Even though Gawain had been gone for three minutes, the people in the CCG headquarters' reception hall were still standing there, stunned.
In this silent silence, seventy percent of the men tremblingly pulled out cigarettes from their pockets.
Click...
Bite...
Amid the constant clicking of lighters, plumes of smoke rose from the hall.
There are still many non-smokers, and they should be annoyed by this situation.
But those people just looked at each other...
"Give me one too..."
"Give me one."
"My wife is very strict, so I didn't dare to buy it."
"Cough cough."
Well, it seems even non-smokers feel they should light a cigarette.
Because they have to admit that they are probably very close to losing their jobs...
A lifelong commitment to... the righteous act of fighting ghouls.
Just a moment ago, I was severely provoked by a newly appeared ghoul.
In front of the entire CCG, their strongest investigator, Special Class Arima Kishou, who was known as the Grim Reaper...
They were captured without any ability to resist!!!
In this process, they had a huge CCG with tens of thousands of professional investigators...
What's the point of even a second?
No matter how perfect a bureaucratic system is, it's utterly useless in the face of absolute power.
When have those so-called rules ever been able to overcome the fighting power of supermodels?
So, can the CCG continue to defeat ghouls who have completely broken through their limits?
At the center of the crowd, looking at the smoke billowing in all directions, the director Washuu Kichimasa let out a long sigh.
"Everyone!"
He had to stand up despite his unease and address all the investigators.
" With Arima waiting for him... he'll definitely be alright!"
"Ghouls would absolutely... absolutely never dare to kill Arima..."
At this point, Washuu was truly at a loss; he himself knew that his fart wasn't very reasonable...
But what else could he do but apologize to the surrounding investigators?
Or perhaps he'd say something else, trying to make all the investigators forget that Arima had been taken away?
He is a ghoul hiding behind the CCG.
But he is not God hiding behind humanity!
The idea of erasing collective memory doesn't exist!
Bearing immense psychological trauma, Washuu Kichimasa coughed lightly, then clapped his hands loudly.
"Alright, everyone, the Arima and the others were just taken away right in front of us only proves that our emergency defense system is not perfect enough!"
This time we lost Arima and others, what will we lose next time!
Starting today, all trainee investigators must quickly master the basic skills required for their respective roles and then rapidly transition into the duties of full-fledged investigators!
And all our official investigators, including all the top investigators...
We must remember our weakness and helplessness today, and then completely forget our past laziness!
Even if you've already reached the Gawain's influence!
So now, the most dangerous moment is about to begin!
In addition, gentlemen, I will request the Research Department to release all the dangerous Quinques that should not have been under your control as soon as possible!
We can no longer proceed step by step!
For truly capable investigators, you no longer need to accumulate merits or undergo political vetting!
At this moment, no matter who you are, as long as you have enough ability and determination, and are willing to fight for humanity!
"Then I will promote you to Special Investigator on the spot, and at the same time provide you with a stronger, more dangerous, and more uncontrollable Quinque!!!"
Washuu Kichimasa slammed the gun in his hand onto the ground.
In the past, in order to maintain a balance between the number of humans and ghouls, the Washuu Clan consciously suppressed the CCG, ensuring that the number of investigators remained in balance with the number of ghouls!
As for Quink...
In the past, the CCG had an unwritten rule that if a formal investigator wanted to upgrade their Quinque, they had to hunt down a sufficiently powerful ghoul on their own!
As for the reason, the Washuu Clan explained that only by hunting ghouls on your own can you prove that you have the ability to control the kagune left behind after the ghoul dies!
As for how many quinques does the CCG actually have?
It's important to understand that top-tier players like Arima, once they have a quinque that suits them well, won't easily change their equipment.
Arima or the other special-class ghouls, together they hunted far more than a hundred S-rank or higher ghouls.
However, they only ever used a few quinques; the rest of the best kagune were kept by the Washuu Clan, deliberately weakening the CCG's strength.
And now...
The CCG needs to be significantly strengthened!!!
At the same time, just as Washuu finished speaking...
