Infinite: Progressing from Arasaka - Chapter 158

Just like the day before Ghoul Restaurant dissected 'human materials' on the spot to prepare fresh dishes for the diners. However, now, the dismembered materials have been replaced by these materials, and the ones 'eat' have been replaced by Quinque Steel.

"Hey Charlie, how many did you take down?"

"Maybe four, maybe six, who knows? Are all the Ghoul in Tokyo this brave? A mere B-rank dares to charge into my line of fire... These trash are using my weapon as a stick, but they did learn their lesson later. What about you, Mike..."

After Vera saluted, the conversation between the two North American anti -Ghoul operators as they passed the group left the Anju Sisters deeply disturbed. This tone, which viewed ghouls as less Ghoul or dogs, was something you can't truly understand without experiencing it firsthand; when you're one of them, the feeling is profound.

As top students of the CCG Investigator Training School, and with their father, Anju Nanao, being a wealthy man who invested in CCG's artificial Ghoul research project, the Anju Sisters received a top-notch education, which is why they could understand this much English.

Soon, Vera arrived at the core area of Ghoul Restaurant. The dimly lit space was filled with the strong smell of blood and gunpowder. She also stabbed a crazed Ghoul who had jumped out from a corner and attacked her with a spear. Vera walked through the messy reception area and audience seats and looked at the location of Yukino Shinoara was wearing the Living Quinque Armor [New].

"It's all in the past..."

He sighed sadly and gently pressed Juuzou Suzuya's shoulder.

Chu Hachikawa, Jyo Hirako, and Fura Taishi with weapons.

In the center of the ruins, crisscrossed with craters and scratches, lay the supine body of a woman. Well, at least judging from her clothing and the curves of her upper body, it was a woman. The pool of blood surrounding her was slowly expanding, indicating she hadn't been dead long.

He had a full set of metal braces, a tank-like, bulky and strong build, and wore thick gold chains and bracelets, exuding an air of extravagance.

Without a doubt, it is the SS-class Ghoul 'The Madam'.

Snap, snap.

"Now that BigMadam has been brought to justice, the operation to eliminate the Ghoul Restaurant can be considered to have come to a successful conclusion."

Vera clapped her hands to draw everyone's attention to herself, cleared her throat, and then slowly walked forward to look at Juuzou Suzuya, who still seemed calm after 'killing his mother'.

Yes, matricide.

The person who kidnapped Juuzou Suzuya, kept him as a dismemberment victim in Ghoul Restaurant, and cruelly smashed his genitals was none other than BigMadam. It was only thanks to Yukino Shinoara's raid on 'MADAM' that he was rescued.

In a way, the only 'mother' in Juuzou Suzuya's childhood Remembrance was this fat woman. Even if it wasn't a pleasant one.

"Second Class Suzuya, are you still able to continue the mission?"

"Russell, about Suzuya..."

Yukino Shinoara a little reluctant and wanted Vera to give Juuzou Suzuya some time to adjust.

But--

"I'm fine, Mr. Shinohara."

Juuzou Suzuya glanced at the corpse on the ground and calmly shook his head. "Actually, no matter what other people around me say, I have never hated it."

"The reason I banished 'Mom' is because you taught me that I am human, an investigator, and that it is only natural for investigators to kill Ghoul. Didn't you always say that we should do everything in our power to prevent what happened to me from happening again?"

Although he still lacks self-awareness as a normal person, remains eccentric, and sometimes acts crazy, Yukino Shinoara still sense Juuzou Suzuya's attitude of treating him like his own son, his meticulous care in daily life, and his simple desire to teach him to become an excellent Ghoul investigator.

And that's why he made his choice.

"Suzuya..."

Yukino Shinoara was somewhat stunned.

Before he could express his gratitude, Juuzou Suzuya's tone returned to normal, and he skipped and hopped over to Vera.

Yukino Shinoara covered his face heavily.

Education is a long and arduous task.

"Hey, Special Class Investigator Russell, Special Class Investigator Russell, about what you mentioned on the radio not long ago, Blackie Little White, did you encounter them? Did they really become Ghoul?"

"I asked Juuzou Suzuya with shining eyes."

"Let us answer this question. Suzuya."

"Huh, it really is black Nai, Nai Shiro!"

Handcuffed and escorted by Kōtarō Amon, Anzu Shiroi appeared in the arena, supporting the weak Anzu Kuroi. She responded to Juuzou Suzuya's question. Yukino Shinoara and Vera exchanged a glance, their expressions suddenly becoming serious.

"Is it Donato Porpora?"

Vera had briefly briefed him on this via radio before she arrived. If he remembered correctly, that Donato Porpora had worked for the CCG...

