[Quick Reaction Team 1 report: Tsukiyama Group's current president, Mirumo Tsukiyama, has been secured.]
[Quick Reaction Team 2, Hachikawa Squad: S-rated ghoul 'Gourmet' Shuu Tsukiyama's transport helicopter has been shot down over the skies of Fukushima Prefecture, northeast of the capital region. Multiple Tsukiyama family guards are engaged in combat.]
[Ward 11, 101st Airborne report: Aogiri Tree senior cadre, SS+ ghoul 'Mouth' Noro, has been eliminated!]
[Ward 14, Kuroiwa Squad report: Clowns organization member, SS-rated ghoul 'The Informant', extermination battle concluded!]
[Ward 4, 101st Airborne Aviation Regiment: Regional leader, SS-rated half-Kakuja 'Faceless Clown'—corpse fragments and bodily fluids are being collected for verification…]
[Ward 24, Ui Squad: JSDF and US 3rd Marine Division, reinforced by the 101st Airborne, have suppressed underground ghoul tribe riots.]
[Ward 6, Shinohara Squad, Suzuya Squad, Quick Reaction Team 3: Ghoul syndicate 'Apollo Group' eradicated. Leader Wu Jing killed. Front companies, 'Apollo Forestry Co., Ltd.' and LE real estate tower, sealed.]
[Ward 8, Houji Squad joint forces: SS+ ghoul Tatara, one of the Aogiri Tree leaders, eliminated.]
...
Reports of ghoul extermination victories poured in. The outcome was decided.
Ward 1, CCG Headquarters—Press Conference.
The military band played a soothing string melody.
Having just posed for historic photographs with colleagues and allies on the front steps of CCG Headquarters, Vela approached the podium with a radiant smile.
After all, this was a victory announcement, a moment to restore public trust and confidence in the Bureau after the Washuu scandal. A semi-celebratory occasion. Today, Vela wore a far more formal attire.
Her smooth hair was tied in a bun, adorned with a deep-red ribbon. She wore the North American Commission of Counter Ghoul's ceremonial military uniform—luxurious embroidery, gold-thread braiding, tasseled epaulets, and sash—matched with the insignia of a two-star major general from the Pentagon. Riding boots completed her commanding figure, exuding heroic elegance.
As the de facto leader during Tokyo's martial law period entered, the gathered investigators, police officers, and JSDF officers immediately fell silent and saluted.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Bronze Tree's last stand in Cochlea has been crushed. The One-Eyed Owl is slain. The hardest, darkest hour is behind us. Let us breathe a little easier."
Resting one hand naturally on the lectern, adjusting the microphone, Vela swept her gaze across the hall, smiling.
U.S. CCG, JP CCG, CIA, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, JSDF, NPA (National Police Agency), MPD (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department), TDPPO (Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office)…
It was nothing short of a grand assembly of political, military, police, and intelligence power.
"First, on behalf of Tokyo, Japan, North America, and all those around the world who suffered under the scourge of ghouls, I extend my highest respect and heartfelt gratitude to you all."
"This anti-ghoul operation has been remarkably effective. Without the sacrifices and valor of frontline warriors, without everyone's cooperation, the fight against Japan's deeply entrenched ghoul threat would not have been possible. Rooting out the likes of the Washuu and Tsukiyama—vermin cloaked in noble garments—would have remained a distant dream."
After the straightforward and charismatic opening, Vela's first words attributed credit and affirmed achievements.
Taking all the glory alone breeds resentment. Credit had to be distributed.
Soon, she transitioned to speaking about the fallen CCG comrades and the casualties among the joint forces.
When swords are drawn, death is inevitable.
Preliminary counts already showed over a hundred dead, with many more wounded to varying degrees. Encounters with S+ ghouls and above had left multiple investigator squads and military units decimated, some even wiped out entirely.
Vela could not shield everyone.
The human body was simply too fragile.
Without the SS+ [Ayato-Arata-α] Quinque armor, Vela would never have fought with such reckless aggression. In this kind of chaotic urban close-quarters battle, against hundreds or even thousands of ghouls, even a single careless bite from a B-rated Kagune could have left her wounded and bleeding.
