Ken Kaneki gradually regained his senses, and as his fear subsided, he recognized Lin Yi.
"In-Investigator Lin."
Lin Yi smiled slightly, gripping the handle of his Quinque sword. The blade of the longsword gleamed with lava-like patterns, pulsating rhythmically as if it were alive.
Within moments, the massive body of the Dissectionist shriveled up like a deflated balloon.
"An Investigator!"
"Why is an Investigator here? Has this place been surrounded?"
"Quick, run! It's no longer safe here."
...
After Lin Yi's sudden appearance, a brief silence fell over the quiet meeting hall, followed by an eruption of chaos like ripples on a pond.
The entire meeting hall descended into chaos!
Some showed hostility, while others scattered in all directions.
Shuu Tsukiyama, enraged, grabbed a nearby attendant and interrogated him.
"What's the situation outside? How did the CCG find this place?"
"Master, we truly don't know. None of the alarms we set up outside were triggered, and the family hasn't received any messages. He infiltrated alone."
"Then kill him for me!"
Tsukiyama shattered the stone railing in front of him with a single palm, bellowing toward the lower level.
Tsukiyama had a pathological obsession with fine dining. Lin Yi's sudden intrusion and disruption of his banquet had pushed him to the peak of rage.
Actually, he didn't need to give orders. The moment Lin Yi appeared, the nearby bronze gates swung open, and dozens of ghouls with shining red eyes burst out, displaying a variety of kagune and exuding an oppressive aura.
The majority of the guests in the Ghoul Restaurant were aristocrats. Apart from a few who were too afraid to die, the other ghouls became even more excited.
"Kill him! Kill him!"
"I haven't tasted an Investigator yet. They must be delicious."
"Quick, let's go and rip out his intestines."
...
The spectators on the upper level goaded the dozen or so ghouls below.
Kaneki, filled with fear, sought refuge behind Lin Yi, his expression tense. He hesitated whether or not to help but also feared exposing his identity as a ghoul.
"Investigator Lin, if it's dangerous, don't worry about me. Just go ahead and leave."
Lin Yi glanced at Kaneki. After all, Kaneki hadn't succumbed to darkness yet to be able to say such words.
He didn't respond; the Dissectionist's corpse had already shriveled up.
"Ladies and gentlemen, due to some unexpected circumstances, tonight's theme seems to have changed a bit. Tonight's main course will be an Investigator!"
At Shuu Tsukiyama's signal, the host picked up the microphone and passionately announced.
"Until now, we ghouls have always been evading the pursuit of Investigators. I believe that almost everyone here has never tasted the premium flesh of an Investigator."
As the host's voice resounded, the dozen or so ghouls surrounding Lin Yi simultaneously moved, pouncing towards him.
These ghouls were incredibly fast, and in the blink of an eye, some were already in front of him.
Lin Yi swiftly unsheathed his Quinque sword embedded in the Dissectionist's body. The blade danced in his hand as he advanced instead of retreating.
Every movement they made fell into Lin Yi's eyes, as if they were slow-motion scenes in a movie.
"Bang!"
The first ghoul to approach Lin Yi, wearing green armor, extended his kagune from his shoulder, holding it level with his right hand, preparing to strike.
But he suddenly realized that Lin Yi's sword was already in front of him.
In the next second, the ghoul's body separated from its head.
Lin Yi strolled among the crowd, his hand rising and falling with the sword, making seemingly small movements, yet every moment he was killing "people."
Ken Kaneki was stunned, rendered speechless for a while.
"Swoosh!"
Lin Yi effortlessly dodged another attack and, in turn, split the ghoul who had leaped into the air into two.
The cheers ceased, or rather, were replaced by terror.
These ghouls in suits were mostly Tsukiyama's family servants. Although they didn't even have aliases, without exception, they were all B-rate or higher ghouls.
If placed in a small area like the 20th Ward, each of them could dominate an entire ghoul turf.
In the original work, Nishiki Nishio had his own ghoul turf, but it was later taken over by Rize.
Seeing Lin Yi's unstoppable demeanor, some impatient and self-proclaimed capable ghouls leaped down from the corridor.
"It's the Scythe-Man. This Investigator is doomed this time."
Just after Lin Yi dealt with the dozen or so servants of the Tsukiyama family, three ghouls descended from above and stood in front of him.
"The Scythe-Man?"
Lin Yi's gaze fell upon these three unexpected guests, his eyes filled with amusement. Memories quickly flashed through his mind, and he remembered the wanted posters that had been issued by the headquarters.
Scythe-Man, an A-rated ghoul with a twisted personality.
"Swoosh!"
The Scythe-Man made the first move. His speed was incredibly fast, clearly different from the weaklings he had dealt with earlier. As he moved swiftly, his kagune unfolded behind him, a dazzling shade of green. There were two kagune, one on each side, resembling a pair of scythes.
As the name suggests.
Within a few meters' distance, with the ghoul's explosive power, they reached Lin Yi in a matter of seconds.
"Bizarre kagune."
Lin Yi squinted his eyes. The whole scene appeared motionless, as if he had been petrified, as the Scythe-Man's kagune drew closer.
However, Lin Yi suddenly tilted his head, and the kagune grazed past his ear. He reached out and grabbed the Scythe-Man's head, pulling him towards him.
The Scythe-Man didn't expect a human to possess such terrifying strength. Before he could react, he obediently moved towards Lin Yi.
"Bang!"
Simultaneously, Lin Yi bent his knees and delivered a powerful knee strike.
"Ahh!"
The Scythe-Man spewed black blood from his mouth.
Before he could make any further moves, Lin Yi swiftly lifted his sword, ending the ghoul's life.
The entire meeting hall instantly fell into a deathly silence.