Chapter 148
In terms of Intelligent Control Technology and anti-EMP (Electronic Pulse) technology alone, compared to the electronic warfare units, network firewalls, and corporate LAN construction technology developed in "Call of Duty XI" and "Cyberpunk," their strength is beyond doubt.
"A clean network world that has not been ravaged by Rogue AI and Rachie Batmos is the perfect testing ground for AI- Intellitron."
Vera looked away from the monitor screen.
Her thoughts were no longer on the San Bernardino base.
Picking up my personal PDA tablet again, I navigated to the confidential document storage space, identified biometric information, and found the bottommost section:
—— [Supreme Control Protocol]——
With a flicker of her eyes, Vera turned off the PDA tablet and tucked it into the lining of her coat.
She should go back to New Baghdad.
Mitchell and Gideon are preventable minor incidents; the main issue there is the tight schedule and heavy workload, so things will be busy.
Before leaving the examination room, she took another silver-white briefcase from the locker.
Click, the gate opens.
"If I need to defend myself, an S+ grade isn't enough."
She handed the suitcase to the waiting military police, talking to herself in her heart.
Ghoul
Tokyo Haneda International Airport.
The female special investigator, who had been transferred from the North American CCG to the Tokyo CCG, slowly descended the gangway.
"Don't worry, this time, I've prepared an SS+ level one for you."
Ilona used the same words after learning that Ains had kept quiet about the matter, calling him crazy and a monster.
Ains would say, "I'm not a monster." And on several subsequent occasions when he had the chance to kill the three defectors, he showed mercy, emphasizing that he was not a monster, and that his ideals and the 'right' he upheld were true.
Vera would say, "I am the monster, your calamity."
~~~~~
147
Chapter 147 [Ghoul] Returns to Tokyo.
Ghoul
Tokyo Haneda International Airport.
Clang, clang.
A business jet belonging to the General Affairs Department of the North American Ghoul Countermeasures Committee came to a stop on the runway. The cabin door opened, and several CCG agents wearing sunglasses disembarked. Vera, carrying a black gold Quinque, walked down the gangway and looked up at the soft afternoon sunlight.
In Tokyo after the transition from summer to autumn, the golden winds are refreshing, the horses are fat and strong, making it the perfect time for large-scale warfare.
With one hand covering his face and lost in thought, the Special Investigator's indigo eyes narrowed in the radiant light, taking on a pale golden hue.
... This time, I've prepared an SS+ level Quinque for you.
Yes, it's good to keep one on hand for everyone.
In Call of Duty XI, they've established Humanoid Robotics Department, Service Robotics Department, and the Supreme Control Protocol. Baghdad, Mesopotamia, the Middle East certainly don't lack resources; they have enough for 'you' to build.
However, be careful of the likes of the 'Sentinels'... It's possible that Mitchell's former employer might stab you in the back later. Also, be cautious during the production process, lest you cause something like Skynet Judgment Day, Intellitron Crisis, or Iron Man Rebellion on Atlas.
Information on the Manticore (Scorpion Lion) biological genetically programmed virus?
I don't need that here. However, I believe that Arasaka, Military Science (Vera's), and Atlas all have varying degrees of research interest and technical analysis capabilities One-Eyed King's 'dragonization' and the Ghoul virus.
Prepare a backup plan of readily available explosives of mass destruction—small, conventional, and unconventional, all are welcome. Who knows, this massive undertaking might lead to some unexpected events that would make me decide to make Tokyo heat up again, bringing down the 'Third Primordial Storm'.
Anticipate the enemy's moves with leniency.
I hope I won't need it...
"Special Class Investigator Russell".
Standing at the foot of the gangway, former CCG 'Russell Squad' junior adjutant Mado Akira, who had been waiting for a long time, saw Vera slowly walking down and immediately went forward to greet her. Instinctively, he reached out to take Vera's white dove coat folded on her forearm and the Quinque case she was carrying.
But Vera moved her hand back slightly.
"Well?"
Mado Akira blinked, then paused, "Commander?"
Vera smiled broadly as she looked at Mado Akira, who was dressed in blonde hair, blue eyes, black stockings, high heels, and a pencil skirt, exuding a mature urban office lady vibe but with a slightly aggrieved expression.
"You're already a first-class investigator, and you should be promoted to a senior officer soon, leading a team. It's not suitable for you to continue doing the work of a junior adjutant."
In the CCG, investigation assistants are logistics and administrative staff who do odd jobs. They are classified as third-class, second-class, and first-class, and are lower-level investigators. Needless to say, they are more like staff than officials. They can be promoted by seniority. Only when they reach the senior officer level do they have official status, that is, they can have their own class, have command authority, and belong to the ranks of high-level investigators.
After gently hugging Mado Akira with the hand that held her coat, Vera looked at the group of investigator colleagues who had come to greet Mado Akira behind her.
Those with names: Marude Souta; Yukino Shinoara; Iwao Kuroiwa, with thick, bushy eyebrows, serious, and never smiling...
These were all senior investigators whom Vera had met and become friendly with during her four months in Tokyo.
She is a supporter of the "High Rc cell synthetic food - Ghoul Edible Experiment" led and promoted by Vera, the "Act on the Distinction Between Harmful and Harmless Ghoul Behavior", and the large-scale production plan of Quinque.
During the more than six months she spent away from Japan returning to North America for work review, she maintained considerable contact with her.
"What a considerate and good commander, Russell..."
Marude Souta his mouth, it was clearly meant as a welcome and praise, but the way he said it always sounded like he was mocking him... Fortunately, Vera knew his style, so she didn't mind and shoved the black and gold briefcase into his hands.
