Chapter 365: The God of Death in the Ghoul World

"hehe…" 

Hideyoshi, who had just been acknowledged by Enel, gave a sheepish grin, scratched his head, and said: 

"Well, that day… things escalated quickly. I didn't expect Nishio-senpai to attack me so suddenly." 

"At the time, my mind was clear—I could hear everything happening around me—but my body was completely unresponsive." 

He admitted Enel's observation with a wry smile. 

"Oh? Is that so?" 

Enel crossed one leg over the other, then suddenly turned to face the young man, a glimmer of interest in his eyes. 

"So, you're saying…" 

"You remember everything that happened when Kaneki tried to eat you?" 

"Uh…" 

Hideyoshi froze for a moment. 

But soon, his bright smile returned as he replied cheerfully: 

"Yes! I thought I was done for at the time." 

"Thanks to Kaneki, though, I managed to survive!" 

"It's truly a blessing to still be alive." 

"Really? Is that how you feel?" 

Enel's tone was calm, his expression unreadable. 

Though he wasn't sure how deep the bond between Kaneki and Hideyoshi ran, the interactions he had observed recently were enough to convince him: 

Hideyoshi was likely the person Kaneki cared for most in this world. 

"So, what brings you here this time?" 

"Ah!" 

Hideyoshi nodded eagerly, removing a dark backpack from his shoulder and opening it in front of Enel. 

Inside were four bloody internal organs, meticulously sealed in medical containers. 

Enel raised an eyebrow, a faint, imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips. 

He already knew why Hideyoshi had come and what was in the backpack. 

These 'organs' belonged to ghouls—trophies from his recent hunts. 

Still, the sight of them intrigued Enel. 

As the sun dipped lower, casting a golden glow, the light reflected off Hideyoshi's determined face, his eyes glinting with an almost otherworldly resolve. 

"Sir Enel," he said seriously, his voice steady. 

"May I become a trader and conduct dimensional transactions with you?" 

Enel remained silent for a moment, studying Hideyoshi intently. 

He glanced at the organs in the containers, then back at the young man's resolute expression. 

Instead of answering directly, Enel asked with curiosity: 

"Where did these ghouls come from?" 

It wasn't a question of suspicion but genuine intrigue. 

Even the weakest ghoul had skin tougher than metal, and for an ordinary human to procure these organs… 

It piqued Enel's interest. 

Hideyoshi responded confidently: 

"I hunted them myself over the past few days." 

"After I recovered, I borrowed some equipment from a senpai at the university lab. Using those tools, I set traps in alleyways…" 

"And then, I used myself as bait to lure ghouls that wanted to eat me into the trap, where I finished them off." 

Hideyoshi spoke with a calm detachment, as if recounting someone else's story. 

"Hmm… impressive." 

Enel nodded in approval. 

Although Hideyoshi described it casually, Enel could imagine how dangerous such endeavors were. 

For a human to use their body as bait to ambush and kill ghouls—it was no small feat. 

In that moment, Enel realized he had underestimated the resourcefulness and resilience of ordinary humans in this world. 

As for Hideyoshi's claim of borrowing tools from the university lab, Enel didn't dwell on it. 

Having never attended school himself, he couldn't grasp how extraordinary—or suspicious—it was for someone to use academic equipment for hunting ghouls. 

If the authorities discovered Hideyoshi's actions, the CCG would likely summon him for a "special invitation" the very next day. 

But such concerns were trivial. 

Enel suddenly raised his head and smiled. 

"Young man, you've proven your qualifications through courage and wisdom. You are worthy of becoming a trader." 

"Tell me, do you wish to conduct a dimensional transaction now?" 

"Absolutely!" 

Hideyoshi's expression transformed from anxious to ecstatic. 

Clenching his fists, he nodded with determination, his voice filled with resolve: 

"Kaneki, I'll gain power soon!" 

"When that happens, I'll be able to help you even more!" 

That thought burned brightly in Hideyoshi's heart. 

Enel waved his hand dismissively and declared: "Then let the transaction begin." 

In an instant, a surge of memories related to dimensional transactions flooded Hideyoshi's mind, appearing out of thin air. 

At the same time, a trading interface materialized within his consciousness. 

