"Where are you... little girl... Just thinking about killing a student from CCG Academy gets me so excited... Stop hiding..."
The ghoul's low, excited voice echoed through the dark street. His crimson kakugan scanned his surroundings, greed and smug satisfaction all but spilling from his face.
Father... Father...
Akira Mado clenched her hands tightly, struggling not to make a sound. Hiding was her only option now, because she had no way to fight a ghoul.
As a student, she was not qualified to receive a Quinque. More importantly, even after becoming a Ghoul Investigator, obtaining one was difficult.
Under CCG regulations, anyone who wanted a Quinque had to defeat a ghoul personally to claim ownership. Yet only Quinques could effectively injure ghouls; other weapons were useless.
This vicious cycle left students in a difficult position. Some chose logistical work after graduation, while those who joined the front lines could only hope to meet a good senior Ghoul Investigator. A large proportion of students received their first Quinque as a gift from a senior on their team.
"I can already see you... Hahahahaha, hehehehehe... Little girl in the corner, kindly die for me so I can eat you one bite at a time."
Akira stared anxiously at the corner. The ghoul's voice came from there, accompanied by footsteps that seemed to land directly on her heart.
"Akira Mado?"
Just as Akira's nerves reached their breaking point, Huiqi's voice suddenly sounded behind her.
"Huh? Aaaah!"
Sure enough, Akira screamed instinctively. Her pupils trembled violently as she fixed her gaze on Huiqi.
"You... Who are you?"
"Your father sent me. Finding you took quite a bit of effort."
A trace of displeasure appeared on Huiqi's face. He had been searching for Akira ever since arriving in Ward 5. He had thought she would not be too well hidden, but after three minutes of searching, he had decisively used the location-tracking function available only to Special Class Investigators. If CCG phones had not supported location sharing, he would have given up.
"My... My father? Why... Why didn't he come?"
"You're asking me? I'm not your dad."
Looking speechless, Huiqi drew a dagger-shaped Quinque from his jacket pocket and aimed it in the other direction.
"A little girl's scream... If you're scared, stop running... Huh?"
The ghoul who appeared around the corner froze, even reaching up to scratch his head. He apparently had not expected a Ghoul Investigator to show up.
"Sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. I'll kill you both..."
Before the ghoul could finish, the dagger in Huiqi's hand shot through the air with a piercing shriek. As fast as lightning, it instantly punched through the ghoul's head.
"A-rate trash. Spare me the chatter."
By the time Huiqi spoke, he had already dealt with the ghoul pursuing her. The entire process had taken less than three seconds. Such a fierce, swift attack had ended a ghoul's life.
"How... How is that possible?"
Akira stood dumbfounded beside him. What she had just witnessed had thoroughly shaken her understanding of combat. Even her father, Kureo Mado, had to fight his opponents himself, yet the man beside her had killed a ghoul with nothing more than a Quinque dagger.
"There's nothing impossible about it. I'll take you back to the academy now."
Huiqi took Akira by the shoulder and helped her up.
"That ghoul... The Quinque..."
Still reeling from what she had seen, Akira instinctively pointed at the dead ghoul and the Quinque left lodged in its head.
"I know. You don't need to worry about it."
With that, Huiqi led Akira away from the scene. Logistics staff would handle the cleanup, and the Quinque and the credit for killing the ghoul would naturally be assigned to him.
Huiqi said nothing along the way, and an inexplicable silence settled between them. Akira looked hesitant, wanting to speak but seeming too embarrassed.
Huiqi had already noticed. Since she was too embarrassed to speak, she might as well stay quiet. Otherwise, she might drag him into some strange new trouble.
After hesitating for a long time, Akira finally decided to speak. The Ghoul Investigator before her was powerful. If she had the chance, perhaps she could team up with Huiqi to hunt ghouls.
"M-May I ask your name? My father is Rank 1 Investigator Kureo Mado... Thank you for your help."
"Just call me Special Class Investigator Huiqi. I know your father. He sent me."
Huiqi answered Akira's question in an even tone. Since she was a colleague's daughter, he could answer a few questions. He could simply put the bill on Kureo Mado's tab later.
"Hui... qi... Special Class Investigator? I think I've heard of you..."
"You've heard of me? You're just a student. How would you know about Ghoul Investigators? Did Kureo Mado mention me once or twice?"
Akira did not answer him. Instead, she sank into thought.
Seeing this, Huiqi did not press her. He took out his phone, selected Kureo Mado from his contacts, and sent a short message: "She's safe."
A little while later, Kureo Mado sent his thanks.
Huiqi put his phone away. Kureo Mado's reply made things clear enough. Picking up a favor from a nominal Rank 1 Investigator along the way was a pretty good deal.
"You! You! You! You're the Executioner?!"
Only then did Akira finally work out who Huiqi was, staring at him in utter disbelief.
"Call me Special Class Investigator Huiqi. CCG's nicknames always leave me speechless."
There was a hint of resignation in Huiqi's voice. He had no idea which idiot had given him that name, and by the time he noticed, it was already too late.
"N-No, we've heard about what you've done... Our teacher mentioned the Executioner in class..."
"Tch. That's what they teach in class? What's the point of hearing about my exploits? Does the teacher use them to brainwash you?"
Huiqi sounded somewhat amused. He had a unique system, while everyone else had nothing of the sort. Yet they actually used his exploits as teaching material, as though their students were not dying fast enough already.
"No, they just said you're second only to Kishou Arima, with a nearly one hundred percent mission completion rate, and that you've repelled Aogiri Tree several times..."
Akira recited the lesson's contents as though listing treasured possessions, completely failing to notice Huiqi's expression darken.
"Second only to Kishou Arima, huh? I just haven't found a chance to settle the score!"
Huiqi looked distinctly displeased. Kishou Arima was constantly being sent out on all kinds of missions, greatly reducing how often they met. Otherwise, Huiqi would certainly have settled their old grudge.
Noticing the change in Huiqi's tone, Akira grew curious. Grudges between Special Class Investigators were very, very rare.
"Is there some bad blood between you?"
"No. We're almost at the classroom area. Where do you have class? Hurry back."
As they spoke, the two had already entered CCG Academy. Huiqi sounded impatient.
"Second year. Right over there."
Akira answered somewhat timidly. This Special Class Investigator did not seem to have a particularly good temper.
"Second year. Planning to join CCG straight after graduation?"
Hearing that she was in her second year, Huiqi suddenly remembered a rumor he had heard before.
"Yes. I want to hunt ghouls with my father."
"Good luck."
Before you continue