Mado Kureo, standing in the crowd, grinned excitedly.
This time, no one should be able to stop him from becoming a top-tier student!
However, Wu Xu didn't really care whether it was a top-tier or not.
What truly excited Wu Xu was that he could finally use the even more powerful Quinque!
In the past, although Wu Xu was strong enough, because his Quinque was too ordinary, even if he was capable of defeating a considerable number of S-class ghouls, he could hardly exert an overwhelming aura, so most of the ghouls he dealt with were able to escape.
And now...
Wu Xu was already fantasizing about obtaining a stronger Quinque and then the thrill of brutally slaughtering ghouls!
However, just as Wu Xu was indulging in his fantasies, a sudden message drove him completely mad.
No sooner had Washuu Kichimasa finished speaking than someone from the investigation division rushed into the crowd and shouted at Washuu Kichimasa, the chief.
"Something terrible has happened, Chief!"
One-Eyed Owl... he appeared completely before the crowd!
That's right, the One-Eyed Owl is currently strolling confidently through the streets of the 20th Ward in his ghoul form!
Countless ordinary people photographed him and spread the images of him swaggering around online!
Public sentiment is outraged, everyone is questioning the CCG's capabilities, and even the cabinet is following the relevant Twitter account!
What should we do?!
After saying that, the members of the investigation division looked at Washuu Kichimasa completely bewildered expressions.
Upon hearing the investigator's report, Washuu Kichimasa felt a sharp pain in his chest.
Just as expected!
With the arrival of someone like Gawain, One-Eyed Owl completely shattered the situation they Washuu Clan Teuchi, attempting to bring the ghouls, a force that was originally not respectable, to the forefront!
But do I have a solution?
Can you come up with a solution yourself?
That's right, missiles or nuclear weapons, they could easily wipe out Gawain.
At least that's what Washuu thought, since he hadn't truly witnessed Gawain's power.
Even so, does the Washuu Clan have the ability to persuade the cabinet leadership to completely abandon Tokyo as the economic core and the 20 million ordinary people living Tokyo?
So, in the absence of weapons of mass destruction.
How could he possibly respond to the One-Eyed Owl's arrogance?
After all, their side couldn't use its own weapons of mass destruction.
As for the ghouls, they now possess their own weapons of mass destruction.
And it's a mobile weapon!!!
Let's not mention the helplessness and confusion that Washuu Kichimasa.
In 20th Ward, on the rooftop of a tall building near the street where One-Eyed Owl lives.
Several men wearing Joker masks were leaning against the rooftop, staring intently at the One-Eyed Owl below.
"Oh my, it looks quite festive. I never thought that Kuzen would have such a triumphant day."
One of the Joker hummed a muttered word, which caused the Joker beside him to sigh heavily.
"Of Kuzen he can swagger around after all, we've all seen it all."
Whether it was easily defeating the Anteiku, which had Kuzen to the region's stability, or easily subduing the Aogiri Tree, where Eto resided.
He single-handedly defeated the entire CCG, even with a burden in his arms. What's worse, he even took Arima Kishou with him!
Most importantly, let's not forget the traces we saw at the foot of Mount Fuji...
If those indentations stretching for kilometers were indeed created by Gawain, then with his sheer size, he could practically engulf the entire Tokyo.
With someone like that standing behind him as a shield, Kuzen can certainly act arrogantly!
If I had his power, haha.
Then we can swagger around instead of being routed by Eto and the Aogiri Tree!
At this point, Furuta Nimura, wearing Joker mask, took a deep breath.
He had to admit that at that moment, he was actually a little envious of Yoshimura Kuzen.
The reason the Joker wears a mask is because the face beneath it isn't yet worthy of being on stage.
In order to reach that coveted, highest position, he had no choice but to hide behind the scenes as Joker, stirring up trouble and creating chaos...
Before this, even though Furuta Nimura had countless calculations and plans.
At that time, he was not even as good as Kuzen, because Kuzen, the cleaner, at least escaped the control of the Washuu Clan and was able to open his own coffee shop and realize his life value and ideals.