In this world, where items imbued with pure original power were scarce aside from those related to ghouls, Hideyoshi's only tradeable assets were the four ghoul organs he had collected. 

Moments later, the four containers in his backpack vanished, leaving behind only empty medical vessels. 

When Hideyoshi opened his eyes again, a peculiar being stood before him! 

"Congratulations, Hideyoshi. You are now a VIP Level 2 member of the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce. As a welcome gift, you are awarded a Rotom Phone." 

"How incredible!" 

Hovering mid-air, the Rotom Phone blinked at Hideyoshi. He extended his hands, catching it eagerly. 

The moment he held the device, a notification window appeared on the screen: 

- [Name: Hideyoshi Nagachika] 

- [VIP Level: 2] 

- [VIP Experience: 2000/10,000] 

- [Current Points: 2000] 

Although the four ghouls Hideyoshi had hunted were among the weakest, and their 'kakuho' only earned 500 points each, the total of 2,000 points was enough to elevate him to VIP Level 2. This granted him the ability to request transactions anytime. 

After giving Hideyoshi a moment to familiarize himself with the Rotom Phone, Enel spoke again: 

"Now, it's time for you to select the item you wish to redeem!" 

"Before that," Enel added with a slight smile, "would you like to hear my recommendations?" 

"Absolutely, Sir Enel!" 

Hideyoshi nodded without hesitation. Knowing that dimensional merchants tailored their recommendations to a trader's current situation, he wouldn't miss the chance to utilize such a convenient service. 

With a snap of Enel's fingers, a light screen crackling with blue electricity appeared before Hideyoshi. 

On the screen, a sleek and slender sword materialized. 

- [Item Description] 

- [Introduction: Originating from the World of Shinigami, this item is an essential tool for transitioning into a Shinigami.] 

- [Effect: By inserting the Asauchi into one's body, it synchronizes with the user's soul, transforming into a Zanpakutō unique to the wielder.] 

- [Price: 2,000 points] 

"An Asauchi? A Zanpakutō? From the world of Shinigami?" 

Hideyoshi's eyes lit up as he read the product details. For reasons he couldn't explain, he felt an undeniable resonance with the item. 

Without hesitation, he turned to Enel and declared firmly: 

"Sir Enel, I want this Asauchi!" 

"Oh? You don't need me to elaborate further?" 

Hideyoshi shook his head confidently. He trusted the instinctive pull in his heart and believed in the suitability of Enel's recommendation. 

Seeing his determination, Enel smiled lightly. 

"It seems you're ready." 

"Then…" 

With a wave of Enel's hand, a plain yet gleaming long sword materialized before Hideyoshi. 

Reaching out, Hideyoshi grasped it, feeling a strange yet exhilarating pulse resonate within his chest. 

"This sensation… it's so peculiar," he murmured with a wry smile as he observed the blade's cold gleam. 

Without a moment's pause, he pointed the sword's tip at his abdomen. 

He trusted Enel, dimensional trading, and the Asauchi. 

That trust fueled his decisiveness. 

With unwavering resolve, Hideyoshi plunged the blade into his body. 

In an instant, a mysterious light erupted, engulfing him entirely. The brilliance shimmered like the glow of a Pokémon's evolution. 

Amid the radiance, crackling bolts of lightning suddenly sparked to life. 

"Oh? The power of lightning?" 

Enel's eyes gleamed with interest as he muttered to himself. 

As someone who wielded lightning himself, he immediately recognized the latent potential within Hideyoshi's Zanpakutō. 

"Yes… it has exceeded my expectations!" 

The Asauchi—no, the Zanpakutō—had undergone refinement by Leo, eliminating the need for soul separation to become a Shinigami. 

Instead, the sword directly fused with Hideyoshi's physical and spiritual being, amplifying his power in unimaginable ways. 

Just like the Zanpakutō in the world of Shinigami, the potential of the blade depends on the strength of the user's soul. The greater the user's soul power, the more terrifying the Zanpakutō's potential. 

At this moment, Hideyoshi's physical strength was almost negligible. Calling him one of the "five scum of battle" would be an overstatement. 

Neither Pokémon nor otherworldly enhancements could provide him with much help in this condition. Products relying on physical strength or requiring a certain level of power were clearly unsuitable for him. 

