Though the CCG was preparing to retreat, the order had not yet taken effect. Aogiri Tree's members, on the other hand, never expected that the CCG—having practically mobilized all their available manpower—would suddenly give up. With fierce fighting still raging on the perimeter and high-ranking Investigators running wild inside, no one noticed anything unusual.
Among these Investigators causing havoc, one was especially conspicuous.
The reason Lancer agreed to Shinohara's request wasn't merely due to the Special Class Investigator's rank—it was because he needed to confirm one thing: Kaneki Ken's choice.
This was a critical divergence in the storyline—whether Kaneki would leave alone, seeking the truth behind his transformation into a Ghoul, or join Aogiri Tree.
In the original timeline, massive casualties among CCG Rank 2 Investigators during this battle eventually led to the rapid fall of the 9th and 10th Wards. However, due to Lancer's early warning, those Wards wouldn't fall so easily, and even if they did, there'd be enough Investigators to safely evacuate ordinary citizens.
In the plot he knew, Kaneki Ken joined Aogiri Tree and was active on the battlefields of those fallen wards—something Lancer could never allow, no matter what.
Even if Kaneki was a "protagonist," Lancer wouldn't tolerate it! If Kaneki didn't join Aogiri, everything would be fine. But if he chose to join, then Lancer would "persuade" him—physically, if necessary. And if that persuasion failed? Then only one choice remained…
Lancer wasn't some rationalist who'd sacrifice the few to save the many. He was merely a selfish person. He knew that if he had the power to stop something terrible yet allowed it to happen, he'd regret it for the rest of his life.
But to his surprise, as he rushed toward the rooftop, he heard an insanely cheerful voice echoing nearby.
"Hahaha~!! Wonderful~!! So wonderful~!! Let me… let me feel even better~!!"
The breathless, high-pitched voice might have made Lancer, as a great mage, flush and turn away in embarrassment under different circumstances. But knowing exactly who that voice belonged to, Lancer's mouth twitched as he approached.
"Who's there?!"
Stepping into the room, he saw a blood-covered figure staring straight at him.
The black combat suit was fine, but the silvery-white armor had been completely stained crimson. Even his face was splattered with gore.
"Hm? Rank 2 Investigator Lancer? Why are you here? Did you come to play with me? If it's you…I'll share half of him~"
An innocent voice, pure like a young girl's, came from the blood-soaked figure. Yet the sinister look on Suzuya Juuzou's bloody face made it feel grotesquely disturbing.
"Rank 3 Investigator Suzuya, Shinohara Tokutou ordered you to return to the command vehicle."
Lancer had little prior interaction with Suzuya, but this maniac's unrestrained behavior left him at a loss for words. Perhaps only Suzuya's direct superior could really handle him.
Sure enough, Suzuya's face immediately crumpled upon hearing Lancer's words.
"Eeehh?! I just started playing, though! I haven't even had enough fun yet~!!"
Glancing briefly at "Jason," lying half-dead and wheezing at Suzuya's feet, Lancer calmly drew his spear and pierced straight through the Ghoul's heart.
"There. Rank 3 Investigator Suzuya, please follow your orders now."
Suzuya assumed Lancer had done this just to ruin his "toy" and force him to leave. But the truth? It was simple—Lancer just wanted the kill credit.
Watching Suzuya bounce cheerfully out of the room, Lancer heaved a sigh of relief. Though it was unlikely Suzuya would die easily, this Investigator was a powerful asset for the CCG's future battles. He couldn't afford to let such talent die pointlessly here—better safe than sorry.
Confirming Suzuya's departure, Lancer quickly resumed his route to the rooftop, wondering if he'd be able to catch up with Kaneki Ken now.
But he had to marvel at his own "luck." Not only did he find Kaneki Ken, but Kirishima Touka and her brother, Kirishima Ayato, as well.
Kirishima Touka, maskless at the moment, stared at Lancer and his blood-red spear in shock. Kaneki and Ayato, previously locked in confrontation, also froze in place.
"Tch~! Damn Investigator!"
Without question, the arrival of this third party shattered their stand-off entirely. Normally, two Ghouls would join forces against the Investigator, Lancer. But looking at the severely injured Touka and the tension between Kaneki and Ayato, it was clear cooperation was impossible.
"Lancer?!"
Ayato didn't recognize him; Kaneki, having just escaped Jason's torture, was still in a withdrawn state. Touka, badly wounded, reflexively reached up to touch the mask on her face when she saw Lancer—but of course, that mask had fallen off somewhere during her earlier fight.
Touka's shocked cry drew not only Kaneki's attention but Ayato's as well.
Though Ayato appeared to be an asshole who attacked his own sister, in truth, he was simply a misguided sister-con. Even joining Aogiri Tree in the first place was meant to gain enough strength to protect his sister.
At this moment, a rapid equation flashed through Ayato's mind:
Sis seems to recognize that Investigator → That Investigator saw Sis's face → If I don't kill him, even if I let Sis go, she'll be in big trouble…
"Die, damn Investigator!!"
Of all Kagune types, Ukaku had the strongest instantaneous burst. Accompanied by his furious roar, Ayato unleashed his Kagune, launching hundreds of crystal projectiles like a violent rainstorm directly at Lancer.
In ordinary circumstances, Lancer would've instantly searched for cover. But now, he had another choice.
"What?!"
To everyone's disbelief, Lancer swung his spear violently, sweeping away all the shards in front of him. Seizing that tiny moment of reprieve, he stomped his right foot down hard.
Boom—!!
The ground shattered beneath him as he surged forward, becoming a blurred shadow as he suddenly appeared right in front of Ayato. Without question, Lancer's physical strength now vastly exceeded human limits—perhaps even surpassing ordinary Ghouls.
And his spear was aimed directly at Ayato's heart.
Yes, Ayato had joined Aogiri Tree to protect Touka, but that wasn't enough reason for Lancer to spare him. After all, how many innocent lives had Ayato already taken?
On the other side, Touka hadn't expected Lancer to strike immediately, without even a single word—his ruthless attack directly targeting a vital point. Though she was furious that her brother hadn't followed their father's path and instead chosen darkness, she still didn't want to see him killed right before her eyes.
"Noooo!!"
But sadly, Touka's anguished scream did nothing to halt Lancer's movement. In fact, as if to prove its wielder's resolve, the spear's speed seemed to increase further—
Schluck—!!
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