"You really did it!" Holding the two test tubes, Mayuri walked back, his expression completely changed from the previous disdain.
This was how a researcher looked when encountering a project they were interested in.
Mayuri asked, "How did you do it?"
"Nothing much. The Reishi structure of a test tube is relatively simple. I memorized it by force." Ichigo answered with a smile.
Mayuri frowned slightly: "Memorizing by force? The composition of a test tube might involve hundreds or thousands of Reishi particles. It's impressive that you can remember, but the Bankai stealing you mentioned… surely Bankai can't be memorized by brainpower alone?"
"Of course not!" Ichigo shook his head. "So we need something that can remember these things for us!"
"What is it?" Mayuri's expression became fervent.
"The Chain of Fate!" Ichigo replied.
At this moment, he was immensely grateful for the analyses by various experts he had read before transmigrating.
The Quincy Sternritter's medallions stealing Bankai was essentially the MAX·pro·plus application of the Quincy ability to use external Reishi. It's so overpowered it seemed like the Author is granting a cheat.
But if forced to delve deeper, its principle was actually quite simple.
Using a Reishi absorption ability of unknown origin to forcibly steal and manifest a Shinigami's Bankai.
Among these, every time a Sternritter's medallion was used, chains would inevitably appear. This involuntarily reminded one of the Chain of Fate that connected a human's physical body to their soul.
Combined with the phenomenon where the Chain of Fate disappears and a soul transforms from human to Hollow-
The Chain of Fate very likely served a stabilizing effect.
It stabilized the state of the soul!
Thus, there was the force of the Reishi absorption ability capable of stealing Bankai, and there was the anchoring point to bundle and secure the thing. The combination of these two allowed the Quincy to steal a Shinigami's Bankai.
Of course, the actual Bankai stealing was a bit more advanced.
Because the Quincy's Bankai stealing allowed the stolen Bankai to be released by themselves. It wasn't a crude plunder, but a skillful pickpocketing!
It's less like stealing and more like, to some degree, replacing or confusing the concept of 'master'. Then the Bankai releases itself, and when returning home, takes the wrong path… not returning to the Zanpakuto, but to the Sternritter medallion.
Of course, these details were irrelevant now.
After all, Ichigo didn't really want to research Bankai stealing… he just wanted Mayuri to help him research his abilities.
And researching in advance would provide countermeasures when facing such abilities in the future, so Mayuri wasn't at a loss either.
"The Chain of Fate..."
Hearing Ichigo's words, Mayuri also thought rapidly.
It must be said, the perfect prospect Ichigo depicted deeply attracted him!
"A container, the power to steal, the tool to bind! It is indeed possible!"
Mayuri's eyes lit up.
And why did he even need to consider whether the stolen Bankai could be used?
If someone use this thing to seal enemy's Bankai, and enemy's Bankai is sealed, can't they defeat their enemy?
"I'm investing in this project!" Mayuri decided decisively.
"Great!" Ichigo's expression brightened with joy.
Having successfully tricked a worker, he was very happy.
Quickly discussing with Mayuri, the afternoon passed swiftly.
After dark, carrying a stack of Quincy materials Mayuri gave him, and having assigned him a large pile of research tasks, Ichigo returned to the 13th Division, to his mansion as a Lieutenant.
In the Gotei 13, Shinigami of seated officer rank and above could have independent residences.
As a Lieutenant, Ichigo's designated mansion was quite luxurious… a small villa in the forest, or perhaps a traditional Japanese-style mansion.
However, what it actually was didn't matter much, and what mattered was the person inside.
"Ichigo, welcome back, you've worked hard!"
Kneeling at the entrance, Rukia, dressed in a homely kimono, welcomed Ichigo's return.
Seeing Ichigo enter, Rukia quite dutifully stepped forward to take his Zanpakuto, offered slippers, and also prepared a basin of warm water for washing his face and hands.
Feeling the still-warm temperature of the wash water, Ichigo was very surprised.
"Rukia, you've been waiting for quite a while, right? How did you keep the water temperature like this?"
Hearing this, Rukia, who was still arranging Ichigo's clothes, gave a sweet, naive smile. "Did you forget, Ichigo? I'm very skilled in Kido!"
Rukia raised her small hand. Without even incanting a chant, a small flame rose from her delicate fingertip.
Rukia placed her hand into the water. The flame directly heated the water's surface, and the wash water's temperature quickly rose!
It's faster than so-called electric kettles, and in just a few seconds, the water in the basin was near boiling!
Amidst the faint white steam, Rukia lifted her small face, coquettishly saying, "How about it? Am I amazing?"
"Amazing... amazing..."
Ichigo nodded, looking at Rukia's slightly flushed, lovely face, using willpower to restrain his pounding heartbeat.
Whether in this life or the previous, when had he ever enjoyed this kind of full-service Yamato Nadeshiko-style care?
Subsequently, following Rukia, Ichigo arrived at the living room.
A dazzlingly arranged love-filled dinner appeared before Ichigo!
Ichigo wasn't extremely proficient in cooking, but he had cooked before.
Therefore, from the plating, knife skills, decoration, and so on, he could also see at a glance Rukia's devotion!
A dinner table like this definitely wasn't something that could be made simply and casually.
Seeing this scene, the ever-present live stream audience also wailed.
"Ahhhhhh, what kind of fairy wife is this!?"
"Wuwuwu, I want Sister Rukia as my wife too!"
"Wow, she really is... I'm crying!"
"I finally understand what it means for the gap between people to be bigger than that between humans and dogs!"
"Ah, don't even mention it. My 200-pound queen, even dogs won't eat the food she makes!"
"So happy, so happy!!!!"
Everyone envied and was jealous of Ichigo's situation.
And hearts are made of flesh. If the observing audience reacted like this, Ichigo's reaction was naturally even greater.
At this moment, Ichigo felt as if his heart had been struck by Cupid's arrow, intense affection swirling within.
"Ichigo, let's eat!" Completely unaware of Ichigo's state, Rukia called out.
But the next moment, a pair of warm, large hands wrapped around Rukia's waist.
Instinctively patting the hand on her waist, Rukia pouted, "Stop fooling around, we're eating!"
But obviously, Ichigo currently had no appetite for food!
"Rukia, haven't you heard the idiom 'beauty is a feast for the eyes'?"
"What eating? Of course, I'll eat you first!"
Amidst Rukia's exclamation, she was actually picked up by Ichigo in a princess carry!
Simultaneously, Ichigo's live stream screen went black at lightning speed.
Amidst bullet comments like 'Do I lack that bit of bandwidth?', 'Who are you censoring all day?', 'What about the promised live stream?', a beautiful night life was declared to begin.