Meanwhile, on the street leading from 20th Ward to 24th Ward.
Kaya Irimi Gawain explaining the social structure of ghouls to Gawain in her slow and gentle voice.
"For humans, the ghouls' ability to hide is the real problem."
Aside from the need for secrecy, our inherent hunger and relatively high level of disorder have ironically caused us to fall further behind humans in terms of technology.
As for the number of ghouls, I find that very strange too.
Even though many ghouls die every day, we're like humans—we can't kill them all.
We're not dirty money; we can't infect anyone we bite into becoming a ghoul.
But that's the strange thing. The number of ghouls has always remained very high, so high that it can easily attract the attention and vigilance of humans.
In addition, it is because we possess greater power.
We're not counting technological weapons; we're only calculating the combat effectiveness of our individual members.
As we gain greater power, too many of us become increasingly insane and arrogant due to cannibalism.
We could have been nature's cleaners, simply responsible for cleaning up the humans who die naturally every day, and we could have lived comfortably.
But clearly, like Rize and my past self, we self-proclaimed strong guys all prefer hot and... fresh food."
At this point, Irimi glanced cautiously at Gawain, and seeing that Gawain showed no signs of dissatisfaction, Irimi felt relieved and continued.
"As for the general strength of us ghouls, the vast majority of us are ordinary ghouls hovering between A and below A rank."
They generally possess strength and speed several times greater than humans, along with a considerable degree of self-healing and significantly greater resistance to trauma.
Once a ghoul's strength rating reaches S, their strength increases dramatically. A relatively outstanding S-rank ghoul is already qualified to control a number zone.
For example, in certain areas like Ward 6 and Ward 13, the leaders are only S-rank ghouls, and that level of strength is already sufficient.
As for the Aogiri Tree that has recently emerged in our Anteiku and 24th Ward.
We are all special cases among ghouls, and our combined fighting strength is relatively much stronger due to our special circumstances.
I am an SS-class ghoul, formerly known as the Black Doberman Pinscher, I..."
At this point, Kaya Irimi hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but smooth the hair at her temples.
"Sir, do you like dogs? If so, do you prefer large or small breeds?"
"Uh, a large dog, I prefer Golden Retrievers."
"It's not a Doberman, what a pity! But the dog is really cute, I've always wanted to have one, but the manager wouldn't allow it, since dogs might cause trouble for customers."
After muttering something under her breath, Kaya Irimi interrupted herself with a cough and continued speaking to Gawain.
"In the Anteiku, I am an SS-class Black Doberman, Koma is an SS-class Devil Ape, Yomo Renji is an SS-class, whose code name is Crow."
Only the store manager... he's very mysterious. I always felt that the store manager should be an SSS-level, or even that he is the One-Eyed Owl himself.
However, I've never seen the store manager go all out.
As for Touka, she was kind of an add-on. When Yomo joined us, she brought Touka along because Touka is Yomo's Yomo sister's daughter.
In short, our Anteiku is quite strong. With three SS and one SS, this lineup is no longer afraid of the ghoul groups in most other districts.
As for the Aogiri Tree, in my opinion, their strength should be about the same as ours.
As far as I know, the main members of Aogiri Tree are probably a similarly mysterious leader, two SS-rank ghouls, and many S-rank ghouls.
In terms of high-end combat power, they are probably inferior to us, but they have a lot of S-class units, which will make it very troublesome for us to deal with them!
But now that you're here, sir, we have nothing to worry about. With you... wait!
Suddenly, Kaya Irimi stopped talking. She quickly sniffed and then whispered.
"Sir, I smell white doves. My men are warning me from a distance."
"Okay, I understand."
Gawain nodded indifferently, then led the now quiet Irimi on a quiet stroll under the streetlights, walking forward.
Meanwhile, in the distance along the road.
Three regiments of CCG soldiers were escorting an armored vehicle, slowly moving towards the core of 20th Ward.
The soldiers didn't talk much; after the miracle not long ago, they were all under immense pressure.
The lightning strike instantly killed over three thousand ghouls hiding in various locations, a loss that would inevitably make the ghoul community live in fear.
