"Maru, I'd like you to serve as Deputy Commander."
Yoshitoki turned to Marude and said.
"But... I already screwed up the Ward 11 operation..."
Marude said with hesitation.
His face showed an uncharacteristic lack of confidence.
During that Ward 11 "Aogiri Tree Suppression Operation," under his command, they'd fallen for a diversionary tactic that led to Aogiri Tree breaking into Cochlea prison, releasing numerous ghouls.
Even now, he still felt guilty about it.
"Given the circumstances, that was already a good outcome. At least you did everything that needed to be done well."
Yoshitoki said. "Among the investigators I can trust in CCG, you're the most outstanding commander."
"...Alright."
Marude said.
With the other party putting it that way, it would be hard to refuse.
"By the way, it's been a long time since we partnered up. When was the last time?"
Yoshitoki suddenly remarked with feeling.
"...I honestly can't remember."
Marude shook his head.
Though Yoshitoki was the young master of the Washuu Clan, he hadn't simply been appointed CCG Bureau Director from the start.
Like his father Tsuneyoshi Washuu, he had worked his way up from the bottom as a CCG investigator, building achievements and promotions until reaching Special Class—only then was he qualified to inherit the position of Bureau Director.
Before Yoshitoki took office, Tsuneyoshi had been the previous Director, later becoming the Supreme Chairman.
Yoshitoki's son Matsuri was walking the same path—going to CCG in Germany for training. Soon after returning, he'd be promoted to Associate Special Class, and barring any surprises, would eventually rise to Special Class and then Bureau Director.
So Yoshitoki had indeed partnered with Marude before. The two of them were like old friends.
...
Ward 23, Cochlea Prison.
This place was known as the most secure prison in history. All the inmates were ghouls, and many of them were highly dangerous.
There were no shortage of S-rated, SS-rated, and even SSS-rated ghouls. Though the only SSS-rated ghoul previously held in Cochlea—"Dodgy Mother" Roma Hoito—had already escaped.
It had been half a year since the Aogiri Tree attack. Cochlea had been reinforced, and the former deputy warden and Special Class investigator Haisaki Shinme had become the current Cochlea warden.
Learning from that lesson, CCG now didn't dare transfer the investigators stationed at Cochlea elsewhere. Instead, they'd brought in more forces from other locations to prevent another Aogiri Tree attack.
At this moment, Byakuya and Akira presented their investigator credentials. The guards at the entrance verified them and let them through.
With the help of a Rank 3 investigator, the two arrived at the floor and cell where Madam A was being held.
Then, Byakuya and Akira saw Madam A through a layer of specially reinforced glass.
Under normal circumstances, this glass—no matter how reinforced—couldn't stop S-rated or higher ghouls.
But the ghouls imprisoned in Cochlea were all suppressed by RC suppressants that inhibited the activity of their RC cells. The effect was strong enough that even SS-rated ghouls couldn't manifest their kagune at all, and their physical abilities were greatly diminished.
In essence, the difference between ghouls and humans—whether in having a kagune or in physical superiority—was all due to RC cells.
Right now, the Madam A before them looked completely listless and haggard. All her makeup and accessories had long been removed, and she looked nothing like before.
Basically, she'd gone from appearing to be a young noblewoman in her twenties to a disheveled, sallow-faced woman who looked to be in her forties.
But when Madam A saw Byakuya, she immediately perked up. She pointed at him and exclaimed: "It's you!..."
"Long time no see, Madam A."
Byakuya greeted her in an even tone.
"Damn it..."
Madam A wanted to curse at him furiously. It was because of him that she'd been locked up in this place.
She hadn't been interrogated much, since she'd confessed everything the moment she saw they were about to interrogate her.
It was just that the conditions here were terrible. She was constantly suppressed by RC suppressants, always feeling sick and weak. And she was only given some rotting meat once a month to barely sustain herself.
Honestly, compared to her circumstances before becoming "Madam A," this place might not even be that much worse. But going from luxury to hardship was never easy.
In the end, Madam A could only swallow her curses. She didn't have the guts to lash out at investigators—even a random investigator giving her a stern look would probably make her cry.
"You... you must be here to interrogate me again, right? Please, spare me. I've already told you everything I could..."
Madam A pleaded pathetically.
"You've told us everything? Are you sure about that?"
Byakuya questioned.
Madam A's heart skipped a beat, but she stuck to her story. "I—I'm sure."
"Since we can't get even a shred of useful intel from you, you have no value to CCG anymore. We might as well pick a day to dispose of you. Keeping you here is just a waste of rotting meat."
Byakuya said coldly.
His icy demeanor and tone made it seem like he really was about to discard Madam A like garbage.
Akira remained silent beside him. She could tell that First Class Amaha was just trying to scare Madam A, using this method to pressure her into revealing truly useful intel.
"What?..."
Madam A was immediately dumbfounded.
After coming to her senses, she hastily said: "I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"
Staying here was uncomfortable, but at least she was still alive.
She was too afraid of death, so she immediately caved.
"The only thing I know that might be valuable is about a doctor named Akihiro Kanou. But it has nothing to do with the Ghoul Restaurant or the Madams."
Madam A had no choice but to give this up to save herself. This was truly the only useful thing she knew.
"..."
Hearing this, Akira felt somewhat disappointed.
She'd thought they could get some intel related to the "Gourmet" from this Madam A. It seemed this trip was for nothing.
As for Akihiro Kanou—she had no idea who that was, so she wasn't interested.
Byakuya, on the other hand, pressed further: "Go on."
...
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