The End

Huiqi took a deep breath, his gaze heavy as he looked at Sen Takatsuki.

"It worked great. I accidentally wiped out all the scum in Ward 24 just now."

"Eww, you're so mean... You got rid of all my snacks... Then... how about you become my snack instead?"

"Heh, ptooey!"

"Oh dear... Don't be so resistant~ Be good, be good."

Sen Takatsuki spoke as she stroked the monster. It was unclear who those words were meant for, but the monster gradually stopped thrashing so violently, its enormous kagune shrinking bit by bit.

Watching this absurd, bizarre scene, Huiqi rubbed his eyes several times, a jumble of emotions in his gaze.

"Off we go, off we go~ See you next time, Ghoul Investigators."

The small figure led the monster away. The kagune covering its body gradually withdrew into it, reverting to the appearance of blood vessels. Then the vessels at either end entwined, restoring its human form.

"She didn't attack? That's good news, at least." Shinohara breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Not necessarily." Huiqi rejected Shinohara's assessment. From what he knew of Sen Takatsuki, she definitely, absolutely had something to do, and it mattered far more than dealing with them.

"True, but surviving is always a good thing."

"Some of the ghouls in Ward 24 have launched a rebellion..."

"I'll be back to deal with it soon."

Click.

After leaving, Sen Takatsuki was hurrying toward Ward 24. Certain ghouls with ill intentions had seized this opportunity to make their move.

"The battle in Ward 10 has ended. More than half the Ghoul Investigators are dead..."

Inside the command vehicle, Marute slumped weakly into his chair.

"All personnel, clear the battlefield. The logistics units will arrive soon."

After saying that, Marute closed his eyes and pressed a hand against the spot beneath his nose.

Several days later...

Everyone inside the Ward 1 Headquarters stood in silence. Memorial portraits filled the platform.

"These were brave warriors who gave their lives for humanity! They fought tirelessly for society and for our nation!"

"Here, as chairman of the CCG, I, Yoshitoki Washuu, pay the highest tribute to these warriors..."

"All personnel, observe five minutes of silence..."

The hall was utterly silent. Everyone mourned the fallen Ghoul Investigators in their hearts while praying for their own tomorrows.

Every CCG Ghoul Investigator had a reason for being there. Though they feared death, they also held convictions of their own.

One minute...

Two minutes...

Five minutes...

The time was up.

"Details of the upcoming promotion ceremony have been sent to your phones. You may all leave."

With that, Yoshitoki Washuu bowed deeply to everyone.

"Yes, Chief Councilor."

Outside the hall, Huiqi looked through a window at the setting sun.

A group of Ghoul Investigators' families had already gathered outside the CCG's gates. They cried out through their tears, unable to accept that their loved ones had died.

"Where did ghouls come from... Can the problem ever be solved at its root?"

"Can I accomplish that with my strength?"

Three questions arose in Huiqi's mind.

Over the years, Huiqi had taken part in several large-scale extermination operations and smaller battles. He had witnessed far too many Ghoul Investigators and humans die, yet he still could not remain indifferent to it all.

After every battle, grief, pain, and despair permeated the CCG.

"Hey, the fighting in Ward 10 must have been brutal, huh? I could smell the suffering from this far away."

Kureo Mado approached with a briefcase in hand.

"It was brutal. We encountered a new enemy."

Huiqi recalled that kagune monster. Its appearance and savagery resembled Sen Takatsuki's monstrous kakuja form. Both shared the same traits: mutation... feeding... evolution...

"Don't think too much about it. After all, you're all alone. You can't understand that deeper pain."

"Come on. I heard you're letting my daughter pick a Quinque. Surely I can come along?"

Kureo Mado flashed a sinister smile, looking ready to make Huiqi pay dearly.

"Seriously, you're still hung up on those things." Huiqi answered helplessly. The items in his collection at the CCG were of no use to him whatsoever. Leaving them there only meant letting them gather dust.

Inside the Ward 1 Headquarters.

Akira Mado nervously surveyed her surroundings. As an academy student, she could only remain in the outer lobby. She was not authorized to enter the laboratories or work areas inside.

Should I go in~ Why hasn't he come to get me yet? Did he only say he'd give me a Quinque without meaning it... Should I wait a little longer? Or should I say I'm here to return a Quinque?

She turned the matter over in her mind, finally thinking of the Quinque dagger Huiqi had given her at the academy.

No, I can't... Then I'd lose a Quinque.

Akira Mado sat dejectedly in a chair, occasionally glancing toward the door leading to the laboratories.

"Why aren't you here yet, Miss Mado?"

At that moment, Jin Toka was also fretting inside the laboratory. Huiqi had called him earlier to explain the matter of the Quinque.

Jin Toka had readily agreed to handle it, then stopped his work and waited at the entrance to the laboratory area for Akira Mado to arrive.

Half an hour passed...

"Why aren't you here yet?!" ×2

Both wore resentful expressions. Jin Toka had even decided that, if he saw Akira Mado, he would give her a thoroughly hard time and hand her the worst Quinque in Huiqi's collection.

Even though the worst Quinque had still been made from an S-rate ghoul's kagune, Jin Toka would choose one with heavy wear.

"Hello? Is this security? I've spotted a suspicious person. She's been in the lobby for a long time and keeps looking toward restricted areas of the CCG."

Just as Akira Mado's expression was growing uglier, the receptionist had already called the police, apparently treating her as a dangerous person.

"Miss, over there, please leave the CCG!"

A man's voice suddenly reached her ears. Akira Mado looked over curiously and saw several security guards approaching from a distance.

"Miss, over there, please leave the CCG!"

"Who is it? Who'd dare cause trouble on CCG grounds?" Akira Mado looked around in confusion, trying to find the woman they were addressing.

"Miss, over there! Please leave the CCG!"

The security guard's voice grew louder.

"Huh?"

A bewildered look appeared on Akira Mado's face.

The guards, carrying batons, finally stopped in front of Akira Mado.

"Me?"

Looking at the guards, Akira Mado instinctively pointed at herself.

"Please leave!"

"You're asking me to leave?"

"Yes."

Akira Mado looked incredulous. She pointed at herself again and asked tentatively, "You're asking me to leave?"

"Yes. If you're in trouble, miss, you can call the police."

The guards were beginning to sound impatient as well. This young woman had been acting dazed and dim-witted the whole time. Perhaps she had escaped from some psychiatric hospital.

"Fine, fine, fine! Huiqi, you've really outdone yourself!"

Akira Mado was so furious she laughed. Her chest heaved, and tears glimmered at the corners of her eyes.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

Huiqi, who had just walked out, heard someone call his name and instinctively looked around.

"You're absolutely awful, Huiqi!"

"????"

Every gaze in the lobby instantly converged on Huiqi. Most of the employees there knew him; among the Special Class Investigators, he was the one who visited the laboratories most often.

"Did I just hear my daughter? What happened?" Kureo Mado scratched his head and looked around.

Kureo Mado rarely visited the laboratories in Ward 1. After all, he could modify Quinques himself, although the results were always defective.