106-110

Chapter 106: Anteiku Café 

"Are you doing it this way too?" 

Kaneki Ken looked at Riku, a burly man with horns sprouting from his head and a single vertical eye on his forehead. Despite his monstrous appearance, Riku exuded a sense of reliability that gave Kaneki a strange comfort. This man was offering him another choice. 

To be honest, Riku was the one who looked the most like a monster among them. After all, setting aside everything else, Kirishima Touka, Yoshimura Kuzen, and Kaneki himself—at least as ghouls—could pass for normal humans at a glance. Riku, on the other hand, was unmistakably different. 

"Me? Something like that," Riku replied with a nod, acknowledging Kaneki. Though they weren’t the same kind of creature, they faced similar struggles. 

Seeing this young man’s turmoil and helplessness, Riku felt as if he were looking at a version of himself without the [Limit System]. Without it, Riku knew he’d likely have ended up in a worse state than Kaneki. At least this kid was a protagonist, even if his story could be summed up with the word "tragic." Still, Kaneki’s tale had a happy ending.  

Without the [Limit System], Riku’s fate would’ve been grim—probably cut down by some passing demon hunter. 

"Even though we’ve been turned into man-eating monsters, when we have a choice, we’d never give up our human identity, right?" 

Riku shared his thoughts. If survival were the only option, he wasn’t sure how long he could hold out either. 

"Yeah… because we’re human." 

Riku’s words struck a chord deep within Kaneki, giving him a sense of emotional support. It might sound a bit sappy, but Kaneki desperately needed someone who shared a similar experience—someone to guide him, to answer his questions. 

Kaneki couldn’t accept that his body had become that of a man-eating ghoul. It was a normal reaction; no one with a shred of morality could easily embrace the idea of feeding on their own kind. 

"If you see yourself as human, then feed on ghouls. That way, you won’t have to carry the burden of guilt." 

Riku clapped a hand on Kaneki’s shoulder. The kid wasn’t tall, and his frame was frail from years of avoiding exercise. Standing next to Riku, he looked like a scrawny little chick. 

"But his body is a ghoul now! Even if he thinks he’s human, that doesn’t change the truth!" 

Kirishima Touka thought this horned guy was spouting nonsense. He’d already become a ghoul—why not accept reality? Clinging to the idea of being human and eating ghouls instead? That was just self-deception! 

"..." 

Kaneki’s expression darkened. She was right. No matter how he felt, he couldn’t change the fact that he was a man-eating monster now. It might ease his mind, but he could never return to a normal life. 

"Touka-chan, use your head for a second. If a human can become a ghoul, why can’t a ghoul become human again?" 

Riku spread his hands like a bear, and his words left the two ghouls and one half-ghoul in the room stunned. Even Yoshimura Kuzen, usually composed, looked momentarily shaken. 

Why had Riku held on for so long? First, because he didn’t have to eat humans—when there was a choice, why would he? Second, he firmly believed that one day he’d be able to eat normal food again. 

"Your body can change back. But once you eat a human, your heart… that’s much harder to fix. Some things, once you start, there’s no going back." 

Riku looked at Kaneki, unsure if the kid could hold out, but he wanted to give him a spark of hope to keep going. 

Could a ghoul become human again? Riku didn’t know for sure. But he did know that, by the story’s end, Dr. Chigyo Koitsu had developed artificial food that ghouls could eat. 

"Yeah… there’s got to be a way, right?!" 

A light flickered back into Kaneki’s eyes. If humans could become ghouls, then surely ghouls could become human again! 

"If it were that simple, ghouls wouldn’t exist anymore." 

Yoshimura Kuzen sighed. How many ghouls wanted to be ghouls? How many didn’t dream of a normal life? 

Were ghouls just crazed beasts, monsters obsessed with hunting humans? Of course not. They had rich emotions, no less complex than humans’. To eat any food they wanted, to live without hiding, without fear of being hunted by the CCG or even other ghouls—who wouldn’t yearn for that life? 

"Delusional!" 

Touka shouted, then stormed off, cradling her broken arm. In a few steps, she was gone. 

"Don’t mind her. Your words hit a nerve. She’s always wanted a normal human life, too, but it’s so hard for ghouls," Yoshimura explained with a smile. Touka had been trying to blend into human society, even going to school for it. 

Riku shrugged, unbothered. His words weren’t meant for Touka anyway. He’d stepped in because he empathized with Kaneki’s plight and wanted to offer the kid another path. 

Yoshimura’s gaze shifted to Kaneki. 

"Child, it’s true that ghouls can feed on other ghouls, but their flesh tastes awful to us. And you’d need to be strong enough to defeat them." 

