Fushimi Kyo's instincts were sharp.
Just minutes after he left the scene, Kureo Mado and Kotaro Amon arrived at the alley where the incident had occurred.
"Amon, the stench of blood is coming from this alley," Mado said.
"Stay alert. Let's take a look inside."
"Understood, Mado-san," Amon replied.
At the same time, the hand holding his briefcase tightened around the handle.
The two walked side by side into the alley.
A few minutes later, two corpses came into view.
"Damn it… why do creatures like ghouls even exist in this world?"
Amon clenched his fists, his face twisted with rage.
"That was a pregnant woman! There was a brand-new life growing inside her!"
"Why? Why wouldn't they even spare someone like that?!"
Mado, who had long grown accustomed to death, showed little emotional fluctuation.
"Hey, hey, Amon," he said casually.
"No matter what kind of scene you're facing, maintaining rationality is a basic requirement for a qualified investigator."
"Your reaction's a bit excessive."
He bared his teeth in a grin and slowly circled the ghoul's corpse.
"Look at this cut on the neck clean, smooth. Whoever did this acted decisively."
"And judging from the look on this beast's face… it clearly didn't expect to be killed so easily."
After making that judgment, Mado slowly crouched down.
He noticed that a chunk of flesh was missing from the ghoul's back.
More importantly
The Kakuhou was gone.
"Mado-san, did you find something?" Amon asked, finally calming down as he examined the bodies more carefully.
"Heh… killed a ghoul, took the Kakuhou, but showed no interest in either the human corpse or the ghoul's body."
"Interesting. Very interesting."
"At least we can rule out Rize Kamishiro."
"Amon," Mado continued, a twisted smile spreading across his face,
"I think I know what kind of thing did this."
"What was it?" Amon straightened, immediately alert.
He knew exactly how extraordinary this senior investigator was.
If not for his personality, Mado would've long been promoted to Associate Special Class Investigator.
After all, few in the CCG killed ghouls as relentlessly as he did.
And his investigative instincts were widely respected.
"…A human."
Mado spat out the answer bluntly.
"A human?" Amon exclaimed.
"A ghoul investigator?"
"No, no, no," Mado waved him off.
"If it were an investigator, there'd be no reason to act in secret."
"After all, killing ghouls earns merit."
"I'm talking about an ordinary human."
"An ordinary human?" Amon frowned.
"Mado-san, how did you come to that conclusion? Do you have evidence?"
"Heh."
Mado chuckled.
"Instinct."
Amon was momentarily speechless.
"Alright, Amon," Mado said, standing up.
"Call it in and have someone handle the scene."
"Our patrol isn't finished yet."
"Our real target is Binge Eater, one's far more dangerous than whoever did this."
Just then, both investigators' earpieces crackled to life.
"CCG Headquarters to Unit 203. Report: illegal intrusion detected at Aqua Tower in the 20th Ward. Intruder suspected to be a ghoul. This is a preliminary assessment. Nearby investigators are to proceed immediately."
Upon receiving the message, Mado and Amon wasted no time, rushing toward Aqua Tower.
At the same time inside Aqua Tower.
BANG!
A female corpse's face was slammed violently against a glass wall.
Judging by the expression frozen on her face, she had clearly suffered inhuman torment before death otherwise she wouldn't have worn such absolute terror.
"Ahhh… I want more… more… more!"
A woman scooped up a handful of blood and poured it into her mouth.
"So delicious!"
Her clothes were soaked in blood, her face filled with intoxicated delight.
"The rumors about Binge Eater really are true,"
a deep voice echoed from the darkness.
"A scene like this really gets the appetite going."
A burly man in a white suit, wearing a mask, stepped out from the shadows.
"I hate being disturbed while I'm eating," the woman said coldly without turning around.
"It's extremely rude."
"Don't you recognize me?" the man asked.
"I've heard of you," the woman replied slowly, rising to her feet.
"A boring man who takes pleasure in torturing others. That's all."
Her pale face was filled with disdain.
"Heh, heh, heh."
"The orders from above say to capture you alive."
"But before that… handing over one or two fingers, three or four arms, maybe four or five legs should be fine, right?"
Crack.
With a sickening sound, the man snapped the middle finger of his right hand using his thumb.
With his left hand, he pulled out a freshly made Quinque clamp.
He stared at the woman with manic excitement.
"A big, strong body holding such a tiny little toy…"
The woman sneered.
"Do you think this is some kind of children's game? How adorable."
Her words dripped with venom.
"Heh let me take what's mine!"
The man vanished in a flash.
In the next instant, as if prearranged, Kagune erupted from both of their backs.
BOOM!
They collided violently.
The two separated at once but the clamp in the man's hand was gone.
"Give it back!"
"That's mine!" the man roared hoarsely.
On the steel framework at the top of the building, the woman stood against the wind.
Her purple hair fluttered gently, forming a beautiful silhouette against the night sky.
"I'm not playing with you anymore," she said lightly.
"This is boring."
With that, she casually tossed the clamp away.
By now, Fushimi Kyo had already returned home.
He had no idea that such a storm had erupted within the supposedly stable 20th Ward.
Staring at the 35 Evolution Points displayed on his virtual panel, a faint smile curved his lips.
"Looks like…"
"My strength can increase again."