Fortunately, Yoruichi didn't come away completely empty-handed. At the very least, the two of them left all the prepared dishes for her to finish, satisfying both her appetite and giving her spiritual pressure a slight boost.
"My, my, young man, you are truly remarkable, knowing so much about cuisine. I learned a great deal today."
"If I weren't about to take up my post in the Royal Guard soon, I'd truly want you to join my division. It would be convenient for my daily research."
Kirio Hikifune sighed, sounding quite regretful.
"When is Captain Kirio officially taking up her post?"
"Hmm, let me think..." Hearing Yoruichi's question, Kirio tapped her cheek lightly with a finger. "I think... in a dozen years or so? At the latest, within a hundred years."
"That is indeed quite soon."
Kensei looked speechlessly at Kirio and Yoruichi, who seemed to be lamenting how swiftly time passed. A century was merely a slightly longer interval for Soul Reapers like them. After all, the more powerful the Soul Reaper, the longer their lifespan—Yama was a prime example, having lived for at least a few millennia.
Perhaps it was a feminine instinct; sitting together with desserts in the afternoon automatically switched them into idle chat mode. After listening for a few moments and feeling like he was hearing a foreign language, Kensei started to doze off. Suddenly, a surge of spiritual energy rushing into the room snapped the drowsy Kensei awake. It was a Kidō without any lethal intent—likely Tenteikūra for communication.
"What's going on?"
Seeing Yoruichi's face, which had changed dramatically upon receiving a message, Kensei guessed it wasn't good news.
"Those bastards!" Yoruichi slammed the table hard, continuing through gritted teeth. "The Maggot's Nest has been attacked. Those two traitor Captains were just imprisoned there yesterday, and today someone attacks? They're not putting the Shihōin family in their eyes at all."
"I have to go."
As the head of the Shihōin family, which oversaw the Punishment Force and the 2nd Division, Yoruichi naturally had to rush to the scene immediately in such a situation.
"I'll take both of you there."
With the highest Reiatsu among them, Kirio Hikifune was naturally much faster than Yoruichi and Kensei. Moreover, since the invaders who breached the Maggot's Nest undoubtedly possessed high-level combat power, Kirio accompanying them served as an extra insurance.
Grabbing one person in each hand, Kirio swiftly carried them towards the Maggot's Nest, located within the moat northwest of the 2nd Division barracks.
As a prison specifically for criminal Soul Reapers, under the jurisdiction of the 2nd Division, the Maggot's Nest was constructed from Sekkiseki, which completely blocked spirit particles, preventing prisoners from escaping from within. The exterior of the Maggot's Nest was surrounded by multiple layers of defensive structures, usually guarded by the Surveillance Unit of the Stealth Force. However, this supposedly impregnable fortress had been breached today by a group of uninvited guests.
The Surveillance Unit's strength was like paper against these intruders, barely managing to delay the assault through sheer numbers.
"Damn it! Has the situation been reported to the Seireitei?"
"It seems the enemy has prepared a method to intercept some Tenteikūra transmissions. For now, we've only managed to inform the family head."
If the Punishment Force hadn't arrived for support in time, the Surveillance Unit would have been completely wiped out. The Surveillance Unit Captain watched as the enemies across the moat charged again and had no choice but to raise his sword and meet them.
Suì-Fēng, who had come as part of the Punishment Force reinforcements, relentlessly wounded enemies with the lethal techniques she honed through daily, relentless training. She even spared some energy to assist her comrades around her. Those nearby watched the petite Suì-Feng with awe, unclear how such astonishing power was hidden within her small frame.
Thud—
Suì-Fēng delivered a side kick, sending a sneaking enemy flying. The high-intensity combat was starting to wear on her, but as a member of the Punishment Force, even if she had to stake her life, she absolutely could not bring shame upon Lady Yoruichi.
Adjusting her slightly ragged breathing, Suì-Fēng once again resolutely blocked the enemy's advance.
