111-115

Chapter 111: Resurrection from Death 

“Just knowing a bit more doesn’t make me a genius,” Riku said, waving off the compliment. He wasn’t about to claim the title of genius—one wrong question, and he’d be exposed. Chigyo Koitsu had only taught him so much. 

“I think I know what to do now,” Kanou Akihiro declared.  

Always a man of action, Kanou was eager to dive back into his research. He’d caused plenty of chaos with that mindset, but Riku’s new perspective had sparked something in him. He was fed up with failure after failure. 

Meanwhile, the Anku sisters, who’d been ignored for a moment, finally reacted. Their expressions were a mix of emotions—hard to pin down. 

Kanou’s words were tough to argue with. He’d made it clear there was something suspicious about Anku Nanao’s death. 

But Riku couldn’t help but feel a bit exasperated. The sisters were so quick to buy into Kanou’s explanation without even trying to verify it themselves. Not that they had the means to do so, but still. 

“What should we do?” Anku Kurona, the more decisive older sister, asked.  

Both she and Anku Nashiro wanted to grow stronger, to avenge their parents’ deaths. They were willing to pay any price, even if it meant giving up their humanity to gain a ghoul’s power. 

“You two…” Kanou began, his mind already racing with ideas to refine his “half-ghoul surgery.” Just improving the success rate would save him a ton of trouble. 

“Hold up. If you don’t want to die, you might want to wait. This guy’s half-ghoul surgery has only one successful case so far,” Riku said with a smirk. 

The Anku sisters were either incredibly lucky or tragically unlucky. Aside from the protagonist Kaneki Ken, they were the only other two who’d beaten the odds, hitting that tiny fraction of a percent success rate. 

Kurona and Nashiro exchanged a glance. They could tell this silver fox-masked “Collins-san” seemed to have even more advanced knowledge than Kanou. 

“Collins-san, what’s your goal? Can you tell me now?” Kanou asked, pausing his excitement.  

He hadn’t forgotten that this mysterious “Collins” wasn’t exactly an ally. What did this guy want from him? Surely he didn’t show up just to share tips on improving the “half-ghoul surgery,” right? 

“Honestly, I came here to kill you. In my book, someone like you deserves to die a thousand times over,” Riku said calmly. 

Kanou froze, clearly not expecting that.  

“You mean because I experiment on humans? Turning them into ghouls?” Kanou asked, staying still. He knew his chances of escaping this masked man were slim. 

“Exactly. People like you? I’d take you out on sight,” Riku said, nodding.  

He genuinely had no fondness for Kanou. The guy had no moral boundaries. Sure, Riku wasn’t a saint himself, but he at least tried not to cross into full-on psychopath territory. His sense of right and wrong made it impossible to stomach Kanou’s actions. 

Kanou might have plenty of excuses—noble-sounding ones, even. Reviving his mother, researching Rc cell applications for human medicine, or overthrowing the Washuu clan’s ghoul regime. But no matter how lofty his reasons, they didn’t change the fact that he was turning humans into man-eating monsters. As someone who’d also been forcibly turned into one, Riku had more than enough reason to want him dead. 

Not to mention, Kanou’s half-baked “half-ghoul technology” had killed countless people. He deserved whatever came his way. 

“As a fellow ghoul researcher, you should understand. Those sacrifices are unavoidable. Their deaths will contribute greatly to humanity,” Kanou said, his usual smile fading. 

He knew he’d committed sins, but his dream of reviving his mother kept him going. 

“No, those sacrifices could have been avoided. If you’d just done compatibility tests beforehand, you wouldn’t have wasted so many lives. It all comes down to you being too impatient. With your skills, you could’ve figured out a better way,” Riku said, shaking his head, his expression behind the mask dripping with disdain. 

“And don’t give me that ‘their deaths contributed to humanity’ nonsense. You don’t get to decide if it’s a contribution, and you sure as hell don’t get to decide who makes that sacrifice.” 

Honestly, Kanou’s self-righteous justification—experimenting on innocents and claiming it was for the greater good—disgusted Riku even more than a straightforward serial killer. It was like a hypocrite preaching morality while doing the same awful things as a villain, just with a fancier excuse. 

“Collins-san, your ghoul research goes deeper than mine. Did those results just fall out of the sky? You didn’t run any experiments to get there?” Kanou shot back, frowning, his tone laced with frustration. 

He couldn’t wrap his head around why Collins was so confidently calling him out. Weren’t they cut from the same cloth? Collins was researching ghouls too, and clearly at a higher level! 

“And didn’t you say you had a way to solve my mother’s issue? Resurrection from death! If you can pull that off, how many experiments did you run?” Kanou pressed. 

