Minutes later, the three of them boarded a helicopter heading toward the 24th Ward.
As the scenery below slipped past and they moved further and further away from the city, with the helicopter showing no signs of stopping, Kaede beside him lost his initial excitement, the expression on his face gradually turning serious.
Before long, the fast-flying helicopter slowed down.
The area below was currently a sea of ruins, looking utterly dilapidated even under the glare of sunlight.
The city bore the remnants of various battles, scarred everywhere with devastation, amidst which faint, gigantic trenches were visible, resembling traces left by the coiling of some colossal creature.
Accompanied by the helicopter finding a landing spot, the few of them disembarked.
"We're heading to the rendezvous point now." Kishou Arima glanced around on the ground and then confirmed the direction.
Kaede and Huiqi followed closely behind, gripping their Quinque Cases tightly and eyeing their surroundings cautiously. Once on the ground, the desolation and stench of decay of the city were felt even more clearly.
Pllaques of unknown age hung on both sides of the street, and the hollow houses occasionally emitted whistling sounds, as if waiting for curious prey.
"The two of you stay right behind me. The danger level of the 24th Ward far exceeds that of other regions."
Kishou Arima, walking in front, suddenly spoke up to remind the two.
"O-Okay."
Kaede's voice was slightly trembling, his eyes carrying a hint of fear.
Although he was unclear why two Rank 3 Investigators were sent to the 24th Ward, he didn't wish to see newbies die in front of him, and would help if it fell within his capabilities.
Compared to Kaede's fright, Huiqi's attention was already focused on the system, because the first quest had been completed and the second quest was about to begin.
[Quest Reward: Primary Bone Strength Enhancement]
Primary bone strength enhancement...
Huiqi moved his body slightly, his bones producing crisp cracking sounds, and the rigid sensation in his body noticeably improved.
[Second Quest Issued: Survive for One Week]
[Quest Reward: Enhance Physical Potential (Advanced Reward)]
Huh? This reward!?
Looking at the four brightly lit characters on the system interface, Huiqi swallowed hard. Compared to the quest reward, Huiqi selectively ignored the word "survive."
A tug-of-war was rising in his heart at the moment. The survival-series difficulty of the quest was beyond doubt, but the system's advanced reward was simply too tempting.
He had previously completed an advanced reward quest-namely, the very quest that allowed him to leap in strength from a Rank 2 Investigator to a Rank 1 Investigator, and furthermore counterkill an S-rate Ghoul.
Huiqi grew increasingly anxious. This was practically placing the light of Taihu in front of a man and telling him he could operate it however he pleased; the attraction was fatal.
He shook his head to stop his daydreaming and began pondering how he could secure the system's reward.
The difficulty of a system quest is unquestionable, and I must find a breakthrough... that is, starting with Kishou Arima! His strength is formidable, and I can make use of him!
Thinking of this, the corners of Huiqi's mouth curved slightly upward. He could utilize existing conditions to achieve his ultimate goal, and Kishou Arima was an exceptional springboard.
As he pondered, Kishou Arima's footsteps in front of him came to a halt.
"We've reached the quest assembly point. Someone will start giving orders shortly..."
Hearing this, Huiqi raised his head, and several three-person squads abruptly appeared ahead in his line of sight.
One, two, three... only 15 people, and not a single Ghoul Investigator? Could the CCG be spreading false information?
The number of people observed at the moment made Huiqi feel quite astonished, and after inspecting several times, he failed to see a Special Investigator.
With no Special Class Investigator leading the team in Ward 24, Huiqi could already imagine the miserable deaths of this group of Ghoul Investigators; after all, their team lacked a powerhouse like Kishou Arima.
Even though their strength appeared to be Rank 1 Investigator for the time being, that could accomplish nothing whatsoever in Ward 24—at most achieving a level of self-preservation.
Huiqi possessed system enhancements and blessings of his own, making him top-tier even among Rank 1 Investigators, and he could even measure strength against an Associate Special Class Investigator.
"You two just stick close to me, I'll find a way to protect you."
Kishou Arima noticed Kaede's less-than-favorable complexion, so he walked up to the two of them and patted their shoulders.
Ah?! There's such a good thing? I was originally planning to utilize him secretly, but he ends up throwing the reward right in my face? No, something's wrong; the system wouldn't be this simple.
Huiqi's face showed no emotional fluctuation as he looked calmly at Kishou Arima. "Alright, thank you, Ghoul Investigator Arima!"
He answered this way with his mouth, but Huiqi certainly didn't trust other people's promises, especially in this kind of place fraught with danger at any moment.
In his three years as a Ghoul Investigator, he had encountered plenty of emergencies, and those who sold out their teammates were not few in number. If not for the system's rewards accumulating over time and massively strengthening his physique, he probably would have died long ago.
By contrast, Kaede Kawashima beside him seemed to have found a straw to clutch at, immediately following tightly behind Kishou Arima.
Just as Huiqi intended to ask about some special matters regarding the 24th Ward, his earpiece suddenly emitted a static buzzing sound.
The next second, an authoritative voice echoed.
"I am Chief Councilor Yoshitoki Washuu. Everyone, please pull yourselves together from here on."
Yoshitoki Washuu? This fellow hasn't passed down his position yet?
Huiqi vaguely remembered seeing him when he first attended a major meeting; Yoshitoki Washuu already looked like an old man back then, so how was he still not dead by now.
Yoshitoki Washuu's voice did not stop, continuing to elaborate on the current situation and the upcoming mission for the five squads.
"You need to scout and lightly sweep the upper shallow spaces of the underground, and record the latest changes to bring back."
"This operation is classified. Upon your return, you will all be promoted to Rank 1. I wish you all success."
With that final word, the voice in the earpiece vanished.
On the faces of everyone present, some expressions were excited while others turned solemn.
"A secret mission, heh. Just wait for me to get back and take that promotion."
"Watch it, Ward 24 isn't somewhere you want to mess with."
The surrounding Ghoul Investigators murmured endlessly, and positive emotions dominated the majority. In their eyes, this kind of assignment seemed simple enough.
"Kishou Arima, take those two Rank 3 Investigators to find the origin... and track down the child he left behind. Just do your best with the mission, and if you encounter any extraordinary incidents, you may withdraw early."
Just as everyone was preparing themselves for the coming battle, only Kishou Arima heard Yoshitoki Washuu's voice in his earpiece.
"Use the two of them as bait if necessary. Use your own judgment."
Kazu......
Kishou Arima's earpiece fell silent. After listening to Yoshitoki Washuu's words, his face remained expressionless, though his gaze looked upon Ward 24 with a complicated expression.
This isn't my first time coming here... nor do I intend to follow Yoshitoki Washuu's orders.
After a moment, only Huiqi, Kawashima, and Arima remained at the scene.
"Follow me. We're going in through a different route."
The next second, Kishou Arima pointed toward an entrance in the distance. This path was completely different from the one chosen by the main force, looking much more like a back door.
"What do you mean?" Huiqi muttered under his breath. Kishou Arima's distinct choice seemed to stem from his own ideas.
A few minutes later...
Huiqi looked silently at the entrance.
Before you continue