Su Xiao stepped out of the vehicle at the 20th Ward branch, wearing the distinctive white trench coat that was the standard combat uniform of Zero Squad. It was mandatory for Zero Squad members to wear this uniform during combat missions.
"Thanks," Su Xiao said to the driver before getting out of the car and entering the 20th Ward branch.
"Senior Investigator White Night, Special Investigator Marude is holding a strategy meeting on the 12th floor. Please follow me," a Third-Class Investigator who had been waiting at the entrance instructed.
Upon reaching the meeting room, Su Xiao heard Marude Itsuki's familiar voice, booming through the walls.
"You've got to be kidding me! The equipment hasn't arrived yet? What's going on with the higher-ups?"
"I apologize, I'll follow up immediately."
"Special Investigator Marude, this is the latest intelligence report. Aogiri Tree has already started gathering forces in the 11th Ward, and they seem to be preparing to launch an attack."
The meeting room was a chaotic hub of activity, now serving as the temporary command center for the Special Task Force.
Su Xiao entered the room, his Zero Squad uniform making him stand out.
"Is that Zero Squad?"
"Are they part of this mission too? Now I don't feel as nervous."
Whispers filled the room as Su Xiao made his way to Marude.
Marude looked rough—his hair was messy, and his eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep.
"You're here. This is the latest update on the situation in the 11th Ward. We'll be mobilizing in two hours."
Su Xiao raised an eyebrow, surprised at how quickly things were moving.
"Is it that urgent?"
"We don't have a choice. Aogiri Tree has shown signs of preparing for an offensive, and the 9th, 10th, and 12th Wards could come under attack at any moment. We can't just sit back and do nothing."
Marude slammed a fist onto the table in frustration, cursing under his breath.
The Special Task Force was far from fully prepared for an operation of this scale, and mobilizing so hastily could lead to complications. This was precisely why Su Xiao had been temporarily transferred to the Special Task Force. Of course, it was also due to the influence of Marude and Special Investigator Shinohara Yukinori.
Both of them were Special-Class Investigators, and their combined suggestion to bring in Su Xiao couldn't be ignored by the CCG's higher-ups.
The Special Task Force had three Special-Class Investigators: Shinohara Yukinori, Marude Itsuki, and Iwao Kuroiwa. Marude was responsible for field command, while Shinohara and Iwao led the frontline squads. Both were seasoned combatants.
"I see, but I've got a strange feeling about this," Su Xiao said quietly as he set down the file he had been reviewing.
Marude's expression changed slightly after hearing Su Xiao's thoughts.
"Well... that's not impossible. We can't rule out that kind of scenario. I'll make sure to keep it in mind. There are experts at the CCG headquarters I can call in for this. Thanks for pointing it out."
Marude's usual laid-back demeanor was gone as he left the room with a serious look. Su Xiao found an empty seat and relaxed, preparing himself mentally for the upcoming battle.
"White Night, you're here," a familiar voice said.
Su Xiao turned to see Shinohara Yukinori approaching.
"Special Investigator Shinohara. How long until we move out? Once this mission is over, I need to return to the 24th Ward to continue exploring its underground areas," Su Xiao said calmly, showing no signs of stress.
Compared to him, the other investigators in the room were visibly tense.
"We'll be heading out in an hour and a half. The squads are already assembling. How's the situation in the 24th Ward?"
Shinohara sat down beside him, dressed in his black combat uniform.
"The outer areas of the 24th Ward are relatively safe, but there's a significant number of ghouls inside. I suspect there's a massive ghoul enclave at the ward's core."
The two of them continued chatting to pass the time.
Before long, Marude returned, looking more urgent than before.
"Shinohara, how's the civilian evacuation coming along?"
Shinohara stood up.
"Though we were rushed, it's complete. We're ready to move out."
Marude took a deep breath, picked up a nearby microphone, and addressed the room full of investigators.
"It's time, people! Let's go!"
