121-125

Chapter 121: Furuta Nimura 

“Whoa, whoa, look at this! Two half-ghouls!” 

In Kanou Akihiro’s laboratory, a slender man with black hair and dressed in all black strolled in. His eyes landed on the Yasuhisa sisters, who were undergoing an examination. 

Kuroiwa and Nashiro’s kagugan flared—one in Kuroiwa’s left eye, Nashiro’s right—making the pair a perfect mirror image. 

“Furuta? What brings you here?” 

Kanou Akihiro waved a hand, signaling the sisters to lower their guard. He knew this guy. 

“Came to check on your experiments, of course! Need a hand? I can snag you some more test subjects.” 

The strange man wandered around the lab, poking at this and prodding at that, much to the annoyance of Kuroiwa and Nashiro. 

“Not right now,” Kanou replied, shaking his head. His research was progressing smoothly, and the refined “half-ghoulification surgery” still had plenty of potential to explore. No need for the next step just yet. 

“Oh? Are these two your latest masterpieces?” 

Furuta Nimura’s gaze settled on Kuroiwa and Nashiro. He took a deep breath, as if catching a whiff of Kirishima Rize’s scent. 

“Not bad at all,” he said, his face twisting into a creepy, almost euphoric expression that made the sisters’ skin crawl. 

Who is this creep? 

Should we tell Shishou? 

The sisters exchanged a glance. No telepathy needed—just a look was enough to understand each other. 

“No, they’re the work of Mr. Devo Collins. Ever heard that name?” Kanou said casually, eyes on his computer screen. He wasn’t one to hog credit for someone else’s success. 

If Kanou weren’t so obsessive and unhinged, he might actually be a decent guy. But his issues, rooted in his upbringing, were too deep-seated to change at his age. 

“Devo Collins? Never heard of him,” Furuta said, feigning thought before shaking his head. The name didn’t ring any bells. 

“Really? I thought he might be one of your people. He knows a lot about the Washuu clan, and he seems to know about you too.” 

Kanou frowned at the data on his screen, his conversation with Furuta casual and unfiltered. 

“Oh?” 

Furuta’s face lit up with interest. Someone who knew the Washuu clan’s secrets? That was rare. Outside the Washuu family itself, almost no one knew their true nature. 

And knowing him? That was even stranger. Furuta kept a low profile, hiding his true strength. In the CCG, he was just a rookie. In “V,” the shadowy organization of half-humans tied to the Washuu branch family, he was a mere logistics guy. 

Only a select few saw his potential—like the “White Reaper,” Arima Kishou. 

So why was this Devo Collins paying attention to him? Arima wasn’t exactly the chatty type. 

“Where is he? I’d love to meet him.” 

Furuta’s curiosity about Devo Collins was piqued. 

“He’s in the lab. Just got back,” Kanou said, having checked with the Yasuhisa sisters earlier. 

“Interesting. Very interesting.” 

Furuta sauntered out of the lab, only to come face-to-face with a strange figure at the door. 

“Furuta Nimura?” 

Riku squinted at the man before him. 

This lunatic was the mastermind behind it all—the one Kaneki Ken should be gunning for. 

Kaneki was just an unlucky bystander caught in Furuta’s scheme. That steel beam incident was meant for Kirishima Rize, not him. Dragging Kaneki into the experiment was just a whim, yet it created the “One-Eyed King.” 

“You must be Devo Collins?” 

Furuta stopped, sizing up the odd figure before him. At first, he thought this hulking guy with devilish horns and a bizarre aura was one of Kanou’s experiments. 

“That’s me,” Riku nodded. He could tell Furuta hadn’t undergone the “half-ghoulification surgery” yet—his scent was still mostly human. 

Furuta Nimura, born into the Washuu’s branch family, White Sun Garden. Son of Washuu Tsuneyoshi, the CCG’s Chairman. The current CCG Director, Washuu Yoshitoki, was also Tsuneyoshi’s son. 

Furuta’s twisted personality stemmed from his family issues. He despised his Washuu heritage, hated their traditions, all because he wasn’t born to the main family’s legitimate wife.  

He and Director Washuu Yoshitoki were half-brothers, but the difference in their status was stark. Furuta wasn’t even allowed the Washuu name. His resentment ran deeper than Kanou’s obsession, twisting him into something far darker. 

“How do you know me? Have we met before?” 

Furuta circled Riku, flashing a fake smile—the kind he showed everyone. 

“I’m interested in the Clowns,” Riku said, dodging the question and name-dropping the ghoul organization Pierrot. 

“Oh? You know about the Clowns too?” 

Furuta kept up his grin. He was a member of Pierrot—a high-ranking one, at that. The CCG and “V” were Washuu puppets, so he’d never spill his secrets to them. But Pierrot was different. 

“Wanna be a spectator? The one laughing last?” Furuta asked, sizing Riku up. This guy knew a lot—maybe enough to join Pierrot. 

“Who doesn’t want to laugh last?” Riku shot back with a smirk. Obvious answer. 

But Riku’s interest in Pierrot wasn’t about laughing last. The Ghoul Restaurant massacre had netted him two levels in one go. Joining Pierrot was just a ticket to another internal slaughter. Wiping out a ghoul organization from the inside was way easier than hunting them one by one. 

“Joining the Clowns is simple. Make a big splash, prove your strength, and we’ll welcome you,” Furuta said bluntly. Pierrot didn’t take nobodies. To laugh last, you had to have the power to stand in the spotlight. 

“Funny you mention that. I just came back from District 7,” Riku said, his menacing grin making him look like a cold-blooded villain. 

“The fire in District 7? The Ghoul Restaurant? That was you?” Furuta’s eyes widened. He’d been planning to dig into that incident, and here was the culprit standing right in front of him. 

The Ghoul Restaurant was a nobody in human society, but in the ghoul world, it was infamous. Itori, the info broker from District 14 and a Pierrot member, kept Furuta well-informed, despite his half-human status. 

“Is that enough for an entry ticket?” Riku asked, locking eyes with Furuta. If Furuta said no, it didn’t matter—Riku knew the identities of Pierrot’s other higher-ups. 

