"Is this the meeting place we agreed on?"
The next morning, Louis arrived on time with Jiro and Fukai at the agreed meeting place-an abandoned chemical plant.
They crossed a low wall, and rows of dilapidated factory buildings came into view.
Steel pipes of varying thickness ran overhead. The plant was deserted, with only a few steel frames of unknown purpose scattered loosely around the interior.
Everything was rusted and falling apart.
"According to Mr. Tsukiyama, this place was abandoned a long time ago. Because of its location, hardly anyone ever comes near it."
"It isn't fit for humans or ghouls to live in, but it certainly makes an excellent meeting place. Still... we haven't found anything..." Jiro's expression darkened again as he spoke. Just as they had expected, there was no one here, nor any useful clues.
"It's too early to say that..." Louis gauged the size of the abandoned plant. It wasn't very large.
"I'll see if I can find anything..."
"How are you going to..." Jiro was still puzzled, but his pupils contracted as the temperature plummeted and a blast of cold hit him in the face.
Their clothes snapped in the fierce wind, and the unnatural chill made both men shudder.
The cold swept past their bodies and surged outward in every direction. In just ten seconds or so, it covered most of the plant.
Louis could clearly sense the objects within a hundred meters of him. He couldn't distinguish colors or smells, but he could perceive other things, such as temperature and shape. It was like having a third eye. As his ability improved, more of its potential was steadily coming to light.
Previously, his control over the cold had been limited to roughly thirty meters around him. It had also consumed so much stamina