Shiki Mirai extended his hand and pointed at Kisuke Urahara.
"Urahara's got the technical know-how. The design and construction of the base, all the mechanisms and Reishi equipment—we'll be relying on him for most of it. And this sort of thing can't involve outsiders, or it wouldn't be a secret base anymore, would it?"
Then, he moved his finger to himself. "Now then, surely I'm not footing the entire bill on my own?"
"Hahaha!" Yoruichi laughed heartily, giving Shiki a firm pat on the shoulder. "It's just money! No problem, I'll pay half!"
But before Shiki's smile could fully unfurl, Yoruichi leaned in, still grinning, and lowered her voice:
"But… since I'm being so generous, we can't have this base looking all shabby, right? Gotta raise the standards across the board."
She raised her index finger and waved it in front of Shiki, speaking in the same casual tone one might use to announce dinner plans:
"So, let's set the preliminary budget at one hundred million Kan."
"One—?!"
Shiki's eyes went wide, nearly popping out of his head. He almost jumped out of his chair.
"YES!!"
Kisuke Urahara suddenly roared with a force he hadn't used in years, cutting Shiki off.
He was trembling with excitement, eyes sparkling like Kan coins, fists clenched tight.
"One hundred million it is!!!"
His mind swirled with golden coins fluttering around, and in his ears rang the delightful clink of currency colliding.
A hundred million Kan! A full hundred million!
Even the Twelfth Division's entire research budget over decades didn't add up to that much!
With this kind of money, forget a secret base—I could build a whole underground palace!
High-end Reishi analyzers, precision forging platforms... I can get it all!
Shiki tried to protest weakly. "That's… a bit much, don't you think…?"
Urahara lunged forward, grasping Shiki's hands with all his might, his eyes glowing with desperate sincerity and fanatic passion. His voice shook with intensity:
"Brother Shiki! Please trust me! I, Kisuke Urahara, swear on the future of my scientific career—give me the funds, and I will build you a secret base so perfect, so unbreakable, so unbelievably advanced, it'll exceed your wildest dreams! I swear it!!!"
Looking into Urahara's blazing eyes, and thinking about how vital this base would be for his writing and cultivation, Shiki finally swallowed his protests and gave a reluctant nod.
So be it... after all, this will be a long-term stronghold. Better to invest more now than regret it later.
He took a deep breath and turned to Yoruichi, who was grinning like a cat that had just stolen a fish, and slowly laid down his terms:
"Since we're setting the budget this high... just paying up won't cut it for you."
"Hm?" Yoruichi tilted her head, golden eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Shiki met her gaze with a knowing smile.
"Some 'favors' are going to need a bit of help from the head of the Shihōin Clan herself."
"After all, we're partners now... aren't we?"
——
In the heart of Seireitei, surrounded by high walls and far removed from the clamor beyond, lay the noble residential district.
Encircled by the barracks of the Gotei 13, this was the most secure area in the entire Soul Society.
Naturally, to the nobles living here, places like Junlin'an—the so-called "commoner zones"—were beneath their notice.
The walls weren't just physical—they were lines drawn by status and class.
Shihōin Yoruichi, current head of one of the Five Great Noble Houses, strolled down the exclusive commercial street reserved for the upper class, holding a finely bound copy of The Genius Boy in both hands.
Her striking purple hair and relaxed demeanor stood out like a painting in motion.
As she walked, she deliberately read a line from the book loud enough for others to hear:
"'I bow my head to all the gods…'"
"Tsk." She clicked her tongue lightly, face lit with undisguised appreciation. "This is... really well-written."
Her engrossed expression naturally drew curious glances from the other noblewomen on the street.
After all, anything the Shihōin Clan endorsed was immediately elevated. If Lady Yoruichi was so invested in a book, it didn't matter what it was about—they had to own a copy. It was a matter of taste and status.
"Lady Yoruichi…" came a cool, slightly anxious voice beside her.
It was a petite girl in military-style garb—Suzushiro Aya.
Daughter of the lesser noble Feng family, Aya had been born and raised with one purpose: to serve and protect Shihōin Yoruichi until her final breath.
Her sharp gaze swept the street, warning off any nobles who might think to approach. Her aura alone was enough to make many noble ladies reconsider small talk.
Yoruichi let out a small sigh, her voice tinged with exasperated fondness.
"Aya, relax. This is the noble sector's own commercial district—nothing dangerous will happen here."
She closed the copy of The Genius Boy in her hands and raised the cover slightly, making sure the elegant signature of Shiki Mirai on the front was clearly visible to the passersby.
"I just couldn't help myself. I wanted to reread this brilliant book as I walked. That's all."
Though the words were meant for Aya, it was obvious she was also addressing the crowd watching her unusual stroll.
"But Lady Yoruichi…" Aya dipped her head respectfully, but her eyes stayed sharp, ever vigilant.
Yoruichi looked at the girl she'd long regarded as a little sister, her heart complicated.
But nobility came with chains—displaying too much closeness in public could invite gossip and trouble for Aya.
Just then, a warm, cheerful voice rang out, cutting through the taut air.
"My, if it isn't Lady Shihōin Yoruichi!"
A richly dressed noblewoman approached quickly, her face alight with perfectly measured delight. She offered a textbook noblewoman's bow.
"It's been far too long since we've seen you here!"
"Oh, Lady Ōmaeda Kikiwa. It really has been a while," Yoruichi replied with a familiar smile, like greeting an old acquaintance.
Kikiwa quickly raised her sleeve to her lips, voice fluttering with polite surprise.
"Oh no, Lady Yoruichi. It's my fault for not calling on you sooner. Please allow me to bring my daughter Kimi to visit in a few days, if you'll permit the intrusion."
"Hahaha, Kimi? It's been ages since I saw that little one," Yoruichi said with a grin—and casually shook the book in her hand again, making sure the cover was visible.
Kikiwa's eyes glinted in recognition. She played along instantly, exclaiming in the perfect tone of surprise:
"Oh my! You're reading The Genius Boy too, Lady Yoruichi?"
Her voice lifted slightly, just enough to reach the ears of the nearby noblewomen who were already listening in.
"To be honest, my daughter Kimi and I are obsessed with that book. The writing, the themes—so refined! We came all the way here today just to buy a few more copies for our collection!"
Yoruichi's smile deepened, a look of shared passion crossing her face.
"Perfect. When you come by next time, we can have a nice chat about the book. Some of the lines are truly worth savoring."
"An honor I'll cherish!" Kikiwa's face lit up as she bowed. "I'll excuse myself now. I hear this book's quite the sensation—I'd better hurry before the shop sells out!"
With no extra words or wasted movements, she bowed again and turned with elegant speed, heading straight for the most lavish bookstore on the street.
Moments later, as Yoruichi and Aya passed by the shop's entrance, they saw Kikiwa walking out with a towering stack of fresh copies—all of them The Genius Boy.
Inside, the bookstore was far livelier than before. Many noblewomen were now asking about or buying the book "endorsed by both Lady Yoruichi and Lady Ōmaeda."
Seeing that the effect had landed perfectly, Yoruichi didn't linger. She quietly slipped away from the street with Aya in tow.
After putting some distance behind them, she bared her teeth with a half-playful grimace.
'That bastard Shiki… making me do this kind of thing!'
'I'll remember this, you hear? You've got it coming!'
But even as she plotted her revenge, a knowing smirk curled on her lips.
Plan: complete.