The bar owner and intel expert Itori, the mask shop owner Uta, the eccentric Nico, the founder Roma Hoito, the current leader Donato Porpora, and Furuta himself, going by “Souta.”  

Roma and Donato were locked up in Cochlea, the ghoul prison in District 23, but Itori and Uta were easy enough to track down. If Furuta didn’t play ball, Riku wouldn’t mind taking out this mastermind early. 

Furuta, pre-surgery, wasn’t anywhere near his manga-level strength yet. Perfect time to strike. 

Note: Running late~ Snow’s falling, roads are slippery (lol). 

Chapter 122: I’m in a Hurry, So Come at Me All at Once 

“Enough? Oh, it’s more than enough. You’re perfect for Pierrot. We Clowns aim to laugh last, but we don’t just sit around. Make a big move, stay in the shadows, and watch the world’s chaos unfold—that’s the Clown way.” 

Furuta Nimura cackled, clapping his hands enthusiastically. He loved what this Devo Collins had pulled off. 

Those self-proclaimed “elite” ghouls deserved that kind of fate! Furuta despised the Washuu clan and their traditions, so naturally, he had no love for other “high-class ghouls” either. 

To him, they were just a bunch of hypocrites spouting nonsense about gourmet dining and art. In the end, weren’t they all the same? 

“Great. So, when can you take me to Pierrot’s headquarters for a visit?” Riku didn’t hold back, jumping straight to demanding a trip to their base the moment he was approved. His killing intent was barely concealed. 

It wasn’t an unreasonable request, though. Joining an organization meant getting introduced to the crew, right? 

“Easy there, Mr. Collins,” Furuta said, wagging a finger. “You’re still in the probation phase. Want to be one of us? You’ll need to prove yourself a bit more.” 

Furuta’s refusal made Riku frown. This guy was actually playing hard to get? 

“Probation?” Riku muttered, clearly annoyed. 

“Of course. With the King of Clowns gone, we’re extra cautious,” Furuta said with a toothy grin. Two of their top members, including the current “King of Clowns,” were locked up, so the group had scattered, becoming true spectators. 

But Pierrot without chaos? That wouldn’t be Pierrot. They thrived on stirring up trouble, watching the human circus unfold—not sitting idly by in peaceful times. 

“How about I test whether you’re qualified to test me?” Riku smirked, his shadow spreading to both sides, forming two sword cases. 

The hilts of Ketsumei (Bloodsong) and Horou (Mendwall) emerged from the shadow cases. Riku stepped forward, drawing both crimson longswords with a flourish. 

“Whoa, what’s this?” Furuta’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, still grinning. He’d never seen anything like it. 

But he wasn’t reckless. His hand moved to the quinque at his waist—a weapon for a half-human like him, who lacked a kagune and fought like a human investigator. 

Buzz! 

Riku’s figure flickered, closing the distance in an instant. Ketsumei in his right hand slashed at Furuta’s neck, and he saw the man’s grin freeze. 

Clang! 

Boom! 

Caught off guard, Furuta barely blocked the strike, but the force sent him flying, crashing into the lab’s wall. 

“Cough!” 

Furuta slid down, coughing up blood. His smug smile was gone. 

“Half-human? Not impressed,” Riku said, now certain of Furuta’s limits. Without the “half-ghoulification” surgery, Furuta was strong but nowhere near his later, monstrous potential. 

“Mr. Collins, your strength is impressive. I’m convinced. No need for further testing—you’ve got my approval,” Furuta said, standing and bowing respectfully, playing the part of someone who knew when to back down. 

“So, am I officially in now?” Riku asked, gripping his dual blades, amused by Furuta’s quick surrender. 

“You just need the approval of the other three higher-ups,” Furuta replied, his smile returning, though his tone was more respectful, his posture lower. 

“And where do I find these three higher-ups?” Riku pressed, sensing Furuta’s plan—likely to gang up on him with the others. 

“No need to search. I’ll arrange a meeting. We’ll all get together, and I’ll make sure they recognize you,” Furuta said, bowing again, acting as if he was fully won over by Riku’s strength. 

“How thoughtful of you, Nimura,” Riku sneered. As expected, Furuta was planning to rally Pierrot’s members to take him down. 

Furuta was a master actor. If Riku didn’t already know his true nature, he might’ve fallen for that earnest act. 

“It’s my honor to serve you. And I hope, when I need your help later, you’ll lend a hand,” Furuta said with apparent sincerity, his earlier arrogance nowhere to be seen. 

Ghouls, especially those tied to the Washuu, were all seasoned performers, playing roles daily among professional ghoul investigators. 

“So, what are we waiting for?” Riku nodded, happy to accept Furuta’s invitation. 

Furuta wanted to gang up on him? Fine. Riku planned to take on the entire Pierrot organization solo. 

A four-on-one with Uta, Itori, Nico, and Furuta? Riku wasn’t fazed. That was his goal from the start. 

“Mr. Collins, you’re quite the eager one,” Furuta said with a sly smile, gesturing for him to follow. If this guy was in such a rush to die, he’d oblige. 

Pierrot members had ways to stay in touch, even with their founder and current “King of Clowns” behind bars. The group hadn’t disbanded. 

Riku followed Furuta out of the lab. Kuroiwa and Nashiro rushed after him. 

“Shishou!” 

The twins’ eyes were full of worry. Furuta might look human, but he gave off bad vibes. Sure, their Shishou looked like a villain himself, but over time, Riku’s treatment of them had warmed their hearts. 

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon,” Riku said with a grin. Being worried about by two girls felt pretty nice. 

The sisters couldn’t stop him, so they watched silently as Riku and Furuta left. 

Furuta led Riku to District 14, to a bar called Helter Skelter. Its decor was plain—no flashy walls or weird lighting, just a chill, normal vibe. 

The bar’s owner, a mature woman with striking wine-red hair, leaned on the counter, chin in hand. 

“Souta,” Itori greeted Furuta calmly. He’d already called ahead. 

“Itori, meet the mastermind behind the District 7 incident—Mr. Devo Collins,” Furuta said, leaning on the bar with a smug bet you didn’t see this coming attitude. 

