After the two newcomers finished introducing themselves, Hyuga Shoyo led the group down to the underground laboratory.
The moment he entered the underground laboratory, Ken Kaneki spotted someone familiar: Mado Kureo.
Mado Kureo was still unconscious. Beside him lay Amon Kotaro, who was undergoing modification.
Kaneki looked stunned to see that Amon Kotaro was being turned into a half-ghoul like him.
"Why would Mr. Amon do this?"
Just then, Nishiki Nishio came over to his side and said, "This was Amon Kotaro's own choice. He wants to truly understand ghouls."
"It's also because he learned that ghouls could turn back into humans. That's why... he chose to undergo the procedure."
After explaining things to Ken Kaneki, Nishiki Nishio turned to the manager and Touka.
"You're here too! Manager Yoshimura, Miss Touka!" Nishiki Nishio greeted them both.
After greeting them, whether deliberately or on purpose, Nishiki Nishio pulled a fruit-flavored lollipop from his pocket and began licking it right in front of them.
At the sight, Yoshimura Kuzen smiled, while Touka gritted her teeth in frustration.
Being able to eat human food was something Touka had wished for all her life.
She had a close friend at school who occasionally gave her food. Naturally, it was all human food. To honor her friend's kindness, Touka always forced herself to swallow it despite the nausea, then threw it back up afterward.
Watching Nishiki Nishio eat a lollipop now, she truly envied him.
While the group was chatting, Amon Kotaro's operation was completed.
Amon Kotaro remained unconscious after the operation. Orochimaru and Kanou paid him no further attention, turning their gazes to Touka and Yoshimura Kuzen instead.
Orochimaru washed his face with his tongue and smiled. "Kaneki, is this the young girl you said wanted to become human?"
As the pale-faced man