Yoshimura’s words confirmed Riku’s idea, which relieved Kaneki but also made him nervous. He didn’t know how to fight—didn’t even dare to. Growing up, he’d always been weak, bullied, relying on his friend Nagachika to get him out of trouble. He loved books, not sports, let alone fighting terrifying monsters like ghouls. 

"There’s one right here. You could give it a try." 

Riku pointed at the headless ghoul’s corpse, and Kaneki hesitated, his eyes betraying his reluctance. 

How to put it? Kaneki’s expression was probably similar to Riku’s when he first saw Nezuko Kamado. Sure, this thing wasn’t human—just a man-eating monster that looked human—but it was still hard to stomach. Even if it were a pig, most people wouldn’t just bite into it raw. 

"This kid’s not like you." 

Yoshimura spoke slowly, seeing Kaneki’s soft heart. The boy couldn’t make snap decisions. Expecting him to survive by hunting ghouls was unrealistic. 

"No, I was like him at first. He just hasn’t adjusted yet." 

Riku didn’t look down on Kaneki. He’d been the same way once. If Riku had been ruthless from the start, Nezuko would’ve been in his stomach long ago. Kaneki’s personality—wasn’t it just a reflection of most people? 

"Don’t push him to decide too soon. Both of you, come with me. We can help him learn more about ghouls. I believe he’ll make the right choice." 

Yoshimura extended an invitation, his kind smile unwavering, radiating goodwill. 

"Okay." 

Kaneki agreed, calming down a bit. Riku’s words had dulled his hunger, at least clearing his mind. 

"Hold on a sec." 

Riku walked over to the ghoul’s corpse and rummaged around, pulling out a special organ from beneath its shoulder blade. 

"The kagune sac—here it is." 

Under Kaneki’s stunned gaze, Riku tossed the sac to him. Kaneki fumbled to catch it, unsure whether to hold or drop it, caught in a moment of indecision. 

"One of these is worth more than a few humans." 

Riku teased with a grin, and Kaneki finally held onto the sac tightly. If eating this meant he didn’t have to eat humans, he’d try. 

Yoshimura shook his head and led the way, bringing Riku and Kaneki to his café, Anteiku. 

As for the human and ghoul corpses, other ghouls would clean them up later. They wouldn’t let them go to waste. 

Kaneki was no stranger to Anteiku. He often came here to drink coffee, read, and wait for Rize Kamishiro—a painful memory now. To think this cozy, elegant café was home to a group of ghouls. If he’d known, he’d never have set foot here, and none of this would’ve happened. 

"Please, have a seat." 

Yoshimura began preparing coffee. It was late, and no staff were on duty at Anteiku, so he handled it himself. 

"No need for me. I’m worse off than you guys—I can’t even drink coffee." 

Riku waved a hand, surprising both Yoshimura and Kaneki. One was shocked that Riku couldn’t drink coffee; the other, that ghouls could. 

"Alright." 

Yoshimura nodded with a smile, quickly finishing a cup and handing it to Kaneki. 

The aroma of the coffee nearly brought tears to Kaneki’s eyes. After days without normal food, his life had changed so much in such a short time. 

Chapter 107: Killing Is a Sin 

“You can call me Yoshimura. I’m the manager of this coffee shop.” 

Yoshimura Kousen stood nearby, his kind and gentle smile directed at Kaneki Ken and Riku. 

If Riku’s approach was like a straightforward fastball, Yoshimura Kousen’s was more like a masterful deflection of force. 

Just looking at Kaneki Ken’s face—nearly tearing up from the joy of drinking coffee—showed how wonderful it was to taste normal food again. 

“You can call me Devil,” Riku said, introducing himself as he scanned the coffee shop. It didn’t seem like any other ghouls lived here. 

“I’m Kaneki Ken,” Kaneki said, setting down his coffee cup, his voice tinged with nervousness as he introduced himself. 

“Kaneki, I understand your desire not to hurt others. There are actually a lot of ghouls like you out there,” Yoshimura said slowly, trying to convince Kaneki to abandon the idea of hunting other ghouls. That path would only lead to his own destruction. 

“Really?” Kaneki replied, his tone a mix of disbelief and skepticism. 

The ghouls he’d encountered so far—whether it was the first two he met, Touka-chan, or even Kamishiro Rize—hadn’t exactly left a great impression. 

“Yes. The Anteiku provides food for those ghouls,” Yoshimura said casually, though his words caused a misunderstanding. 

Kaneki instinctively glanced at Riku, his eyes wide with concern. 

“Relax, just hear him out,” Riku said with a chuckle, calming Kaneki down. He could guess what was going through Kaneki’s mind. 

After hearing Yoshimura’s words, Kaneki probably thought Anteiku was a den of vicious ghouls who hunted humans left and right. I mean, a coffee shop that supplies food to ghouls? That’s not a café—it’s practically a human meat bun shop! 

