Early the next morning, the CCG Headquarters press conference venue was already packed so tightly that it was impossible to move.
Reporters from all the major media outlets carried their long-lens cameras and occupied the front rows, with every camera aimed directly at the podium.
The air was filled with curiosity and speculation. What exactly was CCG going to announce with such a grand arrangement?
It did not take long before the doors of the headquarters hall opened. Marude Itsuki walked out first and stood behind the podium amid a storm of camera shutters.
He cleared his throat. Without any greetings, he immediately dropped a bombshell.
"Today's press conference has only one topic. To reveal a truth that has been concealed from the world for a hundred years."
He paused and swept his gaze across the countless cameras below.
"The founders of CCG, the highest decision-making authority, the Washuu Clan."
"Every single one of them is a ghoul."
"Ahhh!!!"
The venue instantly exploded. The cries of shock almost overturned the ceiling. The reporters were all stunned, and the question sheets in their hands became completely useless.
Click! Click! Click!
The flashes went off crazily, almost forming a white curtain.
However, the reporters from the top media outlets reacted extremely quickly. After the initial shock, they immediately realized this was an unprecedented piece of news.
Countless arms shot up one after another, and questions came flying like cannon shells.
"Evidence! Where is the evidence?!"
"How can you confirm this fact?!"
"What was the purpose of the Washuu Clan disguising themselves as humans?!"
"Why did they create CCG?!"
Marude Itsuki raised his hand and suppressed the noise.
"Why they disguised themselves, why they created CCG, I do not know. But the evidence can be shown to you right now."
As his voice fell, Urie Kuki walked out from the side, holding Washuu Matsuri, who was bound tightly with alloy chains like a wrapped dumpling.
He dragged him to the center of the podium as if he were carrying trash.
Marude Itsuki pointed at him.
"This is a core member of the Washuu Clan, the current CCG Director, Washuu Matsuri."
All the cameras immediately turned and locked onto Washuu Matsuri's pale face.
Urie Kuki did not waste any words either. He grabbed Washuu Matsuri by the hair and lifted his entire body up. With his other hand, he pulled out a Quinque sword.
Stab!
The blade mercilessly pierced through his chest!
"Ugh!!!"
Washuu Matsuri's mouth was sealed shut, leaving him only able to make painful muffled noises.
He tightly closed his eyes, not daring to open them and expose his non-human Kakugan.
Seeing that he was still stubbornly holding on, Urie Kuki's eyes flashed coldly. His hand moved.
Swish! Swish!
Both eyelids were cleanly sliced away.
A pair of crimson, terrifying Kakugan were completely exposed under the cameras of the world's media.
The crowd gasped again, but in the next second, all the reporters surged forward like sharks that had smelled blood.
The cameras were almost shoved directly into Washuu Matsuri's face, and the flashes illuminated his despairing Kakugan until they appeared pale.
...
A phone ringtone rang endlessly like a death alarm.
Amano Hiro frowned and stretched a hand out from under the blanket, fumbling around until he grabbed the vibrating phone beside the bed.
His eyes were not even fully open as he answered with a vague "hello."
It was Eto's voice on the other end. Her words were brief.
"Watch the live news."
After saying that, she hung up.
Amano Hiro moved the phone away from his ear, narrowed his eyes at the screen, and slowly woke up.
He sat up and casually placed a pillow behind his back before opening the live broadcast notification from the news app.
The moment the screen appeared, his movements paused.
The scene showed the press conference outside CCG Headquarters. Urie Kuki's long blade was currently being ruthlessly driven into Washuu Matsuri's chest.
"Oh?"
Amano Hiro raised an eyebrow while looking at the face twisted in pain on the screen.
"This kid... his movements are pretty decisive."
He had no idea how they discovered and confirmed it, but they had actually captured the Director directly.
He truly did not expect CCG's internal actions to be this fast, nor did he expect them to drag the Washuu Clan into the sunlight and "expose" them in this way.
The commotion also woke Rize beside him. She let out a vague hum.
Like a cat, she rubbed her face against Amano Hiro's chest and sleepily glanced at the phone screen.
With just one look, she became completely awake.
Feeling her movement, Amano Hiro's free hand habitually moved to her smooth back and gently stroked it up and down.
"Awake?"
Rize rested her chin on his chest. Her voice still carried the soft nasal tone of someone who had just woken up.
However, her eyes were clear as she stared at the screen.
"Mm. The Washuu Clan... this time they are really finished."
Amano Hiro tossed the phone onto the bedside table.
"That's right. They are about to be finished. This is good news, so we should celebrate. Let's have a morning workout."
"Oh my."
...
After the morning workout ended, it was already noon.
Rize's cheeks still carried a slight blush as she lazily nestled in Amano Hiro's arms.
The two of them watched the continuous news broadcasts on television.
The so-called "experts" invited onto the programs were analyzing everything eloquently, speaking as if they had everything figured out.
Suddenly, Amano Hiro's hand that was gently stroking Rize's back stopped.
"I am going out for a while."
He lowered his head and kissed the top of her hair.
"Rest well."
Rize obediently replied.
"Mm. Be careful on the way."
Amano Hiro stood up, quickly put on his coat, and walked out after opening the door.
...
Washuu Clan ancestral home, beneath the ruins.
Arima Kishou passed through the maze-like, complicated dark corridors and arrived at a relatively spacious underground conference room.
Many people were seated inside. All of them were core members of the main Washuu family.
Washuu Tsuneyoshi, sitting at the head seat, had long since lost his usual deep and calm appearance. His old face was twisted with rage and viciousness.
"Kishou!"
His voice was hoarse.
"We have reached the moment of life and death!
Go bring Masanori back, then escort all of us... deeper underground!"
However, Arima Kishou did not immediately bow and accept the order like he had in the past.
He only stood there quietly. Under the dim light, the lenses of his glasses reflected a cold gleam, making it impossible to see the emotions in his eyes.
Washuu Tsuneyoshi stared at him. His heart suddenly sank as an ominous feeling rose.
"Arima Kishou... are you planning to rebel?"
Arima Kishou raised his hand and lightly pushed his glasses.
"No."
His voice was calm and emotionless.
"I just... want to see with my own eyes what the new world will look like."
The other Washuu members in the conference room immediately sensed that something was wrong. They sprang up from their seats.
Pairs of crimson Kakugan lit up in the darkness, locking onto Arima Kishou with suspicion and shock.
"You..."
Washuu Tsuneyoshi trembled with anger. He had never imagined that this "tool" he had controlled for so long would bite back at the final moment.
"Take him down!"
...
A dark red streak of light crashed down onto the ruins of the ancestral home like a meteor.
Amano Hiro straightened up and sharply scanned his surroundings.
He immediately saw the black spear stuck diagonally among the rubble.
Arima Kishou's IXA.
He walked forward, pulled the Quinque out with one hand, weighed it briefly, then looked toward the hidden entrance leading underground nearby.
"Hah."
The corner of his mouth lifted.
"No wonder I could never find these old rats.
They never moved at all. They were hiding beneath their own ruins the entire time. Truly hidden in plain sight."
Without wasting any more time, he carried IXA and disappeared in a flash, rushing down through the entrance.
Following the aura he sensed, he quickly moved through the complicated underground passageways.