21-25

Chapter 21: A Stab for a Stab – That’s Fair

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a layer of cold, silvery light on the old dirt road. A salty breeze, carrying the distinct scent of the sea, drifted in the air.

“Hey, you idiot, Kaneki. Don’t tell me you’re planning to settle this just because someone gave you a roasted piglet?” Hidan asked suspiciously, trailing behind Kaneki.

Kaneki smiled slightly at the question and countered, “Do I look like that kind of person to you?”

Hidan scoffed. “True, you don’t look like any kind of good person at all.”

Still, he remained puzzled.

“If you’re not planning to intervene, why’d you deliberately leave your Jashin pendant at that old man’s house?”

Raising an eyebrow, Kaneki looked at Hidan with a hint of surprise. “I’m shocked. With your intelligence, you actually figured out I left it on purpose.”

“Damn you, Kaneki! My observational skills are top-notch!” Hidan declared with confidence before pressing further. “So why did you leave it there?”

With a nonchalant brush of his windblown hair, Kaneki adjusted his glasses and replied with mild interest, “I’m just curious if that boy, after picking up the pendant, will have the guts to confront the Sakamoto Trading Company.”

“Curious?” Hidan tilted his head, clearly struggling to understand Kaneki’s reasoning.

Disappointed, Hidan clasped his hands behind his head. “You’re so boring. You’d be better off sacrificing a few random people to Lord Jashin instead.”

Kaneki said nothing. Whether young Mori decided to act or not mattered little to him.

---

The Shiroishi family’s home wasn’t far from the seaside docks. Despite the darkness, Kaneki had hundreds of ravens and tens of thousands of black beetles guiding him. It didn’t take long for him and Hidan to reach their destination:

*The Sakamoto Trading Company.*

It was represented by an opulent, massive cruise ship docked at the harbor.

In stark contrast to the luxurious vessel were the old fishing boats bound to the dock with heavy chains. These likely belonged to the local fishermen. It was a clear display of the trading company’s heavy-handed tactics: not only had they captured the troublemaking fishermen, but they’d also seized their boats to prevent any disruption to their floating casino.

The villagers were powerless against such oppression.

After all, the shinobi world didn’t have well-developed legal systems or law enforcement to protect ordinary citizens like in Kaneki’s past life.

If the villagers wanted to drive away the Sakamoto Trading Company, they had only two options:

1. Rely on their own strength and fight the company head-on. However, this plan had already failed with Mori father imprisoned.

2. Pool their resources to hire a nearby shinobi village for a bounty mission. Unfortunately, this small fishing village didn’t have the funds to do so.

As a result, they could only watch helplessly as their livelihoods were cut off by the company.

Kaneki, however, remained indifferent.

This was nothing unusual in the shinobi world—such events happened countless times every day.

In the past, he might have felt righteous indignation. But now, things were different. After all, he was no longer human.

---

“Who are you two?”

Several armed guards from the Sakamoto Trading Company spotted Kaneki and Hidan approaching the dock.

Hidan cracked his neck impatiently. “The name’s Hidan, and you’d better fetch your boss, Sakamoto, to see me right now.”

Kaneki’s expression shifted to one of resigned acceptance.

As expected, Hidan had a way of attracting animosity no matter the situation.

Predictably, the four guards’ faces darkened at Hidan’s arrogant demand.

“Our boss isn’t someone you can just summon at will,” one sneered, drawing his weapon.

“How about that?” Hidan glanced at Kaneki.

Kaneki shrugged. “Do whatever you like.”

In the next instant, Hidan charged forward.

---

Almost immediately, Hidan closed the distance between himself and the guards—

And was stabbed through the abdomen.

“Ugh.”

The guard who had skewered Hidan was momentarily stunned.

This guy was so fast that his intention was merely to swing the blade to keep him at bay. Instead, Hidan had willingly impaled himself.

Yet what came next was even stranger.

Hidan, with the blade still piercing his stomach, slowly raised his head and flashed a sinister grin at the guard.

“Ready to face Lord Jashin’s judgment?”

Gripping the blade embedded in his abdomen, Hidan smirked.

“W-What the hell?”

