Chapter 249: Satoru, Cooking Clothes Explosion!
"Robe Spirit, I remember Captain Hikifune mentioned last time that you're a 'Royal Special Forces'?"
Satoru swiftly moved to Senjumaru's side, his expression turning serious.
The Shinigami Uniform let out a hum, its collar shifting slightly.
Though there was no one inside, the changes in the garment suggested she had likely made a proud, head-tilting gesture.
"Indeed, I am the Royal Special Forces, commonly known as the 'Zero Division'!"
"Ohh, amazing!"
Satoru clapped like a seal.
Flattered by Satoru's praise, Senjumaru finally brightened up.
She snorted: "Boy, do you understand my greatness now? Then show your proper respect!"
"Incredible! So incredible!"
Satoru clapped his hands again.
Hmm... though somewhat repetitive, it was still praise, so she'd reluctantly accept it.
Senjumaru nodded with satisfaction.
While speaking, Satoru had already brought over a stool and sat down beside her.
"Robe Spirit sister, I have a friend who asked me to help inquire about some matters."
"Hmm.".. a friend? Alright, go ahead."
Senjumaru let out a derisive snort.
Did he really think such childish rhetoric could fool her?
Since ancient times, anyone claiming to have "a friend" was always referring to themselves.
Lady Senjumaru had seen right through him from the start!
Wait... had she overlooked some strange form of address just now?
Before Senjumaru could process this, Satoru cleared his throat:
"Robe Spirit Sister, what does the Soul King actually look like? Male or female?"
Senjumaru swayed the collar of her garment in a shaking motion:
"Haven't seen, don't know."
"My Zero Palace isn't located within the Soul King Palace itself—it merely forms part of the perimeter defense."
"The Soul King's decrees are conveyed through 'perception.' I've never laid eyes on the actual being."
"How useless."
"?"
Senjumaru looked Satoru up and down, contemplating where to start strangling him.
Satoru hurriedly changed the subject.
"Well then, Robe Spirit Sister, how powerful is the Zero Division?"
"I've heard that the Zero Division, with just four members, could defeat the entire Gotei 13."
"Other captains might be manageable, but my old man is the millennium's strongest Shinigami in the Soul Society. Could anyone truly surpass him?"
Upon hearing this, Senjumaru hummed thoughtfully.
She raised one sleeve as if propping her chin in contemplation.
After a brief moment, she gently swayed her collar:
"This matter isn't particularly clear to me either."
"After all, I haven't been a Zero Division member for very long."
"But... speaking purely on intuition, I sense that the captain of the Zero Division carries a far more dangerous aura than Lord Genryūsai."
"Though I've never witnessed him in combat, I have this feeling."
"Anyone would inevitably lose against that fellow!"
Satoru nodded with an expressionless face.
Seeing his completely unfazed demeanor, Senjumaru chuckled inwardly.
It seemed the boy was merely asking out of casual curiosity.
If he actually intended to take action, hearing her description of the monk would have elicited grave concern or worry.
Just as she thought this, she saw Satoru stroke his chin and nod slightly:
"Is that so... Then it seems violent methods won't be viable in the short term."
"?"
Senjumaru projected a question mark.
After a few seconds of thought, Satoru's eyes suddenly lit up as if struck by inspiration:
"Is the Zero Division still recruiting? How does one become a member?"
"Oh ho... I see, boy, you wish to join the Zero Division?"
Senjumaru laughed lightly as she picked up her teacup, taking a sip through her newly improved Heavenly Raiment that could remotely detect 85% of flavors.
"To join the Zero Division, one must first possess formidable strength."
"I've heard a bit about you from Kirio—they say you've already become captain of the Eleventh Division?"
"To achieve such standing at your young age... if you develop for another two or three hundred years, meeting the Zero Division's requirements isn't impossible."
"But beyond strength, there's an even more crucial requirement for joining the Zero Division."
"You must leave a unique, personal mark on the Soul Society's history!"
"For instance, I invented the Shinigami Uniform, Kirio created artificial souls, and that fellow Ōetsu developed the Zanpakutō..."
"You too must present a groundbreaking achievement to receive an invitation to the Zero Division."
Hearing this, Satoru pondered for a moment.
Soon after, a troubled expression appeared on his face.
"Creating something is quite difficult."
"Would destroying the Soul Society count as an equivalent achievement?"
Senjumaru spat out her tea in shock.
