Chapter 54: Reinforcements
Su Xiao got off the vehicle at the 20th District Branch, wearing the Zero Squad’s distinctive combat uniform—a white trench coat.
Zero Squad members must wear this combat uniform when dispatched for battle missions.
“Thanks.”
After thanking the driver, Su Xiao got out and entered the 20th District Branch.
“Special Class Bai Ye, Special Class Maru is holding an operations meeting on the twelfth floor. Please follow me.”
A Third-Class Investigator was already waiting at the entrance.
Arriving at the meeting room door, Su Xiao heard Maru Hitoshi’s unique roar.
“What the hell is this? The equipment hasn’t been transferred yet? What’s going on with the higher-ups?”
“Sorry, I’ll go urge them right away.”
“Special Class Maru, here’s the latest intel. The Bronze Tree has already assembled in the 11th District, showing signs of an active offensive.”
The meeting room was in chaos, having become the temporary command center for the “Special Countermeasures Squad.”
Su Xiao entered the room, his Zero Squad combat uniform standing out conspicuously.
“Is that Zero Squad?”
“Zero Squad is joining this operation too? Suddenly, I’m not so nervous.”
Muttered discussions arose as Su Xiao walked up to Maru Hitoshi.
Maru Hitoshi looked somewhat disheveled, his hair messy and his eyes bloodshot.
“You’re here. This is the latest situation in the 11th District. Take a look. We’ll move out in two hours.”
Su Xiao paused. The attack time was rather hasty.
“That urgent?”
“No choice. Those bastards in the 11th District are showing signs of an active offensive. Right now, the 9th, 10th, and 12th Districts near the 11th could be attacked at any moment. We can’t just sit by and do nothing.”
Maru Hitoshi slammed the meeting table in frustration and muttered a curse.
The “Special Countermeasures Squad” wasn’t fully prepared yet. Such a hasty deployment could lead to problems.
This was also why Su Xiao had been transferred to the “Special Countermeasures Squad,” though Maru Hitoshi and Shinohara Yukinori also played a part.
After all, the two were Special Class Investigators. When they joined forces, the CCG higher-ups couldn’t ignore their proposals.
The “Special Countermeasures Squad” had three Special Class Investigators: Shinohara Yukinori, Maru Hitoshi, and Kuroiwa Iwa.
Maru Hitoshi was in charge of battlefield command, while Shinohara Yukinori and Kuroiwa Iwa led the troops on the front lines—both were action-oriented.
Kuroiwa Iwa was a seasoned investigator with extensive combat experience. He had hunted the “Owl” twice and escaped unscathed, proving his strength.
Like Shinohara Yukinori, Kuroiwa Iwa was a user of the “New” quinque.
“Understood. But I have a strange feeling.”
Su Xiao put down the documents in his hand and spoke quietly with Maru Hitoshi for a few moments.
After hearing Su Xiao’s words, Maru Hitoshi’s expression shifted slightly.
“That… it’s not impossible. We have to be on guard. I’ll keep an eye on it. The CCG headquarters has people with that kind of expertise; I’ll temporarily pull some in.
As expected, bringing you along was the right call. I’m counting on you during the battle. I want to minimize investigator casualties as much as possible.”
Maru Hitoshi shed his usual roguish demeanor, his expression serious as he left the meeting room.
Su Xiao found an empty seat, sat down fully relaxed, and adjusted his state.
“Bai Ye, you’re here.”
A familiar voice came from behind. Su Xiao turned his head to see Shinohara Yukinori.
“Special Class Shinohara, how long until we depart? After this operation, I need to return to the 24th District Branch to continue exploring the underground of the 24th District.”
Su Xiao’s completely unflustered demeanor made Shinohara Yukinori give a wry smile.
Compared to Su Xiao, the surrounding investigators all wore worried expressions.
“We depart in one hour and thirty minutes. The troops are already being assembled. How’s the situation in the 24th District?”
Shinohara Yukinori sat down, wearing a black combat uniform.
“The outskirts of the 24th District are relatively safe, but there are quite a few ghouls inside. I’m starting to suspect there’s a major ghoul gathering point at the very center of the 24th District.”
The two chatted idly to pass the time.
Before long, Maru Hitoshi hurried back into the meeting room.
“Shinohara, how’s the civilian evacuation going?”
