Tokyo, 24th Ward.
Deep underground, within the carved-out tunnel spaces.
A place that could barely be called a room—it was dimly lit, with the air thick with the stench of blood.
A freezer door hung ajar, packed full with chunks of raw, bloody meat. Several freezers, their contents unclear—human corpses or ghoul remains—stood haphazardly in the corners of the room.
"Eto, latest intel: every operative we sent to the 14th Ward to recruit new members was wiped out. The potential recruits there were also completely massacred."
A man with white hair and crimson eyes, wearing a long white high-collared coat and a half-face scarlet mask, turned and looked toward a petite figure perched on top of a fridge.
Bandages were wrapped around her entire body. She wore a loose pink coat with torn sleeves and a hood pulled low over her head. Her face was obscured, but judging by the curves of her body, she was female.
"Who was it? Which Special-Class went to the 14th Ward? Was it Arima..."
Dangling her bandaged, bare legs off the fridge, the small figure—called Eto—paused before asking. Her tone was oddly cheerful, showing neither sorrow nor anger.
"It was Vela Adelheid Russell."
"That name—she's not Japanese?"
Eto let out a curious hum.
"An American citizen."
The man in white replied blandly, summarizing the intel he had.
"An elite agent from the North American Commission of Counter Ghoul and Control Bureau. She was reassigned to the Tokyo branch of the Commission of Counter Ghoul about three months ago."
"Oh? Now I remember... reports from three months ago. Anonymous CCG sources said some high-ranking foreign officials came to Tokyo for inspection..."
Eto sounded intrigued, mocking even. "She didn't leave after three months? Weren't they just supposed to pad their résumés and move on?"
"Maybe. But at least this Russell isn't. Based on the info I just collected, she's spent most of her time in the 1st Ward CCG headquarters. In her spare time, she either dines in high-end restaurants or hunts ghouls. She's already taken down numerous S-rank and even cannibalistic ghouls."
"No one knows exactly what she's doing inside CCG HQ, but one thing is clear—every time she reappears, her Quinque has changed."
His voice remained calm, but at the mention of "changed Quinque," his sclera darkened, blood vessels surfaced, and a ghoul's crimson kakugan flared.
Everyone in the ghoul world knows where Quinques come from.
Every time a dove switches Quinque, it means at least one ghoul with a developed Kakuhou was killed. For Vela, this glamorous, high-ranking investigator transferred from North America, her Quinques were undoubtedly made from high-grade S-rank Kakuhou.
He might be someone who treats subordinates as expendable, unfazed by losses—but even he couldn't help feeling disgusted by such a dove who viewed ghouls purely as lab specimens. Any ghoul with a Kakuhou would find her revolting.
"So you're saying..."
Eto's raspy voice drifted out—flat, emotionless, neither joy nor sorrow. "She's learning... or perhaps refining and experimenting with her Quinque crafting skills."
"Should I assign someone to test her?"
"Forget it. Too troublesome... Her status is too troublesome. If the operative is weak, it's just offering her more raw material. If too strong, it'll draw attention. And if she's stalled or angered enough to call on the U.S. military... we'd be facing more than just the Washuu and the CCG."
Eto dangled her legs thoughtfully, then lightly hopped off the fridge, landing on the shoulder of a tall, silent figure—his entire body wrapped tight, a wide white mask covering his face.
"Say, Tatara-san... leave her to me."
"Eto, are you planning to use your human identity..."
...
1st Ward.
In the early morning, Vela, as usual, arrived at the CCG Headquarters by official vehicle. Passing through the Rc detector gate, she made her way toward the direct elevator to the Countermeasure Division II floor amid a flurry of polite greetings.
"Rank-1 Investigator Russell, your coffee."
"Thank you."
During the brief wait for the elevator, Vela accepted a coffee from an administrative receptionist.
The CCG Headquarters provided free beverages—coffee, black tea, green tea, soda. But in the sleepy hours of the early shift, most chose coffee.
Ding.
The elevator arrived at the Countermeasure Division II floor.
Holding her corrugated cup in one hand, Vela pushed open the door to the Division II reception area and immediately spotted her young adjutant.
