Ouetsu didn't immediately enter the mansion when the masked man went in and instead went around to another side to enter through one of the windows.
It would seem that the masked man already expected this as he ignored his actions and just slowly walked towards the direction of the basement. As soon as the masked man arrived at the door to the basement, Ouetsu silently appeared behind him.
Still wordless, the masked man opened the door and led the Shinigami deeper inside, and soon enough, they arrived at a small room with various barriers placed on it. Due to the intense amount of barriers present, even Ouetsu, who'd just recently started learning about Magic, couldn't help but marvel at the suffocation he could feel from it.
The masked man stepped into the room but Ouetsu didn't do the same and continued staring at him, "Did you really think that I'll enter a trap prepared by someone who invaded the Royal Palace just like that?"
"I was hoping that you would since you followed me quietly up to here." The masked man answered nonchalantly.
Ouetsu was a bit taken aback and asked again, "And what made you think that?"
"Because instead of Soul Society or the Seireitei, you're hiding from the other Royal Guards. More specifically, from Hyousube Ichibei."
Ouetsu was startled but didn't let it show on his face while repeating his question, "And what made you think that?"
This time, the masked man didn't immediately reply and contemplated his options. Since he knew that no amount of explanation could make him step into this room, he didn't bother answering him. However, if they want to discuss anything with substance, it's paramount to avoid Hell's gaze and the only way to do that surely is to leave the Human World, 'Should I risk it?' Kisuke thought to himself.
He could try to slowly gain his trust, but that would take too much time which he doesn't have right now and it's not even certain if he could do that in the first place.
On the other hand, if he risks it and fails, the entire Seireitei and Royal Palace will become aware of him. He would be lucky if they just ended up sending a few assassins and trackers. Worst of all is that Ichibei himself and the others from the Zero Division would be hunting him down.
However, if he's successful, he'd be able to obtain the assistance of one of the greatest weapons he could use against Ichibei.
After a few more seconds of contemplation, Kisuke sighed and placed his hand on his mask, 'Ah... Fuck it. Become a wanted man? Nothing really new. I also already prepared the girls' return trip in case of emergency or the situation became too dangerous. The rampage of Holy Power back then was a blessing in disguise.'
Because of that event, it became a lot easier for Kisuke to secure their retreat in case the whole world turned against them.
Ouetsu wondered what the masked man was trying to do until the latter pulled off his mask and it instantly and dramatically changed his appearance, "!?"
Kisuke, without his disguise, smiles at Ouetsu, "Shall we continue?"
Ouetsu calmed himself and thought about it for a few moments before stepping into the room and saying, "Fair enough."
Kisuke immediately closed the door behind him and fully activated the barriers prepared for the room.
"So that wasn't the full capability of this room," Ouetsu commented while looking around, feeling the intensity of Magic Power in the room thickened.
After putting the room in lockdown, Ouetsu thought that they'd start talking, but just as he was about to say something, Kisuke signaled him to stop, "Not yet."
Kisuke ignored the confused Ouetsu and placed his hand on the wall.
A few seconds later, a thin black line appeared on the wall and soon it turned into an opening that revealed a world with chaotic colors, "This is?" Ouetsu muttered in suspicion.
"The Dimensional Gap. We'll have to go through here to leave the Human World." Kisuke briefly explained before stepping out of the room.
Ouetsu followed him with curiosity and found the space they stepped into was so hostile that no normal person could ever survive, "This is way worse than the Garganta."
"This way," Kisuke called out, opening another portal and stepping into it.
As he had been doing, Ouetsu followed him and soon arrived at a familiar place full of dilapidated structures and perpetually dark clouds covering everything in sight, "...Could it be... The Zaraki District?"
"No better place to do an important and secret talk than under the lamppost, right?" Kisuke closed the portal and erased all of its traces.
Ouetsu sighed and said, "You really are full of surprises, Urahara-kun."
"It's always been my forte." Kisuke grinned at him, "Shall we use a random abandoned hut?"
"Preferably somewhere that doesn't smell so bloody."
"Then let's walk for a bit." Whether Kisuke could pull Ouetsu to his side or not will mostly depend on the latter's view on things and there's really little the former could do about it, 'I hope Kyouraku-san's state is accurate.'
.
.
.
With a warm tea prepared, Ouetsu immediately went directly on point, "So, what did you want from the Royal Palace?"
Kisuke took a sip of his tea before answering, "I already told the answer to Hyousube-san, but in case he didn't tell you, I said I wanted to confirm who the first Shinigami who was born from Hell made an agreement with."
Ouetsu became silent for a brief moment before asking, "And what did he say?"
Kisuke was happy that Ouetsu confirmed his words for him, 'This means he's more willing to cooperate than I expected.'
"Did you really think that he'll entertain my question? I'm just glad that I was able to escape unscathed. And I just really want to see if the one holding up the world right now is the King of the Quincies."
Ouetsu leaned back and took his cup of tea, "That's true. If you could get close like that to that thing, he wouldn't humor you unless he's incredibly interested in something."
"What's this? It sounds like you hate the lynchpin or something."
Ouetsu's eyes immediately rose up and stared directly at Kisuke. With a very serious expression, he said, "I really can't understand how others wouldn't. Even for the sake of maintaining the worlds."
Kisuke's hand froze as he shuddered at his voice that contained a little bit of hostility, 'Jackpot!'