In all of history, the generals most often felled were by stray arrows.
Investigators, after all, were high offense, low defense.
"Special Class Arima Kishou, Special Class Shinme Haisaki, Associate Special Class Mutsumi Chino, First Class Investigator Hirokazu Tainaka, First Class Investigator Nobu Shimoguchi… At this moment, we cannot afford grief or mourning. More bloody urban sweeps await us. To pursue the remnant enemy with full force—that is the greatest tribute and memorial we can give."
Her tone shifted.
"How do we achieve full victory?"
Bang!
"By drowning those traitors who collude with ghouls in their own blood!"
Vela slammed her palm down on the lectern.
"Colleagues—appalling, isn't it? At the very height of our anti-ghoul, anti-terror, anti-corruption campaign, these traitorous collaborators and their corrupt dealings still persist! The deeper we investigate, the clearer it becomes—Japan's anti-ghoul efforts have always failed because the true threat is not outside, but inside government itself, within the Diet in Chiyoda and the skyscrapers of Ginza!"
"Any case linked to ghouls—investigate thoroughly, leave no one above suspicion."
To some in attendance, her words struck like thunder. Their meaning was sharp.
This was no longer just a military issue—it had extended into politics and economics.
The dagger was laid bare.
Before, investigations had been hidden and quiet.
But now, with the Tsukiyama family's assets seized and their human- ghoul dealings exposed, the time was ripe.
Yes—this was about seizing money.
In the past, America's seizures had always drawn criticism. But this time was different. She, Vela, was carrying out justice: eliminating ghouls, confiscating the illegal profits of ghouls and their collaborators. Robbing openly, robbing righteously, robbing with undeniable moral authority!
She would not only earn money standing tall—she would make them kneel to hand it over!
And if corruption probes uncovered powerful figures beyond her authority? Simple. Report to Washington. No reckless moves. Let Congress and the Committee wrangle over it.
"To protect the innocent from ghoul attacks, so that fewer must mourn the dead—we must eradicate this rampant ghoul plague, set right the chaos, and rebuild order. This is the mission entrusted to us."
Vela's final words:
"Let us carry it out together."
Clap, clap, clap—
No matter what they thought privately, as Vela stepped down from the podium, a wave of applause erupted.
Next came Acting Bureau Chief Itsuki Marude, his face heavy with bitterness.
Since Vela, burdened with urgent duties, could not hold the usual press Q&A after her victory speech, the responsibility fell on him—a career bureaucrat.
As soon as Marude announced the start of questions, the long-restless journalists pounced with sharp, probing queries.
"Bureau Chief Marude, it's said you were promoted by former Bureau Chief Tsuneyoshi Washuu? What are your thoughts on learning your longtime superior was a ghoul?"
"Bureau Chief Marude, when CCG investigators exterminate ghouls, do they take civilians and their lives into account?"
"Bureau Chief Marude…"
...
Meanwhile, across Tokyo's 23 wards—
Joint Operations broadcast over the general radio channel:
"Attention to all joint units in combat. The leader of Aogiri Tree, SSS-class ghoul 'One-Eyed King,' has been slain. Commence sweep operations. Repeat—commence sweep operations."
In the ruined alleys, investigators hunting ghouls in their assigned wards froze.
They looked at each other.
"We… won?"
"We won!"
"The King of Ghouls, that damned One-Eyed Owl, is dead!"
"We've won Tokyo's anti-ghoul defense war!"
In an instant, cheers erupted like thunder, soaring skyward.
They cheered victory because a sweep operation was only ordered once one side had essentially secured triumph.
And—the One-Eyed Owl was dead!
That damned SSS-class monster was finally gone!
Nearby, North American anti-ghoul agents and soldiers exchanged glances, sharing the same exhilaration. They didn't quite understand Tokyo CCG's mix of fear and hatred toward the Owl, but that didn't stop them from joining in the cheers of victory.
After a day of grueling martial law combat, they had seen firsthand how ferocious and densely packed Tokyo's ghouls were.
This was Tokyo—too many ghouls, too much cannibalism. In this breeding-ground, ghouls were tougher than the average ferals of North America's wastelands. Harder to kill—especially S-rated and above. Only heavy-caliber weapons could bring them down.