"Whether it is or not, we can find out by checking."

Vera made no attempt to hide her true intentions.

"Speak out right here. In front of Special Investigator Shinohara, Hachikawa Jun Tokutō Mado, Amon, Hirako Sōtō, Fura Jōtō, in front of your American and Japanese colleagues, tell us what grievances you have. If you can't give a coherent explanation and are judged to be lying, I will turn you into Quinque."

Upon hearing this, all the investigators fell into deep thought.

Injustice?

Why do you say that?

Those with a keen political sense, like Jyo Hirako, narrowed their eyes and glanced at Vera. What grand strategy was being played? Was there a problem within the CCG? Or was North America dissatisfied with the CCG's incompetence over the years, or something else entirely?

"Hey, what's the reason? Why did you all turn into Ghoul? If you become Ghoul, can I cut you down?"

While other investigators hesitated, Juuzou Suzuya, a former classmate of the Anju Sisters in school, had no such concerns.

"You!"

Anzu Shiroi face showed displeasure.

"Alright, Little White."

Anzu Kuroi had a "what's the use" look on her face.

That god of death was watching from the sidelines. Although he didn't want to betray his ambitious father and believed in the theory that the world was bound by a distorted birdcage, he had to prioritize.

Little White is her most important and only family member. If she doesn't tell the truth or lies incorrectly, the other party will really kill Little White.

"Suzuya, one day you'll understand. The CCG's abnormal inner workings, this world is bound by a man-made 'birdcage,' and the CCG and the Washuu Clan are that 'birdcage'!"

"For your own selfish interests, you won't do your job of fighting Ghoul properly at all, because if Ghoul are gone, the CCG Washuu Clan will be useless. My father, he clearly invested heavily in researching artificial Ghoul for the future of the CCG and humanity, but he was silenced by you just because he touched on areas he shouldn't have touched and saw things he shouldn't have seen..."

"Write it down."

Vera stroked her chin with interest, her smile becoming increasingly playful.

"Backup, send to 1st Division Headquarters. Under the identity of the North American Ghoul Countermeasures Committee - Tokyo Plenipotentiary Special Investigator."

She emphasized this point.

"The allegations against the orphan of a former top student at the Investigator Training School and an investor in a major CCG project—is it a problem with Donato Porpora or an internal issue within the Washuu Clan? I hope Director Washuu and the Speaker will conduct a thorough internal investigation. This is my intention, and also the North American Committee's."

To be honest, in Vera's opinion, the accusation made by Anzu Kuroi that the Ghoul but will never eradicate them would be the same all over the world.

The simplest example is: if you don't take it and I don't take it, how can Commissioner Smith take it?

Therefore, Vera sees herself as an enforcer, not a bitter and vengeful one. Ghoul should be severely punished, but not eradicated.

The same applies in North America. As long as the North American Ghoul Countermeasures Committee exists, there will be corresponding financial allocations. The related interest chain has existed for over a century, and a whole host of people make a living from it.

This has become a business, an industry, a technology...

Compared to the Tokyo CCG, whose functions are highly dependent on anti -Ghoul and relatively localized, the US side is actually in a better position.

After all, America has its own national circumstances. The North American Ghoul Countermeasures Committee is not only responsible for the Americas, but also serves as a global anti -Ghoul police force, requiring intervention and action around the world.

At the same time, it is not purely an anti- Ghoul agency in terms of its functions. It also has responsibilities such as homeland defense, investigating criminals who violate federal laws, responding to public needs, combating drug trafficking, fighting cults and organized crime, and international intelligence gathering. As a civilian government under a parliament, it is in the nature of it to play the game of checks and balances. Some of its functions overlap with those of the CIA, FBI, and NSA. As for the competition, it depends on the specific circumstances of the case and who has priority in investigation.

As for Japan, things have really gotten too serious, and it's already affecting international perception.

Of course, Vera couldn't say it out loud, otherwise it would be too discouraging for the lower-ranking investigators who had a blood feud with Ghoul.

With the spirit of "better to die than for oneself," and willing to spend other people's money, Vera decided to become this upright and just official.

"This matter."

As she passed by Yukino Shinoara, she said, "I'll take care of it."

After saying that, Vera pressed the earpiece and officially announced, "The 7th Division Ghoul Restaurant Extermination Operation has ended successfully."

"Hachikawa Jun Tokutō, you will continue to be responsible for eliminating hidden dangers and mopping up the remaining enemy forces."

"Fura Jōtō, you are the 7th Division Branch Chief. You are good at pacifying the locals. Depending on the situation, you can lift the alert zone in stages. One requirement: do not cause any trouble."