And Nimura.
Until the very last moment, he will forever remain a pawn of the Washuu Clan...
Beside him, listening to Furuta Nimura's words, Uta, wearing Joker mask, gently shook her head.
"What we've been doing all along is exactly what Kuzen is doing right now."
How interesting! How could someone like Gawain appear so suddenly?
If I could, I would really like to make a mask that best suits Gawain. I guarantee that his mask would be my best work.
Just feeling the bliss spreading through the hearts of us ghouls right now, I can't help but acknowledge him as the king of ghouls.
But actually, he ruined my business.
After all, since he appeared, at least until today, it seems we don't need masks anymore!
As soon as he finished speaking, it was Uta, the manager of Ward 4, who also ran the most famous mask shop in the ghoul world.
He sighed sadly, then became even more envious of Eto Yoshimura.
Thirteen years ago, it was Eto, the guy who had just become a Kakuja through ghoul-eating, who chased me from the 3rd Ward to the 4th Ward.
Before that, he was the manager of 3rd Ward. As a result, he could only escape to 4th Ward and struggle again before he could barely rule 4th Ward.
He should have hated Eto, but at this moment, his hatred seemed to have faded considerably.
If ghouls truly exist, there's no need for them to wear masks on that day.
Even without the Joker and his mask shop, he would still be very happy, right?
Not far away, Itori noticed Bei's hesitation, so she gently shook her head, then took out a cigarette and spoke while smoking it.
"Your mask shop may indeed need to close for a while."
But in any case, the Joker mask must be worn securely.
After all, before Gawain appeared, our world had seen similar heroic figures before.
But don't forget our principles, buddy.
Only the one who laughs last and laughs the longest is the true victor!
As for Gawain, even if he is currently enjoying great success.
But the true extent of the Washuu Clan's century-long rule over Tokyo has yet to be fully revealed!
After saying that, Itori shook her head again, then turned and walked away.
"I can't leave my place for too long. With what Gawain and the 20th Ward have done, who knows how many ghouls are craving enough alcohol."
I need to get to work quickly so they don't tear down my bar.
"Hmm, whatever you want."
"Goodbye."
"I hope we'll meet again someday."
"Don't die, hehe~."
The other Joker bid farewell to the Itori, and after a period of silence, they too left.
On the other hand, in the Anteiku, at Anteiku Café.
The humans who had gathered outside the shop had been completely frightened away by the returning One-Eyed Owl.
The onlookers were indeed quite bold, but that boldness only applies to human beings.
Even if the prime minister were shot, onlookers would still feel safe watching.
But what if ghouls appeared on the streets in monster form...?
Haha, no one can outrun the onlookers.
At this moment, Kuzen returned to the store entrance and, in front of countless hidden cameras, deactivated his ghoul form.
In an instant, countless gasps filled the air!
As a famous star coffee shop in Anteiku, Anteiku Café is a favorite among countless ordinary people in Anteiku who enjoy drinking coffee here.
It turns out that the kind-hearted shop manager they saw every day was actually a super ghoul over four meters tall?!
Countless people are probably terrified.
Ignoring the astonishment of the hidden photographer, the shopkeeper, now back in human form, led Koma, Yomo, and a group of kids who, while appearing completely unconcerned, had eyes brimming with curiosity.
As soon as he entered the store, Kuzen couldn't help but pause, his gaze falling on the seats not far away.
"Arima Kishou, huh? You actually look so pathetic?"
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the manager took a cup of coffee from the bar and sat down next to Arima.
After taking a sip of coffee, he slapped Arima's severed arm hard, then bowed to Gawain, who was sitting opposite him.
"Master, the work you assigned me has been completed. I have cleaned up the ghoul's house and brought back the child you specifically requested."
However, the child's name is slightly different from the one you gave me.
His name is Suzuya Rei, not Suzuya Juuzou as you said, sir."
At this point, the store manager waved his hand behind him.
Then, Yomo brought the curious Reiya to Gawain.