83

Chapter 83: The Truth

At the same time, Kanzaki Ryoma contacted the CCG, providing a brief report of the situation and directly requesting backup.

"Kanzaki, are you saying you're alone right now in the Ghoul Restaurant located in Ward 7?"

The assistant investigator on the other end of the line sounded stunned, double-checking what he had just heard.

The CCG had previously launched a large-scale assault on a Ghoul Restaurant in another ward, dispatching numerous investigators due to the sheer number of ghouls gathered.

"Yes. The specific location is..."

Kanzaki relayed the exact coordinates of the Ghoul Restaurant.

"Understood! Please hold on, Kanzaki. We'll send reinforcements from the local Ward 7 branch as fast as we can!"

CCG immediately mobilized investigators from the 7th Ward. Reinforcements from farther districts wouldn't make it in time, but what they didn't know was that the Ghoul Restaurant had already been dismantled single-handedly by Kanzaki Ryoma.

"The situation is mostly under control, but I can't guarantee there aren't stragglers lurking in the shadows. Stay alert," Kanzaki said calmly.

"O-of course!"

The assistant investigator could hardly believe what he was hearing. Kanzaki had taken down the entire Ghoul Restaurant alone?

While waiting for the cleanup crew, Kanzaki scouted for any remaining ghouls who hadn't fled fast enough.

He quickly subdued a few.

[Ding! Host defeated an A-rated ghoul. Reward: 10 fusion points!]

[Ding! Host defeated an A-rated ghoul. Reward: 10 fusion points!]

[...]

Ten minutes later, a wave of CCG investigators arrived from the Ward 7 branch. Armed vehicles surrounded the Ghoul Restaurant, sealing off the entire building.

It was pointless now. The powerful ghouls had already fled, and those left behind had already been captured by Kanzaki.

As the team advanced with extreme caution, they found only one figure leaning against a wall inside—the sole survivor of the chaos, waiting calmly.

Though none of the investigators had met Kanzaki before, the Quinque briefcase beside him was enough to confirm his identity.

"You must be Kanzaki Ryoma. Sorry for the delay."

The lead senior investigator stepped forward immediately.

"No worries. I'll leave the rest to you."

Kanzaki's voice remained steady.

"Are there no ghouls left here?" the senior investigator asked, glancing around the building's vast interior.

"There might be one or two hiding somewhere. Be cautious."

Kanzaki turned and walked off.

The investigators proceeded to collect the corpses of the dead ghouls, along with those Kanzaki had incapacitated, and transported them back to CCG headquarters.

The entire building remained under lockdown. It would only be lifted once a full sweep confirmed the area was clear.

In the end, not a single ghoul remained.

However, when they attempted to trace ownership of the building, they hit a dead end. The identity of the owner was untraceable. Still, CCG was already aware that the Ghoul Restaurant had been established by Madam.

...

After escaping the building with the wounded Nashiro, Kurona made her way back to the only place she could think of—Kanou Akihiro's underground lab.

This hidden facility was the base of all his "one-eyed ghoul" experiments.

Kurona burst in, carrying Nashiro in her arms, and found Kanou hunched over his notes and tools, focused on another round of testing.

"Dad! Nashiro's hurt, please save her!"

Kurona's voice trembled as she called out from behind.

Kanou continued working without looking up. Several moments passed before he finally turned, glancing at Kurona and Nashiro with lifeless eyes.

He quickly assessed the damage. Nashiro was on the brink of death.

Her kakuhou had been nearly 70 percent destroyed. The odds of saving her were slim, and the effort required would only delay Kanou's ongoing work. He dismissed her instantly.

Kurona might hate him for it, but he was unmoved. To Kanou, the Yasuhisa sisters were merely partial successes—failed to reach the standard he desired.

Kurona and Nashiro were just disposable by what they could only do even with his experiment.

"She's beyond saving," Kanou said flatly and turned back to his research without another word.

"But she's still breathing!" Kurona cried, confusion and pain etched across her face.

"If you think she can be saved, then save her yourself. I don't have time to waste on you."

His tone was ice-cold.

Kurona finally understood.

Her "father" didn't care if they lived or died.

Her head lowered, teeth clenched. She lifted Nashiro once more and left the lab in silence.

Outside, far from prying eyes, she collapsed to the ground, holding her unconscious sister in her arms.

She wanted to save her. Desperately. But she didn't know how.

Nashiro's condition was deteriorating fast.

Panic rose in her chest.

Then she remembered—the card Kanzaki had given her. His contact information.

He was the one who injured Nashiro, and now she was considering calling him for help. The thought alone was surreal.

But his last words echoed in her mind. He had asked her if she would trust him.

She had no better option now.

After a brief inner battle, Kurona pulled out her phone and dialed the number Kanzaki had left behind.

The line picked up almost immediately.

"Nashiro can't hold on much longer," Kurona said, voice trembling. "I believe you. But... do you have a way to save her?"