“Oh? First time hearing that name. Some info broker I am,” Itori said, smiling as she introduced herself. “Nice to meet you. Call me Itori.” 

She was subtly telling Furuta she had no info on this guy either. 

“I’m here to join Pierrot. Nimura’s already approved me. You’re one of the higher-ups, right?” Riku cut straight to the point, no preamble. 

“Sorry, folks, we’ve got a visitor, so we’re closing early today,” Itori announced, clapping her hands. The patrons cleared out quickly—free drinks on the house, as usual. 

“Yes, I’m one of Pierrot’s higher-ups,” Itori confirmed as a few lingering “patrons” closed in around Riku. 

“Mr. Collins, you’re quite direct. I like direct men,” came a flamboyant voice. Riku glanced over to see a man in gaudy makeup and clothes—Nico, the eccentric. 

“I prefer women,” Riku said, his mouth twitching. Nico’s vibe was a bit much, mostly because he wasn’t exactly easy on the eyes. 

“You want to join Pierrot? Fine, but you should show us a bit more respect,” said Uta, his black hair framing a Latin tattoo circling his neck. The four Clowns subtly surrounded Riku. 

Riku cracked his knuckles, shadow sword cases popping up at his sides. He drew Ketsumei and Horou. 

“I’m in a hurry. If there’s no one else, all four of you can come at me at once.” 

His voice echoed in the nearly empty bar, clearly insulting the four Clowns. 

“Mr. Collins, such confidence. Aiming to be the new King of Clowns?” Itori teased, leaning on the counter with a playful smirk. This was getting interesting. 

Pierrot thrived on chaos, and now chaos had walked right through their door. 

Chapter 123: No Rush, Your Bikaku’s Pretty Nice Too 

As Itori Kirishima’s voice faded, ghouls wearing clown masks began filtering into the bar. 

It seemed the “Clown” organization wasn’t just the four of them—they had regular members too, likely cannon fodder for the dirty work. 

Buzz! 

Riku activated his Sandevistan, charging straight at Souta Furuta without hesitation. 

Clang! 

Souta blocked “Bloodcry,” but his abdomen was nicked by “Patch,” leaving a small gash. 

Itori unleashed her kagune, Rc cells surging as a pair of massive purple wings formed rapidly behind her. 

Feather-like blades made of Rc cells shot toward Riku, but a shadow wall rose from the floor beside him, blocking them. 

The feather blades struck the shadow wall, sinking into it like mud, unable to move. 

The surrounding ukaku “Clown” ghouls revealed their kagune, firing a barrage of projectiles at Riku, but the shadow wall absorbed them all. 

Clang, clang, clang! 

Riku’s dual blades slashed relentlessly, overwhelming Souta. 

With a half-human physique comparable to a ghoul’s—far surpassing a normal human’s—Souta was no slouch, especially as a standout among his peers. 

Even with just a B-rated standard quinque katana, Souta could make SS-rank ghouls take him seriously. 

But against Riku’s ferocious assault, he could only struggle to defend, his body already marked with several deep wounds. 

The cuts from the thermal samurai sword “Patch” gave off a scorched smell, and Souta’s once-smirking face had twisted into a grimace. 

Boom! 

Uta, having unleashed his kagune, rushed in. His rinkaku extended, three bone-like claws with hooked tips striking between Riku and Souta, briefly separating them. 

Uta’s rinkaku had three tendrils, each tipped with a curved hook, looking plenty lethal. 

Boom! 

Uta’s rinkaku lashed out from three angles, targeting Riku. While not as extravagant as Rize Kamishiro’s, their attack range was still impressive. 

Riku swung “Bloodcry” and “Patch” to block Uta’s claws. Shadow Wolf lunged forward, bypassing the claws to pounce at Uta’s body. 

Uta frantically drove his kagune, the three claws whipping through the air, leaving afterimages and wrecking the bar. 

Shadow Wolf couldn’t get close, blocked by the three tendrils. As a veteran SS-rank ghoul, Uta’s combat skills were undeniable. 

He might be a mask shop owner now, but he’d crawled out of piles of bodies in the past. 

“Don’t move, Souta. I’ll heal you.” 

On the other side, Nico began treating Souta, who’d barely escaped Riku’s pressure. Nico’s bikaku was unique, with healing capabilities. 

This healing ability was incredibly potent—capable of saving someone even from decapitation, as long as they weren’t completely dead. 

Under Nico’s treatment, Souta’s wounds slowly began to mend. 

Buzz! 

Riku and Shadow Wolf worked in tandem, both charging at Uta. His three tendrils struggled to keep up, and Riku broke through to his front. 

Shlick! 

An arm flew off. Uta, in a panic, used his three tendrils to prop himself up and leap back. 

Riku didn’t have time to pursue before Itori rushed in, swinging her wings at him. 

Her dazzling purple wings fully unfurled, condensing from a gaseous state into solid form, like an angel’s wings. 

But these angelic wings fired feathers sharp enough to claim lives, like the scythe of a grim reaper. 

Ukaku ghouls seemed to enjoy close combat too—perhaps because constantly firing kagune long-range was too exhausting. 

Ukaku kagune were burst-type, with fast firing rates but even faster ammo depletion. 

Riku swung “Bloodcry” and “Patch” to block the angelic wings’ assault as more “Clown” ghouls rushed him. 

Shadow Wolf’s massive form split, dividing into two smaller wolves, now closer to the size of regular wolves. 

The two wolves dove into the ghoul crowd, halting their advance, tearing and pouncing on them. 

Though weaker after splitting, the wolves gained speed, their agile forms weaving through the “Clown” ghouls, slaughtering them. 

Boom! 

Riku kicked Itori in the stomach, sending her flying, then turned to face Uta, who was charging back. 

Uta had now entered a half-kakuja state—clearly no stranger to cannibalism. 

The upper half of his head was encased in a mass of flesh, like a cap, and his three bone claws had grown into six robust arms, giving him a monstrous appearance. 

BOOM! 

Uta’s six arms smashed into the ground, sending broken tiles flying and shaking the floor. 

