As the break was coming to an end, Byakuya's partner had been assigned by the CCG.
According to the message he'd received, he'd be partnered with Koori Ui. As for the phone he'd received the message on—it was a flip phone with practically no functions beyond making calls.
Even if it had other features, someone used to smartphones like him had zero interest in fiddling with a flip phone.
Now Byakuya needed to head to CCG Main Office in Ward 1 to complete the partnership paperwork with Koori Ui, and also to collect his spoils of war—his Quinque.
...
Ward 1, CCG Main Office.
Byakuya walked into the CCG lobby to find Koori Ui already waiting for him.
Koori Ui waved him over from his seat.
Beside Koori Ui were Shio Ihei and Hairu Ihei.
Though Shio and Hairu shared the same surname, they weren't siblings—they were distant relatives.
"Investigator Amaha, you should have received the message. Starting today, the two of us are partners."
Koori Ui spoke in a calm tone.
Though Koori Ui was a member of Squad Zero, that didn't prevent him from carrying out regular assignments. Squad Zero only needed to assemble for important missions.
Byakuya nodded. "Yes. I'll be in your care, Koori Ui-senpai."
"Not at all—no need to be so formal."
Koori Ui continued: "According to our orders, we'll be assigned to Ward 19 for an investigation. The target is an A-rated ghoul codenamed 'Hyena.' For a typical rookie, taking on this mission right away would be quite challenging, but it shouldn't be a problem for you."
Byakuya nodded slightly without comment.
As Koori Ui said, A-rated ghouls typically corresponded to at least First Class investigators. Rookies were usually Rank 2 or even Rank 3—at least two ranks below. It was essentially fighting above your weight class.
Without a partner ranked between First Class and Special Class, an ordinary rookie would have almost no chance of completing such a mission alone.
Similarly, S-rated ghouls might seem moderate, but they actually corresponded to Associate Special Class or above. Typically, only Special Class investigators could confidently say they'd be able to suppress an S-rated ghoul.
SS-rated ghouls could easily match Special Class investigators—sometimes requiring multiple Special Class investigators to take down a single SS-rated ghoul.
As for SSS-rated ghouls, there was simply no standard comparison. The CCG had deployed everything they had to eliminate a single SSS-rated "Non-Killing Owl," and even then it had been extremely difficult.
At the time, Yoshimura hadn't fed on fresh human flesh in years. Combined with the inevitable decline of old age, his kakuja form was far smaller than in his prime. He'd also been ready to die and had refused to kill the investigators opposing him or consume wounded ones to recover his strength—otherwise, the outcome of the Anteiku Raid might have been very different.
If we go back even further—to when Yoshimura encountered Special Class investigators Shinohara and Kuroiwa at the Aogiri Tree hideout—had he been willing to kill those two Special Classes, the battle's course would have changed dramatically.
But such speculation was meaningless. The Anteiku Raid was a trap set by Arima and Eto. Even if the other CCG members couldn't defeat Yoshimura, Arima would have personally intervened to keep the operation on track with their plan.
In any case, SSS-rated ghouls clearly operated on an entirely different level from Special Class investigators.
Arima had raised the ceiling for Special Class investigators, but that didn't mean other Special Classes possessed strength equal to his.
"Come with me to complete the paperwork first. I have other matters to handle afterward. I believe you still haven't collected your finished Quinque—I'll have Hairu and Shio take you there later."
Koori Ui spoke while walking deeper into the CCG building.
"Understood."
Byakuya acknowledged.
"So starting today, should I keep calling you Amaha-san, or should I call you Investigator Amaha?"
Shio spoke up from beside him.
"Either works."
Byakuya replied casually.
"Then I'll call you Byakuya-san! That feels best."
Shio was as lively as ever.
Hairu, on the other hand, hadn't said a word throughout—just watching from the side.
...
Once Byakuya completed all the procedures with Koori Ui, he officially became an active-duty ghoul investigator with actual assignments.
[Ding! Host completed Option 3. Reward: 40 Fusion Points!]
This was from the choice that had appeared when he'd filled out the Academy application form. He'd now successfully completed the third option—bypassing the Academy to join the CCG directly.
[Ding! Host formed a partnership with Associate Special Class Investigator Koori Ui. Reward: 5 Fusion Points!]
Koori Ui had business to attend to and left first. Hairu and Shio accompanied Byakuya to collect his Quinque at the "CCG Research Tower."
Despite the "CCG" in its name, the Research Tower actually belonged to the GFG—Germany's ghoul research organization.
The Quinques used by CCG investigators were almost all researched and manufactured here.
This was Byakuya's first time at the CCG Research Tower. Having Hairu and Shio guide him was convenient.
He found the appropriate researcher and received a silver briefcase from them.
His Quinque was inside.
"Come with me first to register your biometrics. The case has biometric identification technology—once registered, this Quinque will belong exclusively to you, and only you will be able to open it."
The researcher explained to Byakuya.
Of course, it wasn't just registering a single thumb or finger—his entire hand and even his face could be registered, allowing him to open the Quinque briefcase as quickly and conveniently as possible in emergencies.
After Byakuya completed the biometric binding, he tried deploying it—releasing the Quinque stored inside.
It was a gray tachi, though the blade differed from an ordinary sword—it featured small, shark-tooth-like serrations. The texture and weight were also quite different from a normal tachi.
"I'll call it 'Thorn.'"
Byakuya named it on the spot.
[Ding! Host obtained a self-named Quinque. Reward: 6 Fusion Points!]
[Ding! Host has accumulated 500 total Fusion Points. New feature "System Shop" unlocked!]