Riku’s earlier claim about solving his mother’s problem hadn’t slipped Kanou’s mind. Resurrection was his ultimate goal, and he’d do anything to achieve it. 

“It’s impossible. Bringing back the dead? Furuta Nimura fed you a pipe dream. Or maybe he doesn’t even know if it’s possible,” Riku said bluntly. 

Furuta had convinced Kanou to work for him with one simple line: “Kagune are born from imagination and have infinite possibilities.” 

It wasn’t wrong—kagune could do incredible things: fire, electricity, bombs, lasers, even creating clones. In theory, a kagune could take any form based on imagination. But only a rare few ghouls could actually pull that off. 

Whether that power could truly resurrect the dead? No one knew. In the end, despite sacrificing countless lives, Kanou never succeeded in bringing his mother back. 

“…”  

Kanou fell silent. If anyone else had said this, he’d have brushed it off. But Collins’ expertise in ghoul research gave him credibility. His denial just confirmed what Kanou already suspected—that it was a faint, almost impossible hope. But so what? 

“Actually, if someone just died, there’s a slim chance of revival. But it’s not the kind of revival you want. For someone like your mother, who’s been gone for years? There’s no chance at all,” Riku said, referencing Kanou’s final research results. 

Turning the dead into kagune monsters was something Takatsuki Sen could do—Noro was proof, though he had almost no self-awareness. Kanou had done it too, reviving numerous investigators, even someone like Okahei, who retained some consciousness but needed constant drugs to stay alive and lucid. 

In Riku’s eyes, those results were already twisted beyond belief, but they clearly weren’t the revival Kanou was after. 

“…” 

Kanou stayed quiet, growing more shocked as Riku laid out the details. Had this Collins guy already pushed experiments that far? 

“So… what do you want me to do?” Kanou asked slowly, still unsure of Collins’ intentions. Was he trying to make him give up? 

“Kanou Akihiro, forget this ‘resurrection from death’ nonsense. It’s a dead end. Focus on researching ghoul regeneration for medical applications. That’s what you and your father dedicated your lives to, isn’t it? Your current path is too extreme,” Riku said. 

He was willing to give Kanou a chance to atone for his sins by producing medical breakthroughs that could save lives. People could be good or evil, but technology and tools were neutral. There was no denying that, if used right, Kanou’s research could save countless people. 

Chapter 112: Become My Disciple 

“Give up.” 

Yoshimura Akihiro let out a hoarse laugh. Easier said than done. 

“Even if there’s only a sliver of hope, I won’t give up. Before I started all this, I knew the chances of success were next to zero. But if I don’t try, how can I ever be satisfied?!” 

Yoshimura Akihiro’s hands trembled, his expression brimming with emotion. He had always known it was nearly impossible, but he was willing to try! 

“You’ve indeed done better than me in perfecting the half-ghoul surgery,” he continued, “but when it comes to research on bringing the dead back to life, I might just surpass you!” 

Decades of persistence had made Yoshimura Akihiro utterly obsessive. Riku’s words only confirmed that success was a long shot. 

But then he thought about it. He had already managed to bring people back to life, even with consciousness. If he could just take one more step—a tiny step forward—couldn’t he cross that threshold?! 

“You’re beyond saving, aren’t you?” Riku sighed. 

Yoshimura Akihiro seemed like a normal person on the surface, but decades of obsession had driven him to madness. He wouldn’t give up until he saw the final result with his own eyes, until he crashed headfirst into that wall and ended up battered and broken. 

“But I’ll admit, you’re right about one thing. Sacrifices can be avoided. Limiting the kagune’s output and unlocking it level by level does allow for better observation of the body’s changes.” 

Yoshimura Akihiro’s tone shifted, his expression gradually calming. 

“My old methods were too inefficient. With your approach, I can save a lot of effort and stop wasting time searching for test subjects.” 

His gaze turned to the Yasuhisa sisters nearby. Those two were perfect test subjects, enough to keep him occupied for a while. 

“That’s exactly why I told you about this method, Yoshimura Akihiro. This is the right path. With your old way of creating half-ghouls, they’d only hate you and refuse to cooperate with your research.” 

Riku was steering Yoshimura Akihiro. The old man had sought out the Yasuhisa sisters because he wanted subjects who would willingly participate in his research. This reasoning naturally resonated with him. 

“You want to resurrect your mother, and that’s fine. But you shouldn’t be piling up innocent lives to do it. Even if you succeed, would your mother be happy with a resurrection built on that? Seeing you like this now, would she really be pleased?” 

Riku started laying on the moral argument. If Yoshimura Akihiro truly cared about his mother, this was something he’d have to face. 