At this moment, the CCG members are destined to take to the streets and risk their lives to suppress ghouls in order to maintain order in Tokyo.
They were prepared to die and had firmly suppressed their fear.
However, although the soldiers didn't say much, their superiors didn't seem to have any fear or worry about it.
Shinohara, the Special Inspector in charge of security in the 20th Ward, then spent the rest of his time chatting with his old friend Mado.
"Hey, you better not cut too hard this time."
If you can leave more kagune in battle and hand them over to the research department, your application for Special Investigator status will be approved.
As a result, because your fighting style is too explosive, even after all these years of hard work, you're still just a senior investigator...
"Cut!"
Hearing Shinohara Yukinori's words, Mado Kureo grinned without a care in the world.
"I didn't kill those trash to become some kind of top-tier student!"
I'm the natural enemy of ghouls. All I want to do is kill them. Even if I'm just a trainee investigator, it won't stop me from wielding my sword against them, will it?
After the Ice-Ice Fruit response, Mado Kureo's icy eyes left Shinohara and began to scan the surroundings.
A moment later, Mado stopped and pointed towards the alley in the distance.
"I smelled another ghoul, heh heh."
It seems that even in the most peaceful 20th Ward, many ghouls died tonight.
That's really great news!
As soon as he finished speaking, two soldiers immediately walked into the alley behind Mado.
As expected, they found a charred corpse.
The reason they now only have three squadrons left to continue reconnaissance is because most of their members have stayed behind to deal with the bodies and collect kagune.
After easily finding a death scene, Mado Kureo laughed with satisfaction, as if he were having an orgasm.
Beside him, Shinohara shook his head helplessly.
Ever since his old friend's wife was killed by a ghoul, his old friend has been completely consumed by hatred.
Even among ghouls, there are those recorded as "Non-Killing Owl," ghouls who never kill investigators.
Even when his old friend encountered ghoul children as young as two or three, he refused to send them to the Quinque Nurturing Research Institute established by the CCG as required, and instead tortured and killed the children on the spot.
In terms of strength, he himself might not even be a match for Mado Kureo.
He himself was already a Special Investigator, but Mado remained in the position of Senior Investigator for over ten years.
But this is for the best, since his old friend doesn't like staying in the rear to lead anything, and the position of senior investigator makes it easier for him to go to the front lines.
And myself...
If it weren't for the significant impact of tonight's mysterious incident, I'd probably still be arguing endlessly with the bureau chief and others at the meeting...
In an instant, three or four thousand ghouls died in the city—that's a lot of tsurugi and quinques!
I'm actually starting to feel like holding a meeting. This time, I absolutely have to get more Quinques to equip my men!
Just as Shinohara was contemplating the future allocation meeting, Mado Kureo suddenly stopped again.
The next moment, Mado's eyes were fixed on the end of the streetlight in the distance.
There, Gawain and Kaya Irimi were standing hand in hand.
Upon seeing the army and armored vehicles, Gawain and Irimi seemed startled; they huddled together nervously, their hearts pounding!
"Hmm."
Wu Xu suddenly felt conflicted, because his instincts were telling him that those two people were up to no good!
The massive power outage that lasted for half an hour and the tragedy that suddenly killed many people could not stop them from taking to the streets.
Aren't these two a little too carefree?!
But instinct is instinct, and observation is observation.
Mado could clearly feel their tension and pounding hearts.
Whether it's the sweat on their temples and palms, or their micro-expressions and subtle details.
My own experience is telling me that those two are indeed just a bold couple with great style.
As for tension.
Even the most daring couples would be nervous upon seeing a fully armed army, which is perfectly reasonable.
Yes, that's reasonable, very reasonable...
But Mado doesn't believe in reason!
He trusts his intuition more!
"Kill them!!!"
In just a moment, Mado issued his command.
As the sixteenth-ranked senior investigator in the CCG, bearing the uncrowned special class title, the moment he spoke, the nearby soldiers obeyed and raised their guns at Gawain and his companion!
Standing next to Mado, Shinohara really didn't see anything wrong with Irimi and Gawain!