In the past, Enel might have struggled to find an appropriate solution, resorting to granting special abilities to assist Hideyoshi. 

However… 

Thanks to the efforts of Linlin and Kaido, the range of products available in the trading store had greatly expanded. 

This improvement also made the trading system's recommendation function much more versatile. 

Take Hideyoshi as an example: 

While his physical strength was abysmally weak, his soul power was undoubtedly among the strongest in this world! 

Soon, the radiant glow surrounding Hideyoshi began to fade, signaling the completion of his transformation into a Shinigami. 

Moments later, the light disappeared entirely. 

As the transformation completed, Hideyoshi's casual sweatshirt and jeans were replaced with a flowing black Shinigami uniform. 

The shallow Asauchi he had plunged into his body had transformed into a slender Western knight sword, faint arcs of golden lightning dancing across the blade. 

However, since Hideyoshi had not yet mastered his Zanpakutō's initial release, the lightning quickly faded. 

"A lightning-type Zanpakutō?" 

Enel's expression shifted to one of approval as he observed the weapon. His attitude toward Hideyoshi seemed to change slightly. 

"This is no ordinary Zanpakutō. A lightning-type blade is undoubtedly one of the most powerful." 

Enel, uncertain if he was praising Hideyoshi or himself, smiled and nodded in satisfaction. 

At that moment, Hideyoshi slowly opened his eyes. 

"This is incredible!" 

He gazed at the Zanpakutō in his hand, feeling the immense power coursing through his body. A bright smile spread across his face. 

Yet, he knew he wasn't at his peak. 

As part of the transformation, certain memories about the Shinigami power system surfaced in his mind. 

This was a feature Leo had specifically added to the Asauchi for convenience. Upon awakening as a Shinigami, users would naturally gain knowledge of the power system and understand the direction they should take in their journey. 

At the same time, Hideyoshi learned something crucial: 

His Zanpakutō had not yet reached its ultimate form. 

Beyond the basic state, there were two advanced stages: Shikai and Bankai. 

While Hideyoshi didn't have high expectations for achieving the ultimate Bankai, he understood the challenges. 

Unlike other worlds, this one lacked the ambient energy needed for cultivation. Unless he became a ghoul and absorbed energy through consumption, it would be almost impossible to advance his spiritual practice. 

In other words, maintaining his human identity in this world made achieving greater spiritual heights almost unfeasible. 

But… 

He could at least attempt to communicate with his Zanpakutō and uncover its name, the first step in its release. 

"Kaneki, just wait. I'll be there to help you soon!" 

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Hideyoshi stared at his blade, a faint smile on his lips as if recalling a pleasant thought. 

--- 

Meanwhile, as Hideyoshi was engaged in his trade with Enel, Kaneki's DD organization had officially taken shape. 

Inside a cozy café lounge, several members of the group sat on sofas, brimming with enthusiasm as they shared ideas and strategized to strengthen their organization. 

To avoid being excluded from this fascinating endeavor, Roma boldly revealed her own hidden ace: 

She confessed to having already formed a ghoul organization called [Clowns] long ago. 

However, this group was far from large, consisting of only a few members. 

These individuals, all gathered by Roma, shared a common sentiment—they were tired of the mundane world. The Clowns organization lacked any specific goal, operating more like a playful circus where members acted on whims, treating the world as their playground. 

Due to its informal nature and lack of significant activity, very few were aware of Clown's existence. 

Now, driven by the allure of dimensional trade, Roma offered to merge the Clown organization with Kaneki's, pledging to make it a sharp blade in his hands. 

Her gesture stunned everyone present. 

Kaneki, however, accepted her proposal without hesitation. 

Thanks to his unparalleled sensory abilities, he could sense Roma's emotions and motives. 

The boredom of existence had drained her will to live. Dimensional trading shattered her perception of the world, introducing her to the infinite possibilities of other dimensions. 

She was determined to seize this opportunity, refusing to let it slip away. 

Kaneki, having dealt with Enel for some time, believed that dimensional merchants would never engage with unstable individuals like Roma. 

In essence, as long as Kaneki controlled dimensional transactions, he effectively held Roma's lifeline. 

This trust was the foundation for his decision to accept her offer.