"..."
Juuzou Suzuya opened his mouth slightly after hearing what Kurona Yasuhisa said but then closed it again, saying nothing in the end.
Perhaps Kanzaki Ryoma simply didn't know about the cat-killing accusations yet. Even though Juuzou hadn't done anything, he couldn't be bothered to explain himself.
Now that Kanzaki knew, there was nothing left to say.
"I see… Well, in any case, you're Juuzou, right? Let's talk again when we get the chance," Kanzaki said casually.
Unlike Kurona, he made no effort to criticize Juuzou.
Juuzou's red eyes flickered with a trace of surprise.
Kurona, on the other hand, frowned slightly. She hadn't expected Kanzaki to be so indifferent about it.
Even though Juuzou didn't respond, he gave Kanzaki a slight nod.
---
With the shift in their coursework, Quinque combat training became the primary focus.
Kanzaki, the Yasuhisa twins, and the two other boys all used Hinoko 1/76, the Quinque they would be equipped with for their internship.
Juuzou Suzuya, however, wielded Scorpion 1/56, a sleek black dagger made from a Bikaku-type kagune.
This wasn't favoritism—Juuzou was enrolled in the Ghoul Countermeasures Training Academy, which had different Quinque allocations compared to the Ghoul Investigator Training School.
Both Hinoko 1/76 and Scorpion 1/56 were B-rank Quinques with similar power levels.
Kanzaki recalled that in the original timeline, Juuzou had initially only been given one Scorpion. Later, he stole the remaining fifty-five from the CCG's warehouse.
Even now, Juuzou's talent was obvious—his technique with daggers was already highly refined.
Though he still wasn't quite on Kanzaki's level.
---
After three days of specialized combat training, Kanzaki and his group were sent to Ward 24 for their internship mission.
They weren't important enough to be escorted there—Arima Kishou and his team were waiting for them inside.
Arriving at the outskirts of Ward 23, Kanzaki and his team stood before a massive underground cave entrance—one of the few known access points to Ward 24.
At the entrance, six individuals clad in white combat uniforms awaited them.
They were Arima Kishou's Zero Squad.
Kanzaki recognized all of them:
Kishou Arima – The White Reaper, CCG's strongest investigator and the squad leader.
Take Hirako – (Absent, as he hadn't joined yet.)
Ui Koori – A rising investigator and the only fully human member of the squad.
Ihei Hairu – The only female in the group, with pink hair and sharp combat instincts.
Fura Sōta – Quiet and analytical, with striking purple hair.
Arima Yusa – Sharing Arima's surname but unrelated by blood, a reserved and intelligent young half-human.
Ihei Shio – Delicate features, light silver hair, and an almost doll-like appearance—despite being a boy.
Ibuki Shiki – The youngest of them, but already possessing near-peak half-human physique.
Though Fura Sōta, Arima Yusa, and Ihei Shio were only 11, 12, and 13 years old, their half-human biology meant they were already approaching their physical peak.
Unlike normal humans, half-humans age differently—their strength declines rapidly after age 20, giving them a short-lived advantage.
"You must be the trainee investigators for this mission," Ui Koori spoke up first.
He glanced at them, mentally counting.
"One, two… six. Alright, you're all here."
Ui had an androgynous appearance—long black hair, a slender yet toned frame, and a height of about 170 cm. Though undeniably male, he had a sharp, elegant look that could easily be mistaken for a woman.
Still, he was nothing compared to Ihei Shio.
If Ui's features were slightly feminine, then Shio outright looked like a young girl.
With delicate facial features, a petite frame, and silver-blue hair, he was the very definition of "unfairly pretty." And yet, he too was a boy.
Fura Sōta, standing nearby, had similar sharp features and longish purple hair, but was slightly taller at 160 cm.
Meanwhile, Arima Yusa, who bore Arima Kishou's surname, stood as quietly as ever.
Though his presence was somewhat overshadowed by the others, he was easily the most composed among them.
Lastly, Ihei Hairu, the only girl, stood with effortless confidence. With striking pink hair and piercing pink eyes, she possessed a delicate yet deadly beauty that made her instantly recognizable.
And then, of course, there was Arima Kishou himself.
Tall, lean, with completely white hair and glasses, his face was a mask of cold indifference. Even standing still, he emanated an overwhelming pressure.
"Yes," Kanzaki stepped forward. "I'm Kanzaki Ryoma, one of the trainees for this mission."
Following his lead, the others introduced themselves.
"I'm Kurona Yasuhisa."
"I'm Nashiro Yasuhisa."
"…Juuzou Suzuya."
Once Ui confirmed that their names matched the mission roster, he gave a short nod.
"Alright. Follow us inside."
And with that, Kanzaki and his team descended into Ward 24—following the Zero Squad into the depths of the underground labyrinth.
---
Inside Ward 24
Ward 24 wasn't a "ward" in the traditional sense.
It was an endless underground maze, twisting and turning deeper into the earth.
As they walked, Ui took the role of guide.
"Take a good look at these walls," he instructed. "What do you think they're made of?"
The walls weren't normal—they were irregular, fleshy, and unnervingly organic, painted in a mix of dark reds, purples, and blacks.
People who feared body horror would have a hard time simply looking at them.
"It's kagune, isn't it?" Kanzaki answered immediately.
Of course, as someone who already knew the secrets of Ward 24, the question wasn't difficult.
Ui looked at him with mild approval.
"That's correct," he confirmed. "These walls are made from solidified kagune, created by the ghouls who inhabit this labyrinth. The process is similar to how Quinques are made, but since this technology is developed by ghouls, we have no way to replicate or counter it."
"That's what makes mapping Ward 24 so difficult."
Ui then turned to Kanzaki with a hint of curiosity.
"Interesting. Kanzaki, your deduction was quick. I don't recall the Academy teaching much about Ward 24. You seem quite knowledgeable."
Standing nearby, Kurona scowled slightly.
'How does this guy know so much…?'
====
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