"Squeak."
The tall door slowly swung open, revealing a spacious training room. The presence of a fully equipped training facility within the CCG headquarters indicated the esteemed status of Arima Kishou, surpassing that of an ordinary Special Class Investigator.
As Lin Yi entered, walking along the long corridor lined with a red carpet, he caught sight of Arima Kishou sitting on a bench with his back turned, his flowing white hair adding to his elegant demeanor.
He seemed like a king on a throne.
This was Lin Yi's first encounter with Arima Kishou.
"Mr. Arima, you appear to be in good spirits. The chaos outside has driven everyone to madness, yet here you are, so relaxed," Lin Yi teased, but to his surprise, Arima Kishou didn't respond.
Lin Yi furrowed his brow. As far as he knew, Arima Kishou wasn't naturally arrogant.
Moreover, Arima Kishou hadn't appeared during the Battle of the Anteiku Raid in the 20th Ward, indicating that he had likely communicated with Eto, or at the very least, aligned himself with her.
That's why Lin Yi had come here with the intention of recruiting Arima Kishou. After all, he was the strongest combatant aside from himself, and it would be a great loss if he couldn't recruit him.
Step by step, Lin Yi approached Arima Kishou, who remained unresponsive. It was only when Lin Yi reached the front that he could clearly see Arima Kishou's face—refined and stern, with his eyes slightly closed.
Something seemed off, so Lin Yi reached out his hand towards Arima Kishou's nose. His fingers trembled slightly; there was no breath left.
He hadn't expected that Arima Kishou, the CCG's strongest combatant, would choose such a suffocating and inconspicuous way to die.
Lin Yi's gaze flickered, and he reached into Arima Kishou's embrace, finding an envelope. It was labeled "To Lin Yi."
Lin Yi opened the envelope and quickly read its contents.
"He truly was an exceptional individual."
After reading it, Lin Yi couldn't help but sigh. He felt regret for not meeting Arima Kishou earlier.
Arima Kishou's identity and position were actually highly contradictory. As someone groomed by the Washuu Clan, he was meant to serve the clan.
As the CCG's strongest combatant, his duty was to exterminate ghouls.
However, having experienced countless killings and atrocities from a young age, he longed for peace. In the original story, he invested his life in Kaneki.
Now, he was investing his life once again, in Lin Yi.
Despite sensing Lin Yi's impure intentions, Lin Yi was still the person most likely to bring peace to both races.
He was also the person most likely to overthrow the Washuu Clan's rule.
That's why Arima Kishou defied the Washuu Clan's orders, did not participate in the Battle of the Anteiku Raid, and ultimately chose to end his life in this training room where he had spent half of his life.
Because Arima Kishou knew that if he didn't die, he would become the biggest obstacle to Lin Yi's goals in the Battle of the Anteiku Raid.
He couldn't stand idly by and watch Yoshitoki Washuu die before his eyes.
"Someone come."
Lin Yi put away the envelope, hiding the part about himself, and then shouted loudly.
The soldiers standing guard outside the door heard his words and entered.
"Mr. Arima has taken his own life. Make arrangements for his funeral."
Lin Yi gave a simple instruction, then walked out of the training room. Chaos erupted behind him. Arima Kishou's name held immense weight within the CCG, like a mountain.
Now, suddenly, someone told them that the mountain had crumbled.
Moreover, there were numerous terrible things awaiting them outside.
Lin Yi headed straight for the Special Class Meeting Room. As expected, all the Special Class Investigators were waiting there.
The CCG seemed to be following the government's orders, with various high-ranking officials forming a so-called CCG Committee to discuss and plan the organization's operations.
But they had made a mistake—the CCG could only be commanded because the CCG itself allowed it.
The true power core of the CCG sat in that room—the Special Class Investigators.
Their reputation within the CCG was such that with a single call, they could garner numerous responses. Compared to the aloof high-ranking officials, who would pay attention to them?
Since the masses had gathered to protest and riot, government officials had issued three consecutive orders, demanding that they arm themselves and suppress the riots.
But Lin Yi and the others sat there, taking no action.
"Lin Yi, you've finally arrived, boy."
Mougan Tanakamaru stroked his small beard, speaking as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
Lin Yi nodded and, under everyone's gaze, took his seat at the head of the table—the position once held by Yoshitoki Washuu, the former Director of the CCG.
His attitude and purpose were clear, but everyone pretended not to notice, silently approving in their way.
Setting aside the relationship between Yukinori Shinohara and Lin Yi, the others considered themselves incomparable to Lin Yi in terms of reputation and strength.
"What about Mr. Arima?" Aura suddenly asked, a sense of unease in her heart.
"This is Mr. Arima's suicide note."
Lin Yi took out the envelope, placed it on the table, and pushed it towards everyone, urging them to read it one by one. Each person wore a grim expression upon reading it.
"What a 'Washuu.' He fooled every single one of us, treating us like monkeys."
Especially because it was a suicide note, Arima Kishou, though young, had helped every person present.
Shinohara Yukinori, a straightforward and righteous person, had slightly red eyes at that moment. He stood up suddenly and took charge of the situation. "Lin Yi, what are your plans now? We will follow your lead."
CCG was currently facing internal and external crises, and it was in complete disarray.
Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances, shifting their gazes. For a while, no one spoke up to refuse because they couldn't make up their minds.
"First, we need to address the riots outside, publicly expose the situation with the Washuu Clan, and then have the CCG take action to thoroughly clean house—whether it's the upper echelons of the CCG or the government's top officials, all of them must be investigated."
Lin Yi had been waiting for these words and promptly made his stance known with resolute determination.
~~~
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