With a roar of fury, Mado opened his Quinque case.
This time he'd brought Kura, presumably S-rated.
"Mado! You can't lose your head at a time like this!"
Shinohara called out preemptively, worried about Mado acting rashly.
Perhaps Shinohara's voice was loud enough—it seemed to snap Mado back to his senses.
"Mado-san..."
Amon watched Mado with a grave, worried expression.
"...I know."
Mado ground his teeth, glaring at the One-Eyed Owl before him, not daring to make any sudden moves.
Shinohara was right. The One-Eyed Owl was far too powerful. Recklessness would be fatal.
He had to forcibly suppress his emotions, gripping his Quinque with white-knuckled intensity.
"Maru, we've got a serious problem. The Owl has appeared..."
Shinohara immediately contacted Marude via radio.
"The Owl...? Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Marude, usually all smiles and casual demeanor, now wore a grave expression.
Aogiri Tree's operational style does seem similar to the group led by the One-Eyed Owl ten years ago...
Could their leader really be the Owl?
"Tch!..."
Marude grew increasingly agitated. "If only Arima were here, but he's still in Ward 24. There's no way he'd make it in time. Damn it..."
"Shinohara! Leave only the fearless elites behind. Transfer all other investigators to the other buildings. If even you all can't handle it, then there's nothing to be done. No pointless deaths, no wasting time—fight the Owl with as few people as possible. That's all..."
However eager Marude was for glory, he wouldn't make irrational decisions.
If this really was the same Owl from ten years ago, no one but Arima could handle it. Even with two Special Class investigators and over a dozen Associate Special Class and First Class investigators present, their lineup couldn't match the Owl Suppression Operation from a decade ago. Back then, the CCG had assembled all their elite forces and still couldn't defeat the lone Owl—much less now, fighting in the enemy's stronghold.
"..."
Shinohara let out a long sigh.
He immediately began organizing personnel deployment. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed Associate Special Class Chino arriving from the side. "Chino! Take everyone to Building 7."
"?!...Y-Yes, sir!"
Chino hadn't quite processed the situation yet.
"Hirako, Mado, you two stay. Amon, head to Building 7."
"Those from Ward 13 at First Class and above, stay with me. Everyone else, follow Associate Special Class Chino out."
Shinohara and Kuroiwa exchanged glances and simultaneously began assigning who would stay to fight the Owl.
"Why?! I want to fight too!"
Amon immediately refused.
"...These are orders from your superiors, Amon. Don't be stubborn."
Shinohara said.
"Amon, there's a real chance we might die here—myself included. You shouldn't die in this place."
Mado also tried to persuade him.
"No! Mado-san, Shinohara-san, please let me stay and fight!!"
Amon's expression was resolute, showing no fear of death.
"..."
Shinohara's face softened with a look of gratification.
Mado-san, you've trained an exceptional investigator.
Mado was visibly moved as well, remembering how he himself hadn't been nearly as brave as Amon ten years ago.
"Rank 1 Amon."
"Yes, sir!"
Shinohara walked toward Amon, then suddenly threw a punch that knocked him flat. The other investigators looked on in shock.
"Associate Special Class Chino, take Amon with you."
Shinohara turned back to face the Owl. "Don't underestimate a Special Class investigator, Amon. And it'd be a real shame if someone like you died here."
"...Yes, sir."
Amon lowered his head in silence for a long moment before following Chino away.
But shortly after leaving the room, he ran into Byakuya and Ui heading toward him, their cold, severe expressions making clear they were going to fight the Owl.
He couldn't help but glance back at Byakuya as they passed.
They were both Rank 1, yet worlds apart in ability. Rank 1 Amaha was probably the only Rank 1 investigator qualified to fight the Owl here...
Having taken down an S+-rated half-kakuja, Rank 1 Amaha's true strength couldn't be measured by his rank anymore. Meanwhile, Amon—the former top graduate of his year—still had no impressive achievements to show.
But Amon didn't let this discourage him. He'd already come to view Rank 1 Amaha as motivation to push himself harder.
...
"Hirako, what's the strongest ghoul you've ever taken down?"
Before the battle began, Shinohara asked the helmet-wearing, plain-faced man beside him.
"An S-rated ukaku ghoul."
Hirako answered in his usual deadpan manner.
"Got it."
Shinohara nodded slightly.
"I'm the type whose death wouldn't really matter, huh."
Hirako commented flatly.
Shinohara's expression grew awkward. "N-No... that's not..."
"It's fine. I know where I stand."
Hirako said calmly.
"Shinohara-san, Kuroiwa-san, is that the Owl...?"
By now, Byakuya and Ui had arrived. Ui stared at the massive figure ahead and asked gravely.
"Yes... You and Amaha are here too. Good, everyone's accounted for."
Shinohara pressed his hand to the center of his collarbone, apparently triggering some kind of biometric lock on his Quinque.
In an instant, his body armor transformed into kakuja armor. Kuroiwa underwent the same transformation. This was the kakuja Quinque "New Proto."
Meanwhile, Yoshimura had stood motionless while they organized their forces, not making a single move. He was here to stall these elite investigators—he had no intention of attacking them first.
Amaha-kun is here, but I don't see the blue-haired young man from ten years ago. He must not be participating in this operation.
But those suits the two Special Class investigators wore... They disgusted him. A man of his experience could guess exactly how such Quinques were made.
[Ding! Host encounters SSS-rated ghoul "Non-Killing Owl" for the first time. Reward: 30 Fusion Points!]
Byakuya set down the case containing "13's Jason" and retrieved the Uchiha Gunbai that had been strapped to his back.
Meanwhile, on a nearby rooftop, three figures watched.
Rize, wearing her white mask, observed the floor where Byakuya was positioned. Kurona and Nashiro sat nearby, maintaining a subtle distance from Rize.
If Byakuya found himself in any danger, they'd intervene immediately.
...
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