"Fire!"
Bang!
Boom—!
Unlike the clamor of the city streets, the sudden explosion tore through the bustling veil of the metropolis.
On a nearby street, startled pedestrians turned their heads after the fact, eyes widening in shock as they saw plumes of rolling black smoke shoot skyward from the blaze.
It was a large mansion, surrounded by tall hedges, high walls, and manned guard posts.
Clearly the residence of someone powerful and influential, its secrecy suggested a deliberate attempt to keep prying eyes away. Under the setting sun, the dark rooftops inside could just barely be seen—there were quite a few buildings.
"What's going on?"
"A fire, or maybe a gas explosion?"
"Is this a drill?"
"Is the CCG fighting ghouls again?"
The crowd erupted into noisy speculation.
Some froze in place, others instinctively fled, a few pulled out their phones to take pictures, while others tried to call the police. But faster than any of them came an emergency lockdown announcement.
On both sides of the street, giant LCD screens mounted on storefronts suddenly cut their ads and entertainment shows, replacing them with the stern figure of the government's Cabinet Spokesperson.
"Attention all citizens, nationals, and foreign visitors. Effective immediately, in response to the severity, urgency, and unpredictability of the current ghoul disaster, Tokyo's 24 wards are now under a state of emergency…"
Almost at the same time, people's phones buzzed. With a sharp beep-beep, the screens flashed, displaying a red alert UI resembling an earthquake warning.
—[Entering Level 1 Emergency State]—
[Area: Capital Region, Tokyo 24 Wards]
[Signed by: Prime Minister / Commission of Counter Ghoul / USFJ Command]
...
A lockdown? A Level 1 red emergency response?!
After over a month of continuous high-intensity joint CCG operations across departments—cat-and-mouse ghoul hunts that had dulled sensitivity and bred a sense of "crying wolf"—citizens had grown accustomed to police and soldiers marching noisily through the city. But now their eyes went wide in shock.
Just last month, when chemical troops from Yokota Air Base intervened in the anti-ghoul operation in Ward 6, the lockdown had only covered a few blocks, with only those residents evacuated.
But this time—it was the entire Tokyo metropolis?!
Something big was happening…
The thought of watching out of curiosity vanished. Countless people broke into a sprint—heading home, fleeing the city, escaping to the countryside, or rushing offshore. Everyone had their own choice.
Suddenly, more artillery fire roared.
The thunderous explosions shook the air.
The heavy tiled roof of the mansion crumbled under the impact, billowing thick clouds of smoke.
Fragments of brick and wood, shattered concrete, collapsing eaves—this time, the booming detonation was crystal clear. It was followed by a deep whirring that grew closer…
"Look! Over there! It's the JGSDF—and the USFJ!"
Someone shouted, pointing excitedly.
Whrrr… whrrr…
The whine of rotors, the rumble of vehicles, soldiers barking commands, the clatter of equipment—all of it blended into a thunderous backdrop.
Two hundred meters away, beyond the mansion's guard gates, a relatively open street was being cordoned off. US soldiers in urban-gray camouflage and tactical goggles worked quickly to set up a blockade.
Behind them stood several 60mm and 81mm mortars, already manned and loaded. The earlier rounds had been signal shots and test fire.
The area's civilians had already been cleared. Aside from state media, even the bolder journalists who tried to remain were forcibly driven away.
Nearby, a group of CCG investigators and agents from the North American Commission of Counter Ghoul stood with US officers, pointing toward the mansion as they exchanged urgent words.
Clang!
A CH-47 Chinook helicopter descended, carrying an M777 howitzer slung beneath it. Guided down by soldiers waving glowing batons, the massive gun was released onto the asphalt with a deep metallic thud. Over four tons of steel hit the ground with a heavy, resonant crash.
