[TL/N: New Book -
Anime Group Chat in a Doomsday World!]
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"As long as you let me go, I... I will do as you say!"
Dr. Fueguchi hesitated for a moment, his eyes welling with tears, before finally bowing to Kureo Mado.
Though he knew Gecko was powerful and unpredictable, the despair instilled by the investigators standing before him left him with no options.
Even as he complied, he understood that his cooperation might not guarantee his freedom.
But...
He didn't want to die—not like this!
Even if there was only the faintest glimmer of hope, he desperately wanted to survive.
He had a beautiful wife and adorable children...
His life had been so happy and perfect.
"Hehehe..."
Mado let out a strange, almost sinister laugh, savoring the sight of the struggling ghoul before him.
Although he had already decided on Dr. Fueguchi's fate, Mado feigned reassurance, his voice calm yet venomous:
"Don't worry. Be obedient, and you'll get what you want."
"Now then... do it. Lead that ghoul to us!"
He withdrew the suitcase that had been menacingly pressed against Dr. Fueguchi, his mock kindness on full display.
For Mado, a seasoned investigator, deception was merely a tool of the trade—a tactic he'd perfected over the years.
According to CCG intelligence...
Yakumo Oomori, also known as Gecko, an S-class ghoul infamous for his ruthlessness, had been spotted conducting mysterious activities in District 20.
This was an invaluable opportunity for the investigators assigned to the district. Taking down Gecko could cement their reputations and ensure the safety of the area.
Yakumo Oomori earned his nickname 13th Ward's Jason due to his use of a hockey mask during his brutal attacks, a detail reminiscent of a horror movie villain.
Among ghouls, however, he was better known as "Gecko," a prominent enforcer of the Aogiri Tree—the very ghoul Kaneki and his group planned to confront.
This encounter, destined to occur later, had been accelerated by interdimensional dealings.
"I'm sorry, but Dr. Fueguchi is an important ally. We won't let you use him."
Just as Mado believed his trap was set, a calm voice echoed from above.
"Huh?!"
Mado's sharp eyes immediately darted upward.
A group of figures stood atop the dilapidated warehouse, each masked, their identities unmistakable.
"Ghouls?!"
Amon, startled by the sudden appearance of Kaneki and his companions, instinctively raised his suitcase in preparation for battle.
Suddenly—
A volley of sharp, scarlet arrows shot toward the two investigators below.
Thanks to their finely-honed combat instincts, Mado and Amon reacted almost instantly, leaping back to evade the attack.
However, the maneuver left them distanced from Dr. Fueguchi, eliminating any chance of taking him hostage.
From above, Kaneki led his team in a swift descent.
The natural strength of a ghoul's body allowed them to leap fearlessly from great heights. Even the relatively inexperienced Ryoko and Hinami showed no hesitation.
Within moments, they surrounded Dr. Fueguchi, placing him firmly under their protection.
Beneath his mask, Kaneki's lips curled into a slight smile. Stepping forward, he unzipped his mask's chain to reveal a calm, reassuring expression.
"There's no need for violence," Kaneki began, his tone composed.
"If you leave now, I'll let this matter slide. Dr. Fueguchi won't be harmed, and we can avoid any unnecessary conflict."
At this point, Kaneki had yet to endure the life-altering experiences that would harden his perspective. His favorable impression of investigators, shaped by his human upbringing and their role in protecting society, lingered.
Kaneki understood the investigators' motivation to hunt ghouls—kagune could be a tool for peace in the human world. Yet, in his eyes, as long as the ghouls are alive, there are no innocent people.
Still, he wished to avoid a clash. He didn't want to escalate the situation into a full-blown fight, let alone take their lives.
"Damn ghoul! Do you even know what you're saying?!"
The young and hotheaded Amon gripped his suitcase tightly, activating the mechanism to deploy his quinque. He was ready to attack.
But—
A hand stopped him.