“Devil-san, you seem to know a bit about us?” Yoshimura asked, smiling at Riku. He was still trying to figure out what Riku was—neither fully human nor ghoul, but something else entirely. 

“I know a little. Anteiku, the ghoul mutual aid society, right?” Riku said, summing it up. 

The ghouls at Anteiku were indeed different, largely because the manager, Yoshimura Kousen, was a “pure love warrior” who genuinely cared for humans. 

“It’s not exactly a mutual aid society. We just try our best to help weaker ghouls blend into society more naturally and live stable lives,” Yoshimura said with a smile, clearly pleased with the acknowledgment of his efforts. 

“Um, Yoshimura-san, where do you get all that…?” Kaneki mustered the courage to ask, his curiosity getting the better of him. 

“We don’t hunt humans. Instead, we collect the bodies of those who’ve passed away—people who died by suicide or in accidents like car crashes,” Yoshimura explained. 

Kaneki’s jaw dropped, clearly not expecting that answer. 

“Is that really enough?” Kaneki asked, still skeptical. How many bodies could suicides or accidents provide? 

“Actually, a ghoul’s appetite isn’t that big. Feeding once a month is enough to meet their basic needs,” Yoshimura clarified. 

In other words, if they rationed carefully, a single human could sustain a ghoul for a month. 

“Oh, I see,” Kaneki said, realization dawning. That made a lot more sense. He let out a relieved sigh, grateful he hadn’t stumbled into a nest of bloodthirsty ghouls. 

“If you’re willing, Kaneki, you can come to Anteiku. We’ll help you. And Devil-san, if you ever need assistance, our doors are open to you too.” 

Yoshimura finally revealed his true goal: he wanted Kaneki to join them. They’d provide him with food. And if Riku wanted to join, they’d offer him food too. 

It wasn’t about gaining anything—it was just about ghouls helping each other. Yoshimura welcomed every ghoul seeking refuge at Anteiku with kindness and support. 

In his eyes, with Kaneki’s personality and strength, trying to survive by hunting other ghouls as Devil suggested would likely get him killed in no time. 

“This…” Kaneki hesitated, glancing at Riku again. Yoshimura’s words were starting to sway him. 

That’s how boundaries erode—step by step. At first, you swear you’ll never eat. Then it becomes, “As long as I don’t hurt anyone, maybe it’s okay.” Eventually, you stop caring altogether. 

“No need to look at me. It’s your life, your choice. As for me, I don’t need help—I’ve got my own way of doing things,” Riku said. 

He was willing to offer Kaneki another option but wouldn’t make the choice for him. As for Yoshimura’s kindness, Riku appreciated it but didn’t need it. 

“I…” Kaneki clutched his head, overwhelmed. How could he make such a huge decision so quickly? 

Riku understood that after this talk with Yoshimura, Kaneki’s choice—whatever it was—wouldn’t be surprising. Under normal circumstances, ghouls were almost indistinguishable from humans. 

Setting aside their abilities, with Kaneki’s current mindset, it’d be hard for him to justify hunting and eating someone like Yoshimura. 

The relationship between ghouls and humans was never fully explained in the anime, but Riku had a theory. The difference between ghouls and humans was probably like the difference between Homo sapiens and other hominid species. They weren’t exactly the same, but they weren’t entirely unrelated either. 

Over the course of evolution, their ancestors took wildly different paths, yet neither went extinct. The result was the warped coexistence of ghouls and humans in today’s world. 

There was reproductive isolation between humans and ghouls, making it nearly impossible to produce offspring. Even when they did, most died young. But the isolation wasn’t absolute—otherwise, natural half-human, half-ghoul hybrids like the “One-Eyed Owl” Yoshimura Eto, Yoshimura’s daughter, wouldn’t exist. 

Yoshimura, the “pure love warrior,” became the compassionate figure he was because he fell in love with a human woman, resulting in his half-ghoul daughter, Eto. 

“Kaneki, any act of taking a life is a sin. No matter what excuse you make, you can’t hide the fact that it’s a sin,” Yoshimura said with a heavy sigh. 

He was tired of killing, tired of this world of mutual slaughter. Powerless to change it, he did what he could within his reach. 

“Is killing for survival a sin too? Like ghouls eating humans, or humans killing ghouls to avoid being eaten?” Riku asked, raising an eyebrow. Yoshimura’s compassion seemed a bit excessive—like, maybe move over, Leshan Giant Buddha, and let Yoshimura take your spot. 

“Yes. That’s why I use my strength to help other ghouls. I want more of them to integrate into human society, to live without relying on hunting humans or other ghouls,” Yoshimura replied firmly, his conviction clear. 

