286. Chapter 286: Closed for Business! The Storm Approaches!
Meanwhile, the CCG Headquarters Building located in Tokyo 1st Ward remained brightly lit. Through the glass exterior walls, many nervous Investigators could be seen carrying white briefcases (Quinques) as they entered various operations command rooms.
"Half an hour ago, a group of cadres from the Ghoul Organization Aogiri Tree, in conjunction with the King of Dark Mist, launched a surprise attack on Cochlea in the 23rd Ward. According to reliable information, Special Class Investigator Mr. Haizaki was unfortunately killed. Currently, Cochlea has entirely fallen into Aogiri Tree's hands. The situation there is critical, and they are requesting support from Headquarters."
Inside the Highest Level Meeting Room.
An Investigator stood with his head bowed before Chairman Tsuneyoshi Washuu, reporting the latest information from Cochlea.
Tsuneyoshi Washuu, solemn-faced with white hair and beard, turned his gaze to Yoshitoki Washuu beside him and said in a low voice, "Since Cochlea has already been breached by Ghouls, sending people now would be pointless. We might as well abandon it."
"But... but the Investigators inside..." CCG Director Yoshitoki Washuu hesitated.
"Hmph! Soft-heartedness."
Tsuneyoshi Washuu let out a cold snort, then continued, "I heard Kishou Arima's side has made new developments?"
Facing the Chairman's indifferent expression, Yoshitoki Washuu could only swallow the words he wanted to say. Thinking of the abandoned Investigators, his gaze became somewhat complicated.
"Yes, according to the investigation by Kishou Arima and others, the King of Dark Mist appeared twice at a Cafe called Anteiku in the 20th Ward. It can now be concluded that the Cafe named Anteiku definitely has a significant relationship with the King of Dark Mist."
"I have already sent people to surround the Cafe, and I estimate we will soon get information about the King of Dark Mist from the Ghouls inside."
While they were talking.
Inside the Anteiku Coffee Shop, the Store Manager, Kuzen Yoshimura, sensed a hint of abnormality. He stood at the shop entrance, looking at the desolate Street, his expression gradually turning serious.
He turned and said to Touka and the others, "Anteiku should close for a while."
"Touka, you take Ms. Fueguchi and Her husband and leave through the Back door. As for the others, come with me."
"Store Manager?" Touka was a little confused.
Her combat experience could never compare to Kuzen Yoshimura's.
"What must come will come. Just as that gentleman said, I've been running my whole life. Perhaps it's time for all of this to end."
Kuzen Yoshimura untied the brown apron from his waist, then led Enji Koma and Kaya Irimi out of the Cafe.
...
Inside Cochlea.
Xia Shang walked with heavy steps, slowly approaching Donato Porpora who lay on the ground.
It wasn't that he was deliberately stalling for time.
He just wanted to wait until his new brain had generated before enjoying the high-quality Kakuhou inside the Priest.
"Stop him!" Donato Porpora ordered, buying time for his limb regeneration.
Immediately, several of his clones rushed towards Xia Shang. At the same time, a large amount of cross-shaped Kagune erupted from their backs. The Kagune, like small rivers, instantly condensed into hideous Octopus Tentacles, except the suckers were replaced by sharp crosses.
Boom!!
In an instant, dozens of thick tentacles smashed down towards Xia Shang's head.
Even the air let out a muffled roar.
"You think this can stop me?" Xia Shang, dragging his twin blades, instantly vanished from his spot. When he reappeared, he was already in front of one of the Priest's clones.
With a swing and a slash! A slit opened diagonally across the clone's body, and immediately after, scarlet blood sprayed out from it. Glancing at the two sections of the corpse on the ground with extremely smooth cross-sections, Xia Shang turned and slashed at the other clones.
Heads with hideous faces could be seen flying into the air one by one.
Xia Shang was having a blast killing them.
"Trying to escape?!" At this moment, he suddenly turned his head and looked upwards.
Donato Porpora, having lost eight fingers, used his Kagune to quickly rush towards the gap in the Steel Gate.
However, what he didn't expect was that the King of Dark Mist below didn't pursue him. Instead, he changed his hands back to their original form and then put them into his trench coat pocket.
"Donato Porpora? How did you end up so pathetic?"
A cynical voice came from overhead. Donato Porpora looked up and saw a figure completely wrapped in bandages, swinging a large flesh and blood hammer towards him.
If he were in peak condition, Donato Porpora could have easily dodged this attack.
But he was now severely injured, making even large-scale movement difficult.
Bang! A figure crashed heavily onto the empty ground in front of Xia Shang from high above.
"I haven't found the meaning of life yet, I can't die like this." At this moment, Donato Porpora's waist was folded in an extremely bizarre state. He pressed his hands into the pool of blood, trying hard to stand up.
"You think you're worthy of talking about the meaning of life? Scum like you should have died long ago."
Xia Shang delivered a whip kick to the opponent's head! Bang!! The immense strength instantly shattered Donato Porpora's brain. His eyeballs burst open with a pop, turning into two sprays of blood mist. Crack! His cervical spine snapped. The flying head smashed heavily against a nearby steel column, leaving a bloodstain on it.
Splurt! Two tentacles drilled out from Xia Shang's shoulder blades and violently stabbed into Donato Porpora's corpse. After devouring the opponent's Kakuhou, Xia Shang retracted the tentacles with satisfaction.
With a leap, utilizing the high-temperature airflow erupting from his back.
Xia Shang passed through the gap in the Steel Gate and landed directly on the Prison First Floor.
"What's the situation with Rize Kamishiro?"
"After devouring one hundred and twenty-four Ghouls, her strength has reached the peak of SS-rated Ghoul." Sen Takatsuki led Xia Shang and walked towards Rize Kamishiro's location.
"Only SS-rated?"
Xia Shang was somewhat dissatisfied with this result, but then he remembered Ken Kaneki from the source material, who only successfully advanced to Half-Kakuja after devouring numerous experiment subjects in Kanou's Lab, and he felt relieved.
After all, the quality of the Ghouls imprisoned on the upper levels was too low. It was normal that she didn't evolve into an SSS-rated Ghoul. If it were that easy to advance to an SSS-rated Ghoul.
Ordinary Ghouls in this world probably wouldn't have a chance to survive.
"Forget it, this is fine for now."
Xia Shang stopped walking and frowned, looking at Matasaka Kamishiro who was walking from Rize Kamishiro's direction and blocking his path.
"What is Dragon Transformation? What benefit does Rize's Dragon Transformation bring you?"
Unexpectedly, as soon as they met, Matasaka Kamishiro threw two questions at him.
"Your relationship with Rize Kamishiro seems quite good. But thinking about it, it's not strange that she would tell you about this, seeing as you both share the Kamishiro name."
Xia Shang looked at Rize Kamishiro not far away, paused, and continued, "As for your questions, someone will answer them for me. You can ask him directly when the time comes."
The person Xia Shang was referring to was Souta Washuu-Furuta of the Washuu Clan, also known as Nimura Furuta.
(End of chapter)