"Calm yourself, Amon."
Kureo Mado, both a mentor and ally to Amon, chuckled deeply.
Hiding the seething hatred he bore for ghouls, Mado placed his hat on his head and spoke with a tone of forced civility:
"It seems today isn't the best day for hunting."
"If that's the case, we'll leave."
"Investigator Mado...?"
Amon stared at his superior, his confusion evident.
But Mado gripped Amon's arm firmly, leaning close to whisper,
"Let's go—now!"
Reluctantly, Amon deactivated his quinque and allowed Mado to lead him away.
With an air of suppressed frustration, the two investigators retreated from the warehouse, leaving Kaneki and his group behind.
After turning two or three corners, the two investigators found themselves back on the bustling streets.
The bright sunlight bathed everything below, dispelling the earlier gloom and bringing a sense of tranquility.
As soon as they were certain of their safety, Amon stopped abruptly and turned to Mado with a puzzled expression.
"Investigator Mado, was there something unusual about those ghouls just now?"
In Amon's mind, Investigator Mado had always been unyielding in his pursuit of ghouls, striving relentlessly to send every one of them to their rightful punishment in the depths of hell.
Hearing Amon's question, Mado paused, letting out a strange chuckle.
"Amon, you truly are the best rookie investigator the CCG has seen in recent years—whether it's your intelligence, courage, or... strength."
"Given time, you'll surpass even me!"
"But…"
"You're still too green."
"There are things you've yet to learn—details that more experienced investigators carry like second nature."
Amon furrowed his brow but remained silent, patiently waiting for Mado's explanation.
Still, something felt... off.
Perhaps it was his imagination, but there was an unusual tremor in Mado's voice.
It wasn't fear, Amon realized, but something else entirely—
Excitement.
An uncontrollable thrill that made his voice quiver.
Mado took a deep breath, his tone becoming more deliberate as he continued:
"An SS-class 'Crow,' an S-class 'Rabbit,' striking purple hair, and that undeniable aristocratic air…"
"There's no doubt about it!"
"Even if the mask hides his identity, that one was without a doubt the S+ class gourmet!"
A crazed gleam appeared in Mado's mismatched eyes as his grin widened unnaturally.
Hearing Mado's words, Amon's expression shifted to one of shock.
"What?! Crow? Rabbit?!"
"Weren't they confirmed missing years ago!?"
"And the gourmet…"
"Wasn't the CCG intelligence department tracking him in District 7?!"
Mado sneered.
"If you believe everything you hear, Amon, you're far too naïve."
Raising the corner of his mouth, Mado added,
"Ghouls are living garbage. They never stay in one place long enough for us to catch them easily."
"As for Crow and Rabbit…"
"I believe their disappearance is tied to the eyepatch ghoul we encountered today."
"Come on. We need to report this to the Bureau immediately."
Mado's expression darkened.
"One SS-class, two S-class…"
Amon's voice trembled as he muttered,
"And the eyepatch ghoul leading them…"
The pieces were falling into place.
"No wonder Investigator Mado retreated…"
"With just the two of us, we couldn't possibly handle such powerful opponents."
Amon's respect for his mentor swelled.
"As always, Investigator Mado is as reliable as ever."
Glancing at Mado, whose gait was stooped and movements increasingly erratic, the young investigator felt a profound sense of reverence.
Without hesitation, he followed Mado, eager to relay their findings to the CCG.
---
Meanwhile…
Not far from the investigators, atop a traffic light, stood a tall figure.
Strangely, despite the bustling streets below—cars whizzing by and pedestrians crowding the sidewalks—no one seemed to notice him.
The figure was none other than Enel, the dimensional trader. Using his powers to turn invisible, he had trailed Kaneki and his group here.
Initially focused on Kaneki, Enel's attention shifted to Mado and Amon.
With his extraordinary perception and abilities, he effortlessly scanned the contents of their suitcases.