He knew it was a tough path—not everyone shared his ideals. He wouldn’t force anyone, and if a ghoul wanted to fend for themselves, he wouldn’t stop them. 

“The doors of Anteiku are always open to you,” Yoshimura said, standing up. He’d said enough. The final choice was up to Kaneki and Devil. 

Riku stayed silent. Yoshimura’s approach felt like atonement for the killings of his past. The “Non-Killing Owl” nickname came from this—he didn’t kill humans or ghouls. Riku didn’t fully get it, but he respected it. 

“Well then, Yoshimura-san, we’ll take our leave,” Kaneki said, bowing politely outside Anteiku. 

Kaneki was shaken by Yoshimura’s words and deeply grateful for his help, but he still chose to leave with Devil. He felt he couldn’t live up to Yoshimura’s ideals. 

Sometimes, being too clear about things can backfire. Yoshimura’s honesty had left Kaneki feeling intimidated. 

Chapter 108: Kanou Akihiro’s Doubts 

“What? Did Yoshimura-san scare you?” 

Riku glanced at Kaneki Ken, who was holding two wrapped packages of food—one a kagune sac from the ghoul they’d encountered earlier, the other a portion of human flesh kindly provided by Yoshimura Kousen. 

“No, Yoshimura-san’s a good person—er, a good ghoul. I really admire him,” Kaneki said, shaking his head. 

He was indeed shaken by Yoshimura’s words, but not in the fearful way he’d felt before. Yoshimura’s existence gave him a whole new perspective on ghouls, completely different from the man-eating monsters he’d imagined. 

“If you ever run into trouble, come back here. They’ll definitely help you,” Riku said, looking at Kaneki. He had no intention of babysitting the kid. 

Kaneki’s personality was still too soft at this stage. He needed to face some hardships to grow. 

“Devil-san, thank you,” Kaneki said sincerely. 

No matter what, Riku had given him another option besides eating humans. 

“No need to thank me. By the way, where’s the hospital that did your surgery?” Riku asked, waving off the gratitude. He remembered that Kanou Akihiro, a key figure, was the one who operated on Kaneki. 

“I was treated at Kanou General Hospital,” Kaneki answered. 

Riku’s question made him realize something was off. That hospital definitely had issues! 

“Do you think they might have a way to turn us back?” Kaneki asked, hope flickering in his eyes. He saw Riku as a kindred spirit and thought Riku’s interest in the hospital might mean there was a chance. 

“Who knows? But we’ve gotta ask, right?” Riku said with a shrug, mimicking a bear spreading its paws. 

He wasn’t looking to Kanou to turn him human—that guy couldn’t do it anyway. No, Riku was after the power of ghouls. 

“That Kanou doctor… he’s gotta know something!” Kaneki said, clenching his fists. 

Everything started because that doctor performed an organ transplant on him without consent. Sure, Kanou claimed it was to save his life, but who knew what really happened? Who knew what that doctor did to his body? Organ transplant? Was it really just that? 

“The news called it an organ transplant, but what he actually did to you? Only he knows,” Riku said. 

He wasn’t sure exactly what Kanou had done, but it was certain that Kaneki had received Kamishiro Rize’s kagune sac. 

Kanou’s “half-ghoul surgery” was highly unstable, with tons of variables and a pathetically low success rate. The few successes were basically lucky survivors from a pile of human sacrifices. 

Kaneki, blessed with protagonist-level luck, not only survived but was deemed Kanou’s most successful case. 

Ghouls and humans were different, after all. Forcing a kagune sac into a human body without considering compatibility was bound to have a low success rate—kind of like doing a cross-species organ transplant without any prep. 

Compare that to Chigyo Koitsu’s improved “Quinque surgery,” which was far less reckless. Chigyo tested for compatibility beforehand, making the procedure much safer. Sure, few people passed the test, but it cut down on unnecessary deaths. 

Chigyo had outdone his predecessor, even developing staged versions of the “Quinque surgery” that could be unlocked progressively. Most crucially, his half-ghouls could eat human food as long as they didn’t overuse their kagune, which would spike their Rc cell count. Some even maintained near-human Rc levels after the transplant—a feat Kanou could only dream of. Kanou’s methods were just too crude. 

No wonder Kanou, the original creator, later studied Chigyo’s techniques. Even he had to admit Chigyo was a genius in ghoul research. 

“I’ll let you know if I find anything, Kaneki,” Riku said, bidding Kaneki farewell as he headed straight for Kanou General Hospital. It wasn’t too far away. 

The hospital was an inheritance from Kanou Akihiro’s father. After leaving the Ghoul Countermeasures Bureau (CCG), Kanou had outwardly continued his father’s work here, maintaining a stellar reputation among patients. 

But no one knew he was secretly conducting forbidden research, aiming to bring the dead back to life. 