“…” 

Yoshimura Akihiro fell silent. These were questions to consider after success, and honestly, with the odds so low, he hadn’t even thought about them. 

“Is that your goal? To make me take a different path? One without sacrifices? And if I refuse?” 

Yoshimura Akihiro spoke slowly, though he already knew the answer. 

“Then I’ll kill you,” Riku replied without hesitation. 

Working with Yoshimura Akihiro and watching him sacrifice innocent lives for his research was out of the question. Riku’s moral compass wasn’t that broken. 

“I understand. For now, at least, I won’t do that anymore.” 

Yoshimura Akihiro nodded. Failed mutants weren’t much use to his research anyway. If he’d had Riku’s method earlier, he wouldn’t have taken such extreme measures, risking becoming a target. 

“Good. Looks like we’ve reached a preliminary agreement on this.” 

Riku nodded. He wasn’t naive enough to fully trust Yoshimura Akihiro, but for now, the man would behave himself. 

Yoshimura Akihiro wasn’t oblivious to right and wrong. When conditions allowed, he’d avoid extreme measures. But if this path failed, he’d likely revert to his old ways, with no moral baseline to hold him back. 

If it weren’t for the fact that contacting Jirokou Kotsu under CCG’s protection was tricky, Riku wouldn’t even consider working with someone like Yoshimura Akihiro. 

“In exchange for perfecting the half-ghoul surgery, I need you to make me a Quinque using Rize Kamishiro’s kagune.” 

Riku stated his request. As for kagune transplantation, there was no rush. He’d wait until Yoshimura Akihiro refined the half-ghoul surgery. Besides, Riku had no intention of revealing his secrets to this man. He didn’t trust Yoshimura Akihiro—someone without a moral bottom line could do anything. 

If Yoshimura Akihiro learned about Riku’s physical secrets, who knew what twisted ideas he might get? This world was miserable enough. If this guy started messing with something ghost-related and it spread, things would get messy fast. 

“No problem. What shape?” Yoshimura Akihiro agreed easily. It was a simple task for him, given his time at CCG’s research institute. 

Rize Kamishiro’s kagune was a rinkaku, highly malleable, offering plenty of options for crafting. 

“Just make it like this.” 

Riku drew his thermal katana. It was still his go-to weapon, especially since the first systematic combat style he learned was Mizu no Kokyū (Water Breathing). 

“No problem,” Yoshimura Akihiro said after glancing at the katana. 

The blade’s craftsmanship looked unique, but a Quinque wasn’t inferior—it was humanity’s only weapon against ghouls. 

“Anything else?” Yoshimura Akihiro asked. 

He could tell this “Mr. Collins” valued Rize Kamishiro’s talents, likely one of his goals. That was normal. Who in ghoul research could resist such an exceptional kagune source? 

“I’ll be staying here for a while. That’s not an issue, right?” 

Riku planned to use this place as a temporary base while keeping an eye on Yoshimura Akihiro to prevent him from slipping away. 

“Of course. We can also discuss ghoul research,” Yoshimura Akihiro agreed readily. He had plenty of questions for this “Mr. Collins” about future studies. 

“…” 

Riku felt a pang of unease. From Yoshimura Akihiro’s expression, it was clear he’d dig for answers, which could be troublesome. 

He could handle talking about the half-ghoul surgery—its principles were similar to a Quinque, and he’d explained it well enough for Yoshimura Akihiro to improve it quickly. But resurrection? Riku had no clue how Yoshimura Akihiro pulled that off, only that it also used half-ghoul tech. 

“Focus on perfecting the half-ghoul surgery first. It’s the foundation for everything,” Riku said, adopting the tone of a seasoned mentor. 

“A lot of this you won’t understand just by listening to me. You need to research it yourself, not follow my old path. I’ve already told you that road leads nowhere.” 

His mind raced, and he quickly came up with a deflection: Don’t ask me—my way was wrong. 

“It’s still a reference. There are rooms in the lab. Pick one,” Yoshimura Akihiro said, unfazed. 

Seeing Riku had no more requests, he returned to his research. His two current collaborators, Futake Nita and Dave Collins, were both secretive, hiding plenty. But that didn’t matter to him—as long as he could keep researching, nothing else did. 

The Yasuhisa sisters, Kurona and Nashiro, exchanged glances before looking at Riku, who wore a silver fox mask, ready to follow him. 

“Come with me,” Riku said, unbothered, leading the two girls through the lab. It was indeed spacious. 

The sisters grew more convinced that this place had to be built by CCG. Their father couldn’t have created a lab like this. 

“You two…” Riku started, looking at Kurona and Nashiro, but stopped mid-sentence. 