"Weapons made of kagune, huh? Fascinating…"
He murmured, his interest piqued.
"In the world of pirates, you rarely encounter bio-weapons like these."
As he spoke, his eyes grew brighter, his thoughts racing.
This was the second item he had discovered in this world—after the kagune itself—that brimmed with origin energy.
In other words, these weapons could serve as highly valuable trade commodities in his dimensional dealings.
Moreover, the fusion of this world's biotechnology into the weapons had amplified their energy potential far beyond that of raw kagune.
"The CCG… A human organization dedicated to dealing with ghouls?"
"It's similar to the Demon Slayer Corps in 'Demon Slayer,' but clearly government-run."
Enel frowned slightly.
"If I approach these investigators for a deal, I doubt it'll go smoothly…"
Enel speculated that the biological weapons in the investigators' possession must have been distributed by this world's official governing organization.
This presented both opportunities and challenges.
On one hand, if such weapons could be issued freely, it implied the existence of many similar biological weapons throughout the world—a fact Enel found intriguing.
On the other hand, this posed a problem: conducting dimensional transactions with individual investigators might prove difficult. After all, not everyone would treat resources provided by their organization as personal property to trade.
Dealing directly with the authorities, however, would likely lead to even more complications.
"When power corrupts, it becomes a hundred times more terrifying than a ghoul," Enel mused.
After contemplating the situation, he made his decision.
"Let's observe further…"
For now, he resolved not to approach the CCG personnel. Even though he could sense the unwavering determination—the powerful will to protect—in Kureo Mado and Koutarou Amon, he opted for caution.
---
Elsewhere…
Dr. Fueguchi stood trembling, his gaze fixed on his wife and daughter, who had removed their masks. Surprise and confusion clouded his expression.
"Ryoko, Hinami… weren't you supposed to be in the safe zone?"
"Why have you come back!?"
Dr. Fueguchi stood quickly, his body tense. He shifted his wary eyes to Kaneki and his companions.
"Dad, it was Brother Kaneki who brought us back," Hinami replied innocently, her voice brimming with naivety.
Dr. Fueguchi followed his daughter's gaze, his eyes landing on Kaneki, who stepped forward.
Slowly, Kaneki removed his mask, revealing a delicate and unthreatening face.
"Dr. Fueguchi," he said calmly, extending a hand.
"We're part of a ghoul organization called Different Dimension. I've come here today to invite you to join us."
Dr. Fueguchi blinked in confusion.
"Different dimension? A ghoul organization?"
---
Half an hour later…
"This… this is real!?"
Dr. Fueguchi swallowed a piece of bread, the taste of malt filling his senses—something he hadn't experienced in his life.
The unfamiliar yet rich flavor overwhelmed him, bringing tears to his eyes.
Never had he imagined that one day he could experience such emotions from eating human food.
Reality, he thought, could sometimes feel more surreal than a dream.
"Leader Kaneki!"
After confirming that he could eat like a normal human and ensuring that his wife and daughter had safely joined the organisation, Dr. Fueguchi made his decision.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and bowed.
"Please allow me to follow you, Leader Kaneki."
Kaneki's gaze softened as he looked at the doctor, another ghoul saved from despair. But just as quickly, his expression turned cold.
His eyes narrowed, and his voice dropped.
"Then…"
"Dr. Fueguchi, please send a message to Yakumo Oomori. Tell him to come here and collect his 'special gift.'"
A chilling smile crept across Kaneki's face, entirely different from the gentleness he displayed moments before. An aura of murderous intent filled the room.
Behind Kaneki, Shuu and Touka emanated an equally terrifying presence, their bloodlust palpable.
After all, this mission wasn't just about saving lives—it was also about taking them.
"Y-Yes!"
Though Dr. Fueguchi still feared Yamori's power, the oppressive atmosphere in the small clinic left no room for hesitation.
He immediately picked up his phone and sent the message to Yamori as instructed.