"You brat! How dare you spout such treasonous nonsense in front of me, a captain!"
She resolved that if this boy ever met the Zero Division's recruitment requirements in the future, she would absolutely vote against him!
This little rascal must never be allowed to join!
Satoru had intended to ask further whether destroying the Soul Society truly counted as an achievement.
But since Senjumaru refused to answer, he simply dropped the matter.
"Then, one last question."
"If I want to go to the Soul King Palace, how should I do it?"
Senjumaru sucked in a sharp breath: "Boy, you're not actually planning to do something strange, are you?"
Satoru shook his head: "I told you, it's not me, it's a friend of mine."
"Heh."
Senjumaru sneered.
She was already convinced this boy was definitely the rebellious type.
At his chuunibyou age, combined with his genius abilities, having these rebellious thoughts was quite normal.
Once he grew older and witnessed how vast the world truly was, he would naturally be cured.
She lazily stretched her... sleeves.
"To reach the Soul King Palace, you must use the Shiba family's special cannon to launch yourself upward."
"Don't even think about it, kid. Between the Soul Society and the Soul King Palace, there are dozens of powerful barriers. A mere captain-level couldn't possibly ascend through their own power."
"To pass through unimpeded and reach the destination directly, you must possess the 'Ōken' bestowed by the Soul King himself!"
"A rebel like you will never lay hands on the Ōken in this lifetime~"
As she spoke, she laughed triumphantly.
The Ōken...
Satoru had finally heard a familiar term.
Wasn't the Karakura Town War exactly the conflict Aizen initiated to create the Ōken?
It seemed this robe spirit wasn't deceiving him.
To repay the robe spirit, he personally cooked the black and white tofu he had brought.
Unlike other flashy dishes, the Great Magic Panda Mapo Tofu, though originating from the Cooking Master Boy world, followed normal principles.
The key to making this dish delicious lay in whether the chef's sauce was up to standard.
To accommodate Kirio and Senjumaru's tastes, Satoru specifically followed Kirio's cooking habits, using Gigai manipulation techniques to infuse the dish with large amounts of Reiatsu.
Soon, his Great Magic Panda Mapo Tofu was served alongside several other dishes prepared by Kirio.
As she untied her apron, Kirio smiled.
"Captain Senjumaru, you're in for a treat this time."
"My master's cooking is exceptionally delicious!"
Senjumaru hummed noncommittally.
As a noble member of the Zero Division, she possessed her own floating mini-city.
Within that city, there were no shortage of skilled chefs.
What delicacies hadn't she tasted?
How could a mere Fukada Ei... bah, a mere Satoru possibly impress her?
Remembering how he had deceived her with a fake name last time, Senjumaru grew even more displeased.
Once she tasted Satoru's dish, she would definitely mock him mercilessly!
The three sat around the table and picked up their chopsticks.
Senjumaru first sampled the roast chicken prepared by Kirio.
"Mmm... the spices are rich, the skin is crispy and fragrant, the juices are perfectly locked within the meat. Despite being chicken, it doesn't have a dry texture at all."
"The wood used for grilling should be applewood, imparting a delicate fragrance and an endless aftertaste."
Upon hearing Senjumaru's evaluation, Kirio showed a somewhat surprised expression.
"Captain, you've truly changed with the times!"
"Hmph, it's nothing special."
Though greatly pleased by the praise from her former subordinate, Senjumaru stubbornly refrained from showing it.
"This roasted chicken was taught to me by my master before. I've been repeatedly experimenting to find the optimal timing and heat control. As expected of the captain, you immediately identified the key elements my master emphasized!"
Senjumaru: "..."
Her good mood suddenly evaporated.
She cleared her throat lightly: "That previous comment doesn't count. After being hungry for so long, suddenly tasting a moderately decent dish would naturally make anyone think it's delicious."
"Let me try the next dish!"
What terrible luck, to have immediately encountered a dish taught by that traitor.
This time, she must avoid falling into the trap!
Senjumaru's gaze quickly scanned across the table.
Finally, she picked up a piece of stir-fried vegetables.
After chewing it gently a few times, her true body in the Soul King Palace lit up with excitement.
"Spicy, aromatic, fresh, and fragrant! Crisp, refreshingly sweet, and deliciously crispy!"
"Though merely simple stir-fried vegetables, they're unexpectedly this delicious!"
Accustomed to Japanese cuisine, she couldn't help feeling pleasantly surprised.
