"Do what you want. Just don't take it too far."
Ryoma's voice was calm but firm. He knew better than to ignore the power behind the Tsukiyama na.
Rize smiled faintly. "Relax. I know how far I can go."
She wasn't planning to kill Tsukiyama Shuu. Death was too clean. Her idea of payback was much more humiliating.
...
Ryoma prepared for his next move. The aftermath of the Ghoul Restaurant takedown had reached CCG headquarters in the 1st Ward. He needed to report in.
Kurona stayed behind to care for Nashiro. Rize remained in his apartnt too. Hopefully, there'd be no trouble between them.
At CCG HQ, Ryoma moved through the halls until a senior investigator stopped him.
"Kanzaki. Of all the ghouls you brought in, Madam A's the one with the most potential. She's one of the top figures tied to the Ghoul Restaurant. If she talks, we might learn more."
"I understand," Ryoma said.
"You single-handedly raided the Ghoul Restaurant and captured multiple targets. That's no small feat. Director Washuu wants to see you imdiately."
Ryoma's eyes narrowed slightly. "Understood. I'll head there now."
He wasn't surprised.
Going into a den of powerful ghouls alone and walking out with a dozen arrests? That didn't go unnoticed. Even the majority of First Class Investigators would've failed. Though he had staged it carefully, fought selectively, captured enough to stand out, but not so much to raise red flags.
Still, he knew what this ant. The Washuu family was watching.
...
He stepped into the Director's office.
"Director Washuu," Ryoma greeted formally.
Washuu Yoshitoki looked up. The man's expression was neutral, his beard trimd, his uniform crisp. No hint of malice. No sign of what he really was.
"Kanzaki Ryoma. You're younger than I expected," Yoshitoki said, folding his hands. "Your mission at the Ghoul Restaurant was really impressive. Among this year's recruits, you're easily the most outstanding."
"I was just doing my duty," Ryoma replied.
"Let's skip modesty. You'll likely be promoted to be a senior investigator soon, assuming you perform well in the Aogiri Tree operation. Prepare for the written exam and interview."
"Yes, Director."
Yoshitoki's eyes sharpened.
"Don't get reckless. You'll be under Special Class Investigators Shinohara and Kuroiwa during the operation. Your job is to follow orders, survive, and support."
"I understand."
Washuu Yoshitoki was known as the most "human" among his clan. He had never publicly engaged in the Washuu family's darker dealings. But Ryoma knew better. The entire Washuu bloodline were ghouls. The CCG they commanded existed to serve their cover, and to feed their hunger.
Ryoma left the office, his mind sharp.
Down the hall, he spotted Ui Koori waiting.
"Kanzaki," Ui said with a grin. "Destroying the Ghoul Restaurant during your break? You really don't know how to rest."
"It wasn't planned. But it needed to be done," Ryoma replied.
"I just t with Director Washuu. Sounds like your promotion's coming fast. We've barely been partners for a month, and you're already flying up the ladder."
"Situations change."
Ui nodded, then brought up sothing else.
"By the way, the Yasuhisa sisters are reporting in tomorrow. Said they were dealing with urgent family matters. What about their assignnt? Think they'll want to stay together?"
"They will," Ryoma said. "And they should."
"Then recomnd it to the Director. Suggest soone strong to handle both. Maybe Kiyoko Aura. She's still without a partner."
Aura Kiyoko. The only female Special Class Investigator in CCG history. A legend. And also dangerous.
Ryoma's expression didn't shift, but inside, he made a ntal note. He would need to remind Kurona and Nashiro not to expose anything. If Aura even suspected they were ghouls...
They'd be dead.
But they could blend in. As long as they never revealed their kagune or activated their kakugan, the RC gates wouldn't detect anything abnormal.
Keep it simple. Don't flinch. Don't hesitate. Just be human.
Ryoma would make sure they rembered.
"You'll also get so say in who your next partner is," Ui added. "Think about it."
"I'll see when the ti cos," Ryoma said.
To him, it didn't matter who he worked with. His goals didn't change.
And he didn't need anyone slowing him down.
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Yooo! We crashed it! We on top #1 with a 600 - 700 gap!!! Let's see how much gap we can actually create on .
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