Crossover Anime: Starting with Bankai from Demon Slayer

Chapter 389 Who Cut Off My Business as a Shady Merchant?

"Wow! Pretty lady, look at this! It can change into so many different colors under different lighting angles!"

'

Kasumi Rurichiyo was currently sprawled on a low table, completely unconcerned about her appearance, holding up a Kuromi sticker that could be bought anywhere in the world, her big eyes sparkling with girlish surprise and excitement.

For her, an upper-class noblewoman who had been confined to her mansion since childhood, even a cheap sticker contained incomprehensible magic.

Shinobu Kocho had changed into soft, light-colored casual clothes and sat gently beside her.

Looking at Ruri Chiyo's innocent and carefree appearance, she patiently peeled off the film on the back of the sticker: "Yes, although humans don't have spiritual power, they can use their wisdom to create many incredible little gadgets."

"Come on, be careful. You can stick it in your diary, or anywhere you like."

"Then I'm going to stick it on my fan, hehe!"

"When I get back, I'll definitely show it to Grandpa Yunjing. He'll definitely think it's beautiful!" Ruri Chiyo proudly raised her little face.

In the tea room separated by a wall, Asuka listened to the relaxed conversation coming from next door and stirred the teacup in front of her.

"So, that's all you have to offer?"

He gazed at the dog-dragon and monkey-dragon kneeling opposite him, shaking his head helplessly: "Including the two of you, there are less than ten lower-level Shinigami..."

"With just these few retainers, do you think you can bring down the Yunjing you speak of?"

The eyes of the dog-dragon and the monkey-dragon dimmed, and they buried their heads deeply in their chests.

Seeing their behavior, Asuka sighed repeatedly, "You two should think about these things again. I will stay in the mortal world for a while longer."

"...Anyway, I only have one bottom line."

"As long as she stays within the Urahara store's premises, I guarantee that no one will be able to touch a hair on her head, and I will protect her safety."

"If those Yunjing Sect assassins come, I will repel them."

He glanced at Kisuke Urahara, who remained silent to the side, and helplessly propped his chin up with one hand: "But you Kasumioji family's internal power struggles are your own business to resolve."

"I am not your henchman, nor am I your retainer, do you understand?"

"Understood! Completely understood!"

Inuryu trembled with excitement, bowing repeatedly: "Lord Asuka's willingness to protect Lady Rurichiyo is already an immense favor to us! We would never dare to ask that Lady Rurichiyo be drawn into the clan's internal strife again!"

Yuanlong, wiping away tears, echoed, "As long as our young master is safe, we two will risk our lives to contact more loyal retainers who have been ostracized by Yunjing!"

"Give us a little time, and we'll definitely be able to gather enough manpower to personally eliminate this cancerous growth in the family!"

Seeing the two of them so confident, Asuka curled her lip in disbelief.

But since things had already been made clear, he didn't bother to add any more negative comments.

"Brother Asuka really knows how to draw clear lines. Our shop really appreciates this decisive style of doing things."

Kisuke Urahara, who had been using a folding fan to cover half his face and act as an invisible man, finally spoke with a smile.

He picked up the teapot and slowly poured hot tea for the bird, then turned his gaze to the dog dragon and the monkey dragon.

"However, gentlemen guards..." Kisuke Urahara's smile faded, and his eyes became somewhat puzzled. "Regarding your Kasumioji family... I have some questions that I need you two to answer."

Inuryu paused for a moment, then looked at the legendary, unfathomable former head of the Technology Development Bureau with some confusion: "Mr. Urahara, please speak..."

Kisuke Urahara didn't rush to answer, but instead tapped the table lightly with his folding fan, making a rhythmic tapping sound.

;

...As you both know, our shop mainly deals in miscellaneous goods with spiritual properties in the mortal world.

"Recently, I plan to create a batch of spirit items to repair artificial remains in the present world and stabilize the coordinates of the interdimensional gate.... For these items, I need a rare material called Spirit Sealing Sand."

Kisuke Urahara's gaze swept across the two faces: "This material has an extremely low yield; it is usually only produced in a few ancient mines in the Soul Society."

"But when I asked someone to inquire in the market, I received news that I couldn't understand at all..."

'

"All the sealing sand on the market, including the pre-order quota for the next ten years, has been bought up in one go."

