What exactly did Suzuya Juuzou want with Mado Kureo?
Most people would probably be totally confused. After all, Suzuya Juuzou appeared exactly like an overly energetic brat, while Mado Kureo was widely acknowledged as one of the oddest personalities within the entire CCG. No matter how one looked at it, these two didn't seem like they'd have any intersection. Yet Lancer, by chance, knew a few things—like Suzuya Juuzou's other side. Based on that, he had a vague idea about why Suzuya wanted to find Mado Kureo. If his guess was right, Suzuya intended to "learn."
But just as Lancer was about to speak, another voice cut off their conversation.
"Ahem~! Suzuya, although you've participated in internships before, actual operations are on an entirely different scale. The enemy's strength will be far greater, so you must be cautious. As for Mado-san, you can discuss it after this operation."
Undoubtedly, aside from Lancer, there was someone else present who knew something about Suzuya Juuzou—but unlike Lancer, Shinohara Yukinori had no intention of letting Mado Kureo get involved.
This wasn't because Shinohara disliked Mado. He simply felt that allowing them to interact too soon might cause some unhealthy developments. Everything about Mado Kureo was fine, except for his obsessive personality—he worried Suzuya Juuzou would become even stranger.
"Ye~s!"
Compared to everyone's complicated feelings, Suzuya himself looked entirely unconcerned. Sitting cross-legged, he bobbed his head side-to-side, humming some strange tune. Rather than joining a Ghoul extermination, it seemed like an elementary-school student on a picnic.
The atmosphere in the transport became a bit lighter due to Suzuya's odd behavior; several older Investigators even smiled knowingly, like watching their younger family members. But soon after, they once again tightened their grips on their Quinques.
That's right! Wasn't their hard work precisely for protecting their families?
Unbeknownst to Suzuya Juuzou himself, morale inside the transport had subtly increased.
But when the vehicle stopped, the atmosphere instantly turned solemn. Through night-vision binoculars, numerous armed Ghouls were visible behind the windows of the target—a large supermarket. Below, the Investigators mirrored them. Neither side had opened fire yet, but the scent of war was unmistakable.
After disembarking, Lancer silently stared at the distant building, making the already nervous Amon Koutarou's palms sweat even more. Though Amon knew Lancer wasn't significantly stronger than him, for some unknown reason, Lancer always appeared calmer during sudden incidents. Was even Lancer feeling nervous this time?
"Lancer, feeling nervous too? Relax a bit~"
"Amon? I'm fine, not nervous. Just thinking about something."
"Sure, sure, I get it. It's just another regular mission, after all. Oh right, Lancer, how about we hit a bar after—"
Slap!
Before Amon could finish, Lancer swiftly covered his mouth.
"Are you stupid? Setting up a flag like that before battle?"
Lancer couldn't exactly tell him the real reason he was unsettled: Why hadn't the system issued any missions yet? Setting aside that this was his second biggest secret after the whole "from another world" thing, Amon would probably just look at him cluelessly if he actually said it.
But what Lancer hadn't expected was for Amon to suddenly start planting death flags. Was this guy trying to act cute?
Just as the two interacted, familiar footsteps caused both of them to turn their heads—
"Mado-san!!" ×2
Their voices differed slightly from usual, though who could blame them? After all, the current Mado Kureo felt completely unlike his usual self.
His normally loose trench coat was gone, replaced by protective gear similar to everyone else's. Perhaps due to the lack of outerwear, he appeared much sturdier. But mostly it was because of his current expression.
Usually, Mado Kureo wore either an inscrutable faint smile, a stiff, serious look, or even made exaggerated expressions.
But now?
His expression was extremely "ordinary," so ordinary that it resembled most other Investigators—a serious face with a touch of nervousness. This lack of characteristic expression felt extremely uncomfortable to them.
"Quit fooling around. You're both part of the strike team. If you encounter any of Aogiri Tree's executives, it'll be your job to handle them. For now, calm yourselves."
"Yes, sir!"
Watching Mado Kureo's retreating figure, both Lancer and Amon simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at each other, and burst out laughing. But after laughing, they raised their fists together.
"Let's see who exterminates more Ghouls today?"
"No problem. Wonder if I'll earn a badge too?"
...
Normally, an attacking force would shout provocations before engaging, hoping to shake the enemy's morale. But obviously, this didn't apply to battles between Ghouls and Investigators—both sides fought to the death, with no room for surrender.
No Ghoul would ever surrender to Investigators—there was simply no meaning in it. Likewise, the Investigators were the same. So when Marude Itsuki issued the "attack" order, intense gunfire instantly shattered the eerie silence of the area.
Sharp gunshots rang out; bullets flew wildly, but the result wasn't satisfactory at all.
"What's going on? Several of our men are already wounded and sent to medical. Why hasn't the enemy's firepower decreased? Where's the intel? What happened to the investigation I ordered?!"
In war, intelligence could decide victory or defeat. Even though Marude knew they wouldn't get much intel on Ghouls, he still refused to abandon having his subordinates collect information.
"Based on enemy weaponry and gear we've observed, we believe our opponents might be 'Ghoul mercenaries.'"
"Tch~! Those lowest-of-the-low bastards!!"
If to humans, "Ghouls" were already flesh-eating monsters, then these "Ghoul mercenaries" were true scum.
Their killings weren't for survival or enjoyment—they killed purely because they were hired. Once hired, there was nothing they wouldn't do, no bottom line at all.
"Marude Tokutou, should we deploy the strike teams...?"
"No need! They're just scum! The strike team's task is to break through defenses. If we can't even handle trash like this, how will we deal with stronger Ghouls later?!"
As he spoke, he exited the command vehicle, casually picking up an injured Investigator's firearm.
Bang~!
The first shot missed.
Marude showed no surprise; after all, this shot was just to get the feel again—
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Three consecutive shots rang out, and three Ghouls immediately collapsed, each shot through the head. Marude didn't even glance at the results, directly tossing the gun back to the subordinate next to him.
"Wipe them out!!"
"Yes, sir!!"
Seeing their commander personally take action and instantly kill three enemies, CCG morale soared. Marude Itsuki nodded in satisfaction.
As an experienced Special Class Investigator, Marude had experienced the toughest period in CCG history. Back then, they didn't have Quinques—only special RC-cell bullets. Every Investigator who survived that era was a sharpshooter. After all, if your bullet didn't hit a vital point, the Ghoul was fine. But once a Ghoul closed the distance, you were basically dead. For them, there had always been only one chance!
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