Chapter 50: Nest of Maggots

"All right, today Yamahiko, you can leave the hospital."

Yamahiko was wearing his hospital uniform while thanking Isane Kotetsu, who was checking his body with Kaido Spell.

"Thank you, Isane-senpai."

After seven days of treatment, all the injuries on Yamahiko's body had fully healed. The wounds had already closed around the third or fourth day, while the rest of the time was mainly spent repairing his bones and restoring organ function.

"It's what I should do," Isane smiled. She was a tall woman, almost two meters in height, and appeared quite sturdy. However, her personality was gentle, and she was very kind-hearted.

"Goodbye, Isane-senpai."

Yamahiko took his Shinigami attire from the nearby table and put it on. After dressing, he hopped out of the bed, took his Zanpakuto, and gave a bow to Isane. He then ran to the door and called out, "Captain Suì-Fēng, let's go."

Suì-Fēng, standing with her arms crossed, heard Yamahiko's words and walked out of the room with him.

In the corridor lounge outside the ward, Retsu Unohana sat there, holding a teacup. When she saw the two approaching, she glanced at them

Suì-Fēng halted her steps and respectfully said to Unohana, "Captain Unohana, we appreciate your hospitality during our stay."

Yamahiko quickly added, "Thank you, Captain Unohana."

Unohana responded with a faint smile, "You're welcome."

"We'll take our leave now," Suì-Fēng said. Then, with these parting words, she and Yamahiko left the Fourth Division headquarters.

"Goodbye," Unohana said, tilting her head slightly as she watched them depart.

Once they left the Fourth Division, Suì-Fēng turned to Yamahiko and said, "When we get back to the barracks, you should take some rest. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the underground monitoring station."

Yamahiko shook his head, "No, let's go directly. I've spent enough time lying in bed these last few days."

Suì-Fēng nodded, "Alright, then. Let's go there directly."

The two returned to the Second Division and proceeded to the Detention Unit headquarters.

The Detention Unit is located within the 2nd Division, near the mountains, extending downward, underground.

As a result, the Detention Unit is also known as the Underground Supervision Bureau.

Yamahiko followed Sui-Feng into the 2nd Division and arrived at the side of the mountain range. They entered a mountain recess, where a large gate appeared. The gate consisted of two thick black columns with a solid iron door in the center.

Two disciplinary members stood next to the black columns. Upon seeing Sui-Feng and Yamahiko, they slightly bowed in greeting.

Sui-Feng pointed at the gate and said, "This is the Nest of Maggots., where dangerous individuals are sealed away."

[Nest of Maggots - pic]

Yamahiko nodded and approached the gate with Sui-Feng. She handed her Zanpakuto to the guards on either side of the gate and said to Yamahiko, "Yamahiko, hand over your Zanpakuto. No one is allowed to enter with a Zanpakuto."

Yamahiko nodded and passed his Zanpakuto to the two disciplinary members at the gate, somewhat worried about its safety.

The disciplinary members had limited strength, and he could easily defeat them. However, he was concerned that someone might try to steal his sword.

As if understanding Yamahiko's thoughts, Sui-Feng explained, "This is the central location of the 2nd Division, and the security is already tight. There are also some hidden posts in the mountain recess responsible for surveillance, so you don't need to worry about your Zanpakuto being lost."

"Okay."

Yamahiko nodded, and Sui-Feng took out a key, inserted it into the lock, and with a click, the door lock opened.

Then, the two disciplinary members grabbed the iron door and, together, exerted force to slowly open it.

Boom, boom.

As the iron door was pulled open, judging by its thickness, it weighed at least three to four hundred pounds.

Yamahiko and Sui-Feng entered the iron door, and below them was a staircase. The staircase was located in a spacious underground cavern, judging by the staircase's position, this cavern was beneath the mountains.

The staircase was quite long, approximately twenty meters in length and about twelve meters deep, with stalactites hanging down on both sides.

At the bottom of the staircase, there was another door, which was also locked. Sui-Feng took out a second key, inserted it into the lock, and unlocked it. After opening the door, she handed the key to Yamahiko and said, "You're the only one who can handle these two locks, so you need to carry them with you."

Yamahiko took the two keys and hung them on his waist, saying, "I got it."

Then Sui-Feng reached out and pulled open the large door.

This door was even larger and taller than the outer iron door, a double door that weighed at least over a thousand pounds.

But Sui-Feng used only one hand to open the iron door, indicating that within her petite frame lay an immense strength.

Once inside the open door, they found themselves in a massive stone chamber.

The chamber was spacious, containing numerous metal chairs and tables. Many people sat there, playing chess and cards, their expressions filled with resignation toward this way of life. They didn't pay much attention to the newcomers.

