When he saw that figure, a flicker of realization finally surfaced on Naraku Sora's face.
No wonder Nishikawa had warned him earlier to be careful of the Prison Warden of Shino Prison—the so-called second-in-command.
He hadn't expected it to be another mad scientist, a man who possessed high-end technology, created countless pieces of black technology, and drove the development of the Soul Society—
Kurotsuchi Mayuri.
Unlike Shutara Senjumaru, even though Kurotsuchi Mayuri currently appeared somewhat harmless, Naraku Sora could feel the undisguised indifference, harshness, and arrogance ingrained in the man's bones just by glancing at him from a distance.
He looked down on everyone in his sight equally; in Kurotsuchi Mayuri's world, there was no air for idiots to breathe. To him, the vast majority of people in this world were idiots.
However, there were times when he became interested in certain things.
Like now.
Kurotsuchi Mayuri stepped forward, walking straight up to Naraku Sora. A pair of golden pupils shimmered with an eerie light as he examined the boy before him with great interest, as if observing some peerless treasure.
"Truly special."
"Wiping out the Araki family's experimental base single-handedly, independently defeating a Gillian-class Great Hollow, and even killing that fellow Ishikawa Sosuke head-on."
"As expected of someone that woman Shutara took an interest in. You really are different from other Soul Reapers."
Naraku Sora raised an eyebrow; this guy's attitude was a bit different from what he had originally anticipated.
"If it's you, you should be able to assist me in completing those previous experimental concepts."
Kurotsuchi Mayuri grinned, revealing a row of teeth so perfect they would satisfy anyone with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
"Kid, want to cooperate?"
Naraku Sora: "?"
Looking at the excited Kurotsuchi Mayuri, Naraku Sora began to wonder if something had gone wrong.
In Nishikawa's words, this Prison Warden's personality was so foul that he could be considered the worst in history—even worse than the criminals themselves. Yet, he stayed precisely within the boundaries of Soul Society's laws, never lightly crossing the line. This left those who disliked him with no way to target him.
However, compared to Kurotsuchi Mayuri, Naraku Sora preferred to trust the "bad woman" and his "good brother." The man in front of him had an extremely high danger rating and was not a suitable partner for cooperation at all.
Therefore, he rejected him flatly: "I already have a partner."
Kurotsuchi Mayuri frowned, a flash of displeasure crossing his eyes.
"Who moved so fast?"
"Naturally, it was I, Kurotsuchi Mayuri."
Another voice came from the entrance of the underground prison. A tall figure drifted out like a ghost, and a woman with an aura completely different from the rest of the facility appeared in everyone's sight.
Unlike the fear sparked by Kurotsuchi Mayuri's appearance, the guards' faces showed expressions of respect when they saw Shutara Senjumaru.
The woman's gaze lowered slightly, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her eyes, her red lips curving upward.
"Mayuri, although useless warnings won't make you put away thoughts you shouldn't have..."
"If you ever commit any misconduct against a colleague in private, I will absolutely make you regret ever coming into this world..."
Her voice was gentle, as if she were stating something trivial.
Displeasure flashed in Mayuri's eyes. "You are as loathsome as ever, always saying such condescending things."
The smile on Senjumaru's lips deepened.
"You are the one, Mayuri. I only stepped away for the time it takes to brew tea, and you already set your sights on my Naraku, even attempting to trick him into cooperating with you."
"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking."
As she spoke, her tall figure arrived beside the two. A pair of fair, slender hands rested on Naraku Sora's shoulders, accompanied by a faint, lingering fragrance.
"This child belongs exclusively to me."
Shutara Senjumaru declared her "sovereignty" directly in front of everyone.
Naraku Sora turned his head in slight shock, happening to see that flawless face inches away. Her slightly upturned lips suggested she wasn't at all displeased by the boy's reaction.
Mayuri's expression instantly darkened.
No one understood this woman's personality better than he did. It had been this way since they first founded the research team—she seemed easy to talk to, but in reality, she was dictatorial. Once she made a decision, she rarely changed it and never allowed others to interfere.
Not even the Head Captain.
If Senjumaru were like those idiot Soul Reapers, it would be fine, but her research capabilities were not inferior to his own—in some aspects, she even surpassed him. Even more frustrating was that in terms of combat, this woman was leagues ahead of him. If he fought her without any research-based tools, he would likely be sewn into an ugly corpse full of pinholes in an instant.
"Alright, Naraku, I have business with you. Let's go."
Ignoring Mayuri's dark expression, Shutara Senjumaru pulled Naraku Sora directly toward the surface.
Watching their departing backs, the gloom on Mayuri's face vanished, replaced by a bizarre smile.
'You're as impatient as ever, Shutara.'
On the way to the laboratory, Senjumaru sighed softly, a trace of helplessness appearing on her exquisite face.
"I was played by that guy."
Naraku Sora nodded, getting straight to the point: "It was a glaringly obvious provocation; even I could see it."
By trying to view things through Sōsuke's way of thinking, he often gained different insights. Mayuri's request for cooperation had been too abrupt; his goal clearly lay elsewhere.
"Well, it doesn't matter."
Senjumaru narrowed her eyes, a faint trace of sharpness flashing through them.
"With me here, Mayuri isn't so insane that he would lay a hand on a colleague."
"Look, we've reached the laboratory."
Her fair right hand rested lightly on the wall. With a click, the reinforced door of the laboratory swung open.
What greeted them was a decorative style completely different from before. Multicolored silks hung and drifted from the ceiling, filling the room with a mysterious atmosphere.
Shutara Senjumaru walked ahead, the fabrics seemingly possessing a will of their own as they automatically moved out of her way.
"I have developed many things, but the one I am most satisfied with is the Shishakushō, which is closely linked to Soul Reapers. It was precisely because of this invention that I received an invitation from the Zero Division a few years ago."
"Due to some unfinished research, I applied to the Soul King Palace to delay my promotion."
"However, through recent research, I have discovered that there is still room for improvement in the Shishakushō."
At this point, Senjumaru paused. A delicate sewing needle appeared between two of her fingers, and the corners of her mouth curled up.
"As for the inspiration... it naturally concerns you, Silly Boy."
Looking at the "bad woman" stepping closer and closer, a strong sense of unease suddenly rose in Naraku Sora's heart.