Panicking, the guard tried to pull his weapon free, but no matter how hard he tugged, the blade remained firmly lodged in Hidan’s grasp.

Realizing he had no other choice, the guard abandoned the weapon and retreated.

But Hidan yanked the blade from his own body and, in one fluid motion, drove it through his attacker.

Blood sprayed like a fountain.

The remaining three guards were frozen in shock.

What kind of fighting style is this?!  

But Hidan wasn’t finished. Lunging forward, he grabbed another guard by the neck and hoisted him into the air.

“With strength this pathetic, you’re not even worth sacrificing to Lord Jashin.”

Disappointed, Hidan snapped the man’s neck and let the lifeless body fall.

The last two guards shivered in terror but made their move. They flanked him, striking simultaneously with their blades.

“Thud!”

Both blades sank deep into Hidan’s waist, drawing a gush of blood.

Hidan released the corpse he was holding, grumbling in irritation, “So weak. Pathetically weak.”

Under the dim moonlight, a glint of crimson flashed in his eyes. A black spear slid out from beneath his coat, impaling his attackers in a heartbeat.

---

The brutal commotion naturally attracted the attention of the guards aboard the cruise ship.

Even their target, Mr. Sakamoto—one of the Jashin Cult’s business partners—appeared in person, surrounded by a phalanx of bodyguards.

Mr. Sakamoto frowned at the bloody scene before him and addressed the two intruders. “You two must be from the Jashin Cult, I presume?”

Only their lunatics could behave like this.

Kaneki nodded. “I assume you’re Mr. Sakamoto. We’re here under the orders of our esteemed leader to complete the task you requested.”

Sakamoto glanced at the four dead guards strewn across the ground and exhaled sharply.

“You’re here to complete my request, yet the first thing you do is kill my men?”

Kaneki responded calmly, “This must be a misunderstanding. Your men didn’t give us a chance to introduce ourselves before attacking.

“They stabbed my partner first, and he simply returned the favor. That’s fair, isn’t it?”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 22: Heaven on Earth*

Sakamoto glanced between Kaneki and Hidan, his eyes lingering for several seconds before he exhaled a plume of smoke.

"Since this is all just a misunderstanding, why don’t the two of you come aboard for a chat? After all, I’ve had a long-standing relationship with your leader for decades."

Hearing this, Kaneki returned a sincere smile and replied, "Our leader often mentions the bond he shares with Mr. Sakamoto."

"Is that so? Hahaha."

Sakamoto gave Kaneki a knowing look and smiled knowingly in return.

The two men acted as though they were old friends reunited after many years, chatting and laughing together, leaving Hidan visibly puzzled.

As Kaneki and Sakamoto walked toward the yacht, still deep in conversation, one of Sakamoto’s subordinates leaned in and whispered, "President, these men—"

Sakamoto furrowed his brow slightly, not even turning his head as he replied, "The Cult of Jashin is one of our most crucial allies. The men who clashed with Kaneki and Hidan deserved their fate. However, in recognition of their loyalty and dedication, grant their families 100,000 ryō as compensation."

At these words, the subordinates—who had been crestfallen by Sakamoto's initial remarks—immediately perked up.

A hundred thousand ryō!

For a ninja, it might not be much.

But for ordinary people like them, that amount of money would secure their families’ well-being for decades!

This was why they risked their lives as hired muscle—money! As long as the price was right, even dying wasn’t off the table.

Noticing the shift in the mood around them, Kaneki gave Sakamoto a meaningful glance.

This man wasn’t simple. Spending 400,000 ryō not only avoided offending the Cult of Jashin but also solidified loyalty within the guild, preventing discontent over the alliance with the cult.

Sakamoto smiled, extending his hand. "Gentlemen, this way, please."

Kaneki nodded slightly. "After you."

While the two spoke politely, Hidan was already swaggering onto the yacht, calling out, "Sakamoto, this yacht is huge! You must have tonkatsu, right?"

Sakamoto squinted slightly. Though annoyed, he maintained a perfectly polite expression. "Of course. If you’d like, you can head to the dining hall and ask the chef to prepare it for you."

Hidan’s face lit up with joy, and after confirming the location of the dining hall, he dashed off enthusiastically.

