The truth about the Washuu Clan

"They're fellow trainees doing their internship with me. Why?"

Amahane Byakuya explained calmly.

"Nothing. I just thought it was funny that you keep saying you like me, yet you're so close to other girls."

Rize Kamishiro's tone was equally casual. She seemed unconcerned, as though she was merely teasing Amahane Byakuya.

She could tell by scent alone that those two girls must have had close physical contact with Amahane Byakuya, because theirs were by far the strongest scents on him.

Clearly, that was because Kurona Yasuhisa and Nashiro Yasuhisa had slept leaning against Amahane Byakuya's shoulders.

No matter how much Amahane Byakuya fought ghouls or chatted with Hajime Iba, their scents would never have been as strong on him as the Yasuhisa sisters'.

"That's probably because I fought alongside them, so their scents rubbed off on me."

Amahane Byakuya offered the explanation with a perfectly straight face.

He made it sound completely true, when in reality, he was talking nonsense.

He simply couldn't be bothered to explain so much to Rize Kamishiro, so he made up an excuse to brush it off.

"Is that so..."

Rize Kamishiro seriously doubted his explanation, because she could even distinguish which parts of Amahane Byakuya's body held most of those two women's scents.

They were concentrated on his arms and shoulders, and even on both his hands. Scents that strong couldn't have been left in just a brief moment.

Surely fighting side by side wouldn't have resulted in anything like that?

Still, Rize Kamishiro didn't press the matter.

"Speaking of which, you've heard of the Washuu Clan, haven't you?"

A little while later, Rize Kamishiro suddenly brought up the Washuu Clan.

"I have. They're the clan that founded the CCG."

Amahane Byakuya replied.

"Everyone knows the Washuu Clan founded the CCG. They think the clan has contributed more than anyone else to humanity's fight against ghouls, yet no one knows its true face."

Rize Kamishiro spoke with a sigh.

"Its true face? You mean the Washuu Clan isn't as glorious as it appears?"

Amahane Byakuya continued pretending he knew nothing.

"That's right. But are you sure you want to hear the truth?"

Rize Kamishiro also stressed the consequences to him. "Once you know, you might be doomed beyond salvation. You might fall into the abyss with me for good."

There was only a faint smile on her face. She seemed perfectly willing to tell Amahane Byakuya the truth about the Washuu Clan.

She had already fallen out with the Washuu Clan completely, so violating this taboo of theirs meant nothing to her.

For Amahane Byakuya, however, it was different. Once he learned the truth about the Washuu Clan, there would be no turning back.

"I'm sure."

Amahane Byakuya said without the slightest hesitation, "I already told you I'd protect you. What does it matter if I fall into the abyss with you?"

He already knew the Washuu Clan's true face, so Rize Kamishiro's warnings about the consequences meant nothing to him.

Having Rize Kamishiro tell him herself was still significant, though. It would give him a plausible reason to know the truth about the Washuu Clan, which would help with his future actions.

His utterly decisive tone was also meant to encourage Rize Kamishiro to tell him the truth.

Hearing this, Rize Kamishiro was immediately surprised by how resolute Amahane Byakuya was. "...Looks like you've thought it through. Even if you want to change your mind in a moment, it'll be too late~"

Rize Kamishiro then leaned close to Amahane Byakuya's ear and told him the truth in a very quiet voice. "The Washuu Clan... are... ghouls."

Amahane Byakuya widened his eyes slightly, pretending to be deeply shocked.

Seeing him remain silent, Rize Kamishiro assumed he had been stunned speechless.

This was exactly the reaction she wanted from Amahane Byakuya. It made things interesting.

Rize Kamishiro suddenly wrapped her arms around Amahane Byakuya. "Now we're accomplices. We've violated the Washuu Clan's greatest taboo, so you have no way out. Your only choice is to face their endless pursuit and retaliation with me."

"I warned you just now. No matter how much you regret it now, you won't get another chance."

Rize Kamishiro held Amahane Byakuya tightly, as though she meant to keep him from escaping.

[Ding! The host has activated a quest. God-tier choice initiated!]

[Choice one: Remain silent and do nothing. Reward: 1 fusion point!]

[Choice two: Push Rize Kamishiro away and sever ties with her. Reward: 10 fusion points!]

[Choice three: Hold Rize Kamishiro tightly and honor your promise. Reward: 50 fusion points!]

Amahane Byakuya didn't hesitate at all. He immediately embraced Rize Kamishiro, feeling her delicate body tremble slightly. "...I understand. Of course I won't regret it. This is my answer."

[Ding! The host has completed choice three. Reward obtained: 50 fusion points!]

The reward was probably so many fusion points because, once he took this step, the enemy he would face was the entire Washuu Clan.

And the Washuu Clan was immensely powerful. It controlled both the CCG and V, and the clan's ghouls were all natural-born kakuja.

As for why Rize Kamishiro had never assumed her kakuja form, that was unknown. Only the manga's author could answer that. Of course, it was also possible that Furuta Nimura had ambushed her before she had a chance to display her kakuja powers, robbing her of her freedom ever after.

If that was the case, the CCG's S-rank rating had vastly underestimated Rize Kamishiro. A kakuja-class ghoul posed a threat of at least SS rank, or even SSS rank.

It was no wonder Furuta Nimura hadn't attacked Rize Kamishiro again after that failed attempt. After all, she was on her guard now, making it extremely difficult for him to succeed again.

Furuta Nimura only became that powerful later on after receiving a transplant of Rize Kamishiro's kakuhou. At this point in the timeline, it was hard to say whether he was even a match for her in a head-on fight.

In short, the Washuu Clan was undoubtedly the most difficult villainous force to deal with in the world of Tokyo Ghoul. Its downfall in the original story was largely due to its collapse from within.

Amahane Byakuya wasn't afraid of the Washuu Clan, however. Rather, he had decided from the very beginning that he would have to fight them to the death. Otherwise, the tragedies of this world would only continue.

Rize Kamishiro couldn't help smiling. "You really do surprise me. Should I call you naive, or something else? Still, I don't dislike fools like you."

She still suspected that Amahane Byakuya didn't understand how terrifying the Washuu Clan was. After all, she hadn't revealed everything about them yet. It seemed she would need to make those things clear to him later.

For now, though, she wanted to get to the bottom of something else first.

"I've already told you those secrets of mine. Now, can you tell me more about those two girls?"