277. Chapter 277: Meeting Convened! The Seven Special Class Investigators!
...
In the 14th Ward of Tokyo, inside a bar called "Helter Skelter," Itori, a member of the Clowns, was mixing cocktails.
Just then, her phone suddenly rang.
Standing behind the bar, Itori glanced indifferently at her phone. When she saw that the caller was Uta, the corner of her mouth lifted unconsciously. "Hey, you haven't called in a long time. Is something up?"
Uta was also a member of the Clowns. He currently ran a mask shop in the 4th Ward, specializing in providing masks for Ghouls. Like Kuzen Yoshimura, he was once a manager of Tokyo's 4th Ward.
However, later, due to growing tired of the day-to-day management life, he hid in the 4th Ward and opened a mask shop.
"Turn on the news channel for Tokyo's 20th Ward. They're livestreaming the fight between the One-Eyed Owl and another monster. I called to ask if you've ever seen that monster. After all, your bar is an information hub for Ghoul society, and you should know more Ghouls than I do."
"Hold on." Itori felt a bit disappointed after learning that Uta only wanted to ask for information.
"He's such a blockhead."
Itori turned on the television and tuned the channel to the 20th Ward.
...
At this moment, Xia Shang looked at the One-Eyed Owl before him. Without a word, he swung his dual arms, bringing powerful air currents to slash at the opponent.
Boom!! The incredibly hard blades didn't hit the One-Eyed Owl. Instead, they heavily smashed onto the exterior wall of the building, instantly splashing up countless debris and dust! By the time the smoke and dust cleared, the wall struck by Xia Shang's dual arms had broken open a large hole, revealing twisted and bent rebar, as well as dilapidated concrete structures.
A blade mark several dozen meters long nearly cut the building in half.
"One more move." Xia Shang crossed his dual arms, then swung them violently towards the direction of the One-Eyed Owl!
The two pitch-black blades disintegrated in the air into countless slender steel wires, spreading out everywhere, completely enveloping the One-Eyed Owl.
Unable to evade, the One-Eyed Owl could only try to tear through the net with her claws. But even if she tore off a dozen strands, more steel wires immediately filled the gap, giving her no hope of escape.
As the space she could move in became smaller and smaller, she was finally wrapped into a giant black cocoon by the steel wires. The black cocoon began to glow slightly red, and the temperature on its surface alone melted the building's wall.
Boom! Xia Shang fell from high altitude with the black cocoon, completely flattening an unfortunate sedan.
Looking at the caution tape around the building, a ferocious smile appeared at the corner of Xia Shang's mouth. With a boom, the black cocoon connected to his right arm was violently thrown out by him.
After clearing a path, Xia Shang leaped high. In just a few jumps, he completely disappeared from everyone's line of sight.
By the time Kuzen Yoshimura arrived, all that remained was a scene of devastation, with architectural ruins and the teetering Jingzhong Building.
...
"So... so strong." Itori's eyes widened as she watched Xia Shang leave gracefully, her expression filled with shock.
"You don't know who he is either?"
"A Ghoul stronger than the One-Eyed Owl, where did this guy come from? I've never heard of him before."
Itori felt her throat go dry, but soon she said excitedly, "This is going to be fun. The CCG will never allow such a strong Ghoul to exist. I estimate it won't be long before we see another fight. It's just a shame, it would be great if I could see it with my own eyes."
"Heh, participate in their fight? Unless you want to die." With that, Uta hung up the phone.
"Tch, the principle of our Clowns Organization is the more thrilling, the more fun, and the more chaotic the world, the more interesting."
...
"It's over." Xia Shang retracted his tentacles and looked at Sen Takatsuki, who had returned to her human form, beside him. "You won."
Sen Takatsuki stood up, forcing herself despite her body being covered in injuries. At this moment, she was extremely weak.
Whoosh! Xia Shang exhaled a white mist, and his body size shrank at a speed visible to the naked eye. The armor that had covered him previously turned back into black liquid and flowed into his body.
"Two days from now, you gather the Aogiri Tree members. I plan to attack Cochlea in the 23rd Ward." Xia Shang put his hands into his trench coat pockets, then turned and left.
"Okay."
Watching Xia Shang's retreating figure slowly disappear from her field of vision.
Sen Takatsuki finally breathed a sigh of relief and checked her injuries.
Over 80% of her skin was burned, and she didn't know how many bones were broken inside her body. Some parts were even burned into charcoal, and the cells there had completely lost their activity. Fortunately, her physical condition and self-healing ability were strong enough; otherwise, with such severe injuries, it would be impossible for anyone else to survive.
"He's truly a terrifying guy..." Sen Takatsuki understood that this was the result of the other party holding back.
Otherwise, she would have long since become a corpse that couldn't speak.
Sen Takatsuki cautiously scanned her surroundings, and after confirming it was safe, she casually found a secluded corner to sit down.
On the other side.
The CCG Headquarters convened an emergency meeting. Considering that some investigators had busy schedules and couldn't arrive at the 1st Ward Headquarters immediately, they specifically adopted an online livestream method to hold the meeting.
In the bright and spacious meeting room.
CCG Director Yoshitoki Washuu sat at the head seat of the central long table. To his left sat Kishou Arima, who had short white hair. Kishou Arima had an upright posture, wore a pair of frameless black glasses, and his gentle and refined demeanor, combined with his slightly thin cheek, gave people a feeling of being well-mannered.
However, none of the investigators present dared to underestimate him.
After all, Kishou Arima was widely recognized as the CCG's strongest combat power, known as "The Undefeated Ghoul Investigator."
Ghouls even called him "The White Reaper."
To Yoshitoki Washuu's right sat Kiyoko Aura, who was skilled in the dual blades style and was the first female Special Class Investigator.
Beside her was Kousuke Marude, the 1st Ward Overall Commander, also a Special Class Investigator.
Speaking of this, it is necessary to mention the ranking system of the Commission of Counter Ghoul, or CCG. Among them, the ranks of Ghoul Investigators are divided into six types: Special Class Investigator, Associate Special Class Investigator, First Class Investigator, Rank 1 Investigator, Rank 2 Investigator, and Rank 3 Investigator.
From top to bottom, the first three types are "Higher-Class Investigators," and the latter three types are "Lower-Class Investigators."
"The reason I suddenly called you here is to show you a video and then hear your respective opinions," Yoshitoki Washuu said in a deep voice.
On the large screen behind him, the avatars of several other Special Class Investigators appeared.
On the left and right sides, there were a total of four people.
They were... Yukinori Shinohara, the 20th Ward Branch Overall Commander.
Iwao Kuroiwa, the 13th Ward Branch Overall Commander.
Mougan Tanakamaru, the 2nd Ward Branch Department Head, and Shibashi Haizaki, who was in charge of commanding the 23rd Ward.
(End of this chapter)