Seated on the couch, in a standard office skirt suit, with blonde hair tied up and a cold expression, she was diligently reading a briefing document.
"20th Ward. Second-Class Mado... Missing her family, perhaps."
Hearing Vela's voice, she turned her head and quickly stood to bow slightly. "Rank-1 Investigator Russell, thank you for your guidance over the past two months. Please, just call me Akira."
Akira Mado had noticed Vela's gaze—fixed on the section of the report about recent events in the 20th Ward.
"I'm just worried about my father... Ever since my mother was killed by the Owl, he's changed. He became obsessed with hunting ghouls... I fear he'll act impulsively," she admitted.
There was no shame in confessing it. Vela was her direct superior. And her father, Kureo Mado, was well-known for his obsession with eradicating ghouls.
"Jason the Gecko in a white suit has been sighted in the 20th Ward..."
Vela casually reached for Akira's report and read it out.
She thought of that hunchbacked man with wild, mismatched eyes.
A vengeful man who'd lost his wife in a ghoul attack.
As for Jason the Gecko—half-ghoul, and... what's 1000 minus 7?
"At least S+-rank. Rinkaku type."
She commented as she gestured for Akira to follow, quickly scanning through the rest of the report.
"That old man—while experienced—simply lacks the strength. If he really encounters Jason, he won't be able to win. Do you want to head to the 20th Ward to fight by his side?"
"Ah? I... You're too kind." Akira clearly wished to see her father, to stand beside him, but remained composed and shook her head. "Your assignments take top priority. I am your adjutant."
She stopped walking and bowed again.
"About the other night... please forgive my offense. My combat ability is lacking. If I fight alongside you, I'll only be a distraction and disrupt your combat rhythm. But—I'll work hard."
"The early access to Quinque equipment, the chance to participate in S-rank ghoul elimination missions as a new graduate... your special care. I, Akira, will always remember it."
"That's a good attitude." Vela stopped walking, closed the report, and smiled slightly. "After all, I requested you personally from under the White Reaper."
Akira Mado had graduated top of her class from the Ghoul Investigator Training Academy. In the original timeline, she would've been assigned to Arima Kishou's team for her internship, only to later learn of her father's death.
In this timeline, however, Vela—transferred from the North American Division—was given high respect by CCG's upper echelon. Regardless of what they truly thought, they had to show her courtesy.
Because she was a foreigner unfamiliar with local conditions, she was assigned an adjutant. Vela chose Akira from the list of graduates.
"If I'm given special treatment, it won't be less than his. Mhm. Let's go, Akira."
With a more familiar tone, Vela headed toward the Division II meeting room.
Akira hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed after her.
"Ma'am, do you really believe killing ghouls is executing justice?"
Their relationship seemed to have grown more familiar in that moment, and Akira asked thoughtfully.
"Of course it's to execute justice—exterminate and purge every threatening or criminal ghoul, and contain or control all strays. And while I'm at it, accumulate achievements and credentials for a promotion."
There was nothing to hide. Vela bluntly admitted the reason she came to Tokyo—to use ghoul heads as stepping stones.
"By the time I joined, North America had already been purged clean. Just a couple of elusive ones left, and each better at hiding than the last. It was boring. But Tokyo? Ghouls everywhere. Cannibalism is common. No shortage of targets or Kakuhou."
She made no attempt to hide her hostility toward ghouls or her sarcastic critique of Tokyo's anti-ghoul efforts.
"Even though what you say is true, as a CCG investigator from Japan, I still feel ashamed..."
"Then change it. Exterminate all guilty ghouls and restore peace for Tokyo's citizens."
"An unexpected answer. I thought you and my father were the same type."
"He's a revenge seeker. I'm a law enforcer."
Rustle.
Vela patted Akira on the shoulder. She wouldn't spout clichéd lines like "let go of hatred." Don't tell others to be kind if you've never suffered. Then she pushed open the door to Countermeasure Division II's meeting room.
"...Those guys are clearly operating with organization and intent. Civilian attacks, investigator casualties... The situation is deteriorating rapidly. A larger-scale ghoul riot is only a matter of time. I must reiterate—this is the current state of the 11th Ward. We must—"
On the platform stood a middle-aged man with neatly parted dark-purple hair, a hooked nose, high cheekbones, in a suit and tie—stern and harsh.