Watching Hidan’s retreating figure, Sakamoto seemed lost in thought.

He couldn’t quite figure out if Hidan was feigning ignorance—or genuinely dim-witted.

"My apologies, President Sakamoto," Kaneki said, gesturing to his head. "My... younger brother had a bit of an issue while receiving Jashin’s blessings. He’s not all there."

Sakamoto’s expression cleared with understanding. "Ah, I see."

Kaneki smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

After they left, a figure peeked out cautiously from behind a tree near the dock.

In an effort to look convincing, Shiraishi Mori had draped himself in a hastily made black cloak, mimicking the attire of the cultists as best he could.

He wanted to blend in better, but in a small fishing village like this, even finding a decent trench coat was impossible.

Clutching the necklace tightly in his hand, he muttered, "With this, I should be able to sneak in, right...?"

Even so, he felt a pang of doubt. Yet with his parents’ lives at stake, he had no choice.

After waiting a few more minutes, Mori exhaled deeply and strutted boldly out of the alley.

"Who’s there?"

The guards at the dock were visibly more cautious after the earlier incident. Who knew if another crazy cultist might suddenly appear?

Mori pulled his makeshift hood lower, lowered his voice, and declared, "Cult of Jashin."

He studied the guards’ reactions in the faint moonlight.

To his surprise, at the mention of "Cult of Jashin," the guards immediately stiffened, their expressions filled with unease.

In the past, they might not have thought much of the name.

But the blood on the dock hadn’t even dried yet—what if they ended up dead like the others? Even Sakamoto himself seemed reluctant to provoke those lunatics.

The guards exchanged uneasy glances before one hesitantly asked, "Do you have proof?"

Shiraishi felt a surge of relief. He hadn’t expected the cult’s reputation to be so useful!

Reaching into his oversized cloak, he pulled out a crimson necklace, its triangular center radiating an ominous glint in the moonlight.

The guards immediately stepped aside, bowing slightly. "Welcome, sir. Please, go right ahead!"

It wasn’t that they didn’t love money—they just didn’t want that kind of money.

Sakamoto had won them over with generosity, but deep down, it was his aura of wealth that made them believe in following him.

Maintaining his act, Mori grunted lightly and boarded the yacht without a word.

As he walked away, one guard frowned. "This guy’s outfit looks different from the other cultists."

"Keep your voice down," another snapped. "Those maniacs wear whatever they want. You want to piss off a Jashin cultist?"

"Fair point."

After all, the cultists were lunatics—utterly unpredictable and unhinged.

While Mori managed to slip aboard, Kaneki and Sakamoto had just finished their tour of the yacht.

The opulence of the vessel left Kaneki awestruck. Every detail radiated extravagance, reminding him of his past life.

Sakamoto had grand plans to transform the yacht into the Land of Rivers’ largest floating casino. It boasted a restaurant, concert hall, dance floor, and even a coliseum!

On this night, distinguished guests from all corners of the Land of Rivers had gathered on the yacht, swaying elegantly to the music on the dance floor.

The yacht’s name? Sakamoto had fittingly christened it *"Heaven on Earth."*

Under the dazzling neon lights, with an air thick with unbridled indulgence, Kaneki gazed around, absorbing the atmosphere.

Sakamoto clapped his hands, and instantly, a group of scantily clad bunny girls approached.

Their fair skin glowed under the lights, their crimson lips a striking contrast, as if red roses had bloomed in a field of snow.

Their flirtatious gazes and whispered words carried an intoxicating sweetness.

"What a fitting name—Heaven on Earth," Kaneki remarked.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 23: The Power of the Evil God*

The moment the bunny girl’s delicate hand brushed against Kaneki's chest, a sudden voice interrupted.

"Enough already, so noisy!"

Hidan barged into the private room, gnawing on a fried chicken leg.

"This stupid music and smell everywhere—it’s driving me nuts!"

Chairman Sakamoto frowned slightly but remembered what Kaneki had said earlier, choosing to suppress his anger. Instead, he gave a subtle signal.

Several nearby bunny girls immediately approached Hidan, pressing their soft bodies against him and surrounding him.

"Please don’t be upset, sir," one of them cooed.