“Senpai, what’s wrong?” the sisters asked nervously. Riku’s presence was overwhelming. 

“Forget it. Nothing,” Riku said, shaking his head. 

He’d wanted to point out how easily they’d trusted Yoshimura Akihiro, but he held back. After all, he hadn’t gone through what these girls had. 

“If you want to get stronger, I can teach you. Yoshimura Akihiro’s got a screw loose. He’s not worth trusting.” 

Riku felt sympathy for these naive, unfortunate kids. Instead of letting them see Yoshimura Akihiro as a father figure, they’d be better off as his disciples. 

“What can you teach us?” Kurona Yasuhisa asked. 

She and her sister weren’t helpless. At the CCG Academy, they were top students. 

Swish! 

Riku’s figure flickered, vanishing before their eyes. Before the sisters could react, they felt their bodies go limp, unable to move. 

“I can make you stronger,” Riku said, lifting them effortlessly, one in each hand, like chicks. They were powerless against him. 

Setting them down, he saw the shock on their faces. 

“We’re willing!” Kurona and Nashiro said without hesitation. 

This Mr. Collins clearly possessed strength far beyond their comprehension. What was there to hesitate about? 

“Good,” Riku said with a nod. 

He was definitely saner than Yoshimura Akihiro. This was his way of saving two wayward girls. 

Ugh, caught a cold from the weather change… 

Chapter 113: Learning on the Fly 

“Ugh, still no good, huh?” 

Watching Kurona and Nashiro struggle, Riku sighed helplessly. 

Ever since he decided to take these two girls under his wing, Riku had spent the last couple of days trying to teach them the “Water Breathing” technique. 

But the truth was clear: the “Breathing Style” wasn’t something just anyone could pick up quickly. 

“Sorry, Sensei. We’ve let you down.” 

Kurona and Nashiro’s faces flushed red, clearly embarrassed and frustrated with themselves. The chance to get stronger was right in front of them, but they couldn’t grasp it. 

“It’s fine. It’s not your fault. I was just pushing too hard.” 

Riku shook his head. Expecting others to meet his own standards was a bit unfair. 

At that moment, Riku found himself missing those skill chips. Man, those plug-and-play chips were so much easier! 

The power of technology could skip a lot of hassle, especially the beginner phase, which was often the toughest—particularly for something like the “Breathing Style.” 

“Keep training your bodies,” Riku said to the girls. “Even if you undergo the half-ghoul surgery later, you still need to get used to fighting with your own strength.” 

Overusing their kagune could spike the Rc cell concentration in their bodies, potentially causing irreversible consequences. 

“Yes, Sensei,” Kurona and Nashiro nodded obediently. The two girls were diligent, following Riku’s instructions to a tee. 

Riku had already revealed the truth behind the CCG to them, and it left them utterly shocked. 

The Washuu family, ghouls hiding their true nature, controlled the CCG, balancing the power between humans and ghouls—while both sides remained clueless. 

The revelation hit Kurona and Nashiro like a bolt from the blue, leaving them momentarily unable to process it. At the same time, they realized just how terrifying their target for revenge truly was. 

But instead of backing down, the two girls doubled down on their efforts, striving to meet Riku’s expectations to the fullest. 

Ring-a-ling. 

Riku’s phone chimed with a cheerful tune. It was from Kanou Akihiro— that old guy was loaded. 

“Devil, I’ve perfected the half-ghoul surgery. You can bring the girls over.” 

Kanou’s voice came through the phone, delivering good news. 

After Riku explained the principles, Kanou had quickly refined the “half-ghoul surgery.” 

As Riku had suspected when he first heard about it, the tech was totally doable. 

“Alright, we’re on our way.” 

Riku hung up and turned to Kurona and Nashiro. 

“Let’s go. Time to see if you’ve got what it takes.” 

He waved a hand, signaling the girls to follow him. They were standing on an open area outside the villa. 

“Sensei, what if we can’t handle the surgery?” Nashiro asked, jogging to keep up with Riku, her voice tinged with worry. She’d been anxious about this for days. 

Because Riku kept warning them not to overuse their kagune, it felt like he was confident they’d pass the test. 

“Don’t worry. You’ll be fine.” 

Riku gave a reassuring smile. Truthfully, Kurona and Nashiro’s talents weren’t exceptional. They couldn’t adapt to Rize Kamishiro’s kagune as perfectly as Ken Kaneki had. 

But they were lucky enough. Those with lower luck didn’t survive. Kanou’s “ghoulification surgery” had a success rate probably in the single-digit percentiles. 