The nameplate read: Itsuki Marude.
CCG Special-Class Investigator, Chief of Countermeasure Division II, Commander of the 1st Ward.
Hearing the door open, he looked over to see Vela walking in, waving at him with a corrugated coffee cup in hand.
"Ah, Rank-1 Russell. Thank you for your work in the 14th Ward," Marude raised an eyebrow and tapped the table, suggesting, "About the 11th Ward—"
"Hold it, hold it, Special-Class Marude, you sure know how to overwork the useful ones," Vela said, shaking her head as she climbed onto the stage, took a sip of coffee, and casually continued, "I'm just stopping by to report. I'm planning to head to the 20th Ward."
"Tsk... The 20th Ward. That peaceful zone. Mado just went there with Amon for investigation."
"Now you want to go too... Makes sense. The 11th Ward's Binge Eater and the 13th's Gecko Jason have both been seen in the 20th. Oh, and now there's the Gourmet. It's no wonder you're interested... but I think there's more to it. Mado's daughter is your adjutant, right? No wonder—you want father and daughter to fight side by side."
Marude rubbed his chin.
"Such a thoughtful superior, Russell."
They had only partnered for about three months since her transfer from North America, but Vela was undeniably effective.
Perhaps she preferred tinkering with Dr. Chigyou's Quinque lab, but that didn't stop her from earning the White Single Wing and the Silver Osmanthus badges.
The White Single Wing—awarded for eliminating S-rank ghouls. The Silver Osmanthus—granted annually to investigators who eliminate 50 to 99 ghouls.
Vela had achieved that in less than three months, most of which she spent in the Quinque development lab.
Marude suspected she'd soon earn the White Double Wing for defeating SS-rank ghouls. A monster on par with Arima.
"14th Ward."
Resting her chin on her hand, Vela turned to Marude.
"After purging the local cannibalistic faction, I found an external organization attempting to consolidate the 14th Ward's ghouls. After eliminating them, I discovered many members of the 13th Ward's 'White Suits' beneath their uniformed robes. That robe..."
She pointed to the central screen.
[11th Ward Monthly Report]
[Death by predation: 358]
[Victim count: 47]
[Ghoul encounters: 1,581]
"Matches the organized, deliberate ghoul groups active in the 11th Ward."
"So the 11th, 13th, and 14th Wards... Damn it!" Bang! Marude slammed the table, face grim. "Those cockroaches, they've got big plans."
The Cockroach Theory—when you see one cockroach, dozens more are hiding.
"Russell, the 20th Ward is yours. If this is true, Mado and the stationed team won't be able to handle Binge Eater and Jason. If you need—"
"Let me borrow that prized motorcycle of yours for a ride."
"Stop! No, no, no," Marude growled, face twitching. "Don't eye my bike. I'll buy you one. Stay on topic."
"It's not yours. Riding it wouldn't feel the same."
Was it her imagination, or had Vela really grown fond of chatting with these old... no, middle-aged types? Arima was too enigmatic. Shinohara, Kuroiwa, Hoji—too stiff. Marude? Amusing.
"You woman, your personality's the worst."
"Right back at you. You venomous old man."
Below the stage, a group of First-Class and Associate Investigators twitched at the corners of their eyes, barely suppressing laughter. Rank-1 Vela might as well have been a Special-Class too.
The banter ended quickly.
After all, serious matters took priority. Vela knew where to draw the line. A little light banter helped build rapport, but now—it was time to talk business.
"Give me four squads. First-Class leads."
"Whoa, not a small ask. But as you can see," Marude gestured at the big screen, "The 11th Ward's worse than expected. I'm just about to reinforce it. Troop-wise..."
"Temporarily. Once I've resolved the 20th Ward, I'll transfer to the 11th."
"Alright, deal."
...
Creak.
"Let's go, Akira. Target: the 20th Ward."
Leaving the meeting room, Vela smoothed out the slight wrinkles in her uniform and said to Akira Mado.
"Now?"
"No rush. First, we're stopping by Dr. Chigyou's lab. I have new Quinque gear..."