So that's how it is…"
After hearing Urahara Kisuke's answer, Gosuke Shigure's expression grew noticeably heavier.
Such a result was naturally unsatisfying to him, but there was nothing he could openly criticize. After all, he was not a specialist in scientific research, nor was he familiar with the deeper technological structures of Seireitei.
"I hope you can continue investigating that matter as soon as possible," Gosuke Shigure finally said.
Urahara Kisuke nodded in acknowledgment, fully understanding the weight behind those words.
After exchanging a few more remarks, Gosuke Shigure left the Twelfth Division barracks.
If, in the near future, Urahara Kisuke managed to uncover a way to infiltrate or directly observe the Quincy forces hidden in the shadows, that would be ideal.
If not—
Then Gosuke Shigure would have no choice but to prepare a second course of action.
That plan was simple.
Rely on the sword in his hand.
As long as his own strength continued to grow, he believed he could confront any crisis head-on, regardless of how terrifying the enemy might be.
Returning to Squad Eleven, Gosuke Shigure once again stepped back into a familiar and monotonous routine.
Although the Gotei Thirteen had undergone several captain-level changes in a short period of time—
Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō becoming captain of the Third Division,
Urahara Kisuke taking command of the Twelfth Division,
and the departure of Hikifune Kirio, who had been promoted to the Royal Guard,
—as well as the lingering vacancy left by the captain of the Tenth Division who had died in the line of duty—
none of these developments had any real effect on Squad Eleven.
Squad Eleven was a pure combat division.
It was also the division with the highest casualty rate within the Gotei Thirteen.
For them, death was nothing more than an occupational risk.
They lived for battle, existed for battle, and found meaning only through battle.
As for Gosuke Shigure himself, the only things he truly enjoyed were drinking sake and brewing tea.
Until Urahara Kisuke made tangible progress regarding the Quincy shadows, all Gosuke could do was wait patiently—
while quietly observing how much chaos Urahara Kisuke would stir up next.
As expected, developments within the Seireitei Research Institute soon began to surface.
From the very name alone, Gosuke Shigure could see Urahara Kisuke's ambition.
Although Urahara always presented himself as casual and unassuming, he was undeniably a true genius.
Deep down, he harbored dissatisfaction toward the outdated technological progress of Soul Society and held little respect for the previous generation of researchers.
In his eyes, Soul Society's scientific advancement was painfully slow.
Thus, he made a decisive move.
The old Seireitei Research Institute would be dismantled and reorganized into an entirely new department.
Only someone as short-sighted as Sarugaki Hiyori would believe Urahara Kisuke was a useless captain.
Fortunately, Kisuke's temperament was mild—otherwise, he could have replaced her as vice-captain without hesitation.
Everything unfolded exactly as Gosuke Shigure had anticipated.
Not long after Gosuke's visit to the Twelfth Division, Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryūsai convened a captains' meeting.
At the meeting, Urahara Kisuke formally proposed the establishment of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, also known as the Technology Development Bureau.
At the same time, Yamamoto granted Urahara extraordinary authority.
Within the Gotei Thirteen, if Urahara Kisuke identified individuals with exceptional talent, he was permitted to recruit them directly into the Technology Development Bureau.
The reason for granting such sweeping authority was simple.
Hikifune Kirio's pioneering work on artificial souls had already demonstrated how technological innovation could benefit Soul Society, earning recognition even from Central 46.
If Urahara Kisuke could achieve similar breakthroughs, the potential gains would far outweigh the risks.
After all, the Seireitei Research Institute already existed—
this reorganization was, in essence, more than a name change.
Once granted such power, Urahara Kisuke wasted no time.
He began searching throughout the Gotei Thirteen for suitable candidates, freely drawing talent from various divisions.
Soon, his attention shifted toward a place most people avoided entirely—
The Maggot's Nest.
The prisoners confined there were all extremely dangerous individuals, deemed threats to Soul Society itself.
But Urahara Kisuke didn't see monsters.
He saw potential.
Back when he had overseen the Maggot's Nest, what caught his eye wasn't their crimes—but their ingenuity.
In the end, he personally released several prisoners.
One name, in particular, caused the Second Division great concern.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri.
Just as Gosuke Shigure had predicted,
Urahara Kisuke truly did bring Kurotsuchi Mayuri out of the Maggot's Nest.
"Sensei, your foresight is honestly frightening…"
That was Yoruichi's reaction when she next met Gosuke Shigure.
Gosuke merely smiled and said nothing.
Guessing?
Of course not.
He hadn't guessed at all.
He simply knew how things were destined to unfold.
During the period when Urahara Kisuke was occupied with building the Technology Development Bureau,
another individual was far from idle.
Fifth Division — Aizen Sōsuke's residence.
Few knew that beneath Aizen's quarters lay a hidden underground space.
Within it were advanced experimental devices—and several Garganta-like spatial gateways.
These passageways allowed Aizen to freely travel to Hueco Mundo and the World of the Living.
At this stage, however, he favored Hueco Mundo.
The World of the Living was inconvenient for large-scale experimentation.
Hueco Mundo, on the other hand, was perfect.
Countless Menos Grande roamed there—ideal experimental subjects.
With the power of Kyōka Suigetsu, Aizen could remain there for extended periods without drawing suspicion.
Inside the underground chamber, Aizen stepped out from one of the gateways.
Once again, he had gathered numerous Hollow souls from Hueco Mundo.
Since learning of the existence of Squad Zero and realizing the overwhelming power guarding the Soul King, Aizen had grown increasingly cautious.
At the same time, he became more convinced of one truth—
Only by obtaining power that transcended all boundaries could he uncover the true nature of the world.
Long ago, after discovering the truth of the Soul King and acquiring fragments of the Soul King itself, Aizen formed a dangerous hypothesis.
Fragments of the Soul King could be integrated into ordinary souls, granting them immense spiritual power.
So—
What if the essence of Shinigami and Hollows were fused together?
What if the boundaries between souls were erased entirely?
Through relentless experimentation, Aizen finally succeeded.
He created an object that should not exist.
An artifact capable of breaking all limits.
He named it—
Hōgyoku.