The “mad scientist” Kanou Akihiro was, at heart, a devoted son. Everything he did was for one goal: to resurrect his long-deceased mother. 

His entire medical career stemmed from wanting to cure his bedridden mother’s illness. From childhood to now, that goal had never wavered. 

At Kanou General Hospital, Riku sneaked in and found Kanou’s office. 

“Not here? Figures. The guy probably spends all his time in his lab, not the hospital,” Riku muttered after looking around. 

Kanou clearly wouldn’t leave important documents in his office. 

“Guess I’ll have to grab someone and ask,” Riku decided without hesitation. The hospital didn’t have too many staff—worst case, he’d question them one by one. 

“Dr. Kanou? I’m sorry, he’s on a business trip in Germany. May I ask what you need him for?” the head nurse, Taguchi, answered promptly when Riku approached her. 

“Oh, really? Taguchi-san, I’ve got urgent business with Dr. Kanou. You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?” Riku said with a smile. 

He wasn’t sure how much of the plot he remembered, but he vaguely recalled that clues to Kanou’s lab were found through the hospital. 

“Sir, I have no reason to lie. Dr. Kanou really isn’t here,” Taguchi replied, shaking her head with a helpless expression, her tone firm. 

“I know he’s not in the hospital. He’s in his lab, right? I know what he’s working on. Just tell him I have a way to save his mother. He’ll want to see me,” Riku said, throwing out a wild claim. 

He wasn’t sure if Taguchi knew the truth, but he’d try this line on everyone here if he had to. 

“!” Taguchi’s heart skipped a beat, her expression nearly betraying her shock. 

She didn’t know anything about “saving his mother,” but Kanou was in his lab right now. 

This guy, with a silver fox mask and a samurai sword strapped to his back, seemed to know an awful lot about Dr. Kanou. 

Taguchi hesitated. Kanou had instructed her to tell anyone asking for him that he was in Germany, then report back to him. 

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’ll try to contact Dr. Kanou for you,” Taguchi said, staying professional. She wouldn’t make the call on her own—it was up to Kanou to decide. 

“Thanks,” Riku said with a grin as Taguchi picked up the phone. He was betting Kanou wouldn’t resist the bait. 

“Taguchi, what’s up?” a weary male voice answered from the other end. 

“Dr. Kanou, there’s a man here wearing a silver fox mask who wants to see you. He says he has a way to save your mother. Have you returned yet?” Taguchi asked, her tone implying Kanou was still in Germany. 

“…” 

Silence hung on the line. Riku could clearly hear Kanou’s breathing grow heavier. 

It made sense. Kanou was filled with doubt. “Saving his mother” was something he’d never told anyone. 

His mother had died when he was still in college. Even those who knew he studied medicine to save her wouldn’t say something like this now. 

Unless… the “saving” this stranger mentioned was the same as what Kanou was trying to do. 

But that was his deepest, most guarded secret. Even those closest to him didn’t know his true goal. So how could this stranger know? 

Chapter 109: Kanou’s Laboratory 

“What’s his name? What does he look like?” 

Kanou Akihiro was cautious, his mind swirling with doubts, unable to determine if this visitor was friend or foe. 

“Sir, Dr. Kanou is asking for your name and appearance,” Nurse Taguchi said, turning to Riku and relaying Kanou’s question. 

“Tell him my name’s Devo Collins, from Germany,” Riku replied, casually making it up. To be fair, with his mask on and claiming to be from the West, it wasn’t entirely unbelievable—his skin was quite pale. Initially, it was the sickly pallor of a demon, but even after swapping to his “subdermal armor,” it retained a fair tone. Old man V wouldn’t have given him dark skin, after all. 

Nurse Taguchi repeated Riku’s words, adding that he refused to remove his mask. 

“Let him wait. I’ll be there soon.” 

Despite his suspicions, Kanou’s curiosity was piqued. He couldn’t resist the urge to meet this person. He wasn’t sure if this was an old acquaintance from his days studying in Germany, but there had to be some connection. 

“Very well, I’ll let him know,” Nurse Taguchi said, hanging up the phone. She turned to Riku with a smile. “Dr. Kanou said he’ll be here shortly. It seems he’s already back in the country.” 

Riku could tell this nurse was likely Kanou’s assistant or something similar. She definitely knew about his laboratory. 

“Back in the country, huh? That guy’s got some flexible travel plans,” Riku quipped. If Kanou wanted to meet, he was “back”; if not, he was conveniently “abroad.” 

“Dr. Kanou is an exceptional doctor. It’s normal for him to travel overseas for academic exchanges,” Nurse Taguchi said earnestly, her smile unwavering. She was clearly loyal to Kanou. 

Riku shook his head, not bothering to argue, and sat down on a nearby bench to wait for Kanou’s arrival. 