Across from the stone chamber, there was a raised platform with stone stairs leading to it.

Sui-Feng explained, "This is the activity room and, of course, their living quarters. Their daily routines take place here."

Yamahiko looked at the surroundings, most of which consisted of stone and metal. Although there were some forms of entertainment, the living conditions were extremely harsh, monotonous, and devoid of hope, much like living as zombies.

Many of these people had been here for decades, some even for over a century, and Yamahiko couldn't fathom how they managed to keep going.

Although he had known about the  Nest of Maggots, coming here made him realize the extent of their suffering.

Was Seireitei really doing the right thing? Was it justified to imprison those with dangerous thoughts and behaviors here? Yamahiko had no clear answer in his heart. He could see the benefits and drawbacks of this, but right or wrong, he likely wasn't in a position to judge, yet.

All he could do was continue with his duties.

Sui-Feng led Yamahiko into the stone chamber, and as they walked forward, a sudden rush of air announced the arrival of a figure charging towards Yamahiko.

Sui-Feng took a step back, while Yamahiko stepped forward, delivering a powerful punch.

Boom.

Yamahiko's fist collided with an enormous one, many times his size. The wielder of this massive fist was a burly figure, impressive and not far behind the giant gatekeeper, Jidanbō Ikkanzaka.

However, despite the immense physical strength, this colossal figure froze momentarily in mid-air and was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground.

The opponent possessed great physical strength, but Yamahiko's reiryoku had reached the sixth level, and the power behind his punches shouldn't be underestimated.

Sui-Feng told Yamahiko, "When you encounter a threat, you can deal with it as necessary."

Yamahiko curiously asked, "Is it okay to kill them?"

Sui-Feng nodded, saying, "It's allowed. However, many of these people here have only been driven to attack others due to their mental instability during their extended imprisonment. So, if possible, subdue them without killing."

Yamahiko nodded and said, "I understand."

Sui-Feng continued, "Similarly, you also have the ability to release them. But remember, because you possess this power, they might try to threaten you, persuade you with words, or use their own tales of suffering and family to move you. So, if you decide to release someone, you must think carefully about whether it's genuinely safe, without any threat, and you must be willing to take responsibility for the consequences if they cause damage after leaving."

Balancing absolute rational judgment of these people and sparing them from their attacks is indeed a difficult choice.

Yamahiko knew this place was a conflicting one, and Sui-Feng added, "There's a passage over there with some cells for detaining especially dangerous individuals. Of course, in nearly a century, only one person has been kept in these cells, and he was released over sixty years ago."

Yamahiko nodded and said, "Twelfth Division's captain, Chief of the Research and Development Bureau, Mayuri Kurotsuchi."

This wasn't a particularly well-kept secret; many knew Mayuri Kurotsuchi as the formidable figure who emerged from the  Nest of Maggots.

Sui-Feng huffed coldly, "Sixty-two years ago, I clearly voiced my opposition. Now it seems he should never have been released."

Sixty-two years ago, it was Kisuke Urahara who had been authorized to release people from the  Nest of Maggots. He had formerly been the captain of the Third Division. When the supervisors reported to Yoruichi about Mayuri's case, she had no recollection of granting Kisuke Urahara the authority to release people, but she carelessly let him go.

Sui-Feng had expressed her opposition at the time, but it had been in vain, and Yoruichi had dismissed her concerns.

Thinking about Yoruichi's trust in Kisuke Urahara and their subsequent joint defection from Soul Society made Sui-Feng incredibly angry and convinced that Mayuri Kurotsuchi should never have been released.

However, considering the plot's development, even though Mayuri Kurotsuchi had gone somewhat mad, his contributions to Soul Society were substantial. He killed the Eighth Espada, Szayelaporro Granz, and later, in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, he took down the Quincy invaders Gesell, C, and one of the Sternritter. He also managed to rescue Toshiro Hitsugaya, Rangiku, and Kenpachi Zaraki.

Moreover, he had saved Many, and he had been instrumental in rescuing Renji Abarai and Uryu Ishida. In a way, releasing Mayuri Kurotsuchi had more advantages than disadvantages for Seireitei.

Sui-Feng continued, "From now on, you need to come down here every day to check the list, to prevent anyone from escaping, even though it's highly unlikely. Apart from that, you don't need to stay here."

"Your primary responsibility isn't with them, but with other dangerous individuals within the Seireitei. You have the right to monitor, apprehend, and investigate anyone."

"All the profiles of the apprehension team members here are in your office. You need to study them thoroughly."

"Alright, that's all for now. I'll take you to the office and explain the specifics to you."

After Sui-Feng finished speaking, she called for Yamahiko to leave.

Yamahiko glanced at the people in the stone chamber. For a considerable time to come, he would likely have to stay here.

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