Chapter 22: Bubu Wang's Daily Routine of Infiltrating the Enemy
Shadow's loyalty was very low. As for how low, the fact that Su Xiao couldn't view Shadow's attributes made that clear.
As a summoned creature, Su Xiao should have been able to freely check Shadow's information. That wasn't the case. When Su Xiao tried to view Shadow's data, a prompt immediately appeared.
[Prompt: Summoned creature's loyalty is too low. Unable to view its information.]
Su Xiao had some understanding of the summoning system. Generally, 100 points was the maximum loyalty, and very few summoned creatures reached that level. Most were around 70 to 90 points. Above 90 points, they would be willing to face death without hesitation at critical moments.
70 to 90 points was a safe range. Summoned creatures with this level of loyalty wouldn't easily betray, meaning they wouldn't forcibly break the contract.
40 to 70 points was when things started to get unreliable. The summoned creature might disobey orders or even intermittently attack allied members.
10 to 30 points was the danger zone. The most obvious characteristic of a summoned creature at this stage was that the master couldn't view its attributes.
In other words, Shadow's loyalty was between 10 and 30 points. The exact number required further judgment.
"Do you have any wine?"
Shadow suddenly spoke. His dull eyes were gradually regaining their luster. Su Xiao's judgment was correct—Shadow had an independent personality.
"Wine?"
Su Xiao checked his storage space. He did have a few bottles of wine, prepared for gifting to plot characters when necessary.
A bottle of hard liquor appeared in Su Xiao's hand. He tossed it to Shadow, who bit open the cork and gulped down several large mouthfuls.
"I didn't expect to return to the Soul Society again."
Shadow sat leaning against the wall, looking disheveled. Seeing Shadow's expression and attire, Su Xiao felt this guy was probably a Kenpachi from some era. The temperament was too similar.
"What era is it now? Does the Gotei 13 still exist?"
Clearly, Shadow had already recalled some things from his past life.
"You don't need to know for now."
"Is that so? Then forget it."
Shadow glanced at Su Xiao, who held a long blade. He knew the other party could kill him at any moment.
"I really want to see her. She should have grown up by now. What happened after I died?"
Shadow muttered to himself while drinking heavily. Su Xiao ignored him and focused on cleaning up the traces around the area.
After dealing with the marks left from summoning Shadow, Su Xiao looked at him.
"Hide in the forest near the Rukongai. I'll notify you when I need you."
"Got it."
Shadow stood up. The wound on his chest was still gushing blood, and it was dangerously close to his heart.
"Can I... kill people?"
Shadow leaped onto the wall, a grin spreading across his face. It was obvious that this guy had been a ruthless killer in his past life.
"As long as you don't cause trouble, do whatever you want. Disappear from my sight in ten seconds."
"..."
Shadow said nothing more. With a few leaps, he vanished from Su Xiao's sight.
Su Xiao had no interest in Shadow's origins or identity. What he needed was Shadow's combat power, nothing more.
The sky was gradually darkening. Su Xiao had left the First Division barracks around five in the evening. It was now about seven o'clock, leaving only two hours until the nine o'clock meeting Aizen had arranged.
Su Xiao headed straight for the First Division barracks. He first needed to show his face there, then find a way to reach the Fifth Division barracks and meet Aizen in the back courtyard.
...
The Present World, Urahara Shop.
This was an ordinary-looking general store, but its owner was far from ordinary. His name was Kisuke Urahara, the former captain of the Twelfth Division of the Gotei 13. For now, he was just a shopkeeper.
Beneath the shop, in a vast underground space, it wasn't dark despite being underground. Instead, it was a desert-like terrain.
Kisuke Urahara stood with his arms crossed. In front of him was a deep circular pit, inside which were two figures.
"Shopkeeper, is this really okay?"
A little girl spoke. She was Urahara's assistant.
"No problem, no problem."
Urahara held a paper fan, dressed very casually.
In the deep pit, the protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki was undergoing some kind of trial. Earlier, his Zanpakuto had been broken, he had nearly died, and he had lost his Shinigami powers. Now, he needed to regain that power.
Urahara wasn't really concerned about whether Ichigo would regain his Shinigami powers. In his view, it was inevitable—after all, the kid was the son of those two people.
Compared to Ichigo, Urahara was more curious about the origin of a certain dog. This dog had followed Ichigo to the shop, and what puzzled Urahara was that the dog was Ichigo's collaborator, not a pet.
"If I remember correctly, your name should be Bubuteni, right?"
Urahara spoke. Bubu Wang, lying on the ground, glanced at Urahara with an expression that said, "This Wang doesn't want to talk to you. Hurry up and train that hedgehog head."
Bubu Wang had entered the Soul Society by following Ichigo. From the looks of things, it would soon reunite with Su Xiao.
"Judging by the ornament on its neck, it seems to have an owner."
A black cat walked up to Bubu Wang. The cat spoke in human language, looking at Bubu Wang with puzzled eyes.
Bubu Wang sat up. It knew the identity of this cat—it was a woman named Yoruichi in disguise.
Seeing Yoruichi, Bubu Wang immediately thought of a certain money-grubbing cat.
"If it has an owner, why isn't it looking for its owner? This dog seems to have considerable intelligence."
Urahara crouched down, intending to pet Bubu Wang's head. Bubu Wang raised its head and snapped at him. Urahara quickly pulled his hand back.
"Unexpectedly unfriendly."
"Maybe its owner is already dead."
Hearing Yoruichi's words, Bubu Wang turned its head and stared straight at her.
"Sorry, Yoruichi touched on a sore spot. How about I adopt you?"
Despite nearly being bitten, Urahara was still very interested in Bubu Wang.
Bubu Wang gave Urahara a look of canine disdain. It took out some snacks from the small bag on its back and ate them leisurely.
"This seems... beyond the intelligence of a canine."
Under Urahara's puzzled gaze, Bubu Wang leaped into the deep pit. Ichigo's progress was too slow; it needed to help speed things up.
...
Soul Society, First Division Barracks.
The Soul Society at night was somewhat desolate. Su Xiao lay on a wall by the street, appearing to be taking a nap.
Occasionally, a squad of Shinigami patrolled the streets. They only glanced at Su Xiao and didn't approach to question him, since he had been lying there for over an hour.
"Almost time."
Su Xiao stood up. After confirming there were no patrolling Shinigami nearby, he jumped down from the wall and entered an alley.
Half an hour later, inside the Fifth Division barracks. The nighttime Fifth Division barracks were equally quiet, especially the back courtyard at the edge. The so-called back courtyard was essentially the Fifth Division's garbage disposal area.
Aizen hadn't specified the exact meeting location. After arriving at the back courtyard, Su Xiao found a tall building, sat cross-legged on the roof, and waited for Aizen.
After waiting for a moment, a black butterfly flew in front of Su Xiao. It circled him a few times before flying toward the east side of the back courtyard.
Su Xiao followed the Hell Butterfly. If he wasn't mistaken, this was Aizen's method of contact.
Before long, the Hell Butterfly stopped in front of a civilian house. Su Xiao pushed open the door. The house was pitch black, and two figures were inside the darkness.