But he trusted his old friend's intuition completely, so despite feeling uneasy, Shinohara was the first to mention his quinque.
In the distance, he saw a gun barrel suddenly pointed at him.
Gawain couldn't help but shake his head.
Is this a butterfly effect I created myself?
Even though Mado Kureo passed by the Anteiku Café in the anime, he couldn't identify the manager and others based on his intuition.
Upon seeing himself, the guy immediately pulled out his quinque.
Perhaps my acting skills aren't as good as I thought, and the fearlessness and ease in my heart are probably impossible to hide.
Thinking of this, Gawain shook his head, then clapped Irimi's hand.
"There's no need to keep pretending to be a couple; they've already discovered us."
"You've been seen without your mask, but don't worry, starting tonight, you won't need to wear masks anymore."
Upon hearing Gawain's words, Kaya Irimi aback, and she instinctively wanted to continue grabbing Gawain's hand.
When she applied force with her palm, she only managed to grasp air.
At the same time, before Mado Kureo could open his umbrella-shaped quinque...
Gawain had already arrived in front of him.
"Hey, I don't think I intended to hurt you, but you've turned around and tried to hurt me?"
That's really impolite.
After making a joke, Gawain gently pressed down on Mado Kureo's shoulder!
In an instant, Mado Kureo was shocked to find that he didn't even have the strength to lift his arm!
Shinohara, who had been slightly hesitant at first, now had her eyes wide open to the extreme!
That speed... that speed!!!
Even during the previous Owl Suppression Operation, I had never witnessed such speed!!!
Damn it!
Mado Kureo cursed loudly, then, despite being drenched in sweat, he tried to open his quinque again.
To everyone's surprise, Gawain simply patted Wu Xu's shoulder lightly.
The next moment...
Boom!!!
An immense Conqueror's Haki erupted, instantly stunning all the surrounding CCG soldiers to the ground!
Even Shinohara, the special agent, only lasted for a moment!
Gawain's Conqueror's Haki that even Vice Admiral in the Pirate World could be overwhelmed, let alone a mere Special Admiral.
In this world, what can truly cause Gawain trouble are the space-based and nuclear weapons controlled by the ghoul groups of major Europe countries.
As for the special investigators in the mere city of Tokyo...
It's just trash...
However, to Gawain's surprise, when he withdrew his Conqueror's Haki, Mado Kureo actually withstood the pressure and kept trying to stand up while kneeling on the ground.
While moving his trembling hands, Mado spat out saliva and cursed himself desperately.
"Even a guy who suddenly appears can't be resisted, so how can he possibly challenge the One-Eyed Owl!"
Trash, I'm such trash. Even with all this effort, I'm still far from good enough!
Disgusting creature, ghoul!
Disgusting!!!
I must kill you, and then take down the One-Eyed Owl!
We must kill Owl!!!
With a loud roar, Mado Kureo miraculously stood up again.
Holding his umbrella-shaped quinque with trembling hands, Mado Kureo gritted his teeth and stared intently into Gawain's eyes.
"Come on, fight! Slaughter! Don't look at me with those damned, pitying eyes!!!"
No matter how strong you appear, no one will look at you with fear!
Humans will never fear man-eating beasts!!!
"Hmm, even if you're not afraid."
Gawain shook his head noncommittally, then made a gesture as if to flick someone's forehead.
Clang!
He lightly flicked his finger on Mado Kureo's forehead.
Mado Kureo's eyes, which were filled with hatred and determination, suddenly went vacant, and then he fell straight to the ground.
A determination without the support of power.
Ultimately, it's just a rootless duckweed.
After stunning Mado Kureo, Gawain looked around before returning to Kaya Irimi's side.
Kaya Irimi was still a little confused at this point.
"That... that was a team led by a Special Investigator!"
Even an SS-rank ghoul can't easily defeat a Special Investigator!
How could it be so fast? Why did they all collapse all at once?
I don't understand, sir, do you really distinguish between ghouls and non-ghouls?
Or are you actually the strongest ghoul from overseas, and have you even found a way to eat human food?
Otherwise, if humans could be this strong...
How did our ghoul ancestors manage to survive until now?!