The mission progress notifications in his ear didn't slow Lancer's movements in the slightest. Right now, all he wanted was to kill freely. The screams and shrieks of these Ghouls couldn't extinguish the fury burning in his heart.
Initially, he had intended to follow Mado Kureo's instructions—lurking in the shadows, waiting for a chance to strike at the elusive Gourmet—but something "unexpected" had occurred.
Above the Ghoul Restaurant was an ordinary café. Seeing a delivery truck arrive to drop off supplies was completely normal, yet his expression turned dark when he saw the "ingredients" unloaded from it—bags roughly the size of human bodies. Without hesitation, he snuck closer. When he tore open the first bag and saw a young man in a suit, he already knew what was inside the rest.
The truck had indeed been carrying "ingredients," just not the usual kind.
What followed was obvious. Without caring if the transporters were human or Ghoul, he plunged his spear straight through the driver's heart. As for the other three who'd been unloading? Their fates were the same.
But that wasn't the end of it, because he'd triggered a Special Mission.
[SPECIAL MISSION | SAVIOR]
[OBJECTIVE]:
RESCUE THE HUMANS INSIDE THE GHOUL RESTAURANT.
[REWARDS]:
+5 POINTS PER HUMAN
x1 RANDOM EQUIPMENT IF SURVIVAL EXCEEDS 50%
[MISSION PROGRESS (27/33)]
If this mission was just the trigger, then what he saw when he entered the kitchen from the rear entrance completely ignited his fury.
He'd been an Investigator for over two months now. During that time, he'd already seen numerous human victims of Ghoul attacks—so many that he was, in a sense, somewhat numb. But seeing human beings laid out on tables or piled on the floor like lambs waiting to be slaughtered—and hearing the Ghoul chef casually say with his back turned, "Leave the first-grade goods aside for pickup later, throw the rest into the pit—I'll process them shortly,"—for a split second, he actually had the incomprehensible, absurd thought that those weren't humans at all, just ordinary ingredients.
Immediately afterward, this absurdity morphed into rage. Without hesitation, the Quinque crafted from Kamishiro Rize's Kakuhou sprang forth, piercing through the chef's heart in an instant. Under normal circumstances, the dark-brown spear flashed with an eerie glow:
[KAMISHIRO 1/4]
[SPECIAL ABILITIES]:
GHOUL HUNTER — DEALS ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO GHOULS USING RC CELLS.
GLUTTONY — DEVOURING LIFE ENHANCES ATTACK (4/100) | DURATION 300s
After waking up all the victims, he sent them outside. According to his calculations, Mado Kureo's group should soon arrive. But as for him? The mission count had decreased again—from six found in the truck, thirteen in this room. That meant the rest of the survivors were still inside the restaurant.
Yet, this world was always cruel; it would never pause for anyone's sake.
[MISSION PROGRESS (19/33)]
His running footsteps abruptly halted. But instead of softening, his expression grew darker still.
Indeed, in terms of points, he'd merely lost 60. If the rest survived, his mission could still succeed. Killing a few more Ghouls wasn't difficult—with his bizarre luck, he'd easily recover those points within a week—but…
Images from that "kitchen" kept surfacing relentlessly in his mind, twisting his face into something monstrous.
From a biological standpoint, humans were just evolved primates. Yet perhaps because he himself was human, he simply couldn't bear to accept other humans reduced to livestock waiting to be butchered...
Scritch— Scritch—
Fury caused him to clench the spear in his hand tighter and tighter. The scraping sound of his palm against the metal was painfully harsh.
"Phew…"
A few seconds later, Lancer exhaled heavily. The footsteps that had briefly stopped resumed once more, but this time, the anger vanished from his face. In its place was an icy, murderous resolve.
Kill them all.
Not for the sake of duty as an Investigator, nor because of some mission. It was merely his heart urging him onward. Right now, he needed release, and the only way to achieve that was to slaughter these Ghouls completely.
Like a beast provoked beyond reason, he slaughtered every Ghoul who dared stand in his way. Yet his movements only became swifter, for in this underground lair thick with blood, he sensed an even stronger stench of iron drifting toward him from afar.
...
Meanwhile, completely unaware that Lancer had defied orders and launched a massacre, Mado Kureo and the others finally arrived above the Ghoul Restaurant. But before they could begin their assault, a group of blood-covered people suddenly appeared, escorted by several Rank-3 Investigators.
"What happened here?"
"They're survivors, sir! According to their statements, Rank-2 Investigator Lancer was the one who rescued them!"
Lancer had rescued them—but Lancer himself wasn't here...
Instinctively, Mado took out his phone, but immediately shoved it back into his pocket.
With Lancer's whereabouts unknown, calling him recklessly could hinder his actions instead. Even if worried, the wisest choice now was not to disturb him.
"You two, take charge of securing this location and protecting the civilians."
"Understood, Investigator Mado. But you...?"
"We might have secured this entrance, but who knows if there are other ways out? I'm going in to investigate. Amon!!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Bring a team and follow me down!"
"Yes, sir!"
Investigator fatality rates weren't low—that much was common knowledge. At least a hundred Investigators died annually. Since the 20th Ward was considered the quietest of them all, it usually received new recruits to accumulate some experience before moving on. Most here had never participated in large-scale CCG operations before, and now, staring at the passageway that looked like a demon's maw, many subconsciously swallowed nervously.
Clack—Clack—
Yet just then, a distinct sound of shoes tapping against the ground echoed through the silence. A slightly hunched figure pushed through the gathered Investigators without hesitation, walking straight toward the opening.
Everyone had already changed into combat gear for this pre-planned operation, and Mado Kureo was no exception.
In his black tactical suit, the rather short-statured Mado appeared strangely out-of-place, yet gripping his Quinque firmly, he strode confidently to the forefront of the group and stepped boldly into the darkness. His confident advance allowed those behind him, previously tense, to relax slightly.
But their slightly boosted morale didn't last long. A few minutes into their descent, their feet began sticking slightly to the ground.
"Is this... blood?"
Even though the room ahead was still some distance away, the sheer volume of blood underfoot chilled them to the bone.
---
T/N: woah like bro can be a beserker also huehuehe
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