Chapter 290: 290: Another Ghoul Organization?

“Director, I suggest we continue observing for a while. We know far too little about this King of the Dark Mist who suddenly appeared. Which ghoul organization does he belong to? What is his true identity? Why did he attack the leader of Aogiri Tree, the One-Eyed Owl? We know none of that. If we rush in now, I’m worried the CCG could suffer catastrophic losses.”

Kiyoko Aura, the female Special Class Investigator beside him, looked toward the electronic screen behind Yoshitoki Washuu and spoke with calm restraint.

“If we’re going to surround and eliminate an SSS-rated ghoul, we need a proper battle plan in advance. Ideally, we should deploy seven Special Class Investigators, including myself. That would give us the best chance of keeping CCG casualties to a minimum.”

After listening to Kiyoko, Yoshitoki nodded and said seriously, “Kiyoko is right. However, we’re not completely ignorant about the King of the Dark Mist.”

He picked up his tablet and opened two profiles.

“Some time ago, I sent First Class Investigators Mado and Amon to Ward 20 to investigate the whereabouts of the Binge Eater, Rize Kamishiro, and Jason. At the same time, they were also tasked with uncovering the true identity of the King of the Dark Mist. Amon will now explain what they encountered during the operation.”

As soon as Yoshitoki finished speaking, Koutarou Amon appeared in the center of the screen, dressed in his investigator uniform.

Judging from the background, he seemed to be standing in a hospital corridor.

“First Class Investigator Koutarou Amon reporting.”

“When we first arrived in Ward 20, we obtained a lead on Jason from one of his subordinates. We discovered that Jason had been in frequent contact with a ghoul doctor, so we immediately headed toward the doctor’s location. On the way, we encountered an extremely powerful ghoul.”

Amon’s expression remained grave.

“Mr. Mado was injured by that ghoul. We later confirmed that the individual was the King of the Dark Mist, the same ghoul who attacked the One-Eyed Owl. There also appears to be a ghoul organization behind him. They reached the ghoul doctor before we did and took both the doctor and his family away.”

Amon gave a concise summary of what had happened.

“Another ghoul organization?”

The exact possibility Yoshitoki had been worried about had now surfaced.

No matter how strong one ghoul was, there was still a limit to the destruction a single individual could cause.

An organization was another matter entirely.

“So he attacked the One-Eyed Owl because he wants to replace Aogiri Tree, or even absorb it?”

Marude Itsuki raised an eyebrow.

“If that’s really the case, then it might actually be good news. Aogiri Tree is full of reckless lunatics, and none of them are weak. If those two organizations start tearing into each other, we’ll get a nice little show of dogs biting dogs.”

A sly smile appeared on Marude’s face.

“Then once they’ve both crippled each other, the CCG steps in and takes control of the battlefield. Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?”

“Even if your theory is correct, Aogiri Tree without the One-Eyed Owl is little more than a disorganized mob,” Iwao Kuroiwa, commander of Ward 13, said with concern. “I’m worried the fight would become completely one-sided. If the other side absorbs Aogiri Tree, the situation will only get worse.”

“Our only option right now is to wait until the King of the Dark Mist’s organization reveals itself.”

“Instead of wasting time trying to dig out a ghoul organization when we have no idea how deeply it’s hidden, it’s better to let them come into the open on their own,” Marude said in a low voice.

“And how long are we supposed to wait?” Kuroiwa shot back. “The CCG might be able to wait, but what about the residents of Ward 20? What about civilians in the other wards? Are we supposed to leave them living in constant fear, terrified every day that they’ll be the next ones attacked?”

His thick brows pulled together.

“Don’t forget Article 13, Section 1 of the Ghoul Countermeasures Act: ‘Ghoul Investigators must place the safety of residents above all else.'”

Compared to sitting around and waiting, Kuroiwa clearly favored taking the initiative.

“You…”

Marude was about to respond, but CCG Director Yoshitoki Washuu cut him off.

“All right. I’ve made my decision. Kishou Arima will be sent to Ward 20. Associate Special Class Investigators Daisuke Atou and Matsuri Washuu will accompany him, along with ten Rank 1 Investigators. Their task is to assist Arima in gathering every piece of information they can on the King of the Dark Mist. The moment you locate him, report back to CCG headquarters immediately. Do not engage on your own.”

“Yes, Director.”

Arima and Matsuri Washuu lowered their heads in acknowledgment.

…

Meanwhile, after devouring the ghouls inside the Ward 20 detention facility, Hinami successfully advanced into a half-kakuja.

Her strength increased enormously.

But according to Hinami herself, she felt as though she had already touched the limit of what her body could achieve.

And only a true kakuja had any real chance of reaching SSS-rank.

“Is it a problem with her bloodline and natural potential?”

Ivan put down his phone and muttered softly.

If he remembered correctly, members of the Washuu family possessed unusually special blood, which gave them the natural potential to become kakuja from birth.

“Looks like I’ll need Dr. Kanou again.”

Ivan already had a solution.

If Hinami could not become a kakuja through her own body, then the answer was simple.

Give her transplanted organs.

Kaneki had already proven that the method could work.

Not long afterward, Ivan brought Rize and Hinami back to Akihiro Kanou, who was still working at the hospital.

“You know the CCG has put out a wanted notice for you, right?”

Kanou watched Ivan approach and smiled calmly.

“Wanted? They move fast.”

Ivan clearly did not give a damn about the CCG’s warrant.

“Come on. Same place as before.”

Kanou left the hospital first.

“I originally thought you were just an S-rated ghoul. Turns out you’re actually SSS-rated now, the King of the Dark Mist.”

Kanou spoke while driving, one hand steady on the wheel.

“Not a bad codename. Better than Binge Eater, at least.”

Ivan smiled.

Rize rolled her eyes beside him.

“So what do you need from me this time?” Kanou asked.

“Transplant Rize’s organs into her.”

Ivan leaned back in the rear seat and rested his left hand lightly on Hinami’s shoulder.

“Don’t be afraid. Dr. Kanou is very good at this. You’ll be fine.”

Kanou gave a cold laugh.

“That’s not guaranteed. Rize’s organs are highly rejection-prone. Not everyone survives the transplant.”

“If it fails once, do it twice. If twice fails, do it three times. Repeat it enough times and that so-called rejection problem becomes a joke.”

Ivan turned toward Hinami.

“If you want strength, you need to pay a price. If you regret this now, I can still let you walk away.”

Hinami remembered the despair on her parents’ faces.

Then she shook her head firmly.

“I swore I would protect them.”

“What a good girl. As long as I’m here, you won’t die.”

Physical pain was nothing compared to what Hinami had suffered in the original story.

Losing her father, then being forced to watch her mother’s corpse…

That was the kind of pain that truly tore a person apart.