been discovered by Urahara on the spot.
Since then, the security levels of both their labs had undergone several upgrades.
After Urahara put on his Gigai, Akon silently took the two 'Bount' captives away.
"My, my, Third Seat Mayuri's adjustments to the Gigai are truly masterful..." Urahara moved his body. "With just a few minor parameter changes, it can be perfectly adapted to the spiritual body!"
Mayuri's face instantly darkened. This guy was sarcastically saying that the Gigai he had tuned was not well-adapted to the spiritual body.
"Heh... this is still the first test of the Gigai. Since Lieutenant Urahara has already adjusted the adaptation..." Mayuri let out a strange laugh. "Does that mean you've already tested it in the human world?
Then... may I ask you a question, Lieutenant Urahara—
When did you go to the human world, and did you have the Captain's permission?"
A Shinigami could not go to the human world without their superior's permission.
If investigated, it was a crime punishable by several years in prison.
"Ah... Third Seat Mayuri, don't try to pin things on me! I have the utmost respect for the Captain. Why would I go to the human world behind his back!" Urahara said with a smile. "I specially asked a Shinigami who was on a mission to the human world to help me test it."
Urahara was always cautious and would naturally not leave such a handle for Mayuri to grab.
"Are you all ready? We should head to Naruki City." Sora interrupted their mutual "affection."
Being the captain of two technical geniuses was not easy. Their rivalry could save him a lot of trouble.
But he also had to be careful to prevent their conflicts from delaying official business.
"I hope we can find the Bounts smoothly!"
"As long as you stay out of the way, those Bounts won't be able to make any trouble."
...
Sora, Mayuri, and Urahara arrived in Naruki City.
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