Chereads / Tokyo Ghoul: Rise of the Blood Raven / Chapter 20 - Changes of Plans

Chapter 20 - Changes of Plans

What happens with the world in many aspects is that a person never finds their place until some time after they've lived. Everyone knocks on doors from one place to another until they find the sweet spot in life.

Many take advantage of those who have not yet found their way, and this often leads to somewhat disastrous accidents. In the early days, Kenzo approached the right people and quickly formed a group that started with simple assassination jobs. As Ghouls, their primary function is to kill and eat, but if they turn that into a money-making job, things become much more productive.

In this regard, starting from the beginning, everything was much simpler. But after all the dirty work, the money needed to be laundered, and there was no better way than nightclubs, restaurants, museums, and a unique system tailored to Ghouls.

Kenzo was a pro at creating a beautiful, peaceful, and sustainable world for many who didn't know how to survive. Because all his businesses were nightlife-based, he soon became known as Crow. His nickname grew so large that it quickly changed to Crow Master, and for others, the Three-Eyed Crow Organization was officially formed.

Many wanted to live, but they didn't find the right way to do it, and their aggressive education turned them into real obstacles once they started training.

...

Black Moon Hospital is a perfect front for one of Kenzo's organization's most sophisticated and secretive bases known as the Three-Eyed Crow. On the surface, it appears to be a high-end private hospital with an impeccable reputation for treating rare diseases and complex medical conditions. However, beneath the surface lies a web of illegal activities and clandestine operations that no one would expect from Ghouls.

The underground tunnels snaking beneath the hospital are an intricate maze of secret passages and chambers. Ghouls who needed to control their Kagune perfectly would create new passages by excavating the earth.

These tunnels serve as a super research facility where dark and twisted experiments are conducted, aiming to perfect their abilities and develop new ways to blend in with humans. Here, ethical medical practices become unimaginable horrors for many humans as Ghouls study human biology and physiology in grotesque ways.

If humans create a door that detects the cells that compose a Ghoul, here, they research how to conceal the cells to remain undetected. Furthermore, a major research area is to find ways to live off other energy sources, far from human flesh.

The Three-Eyed Crow's base at Luna Negra Hospital also functions as a human food distribution center, providing Ghouls with the vital sustenance they need to survive without arousing suspicion. Human meat supplies are transported through the underground tunnels, where they are prepared and distributed meticulously.

But the network of illegal activities doesn't stop there. The "first-order crows," as they are known within the organization, venture deeper than any human could imagine. These extremely dangerous and committed Ghouls are engaged in arms trafficking, drug trade, and many other illicit activities. They use the underground tunnels as a route for smuggling and clandestine distribution of these goods to other locations.

The money that can be made is unimaginable by trafficking heroin to countries like South Korea, where drug control is high. Additionally, arms sales are only acceptable as long as it involves a country other than Japan.

The last thing Kenzo wants is to have trouble with the same weapons he has sold, so he'd prefer not to sell them at all than to face bothersome complications later.

Kenzo knows that it's not necessary to be on an island to have their bases. The closer they are to heavily populated cities, the more chances they have of escaping if they are ever attacked or discovered by the CCG.

In this case, their medical facade and their position in the medical world serve as the perfect mask to cover the secret activities taking place inside, where the line between life and death, research and cruelty, is entirely blurred.

"Send the frozen food to the restaurants for proper distribution, be careful with that product; it'll be costly if we mishandle it." Viper was distributing tons of food to various restaurants for their respective deliveries to special areas and homes where families were waiting to be fed.

At that moment, a figure appeared wearing a black crow mask and said, "Sir, the fifth pillar, Taizo, has arrived with the targets."

Viper nodded and simply waved his hand for the figure to step aside, then took out a phone and dialed a very special number. "Crow Master, he's here."

"Yes, we'll take it into account."

A few kilometers away, Kenzo looked at his assistant and said, "Luna Negra Hospital, despite being a private institution, has implemented a very particular strategy to attract and gain the community's trust. Do you know what we do here?"

The young man named Number One nodded and said in a robotic tone, "It offers completely free medical consultations to anyone in need, regardless of their economic status. Only for international patients are fees applied, but for the local population, everything is absolutely free."

"You're right, a wonderful explanation, but I can sense that you don't know why we do this..." Kenzo lit a cigarette and said, "This seemingly altruistic approach has proven to be an extremely effective tool for brainwashing people and concealing our clandestine activities."

Money is important, but people's opinions about companies, organizations, and their owners matter even more. Envy is reflected in how you act, but if, instead of that, you give more than you receive, then you'll have control over the board.

The free consultations create a strong emotional bond with the local community, which sees Luna Negra Hospital as a benevolent institution concerned about the population's well-being. Patients feel grateful for receiving quality medical care at no cost, generating unwavering loyalty toward the hospital and its supposed humanitarian values.

In addition, this strategy serves to conceal the illegal activities and movements of the organization that take place in the hospital's underground tunnels. By providing free medical care, Luna Negra Hospital manages to divert the attention of the authorities and the public opinion.

"Free medical consultations act as a smokescreen that hides the inhumane practices and dark experiments carried out in the depths of the institution." Kenzo smoked just to pass the time, as there weren't many things that held his attention besides gambling.

"The local population, mostly unaware of what truly happens in the hospital, fervently defends its existence and unwittingly contributes to its cover-up. The message sent is clear: Luna Negra Hospital is there to help, and the horror stories circulating in the underground hallways remain hidden behind the facade of free medical care."

"This mind-washing strategy has allowed us to operate effectively in the shadows, leveraging the loyalty and gratitude of the local community to keep their dark secrets beyond the reach of public awareness and authorities." Kenzo looked at the young man in front of him and asked, "I was told you're the new S-class Crow with the potential to reach SS..."

The young man sweated a bit and nodded, "Yes, Crow Master, my mentor Viper has high expectations for my future in the organization."

"What do you think about my goal?" Kenzo directed an intrigued look toward this young Number One. After flicking the cigarette butt, he murmured, "Crows are neutral, we have a different worldview, and we seldom bite. I'm intrigued by what you think."

Number One thought for a moment and said, "I have a friend who lived in District 11; she's human, and her family was killed by Ghouls... When I found out, it was too late, but luckily, she survived. When I heard she was moving to District 20 because it's a safe area, I began to question if we Ghouls are doing the right thing."

Kenzo, known as the Crow Master and the Black Demon within his organization, had a fantastic vision of the world. Everything was functioning, but everyone knew that there was something more, waiting for them to become powerful enough to start expanding.

Of course, now, with what happened to Kaneki, things could signify drastic changes that needed to be taken into account. In less than half an hour, they arrived at the hospital, and without getting out of the black car Kenzo was traveling in, he headed to the underground parking lot.

"You'll be my shadow from now on; just act as a guard and learn slowly." Kenzo put on a black crow mask and, wearing his all-black suit, donned leather gloves.

"Now, we're going to learn new things that you were unaware of until a few days ago."