Snap.
Takatsuki Izumi, whose identity had been exposed, snapped the handcuffs off her wrists and flexed her hands. Opening her single Ghoul's eye, she stared at Luo Shu in the driver's seat with her mismatched black and green eyes:
"It seems Father told you quite a bit about me."
Though surprised that Yoshimura would discuss her with others, Takatsuki Izumi understood from Luo Shu's completely unruffled questioning tone that her deliberate approach had failed this time.
This man wasn't ignorant about Ghouls - he'd likely been in contact with her father, Yoshimura, and obtained information about her.
"There are two recognised leaders known as the One-Eyed King among Ghouls," Luo Shu spoke meaningfully from the driver's seat, his back turned to Takatsuki Izumi. "One is Kishou Arima, representing the One-Eyed King's strength. The other is you, possessing the One-Eyed King's reputation."
"A kingdom with two rulers who decide the future of Ghouls. Yet, Kishou Arima, being half-human with Ghoul blood, cannot lead the Ghouls. And you, who bears the king's title, lack the power to command them."
"Given this background, you seem to have developed your own considerations, Takatsuki Izumi... or should I say, Eto Yoshimura, the SSS-rated Ghoul codenamed One-Eyed Owl."
Takatsuki Izumi fell silent for a moment, her heterochromatic eyes fixed on Luo Shu's calm reflection in the rearview mirror:
"Those things you mentioned were from before I crossed over. Now, I'm just an ordinary person trying to survive in a peaceful world."
Hearing this, Luo Shu narrowed his eyes slightly before replying with a faintly mocking smile:
"So it seems you've found a way for Ghouls and humans to coexist peacefully."
Takatsuki Izumi didn't respond, merely continuing to watch Luo Shu quietly.
As a child born between humans and Ghouls, she had essentially been a bridge between the two species from birth.
Yet in her original world, the reality for beings like her was cruel.
Years of relentless conflict between Ghouls and humans had twisted everything, turning both sides into sworn enemies.
This environment had driven Takatsuki Izumi to despair in her attempts to change the situation - just as it had driven Kishou Arima, humanity's strongest warrior, to the same despair.
In their shared desperation, they had collaborated, seeking to create the ultimate One-Eyed King who could end the cycle of hatred in that world.
But all that belonged to the previous world now.
When she discovered she'd crossed over to this new, vaguely familiar Tokyo, Takatsuki Izumi realised after a brief moment of confusion that an opportunity had arrived.
In a world where no one knew what Ghouls were, where no chain of hatred had formed...
If she could just find a way to solve the Ghouls' need to consume humans, perhaps that ordinary daily life she'd always longed for might finally become attainable.
Luo Shu keenly detected the shift in Takatsuki Izumi's tone and deduced she must have found a solution to stop Ghouls from eating humans:
"Let me guess who's been in contact with you..."
In truth, Luo Shu didn't need to guess at all. He used the Mysticism Encyclopaedia to search and divine information about Takatsuki Izumi's recent contacts behind her.
With Takatsuki Izumi herself serving as the medium, the information obtained this time was particularly abundant.
"A Pureblood Vampire..."
Hearing Luo Shu's murmur, Takatsuki Izumi's pupils contracted, but she restrained herself from speaking.
"Shizuka Hio."
Luo Shu gradually brought the car to a stop as he continued:
"That's the name of the woman who contacted you. Eldest daughter of the Hio family among Pureblood Vampires - one of their extremely rare pureblood lineage."
"She seems to have some feud with another Pureblood. Recently, she's been gathering powerful fighters through various means to help her exact revenge. That's why she approached you."
Luo Shu observed Takatsuki Izumi's silent reflection in the mirror, his lips curling into a faint sneer:
"As you know, Pureblood Vampires do possess the ability to transform other species into Vampires through blood exchange. But this ability has... limitations."
Takatsuki Izumi's pupils contracted violently, as if realising something.
"Shizuka Hio must have told you she could help transform Ghouls into Vampires, but she probably mentioned the limit was twenty people, didn't she?"
"Why do you think that is?"
"Is it because Shizuka Hio can only transform twenty Vampires at most?" Takatsuki Izumi said grimly.
