"Ahem. Everyone, stop what you're doing and listen carefully."
Inside the CCG office, Hayashi stood before the women and cleared his throat.
"Go ahead, Hayashi. I'm listening," Akira said without even looking up from her paperwork.
Hayashi was already used to her cold personality.
Unlike her, Nashiro and Kurona immediately paused their work and lifted their heads toward him.
And Suzuya… well, he was exactly as expected.
Having nothing better to do, he'd been staring at Hayashi ever since he entered the room.
"Headquarters has assigned our squad a mission to take down an underground auction."
"This auction kidnaps women and sells them to ghouls as slaves, food, or for… other purposes."
Hayashi slapped the file that Marude had given him onto the table.
"An auction?"
"They sell humans like merchandise?"
Even Akira put down her pen and looked up, unable to hide her reaction.
"That's horrible. Truly horrible."
Nashiro and Kurona bit their lips, anger flickering in their eyes.
"And then? And then? What happened after that?"
Unlike the others, Suzuya felt nothing but excitement. As always.
"To get inside the auction, we first need to find a ghoul called Nutcracker."
"Most of the women who end up there are tricked by her."
Hayashi lifted the file with Nutcracker's information.
"Nutcracker…"
Akira took the file from him, her eyes narrowing with thought.She seemed to recall the name, though faintly.
"So in order to infiltrate the auction, you all need to be chosen by her."
Hayashi's eyes drifted across the beautiful women standing before him.
Now that he thought about it, almost all the attractive investigators in the CCG seemed to have been assigned to him.
No wonder his coworkers always looked at him with such envy…
And since Nutcracker was extremely picky, their chances were actually pretty good.
"We'll do our best. We won't drag you down!"
Nashiro and Kurona clenched their tiny fists with determination—adorably earnest.
"That's what I expect from my squad."
Hayashi gently ruffled their hair.
"I understand," Akira said, closing the file. "I'll prepare everything necessary to ensure the plan goes smoothly."
"That's enough. Headquarters will surround the venue from the outside."
"So once you're inside, your main priority is your own safety. Nothing else."
Hayashi stretched lazily, satisfied with their response.
After all, he could easily clear the entire auction alone. The headquarters support was just… extra.
The only real concern was whether Nutcracker would choose them as merchandise.
"What about me, sen— Hayashi? What should I do?"
Suzuya pointed at himself, bright eyes filled with curiosity.
"You?"
Hayashi blinked.He really had forgotten about Suzuya.
Nutcracker only targeted women, so Suzuya had no place in this operation. Even if his… equipment had been taken away, he was still a man.
"But I want to go! I really want to go! Please, Hayashi!"
Suzuya practically vibrated with excitement.A chance to slaughter ghouls without restraint—how could he possibly miss it?
"Well… it's not impossible."
Seeing his genuine anticipation, Hayashi sighed and nodded.
In the original story, Suzuya had infiltrated the auction too…So this might work. And even if he forbade it, Suzuya would likely follow anyway.
"Yes! Great! This is going to be so fun!"
Suzuya jumped up onto the table, bursting with excitement.
"All right, someone will come do your makeup and prepare your outfits later. Just go with them."
"I'll pick you all up around eight or nine tonight."
Hayashi waved dismissively and was about to leave—
"Please wait, Hayashi."
Akira's voice stopped him.
"Is there a problem?"
Hayashi turned around.
"If we successfully get selected by Nutcracker and enter the auction, what should we do afterward?"
Aki looked serious, her expression calm.
"Once I get inside, escort the hostages and escape. That's all."
Hayashi answered casually, as if it were no big deal.
"I'll take care of every ghoul in the auction. Just wait for my signal."
"I understand."
Aki nodded without further questions.She was long used to Hayashi's absurdly overpowered "strategies".
The man standing before her could fight the One-Eyed Owl head-on. If he told her he could start flying at will, she probably wouldn't even blink.
After giving the instructions, everyone dispersed, agreeing to meet that night.
On his way back, Hayashi thought over the situation.
If his memory was correct, in the original storyline the auction was packed with every major figure imaginable. It took the CCG enormous effort to break through.
More importantly—Aogiri Tree would be there.
Which meant he might meet Eto again.
Remembering the promise they had made before, Hayashi couldn't help but smile.
This time… things were going to be interesting. He might even find something new to play with.