Asuka raised an eyebrow: "What's so strange about that? Isn't it common for those rich nobles in Soul Society to buy up resources?"

"Well... if it's just an ordinary nobleman, then there's room for negotiation..."

"But the problem is that the Tsunayo family bought out this batch of materials..." Kisuke Urahara frowned and uttered this well-known name.

"The head of the nobility, the Tsunayoshi family?" Inuryu gasped.

"That's right." Kisuke Urahara nodded. "That's exactly what I'm wondering about."

"Now that the Forty-Six Chambers have been destroyed, they should be focusing all their energy on how to seize more power in this political reshuffle and how to suppress the authority of Captain Kyoraku."

39

"At a time like this, they suddenly spend a huge sum of money to stockpile a batch of obscure materials that can only be used to create Spirit Particle Gear and repair Zanpakuto... What are they after?"

Kisuke Urahara suddenly leaned forward, pointing at the two with his folding fan: "To find out the reason, I asked some old connections within the Secret Service to investigate further, and guess what I found?"

Inu-ryu and Enryu felt their hair stand on end under Kisuke Urahara's gaze and instinctively shook their heads.

"This batch of sealing sand is not intended for use by the Tsunayo family themselves."

"The person in charge of handing over this batch of goods in Rukongai... is a close follower of your Kasumi Oji family, Yosuke Kumoi."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the tea room became somewhat awkward.

Although Asuka knew neither prop making nor politics, he still sensed that something was amiss.

The Gangya family paid for the goods, and the Xia Dalu family received them.

Why would these two influential families in Soul Society secretly transfer resources during such a sensitive time...?

If Xia Dalu's family needs it, why don't they just go and buy it themselves? Something just doesn't feel right.

"...What's the point of this?" Yuanlong scratched his bald head in a high-pitched voice. "Our Kasumigaoka family forges weapons for nobles...but sealing sand is completely unsuitable for forging! What does that old scoundrel Yunjing need so much sealing sand for?"

Inu-ryu added blankly, "Moreover, since Sealing Sand is a controlled material, nobles have to report to the Sixth Division if they want to buy large quantities of it. Isn't Yun-jing just making trouble for himself?"

"That is precisely the question I wanted to ask you both." Kisuke Urahara reopened the folding fan: "I can imagine that in order to successfully usurp the throne, Mr. Kumoi must need a powerful external backer to recognize his legitimacy."

"Tsunayoshi is a good choice. If we act in their name, most people won't dare to question it."

"So, what exactly did Yunjing use to sway the greedy Tsunayoshiro family... to get them to assist Yunjing and secretly hoard the Sealing Spirit Sand...?"

"That's what I'm curious about."

As he asked questions, Kisuke Urahara scanned the two of them with his deep gaze, trying to find some clues.

"I don't know..." Inuryu scratched his head in confusion, his face full of frustration: "We're just young lady's guards; we never interfere with the family's businesses..."

"Moreover, Yunjing is extremely wary. He has long since replaced the forging workshop with his own people, and those of us who are loyal to the previous generation cannot get even half a step closer."

Seeing the two of them completely clueless, Kisuke Urahara could only sigh helplessly.

"Fine, you're all just pitiful people kept in the dark..."

"Asuka-kun's decision is wise. Until we figure out what exactly Kumoi is up to, our shop will reluctantly provide Miss Ruri Chiyo with some protection for a while."

"Furthermore," Kisuke Urahara stroked his chin, "while we cannot directly interfere in the Kasumioji family's internal affairs, I can use my personal capacity to send a message to Captain-Commander Kyoraku."

"I can probe his attitude towards the Kasumioji family... If Captain Kyoraku is willing to step in as a righteous party, then Kumoi's conspiracy might collapse without a fight."

Upon hearing this, Inu-ryu and Ape-ryu were once again moved to tears and thanked them repeatedly.

Although they didn't know if the new captain would help them...

But in such dire circumstances, even a one in a thousand chance is worth praying for.

Just as the atmosphere in the tea room eased slightly, and everyone was preparing to further discuss how to settle Ruri Chiyo.

Boom! ...

A deafening roar suddenly erupted from above the underground training ground.

An explosion was heard from the front of the Urahara store.