Kurona and Nashiro exchanged a glance, hoping everything would go smoothly. They didn’t want to disappoint their sensei even more. 

Soon, Riku led the girls down to the lab, where Kanou was waiting. 

The old man looked exhausted, like he’d been working at breakneck speed for days. Still, his excitement was palpable. 

“Come on, let’s verify this.” 

Kanou waved Kurona and Nashiro over, barely containing his eagerness. 

The girls didn’t move right away, instead looking to Riku for his approval. 

“You sure you’re okay?” Riku asked, eyeing Kanou skeptically. He was half-worried the guy might keel over. 

“I’m fine, don’t worry.” 

Kanou calmed himself down. He was tired but could still hold it together. 

“Let’s start with the compatibility test. It’s safe.” 

Seeing Riku’s skeptical look, Kanou opted for a safer first step. 

“Go ahead,” Riku nodded, gesturing for Kurona and Nashiro to step forward. 

The girls obediently complied. Riku switched his phone to recording mode, ready to document Kanou’s perfected “half-ghoul surgery.” 

“Let’s hope nothing goes wrong,” Kanou muttered, taking a deep breath. The Anju sisters had volunteered for the procedure, but if they weren’t compatible, he’d have to find others. 

Finding willing participants wasn’t hard for Kanou. He had money to burn, and desperate people—like those with terminal illnesses—would line up for a chance at transformation. 

This wasn’t like turning into a full-on, human-eating ghoul. After this surgery, as long as they didn’t overuse their kagune, they could eat like normal humans. 

But if it could be simple, why complicate things? Finding new candidates would be a hassle. 

“Don’t worry. They’ll be fine,” Riku said confidently, surprising Kanou. 

And when the results came in, Kanou’s surprise turned to shock—they were actually compatible! 

“You tested them already?” Kanou asked, noting Riku’s calm demeanor. 

“Just keep going. I’ll be watching,” Riku replied, dodging the question. His attitude convinced Kanou he’d definitely tested them beforehand. 

“Alright.” 

Kanou didn’t dwell on it and began preparing for the surgery. 

Riku kept recording, his high-tech cybernetic eye capturing every move Kanou made with precision. 

Kurona and Nashiro were nervous. Even though they’d passed the compatibility test, this wasn’t a regular surgery. 

After this, they’d have ghoul organs in their bodies and abilities only ghouls possessed. 

“I’ll go first,” Kurona volunteered, stepping up as the older sister. If something went wrong, Nashiro could still back out. 

“It’ll be fine,” Riku said, patting Kurona’s head to reassure her. 

After all, the sisters had survived Kanou’s crude original surgery. The perfected version should be a breeze. 

“Mm!” Kurona nodded firmly and climbed onto the operating table. A quick shot of anesthesia knocked her out. 

Nashiro was ushered out of the room. No need for her to watch the whole process, especially since she’d be next. 

The surgery began. Kanou explained each step, almost like he was seeking Riku’s approval, but Riku stayed silent, recording everything, learning on the fly. 

Thanks to his recent crash course, Riku’s understanding of human anatomy and organ transplants had skyrocketed. 

The knowledge from the cyberpunk world was a bit ahead of its time. Some of Kanou’s methods seemed unnecessary to Riku—he knew better ways. 

The surgery wrapped up successfully. Kurona showed no adverse reactions, and her Rc cell concentration fluctuated before stabilizing around 750. 

“First phase complete. If she releases her kagune, it’ll probably be at about 20% capacity,” Kanou said, visibly relieved. Exhaustion hit him hard. 

“I’ll rest for a bit. We’ll do the next surgery later.” 

Kanou didn’t push himself further and left to rest. His goal wasn’t finished yet—he couldn’t collapse now. 

As Kanou stepped out, Nashiro rushed into the operating room, anxious. 

“It worked. She’ll be fine once she wakes up,” Riku told her, easing the worried sister’s nerves and sparking her own anticipation. 

Riku reviewed the footage. With this recording, he could take the raw materials back and have Old V perform the transplant. A surgery like this would be no problem for him. 

Chapter 114: It Really Tastes Awful 

“The talents of these two girls are lacking. They’re far inferior to the last one.” 

Yoshimura Akihiro frowned as he observed Kurona and Nashiro, who were displaying their kagune. 

Rize Kamishiro’s kagune was a rinkaku, located at her waist, with four crimson, tentacle-like appendages extending from it. In contrast, Kurona and Nashiro’s kagune only had two tentacles, but otherwise, there wasn’t much difference. 

The “last one” Yoshimura Akihiro referred to was, of course, Ken Kaneki, who had fully inherited Rize Kamishiro’s kagune. 

