"You think I'd forget about you?"
Though his right shoulder was pierced by a Kagune, Lancer's lips curled into a strange smile—because alongside his shoulder, Kaneki Ken's side had also been impaled.
True, Lancer's main target had been Kirishima Ayato, but as a CCG Investigator facing Kaneki, a Ghoul, they were inherently enemies. He'd been wary of Kaneki from the very beginning. The moment he lunged forward, his spear had screamed a warning at him, so Lancer decisively abandoned his attack on Ayato, pivoting sharply to thrust backward at Kaneki.
Kaneki Ken, meanwhile, seemed shocked that his surprise attack had actually been anticipated. Yet as he felt the Quinque embedded in his body, his expression turned dark.
As someone who'd inherited Kamishiro Rize's Ghoul identity, he naturally possessed her astonishing regenerative power—such a mere stab was nowhere near lethal. What truly disturbed him was that the Quinque piercing him was unmistakably crafted from Kamishiro Rize's Kakuhou.
"Where's Kamishiro Rize?!"
Kamishiro Rize.
That name had a uniquely special meaning for Kaneki Ken. She was the first woman he'd ever liked, and she was also the one who'd dragged him into this bottomless pit of Ghoul existence. Not long ago, he'd even confronted and embraced her "spirit," finally accepting his identity as a Ghoul and committing his first act of cannibalism. But even so, he hadn't completely given up hope.
If I became a Ghoul because of Kamishiro Rize…maybe, through her, I can become human again?
Though he knew how absurd that thought was, seeing the Quinque in Lancer's hands made that impossible notion sprout uncontrollably, like weeds flourishing wildly in his mind.
"She's dead. I personally exterminated her, and this Quinque was my reward."
BOOM!!
Lancer's words instantly ignited Kaneki's fury. Aside from the Kagune lodged in Lancer's shoulder, three more erupted wildly from all directions, trying to twist and crush him like paper. But unlike Jason, whose rage made him stupid, Lancer had been wary of Kaneki from the start—how could he be caught so easily?
Pulling the spear from Kaneki's side amid a spray of blood, Lancer aimed a lethal thrust toward his head. His right foot stomped down onto a Kagune, leveraging his body's weight to rip his empty left hand free of the Kagune impaled in his shoulder——
Schluck!
Blood erupted brilliantly from his torn arm but was quickly absorbed by the spear in his hand. This Quinque, made from Kamishiro Rize's Kakuhou, was truly chilling—not just to enemies, but even to its wielder.
Yet, as Lancer and Kaneki traded savage blows, Kirishima Ayato, completely ignored until now, finally couldn't hold back any longer.
The weakling standing by his sister's side irritated him greatly—but this Investigator, who'd discovered his sister's true identity, absolutely could not be allowed to live. Once his decision was made, Ayato acted decisively.
Although Lancer was strong, he was now extremely hard-pressed against two S-rated Ghouls. Even worse, his spear had fully shifted from black to a vivid blood-red—a sign that the stored power within it was nearly exhausted.
At that exact moment, Marude Itsuki's voice rang in his earpiece.
"Rank 2 Investigator Lancer! The main forces have successfully retreated! Begin your withdrawal immediately!"
"Marude Tokutou, my apologies. I don't think I'll be able to retreat right now."
"What's going on?"
"I've encountered two Aogiri Tree executives. Both are conservatively estimated as S-rated Ghouls."
"Tch~! Hang in there. Rank 1 Investigator Mado is already en route."
The conversation between Lancer and Marude was clearly audible to everyone present. Ayato's expression instantly darkened. His Kagugan widened in rage, and the Kagune firing towards Lancer sped up even further.
After deflecting Kaneki's Kagune with a powerful swing, Lancer rapidly spun his spear to intercept Ayato's attack. Immediately afterward, he kicked hard off the ground, charging toward Kaneki. Ayato, completely unconcerned about collateral damage, intensified his assault, enveloping both of them in his frenzied Kagune barrage.
Without question, Ayato would gladly kill Kaneki along with Lancer if given the chance.
To Lancer, this made little difference—but Kaneki found himself immediately trapped in a predicament. Normally, suppressing Ayato wouldn't have been difficult—after all, Ukaku Ghouls excelled at explosive attacks but were weak defensively. Yet now, caught by Lancer's continuous strikes, Kaneki was utterly helpless, frustration swelling within him.
Just as the three-way deadlock intensified, and Lancer was beginning to contemplate unleashing a Last-Resort Strike on Ayato while his Quinque still held power, another intruder suddenly appeared.
Amid the chaos between Lancer and Kaneki, a Ghoul clad in a red cloak and a bizarre mask abruptly appeared. Before anyone could react, his Kagune surged out and swiftly snatched Ayato.
"You bastard! Let me go! Noro, you asshole, put me down!!"
Caught and restrained, Ayato struggled furiously. Kagune fragments burst wildly from within the bindings created by the Ghoul called Noro. Yet, unsettlingly, Noro seemed completely unfazed. Like the mask he wore, his entire presence radiated an eerie, disturbing aura. Silently, he grabbed Ayato and leapt away from the building.
Shit!
"Marude Tokutou!! The Aogiri Tree executives I was fighting have retreated! They're probably preparing to detonate the bombs! Order everyone to evacuate immediately—I'll withdraw too!"
"Understood!"
After quickly reporting, Lancer turned his gaze toward Kaneki. Kaneki, at last, seemed to calm down. Though he'd just escaped confinement mere minutes earlier and reached the rooftop, utterly unaware of the explosives placed by Aogiri Tree, he certainly knew what "bomb" meant.
Rationally, Kaneki should now grab the injured Touka and flee immediately. But doing that would undoubtedly confirm Touka's identity. Yet if he intended to silence Lancer permanently, Kaneki didn't feel confident he could manage alone.
What should I do?
Kaneki Ken's life might not have been entirely tragic, but it was close enough. His mother had died when he was young, and afterward, he'd drifted through various relatives' homes. Just when he'd finally begun university and gained some independence, Kamishiro Rize had attacked him, turning him into a half-human Ghoul.
For Kaneki, Touka was a uniquely special existence. When he'd felt utterly lost and helpless, she'd appeared in front of him, guided him to Anteiku, and taught him how to live without harming humans...
Then, to Lancer's disbelief, Kaneki's Kagune abruptly surged toward Touka.
What the hell?!
Unsure whether Kaneki had snapped entirely, Lancer instinctively moved to shield Touka.
"Investigator! Get away! That's…my food!"
Under Kaneki's deliberate control, his voice turned rough, dark, and unnaturally harsh.
---
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