This had been her initial assumption, too. But after witnessing Shizuka Hio successfully transform Noro - restoring speech to the nearly mindless Ghoul - she'd become convinced the Pureblood could indeed solve the Ghouls' cannibalistic nature.
However, at that time, Takatsuki Izumi believed that Shizuka Hio's limitation of only converting 20 people was due to her own ability constraints, and she intended to seek similar methods.
However, judging from Luo Shu's expression, it seemed that this ability was extremely rare, even in this world.
"To be precise, it's the Abyss Artefact in her possession that can only convert 20 vampires, turning them into the most basic Class C vampires."
Luo Shu turned off the car engine and calmly stated:
"Even Pureblood Vampires can only turn humans into Class D vampires, and over time, these Class D vampires either self-destruct or develop antibodies, reverting to ordinary humans."
"Precisely because of these characteristics, coupled with their extreme scarcity, vampires are only rated as Class E in Race Danger Value assessments. They merely require supervision from Japan to continue existing."
Hearing this, Takatsuki Izumi couldn't help but ask:
"And what danger rating do Ghouls receive in your assessments?"
This was the question she had wanted to clarify from the beginning.
According to Shizuka Hio, Ghouls would eventually face danger value assessments, and until they passed this hurdle, she would only save a few powerful Ghouls, including herself.
This was why Takatsuki Izumi had sought information brokers to purchase intelligence on Luo Shu, the assessor.
Facing her question, Luo Shu replied with a knowing smile:
"Thanks to your father Yoshimura's assistance, your individual danger value is Class B."
His tone carried a hint of sarcasm as he continued:
"Ghouls who evolve into Kakuja, with their powerful regenerative abilities and the versatility of Kagune, nearly overwhelmed even me, hence earning that Class B rating."
Takatsuki Izumi showed little reaction to this, even thinking Luo Shu was probably sugarcoating his own performance.
After all, her father, as an SSS-class Ghoul, combined formidable defensive capabilities with regeneration and Kagune, making him virtually unbeatable by ordinary humans.
Unless caught in open terrain vulnerable to modern missiles, dealing with Yoshimura in urban environments would be extremely difficult.
Given this context, Takatsuki Izumi naturally interpreted Luo Shu's "nearly overwhelmed" claim as him having lost to her father, merely refusing to admit defeat verbally.
"Additionally, across various assessment metrics including population size and average combat capability, your scores were generally low - the highest being Class C, with most ratings at Class D or E."
Luo Shu concluded with a final remark:
"But your rating for threat to humanity is Class S~"
"So on average, Ghouls' Race Danger Value becomes Class B - quite an intriguing number."
Frowning, Takatsuki Izumi asked in confusion:
"Is there something wrong with Class B?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu helpfully explained:
"A Class B danger rating triggers large-scale extermination operations against the species, commissioned by the five major powers and executed by regional powers or the species' host nation."
"In our industry, this is reportedly called the Demon Slaying Order."
"...Demon Slaying Order?" Takatsuki Izumi's expression instantly changed, becoming extremely grim.
At this moment, Luo Shu began listing examples in an educational manner:
"The SDS, the martial artists of the Metropolitan Police Department's Special Crimes Division, the Ministry of Environment's Countermeasures Office, even the Onmyou Agency, the Self-Defence Forces, and those managed species such as youkai, fairies and Pureblood Vampires will all mobilise for a comprehensive purge of Ghouls."
"Until every dangerous individual of that species is completely expelled from this world."
At this point, Luo Shu's tone took on a meaningful quality:
"It's almost time... the war between Ghouls and humans!"
Hearing this, Takatsuki Izumi's Kagune nearly burst forth uncontrollably.
Yet just then, Luo Shu suddenly said:
"I'd advise against any rash actions. Moreover, you might want to look to your right."
Takatsuki Izumi froze, then turned her head to glance at the roadside.
There, standing before the shopfront bearing Anteiku's signboard, Yoshimura watched the figure in the car with an inscrutable expression.
"Your father secured you a whitelist exemption from extermination."
Luo Shu dropped this remark before opening the car door:
"Let's continue this discussion outside. With your father."
After a long silence, Takatsuki Izumi finally reached for the door handle.