Getting a secretive guy like Kanou to come out and meet him with just a few words? That was only possible because Riku knew exactly what Kanou cared about most. 

For Kanou Akihiro, that was his mother—the one thing that could make him drop all his defenses. Reviving his mother was the driving force behind his existence. When that hope crumbled, he, who had committed countless atrocities, simply chose to end his life. 

Of course, along the way, he’d given himself other goals, like applying ghouls’ regenerative abilities to medical science. That research had started with his father, also aimed at curing his mother’s illness. Two generations of effort had led to the imperfect “half-ghoul surgery” they had today. 

Kanou’s admiration for Chigyo Koitsu’s talent wasn’t baseless. The only area where Kanou surpassed him was in his lack of moral boundaries. 

Soon, Kanou arrived at the hospital. When he saw Riku, his eyes were filled with confusion—he had no memory of this man whatsoever. 

“Dr. Kanou, I’ve heard so much about you,” Riku said, standing up and approaching him. 

“Mr. Collins, have we met? How do you know about my mother?” Kanou maintained his composure. In his white coat, he looked every bit the skilled doctor, his kindly expression making it easy to see why patients trusted him. 

“We didn’t know each other before, but we do now, Dr. Kanou. I’m very interested in your research,” Riku said, extending a hand with an air of admiration. 

“Who exactly are you?” Kanou asked, shaking Riku’s hand, his mind a tangled mess. This man seemed to know everything about him, yet Kanou couldn’t place him at all—not his build, not his mannerisms, nothing matched anyone he knew. 

“Won’t you invite me to your lab for a chat? I came all this way for it,” Riku said, dodging the question. He grabbed Kanou’s hand, slung an arm around his shoulder, and started leading him outside. 

“Dr. Kanou!” Nurse Taguchi called out, sensing something was off. 

“Should I call the police?!” she added, her voice tense. 

Riku couldn’t help but chuckle. The police? What were they going to do, arrest him? 

“No need. I’ll have a good talk with Mr. Collins,” Kanou said calmly, waving her off. 

For an ordinary person, calling the police might work. As long as his lab stayed hidden, Kanou was a respected figure in Tokyo’s medical community. But if his lab was exposed, everything would change. He’d become a target for ghouls and the CCG alike. 

For now, Kanou had no interest in aligning with either side. He didn’t want to waste time working for others—he was focused on his own research. He did have a collaborator, but that person, like him, was only interested in their own goals. 

“That’s the spirit, Dr. Kanou. Let’s not make this difficult,” Riku said with a grin. Though Kanou was a key driver of the entire anime’s plot, he was just a researcher with no combat ability. 

“Pardon my curiosity, Mr. Collins, but whose side are you on?” Kanou asked as they left the hospital. 

“Me? I’m on my own side,” Riku replied. He wasn’t a ghoul, nor was he with the CCG. He was here for himself. 

“I see,” Kanou said, nodding. Another person on their own side—perhaps a potential collaborator. 

The two fell silent as they got into Kanou’s car, which drove to District 6 and stopped in front of a mansion. 

“Follow me,” Kanou said, leading the way as they got out and entered the mansion. 

“This mansion once belonged to the president of Sphinx Corporation. They specialized in supplying Rc cell solutions to the CCG for suppressants and Quinques,” Kanou explained as they walked, descending through a hidden passage to an underground laboratory. 

One look at the place, and it was clear no individual could’ve built it. The lab was massive, filled with advanced equipment. 

“This place belongs to the CCG, doesn’t it?” Riku said, piecing together the plot. Kanou’s lab was beneath a mansion that had originally been a CCG facility. 

The mansion’s former owner was Yasuhisa Nanao, president of Sphinx Corporation. This lab had been used by the CCG to research “half-ghoul surgeries.” But when the project leaked, Nanao was silenced, all traces erased, and the lab abandoned—until Kanou took it over. 

“Correct. I’ve repurposed it,” Kanou confirmed. He’d acquired the lab with help from his collaborator. Though they had different goals, Kanou didn’t mind assisting his partner while pursuing his own. 

“To use a place like this as your base and not get caught by the CCG—you must have ties to the Washuu family’s ghouls,” Riku said casually. 

Kanou’s composed expression shattered, his face filled with shock. “You know about the Washuu family?!” 

Realizing Riku even knew his deepest, unspoken goals, Kanou quickly understood it wasn’t surprising he’d know about the Washuus too. 

“Who would’ve thought? The Washuu family, who’ve led the Ghoul Countermeasures Bureau for over a century, are actually ghouls from the Middle East,” Riku mused. Ghouls had hidden in human society for so long, influencing countless events. The Washuus founding the bureau’s predecessor in 1890 was a notable milestone. 