“Half-kakuja, huh? Not bad.” 

Riku dodged the strike, circling to the side. He slashed with “Bloodcry” and “Patch,” but Uta blocked with two kagune arms while the other four reached for Riku’s body. 

Shirtless, Uta’s body was covered in bizarre tattoos, with strange patterns even on his kagune arms. 

His mouth opened wide, covered in kagune, stretched to an exaggerated degree—capable of swallowing someone whole into his kagune. 

Honestly, Riku always admired people or monsters who casually tried to swallow their enemies whole. 

Unless you were like “Gluttony” Gluttony, with a pocket dimension to swallow people into, it was a reckless move. Who knew what kind of trump card an enemy might have? 

Clearly, these folks hadn’t heard of Monkey King—they didn’t know how bad it felt to be burst open from the inside. 

Facing Uta’s four grasping arms, Riku dodged. He had no interest in being swallowed by kagune or a stomach. 

While an internal explosion could easily take out a half-kakuja like Uta, Riku was confident he could win with normal combat. 

“Mr. Collins! You’re pretty strong!” 

Souta leaped back in, his katana slashing at Riku. Fully healed, he was back to his lively self. 

Clang! 

Riku parried the strike with one blade, but a bikaku swept in—Nico, who wasn’t just a healer. 

Thud! 

Riku kicked the bikaku, using Nico’s momentum to charge toward Itori, who was firing more feather blades. 

Swish, swish, swish! 

Itori’s massive wings, moving like gaseous clouds, sent a barrage of blades at Riku. 

This time, Riku didn’t even dodge. He charged straight through, swinging “Patch” and “Bloodcry” to deflect every blade. 

“?!” 

Itori realized something was wrong. This guy had been using that weird shadow to block her ukaku attacks on purpose—to lull them into a false sense of security! 

She quickly solidified her two massive purple wings, trying to wrap herself in them, but she was too slow. 

Shlick! 

Riku’s dual blades slashed past each other, severing Itori’s neck. Her massive purple wings closed just then, encasing both their bodies. 

“Your ukaku’s pretty nice. I’ll take it.” 

Riku pushed the wings apart, speaking to Itori’s head, her eyes frozen in death. 

“Kirishima!” 

Nico and Uta, seeing the scene under the wings, were shocked and enraged. The three of them were close—drinking buddies. 

“Miss Itori…” 

Souta sucked in a breath, feeling a pang of regret. Itori was a key intelligence source for the “Clown” organization. 

“No rush, I’m still missing a bikaku. Mr. Nico, yours looks pretty good.” 

Riku brandished his dual blades, locking onto Nico. That healing bikaku was highly practical. 

He might not need it himself, but it could come in handy for saving others. Nico’s bikaku could heal not just ghouls but other creatures too. 

*Chapter 124: If It’s Not Off, Does That Mean It’s On? * 

“Uta! I’m leaving this guy to you! I’m going to save Kerei!” 

Niku, the okama, shouted to Uta nearby. Even though Itori Kerei’s head had been lopped off, that didn’t mean she couldn’t be saved! 

“I’m… gonna kill you!” 

Uta, now half-kakuja, hadn’t completely lost his sanity, but his mental state was clearly teetering on the edge. 

“ROAR!” 

Especially after being provoked by Riku like that, and seeing his old friend’s head separated from her body, Uta’s mental state grew even more feral, letting out a crazed roar. 

“Sota! Cover me!” 

Niku, the okama, didn’t forget about Kyuta Nifuku nearby. He called out to him and then bolted straight for Itori Kerei’s “corpse.” 

Half-kakuja Uta sprang into action too. His massive frame lunged toward Riku. Even though he started moving later, he reached Riku faster than Niku. 

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! 

His gigantic kagune arm slammed into the ground, making the floor quake with each hit. The entire bar seemed to tremble along with it. This half-kakuja beast was no joke—worthy of an SS-rank ghoul. 

Riku didn’t try to take the frenzied half-kakuja’s attacks head-on. Instead, he kept pushing his Sandevistan to dodge. 

Normally, a Sandevistan would’ve overheated and fried by now with how much Riku was using it. After all, Sandevistan needs cooldown time. 

Constantly activating it without breaks would damage the cyberware, and the human body would take an even worse hit. 

Riku looked fine on the outside, but inside, his body was frantically repairing damaged cells and organs, fixing the heavily strained Sandevistan from overuse. 

His blood-flesh activation ability was a massive boost for Riku. Without it, he’d probably need a new Sandevistan after every fight—or worse, it could crap out mid-battle. 

“Not good, not good at all,” Kyuta Nifuku muttered from the sidelines, realizing the situation had spiraled way beyond his expectations. This Collin was just too fast! 

The guy’s speed and reflexes were insane, slippery as an eel. Plus, that shadow-manipulating ability was downright creepy. Even under attack from all four of them, this guy still found openings to counterattack—and even had the mental bandwidth to scheme against them! 

Just moments ago, Itori Kerei had gotten cocky. She thought her frontal ukaku projectile barrage would force Collin to either block with his shadows or dodge, like he did at the start. She never expected him to charge straight at her. 

If she’d been prepared, her ukaku’s explosive speed could’ve let her dodge. Her last-second decision to harden her ukaku for defense wasn’t wrong, but it was just a step too slow. 

It was starting to look like Collin had planned this from the get-go—to take out Itori Kerei, the one constantly harassing him from the sidelines. 

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! 

Half-kakuja Uta kept chasing Riku, swinging wildly. His speed wasn’t slow by any means, but Riku always reacted a split second faster. Uta’s current form was bizarre—seven arms, with the severed one not regenerating despite his kakuja transformation. 

CLANG! 

Kyuta Nifuku rushed forward, positioning himself in front of Riku, barely blocking Riku’s blade—or rather, protecting Niku behind him. 

Kyuta knew Riku would go after Niku, who was trying to save Itori Kerei. Acting a step ahead, he successfully parried Riku’s slash. 

His physical abilities might not match Riku’s, but Kyuta’s eyes could read the battlefield like a manga panel, letting him be in the right place at the right time—a natural talent of his. 