"Yes, sir!" the investigators responded, standing up and quickly moving out.
At the main entrance of the CCG branch, a long line of vehicles awaited. The CCG was mobilizing over a thousand investigators for this operation, making the convoy massive.
Su Xiao approached one of the transport trucks, about to get in, when he heard Marude calling him from a distance.
"White Night, join me in the command vehicle. There's something I need to discuss with you."
Su Xiao headed to the front of the convoy, where the atmosphere was even more chaotic. Leaders from various Tokyo departments and a crowd of reporters were gathered there, making things noisy and disorganized. Marude quickly dealt with the media, answering a few questions before getting into the command vehicle.
"Mr. Marude, can you share any insights on whether this operation will be successful?"
"Yeah, give the citizens some assurance!"
The reporters thrust their cameras and microphones forward, eager for answers, but CCG staff blocked their way.
Among the group of reporters was a small, delicate-looking female journalist. Due to her lack of physical strength, she was pushed out of the crowd. Her face showed panic—this was a major story, and she hadn't even managed to get a photo of Marude, let alone ask a question. She was on the verge of tears, fearing she might lose her job.
At that moment, she noticed a figure wearing a different uniform from the others. While most of the investigators wore black combat suits, this man was clad in a white trench coat.
The journalist's instincts told her that this man was no ordinary investigator and that he was worth interviewing.
"Excuse me, sir..."
She hurried towards Su Xiao, but in her haste, she tripped over her own feet, falling forward and holding out her microphone like a sword aimed straight at him.
Su Xiao's eye twitched as he instinctively stepped back. This journalist was far too "enthusiastic"—was she trying to stab him with her microphone to conduct the interview?
Tokyo TV sure had a unique approach to journalism.
By the time the female reporter had picked herself up, Su Xiao had already entered the command vehicle, leaving her behind with tears in her eyes.
——
In the 20th Ward, at Anteiku Coffee Shop:
"Trying to infiltrate the 11th Ward to rescue Kaneki won't be easy. We'll need to consider both the CCG's movements and Aogiri Tree's forces. According to the news, the CCG has deployed over a thousand investigators, which means they're gearing up for a full-scale confrontation with Aogiri Tree. If we go, there's a high chance we'll be wiped out," the manager said, looking at Touka, Hinami, and Nishiki.
He wasn't keen on letting these three attempt a rescue mission. The manager, along with Yomo Renji and a few others, already had a plan to save Kaneki. He didn't want these three, whom Anteiku was protecting, to risk their lives.
"Hey, old man! What are you talking about? Are you saying we should just leave him to die?" Nishiki, though not very powerful, wasn't one to forget a debt. Kaneki had helped him rescue his human girlfriend, and now that Kaneki was in trouble, Nishiki couldn't just stand by.
"I'm going to save him," Touka declared.
"M-me too," Hinami added timidly.
The manager sighed internally.
"I understand how you all feel. In fact, we already have a plan in place to rescue Kaneki. I was just worried about the danger you three would face. If you're set on this, you need to be prepared to risk your lives."
Hearing the manager's words, the three of them brightened.
Just then, the door swung open, and in walked a handsome man with purple hair—Tsukiyama Shuu.
"You!"
Nishiki immediately tensed, assuming a combat stance. Tsukiyama had previously targeted his girlfriend.
Touka also became alert.
Tsukiyama raised his hands dramatically, putting on a pained expression.
"It breaks my heart, truly. My one and only friend, Kaneki, has been captured. How could I possibly do nothing?
"Besides... I have some information to share with all of you. One of the investigators the CCG has dispatched for this operation—his name has just been added to the roster. We ghouls know him as... the Black Reaper!"
At the mention of the Black Reaper, the ghouls in the room, including the manager, all turned pale.
(End of Chapter)
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Translator's Note :- I am Not that familiar with a lot of the fictional worlds mentioned in the story. So if I make a mistake naming something please correct me by writing a paragraph comment on the mistake. Thank you.