The Dawn of Purification

The test tube spun between Su Xiao's fingertips. With the dexterity of his fingers, it traced afterimages under the dim yellow light.

After noticing Ito's expression, a smile crept onto Su Xiao's face.

"Clink."

He pressed the test tube against the bar top. Glass met marble, and a crisp sound rang out.

That sharp noise made Ito's heart clench, afraid Su Xiao would shatter the tube in his hand.

"So, how about it? Want to cooperate with me?"

"This is the first time I've seen an investigator like you—actually working with a ghoul."

Ito studied Su Xiao with curiosity. She knew deep down that cooperating with him was extremely dangerous, but the liquid in the test tube he held was fatally tempting to her.

It wasn't some miracle drug. To humans, it was pure poison.

Rc Cell Concentrate

Quality: White Type: Material Rating: 8 (Note: White items are rated 1 to 10; higher ratings indicate greater value.) Description: The test tube contains a high-concentration Rc cell solution, an essential material used by the CCG to manufacture Quinques, for activating Quinque steel.

Rc Cell Concentrate is only produced by the CCG, making it nearly impossible for ghouls to obtain.

If a ghoul injected this, their Rc cell count would skyrocket. The risk was considerable, but far less than the danger of cannibalism.

"With this right in front of me, do I even have a choice to refuse?"

A smile spread across Ito's face, her attitude shifting dramatically.

"Tell me, what do I need to give?"

A deal was built on mutual benefit. Threatening with force might yield short-term gains, but it was never a long-term solution.

"I want the locations of ghoul gathering spots in Ward 14. The more, the better."

Su Xiao tossed the test tube to Ito, but her charming smile vanished.

"Are you planning... to purge Ward 14?"

A flicker of fear appeared in Ito's beautiful eyes.

"Is there a problem?"

Su Xiao stared straight at Ito.

At that moment, the test tube in Ito's hand felt scorching hot.

"N-no, no problem. Wait a moment."

Ito grabbed paper and pen from the side and began scribbling.

Five minutes later, a crude map landed in Su Xiao's hands.

"The spots I circled are all ghoul gathering places—there's a ghoul restaurant, an auction house, an intelligence exchange point, and more."

The map was rough, but its use was considerable.

"If this map isn't accurate enough, I'll be back."

Su Xiao gave Ito a meaningful glance. She was a ghoul, and he wouldn't fully trust her.

After Su Xiao left the bar, the panic on Ito's face faded.

"Bei, come out."

Ito picked up a glass of human blood nearby, took a light sip, and her red lips grew even more vivid.

A ghoul with a peculiar appearance stepped out—lip piercings embedded at the corners of his mouth, giving him a rather punk style.

This ghoul was named Bei. He ran a mask shop in Ward 4, and Ken Kaneki's mask was made by him.

"He noticed me."

Bei sat down beside Ito.

"How is that possible? With your stealth skills, that man noticed you?"

Ito couldn't believe it. In her daze, a trickle of blood slid from the corner of her lips.

"No mistake. Just now, I felt a prickling sensation on my back, like being targeted by some beast.

After all, he's the monster who fought off the One-Eyed Owl head-on. It's not surprising."

Bei leaned back in his seat, lost in thought.

"Forget it. As long as we don't provoke him, it's fine. Does the organization have any plans lately?"

Ito made a silent decision: move! Get far away from the monster! She didn't want to die yet.

Being targeted by Su Xiao was far from a pleasant feeling. Ito desperately wanted more Rc Cell Concentrate, but her life was more important.

"No plan. Nick and Roma have no idea where they went."

The organization Bei and Ito belong to is called 'Clown'—a mysterious ghoul organization. As of now, five insiders are known:

Souta (the current main antagonist, leader of Clown). Nick (the transvestite who hangs out with Gecko, a masochist). Ito (bar owner in Ward 14, once provided Ken Kaneki with intel on Rize Kamishiro). Roma (a female ghoul who infiltrates Anteiku café later in the story, becoming a waitress there). Bei (mask shop owner).

Among these five, aside from Souta, the remaining four are all SS-Rank Ghouls who usually hide their strength and put on harmless appearances.

Souta, full name Souta Washuu, is not only the leader of Clown but also a member of other organizations. This guy lurks in the shadows, with top-tier strength.

After Souta later transplants Rize's Kagune, his power skyrockets, even reaching a level where he can easily defeat Takatsuki Sen.

Clown's strength is formidable, no doubt, but these people usually stick to their own roles and rarely gather together.

In other words, the Clown organization just coasts between Aogiri Tree and the CCG, not joining the fight, with a clear intention to profit from the conflict.

After Su Xiao obtained the ghoul branch map for Ward 14, he returned to the car.

"Xiao, where is this?"

Su Xiao pointed to a circle on the map. Mado Akira leaned in, frowning as she studied it for a long time.

"This looks like the Dayuan Auction House."

"Looks like?"

Mado Akira took the map, furrowing her brow as she examined it for a while.

"Uh... it should be right."

Su Xiao sighed. The crudeness of this map far exceeded his expectations.

"It's not wrong. This is the Dayuan Auction House."

Mado Akira pulled out an official map of Ward 14 and carefully compared them.

"Sunday night at 11 PM, a large auction is being held. What does that mean?"

Mado Akira read the note on the map, looking puzzled.

"Exactly what it says. Overtime tonight—continue expelling ghouls. Head to Dayuan Stadium."

Today happened to be Sunday.

Su Xiao leaned back in his seat. He had no idea what ghouls auctioned among themselves, but it probably wasn't anything valuable.

Over seventy percent of ghouls had some twisted psychology.

The only food for ghouls is humans, and humans look exactly like ghouls. Constantly devouring beings that resemble themselves—there's no way a ghoul's mind stays healthy.

Moreover, Su Xiao felt that ghouls might not be a naturally occurring species. Otherwise, in the long course of evolution, humans would have gone extinct long ago.

The combat power in the ghoul world wasn't strong, but compared to ordinary humans, ghouls were an overwhelming force.

If ghouls had existed from the start, humanity would have been wiped out, and after that, the next to go extinct would be the ghouls themselves.

The main mission had a time limit of twenty days, and less than two had passed. Su Xiao might be able to delve deeper into the secrets of the ghoul world.

But thinking about that now was too early. He should finish main mission (2) first.

Just then, Reincarnation Paradise gave a notification.

A large number of low-level Kagune had been delivered to CCG headquarters, earning 135 contribution points.

Current status: Second-Class Investigator, contribution points 525/400. Yes/No to promote rank.

Su Xiao raised an eyebrow. Those low-level ghouls' Kagune were worth more than he expected, netting 135 contribution points.

As for why Su Xiao didn't keep those Kagune—it was because they couldn't be taken out of the Derivative World.

Except for items opened from Treasure Chests, most items couldn't leave the Derivative World.

He selected to promote rank, and the notification from Reincarnation Paradise faded. Becoming a First-Class Investigator still required appointment by the CCG, but that appointment would come soon.

For now, he just needed to keep hunting ghouls. He was going to purge all of Ward 14.

Su Xiao didn't believe that if he killed every ghoul in Ward 14, he still wouldn't be promoted to Senior Investigator.

A graceful spiral flight—can't catch me, can't catch me~.