Shinohara Yukinori stood up.
“It was rushed, but with the police’s cooperation, it’s done. We’re ready to move out at any time.”
Maru Hitoshi took a deep breath, picked up the microphone beside him, and looked at the investigators present.
“Time to move out, boys!”
“Yes, sir!”
All the investigators rose and quickly filed out.
At the main entrance of the CCG branch, a long line of vehicles was already waiting. This operation involved over a thousand CCG personnel, forming an imposing convoy.
Su Xiao found a transport vehicle and was about to board when Maru Hitoshi called out from a distance.
“Bai Ye, come to the command vehicle. There’s something I need to discuss with you.”
Su Xiao walked to the front of the convoy, where a large crowd had gathered, creating a noisy atmosphere.
There were leaders from various Tokyo departments and a swarm of TV station reporters. Maru Hitoshi casually dealt with them for a few moments before entering the command vehicle.
“Mr. Maru, could you give us some insight into whether the situation is optimistic?”
“Yes, please convey some information to the citizens.”
Reporters armed with “long guns and short cannons” surged forward but were blocked by CCG staff.
Among the crowd of reporters, a petite, delicate-looking female reporter was pushed out of the crowd due to her lack of physical strength.
The female reporter looked anxious. For such a major news story, she at least needed a photo of Maru Hitoshi, but she hadn’t even seen his face clearly, let alone taken a picture.
Tears welled up in her eyes. She felt her job was on the line.
Just then, the female reporter noticed an investigator wearing a distinctive uniform. The other investigators all wore black combat uniforms, but the one she saw was wearing a white trench coat.
A reporter’s sharp intuition told her this man was definitely not ordinary and was worth interviewing.
“Excuse me, sir…”
The female reporter quickly ran toward Su Xiao, but her steps were hasty, causing her left foot to trip over her right.
Her body lunged forward, and the microphone in her hand seemed to turn into a sword, thrusting forward.
Watching the female reporter rush toward him, Su Xiao’s eye twitched as he instinctively dodged backward.
She was way too “enthusiastic”—was she trying to shove the microphone into his mouth before interviewing him?
Tokyo TV’s interviews were truly unique.
By the time the female reporter got up, Su Xiao had already entered the command vehicle, leaving her with tear-filled eyes.
---
20th District, Anteiku Coffee Shop, also known as Antique Coffee Shop.
“Sneaking into the 11th District to rescue Kaneki is no easy task. We need to consider the CCG’s movements and the Bronze Tree’s personnel.
According to news reports, the CCG has mobilized over a thousand people. This means the CCG intends to engage the Bronze Tree in open battle.
Even if we go to rescue Kaneki, the chances of us being wiped out are high.”
After the manager finished speaking, he looked at Touka, Hinami, and Nishiki Nishio. His words were directed at the three of them.
The manager didn’t want these three to go rescue Kaneki. He, Shuu Tsukiyama, and others already had a rescue plan.
These three were the ones Anteiku protected, and the manager didn’t want them to get hurt.
“Hey, old man, what are you saying? Are you planning to abandon him?”
Nishiki Nishio wasn’t strong, but he wasn’t an ungrateful person. Kaneki Ken had once helped him rescue his human girlfriend. Now that Kaneki Ken was in trouble, Nishiki Nishio wouldn’t stand by.
“I’m going to save him.”
Touka spoke up.
“I… I’m going too.”
Hinami’s timid voice came through.
The manager sighed inwardly.
“I understand everyone’s feelings. I’ve actually already prepared a plan to rescue Kaneki. I just didn’t want you three to face danger.
If you want to save Kaneki, you’ll have to risk your lives.”
Hearing the manager’s words, the three showed expressions of joy.
The door slid open, and a handsome purple-haired man walked in—it was Shuu Tsukiyama.
“You bastard.”
Nishiki Nishio’s body tensed, assuming a combat stance. Shuu Tsukiyama had once captured his girlfriend.
Beside him, Touka also became alert.
Shuu Tsukiyama raised his arms, showing a pained expression.
“How heartbreaking. My only friend, Kaneki, has been taken away. How could I stand by?
And… I have some intel to share with everyone present. Among the CCG personnel deployed this time, a name has been temporarily added. We ghouls usually call him… the Black Reaper!”
At the mention of the Black Reaper, all the ghouls present changed color, including the manager.