Investigation

"Please come in, Mr. Huiqi."

Inside, Akihiro Kano watched the portraits on the large screen. They covered most of Tokyo's population, with notes on their physical constitutions beneath them.

"Our honored guest is here. Your equipment has been waiting for you for quite a while." Akihiro Kano turned and greeted him with a smile.

"I forgot. Well, I'm here now, and I have a few questions while I'm at it."

Huiqi studied the screen thoughtfully, an unreadable look flickering in his eyes from time to time.

"Someone will bring your equipment over shortly. What would you like to ask?"

"Ghouls can be artificially created, but where did ghouls originally come from?"

"That question... I've thought about it too, and conducted related experiments. Perhaps ghouls evolved from humans?"

"Of course, I'm not entirely certain."

Hearing Akihiro Kano's words, Huiqi blurted out instinctively, "Evolved from humans?"

"More or less. Let me explain in detail. This is something I learned through my experiments."

Akihiro Kano operated the computer and pulled up anatomical data on ghouls. The dense red annotations made its importance obvious.

"Look here, at the locations of their kakuhou. The kakuhou contain highly concentrated rc cells, which produce kagune as predatory organs."

"I know that. What does it have to do with my question?"

"Not necessarily nothing. What comes next may well change your entire understanding of ghouls."

Akihiro Kano wagged an index finger, rejecting Huiqi's answer, then typed rapidly on the computer with both hands.

Image after image appeared on the large screen, all displaying anatomical data. The computer selected two of them for a side-by-side comparison.

"The one on the left is human, and the one on the right is a ghoul. Their bodies contain the same substance. You'll never guess what it is!"

"The same? Their brains? Or their limbs?" Huiqi answered, his mouth twitching. In his eyes, ghouls only resembled humans on the outside. Everything else was on an entirely different level.

First, ghoul children clearly developed faster than human children. Second, there was an enormous difference in physical toughness. Human bodies were fragile; any reasonably sharp object could breach the skin's outer defenses.

Ghoul bodies, on the other hand, were extremely tough. Even sharp objects like knives could not pierce their skin. Most importantly, ghouls possessed predatory organs called kagune, while humans only had mouths for eating. That was the fundamental difference between humans and ghouls.

"There's nothing wrong with thinking that, but what I'm trying to tell you is that human bodies contain rc cells too! In other words, humans and ghouls are fundamentally the same!"

"Huh? Humans have rc cells too? It's not April Fool's Day, is it?" Huiqi asked incredulously, looking himself over as he questioned the system inwardly. System, do humans have rc cells?

[Yes]

*?????*

Huiqi's brain short-circuited. This made no scientific sense at all. If their shared rc cells were anything to go by, ghouls might well have originated from humans. But how could humans have given rise to their own natural predators?

"Uh... so humans tried to make themselves extinct?" After a moment's hesitation, Huiqi ventured the question.

Akihiro Kano was not surprised by Huiqi's expression. Everything was just as he had expected. When he first discovered this, he had been far more shocked and disbelieving than Huiqi.

"No. Although both have rc cell counts, the concentration in ghouls is several times higher than in humans. That's what allows them to produce kagune."

"It's difficult to understand from a verbal explanation, isn't it? Watch an experiment with me, and you'll understand." Akihiro Kano opened a side door beside the laboratory.

"An experiment?" Huiqi followed behind Akihiro Kano.

"Yes. A failed experiment, but one that can conclusively prove certain things."

They walked down a silver-white corridor lined on both sides with cultivation chambers of various sizes. Through the glass, they could see many sleeping people inside.

Noticing Huiqi's gaze, Akihiro Kano explained the cultivation chambers. "They're all failed test subjects. They have no rationality left."

"Failed test subjects... Does Ken Kaneki count as a success?"

"He's still under observation, but so far, he's been very successful."

"Under observation? Very successful? He's already found a job, hasn't he? He can support himself now."

"Not necessarily. No one can guarantee that the rc cells in his body will remain balanced."

"Everyone really does have their own specialty. I feel like I've come here for a lesson today." Huiqi answered with a wry smile. The science of humans and ghouls was truly complicated.

"Hahahaha... Don't put it that way. If you hadn't helped me back then, I wouldn't be doing nearly this well now. If you need anything, just ask. I'll help however I can."

Akihiro Kano looked nostalgic, as though he had returned to his days working at the CCG.

Back then, Akihiro Kano had been nothing more than an ordinary researcher. He had very little clearance and spent every day doing low-level research under immense pressure.

He also had considerable ambitions. He wanted to uncover the unknown and gain medical knowledge through his discoveries... but reality dealt Akihiro Kano blow after blow.

During that difficult period, Akihiro Kano met Huiqi. After getting acquainted, the two developed a good relationship.

As time passed, they went from ordinary new acquaintances to close friends. By now, Huiqi had secretly captured the vast majority of his test subjects for him.

"The biggest favor you can do me is not getting caught. I can't get you out of custody."

Looking at the experimental equipment around him, Huiqi couldn't help baring his teeth. He bore some responsibility for this place too.

"The only ones who could catch me are Aogiri Tree."

"Tsk. Human experimentation violates CCG regulations, you know."

"Heh heh."

Hearing that chuckle, Huiqi was instantly speechless. How was the man becoming more childish as he got older?

"Forget about that. It's time for the experiment."

At the end of the corridor stood an enormous cultivation tank. The surrounding experimental equipment ran continuously, while a screen recorded all the readings.

"Is that... Rize Kamishiro?" Huiqi spotted a figure inside the tank. She wore nothing at all, floating naked in the green nutrient solution.

"Yes. After the Ken Kaneki experiment, I tried a few more times. Unfortunately, they ended in failure."

"Failure is good. If you made a whole bunch of one-eyed ghouls, things would get messy."

"Come on. It's not as though I'd let them out."

As they spoke, the two reached the cultivation tank and examined Rize Kamishiro's condition. She appeared to be deeply asleep inside, showing no response to the sounds outside.

"First, extract the rc cell concentrate."

Under Akihiro Kano's control, a mechanical arm fitted with a needle passed through the protective rubber seal above and pierced Rize Kamishiro at the location of her kakuhou.

As the machinery ran, an unidentified liquid was slowly drawn into the syringe.

Rize Kamishiro, who had seemed asleep, suddenly opened her red kakugan. Her entire body convulsed violently as waves of searing pain flooded her brain.