Huff, huff, huff…
As Morpheus retracted his pressure, the three—Kisuke Urahara, Tessai Tsukabishi, and Yoruichi Shihouin—gasped for air, like fish returned to water.
This was what it felt like to survive a calamity.
In that moment, they seemed to come back to life.
They stared at Morpheus as if he were a monster.
With just a hint of pressure, he'd nearly crushed them.
Where had this terrifying being come from?
Morpheus said calmly, "Shopkeeper Urahara, can you tell me who the real mastermind is now?"
Urahara gave a wry smile. "I really don't know, but I have a suspect in mind."
"Speak," Morpheus said, his tone neutral.
Urahara replied, "Sosuke Aizen, captain of the Gotei 13's Fifth Division. He's the most likely. He's collected Shinigami and Hollow souls before to create an item that evolves Shinigami."
"So, I have reason to suspect he's now collecting human souls for experiments."
Morpheus gave Urahara a half-smile. "You're sure it's Aizen, and not just you pinning it on him because of your grudge?"
Urahara dropped his playful demeanor, knowing better than to jest with Morpheus. He said seriously, "I do have a grudge against Aizen, but I wouldn't frame him like this."
"Among my suspects, Aizen's the most likely."
Morpheus nodded. "Any other suspects besides Aizen?"
Urahara hesitated. "Mayuri Kurotsuchi, captain of the Twelfth Division. He was once my subordinate—a mad scientist."
"I have reason to believe he might be impersonating me to conduct research."
Morpheus found this plausible and pressed, "Anyone else?"
Urahara fell into thought. As a fugitive from the Soul Society, many would love to pin blame on him.
He couldn't pinpoint the true mastermind.
Nor could he fully answer Morpheus's question.
Morpheus tossed the crystal orb containing the sealed Hollow to Urahara. "I'll question these two suspects myself. If it's not them, I'll come back for you."
"And when I do, I expect a clear answer."
"If you don't have one, I'll assume you're the mastermind."
Urahara protested, "That's unfair, sir. This only plays into their hands."
"Then it's up to you," Morpheus said coolly. "If you don't want their plan to succeed, find the real culprit with everything you've got."
"Otherwise, you're done for."
Morpheus stood, issuing his final command to Urahara.
"Open the gate to the Soul Society."
Urahara froze but didn't refuse. After some effort, he opened the Senkaimon.
Before stepping through, Morpheus said, "Remember, your time's running out."
Without looking back, he entered the gate.
Watching Morpheus vanish, Urahara let out a relieved sigh.
The pressure Morpheus exuded was overwhelming.
Yoruichi, still in her black cat form, leaped onto Urahara's shoulder. "What now?"
"What now?" Urahara said with a bitter smile. "We find the real mastermind before he returns. Otherwise, I'm dead."
Yoruichi fell silent. As a Soul Society noble, she understood the mindset of the powerful.
They didn't care if you were the true culprit.
They just wanted an answer.
If you couldn't provide one, you were expendable.
No matter how many unrelated Shinigami died, it didn't affect their interests.
By comparison, Morpheus giving Urahara a chance to prove himself was generous.
Yoruichi mentally cursed whoever framed Urahara.
Then she said, "Don't worry, I'll help you."
Urahara gave a wry smile. "Thanks for the trouble."
Tessai spoke up, "I'll help too."
Urahara nodded, eyeing the sealed Hollow in the crystal orb.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's move."
His time was short.
…
Meanwhile, Morpheus passed through the Senkaimon and arrived in the Soul Society.
To his surprise, Urahara hadn't tampered with the gate to trap him in the Dangai.
He'd underestimated Urahara's integrity.
Unbeknownst to Morpheus, Urahara had considered sabotaging the gate to delay him.
But fearing it would enrage Morpheus—and unsure if it would even work—he abandoned the idea.
Morpheus landed in Rukongai, the outskirts of Seireitei.
Looking up, he saw a massive city in the distance, encased in a colossal barrier.
Seireitei.
The barrier was grand and impenetrable, blocking outsiders unless they used official channels.
Fortunately, with Morpheus's current power, breaching it was child's play.
He stepped forward, cast a teleportation spell, and instantly passed through the barrier into Seireitei.
Orienting himself toward the Twelfth Division, he set off.
Anyone familiar with Bleach knew the Gotei 13's divisions had distinct roles.
The Fourth Division handled healing.
The Second Division managed covert operations and intelligence.
The Twelfth Division was the Research and Development Institute, creating new technologies.
Much of Seireitei's tech originated there.
Along the way, Morpheus encountered several Shinigami, but they paid him no mind. Even when they crossed paths, their gazes slid past him.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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