"Quickly deploy heavy fire teams. Work with the CCG investigators to completely encircle the Washuu family estate—don't let a single man-eating beast escape! Throw CRc gas to weaken them! Tear down that guard post! Sniper teams, listen well—anyone not on the cleared list of CCG Special Classes or the Commissioner herself, kill on sight!"
"See that main residence? 60mm mortar team, fire a base round of the new CRc gas shells into that breach. 81mm mortar team, prepare demolition rounds. Artillery crew, set up the 155mm howitzer immediately. On my command, fire directly at the target!"
Wearing black oak-leaf camouflage, a US Army lieutenant colonel raised his binoculars, surveyed the Washuu mansion, then began issuing orders.
"Yes sir!" ×N.
At once, the M224 60mm mortars launched round after round in continuous saturation, hurling CRc gas shells into the estate.
The M777 howitzer's split-trail carriage was quickly unfolded, the spades dug in and locked against the curb. The barrel was lowered to its extreme depression, calculations barely needed. The breech locked shut, the gunner sighted on the Washuu main hall, hand on the lanyard, eyes turned to the colonel.
The setup made it clear—they were about to shell the Washuu estate. The sight terrified the few pedestrians who hadn't yet fled.
Small arms, heavier weapons, even attack helicopters—Tokyo citizens were used to CCG sweeps using such force. Some Quinques, like those forged from Ukaku, caused as much destruction as cannons. Tokyoites had grown numb.
But now—155mm howitzers?!
This wasn't counterterrorism, nor even anti-ghoul warfare. This was localized war.
A political purge, on a massive scale…
"Agent Dennis, serving as bait… you're sure Commissioner Russell will be fine?"
The lieutenant colonel lowered his binoculars and asked his federal colleague.
"No problem."
Carrying a Quinque case, Dennis replied firmly: "Commissioner Russell never fights without absolute certainty. Colonel, as long as we don't hit our own men, with her experience and skill in anti-ghoul combat—even if every CCG investigator inside dies—she'll walk out unscathed."
As a veteran agent who had worked with Vela for years in North America, Dennis had absolute confidence in her.
He himself was an ace of the North American Commission of Counter Ghoul, once serving in the European anti-ghoul organization GFG, with distinguished merit in the eradication of the German ghoul clan, the 'Roswald family.' Yet, not once had he ever won in sparring matches against Vela.
The harder he trained to close the gap, the more he realized—it only grew wider!
"The most tedious, troublesome steps have already been handled by Commissioner Russell. All we need to do is follow her plan."
The lieutenant colonel shrugged without refutation.
Their 101st Airborne Division was lucky to be stationed in Japan at one of the best US overseas bases, and even luckier to earn battle honors—thanks entirely to Special Commissioner Russell.
By now, the US troops had sealed the mansion tighter, disarming and detaining the guards at the checkpoint. Several figures reacting violently to the CRc gas were immediately gunned down. With muffled blasts and relentless gunfire, the mansion's outer walls shattered under impact.
Concrete blocks sprayed outward like shrapnel. Two bloodied men in black were thrown, their twisted bodies buried beneath the collapsing wall.
"Stop—Russell, go easy… ahh, my… my back!"
A tall, gaunt figure was flung out next, crying out as he tumbled across the lawn, rolling several times before landing disheveled, his flowing black hair whipping in the wind.
"That's Marude Itsuki, Acting Bureau Chief of the CCG."
A sniper reported over the radio.
Then, more gunfire and explosions thundered inside. Footsteps, ghastly roars, the howls of Kagune whipping through the air followed in a chaotic cacophony.
"It's Special Class Shinohara! Special Class Kuroiwa! Associate Special Class Ui! Special Class Houji… all the Special Classes are in there!"
From beneath the crumbled estate wall where an armored vehicle had rammed through, the CCG investigators closest to the front cried out in shock.
Through the gaping hole, they could see seven high-ranking CCG investigators—six men and one woman—bloodied, covered in dust, fighting as they retreated.