BOOM! 

Uta’s kagune arm came crashing toward Riku, who’d been hot on his heels. Riku leaped back several steps, but Uta relentlessly pursued, another kagune arm slamming toward him. 

Uta’s attacks were reckless now. Kyuta Nifuku quickly backed off to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. 

VROOM! 

Riku pushed his Sandevistan to the limit, dodging as Uta’s arm smashed the ground in front of him. The other arms quickly locked onto his position. 

Clearly, Uta had wised up. Instead of swinging all six arms at once, he staggered them, waiting for Riku’s next move. 

But Riku didn’t retreat. He charged forward, still aiming for Niku, the okama. He saw Niku had already picked up Itori Kerei’s head—the ukaku ghoul was clearly still clinging to life. 

In this situation, Niku could use his bikaku’s healing ability to revive Itori Kerei, even with her head severed. That bikaku of his was seriously hax. 

Naturally, Riku couldn’t let that happen. He recalled his shadow wolves. The fodder clowns had been held back by the two wolves, taking heavy losses and too scared to approach—especially with a berserk half-kakuja Uta who might not distinguish friend from foe. 

The two shadow wolves merged back into their original giant wolf form. The beast bared its fangs and lunged at Kyuta Nifuku, who was blocking the way, while Riku charged at Niku. 

Wielding his quinque katana, Kyuta Nifuku calmly faced the oncoming shadow wolf. This shadow monster was tricky, but he’d been observing it while healing earlier and had a grasp of its attack patterns, so he felt confident. 

BOOM! 

Kyuta dodged the shadow wolf’s attack, and it crashed into a wall. 

“That’s all you got?!” Kyuta laughed. The shadow wolf’s speed wasn’t as fast as his. 

Sure, the wolf wasn’t as fast as Riku with his overclocked Sandevistan, but it wasn’t exactly slow either. 

As one of the top half-humans, Kyuta’s physical stats were insane. Without Sandevistan, Riku might not even outpace him. 

But seriously, Kyuta was getting cocky fighting a shadow wolf? Did he forget how badly he got wrecked earlier? 

Riku threw some mental shade but kept the shadow wolf tangling with Kyuta while he forced Niku to abandon the healing. 

WHAM! 

Niku blocked Riku’s slash with his bikaku, his face twisted with frustration. He’d only just started healing—any more delays could be fatal for Itori! A severed head was no minor injury for a ghoul! 

“Uta!” Niku shouted. 

Riku felt a gust of malice from behind. The eye on the back of his neck saw it clearly—half-kakuja Uta was charging at him. 

“This half-kakuja beast is such a pain,” Riku muttered, dodging to the side. Uta still had some sense, avoiding a direct collision with Niku and Itori Kerei, swerving to follow Riku instead. 

Riku kicked Uta’s body, creating some distance, and frowned at the crazed ghoul flailing his arms. 

“ROAR!” 

In his frenzy, Uta grabbed a nearby “clown” corpse, his kagune arm ripping it apart before devouring it. He was starting to tire—compared to oni, ghouls clearly had less stamina. 

“Looks like I need to deal with you first.” 

Riku took a deep breath, then charged at Uta, abandoning the idea of ending the fight cleanly. 

“ROAR!” 

Uta got excited, swinging four kagune arms at Riku while keeping two in reserve. 

Riku moved with a unique footwork, weaving through Uta’s bombardment like water flowing through a stream. 

To Uta, Riku was slippery as a loach. He nearly grabbed him several times, only for Riku to slip away. 

HUFF! 

Riku took a sharp breath, closing in on Uta. The two reserved kagune arms came crashing down. 

SLASH! 

Riku’s dual blades carved an X across Uta’s body, slicing from shoulders to waist, gutting him. 

The quinque “Burau” felt a noticeable resistance, leaving shallow cuts, but “Chimyo” remained razor-sharp. 

BOOM! 

Riku was sent flying, crashing into a wall and leaving a hole. 

The bar was on the verge of collapse under Uta’s rampage. The lights were nearly all shattered. 

Darkness didn’t bother Riku, an oni with built-in night vision and cybernetic eyes for scanning. 

“Man, those big fists really pack a punch,” Riku groaned, climbing up. His chest ached, but it was just “surface pain”—no real damage. 

His 20-point base physique granted [Rock Lv1]. While his subdermal armor didn’t create stone-like skin, it reinforced his organs and internals. 

Before, Riku didn’t fully appreciate it—oni recovery plus subdermal armor felt redundant. But in combat, [Rock Lv1] shone in every way. 

It reduced the tearing from Sandevistan overuse. That earlier hit would’ve caused massive internal bleeding before, but now it was just pain—no injury. 

Riku was fine, but Uta was heavily wounded. As a rinkaku ghoul, his recovery was stronger than most, but “Chimyo’s” cuts were severe, while “Burau’s” were already healing. 

VROOM! 

Riku didn’t give Uta a breather, charging again. 

Since a no-damage clear was out, he’d trade blows and see whose health bar lasted longer! He had plenty of experience with brainless berserkers like this—remember that cyberpsycho from the tactical team? 

Uta probably thought his recovery made him fearless in a damage trade. That played right into Riku’s hands. 

The boss thought he had multiple health bars, ready for a 1v1 endurance fight. But if Riku showed his health bar, it’d blind them all. If it’s not off, does that mean it’s on? 

SLASH! 

Riku rushed in, cutting Uta again, taking a fist in return. 

When he got up unscathed, even the dim-witted Uta sensed something was wrong. 

“Uta! Something’s off with this guy!” Niku yelled while healing Itori Kerei, multitasking like crazy. 

Healing a severed head was no small feat, and he couldn’t spare a hand to help Uta, only warning him of his gut feeling. 

Uta didn’t need the warning—he could tell. His health was dropping too fast, while this guy seemed to have no health bar at all! 

SLASH! 

But they realized too late. Riku’s relentless attacks were wearing Uta down. 

Riku targeted vitals with “Chimyo,” using “Burau” for support. 

“This is bad,” Kyuta Nifuku muttered, seeing the tide turn. If this kept up, they’d all be done for. 