“Yeah… who would’ve thought?” Kanou echoed, nodding. When he first learned the truth, his worldview had collapsed. 

The Washuu family, fighting ghouls alongside humans for over a hundred years, operating globally, inventing the Quinque weapons—were ghouls themselves. It sounded like a dark joke, but it was undeniable. 

So when his collaborator invited him to help overthrow the Washuus’ rule, Kanou agreed without hesitation. It aligned with his own goals, and with his partner’s help, his research had progressed rapidly. 

“Please, Mr. Collins, take a look. This is a member of the Washuu family,” Kanou said, leading Riku into a lab. His eyes gleamed with excitement—this was a perfect specimen. 

In the center of the room, a purple-haired woman hung naked in a transparent cylindrical device, her limbs bound tightly, her back connected to a machine. 

“Kamishiro Rize…” Riku recognized her instantly. The once-fearsome “Binge Eater” was now suspended here, reduced to a kagune sac provider, barely conscious. 

Chapter 110: The Yasuhisa Sisters and Experimental Improvements 

“This is a breeding vessel from the Washuu family, with exceptionally superior genes.” 

Looking at Kamishiro Rize, Kanou Akihiro regarded her as a treasure. Her qualities far surpassed those of ordinary ghouls. 

“…” 

Riku, of course, knew this. If Rize weren’t special, would she have been fit to be used by the protagonist?  

That said, her uniqueness wasn’t at some overpowered level. Kaneki Ken’s growth in strength was also tied to his constant cannibalism of other ghouls. When ghouls eat other ghouls, it enhances their physical abilities and combat prowess. A ghoul’s kagune sac contains an extremely high concentration of Rc cells, making it a potent supplement.  

After extensive cannibalism, ghouls can develop new kagune sacs and may even evolve into a “Kakuja”—a powerful monster form where the kagune envelops their body. In theory, the more a ghoul cannibalizes, the stronger they become. The benefits of consuming their own kind far outweigh those of eating humans. Ghouls are truly a twisted creation. 

“Please wait a moment, Mr. Collins. A guest has arrived,” Kanou said suddenly as a faint sound interrupted them. He had scheduled a meeting for earlier that day, and now dawn had broken. 

Riku nodded. He was an uninvited guest, after all—an unexpected variable. But he was curious: who could Kanou’s guest be? 

Soon, the guests were brought into the laboratory—two girls, twins, one with black hair and one with white, making them easy to distinguish. 

“What, planning to turn these kids into your assistants?” Riku asked deliberately. Kanou clearly had no such intention; his only trusted aide was Nurse Taguchi. 

The black-and-white-haired twins were instantly recognizable: the black-haired one was the older sister, Yasuhisa Kurona, and the white-haired one was her younger sister, Yasuhisa Nashiro. 

These two were tragic figures. Their father, Yasuhisa Nanao, was the former owner of this mansion. When he was silenced, the twins were still very young. 

Kanou smiled but didn’t respond to Riku, instead turning to the twins. 

“What is this place?!” Kurona exclaimed, utterly shocked by the sight before her. Nashiro stood frozen, equally stunned. 

They had no idea that beneath their former home lay such a vast underground laboratory. 

“Your father, Yasuhisa Nanao, died because of this place,” Kanou said, addressing the twins. He had sought them out specifically, placing high hopes on them. 

“What?! Our father was killed by ghouls! What does this place have to do with it?” Kurona retorted loudly. She couldn’t understand—ghouls had killed their parents, something she and her sister had witnessed with their own eyes. 

“That was arranged by the CCG. They needed you to see it,” Kanou said, shaking his head, as if he knew the full story. 

“Arranged by the CCG?” Both Kurona and Nashiro were stunned, their faces filled with disbelief. 

“What nonsense are you spouting?!”  

Clearly, the twins didn’t believe Kanou. After all, they were currently trainees at the CCG Academy, preparing to become Ghoul Investigators. 

“Ghouls break into your home, kill your parents, and just as it happens, the CCG’s Doves arrive in time to save you two, who witnessed it all. Quite the coincidence, don’t you think?” Kanou said, laying out the facts.  

He had read the official records: ghouls attacked the Yasuhisa household, and the Doves arrived just in time to rescue the twins who saw everything. Was it true? Yes, but the deeper truth was omitted. The entire incident was a carefully orchestrated CCG hit, with the sisters as witnesses. 

After that, the Yasuhisa twins were taken in by the CCG. The organization often adopted orphans whose parents were killed by ghouls, raising them to become “Doves”—Ghoul Investigators. 

The CCG Academy was different from the public-facing Ghoul Countermeasures Education Center. Graduates from the Academy became Rank 2 Investigators upon completion, and if they passed the evaluation, they were granted a Quinque, making them key combatants.  