For an ordinary man, such an approach would be irresistible.

But Hidan? He wasn’t just any man!

He shoved the two alluring bunny girls away with ease and said coldly, "Do you believe I won’t kill all of you and offer your bodies to Lord Evil God as sacrifices?"

An icy killing intent emanated from Hidan, instantly dispelling the sultry atmosphere in the room.

Kaneki gently pushed up his glasses and gave Sakamoto a faint smile.

"Chairman Sakamoto, my apologies. My brother here—" He tapped his temple and gave a knowing look.

Sakamoto forced an awkward but polite smile. "Understood. In that case, shall we move somewhere else to discuss business?"

"Of course."

Kaneki rose from his seat.

Hearing their exchange, Hidan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Damn it, Kaneki! Who are you calling your brother?" ୧༼ಠ益ಠ༽୨

Kaneki raised a hand abruptly, and threads of spider silk shot out, quickly and securely wrapping Hidan into what resembled a cocoon.

If Kaneki hadn’t been cautious about revealing his powers, Hidan’s head might already have been in his hands.

This display of thread-spinning took Sakamoto by surprise.

Is this some kind of unique technique? Or a bloodline limit?  

Chairman Sakamoto stared at Kaneki's hand for a while, only snapping out of his thoughts when Kaneki's voice broke the silence.

"Chairman Sakamoto, shall we?"

"Oh, yes, this way, please."

Sakamoto raised a hand, his tone noticeably more respectful.

To him, only the truly powerful were worthy allies.

To ensure confidentiality, Sakamoto dismissed all the bunny girls, leaving only a few subordinates at his side.

Judging by their stances, movements, and subtle scents, these subordinates were likely ninja, much like Kikuchi and Miura.

Kaneki and Sakamoto each took a seat at opposite ends of a long table.

Sakamoto was accompanied by eight subordinates, while Kaneki sat alone, his only "companion" being the cocoon that might double as a weapon.

"The two of you truly live up to your titles as chosen ones of the Evil God," Sakamoto began. "Unaffected by beauty, uninterested in indulgence—it’s clear you have greater ambitions."

With his hands clasped, Sakamoto wasted no time flattering his guests.

Kaneki responded with a faint smile. "You’re too kind, Chairman Sakamoto. We’re here under orders from our Lord to help resolve your concerns."

Sakamoto, seeing Kaneki’s directness, skipped further formalities and got straight to the point. "In that case, Sho, bring the dossier on Gato for our esteemed guest."

"Yes, sir."

One of the subordinates responded promptly, retrieving a thick file.

It was clear from the detailed dossier that Sakamoto took this foreign merchant, Gato, very seriously.

Sho approached Kaneki and placed the documents on the table before him.

"Please take a look, Mr. Kaneki. If there are no issues, I hope you can eliminate this threat as soon as possible."

Sakamoto’s tone carried urgency. After all, Gato’s influence in the Land of Waves was substantial, and if he succeeded in expanding into the Land of Rivers, Sakamoto’s business would undoubtedly suffer greatly.

Meeting Sakamoto’s eager gaze, Kaneki didn’t open the file. Instead, he adjusted his glasses and said calmly:

"Apologies, Chairman Sakamoto, but we have no intention of personally dealing with Gato."

The atmosphere in the room instantly froze. Sakamoto’s face darkened.

"So, Mr. Kaneki, are you toying with me?"

Sakamoto narrowed his eyes, his pig-like face tinged with malice.

At his words, his subordinates immediately reached for their weapons, their intense aura thickening the air in the room.

"Mr. Kaneki, I respect the Evil God Cult because you are our allies. But if the Cult cannot deliver what the Sakamoto Trading Company requires, then the millions—no, tens of millions of ryō we provide annually might no longer be necessary."

Sakamoto lightly twisted his ring, his meaning crystal clear.

He paid the Cult for results. If they couldn’t deliver, they wouldn’t get the money—and might even have to return what they’d already received.

Despite the rising hostility, Kaneki remained composed, wearing his faint smile.

Leaning back in his chair, he said, "Chairman Sakamoto, you misunderstand. I don’t intend to handle Gato personally—but that doesn’t mean he won’t be dealt with."