“How does it feel?” Riku asked the sisters, ignoring Yoshimura Akihiro. 

“It’s strange… like having two new arms,” Kurona and Nashiro replied, adjusting to their new organs. They could feel the enhancement in their bodies post-surgery. 

They still needed time to adapt to their kagune-activated state, learning to control their bodies and manipulate the kagune. After all, a transplant was different from an innate ability. Performing the surgery in five stages helped the recipients adapt better. 

“Rc cells, kagune… truly fascinating,” Yoshimura Akihiro remarked, marveling at the monitoring data from the sisters’ bodies. 

He glanced at Riku. This method was indeed effective, gradually unveiling the effects of Rc cells on the human body. 

“Here’s the Quinque you asked for.” 

Yoshimura Akihiro handed Riku a briefcase containing a Quinque made from Rize Kamishiro’s kagune. 

Riku opened the case, and the Quinque unfolded into a samurai sword with a crimson blade, matching the color of Rize’s kagune. 

“I added a special mechanism. Press that switch, and the blade will transform,” Yoshimura Akihiro explained. 

Since Rize’s kagune had four tentacles, he’d designed the sword to have multiple forms. 

Click! 

Riku pressed the switch on the hilt, and the blade split apart, transforming into four segments arranged in a cross, with the edges facing outward. 

“…” 

Riku glanced at Yoshimura Akihiro. This doesn’t seem all that useful. Just because it could transform didn’t mean it was cool—give it some actual utility! 

“I’m not exactly an expert at developing Quinques,” Yoshimura Akihiro admitted. 

Making one and being skilled at designing them were different. The same materials in different hands could yield Quinques with varying functions. 

“Fair enough,” Riku said with a smile, reverting the cross-blade to its original form and picking up the briefcase. 

He didn’t really need the case. The Quinque was a samurai sword, not one of those oversized Quinques. Carrying a case was more cumbersome than convenient. 

That said, in a world like Demon Slayer, a case like this could be useful for concealing a weapon. For investigators, these briefcases were vital, equipped with biometric authentication at the handle to ensure only the designated user could deploy the Quinque, preventing theft or misuse. 

Riku’s case lacked this feature because he’d refused it. He was still wary of Yoshimura Akihiro. Adding biometric tech would be easy in a cyberpunk world—it was just authentication, after all. 

With the Quinque in hand, Riku left the lab to test its power. 

Kurona and Nashiro stayed behind, continuing their training while assisting with Yoshimura Akihiro’s research. They were also tasked with keeping an eye on him, ready to call Riku if anything seemed off. 

In the 20th Ward, at the Anteiku café, Riku entered with the briefcase. 

“?!” 

His arrival instantly shifted the atmosphere in the café to an eerie tension. The customers tried to act normal, but their gazes kept drifting toward him. 

It was hard to blame them. The white briefcase Riku carried was identical to the ones used by CCG’s “Doves”!  

The nickname “Doves” came from the dove-shaped badges worn by ghoul investigators. Their other nickname, “Briefcase People,” stemmed from these very cases. 

But this strange guy didn’t smell human. How could a “Dove” not have a human scent? 

Riku casually sat by the window, placing the briefcase by his feet, seemingly oblivious to the odd atmosphere. 

“You…” Touka Kirishima, working as a waitress, noticed Riku. 

Her expression was a mix of shock and fear. If Riku had become a CCG “Dove,” they were exposed. 

“What’s wrong, Touka-chan? Not happy to see me?” Riku teased, knowing full well why she was alarmed. The briefcase had spooked her. 

Touka’s hand had clearly healed. While a ghoul’s recovery wasn’t on par with a demon’s, it far surpassed a human’s. 

“Touka, need any help?” asked a mature woman with black hair standing behind the counter. Unlike Touka, she wore a gentle smile, as if concerned for her junior. 

“No, it’s fine, Irimi-senpai,” Touka replied, shooting Kaya Irimi a look to signal her to alert the manager. 

“Relax, I’m just here to ask about something,” Riku said, not here to cause trouble but to gather intel on ghouls. 

“What is it?” Touka asked, still on edge, clearly wary of him. 

“Do you know about the Ghoul Restaurant?” Riku asked, unfazed by her attitude. He’d cut off her hand before—hardly a reason for her to greet him warmly. 

“Ghoul Restaurant?” Touka said, surprised. She hadn’t expected that question. 

“It’s the Tsukiyama family’s turf, in the 7th Ward,” she answered without hesitation. 

Touka despised Shuu Tsukiyama. That guy was a major nuisance. While the 20th Ward was managed by Anteiku, not all ghouls followed their rules. Anteiku didn’t enforce compliance—it was voluntary. Some cooperated, others didn’t. 

