(T/N: Hello!! This is the first chapter of the day! If you like the novel, don't forget dropping Power Stones!! That will be greatly appreciated!!)
Now that Katori Nanatsuki had the Reishi data of a Shinigami, he could use monitoring micro-organisms to collect Seireitei's secrets on a much larger scale.
[Monitoring Micro-Organisms: By providing the host's Reishi information, they automatically lock onto the host, observe their behavior, and gather intelligence.]
"This machine even contains the Reishi data of the Gotei 13's Shinigami… and the nobles of Seireitei?" Aizen Sōsuke's eyes lit up slightly. "Then we really should prioritize this…"
He could gather that data himself if he wanted to—however, doing it without anyone noticing would take a great deal of time.
'Sensei's ambitions really are something else…' Aizen thought to himself.
"I'll be accompanying captain commander Yamamoto on a 'study tour' for a while longer, so I'm leaving this matter in your hands." Nanatsuki walked over to a glass tank in the lab, inspecting its contents.
The tank was filled with a nutrient solution. Floating inside was a tiny ball of flesh, smaller than a quail egg.
Its body was tiny, and its Reiatsu fluctuations were barely detectable.
It was a Reishi Shell, crafted from the residual Reishi of an ancient Menos Grande.
"This ancient Menos Reishi Shell is extremely unstable. I had to tweak the nutrient formula several times just to barely keep it alive," Aizen explained.
"Hollows are vastly different from normal souls and Shinigami. Our Reishi Shell tech was developed for the latter two," Nanatsuki nodded. "Still, this is a promising direction—it's worth further investment."
"Sensei, there's one more problem…" Aizen looked troubled. "The lab's budget is nearly gone…"
"We failed multiple times while creating the Menos Reishi Shell and improving the nutrient solution. We've burned through tons of supplies. What we have left won't last more than a few experiments."
Reiatsu-based experimentation demanded significant resources. Nanatsuki had only been able to build this lab thanks to a generous gift from the Azashiro Clan several years ago.
But now, that funding was nearly depleted.
'Reishi experiments burn through materials like firewood. If I want to continue without restraint, I'll need to become the captain of Squad 12 and make use of Gotei 13's resources,' Nanatsuki thought.
But he would have to wait a few more days—until Hikifune Kirio was promoted to the Royal Guard—before he could take over the Twelfth Division.
For now, he needed to resolve the funding issue urgently.
"We'll stop optimizing the Spirit-Converging capsule—just put it on the market. Even if its effects are only one-tenth of the original Spirit-Converging Pill, it's cheap to produce," Nanatsuki said.
Over the past three years, the lab had succeeded in simplifying the Spirit-Converging Pill, developing a more affordable version: the Spirit-Converging capsule. The downside was its high Reiatsu loss rate, offering only about 10% of the original effect.
He had originally intended to optimize it further before release, but with no time or budget, that plan was scrapped.
Still, even at reduced potency, it was effective enough for regular Shinigami troops—and well-suited for large-scale deployment.
Nanatsuki planned to partner with the Azashiro merchant group and sell the Spirit-Converging capsule to raise funds.
"I'll use the Tenteikūra to contact Kana about it. You'll handle the coordination when the time comes."
With those instructions given, Nanatsuki left the lab and returned to the Fuwai District.
Yamamoto and the others were still at the shrine, waiting.
"That conman priest and his gullible followers—they're gone?" Nanatsuki asked as he entered, seeing no sign of the white-robed man or his cultists.
"Yeah, they ran off. That guy was clearly a fraud. No way he'd stick around," Kyōraku Shunsui replied.
Back in this era, Shinigami took a hands-off approach to Rukongai. As for the souls' beliefs? They couldn't care less.
Believe whatever you want—in the end, everyone reincarnates into the World of the Living.
As long as there wasn't a mass disappearance of souls, they wouldn't intervene.
"What about the child?" Ukitake Jūshirō asked with concern.
"She's with Hikifune-san now. I trust she'll take good care of her," Nanatsuki replied with a smile.
"It's getting late. Let's stay here tonight," Yamamoto said.
Nanatsuki's round trip had taken a while, and evening had already fallen. The group decided to rest at the shrine for the night.
"Where's the wolfman?" Nanatsuki asked, only just realizing Sajin Komamura was gone.
"He went to hunt something. That guy's probably in his growth phase—he gets hungry fast," Kyōraku said, lying on the offering platform. He picked up a fruit and bit into it—then instantly spat it out. "Pleh! What the hell is this? It's so sour!"
"You eat mystery fruit from an altar? Seriously?" Nanatsuki chuckled.
"It's an offering! No way those followers would give their god poisoned fruit, right?" Kyōraku replied, tongue starting to feel weird.
"Just a wild fruit from a tree," Ukitake came over to look. "Actually… it is poisonous."
"What?!" Kyōraku's eyes widened. "They gave poisonous fruit to their god?!"
"This fruit's toxic when unripe. You said it was sour? That means it wasn't ripe." Ukitake smiled mischievously. "And this toxin works on Shinigami, too."
"I only had a little bite—it'll be fine… right?" Kyōraku said, uncertain. He quickly gulped down some sake from his gourd, hoping to wash it down.
"Ah, forgot to tell you—alcohol activates the toxin," Ukitake said, still smiling.
Kyōraku thought that smile looked downright sinister—but he couldn't say a word anymore.
His tongue had swollen up!
"You only took one bite. You'll be fine by tomorrow," Ukitake said, patting his shoulder.
"Well, looks like you won't be eating anything tonight. Guess it's time for me to shine in the kitchen!" Nanatsuki said with a raised brow.
"Mmmrghhh!!"
With his tongue swollen, Kyōraku couldn't even close his mouth properly. He could only growl in helpless rage at Nanatsuki and Ukitake.
"Always so reckless. When will you finally grow up?" Yamamoto grumbled—but the corners of his eyes had softened.
"I'll head to the market and see if I can buy something. Let's eat well tonight," Nanatsuki said, already moving.
The Fuwai District didn't have a huge population, but it did have a market.
Nanatsuki bought a few chickens, planning to make Beggar's Chicken—a simple, delicious dish that didn't require elaborate preparation. Perfect for a field meal.
But just as he carried the cleaned chickens back toward the shrine, he sensed Komamura Sajin's Reiatsu in the market.