Kirio chuckled proudly.
"Not bad, right? This hand-torn cabbage is one of the first continental dishes my master taught me. I've practiced it diligently for a long time."
How is it him again!!!
Senjumaru grew furious.
She looked at Satoru, then at the latter's creation: Great Magic Panda Mapo Tofu.
Just a simple stir-fried tofu dish, though with one visually striking transformation that caught the eye. Ultimately, whether a dish is delicious depends on the judgment of the palate.
Today, she would make this traitor understand that flashy tricks are useless—only genuine deliciousness reigns supreme!
Like a general on the battlefield facing the enemy commander, fiercely swinging her long sword, Senjumaru picked up her chopsticks and reached for the tofu.
Picking up a piece coated in sauce, she placed it in her mouth.
The next second, her movements froze mid-action.
"Captain?"
Kirio looked over curiously.
Then, under her astonished gaze, the black Shinigami Uniform suddenly went limp, as if the person wearing it had abruptly vanished, leaving nothing but empty fabric.
Clatter!
The chopsticks fell to the floor.
"Eh?! Eh?! Eh???"
Kirio gasped in shock.
Just as she began to wonder if something had happened at the Soul King Palace, the collapsed garment on the floor suddenly reinflated.
The person inside had returned.
Under their dual gaze, Senjumaru turned her head, staring directly at Satoru.
Though she had no physical body, and her eye sockets were merely empty air, Satoru could distinctly feel her piercing gaze.
"Captain?"
Kirio sounded puzzled.
Senjumaru took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke:
"Kirio, taste his dish."
Kirio nodded, picked up a piece of tofu with her chopsticks, and placed it in her mouth.
After chewing gently a few times, her eyes widened abruptly.
A rosy blush spread across her pale cheeks.
"Mmm!!"
Kirio let out an involuntary moan, tilting her head back.
Her face was already flushed crimson, the redness extending to her ears and neck.
"Too much... it's too much... this... can't be..."
After a moment, she finally steadied herself.
Smack!
Kirio slammed both hands on the table, leaning forward with shining eyes fixed on Satoru.
"What's... going on with you two?"
Satoru looked at them in astonishment.
Good grief, anyone would think he'd been transported into a cooking battle arena.
Should he tug on a headband and shout "It's not much, but please enjoy"?
"Master... you've already reached this level?!"
"Huh?"
"Don't play dumb, boy!" Senjumaru gritted out through clenched teeth. "You used Gigai power in this dish, didn't you!"
"Kirio has dedicated herself to this path—she even earned her promotion to the Zero Division through this technique."
"Even so, the amount of Reiatsu she can infuse into a single dish is only one-third of yours!"
"You... how can you channel so much Reiatsu into food... Have you been researching this longer than Kirio?"
Kirio laughed wryly: "How could that be? Master has known about this technique for less than three years, at most."
Senjumaru was momentarily speechless.
Less than three years... and he'd already achieved this level.
Earlier, the moment she tasted the mapo tofu, the powerful Reiatsu contained within had directly assaulted her senses, making them tremble.
In that instant, she'd even felt as if her clothes might burst open.
Of course, given her vast Reiatsu reserves, the amount infused into the food was negligible.
The problem was, all that Reiatsu had exploded in her completely unprepared mouth.
The indescribable stimulation had caused her to momentarily lose connection with her heavenly garment for about a second.
This kid... he's truly dangerous.
Recalling the intense sensation, she couldn't resist picking up another piece of tofu and placing it in her mouth.
"Mmm... hnn..."
Senjumaru took a deep breath, letting out a soft moan.
Though she could only perceive about eighty percent of the dish's flavor, she could fully experience the Reiatsu infused within it.
Satoru, that rascal, is truly a master in the culinary arts.
How I wish I could bring him up to the Soul King Palace, keep him in my detached palace, and have him cook for me every day...
Kirio, not to be outdone, began competing with Senjumaru for the tofu.
Satoru stroked his chin.
Could his cooking really cause clothes to burst?
His eyes lit up.
Shouldn't he quickly prepare a dish and invite his dear senior to eat it in a crowded place, watching him have an explosive episode?
As he was scheming this grand conspiracy, Senjumaru suddenly remembered something.
While rapidly eating the dishes, she extended her sleeve.
From within, she produced a small package.
"Boy, as promised last time, the 'Heavenly Raiment' I made for you."
"Open it and see if it suits your taste!"