57

Chapter 57: Aftermath

Just as Amon Koutarou was about to continue chasing, he realized that "Gecko" had already vanished without a trace.

"Damn it! He got away again!" Amon cursed in frustration.

"It's fine, Amon. We weren't going to catch 'Gecko' anyway," Mado Kureo said calmly.

Mado's Quinque had been damaged in the earlier encounter — a clear sign that "Gecko's" strength was far greater than expected.

Of course, this was just one of Mado's more common Quinques, so its destruction didn't bother him too much. He had plenty of others. The real mistake was underestimating "Gecko" in the first place.

"Yeah..." Amon muttered, calming himself down.

"We should be thanking Kanzaki for giving us a clear picture of that ghoul's strength. Without him, we might've been the ones in danger."

Mado shifted his gaze to Kanzaki Ryoma.

The rookie had surprised him. Fighting an S-rated ghoul like "Gecko" and walking away unscathed wasn't something just anyone could pull off. This kid wasn't ordinary. Could it be he was from the same place as... that person?

"Agreed. Thanks, Kanzaki," Amon added sincerely.

"It's nothing," Kanzaki replied indifferently.

"Mr. Mado, Mr. Amon... what should I do now?"

Fueguchi Asaki's anxious voice cut through the air. His face was pale, clearly shaken.

He knew that failing to capture "Gecko" had put a target on his back. If "Gecko" suspected he'd been cooperating with CCG, retaliation would be inevitable.

"Oh, don't worry. I know exactly what you should do."

Mado's voice turned cold, and a twisted smile formed on his face.

"You're of no use to us now."

"What...?" Fueguchi's eyes widened in horror.

His mind raced, barely able to process Mado's words. Did he mean to kill him?

Amon remained silent. He didn't agree with Mado's methods, but he'd learned enough to know how things worked.

In CCG's eyes, a ghoul — no matter how kind or cooperative — was still a ghoul.

Even if Fueguchi Asaki had shown kindness to humans, his nature as a ghoul automatically condemned him.

"Amon!"

Mado's sharp call broke the tension.

His Quinque had been destroyed earlier, so Amon had to finish the job.

"Yes, sir!"

Amon hesitated no longer, gripping Dojima 1/2 tightly and stepping forward.

Fueguchi Asaki instinctively backed away, but there was no escape. He was cornered, and three CCG investigators stood between him and the exit.

Regret surged through him. Had he known this would happen, he never would have reached out to CCG in the first place.

But it was too late now.

Worst of all, his wife and daughter were still in danger. Whether it was "Gecko" or Mado, both knew about his family. His death would only be the beginning.

"Talking about trust with a ghoul? Disgusting."

Mado's smile widened. His eyes gleamed with twisted satisfaction.

Fueguchi wasn't a person to him — just another ghoul to be exterminated.

In Mado's mind, there was nothing more fitting than using Fueguchi's kagune to forge a Quinque — one that could later be used to kill his family.

"No! Please!"

Fueguchi's voice shook with desperation.

But just as Amon raised Dojima 1/2 to deliver the killing blow, Kanzaki's calm voice broke the tension.

"Wait."

Amon froze mid-swing, turning back in surprise.

Even Mado's expression flickered with mild confusion.

"'Gecko' isn't finished yet," Kanzaki said evenly. "If you kill Fueguchi now, you'll lose a valuable opportunity. 'Gecko' will definitely come back for revenge. Keeping Fueguchi alive guarantees he returns — and this time, I won't let him escape."

Amon considered Kanzaki's words carefully. They made sense — if Kanzaki really had the ability to defeat "Gecko," then it was worth the risk.

He turned back toward Mado.

"Fine," Mado muttered. "I'll leave it to you. But you better make sure 'Gecko' doesn't get away next time."

Despite his apparent agreement, Mado's suspicions grew. Something about Kanzaki seemed off — too calm, too composed.

His sharp instincts told him that Kanzaki might be hiding something...

Asaki nearly collapsed from relief, but his reprieve was temporary. He knew that this was just a delay — his death was still looming.

For now, though, Kanzaki's intervention had brought him time.

Compared to Mado's cold cruelty, Kanzaki's ruthless confidence seemed more calculated.

For now, Amon trusted Kanzaki's logic. If Kanzaki believed he could kill "Gecko," that was enough.

Asaki silently prayed that Kanzaki's words were more than just a bluff.