He paused for a moment.
"Take it."
"Ha?"
Marude Souta was immediately displeased.
"Mado Akira is going to be promoted to a senior officer, he won't be suitable to do the work of an adjutant. So what if I'm still a special-grade officer and I'm going to be promoted to bureau chief? Then I'll be suitable?"
"Akatsuki needs to establish his authority. You, Marude, what you need now is to show your approachability and connect with people. I'm helping you."
Vera said without turning her head.
"Really? I don't believe it."
Despite saying that, Marude Souta still took Vera's black gold Quinque box.
Having not seen each other for more than half a year, and communicating mostly through text messages, emails, and online video calls, the awkwardness seemed to disappear with these intimate and unpretentious jokes.
"Is this your SS+ grade [Black Abyss IV] composite Quinque?"
He patted the black and gold box lightly and asked.
"Um."
Nodding, Vera walked up to Shinohara Yukino Shinoara was shaking his head and watching her interact with Marude Souta with a friendly smile, and extended her hand.
"Long time no see, Special Investigator Shinohara. Ready for a big battle?"
"Certainly."
After shaking hands, Yukino Shinoara's expression quickly turned serious.
"Special Class Investigator Russell., in the six months since you left, the One-Eyed Owl has reappeared, and the Aogiri Tree has attacked several of our branches. Those damned beasts still understand strategy and situation. It will be very difficult to find and completely eliminate them."
"Isn't the difficulty precisely what we are responsible for?"
Vera confidently raised her head and said, taking a natural step, "Special Investigator Kuroiwa."
Reaching out to the Iwao Kuroiwa, its back straight and its demeanor fierce and imposing.
"That's right. Matt and the others will always have times when they're stretched thin. We really need elite fighters and fresh blood like Special Class Investigator Russell to lead us in launching surprise attacks. One-Eyed Owl, even if it costs me my old bones, I will banish it to appease the spirits of my fallen comrades!"
Gently grasping Vera's fingertips, the seasoned investigator showed no regard for his own pride in his words.
In his eyes, strength is strength, weakness is weakness, and competence is obvious. Vera is stronger than him. In terms of management, she has been trained in multiple tactical and military departments in North America and has been to the German GFG. She can not only handle Ghoul cases, but is also both literate and martial, and can lead him to eradicate Ghoul. That's enough.
Other factional disputes, their struggles for face, and the underlying sordid matters were not his concern.
"There will be an opportunity. My purpose in coming here is to cut down the Aogiri Tree and kill that One-Eyed Owl that has been causing trouble for more than ten years."
Vera smiled, her face revealing an arrogant confidence, but there seemed to be a sharp ferocity mixed in with it. Iwao Kuroiwa noticed it; his years of experience in exterminating Ghoul told him that it was the coldness and cruelty of the combination of enforcers and hunters.
Thump, thump.
"Alright. Stop thinking about how to kill Ghoul all day long, or you'll end up like Kureo Mado."
It's Marude Souta.
He was seen leaning against a government car with the CCG logo, tapping on the hood as he spoke.
"Commander Marude, although I know what you said is true, as your daughter, please allow me to express my dissatisfaction."
Mado Akira, who was following behind Vera, looked rather grim.
Although she knew the other party meant well, that was just their style. Marude Souta was Kureo Mado's Direct Superior.
"I'm sorry. But you should also advise Wu Xu to balance work and rest. It's not always possible to have Russell or Ma to save the day."
"I will."
Shrugging, Marude Souta looked at Vera. "Want to chat here all afternoon? Russell, our people are still waiting for your welcome dinner at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. Don't you want to go?"
"Go. Why won't you go since you're treating?"
Vera, Yukino Shinoara, and Iwao Kuroiwa exchanged a glance and stopped talking about slaying Ghoul, each getting into a CCG car. Marude Souta handed over the black gold case, and Vera and Mado Akira rode in the same car.
Buzz... Buzz...
The engine starts.
The convoy headed towards downtown Tokyo.
~~~~~
148
Chapter 148 The Changed Trajectory
Just as Vera returned to Tokyo and was greeted by veteran CCG Special Investigator such as Marude Souta on her way to the Imperial Hotel, chatting about everyday anecdotes and discussing how to quickly and ruthlessly strike a blow against the newly emerging and arrogant Ghoul organization 'Aogiri Tree', on the other side, in western Tokyo Metropolis...
In Fussa-cho, Tama District, inside a closed CCG building near Yokota Air Base, an US Forces Japan. military base in Japan.
A separate, fairly spacious suite.
A mother and daughter, one older and one younger, with identical brown hair and eyes, almost like two peas in a pod, were doing their schoolwork at their desks.
Rustle.
Finally, the girl put down her pen, looked up, and gazed with innocent eyes at her mother who had been gently by her side. Her tender lips parted slightly, "Mom, I'm done writing."
"Thank you for your hard work, Hinami."
The woman gently stroked the top of the girl's head.
The mother and daughter Hinami Fueguchi Ryoko and Hinami Fueguchi, who had been detained by Vera's order more than half a year ago.
This serves as a typical example of a 'Legal Ghoul' that can be accommodated.
"Keep it up, great job, grow up to be knowledgeable. Don't be like your mother, who, because of hiding and running away, has no decent knowledge at all."
As she spoke, the mother got up and walked to the living room. She picked up the remote control from the coffee table and turned on the TV. It was TV Tokyo, showing an anime program.
"Now is the time to relax."
The young woman clapped her hands, put them together, and rested them on her cheeks, saying with a smile.
"Yes, I want to see..."