Shuu Tsukiyama, backed by the wealthy Tsukiyama family and its heir, scoffed at Anteiku’s rules. If this annoying guy went after Tsukiyama instead of them, Touka was all for it. 

“Thanks, Touka-chan,” Riku said, noting the location. The Ghoul Restaurant sounded like an interesting place to check out. 

“Mr. Devil, did you join CCG?” Yoshimura, the manager, came down from the second floor, asking directly. He was puzzled. 

This “Mr. Devil” clearly wasn’t human. By his own account, he’d been turned into a man-eating monster like Ken Kaneki. Why would such a being join CCG? 

With his knowledge of ghouls, if he’d joined CCG, it could spark a bloodbath. 

“No, don’t get the wrong idea. I had someone make this for me,” Riku said, done teasing. He picked up the briefcase and stood. 

“That’s… Rize’s scent?” Ghouls had keen noses. Even as a Quinque, they could tell whose kagune it was made from. 

Touka hadn’t noticed, but Yoshimura identified it instantly. 

“I’ll be going now, Manager Yoshimura,” Riku said with a smile, not answering directly. 

Ding-a-ling~ 

As Riku reached the door, someone entered—a familiar face with black hair and an eyepatch over his left eye. 

“Mr. Devil?!” Ken Kaneki exclaimed, delighted to see Riku. 

“Kaneki, so you ended up at Anteiku. Which side did you choose?” Riku asked, noting Kaneki’s improved mental state. He’d clearly eaten, but what? 

“Uh… ghoul flesh really tastes awful,” Kaneki mumbled, his answer clear. He’d consumed that kagune. 

“Got any plans? If not, come with me,” Riku said with a smile. It wasn’t surprising. When given a choice, people pick the easier option. 

Eating a kagune must’ve been tough for Kaneki, but compared to the alternative, it was his best choice. What else could he do? Just die? Neither Kaneki nor Riku could do that. 

Survival is instinct. Few can resist it, which is why those who sacrifice their lives for their beliefs are so revered. 

“I’m working at Anteiku,” Kaneki said, glancing at Yoshimura. He was there to learn how to make coffee, which could slightly delay a ghoul’s hunger. 

It wasn’t a cure-all—even constant coffee only stretched the feeding cycle from a month to a month and a half. But for Kaneki, who had no idea where to find his next “meal,” it was crucial. 

Are there really so few overworked folks getting a break on the 30th? sob 

Chapter 115: The Main Course Arrives 

“Manager Yoshimura, can I borrow Kaneki Ken for a bit?” 

Riku turned to Yoshimura Kousen, the old man still squinting with a gentle smile on his face. 

“It’s Kaneki’s choice.”  

Yoshimura Kousen never forced anyone to do anything, nor did he bind people to his rules. 

“Manager, I’d like to take a day off today. Touka, Irimi-senpai, please cover for me!”  

Kaneki Ken made his decision quickly—he’d follow Devil-san. The young man bowed to the group. 

“Go ahead, but stay safe.”  

Yoshimura nodded, not stopping him. Irimi Kaya gave her approval as well. 

“I’ll cover your shift, but you owe me one. Next time, you’re covering for me,” Irimi said with a warm smile, not a hint of the fearsome SS-rank ghoul who once ruled the 20th Ward. 

The ghouls of “Anteiku” felt strangely out of place in this twisted world. 

“Hmph!”  

Only Kirishima Touka turned and stormed off, clearly unhappy. Kaneki felt a bit awkward, knowing she disapproved of his choice. 

“Let’s go.”  

Riku grabbed his case and headed out, with Kaneki hurrying after him. 

“Don’t worry about it. Ghouls eating other ghouls—‘kannibalism’—is pretty common. If they’re fine eating their own kind, it’s no surprise they’d see you as different.”  

Noticing Kaneki’s troubled expression, Riku offered some comfort. 

“Why, though? They’re stronger than humans and have emotions just like us.”  

Kaneki couldn’t wrap his head around it. After spending time with the folks at Anteiku, it made even less sense.  

Ghouls eating humans was instinct—he got that. But why, when they were so human-like and could easily hunt humans, would they turn on each other?  

“Who knows? Some ghouls even prefer eating other ghouls over humans.”  

Riku shrugged, like a little bear. Take Kirishima Touka’s father, “Corpse Collector” Kirishima Arata, for example. He survived by scavenging corpses and eating ghouls. 

For someone like Kaneki, a human turned ghoul, choosing not to eat humans wasn’t surprising—his identity was still rooted in humanity.  

But for a born ghoul like Kirishima Arata to choose kannibalism over hunting humans? That was practically saintly among ghouls.  