And at the very front, covering their withdrawal, was a black-armored female figure, wielding a spiraling crimson-purple thorned lance.
Inside the mansion, eerie hissing echoed through the halls, mingling with the chilling sound of flesh being torn apart.
Through gaps in the shattered walls and collapsed roof, fragmented beams of sunlight spilled inside. Dim though they were, when they struck that imposing figure, the brilliance remained—dazzling and sharp.
Her Kagune wings unfurled. In an instant—clang!!!
"You dare treat me as one of your kind? You are not worthy."
Steel clashed against steel, sparks bursting blue and white as her jet-black thorned lance struck against a massive serrated sword.
...
A few minutes earlier.
Inside the Washuu estate.
"Intolerable! The Washuu family has already conceded more than enough—why must you hound us again and again?!"
As artillery shook the outer roof, debris rained down like a leaking ceiling. Tsuneyoshi Washuu and his son Yoshitoki Washuu glared, kagugan flashing with fury.
Clatter—
Like a signal, figures in black coats and gentleman's hats appeared around the hall. Pale-skinned, their eyes blank white, each wore a dark-red bow tie, looking for all the world like British gangsters. They carried Quinque cases or firearms, clearly weapons designed to counter investigators.
Ordinary investigators were only human. Even standard bullets, when hitting flesh, could draw blood or kill.
"And if I hound you—what then?"
Vela calmly pressed the release on her black-gold Quinque case. At the same time, her other hand subtly opened.
Zzt!
Already prepared, Yukinori Shinohara and Iwao Kuroiwa immediately donned [Arata] to serve as shields in front of their colleagues. Chuu Hachikawa raised his Ukaku Quinque, spraying the black-suited men emerging from all sides. Kousuke Houji brought up his S+ grade explosive-type Ukaku, [Hollow].
In an instant, the hall filled with the crash of breaking wood, the roar of gunfire, the sound of flesh being ripped, the groans of dying men—and the flickering of firelight. A bloody symphony.
Ratatatatata!
"Kaiko!"
Apparently dissatisfied with his men's resistance, Tsuneyoshi Washuu rose in anger, calling the name of a subordinate. "Why are you still waiti—"
Bang!
His words cut short.
It wasn't the crack of gunpowder—it was the electric discharge of a railgun.
Ordinary bullets pinged harmlessly off [Arata-Ayato-α]. Spearing a Washuu clansman through the chest, Vela lifted his corpse as a shield while a mocking smile curved her lips.
"You don't even realize the branch families scheme against you… Your clan deserves extinction, Washuu."
In her left hand, the smoking barrel of a high-tech Techtronika RT-46 Burya revolver from Cyberpunk's advanced US military arsenal gleamed.
Behind the wide wooden table lay the body of an elder in formal kimono and hakama. Headless.
Blood, bone, and brain matter sprayed in all directions.
Vela had seen it clearly.
Even as his head exploded, the body had reared back, crimson Kagune erupting from his spine. The Kagune had already pierced the floor tiles, ready to drive him backward—Tsuneyoshi had been preparing to leap away.
Indeed, he hadn't wanted her within ten meters.
Because of the power she had shown when killing Nimura Furuta at Ward 7, he had been wary.
But who said she couldn't fight at range?
Not every ranged attack required an Ukaku or the CCG's small-caliber pistols.
There were bigger guns.
And she knew a thing or two about "American Iaido."
The moment she exposed their ghoul identities and donned [Arata-Ayato-α], one after another they had unleashed Kagune, their kagugan flaring. But instead of fighting, they had retreated, relying on branch family retainers hidden in the corners of the hall to stall for time with their lives.
The main family's wanton use and exploitation of branch families…
It was familiar.
No wonder.
According to what Vela knew, the Nimura Furuta she had slain had long plotted with V to betray the Washuu.
The V organization's core members were descended from the Washuu branch families—half-humans.
And Kaiko was one of them—the leader of V under the Washuu.