"I didn't expect to be this famous."
Ren Kiryu spread his hands lightly.
"Are you surprised to see me here?"
Before the words had even finished leaving his mouth—
The scarlet tentacles coiled around his arm suddenly lashed out.
Like a streak of crimson lightning—
They shot directly toward the terrified elderly man who had collapsed on the balcony of the office building.
In an instant—
The tentacles stopped in front of the old man.
Their sharp tips trembled faintly.
As if they might pierce through him at any moment.
"Stop!"
Take Hirako shouted instinctively.
Honoki Ayumu shut her eyes tightly.
She couldn't bear to watch the inevitable bloodshed.
But—
The scene they feared never happened.
Instead—
The tentacles gently wrapped around the old man's waist.
Lifting him carefully.
They carried him through the doorway.
"Grandpa,"
Kiryu said calmly,
"You should stay inside tonight."
"It's not very safe outside."
Click.
The door closed quietly.
The scarlet tentacles withdrew.
Silence fell across the battlefield.
"What?"
Kiryu tilted his head slightly.
"You thought I'd kill him?"
A faint smile appeared beneath his mask.
His gaze swept across the investigators of Squad A3.
Finally—
It stopped on Hirako.
"You look like a proper investigator."
Then his gaze shifted toward Hachikawa Tadashi.
"Unlike some people…"
"…who would gamble with civilian lives just to satisfy their own revenge."
"You—!"
Hachikawa's expression twisted with fury.
Golden light exploded from his quinque.
The weapon fired instantly.
Crystalline yellow projectiles screamed through the air toward Kiryu.
Kiryu didn't move.
Not even a step.
Two scarlet tentacles burst from behind him.
They swung lazily through the air—
Like living whips.
CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—
Every attack was deflected.
Crystals shattered against the walls.
Fragments scattered across the street like broken glass.
"…Too slow…too slow…"
A voice echoed deep inside Kiryu's consciousness.
Filled with savage amusement.
"…Attacks like this…"
"…even if they hit…"
"…they're nothing but a tickle…"
Seeing his attack fail—
Hachikawa gritted his teeth and began charging another strike.
But he was already too late.
Two scarlet tentacles shot forward like venomous serpents.
They wrapped around his body instantly.
Then—
Dragged him violently toward Kiryu.
"Mr. Hachikawa!"
Hirako shouted.
He rushed forward.
His quinque Jingyuan 1/3 cutting through the air.
Honoki hesitated only a moment—
Then attacked from the opposite side.
But two more tentacles emerged.
They lashed out like living shields.
Blocking both investigators completely.
"Damn it!"
Hirako's teeth clenched.
Sweat rolled down his forehead.
The tentacles were impossibly fast.
Every strike forced him backward.
On the other side—
Honoki was also retreating step by step.
Her longsword clashed repeatedly against the crimson tendrils.
Meanwhile—
Hachikawa struggled desperately.
But the tentacles binding him were like iron restraints.
He felt as though a giant python was crushing his body.
Every breath grew harder.
"Do you have any final words, Mr. Hachikawa?"
Kiryu asked calmly.
"The CCG will wipe out every ghoul in Anteiku!"
Hachikawa roared hoarsely.
His eyes burned with hatred.
"You monsters will all die in the 20th Ward!"
"So those are your last words."
The tentacles tightened.
At first—
Only faint cracking sounds echoed.
Bones breaking.
Like dry branches snapping underfoot.
Hachikawa's face turned purple.
His eyes bulged.
His mouth opened—
But no sound came out.
The tentacles squeezed slowly.
Mercilessly.
Blood seeped from the gaps.
Dripping onto the snow below.
His ribs collapsed.
His shoulders dislocated.
His limbs hung limp.
Like a broken puppet.
His eyes lost their focus.
Then—
Silence.
SPLATTER.
The tentacles crushed him completely.
Bones shattered.
Flesh tore apart.
Blood and fragments of tissue burst outward.
Staining the white snow dark red.
Hirako's hands trembled violently.
His quinque almost slipped from his grasp.
"Ha…Hachikawa…"
Honoki collapsed to her knees.
Her sword clattered onto the ground.
She stared at the mangled remains.
Tears blurred her vision.
She had always admired Hachikawa.
But now—
She had watched him die like this.
The remaining members of Squad A3 froze in terror.
Some stepped backward instinctively.
Others held their weapons—
Yet didn't dare move.
Even so—
Their training as investigators prevented them from fleeing.
At that moment—
The communicator in Hachikawa's ear suddenly activated.
"Oh?"
Kiryu chuckled softly.
A tentacle reached down.
Plucking the communicator from the crushed corpse.
"This is Itsuki Marude."
The voice came through the device.
"Hachikawa, report your situation."
"Repeat—report."
"I'm afraid Investigator Hachikawa won't be answering."
Kiryu replied casually.
A pause followed.
"…Who is this?"
"You already know."
Kiryu's tone carried faint amusement.
After a brief silence—
Marude spoke again.
"…Massacre."
"Correct."
Kiryu laughed quietly.
"By the way—"
"Does the CCG normally allow investigators to use civilians as bait?"
Another pause.
"…No."
Marude answered flatly.
"Then think of it as me cleaning up your mess."
"No need to thank me."
Kiryu crushed the communicator in his hand.
Fragments scattered across the snow.
Then—
He slowly looked up.
His gaze fell on Hirako and Honoki.
Both investigators were still trembling.
"Now…"
Kiryu said calmly.
"…it's your turn."
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