“Time to bail.” 

Without hesitation, Kyuta made his call. Earlier, he thought they had a shot, but not anymore. 

“Uta! Niku! Let’s go!” Kyuta shouted, bolting for the bar’s exit. 

“Sota!” Niku’s face twisted in anger, clearly pissed at the guy’s choice. How could they abandon Itori?! 

“No surprise there, Kyuta Nifuku,” Riku said, unfazed. The giant shadow wolf split into two and chased after Kyuta. 

As two smaller wolves, their speed spiked, finally able to keep up with Kyuta. 

“What a pain!” Kyuta grumbled, tangled up by the wolves but still pushing for the exit, dead-set on escaping—seemingly forgetting he brought Riku here. 

Riku’s move to stop Kyuta gave Niku a moment of relief. If that jerk Sota could keep the shadow wolves busy, it’d help. 

SPURT! 

Uta coughed up blood, his wounds critical. Niku was torn—keep healing Itori Kerei or help Uta? 

Itori couldn’t be abandoned; a severed head wasn’t a minor injury, and the healing had already been interrupted once. 

But if he ignored Uta, he’d soon follow Itori’s fate. Uta was clearly no match for this guy. 

“ROAR!” 

Covered in wounds and gutted, Uta stopped defending. Two blades pierced his body. 

Roaring, he grabbed the blades from behind with two kagune arms and gripped the front with two others. 

Rinkaku kagune weren’t the toughest, but Uta’s kakuja state spiked his Rc cell density, compensating for their weaker adhesion. 

For a moment, Riku’s blades were stuck, and Uta’s other two kagune arms lunged for the now-unarmed Riku. 

Riku let go of his blades, his subdermal armor retracting to reveal fleshly hands. Sharp claws formed, slashing at Uta’s neck. 

SLASH! 

Uta didn’t expect this move. His kagune arms grabbed Riku, but his neck was nearly severed. 

HISS! 

Riku sucked in a breath. His claws felt like they hit tougher-than-steel Rc cells, stronger than his usual blades. 

Though he didn’t fully decapitate Uta, the damage was massive. 

“ARRGH!” 

Uta’s arms squeezed, as if to crush Riku. 

Riku activated his mimicry, shrinking his body, bracing against the kagune arms, and slipping out. 

Back to normal size, he delivered a side kick to Uta’s barely-attached head. 

BAM! 

The head flew off. Riku landed, retrieved “Chimyo” and “Burau,” and hacked at Uta’s body to ensure he was down for good. 

Kakuja ghouls had strong recovery, so Riku made sure this one was dead-dead. 

“Uta!” Niku’s eyes nearly popped out. He hadn’t decided, and now Uta’s head was gone. 

“No rush—your turn’s next,” Riku said, charging at Niku. 

Niku stopped healing Itori and swung his bikaku at Riku. Escape wasn’t an option, so he’d fight. Known for healing and recovery, Niku’s combat skills weren’t half-bad either. 

Riku quickly felt Niku’s insane recovery. Not on par with an oni, but top-tier for a ghoul. Deep wounds closed rapidly—his kakuhou was something special. 

SLASH! 

Niku’s head came off. Despite his abilities, he couldn’t match kakuja Uta in combat, let alone trade blows with Riku. 

Riku finished him off, ripping out his kakuhou, then did the same to the barely-alive Itori Kerei. 

“All that’s left is you, Kyuta Nifuku.” 

Riku rushed outside. Kyuta had escaped the bar, but the shadow wolves were still on him. 

“You monster! What the hell are you?!” Kyuta’s face finally showed panic. His goal wasn’t achieved, and he didn’t want to die here! 

Riku pinned Kyuta down, the wolves assisting. Unlike ghouls, this half-human lacked their recovery. 

Soon, Kyuta was exhausted, covered in wounds, his face dazed as if he couldn’t believe his life would end like this. 

“To me, the real monster is someone like you, who can’t control the beast inside,” Riku said softly, then cleanly beheaded Kyuta, igniting his body with “Burau.” 

One breath, one fight—done. Time to head back to Cyber. 

Chapter 125: Arrangements and Departure  

[Ding! Experience +620.] 

The system's notification chimed in. The higher the level, the stronger the power, but the slower the experience gain became. 

Three SS-rank ghouls plus one old acquaintance, Nifuku Juta, only yielded 400 experience points. The rest of the “Clowns” contributed even less, their numbers barely scraping together the total. 

With all four remaining leaders dead, the other “Clowns” naturally scattered. This time, the venue was a bar, far less confining than the ghoul restaurant from before. 

Riku didn’t bother chasing the fleeing “Clowns.” Without their leaders, those small fry wouldn’t stir up any trouble. 

Back at the bar, Riku dug out the ghouls’ kakuhou one by one, then set the place ablaze with a flick of his hand, ensuring no evidence remained. 

With everything settled, Riku retraced his steps, returning to the suburban villa in District 6. 

Kuroiwa and Naihaku, the two girls, were practicing their Breathing Techniques in the open area outside the villa, but their anxiety was obvious. They couldn’t focus. 

“You can’t practice Water Breathing with that mindset,” Riku said, stepping out from the woods with a smile and shaking his head. Water Breathing demanded a calm heart—practicing like this was bound to fail. 

“Master!”  

Seeing Riku return, the girls immediately stopped their training, both letting out a sigh of relief. 

Yoshimura Mingbo had told them the person Riku followed was from the Washuu clan and that the “Clowns” were a chaotic ghoul organization. 

Naturally, they were worried sick about their kind-hearted master, terrified something might happen to him. 

The two girls rushed to Riku’s side. They weren’t exactly young anymore—nearing adulthood, they were practically grown women. 

“Put the Breathing Technique aside for now. I’ll teach you a simplified version,” Riku said, patting their heads—one black, one white. As a towering figure, it was easy for him to ruffle the hair of the barely 1.6-meter-tall Kuroiwa and Naihaku. 

“A simplified version?” Naihaku tilted her head, a bit confused. 

“Are we… not good enough?” Kuroiwa asked, her expression dimming slightly. 