In contrast, graduates from the Education Center started as Rank 3 Investigators, only equipped with mass-produced Q-Bullets firearms and ineligible to use Quinques. 

As orphans whose parents were killed by ghouls, the Yasuhisa sisters were naturally sent to the CCG Academy to train as Investigator candidates. Fueled by their hatred for ghouls, the twins excelled, consistently ranking at the top. They were expected to graduate soon and become official Investigators. 

“Why?! Why would the CCG do this?!” Nashiro, who had been silent, clutched her head, her expression pained, unwilling to believe. 

“Because your father tried to leak the secrets of this laboratory. The CCG was researching how to turn humans into ghouls—something they couldn’t let get out,” Kanou said, his words shattering the sisters’ worldview and beliefs. 

“That’s harsh on the kids, Dr. Kanou,” Riku remarked, listening from the side. No wonder the sisters would be so easily swayed by Kanou. 

Kanou was deliberately manipulating them, avoiding any mention that the Washuu family, who controlled the CCG, were ghouls themselves. Instead, he was steering the sisters to hate humans and the CCG as a whole. 

In truth, the “half-ghoul” research and the hit on Yasuhisa Nanao were matters only the Washuu family would know about, completely unrelated to the human Investigators of the CCG. 

“How could this be?! How could it be like this?!”  

The sisters’ worldview took a massive hit. The CCG, which they had admired and aspired to join, was revealed to be such an organization. 

Their parents’ deaths replayed in their minds, the sense of betrayal and manipulation fueling their anger, which soon coalesced into hatred for the CCG. 

“Actually, the ones you should hate are the Washuu family, who control the CCG. They’re the ones behind all this,” Riku interjected. If they wanted revenge, they needed to aim at the right target, not end up clueless about who their real enemy was. 

“That’s not important, Mr. Collins. What matters is, if they want to avenge their parents, they need greater power—and I can give it to them,” Kanou said, unperturbed by Riku’s comment. He revealed his true goal: to have the Yasuhisa sisters voluntarily undergo his “half-ghoul surgery.” 

Since Kaneki, Kanou had conducted several more transplant surgeries, but none had succeeded. The subjects either died from bodily rejection or turned into grotesque, low-intelligence monsters. The success rate was abysmally low, and he needed more experimental data to pinpoint why. 

Thus, the Yasuhisa sisters became his next targets. He began to wonder if willingness could improve the surgery’s success rate. 

“You’re wrong, Dr. Kanou. Your success rate is low because you’re choosing the wrong subjects. The human body and kagune sacs have compatibility issues. Most people’s compatibility is low—it’s not about willingness,” Riku said, seeing through Kanou’s reasoning. His repeated failures had led him to consider other factors. 

“Oh? Mr. Collins, do you also study half-ghoul surgeries?” Kanou’s eyes lit up. Was this why Riku had come to his lab? Was he a同行—a colleague who was ahead of him? 

“I wouldn’t call it studying, just some insights,” Riku said confidently, standing on the shoulders of Chigyo Koitsu’s genius. After all, Kanou himself was in awe of Chigyo’s techniques. 

“Dr. Kanou, have you considered putting a lock on the kagune sac?”  

Riku recalled that the “Quinx surgery” was similar to Quinque manufacturing. Unlike Quinques, which encased kagune in a weapon, the Quinx surgery involved implanting a “locked” kagune sac into a human body. 

“A lock?” Kanou repeated, mulling over the idea. 

“You mean the kagune’s power is too wild and overwhelming. If we could control the release of Rc cells, it might improve the success rate?” As a seasoned ghoul researcher, Kanou caught on quickly, grasping Riku’s meaning without needing detailed explanations. 

“Exactly. Like making a Quinque, you encase the kagune sac in a Quinque steel coating to limit its operational output. This reduces risks while allowing better observation of the body’s changes,” Riku explained. He had only just started studying the learning materials from Pila, barely scratching the surface of medicine. These ideas were all Chigyo Koitsu’s wisdom. 

“We could divide the implantation into five stages: F1 at 20% output, F2 at 40%, F3 at 60%, F4 at 80%, and F5 at 100%. Gradually unlocking it ensures safety,” Riku continued. Chigyo’s technical prowess had refined the “half-ghoul surgery” to an extraordinary degree. What did it mean to have ethics? This step-by-step unlocking was designed for safety. 

“Brilliant, Mr. Collins! In ghoul research, I’m no match for you,” Kanou exclaimed, his eyes filled with increasing awe as Riku spoke. After a quick mental simulation, he deemed Riku’s method highly feasible—not the ramblings of an amateur but a far superior approach to his own. 

Man, Musk is something else. Preliminary success with Neuralink’s “Telepathy” human implant trials? Gotta keep an eye on the follow-up news.