'That, that guy is the one who played the mother-daughter game in the staff dorms?'
'I always thought Second-Class Investigator Lancer was great, but I didn't expect him to be so great in this aspect too, actually making a move on ghouls. Tsk tsk~'
'Phew~ Although it's a move on a ghoul, in a way, I'm also relieved. No matter what, at least Second-Class Investigator Lancer is interested in women.'
...
Lancer had completed the first stage of the 'Ghoul Hunter' mission, so his body had undergone initial strengthening, and his five senses were naturally also strengthened. So, the faint sounds that most people heard were not faint to him; he could hear at least seventy to eighty percent of them. The only thing he wanted to say about this was——————WTF!
Amon, you bastard, you deliberately screwed me over! Didn't you say you'd block the news? How does the whole branch know?!
No matter how much of a Spartan he was inside, Lancer at least put on a poker face. After all, he knew that those onlookers would only pay attention to something on a whim. As long as...
"Second-Class Investigator Lancer?"
Just as Lancer was walking forward at a normal pace, a slightly hoarse voice came from beside him.
"First-Class Investigator Mizuho!"
The other party was one of the other first-class investigators in the 20th ward branch, but in Lancer impression, he didn't seem to have any connection with him? After all, he was Kureo Mado direct subordinate.
Of course, this didn't mean that Kureo Mado had a bad relationship with the other party; it was just that everyone was busy with work and rarely communicated.
"Second-Class Investigator Lancer, as one of the most outstanding young people in our 20th ward branch, I have high hopes for you. A few 'harmless' little hobbies are fine, but don't violate our CCG's regulations, and don't let it affect your work."
The other party 'whispered' a warning in his ear, then patted him on the shoulder and walked towards the door, leaving Lancer alone and confused.
'How many people in the entire branch don't know about this now?'
Although he still maintained a cold expression, he always felt that the gazes around him were a little piercing, so he subconsciously quickened his pace until he arrived in front of Kureo Mado office, where he barely managed to calm himself down.
"Bang bang~"
"Come in."
"Mr. Mado."
"Lancer? Perfect, about the report from before..."
"I've already written it."
Because he couldn't sleep at all last night, Lancer simply wrote the report (he couldn't have been training the whole time; Lancer would naturally rest for a bit in between).
Although he was his direct subordinate, Kureo Mado didn't speak in a strange tone to Lancer, or rather, Lancer was already used to it. But when the other party finished reading the report in a flash, he didn't say anything and just remained silent. It seemed like he was organizing his words.
'Could it be that my way of handling this isn't good enough?'
Lancer knew about the other person's paranoia about ghouls.
The office was incredibly quiet. Lancer didn't breathe a sigh of relief until Kureo Mado put down the report in his hand and looked up, because from the other party's expression, it seemed that he wasn't angry or dissatisfied.
"Regarding this operation, you handled it very well. I'll accept the report. But... youth may be an asset, but it's best not to squander it carelessly. From the looks of it, you didn't rest at all last night, did you? Go to the office and rest for a while. After you've rested, you can go and do what you told me about before..."
Although he could hear the other party's concern for him in his words, Lancer felt incredibly resentful.
'Didn't I just save a person? Why does it feel like the whole world is against me?'
"Mr. Mado, I'm not tired at all..."
"Really? I see your dark..."
"Really! I'm not tired at all!! I'll go find leads on the Tsukiyama family right now!!"
He didn't know if it was to prove that he was full of energy or because he really couldn't stand the strange rumors in the branch. He went to the logistics department to apply for one magazine each of the four types of bullets and then left the branch.
Since he was performing a 'special mission,' he probably wouldn't have to return to the branch for a short time.
After the Tsukiyama family matter is dealt with, everything should... be calm, right?
Lancer was the only one who knew his own Spartan-like struggle. After all, it would have been fine if he was despised for something he did, but the key was that he didn't do anything at all and couldn't explain it, which was the most Spartan-like thing. But the other side wasn't doing much better.
When Ryōko Fueguchi and Hinami Fueguchi left together yesterday, the people in the shop didn't feel anything. Although the mother and daughter had been living in the shop yesterday, it wasn't strange for them to go out. But when they didn't come back for 'breakfast' today, it made everyone in the shop suspicious.
It should be known that the Fueguchi family had been receiving 'aid' from the Anteiku coffee shop since before because they didn't attack humans. Now that the only man in the family was missing, it was impossible for them not to return.
Later, at Touka's urging, Yoshimura, the manager, also went to contact his 'acquaintances,' and the information he got made everyone in the shop's faces change drastically.
"The Fueguchi mother and daughter were captured by an investigator."
"Manager! I'm going to save them!"
"Calm down!"
Yoshimura, who had always had a smiling, squinting expression, rarely opened his eyes and sternly stopped Touka Kirishima.
"Do you know where the Fueguchi mother and daughter are now? Even if you did, how do you plan to save them? Even if they haven't been sent to 'prison,' are you still planning to attack the CCG branch by yourself?!"
Yoshimura's words hit Touka Kirishima heart like a heavy hammer. Seeing the sad look on Touka Kirishima face, Yoshimura sighed.
"Calm down. I've already found some information about the Fueguchi mother and daughter. The person who captured them is the 'dove' who used to come to our shop. However, I don't know the specific situation. After all, the incident only happened yesterday, and it's impossible for the people I know to get information from the branch so quickly. We'll have to wait a while for the specific details."
Although she had some information, Touka Kirishima heart was even more in her throat. After all, during their previous time together, the other party had already made it clear what his views on ghouls were. If there were no accidents, the two of them were probably already dead...
"Ding~ Ding~"
At this moment, a wind chime sound made everyone's expressions change. They didn't expect a customer to come so early in the morning.
And what they didn't expect even more was that the person who came was the Lancer they had just mentioned. At this moment, Lancer, carrying a box, was looking at everyone in the shop with an innocent expression.
"Um... did I come too early? Are you not open yet?"
At this moment, Lancer was completely bewildered, truly bewildered. After all, which investigator could be surrounded by one SSS-rated ghoul, two SS-rated ghouls, and one S-rated ghoul and remain completely calm inside?