“No, think of it as a shortcut. Start with the simplified version, then gradually move to the full one,” Riku explained, shaking his head. He’d been too eager for quick results. Breathing Techniques required a long foundation-building process. 

Since mastery couldn’t happen overnight, starting with a simplified “chip version” of Water Breathing would be much easier to grasp. 

From Riku’s perspective, mastering the “chip version” would make learning the full Water Breathing significantly smoother. 

This simplified version followed the same principles as Water Breathing. Start with the easy one, and once they mastered the full version, they could switch seamlessly. 

That was the power of technology—simplifying and mass-producing complexity. 

“I see,” Kuroiwa and Naihaku nodded. If it was easier to learn, that was great news. 

They dedicated time every day to practicing Breathing Techniques but hadn’t even touched the basics, which left them a bit discouraged. 

“Let’s get started,” Riku said, sensing their thoughts. He knew the lack of progress could sap their motivation. 

Truth be told, Kuroiwa and Naihaku weren’t reckless types. They were calm and steady, well-suited for Water Breathing. 

But Breathing Techniques were tough for most to master quickly. Even just getting started could stump those without enough talent. 

With this simplified version, they could get a taste of what mastering a Breathing Technique felt like, which would greatly help when tackling the full version. 

Of course, truly mastering a Breathing Technique—capturing both its form and essence—depended on individual talent. 

The same technique in different hands could vary wildly, depending on how well someone could wield it. 

Sakonji had once evaluated Riku, noting that while he’d mastered Water Breathing in just three days—a near-miraculous feat—he was following Sakonji’s instructions to the letter. 

That wasn’t a problem; it showed Riku’s sheer effort and discipline, practicing with textbook precision. 

But to truly make Water Breathing his own, Riku needed to find a rhythm and method that suited his body. 

The more he used Water Breathing, the deeper he understood Sakonji’s words. 

Especially after developing the “chip version” of Water Breathing, he felt he’d found the key to leveling up Water Breathing from Lv1 to Lv2. 

This wasn’t about Constant Breathing but about true mastery—making the technique entirely his own. 

“Phew~” 

Under Riku’s guidance, Kuroiwa and Naihaku began practicing the “chip version” of Water Breathing. 

It was noticeably simpler, but it still required diligent effort to see results. 

“You need to train your bodies well. That’s the foundation of Breathing Techniques. Without rigorous physical training, you’ll never succeed,” Riku instructed the sisters. Since he was preparing to leave this world, he had to make sure everything was in order. 

“Yes, Master,” Kuroiwa and Naihaku replied obediently. They weren’t just paying lip service—these girls trained hard. 

Honestly, it was hard not to like such dedicated, well-mannered girls. Riku genuinely saw them as his disciples. 

“That’s enough for today. Take a break tomorrow and come with me,” Riku said, stopping their training as the night grew late. 

He planned to take the sisters to the Anteiku Café in District 20 the next day. With someone as kind as Yoshimura Kousen around, it’d be a waste not to use his help. 

Riku didn’t need Yoshimura to do much—just shelter the sisters if things got dangerous. 

Yoshimura was used to this kind of thing. He’d saved people like Shigen Renji before, so he likely wouldn’t refuse to protect two girls in a pinch. 

Riku had a plan. Tomorrow at Anteiku, he’d share the sisters’ backstory, flash his One-Eyed Ghoul trait, and Yoshimura wouldn’t be able to say no. 

After all, the old man had a One-Eyed Ghoul daughter he’d kept at a distance to protect. Seeing the Anjiu sisters, with all those factors at play, Yoshimura wouldn’t turn Riku down. 

The next day, Riku took the sisters to District 20’s Anteiku Café. 

The café was already open. Furuma Enji was working the counter, with Kaneki Ken helping out. 

Irimi Kaya had covered a shift for Kaneki before, so now he was paying her back. 

“Devil-san?” Kaneki called out in surprise, seeing Riku as a reliable senpai. 

“Hey, Kaneki. No trouble, I hope?” Riku grinned. The kid had been worried the Ghoul Restaurant incident might come back to haunt them. 

“Nope,” Kaneki said, scratching his head. He’d been glued to the news, obsessively following updates. 

The “District 7 Restaurant Massacre and Arson Case” was making waves, but oddly, someone seemed to be covering up the details. 

The case was shrouded in mystery, with no clear truth leaking out. They hadn’t even decided who’d investigate it. 

Clearly, the forces behind the dead ghouls were pulling strings to minimize the fallout in human society. 

But in the ghoul world, the “Ghoul Restaurant Massacre” had spread like wildfire overnight. 

With so many ghouls dead, it was a shocking event. Everyone was trying to figure out who did it. 

Any tidbit of information could cause a stir. 

The buzz was fueled by the high bounties offered by “upper-class” ghouls for the culprit—even just for information. 

Kaneki had made up his mind to keep his mouth shut, never revealing anything tied to the incident. 

The massive bounty had shocked even him when Furuma Enji mentioned it. Its allure for ghouls was undeniable. 

Kaneki knew that if he let even a hint slip, he’d become a target for countless others. 

Pressure forces growth, and Kaneki was feeling it. That looming bounty was like the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head, ready to drop. 

Under that pressure, he’d started seriously training with Shigen Renji to learn how to fight, prioritizing self-defense. 

“Where’s Yoshimura-tenchou?” Riku asked, nodding at Kaneki. He entrusted the Anjiu sisters to Kaneki. 

As their senpai, Kaneki was perfect for helping Kuroiwa and Naihaku get familiar with Anteiku Café. 

“Yoshimura-tenchou is upstairs. I’ll take you,” Furuma Enji said, nodding to Riku. He led him up, a former SS-rank ghoul and the infamous “Demon Ape” of District 20. 

Looking at Furuma Enji, Irimi Kaya, and Shigen Renji, Riku couldn’t help but admire Yoshimura’s charisma. 

These once-ferocious SS-rank ghouls were now honest café workers, often going hungry. 

Strength alone wasn’t the point. What was remarkable was that these SS-rank ghouls willingly chose this life under Yoshimura. 

