Whether research into surgeries capable of transforming humans into ghouls, along with Kakuhou, high-Rc organ cultivation and transplantation projects, should be considered the development of weapons of mass destruction—that was the question.
Vela believed it was.
The US military command stationed in Japan, as well as the Tokyo Prosecutor's Office, both of which had received the Special Commissioner's request for deployment regarding the ghoul issue, agreed—it was.
Even if it was not now, in the future it very well could be.
One word: Investigate!
That night, neon lights shimmered on the waterfront.
While the CCG launched a heavy offensive in Ward 7, sweeping through ghoul nests, Tokyo's streets remained as bustling as ever.
Crowds thronged, ceaselessly flowing.
Even though the giant LED wall outside department stores broadcast live reports of investigators annihilating the large ghoul organization MADAM, killing countless registered ghouls by name, destroying 'talent' trafficking dens, and raiding ghoul restaurants to rescue kidnapped hostages awaiting slaughter, the reactions of passersby remained lukewarm.
A few exclamations and complaints: "Sugoi ne," "Why aren't the ghouls wiped out yet," "Baka, the Commission of Counter Ghoul is useless, what a disgrace—needing Americans to step in before they can uncover such filth." Then, as if nothing unusual had happened, people lowered their heads again, returning to idle chatter, sighing in resignation, or hurrying along in the grind of work…
After more than a century of coexistence with ghouls, Tokyo's citizens had long grown accustomed to endless news of battles between the CCG and ghouls.
Until—
Vrrrmmm… vrrrmmm…
A roar of engines suddenly rumbled from the Yokota Air Base in Fussa, western Tokyo, tearing through the neon night.
Multiple Apache attack helicopters escorted MH-6 Little Birds and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in special operations formation, crossing the boundary of Nishitama into Tokyo's central wards.
Behind them, a convoy of Humvees and armored vehicles carrying heavily armed US NBC defense troops sped onto the intercity expressway, heading straight for Ward 6.
Just then, Tokyo TV cut its regular anime broadcast.
Ward 7 CCG Branch.
In the central interrogation room, Vela, having shed her [Arata-Ayato-α] equipment and changed into standard duty uniform, stood before a one-way mirror. Holding a corrugated cup of coffee, she sipped lightly, exhaled warm breath, and observed the Yasuhisa sisters, who sat at a reinforced Quinque steel interrogation table, confessing to crimes committed after their half-ghoul transformation and making accusations against CCG Headquarters, the Washuu clan, and several Special Class investigators.
Beside her stood a squad of US soldiers in camouflage fatigues. They busied themselves setting up a portable signal relay, receivers, monitors, and remote command-and-control equipment.
On the screen appeared a live feed of the Yasuhisa family villa in Ward 6.
"Commence operation."
At Vela's command, the technical sergeant switched feeds, bringing up first-person footage from US special operations troops fast-roping into position.
With firepoints established, the assault began swiftly.
Boom—!
The screen jolted violently as the villa's windows shattered. With a massive directed blast, the floor collapsed, exposing the cracked ceiling of a hidden underground lab.
Gunfire erupted, mixed with eerie, inhuman roars. As breaching charges blew doors apart, Vela's mixed force of elite CCG Ward 6 investigators, North American counter-ghoul operatives, and US special forces stormed inside.
The delayed feed revealed a brightly lit laboratory crammed with cultivation tanks and transparent cylinders.
Organ vats, freezers packed with bloody flesh, operating tables, and control terminals were scattered everywhere.
Inside, several experimental subjects had already broken free—deliberately released.
Though barely retaining human shape, most had bloated, grotesque bodies, dull expressions, and only mindless roars. Single kakugan glared as their erratic Kagune thrashed violently.
The instant they saw the intruding humans, like starving beasts sighting fresh prey, they flew into a frenzy, pouncing without hesitation.