Arata wasn’t just nibbling on ghouls here and there—he’d eaten enough to become a “kakuja,” something that required heavy kannibalism.  

If he was just scavenging corpses to stay hidden, that’d be understandable. Anteiku operated that way—eating sparingly to avoid drawing attention.  

Eating infrequently weakened their combat strength, but as long as they stayed under the radar, fighting wasn’t necessary.  

But to actively hunt and kannibalize ghouls in large numbers? That was harder to grasp. Arata wasn’t a killing machine like a young Yoshimura Kousen—he had a gentler nature.  

Was it because of family? A wife, two kids, and scavenged corpses weren’t enough to feed them? Too much pressure to survive?  

“…”  

Kaneki took a deep breath. At least humans didn’t eat each other when other food was available. He was trying to convince himself. 

In the 7th Ward, Riku led Kaneki in search of their target: the ghoul restaurant run by Tsukiyama Shuu.  

They’d traveled from the 20th Ward to the 7th. It was late, but that was perfect—nighttime was when the ghoul restaurant held its banquets.  

Unlike Anteiku, this place operated as a legitimate restaurant on the surface, open for regular business.  

But at night, its customers were all ghouls. It was a members-only establishment.  

Here, they served humans prepared in various ways, with different methods of death—slaughtered and cooked on the spot for maximum transparency and freshness.  

“Devil-san, where are we going?”  

Kaneki followed Riku but had no clue about their destination. 

“Right here.”  

Riku quickly located the restaurant. From the outside, it looked refined—hardly surprising for a Tsukiyama family establishment.  

Unlike other ghouls, the “Tsukiyama family” wielded significant influence, with branches like the Roswald and Johannes families in Germany.  

Though the Roswald family was wiped out years ago by Washuu Mado while he worked for Germany’s GFG, the Tsukiyama family remained untouched.  

The current head, Tsukiyama Kambu, had immense charisma and connections in politics and business. The current Neon Prime Minister was a close classmate of his.  

The Tsukiyama family represented ghouls who’d fully integrated into high human society, wielding massive influence.  

“Welcome, guests.”  

Riku and Kaneki’s arrival was greeted by a waiter, but they only entered the “surface” restaurant.  

The “Gourmet” Tsukiyama Shuu’s ghoul restaurant was members-only, meaning you needed an invitation to access the “inner” dining area.  

“Devil-san, what are we doing here?”  

Kaneki was still confused. This was a normal restaurant, and he wasn’t used to eating as a ghoul yet.  

To blend into human society, ghouls swallowed food whole to minimize nausea, then vomited it out before digestion to avoid harm.  

“Just broadening your horizons,” Riku said with a grin, waiting for the person in charge to approach.  

A non-human, non-ghoul creature carrying a “White Dove” case, paired with a ghoul—this combo was bound to draw attention.  

Sure enough, someone approached, and not just because of their odd pairing.  

Riku and Kaneki didn’t order anything, instead wandering around the restaurant like they were searching for something.  

The waiter, a ghoul himself, quickly notified the manager.  

“Hello, I’m Tsukiyama Shuu. How may I assist you?”  

A man with purple hair, dressed in a red suit, approached them with a gentlemanly bow.  

Kaneki felt awkward. He had no idea what was going on, and now they’d attracted attention!  

Riku narrowed his eyes. He hadn’t expected Tsukiyama Shuu himself to show up. Had they interrupted his banquet?  

Sniff, sniff.  

Tsukiyama’s expression lit up, his earlier annoyance vanishing.  

Before him were two extraordinary ingredients—never-before-seen delicacies!  

One was a ghoul with a unique scent, the other something he couldn’t even identify but had never tasted.  

Truthfully, he wasn’t sure if the latter was even edible.  

As the young master of the Tsukiyama family, Shuu had been pampered from birth.  

With his mother gone early, his father, Tsukiyama Kambu, showered him with double the love, ensuring he never lacked for anything.  

But now, something entirely new stood before him, and he could barely contain his excitement.  

“Young Master Tsukiyama, we’d like to join your banquet.”  

Riku returned a polite bow, his words sharpening Tsukiyama’s gaze.  

“My banquet?”  

Tsukiyama repeated, mulling over the meaning.  

“Isn’t this a ghoul restaurant? The legendary members-only banquet, serving exquisite cuisine. Did we come to the wrong place?”  

Riku feigned confusion, leaving Kaneki utterly lost in the conversation.  

“No, you’re in the right place. Follow me. The main course hasn’t been served yet.”  

Tsukiyama’s smile was eerie. Oh yes, the main course was still to come—and these two would make it a dish to stun everyone!