Former gang bosses who once lived large now lived like ascetics, eating once a month. It was almost absurd. 

“Yoshimura-tenchou, Devil-san is here,” Furuma Enji announced outside a room. 

“Let him in,” Yoshimura’s calm, steady voice replied. 

“Please,” Furuma Enji said, opening the door with a gesture before heading back downstairs. 

Riku entered and saw Yoshimura meticulously brewing coffee, eyes half-closed, making one wonder if he could even see. 

“You’ve caused quite a stir, Devil-san,” Yoshimura said, turning with a cup of coffee, taking a sip. 

“Not a big deal,” Riku replied casually. He wasn’t surprised Yoshimura knew about the Ghoul Restaurant incident. 

Kaneki wasn’t great at lying. It’d be odd if he had fooled Yoshimura. 

Heck, Kaneki probably didn’t even try hiding it from him. Yoshimura’s kindness likely earned his trust. 

“You shouldn’t have taken Kaneki. He didn’t need to go through that,” Yoshimura said, sipping his coffee slowly. 

Riku paused. These were things Kaneki was destined to face. His unique nature would always draw attention. 

Getting a taste of it early, adapting to what’s ahead, wasn’t a bad thing for Kaneki. Riku’s pressure was far gentler than what he’d face later. 

Flowers don’t bloom on cliffs if they’re raised in a greenhouse. 

“Can a One-Eyed Ghoul stay hidden forever?” Riku asked, emphasizing One-Eyed Ghoul. 

Yoshimura’s aura shifted for a moment. That term clearly held deep meaning for him—a secret buried in his heart. 

“If he stays out of trouble and works quietly at the café, why would trouble find him?” Yoshimura said, a hint of self-deception in his words. 

“Do you believe that? Kaneki’s a Half-Ghoul—rare enough as it is, and he’s man-made. Even if he doesn’t look for trouble, trouble will find him,” Riku said, leaning against the wall with a smile, clearly unconvinced. 

Yoshimura sipped his coffee in silence. 

He knew how rare One-Eyed Ghouls were—probably better than anyone. 

He also knew Kaneki, a surgically created One-Eyed Ghoul, was tangled in all sorts of karma. 

But seeing Kaneki stirred something in Yoshimura. It was like seeing his own Half-Ghoul daughter, born a One-Eyed Ghoul. 

Ignoring Kaneki was impossible. It wasn’t just about his principles—it was a reflection of his longing for his daughter. 

To Yoshimura, being with Kaneki was, in a way, a substitute for that bond. 

“I’m not here to argue about Kaneki. That’s his choice. I’m here for two Half-Ghoul girls,” Riku said, shaking his head. 

Yoshimura was confident that, barring a few major players, most would respect his influence. 

As long as Kaneki stayed quietly at the café, he could live peacefully like the others. 

But not everyone respected Yoshimura. Especially his beloved daughter, who seemed to wish he’d drop dead sooner. 

“Half-Ghoul girls?” The term made Yoshimura open his eyes. 

“Come downstairs. I’ll tell you their story briefly,” Riku said, gesturing for Yoshimura to follow. 

They went to the first floor, and Riku explained the Anjiu sisters’ situation. 

Yoshimura was silent for a long time. Humans willingly becoming Half-Ghouls? 

But considering the sisters’ drive for revenge and the fact that Half-Ghoul surgery allowed them to eat human food, it wasn’t that surprising. 

“Yoshimura-tenchou, these are the girls. I’m leaving Tokyo for a while. Please look after them and keep them safe,” Riku said as they reached the café’s main floor. 

Kaneki was busy, and Kuroiwa and Naihaku weren’t idle—they were helping out. 

Seeing the sisters working in the café, Yoshimura was momentarily lost in thought. They reminded him so much of his daughter. 

Of course, they smelled more like humans. The Half-Ghoul surgery had clearly been perfected, as Devil said. 

This made Yoshimura feel even more sympathy for Kaneki. How did this kid end up in such an unlucky spot? 

“I understand, Devil-san. I’ll keep them safe,” Yoshimura said with a sigh, not refusing Riku’s request. He hadn’t planned to. 

“Thank you,” Riku said gratefully. With the old man’s protection, he wouldn’t have to worry about the sisters for a while. 

“Kuroiwa, Naihaku, come to Anteiku to help out when you have time. I’ve arranged it with Yoshimura-tenchou,” Riku said, introducing them to Yoshimura to build familiarity. 

“Yes, Master. We’ll help out diligently, Yoshimura-tenchou,” the sisters replied, nodding despite their confusion, without objection. 

“Come to me if you run into trouble,” Yoshimura said, his emotions complex. He wished he could say the same to his own daughter. 

“We won’t disturb you any longer,” Riku said, noticing Yoshimura’s low mood, and left with the sisters. 

Yoshimura nodded, watching them go, then sighed and returned upstairs. 

“I’ll be gone for a while. Train with Kaneki and practice your Breathing Techniques with him,” Riku told the sisters as they left Anteiku. 

“Master…” Kuroiwa and Naihaku were stunned, the news feeling sudden. 

They’d had a hunch when Riku asked Yoshimura to look after them, but it still hit hard. 

“That’s that,” Riku said, not explaining further. The trio returned to the lab in silence. 

“Master! Stay safe. We’ll wait for your return,” Kuroiwa said earnestly as they parted, Naihaku looking at him too. 

“I will,” Riku said with a smile, then left without any dramatic words. It wasn’t a final goodbye—he might be back soon. 

After leaving the lab, Riku used the funds he’d scavenged from the Ghoul Restaurant to buy supplies—tea, fruits, and more—to diversify his stock. 

As an interdimensional trader, he wasn’t about to forget his side hustle. 

“Return to the Past.” 

After buying his goods, Riku chose to return. 

[Return to the Past] offered two world options. Riku picked Cyberpunk 2077. 

[Traversal Complete] 

[Current World: Cyberpunk 2077] 

A flash of light, and Riku was back in Night City, in the same dark alley he’d left. 

Night City hadn’t changed. Under the neon glow, it felt like a dreamlike metropolis, far from reality.