"Mado -sama, go and contact the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and the court. Tell them that I, Vera Adelheid Russell, as Plenipotentiary Special Investigator, request their cooperation in verifying the personal information of all Ghoul brought to justice in the operation and immediately confiscating all their personal assets."

"Hirako Sōtō, go and inform the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Tell them I need all the detailed information about the Ghoul Restaurant either."

"Special Investigator Shinohara and Suzuya Second Sergeant are your partners. I'll trouble you to be responsible for protecting and monitoring the Anzu Shiroi and Anzu Kuroi sisters, compiling their testimonies, adding your own annotations and judgments, and then handing them over to me. Also, make a backup copy for the 1st Division Headquarters."

"Director Washuu, forget it, I'll handle the liaison myself."

"Donato Porpora and his Half-Ghoul Transformation Laboratory, Dennis Dick, requested the military to intervene with the Japan-based Chemical Defense Unit, citing the need to conceal and develop a biological weapon of mass destruction."

~~~~~

157

Chapter 157 Vera: Fuck, you're incompetent.

Whether surgical research that can transform humans into Ghoul, as well as the cultivation and transplantation of Kakuhou and high- Rc cells organs, constitute the development of large-scale biological weapons is a question.

Vera thought so.

The US Military Prosecutor's Office, which received the request for troop deployment from the Plenipotentiary Special Investigator the Ghoul Problem, agreed and thought it was correct.

Even if it isn't now, it might be in the future.

One word: Investigate!

That night, neon lights shimmered on the waterfront.

While the 7th Division CCG launched a heavy crackdown to wipe out the cannibalistic monsters, the streets of Tokyo Metropolis remained as bustling as ever.

The streets were bustling with people, a constant flow of traffic.

Despite the fact that the giant LED screen outside the department store was broadcasting live news about the investigators' annihilation of the large Ghoul organization MADAM, the number of named and registered Ghoul killed, the number of 'talent' hideouts destroyed, and the number of hostages rescued from raiding Ghoul Restaurant, the pedestrians' reactions remained indifferent.

After a few exclamations and complaints—"So this is the first time!", "How come Ghoul are still alive?", "Damn it, the countermeasures bureau is incompetent and disgraceful. They even needed Americans to lead the way to find out about this den of iniquity"—they would lower their heads as usual, unfazed, and continue their noisy conversations, sighs, or the daily grind of corporate life...

For over a century, Tokyo's citizens have been accustomed to news of CCG members and Ghoul killing each other.

Until--

Buzz... Buzz...

The deafening roar of engines suddenly erupted from the Fussa Yokota Air Base in Tokyo Metropolis, shattering the neon-lit night.

Multiple Apache Attack Helicopter escorted MH-6 Little Bird helicopters in a special operations formation, while UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters flew across the border of Nishitama District into the Tokyo Metropolitan Area.

Behind them, a convoy of Humvee and armored vehicles carrying fully armed USA Chemical Defense Force drove onto the intercity highway and headed straight for District 6.

When the time came, TV Tokyo also stopped broadcasting anime.

CCG 7th Division Branch.

In the central interrogation room, Vera, having changed out of her [New Ayato-α] attire and into her regular office clothes, stood before a one-way mirror, holding a corrugated cup of coffee in her hand. She took a sip and exhaled a puff of hot air as she watched the Anju Sisters, who were confessing to crimes committed after Half-Ghoul Transformation and to the CCG headquarters, the Washuu Clan, and some special investigators, on the specially made Quinque Steel interrogation table.

Beside him was a group of American soldiers dressed in camouflage training uniforms, busy at the table with a portable signal relay station, receiver, monitor, and military recorder remote visual command and dispatch system.

The screen displays a live feed of Anjiu's villa in Ward 6.

"Operation begins."

Vera then gave the order.

The technical officer immediately switched the camera, presenting the first-person perspective of several US special forces soldiers who had been airlifted to the US onto the screen.

With the firing positions set up, the assault quickly began.

Boom--!

The scene was violently shaken; the villa's doors and windows shattered; and the floor of the villa collapsed under the high-yield directional blast, revealing the entrance to the underground laboratory through a cracked ceiling.

Gunshots rang out one after another, mixed with inexplicable inhuman screams. The partition door was blown open, and in another round of gunfire, the combined force of Vera's 6th District CCG elite investigator team, North American anti- Ghoul agents, and special forces soldiers from the USA's Japan base successfully infiltrated the laboratory.

The delayed feed showed a brightly lit laboratory filled with numerous culture jars and transparent containers.

Numerous organ culture tanks, freezers containing bloody chunks of flesh, operating tables, and control terminals are scattered throughout the laboratory.

Inside, some of the modified objects appeared to have escaped and were deliberately released.