It was almost time for the meeting, so Kenzo went down the elevator and headed to the parking lot where his convoy of cars was waiting to take him to the meeting point. However, as he walked into the vehicle, his phone vibrated again, indicating that there was a new message.
Touka: "[Talk to me when you have time.]"
Kenzo looked at this message and turned off his phone. Today, he certainly didn't have time to be distracted because he would possibly be meeting the One-Eyed King, the supposed Ghoul who is the leader of the Aogiri organization and one of the most powerful beings.
When he entered, there were five people around him with crow masks carrying black briefcases. These were his personal guards, trained Class S Ghouls.
"Sir, your mask and gloves..." Number One was the last to board, handing Kenzo a suitcase along with a tray containing a crow mask, the only one he was known for.
While Kenzo put on the mask, he closed his eyes slightly, feeling the darkness around him and becoming even calmer. Wearing this mask gave him a sense of absolute authority, as if a demon lord had taken possession of his body.
"What is the situation at the meeting point?" Kenzo asked with an unusually cold and emotionless voice, exuding a sense of killing intent that naturally oppressed everyone.
Everyone felt it; their eyes turned to Kenzo, or rather, to the Master Crow, and that fear turned into worship. The absolute authority of their lord, a Ghoul who would change the course of an entire country and, they hoped, the entire world.
Number One, who heard that question, looked at Kenzo and, a little nervously, said, "There are twenty elite Ghouls in the area. This convoy brought fifteen Ghouls, so there would be thirty-five Ghouls in the area, including the immediate response group in the tunnels. No one would be there to assist them."
"Very well. I need everyone to be silent and stay alert. If you see something wrong, don't forget to report it, and if someone tries to attack you, don't forget to kill them," Kenzo said, his gaze lingering for a moment on one of his bodyguards.
"Understood, Master Crow!"
...
Night fell on the auditorium like a cloak of darkness. Stars twinkled above, and the moon, a thin silver scythe, barely illuminated the place. The wind blew gently, carrying unsettling whispers in the dimness.
In the distance, the soft crunch of dry branches under the wheels of approaching cars could be heard. The headlights shone with a discreet glow, and the convoy silently advanced towards the auditorium. No sound escaped the group of vehicles, as if they were enveloped in a shared secret.
In the auditorium, there were several figures with crow masks and special combat suits designed to maximize the capabilities of Ghouls while providing extra protection. Under their trench coats, they carried weapons of formidable caliber. No one seeing them would know they were Ghouls, as Ghouls are usually wild beasts with barely any fighting skills.
"They're here, get ready!" A voice was heard among the black figures when suddenly they saw hundreds of Ghouls dressed in white masks and red trench coats with strange symbols on their backs.
In front of the group was a tall man with short white hair and red eyes. He concealed his mouth with a red iron mask and wore a white cloak.
"I am Tatara, leader of the Aogiri Tree. Where is the leader of the Crows?" Tatara spoke with a deep and cold voice, directly addressing Kenzo, who was heading in their direction.
"I introduce myself, I am Kuren, and I am in charge of taking you to the meeting point." Kuren extended his hand to indicate to Tatara who he was, followed by several more figures, and the rest of the Ghouls dispersed in the surroundings.
"Very well then." Tatara didn't want to make a fuss about it, so he walked into the auditorium.
The Aogiri Tree claims to be commanded by the mysterious One-Eyed King, a figure surrounded by rumors and invisible to many. The man in front of them could be the mysterious leader of this organization.
"Zz... We're here!" At that moment, through the radio, Kuren stopped and said, "The Crow Master is here, sir."
At that moment, a few hundred meters away, the engines of several vehicles were heard nearby.
The drivers of the cars, with somber faces and gestures of complicity, parked their vehicles in a semicircle in front of the auditorium. Inside, the passengers descended with stealthy steps and dark clothing, holding black briefcases. They looked like moving shadows, and finally, the rear door of a vehicle opened.
Kenzo put a foot on the ground and then emerged holding a black briefcase like the others. His gaze, covered by a Crow mask quite different from his subordinates, certainly caught the attention of the Aogiri Tree Ghouls.
"Greetings, Crow Master!" All the Ghouls with Crow masks greeted him, instinctively making the Aogiri Tree Ghouls nervous.
'Only a few S-rank Ghouls? That should be Touka's brother. I guess I should treat him with special respect...'
Kenzo walked towards Tatara and said in a cold tone, "You arrived particularly early. Shall we go inside?"
Tatara nodded, and they walked into the auditorium.
As the group gathered in front of the auditorium, a whisper of cautious conversations filled the air. Furtive glances crossed, and eager hands held objects wrapped in cloths. There was an air of conspiracy in the night, a secret purpose that united all those present.
Finally, the door of the auditorium opened slowly, and the group rushed inside with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The darkness of the room enveloped them, and the promise of what was to come hung in the air like an expectant sigh.
Walking into the auditorium, only Kenzo and Number One entered from another side. Tatara, Eto, and Noro were the only ones who entered to talk about very special things that neither of them knew to what extent the conversation would go.
Walking to an open area, Kenzo looked at Tatara and said with a somewhat extravagant hand movement, "Everyone knows me as the Crow Master, the current leader of the Three-Eyed Crow organization. I dominate where the night comes, and my crows are cute, harmless birds."
"I never thought the Crow Master would have such a strange sense of humor, but that doesn't concern me. I am Tatara, leader of the Aogiri Tree." Tatara extended his hand, which Kenzo received with an evaluative look.
"You must be intrigued by my sudden invitation, but I have discovered extremely disturbing things that I must resolve as soon as possible, and that doesn't include Ghouls. But to succeed, I need total control of my world, and I am sure that the Aogiri Tree is the answer to all my questions." Kenzo said as he walked to the side and looked at what he perceived as his sister, his full sister Eto.