What the Stealth Force didn't know was that a middle-aged man wearing a mask had already infiltrated the interior of the Maggot's Nest, slowly descending the long, spiral stone staircase towards the cells holding the prisoners.
"Sir, are you here to rescue us?"
The middle-aged man looked coldly at the dejected Kishita and Shirakura, inwardly cursing them as useless. If it weren't for the difficulty of turning two Captains away from Yama's side, no one would care about these two.
"Come out."
With a casual swing of his blade, he severed the chains on the cell door. Ignoring the desperate pleas for help from the other prisoners still in the cell, he turned to lead the two Captains away.
"How interesting. I never thought a noble would come here to rescue two weak Captains."
A man with a corpse-like pallor and black paint smeared around his eyes watched the departing trio, the corners of his mouth stretching into a strange smile.
"Who are you people?!"
From the enemy's earlier actions, Suì-Fēng had deduced they were deliberately stalling. Guessing someone might be trying to release prisoners from the Maggot's Nest, she hurried over only to see three figures emerging from the cells.
"Another brat."
Kishita Hanta had been captured precisely because of a brat he looked down on—Kensei. Now, the mere sight of a kid filled him with inexplicable rage. Captain-level spiritual pressure erupted from Kishita, the overwhelming disparity making it hard for Suì-Fēng to breathe.
"It seems leaving won't be easy today."
The middle-aged man seemed to sense something, frowned, and muttered under his breath, his hand already resting on the Zanpakutō at his waist.
Kishita's Zanpakutō was instantly at the immobilized Suì-Fēng's neck. The blade, infused with spiritual pressure, hadn't even made contact yet but had already created a small cut on her neck.
"So after I beat you, you can only bully kids? How pathetic, Kishita."
Suì-Fēng, filled with despair, only felt a hand grab her and toss her backward, followed by a voice laced with mockery.
"Naturally, a protagonist like me always makes a dramatic entrance at the critical moment." Kensei pointed at Kishita Hanta and Shirakura Shin'ichirō, then ignored the middle-aged man who seemed like a tough fight—he'd leave that to Sister Kirio. "You two still thinking of a prison break? Seems the Soul Society's punishments are too lenient. Don't worry, I'll make sure you two are permanently written off this time."
Yoruichi caught the Suì-Fēng Kensei had thrown over, utterly speechless at his declaration.
"You're from the Suì-Fēng family, aren't you? You did very well."
"L-Lady Yoruichi!"
"But now isn't the time for chit-chat."
Suì-Fēng, thrilled to see her idol, was cut off before she could even greet her properly.
"Little Kensei, need help?"
"Go handle your Stealth Force first. Wouldn't want to become a captain with no subordinates."
Watching Kensei, who completely disregarded the several of them, Kishita's already scant rationality vanished entirely. Kirio Hikifune locked eyes with the middle-aged man across from them, selecting her opponent. As for Yoruichi, she took Suì-Fēng to deal with the Punishment Force's enemies first, lest Kensei's words become prophetic and she end up a laughingstock.
"Did beating me by luck last time give you so much confidence you'd dare to taunt two Captains now?"
"Does a speck of dust feeling pressure because there's one more speck to sweep away?"
Kensei looked calmly at Kishita and Shirakura, tossed the Asauchi at his waist aside, assumed a Hakuda stance, and instantly engaged the two in combat.
"This place isn't very suitable for a fight. Shall we change venues?"
The middle-aged man, seeing Kirio Hikifune had locked onto him, knew her strength was unfathomable. Cautiously, he used Shunpo to leave the area, attempting to escape. However, his speed was clearly no match for Kirio's. She drew her blade backhanded to block his strike, the immense force slamming him down onto a nearby street.
"Young man, be careful."
After leaving that warning for Kensei, Kirio vanished from sight.
Watching Kensei handling their two-on-one assault with such ease, Kishita and Shirakura felt troubled. Exchanging a glance, they simultaneously shouted, "Bankai!" intent on killing Kensei right here and now.
Feeling the erupting spiritual pressure wash over his face, Kensei focused his gaze, ready to meet their combined attack.