In an instant, the laboratory erupted in a storm of automatic rifle fire, general-purpose machine gun bursts, and heavy weapon roars. Everyone had loaded anti-ghoul Q-bullets—blood and flesh flew as inhuman roars and explosions thundered nonstop…
"That is… that's Rank-1 Ota?!"
A Ward 6 investigator recognized one of the modified subjects. His face darkened as he cursed: "Damn Akihiro Kanou, that madman—he actually kidnapped investigators for experiments?!"
Watching for a moment, Vela judged that the battle required no concern from her.
These experimental products looked fierce but were brainless failures, charging headlong into gunfire. Only a handful retained even basic reason.
She picked up the microphone on the desk, asking: "Report. Has Akihiro Kanou been located?"
"Negative. Only ghoulified abominations present at the site…"
Unexpected, yet expected.
Heh. Vela sneered.
As expected.
Someone had tipped Kanou off. He had already slipped away.
"The problem is indeed far deeper than it appears."
She cast her gaze across the Ward 7 investigators present, deliberately voicing the obvious.
Ring-ring.
With the bell, Yukinori Shinohara pushed open the door, followed by a grim-faced Iwao Kuroiwa, Marude Itsuki, and Kousuke Houji.
Rarely, Marude wore no mocking smile.
Standing at Vela's side, his face tense under the side lighting, he glanced at the Yasuhisa sisters inside the interrogation room, then at the footage of the Yasuhisa family underground lab. His expression turned somber and unreadable.
Such a vast, complete laboratory setup with abundant subjects—clearly not something Akihiro Kanou and the Yasuhisa family's past investments alone could support. There had to be hidden backers.
"Never thought Nanase Yasuhisa's daughters would end up ghouls, serving that lunatic Kanou, who seized their fortune and turned mad scientist…"
Slapping his own forehead, Marude flung down the written testimonies detailing ghoulification surgeries and Kanou's illegal experiments.
After receiving Vela's message, he had rushed from Ward 1 straight to Ward 7.
Through fax, he had already read the full report on the Ward 7 ghoul restaurant sweep—especially the account of reserve investigators turned into ghouls.
"Even the Yasuhisa family's Sphinx Company, its assets, its properties—seized illegally by Kanou. These girls were top CCG Academy students, not some blockheaded muscle trained only at the Countermeasure Education Facility. They studied law basics, didn't they? Why not report to the Academy leadership? Why not tell Amon, or us? Even going to the police would've spared them this misery."
The Sphinx Company—run by Kurona and Nashiro Yasuhisa's father, Nanase Yasuhisa.
Its business was supplying Rc solution to the CCG, an essential raw material for Rc suppressants, CRc gas, ghoul-specialized Q-bullets, and Quinques.
A key CCG partner.
It had once invested in CCG's artificial ghoul research for stronger anti-ghoul measures, but was later abandoned for unknown reasons.
Nanase Yasuhisa and his wife had both perished in a ghoul attack.
Marude spoke bitterly: "Why trust us so little? Even if it meant being turned into ghouls, cast into hell itself—they'd rather trust Kanou, who suddenly swooped in to seize their inheritance, all for some half-baked theory?"
"Such an obvious case of vulturing off orphans… Damn it, why were they so stubborn?"
"Enough, Marude."
Yukinori Shinohara pressed a hand on Marude's shoulder.
"When they lost their parents, they were still high school minors. At that age, Kanou preyed on them, forced them into experiments, and confined them to a dark laboratory cut off from society for years. It's understandable their minds didn't mature. You can't judge them by adult standards."
He sighed, glancing into the interrogation room at the Yasuhisa sisters.
Had none of this happened, they would likely have become investigators like Suzuya Juuzou, and probably been assigned under his command.
"Perhaps in their eyes, the corrupt and callous CCG was even more detestable."
"Damn it, one mess after another!"
Somewhat irritated, Marude ruffled his hair, sighed, straightened his tie, and composed himself before turning toward Vela, who sat quietly sipping coffee with a detached air, as though simply watching a play.
