Unknown Plan

After the wound was bandaged, Su Xiao was drenched in cold sweat.

The pretty young nurse glanced at him timidly, then handed him some anti-inflammatory medicine.

Both the bandaging and the medicine were free—not because the nurse had any interest in Su Xiao, but because it was a privilege of the CCG.

An Associate Special Class Investigator even had the authority to mobilize the police to evacuate civilians.

"Mr. Byakuya, let's go. We'll discuss your joining the CCG at the nearby branch."

"Alright."

Together with Mado Kureo, the three of them drove to the Ward 20 CCG branch.

Half an hour later, Su Xiao stood before a towering building.

This was just one branch of the CCG, yet it occupied a considerable area in Nerima Ward.

In the world of ghouls, the force opposing them was the CCG, so its status was self-evident. To ordinary people, the CCG was akin to a guardian deity.

And that was indeed the case. Without the CCG's large-scale culling of ghouls, humanity would be extinct within a hundred years.

What were ghouls? They were powerful creatures with no natural predators. As humans were their sole food source, extinction was inevitable as ghoul numbers surged.

If ghouls numbered half the human population, humanity would be wiped out in less than a month.

But in Ward 20, the situation was reversed. Humans lived under the sun, while ghouls hid everywhere, afraid to reveal their identities. The CCG played a crucial role in this.

However, the CCG had significant internal flaws, but Su Xiao didn't care. He joined only because it would make his plan easier to execute.

It was early morning, but the CCG branch was brightly lit.

Entering the CCG branch, the first thing that caught his eye was a large security gate. To get inside, one had to pass through it.

This wasn't actually a security gate—it was an Rc Cell detection gate. The Rc Cell concentration in a ghoul's body was ten or even a hundred times that of an ordinary person, making it impossible for them to pass.

Of course, extremely powerful ghouls were an exception. They could control their Rc Cells and bypass the detection gate using special methods.

Su Xiao walked through the Rc Cell detection gate with a calm expression.

"Beep~." A green light flashed, and Amon Koutarou behind him let out a sigh of relief.

Soon, Amon Koutarou led Su Xiao into a meeting room.

"Mr. Byakuya, please wait a moment." With that, Amon Koutarou left the room.

When he returned, he was carrying a laptop.

The computer had its video function on, and the screen showed a sleepy face.

Amon Koutarou placed the laptop in front of Su Xiao, and the person on the video spoke.

"So you're the one who single-handedly drove back the One-Eyed King?"

Recognizing the person on the screen, Su Xiao identified him as Marude Shuu, one of the CCG's seven Special Class Investigators.

Amon Koutarou had directly contacted CCG high command. An ordinary person joining the CCG would never receive such treatment, but Su Xiao's feat of driving back Takatsuki Sen alone was too impressive for the CCG to ignore.

"It was me."

Both sides fell silent.

"Regarding your joining the CCG, we need to assess you."

Su Xiao frowned. Seeming to read his attitude, Marude Shuu continued.

"We can't confirm your identity yet. Headquarters is gathering your information overnight. If nothing unusual comes up, after a combat evaluation, I can make an exception and let you join the CCG.

For tonight, stay at the Ward 20 branch. Room and board are covered."

Su Xiao found this troublesome. He had been teleported to the ghoul world by Reincarnation Paradise, and barring any surprises, he had no legal identity.

This puzzled him. If obtaining a legal identity was a prerequisite, the main quest's difficulty seemed too high.

From the moment the Derivative World began, he had encountered Rize Kamishiro, and then the CCG showed up immediately, leaving him no time to forge an identity.

Reincarnation Paradise wouldn't issue an impossible task. There had to be a shortcut.

"Paradise, can you forge an identity?" Su Xiao silently asked in his mind.

Unexpectedly, Reincarnation Paradise immediately presented several options.

Identity: Martial arts instructor in a certain district. Cost: 50 Paradise Coins.

Identity: Ghoul. Cost: 100 Paradise Coins.

Identity: Family member of a fallen ghoul investigator. Cost: 100 Paradise Coins.

Below these three options was a long list, with Paradise Coin costs ranging from high to low.

This was likely the prerequisite for joining a faction. Setting aside the difficulty of joining the CCG, most Contractors were human, making it nearly impossible to join the ghouls.

But with Reincarnation Paradise's disguise function, things became simple.

Joining a faction was just the initial main quest, with no rewards, so the difficulty wasn't high.

Su Xiao decisively chose "Family member of a fallen ghoul investigator." This identity was tailor-made for joining the CCG.

Hunter selection complete. Paradise Coin has been deducted automatically.

With a legitimate identity and Su Xiao's formidable combat strength, joining the CCG posed no issue at all.

"Alright, I'll wait for your answer. But make it quick."

Marude Shuu nodded. Though his face was heavy with exhaustion, he forced a smile.

The guy grinned with a roguish air, clearly not the rigid type.

The video feed cut off. Amon Koutarou no longer kept his guard up against Su Xiao—after all, this was a CCG branch office.

Su Xiao sighed inwardly. As expected, personal strength was what mattered most. He recalled how he'd been treated when joining the Guard Corps in the One Piece World, and compared it to now—the difference was night and day.

"Mr. Byakuya, care to join me for a meal? If nothing unexpected happens, we might be colleagues from now on."

Su Xiao was a bit hungry too. The earlier fight with Aogiri Tree had drained a fair amount of his stamina.

Accepting Amon Koutarou's invitation, the two headed toward the cafeteria.

--

On the outskirts of Ward 20, a dark figure swept across the withered grass. After confirming no one was around, the figure halted.

A flash of red light. Strips of bandages fluttered in the wind as the Kakuja form dissolved. Takatsuki Sen was clearly weakened, collapsing to the ground.

"That guy... just who is he? His combat experience is way too rich."

Takatsuki Sen had a head of soft, bluish-green hair that draped over her shoulders. Her crimson eye lent her a strange, haunting beauty.

"Should I notify him? This human who suddenly appeared might disrupt the plan. We've been preparing for thirteen years—I can't let it break down now."

Five minutes later, Takatsuki Sen transformed, becoming the bandage-wrapped little girl, Eto.

--

In the quiet bedroom, Su Xiao sat cross-legged on the bed, meditating.

This had gradually become a habit of his. Meditating brought him an unusual sense of calm.

The day's battle had been highly rewarding. Not only had he obtained a green Treasure Chest, but he'd also gained a clearer understanding of the Shadow of Law Destruction's abilities.

On paper, the Shadow of Law Destruction was meant to counter mages. But Su Xiao had come to realize it was far from that simple.

From the fact that Blue Steel Shadow could burn Rc Cells, it was clear this class had far more potential than he'd imagined.

It wasn't just effective against mages. When fighting other enemies, the pain from having their energy burned also affected them significantly.

Moreover, the true damage from Blue Steel Shadow was exceptionally powerful.

If not for the immense pain Blue Steel Shadow had inflicted on Takatsuki Sen earlier, he wouldn't have gained the upper hand so easily.

Right now, Blue Steel Shadow was only Level 1. Once the skill level increased, one slash from him would be devastating.

At the same time, Su Xiao grew curious about the Shadow of Law Destruction's other skills.

Emerging from his meditation, Su Xiao took out the green Treasure Chest dropped by Gecko. Anticipation stirred within him.

Update on time.