Ward 23, Cochlea.
Assigned here to help restore the facility's functions, Akira Mado turned to her suddenly silent father. "Dad?"
The sickly eyes of different sizes had returned to normal at some point. Kureo Mado tried to speak, but his voice came out painfully dry and hoarse, his lips trembling. "Kasuka… at last, you can rest in peace…"
...
Three days after the sweep.
Vela officially announced the lifting of martial law in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
CCG Headquarters.
Special Class Executive Office.
"The Fueguchi mother and daughter—we'll use them in a performance of ghouls hunting ghouls."
Behind her desk in a dark uniform, Vela set down the latest revision of the [Legal Ghoul] bill and research data from the [High Rc Artificial Food for Ghouls] project. Taking advantage of a lazy afternoon, she flipped on the news, scrolling through the online commentary with interest.
As expected.
Because of the CCG's harsh extermination policy and the killings during martial law, the internet was in an uproar. Those who had never experienced ghoul disasters questioned incessantly. The graphic scenes of ghoul executions stirred a wave of ghoul sympathy.
"2015… the wave of radical multiculturalism from the white left was bound to rise sooner or later."
It was no surprise to Vela.
According to the theory of The Weak Link of Communication—public discourse is never rational, only emotional. Regardless of gender or education level, once a news story breaks, most expressions remain shallow, stuck at the emotional layer.
And where do public emotions flow?
Toward the weak.
Why does virtue resemble water? Because water flows downward. In discourse, educated civilized people instinctively sympathize with the weaker side.
Now, under Vela's lead, with CCG, the North American Commission of Counter Ghoul, the Prosecutors' Special Investigations Division, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, US forces, CIA operations, and even UN troops all conducting an extermination sweep in Tokyo under the global spotlight—
Visually, ghouls appeared to be the weak against the violent machinery of state and international power.
As time passed, the protests, doubts, and opposition only grew stronger.
Especially once upper-class ghouls with resources and connections began to strike back.
To address the growing criticism of excessive sentencing in ghoul-related cases—such as convictions for [Cannibalism Crimes], which carried heavy penalties including asset forfeiture—Vela decided to hand some sentencing power over to the people. Specifically, to those most affected: victims of ghoul attacks, families of the dead.
Along the way, she would showcase the "spoils."
For instance, the Tsukiyama family's underground wine cellar of vintage bottles. Their ripening and smoking rooms filled with "ingredients."
Ghoul wine was, of course, made from human blood. Their aged delicacies and smoked meats? Human flesh.
She didn't mind appearing open-minded. She didn't fear those fat pigs escaping slaughter. Public opinion was only public opinion. All she needed was to appear less extreme, more humane.
After all, internet judges began with dismemberment as the baseline.
Killing a few collaborators was nothing.
Among them, she could slip in a few so-called "progressives" who had once called for Japan to break free of North American control. Who would know?
The CCG washed away its disgrace, the public vented, positions left vacant by executed collaborators would be eagerly filled, Congress in Washington punished disobedient "dogs," seized wealth, and tightened control. Vela gained merit and progress.
Win. Win. Win! Multi-win! Everyone wins!
You win, I win, he wins.
Phew. The appearances she needed to make were over.
Now came the season of harvest.
Vela watched the flickering glow on the screen before her.
She focused.
Blup…
The computer screen seemed to ripple like a rectangular well, circles spreading outward.
Within the ripples, indigo glowing eyes stared back at her.
"After several nights of interaction, I've finally sent over most of the raw Quinque material. You'd better research it well—another me."
...
[Resident Evil]
San Francisco Bay Area.
"Yes, yes… really now. Compared to 'me' in New Baghdad scheming for world war, my environment here is comfortable. Better than the 'me' tangled up in gang arms trades, living a life of excess for emotional fodder. I may have more money, but still—don't dump everything on me."
Rubbing her forehead—whether from the fatigue of [Divine Gift] interaction or not—the Militech CEO Vela smacked her lips and turned toward the massive cultivation tank.
Inside floated a massive, pallid, headless ghoul corpse.
"Well then. One more secret research project on the list."