"So, Russell, if I'm not mistaken—you already suspected there were problems inside the CCG. No wonder. On your second day back, you launched such a massive raid. You didn't want to give those rats and parasites time to react or collude."
He too had suspected internal rot in the Bureau, but never thought it ran this deep.
"Obvious."
Tossing her empty cup into the trash, Vela flexed her hands, turned, and gave him a glance.
"Just now, the CIA already verified anomalies in the Yasuhisa mansion's electricity usage and suspicious supply shipments. That none of this was noticed under your noses means one thing—either incompetence, or an inside traitor. All signs point to grave issues within the CCG, and Tokyo's high society as well."
Marude nodded bitterly, feeling both helpless and humiliated.
For a department to be exposed as infiltrated—pointed out by international investigators and laid bare—was a crushing disgrace anywhere in the world.
"Russell, with US forces directly intervening in Kanou Akihiro's case, the Bureau will suffer heavy criticism. Couldn't we…"
Marude knew full well he had no authority over Vela. Though technically Section II Chief, and she Deputy, everyone understood her title was honorary. Still, he tried, hoping to salvage some face for the Tokyo Commission of Counter Ghoul.
"There is no 'couldn't.'"
Shaking her head, Vela cut him off flatly.
"Marude, I trust you. But this isn't about criticism. Whether rot collapses or bone is scraped to cure poison—the choice must be yours. I've torn the wound open. If problems exist, if disgrace exists, then expose it, solve it, wash away the shame. That is the right attitude."
Practical words, but easy to say from her position.
If it were the North American Commission that had been compromised, Vela knew the first reaction of her superiors would be no different from Marude's—cover it up, fix it internally, preserve face. But in Japan, she had no such concerns. Here, she could claim the shining moral high ground, pointing fingers without restraint.
The Special Class investigators present listened silently, not interrupting. Instead, they quietly discussed the Yasuhisa sisters' testimony and written accusations against the CCG leadership.
"…I understand."
Realizing US involvement could not be undone, Marude slowly exhaled, picked the report back up after a pause, and nodded.
"I agree with your resolution, Commissioner Russell."
"After all… we have no other choice, do we?"
The support of this senior, powerful CCG Special Class left Vela satisfied.
The Washuu clan had lost their legitimacy.
And as for the seat of CCG Bureau Director—was Marude interested?
"At this point, patchwork fixes mean nothing. Break to rebuild, Marude…"
Her lips curled, indigo eyes glinting with goading intent. Stepping closer, her fingertip tapped the interrogation transcript in his hands, leaving something behind. "Internal investigation."
With that, she turned toward the exit.
Creek. A US officer entered at just the right moment, leaning close to whisper in her ear: "Commissioner, Operation No. 2 is ready."
"Mm… lead the way."
She nodded.
"As for the Yasuhisa sisters—their protection and surveillance falls to you, Shinohara."
Straightening her uniform slightly before leaving, Vela gave Yukinori Shinohara one final reminder: "They're vital witnesses. Handle with utmost care."
Then she strode out.
"…."
Shinohara watched her back disappear. Silence filled the room again. Turning to speak, he noticed Marude's face—bearing an uncharacteristic sternness he had never seen before.
"Marude, what is it?"
"What else? One thorny problem after another…"
Unknowingly, Marude's hand had crushed the interrogation transcript into creases. He tucked away the slip of paper Vela had left him, then lifted his gaze to meet those of his old comrades—Kuroiwa Iwao, Yukinori Shinohara, and Kousuke Houji.
"Gentlemen, our troubles have just multiplied."
Marude let out a self-mocking laugh before saying gravely: "If we mishandle this, the CCG could suffer devastating losses. Japan's countermeasure agency would become an international laughingstock…"
In his clenched, sweat-soaked palm, the small slip blurred—
[The Washuu clan has problems.]
Yukinori Shinohara spoke: "We stand with you, Marude. At times like this, it really does take external force like Russell's to break our deadlock."
"Commissioner Russell is right. Problems are a disgrace—but exposing and solving them is how we wash away shame, not by hiding them."
