[Ding! Host has defeated S-rated ghoul "Yamori." Reward received: 30 Fusion Points!]
[Ding! Host's first victory over a "half-kakuja." Bonus reward: 20 Fusion Points!]
Two system notifications chimed in rapid succession.
Yamori had lost all capacity to resist. Even if Byakuya left him alone now, the relentless flames would eventually burn him to death.
Just as Byakuya was about to continue watching, another notification arrived.
[Ding! Host has triggered a quest. Divine Selection activated!]
[Option 1: Kill Yamori completely. Afterward, receive S+-rated Quinque "13's Jason." Reward: 1 Fusion Point!]
[Option 2: Spare Yamori's life and have him imprisoned in Cochlea to continue suffering. Reward: 20 Fusion Points!]
[Option 3: Spare his life and subjugate him. Risk of betrayal exists. Reward: 50 Fusion Points!]
While Option 3 offered substantial points, Byakuya didn't consider it worthwhile.
The risk of betrayal meant keeping a ticking time bomb nearby. Hard pass.
By comparison, obtaining an S+-rated Quinque directly was clearly the best choice. It would be incomparably stronger than his current B-rated weapon.
Byakuya leaped down from the rooftop, landing smoothly in front of Yamori.
Yamori mustered his last reserves of strength to raise his head—and watched as his opponent slowly removed his mask, revealing that unforgettable face. Those Three-Tomoe Sharingan eyes hadn't deactivated yet.
"You—!"
Yamori's eyes went wide, his pupils trembling.
His half-kakuja form had already dissipated due to his injuries. His mind had cleared somewhat—a brief moment of lucidity before death.
He never imagined his opponent was that human investigator from before!
Until this very moment, he'd assumed the masked man was a ghoul. After all, the man had fire abilities, and certain special ghouls possessing fire attributes wasn't unheard of.
Tatara from Aogiri Tree was a prime example.
Now Yamori couldn't make sense of it. Was this person human or ghoul?
Not that it mattered anymore. His life had reached its end.
Even in death, Yamori's eyes remained wide open, bloodshot veins visible.
Whether from unwillingness to die here or shock at Byakuya's true identity—no one would ever know.
[Ding! Host has completed Option 1. Reward received: 1 Fusion Point!]
Byakuya didn't care what Yamori had been thinking. He cleaned up the scene, dispersing the lingering flames.
Burn marks still scarred the ground, but he could spin some excuse. No one would suspect a human could produce fire abilities.
And no one would question whether he was human. Otherwise, the CCG's RC detection gates would become a joke.
Afterward, Byakuya called the CCG branch office in Ward 20.
"Hello, this is Rank 2 Investigator Amaha Byakuya. I encountered the S-rated ghoul 'Jason' in Ward 20 and have successfully eliminated him. The location is..."
He provided the exact coordinates.
No other investigators had witnessed this fight, and no civilians had dared to spectate. He could report directly to the CCG without needing to hide anything.
This way, he'd also receive an S+-rated Quinque. Quite the bonus.
As for Touka and the Fueguchi mother and daughter—there was nothing to worry about. They couldn't confirm he was the one who killed Yamori. They wouldn't bother going to the CCG to verify, and the CCG wouldn't publicize his achievement anyway.
"Oh! Yes! We'll dispatch personnel immediately!"
The moment the assistant heard "S-rated ghoul," all casualness vanished from his voice.
The CCG's distribution of forces across wards depended on threat levels. Since Ward 20 had been relatively peaceful for years, the CCG had gradually reduced its presence there, leaving mostly investigator assistants and Rank 3 investigators with only a skeleton crew of higher-ranked personnel.
So for Ward 20's branch, an S-rated ghoul appearing was a major incident.
Take the S-rated Binge Eater who'd recently surfaced—they still hadn't dared send anyone to apprehend her, waiting instead for support from other branches or Main Office in Ward 1.
Now an investigator had eliminated an S-rated ghoul right here in Ward 20. This was explosive news for the branch—especially since that investigator was only Rank 2!
After hanging up, the assistant immediately announced to the office: "Quick! Get everyone! Investigator Amaha eliminated the S-rated ghoul 'Jason' in Ward 20! He might be seriously wounded—mobilize as many support personnel as possible!"
Of course, this was pure speculation. Byakuya hadn't mentioned anything about injuries.
"Investigator Amaha? Who's that? And are you joking? The S-rated Jason was eliminated by a Rank 2 Investigator?!"
"Yeah, is this real? Someone's not pranking us?"
"Real or not, we need to send people to check! If this Investigator Amaha actually did it and he's seriously hurt, any delay on our part that leads to his death—none of us could bear that responsibility!"
"..."
The office erupted into activity.
If someone could truly eliminate an S-rated ghoul, they had at minimum First Class Investigator potential—realistically, the combat ability of an Associate Special Class.
If such a talent died because of their negligence, they wouldn't just be finished career-wise. They'd carry the guilt forever.
After all, every powerful investigator represented humanity's hope against ghouls.
Who joined the CCG for such dangerous work if not to eliminate ghouls and protect humanity?
...
Soon, a group of investigator assistants and Rank 3 investigators arrived in full gear.
They saw Yamori's unrecognizable corpse on the ground—and Byakuya leaning casually against a wall, completely unharmed.
Their jaws dropped.
They'd been told Investigator Amaha was seriously wounded. That was how the message had been relayed. Yet here he was without a scratch.
Seriously, bro...
A Rank 2 Investigator eliminated an S-rated ghoul without a single injury???