Noro had been stationed in the command center from the outset, his gaze fixed on the tipiece in his hand. He remained detached from the ongoing battle, awaiting the precise mont to act. The predetermined ti signified the successful execution of Yoshimura's operation in the 23rd Ward, prompting Noro to initiate the evacuation of the 11th Ward alongside the surviving cadres.
Lacking personal consciousness, Noro operated solely under Yoshimura's directives. Yoshimura had anticipated the approximate duration required to seize control of the 23rd Ward's Cochlea facility. As the alarm on Noro's tipiece sounded, he comnced his mission, arriving at Kanzaki Ryoma's location.
Observing Ryoma's lack of resistance, Noro refrained from engaging in combat. Instead, he retrieved the incapacitated Ayato Kirishima from the ground and departed. Following the scent trail of the Bottle Brothers, Noro discovered their lifeless bodies scattered in different locations. Confirming their demise, he proceeded to exit the base without delay, escorting Ayato and the remaining ghouls to rendezvous with Yoshimura and the others.
...
"Commander Marude! We've successfully secured Buildings 1 through 8. The command center is deserted. The entire Aogiri Tree base is under our control!"
The frontline investigators relayed the triumphant news, eliciting a surge of elation from Kousuke Marude.
Turning to an adjacent investigator, he instructed, "Prepare to broadcast our victory to the oblivious masses who remain unaware of the looming threat!"
"Understood!" the subordinate replied. "Additionally, Commander Marude, there's an incoming call from headquarters."
"Headquarters? Who's calling?"
"It's Arima. Please hold."
"Arima? So he's heard of our success!" Marude exclaid, eager to boast. He picked up the phone, his voice brimming with pride. "This is Marude, commanding the Aogiri Tree Subjugation Operation in the 11th Ward!"
"Mr. Marude," ca the emotionless voice of Kishō Arima from the other end.
"Arima, while you've been leisurely playing whack-a-mole, we've already wrapped up things here in the 11th Ward! It was a breeze, hahaha—"
Marude's laughter was t with Arima's flat response, "That's great..."
The ambiguity of Arima's words was unsettling, especially considering his true identity as the One-Eyed King, the clandestine leader of Aogiri Tree.
"I need you to urgently recall all operatives. Cochlea in the 23rd Ward has been attacked. It appears Aogiri Tree's main force is involved... I'll be heading there shortly. That's all."
Arima's words left Marude stunned.
"What... what?!"
He was baffled. Hadn't they just exterminated Aogiri Tree? Where did this main force co from?
Realization dawned on him— Aogiri Tree had never concentrated their main force in the 11th Ward. Their true target had always been the 23rd Ward.
Marude had been outmaneuvered.
...
23rd Ward, Cochlea Prison.
At this juncture, Aogiri Tree's main force had breached Cochlea up to the SS-rated containnt level, where the most dangerous ghouls were held. Though they hadn't penetrated the deepest levels, their mission objectives had been t.
"Humans are so naive, unable to discern such an elentary ruse," Tatara remarked calmly. "It's ti to withdraw. The doves will be arriving soon."
Upon grasping Aogiri Tree's actual strategy, Marude had ordered the redeploynt of investigators from the 11th Ward to the 23rd. However, it was too late. Aogiri Tree's main force had already retreated, having liberated nurous ghouls, many of whom joined their ranks, including several S and SS-rated individuals, thereby bolstering their strength.
Now, the once formidable Aogiri Tree base in the 11th Ward stood deserted, its silence eerie and foreboding.
Nico, absent in recent days, stood atop a distant hillside, surveying the devastated complex of eight buildings. "It's over. My sanctuary is gone..."
"Rize certainly indulged herself this ti, playing with them for so long," comnted the clown known as Souta, none other than Nimura Furuta behind the mask.
"But tell , does the so-called One-Eyed King truly exist?" Souta inquired.
"That enigmatic figure doesn't exist at all. It's a straightforward matter," Nick whispered into Souta's ear.
"Oh... oh..." Souta nodded in understanding.
"But this ti, there's a particularly intriguing human who piqued my interest," Nick mused.
"You're referring to the new young investigator?"
"Exactly. Souta, don't you find him fascinating?"
Nico donned a clown mask distinct from Souta's, and together, they chuckled.
"In the end, the one who laughs last is the clown."
...
Following the conclusion of the Aogiri Tree Subjugation Operation in the 11th Ward, the CCG headquarters prepared for the customary comndation ceremony. In the interim, all participating investigators were granted leave.
The decisive victory served as a deterrent to ghouls in other regions, ensuring a temporary lull in their activities. Consequently, the simultaneous rest of nurous investigators posed no significant risk.
After the operation, Kanzaki Ryoma had ventured to the 23rd Ward in pursuit of Aogiri Tree's main force, but they had already vanished. With no further leads, he returned ho.
Rize Kamishiro and the twins had arrived earlier, safe and sound, alleviating Ryoma's lingering concerns.
"By the way, where's my mask? It's ti you returned it," Ryoma addressed Rize.
"Can't I keep it?" Rize responded, reluctant to part with the orange mask.
Ryoma hadn't anticipated her resistance. Accessing the system's inventory, he discovered the [Orange Swirling Mask] was no longer available for purchase, indicating its uniqueness.
Given its uniqueness, he couldn't just give it to Rize.
"If you truly like this style, I can take you to craft a similar mask next ti," he offered.
Rize fell silent, eventually returning the mask. However, Ryoma sensed a shift in her deanor—she seed... displeased.
***
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