Kuroiwa crossed his arms. "As Special Classes, with such rot in the CCG, the responsibility is ours."
Houji nodded. "Should we convene a Special Class meeting and inform Tanaka Maru and Anura—"
Before he finished, a thunderous explosion shook the building, very near the interrogation room. Marude's face changed. He kicked a chair aside, shouting: "What the hell happened?!"
"Report—ghouls, enemy attack!"
"What?!"
…
Moments earlier.
Vela had left the interrogation room, speaking with the US officer about the raid on Kanou Akihiro's lab and the subsequent sweep.
"The plan you ordered—bold and ostentatious, a diversion. The CIA and cyberwarfare units have already begun monitoring numerous businessmen and politicians on the list."
"Good. Have the Special Investigation Division of the Prosecutor's Office move as well. The big financiers behind the ghoul restaurant—drag them all out. That's a big slice of cake…"
As they spoke, Vela rounded a corridor corner. Approaching were two investigators carrying Quinque cases—one short and stout, the other tall and thin.
"Oh?"
Seeing them, she gave a soft exclamation.
A big catch—delivered right to her.
The tall, slender one was a young man with black hair covering his left eye, red pupils, and a beauty mark at the corner of his right eye. His features were striking and delicate.
He, too, recognized her. His eyes widened, then lit with barely contained excitement. Rushing forward, he bowed deeply like a fan before an idol: "Ah, greetings, Special Class Russell. I am Nimura Furuta, Rank-1 Investigator of Ward 23."
The stocky, heavy-set investigator followed.
"Special Class Russell, thank you for your trust. Receiving your summons, I hurried here from Quinx detention without delay."
Lifting his hat in salute, his scarred, reconstructed face twisted into a frightening mask. He patted Furuta's shoulder as the younger man remained bowing in excitement.
"This is my partner, an excellent junior. Diligent, highly motivated. Upon hearing he could join your command in Ward 7, he volunteered for overtime to accompany me."
Shiki Kijima—Associate Special Class from the Ward 23 Ghoul Detention Center, also an accomplished interrogator.
Studying the man's disfigured features—the ears and nose pared down, skin visibly grafted—Vela recalled his file and inclined her head politely.
She had requested him deliberately. A minor detail in her planning, now yielding unexpected gain.
Without drawing attention, Vela stepped forward to help Furuta upright. She looked at Kijima. "Madam A, and the trash captured from the ghoul restaurant, will be left to you and First Class Kureo Mado. One condition: squeeze out every drop of value."
Her tone was casual, her orders absolute.
The kind of humans who paid to watch gladiatorial fights and dine on fresh human sashimi had no innocence, no rights, no political standing worth considering. However they were tormented, it mattered not.
"My pleasure."
Kijima pressed his hat to his chest, lips curling into a ghastly grin full of twisted malice.
Beside him, Furuta—helped to his feet, still flushed with excitement—bowed again. The bright corridor light reflected off the polished floor, obscuring his expression.
"I look forward to your results, Associate Special Class Kijima… and Rank-1 Furuta."
Vela smiled faintly, brushing past them to rejoin the US officer.
"All right, Furuta, let's get to work," Kijima said eagerly, already itching to torture ghouls.
"Mm…"
Furuta's harmless smile lingered as he turned—
Bang!
The gunshot froze everyone.
"Special Class Russell?!"
"Commissioner?!"
It was Vela.
Beretta M9 smoking in hand, she gazed at Furuta, who clutched his bleeding face.
"You!"
The sclera of his right eye turned black, the iris glowing crimson. A kakugan. Blood trickled down his forehead as the bullet clinked onto the tiles with sharp clarity in the suffocating silence.
Furuta stared at her, the harmless smile gone, mouth twisting into a grotesque mask.
Vela only chuckled to herself.
"Should I blame Washuu's incompetence… or that the CCG's rot runs deeper than I imagined? That even man-eating ghouls can become investigators now? And one-eyed at that."