"Oh?"

Intrigued, Sakamoto sat up, his interest piqued.

Seeing this, Kaneki wasted no time. He opened a black leather case.

The moment it opened, a strong, nauseating stench filled the room.

Everyone’s gaze fell on its contents. Inside, the case was divided into dozens of small compartments, each containing a heart-sized, pulsating organ.

Eggs.

Or rather, Kagune.  

"And what are these?"

Sakamoto frowned, confused. His subordinates grew even more alert, preparing for the possibility of an attack.

Kaneki picked up one of the Kagune and casually tossed it toward Sakamoto.

The crimson organ arced through the air before being caught by one of Sakamoto’s ninja-like subordinates.

Finally, Kaneki explained: "These are the blessings of Lord Evil God, known as Kagune. Any ordinary person who consumes one will receive power bestowed by the Evil God."

"Power from the Evil God?"

Sakamoto’s face was filled with disbelief, as were the expressions of his subordinates.

Kaneki merely smiled. "If you don’t believe me, Chairman Sakamoto, why not have someone try it?"

Still holding onto a sliver of faith in the Cult, Sakamoto decided to conduct an experiment.

He instructed his subordinates to bring in a random server.

"Eat this, and you’ll receive 200,000 ryō," Sakamoto said bluntly.

The server’s expression changed from fear to delight at the mention of such a reward.

"I’ll eat it!"

Suppressing his revulsion, the server swallowed the Kagune in one gulp.

After all, it was just some strange organ. At worst, he might get an upset stomach. As long as he didn’t die, 200,000 ryō could change his life forever.

As he dreamed of his newfound wealth, the Kagune began dissolving in his body. It traveled through his veins and concentrated at his lower back.

Then—

A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the room.

"AHHHHHHH!"

(To be continued...)

*Chapter 24: Named Ghoul*

"Ahhh!!!"

A wretched scream of extreme pain echoed endlessly throughout the room.

The man collapsed to his knees, his face pale and contorted with agony. His hands hung limply to the ground, and the veins bulging across his body pulsated as if countless worms were writhing beneath his skin.

In that moment, he felt as though every vein and meridian in his body was being gripped tightly by a massive hand, which then forcefully tore something out from the area near his lower back.

Bloodshot veins spread across his eyes. In the next instant, a massive, dark purple centipede burst out from his lower back!

Its dark purple exoskeleton shimmered like armor, while the numerous limbs on either side were sharp as scythes, capable of tearing through human flesh with ease.

"This is..."

The doubt on Sakamoto's face turned into utter shock the moment the centipede emerged.

He never would have believed it. What Kaneki had said turned out to be true.

Simply by consuming that tiny object, a person’s body could undergo such a drastic transformation!

The next moment, chaos erupted.

The waiter suddenly raised his head, his crimson eyes locking onto Sakamoto with a murderous glare. Without warning, he swung his massive tail-like kagune, slashing at Sakamoto like a giant sword!

Sakamoto was taken aback, but fortunately, one of his subordinates reacted in time.

"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"

A thick wall abruptly rose from the ground, splitting the room in half.

The powerful kagune struck the rock wall with a heavy blow, causing shards of stone to scatter everywhere. Cracks quickly appeared across the wall’s surface.

"President, watch out!"

Another subordinate appeared behind Sakamoto, grabbing him and retreating swiftly.

Just then, the mud wall shattered with a thunderous crash, sending a cloud of dust billowing into the air.

Out of the yellowish haze emerged a dark silhouette. The thick centipede-like kagune pierced through the smoke, once again lunging toward Sakamoto.

At this critical moment, another ninja intervened.

A blade wrapped in light blue chakra slashed into the kagune from the side, leaving a small cut.

The chakra blade’s attack disrupted the kagune’s trajectory, causing it to miss Sakamoto by about three or four meters and embed itself into the wall.

Having narrowly escaped death multiple times, Sakamoto clenched his fists, his voice dripping with murderous intent: "Kill him for me!"

"Yes, sir!"

The ninja subordinate responded immediately, forming hand seals at lightning speed before slamming his hands onto the ground.

"Earth Style: Quicksand Stream!"

Pre-charged earth-element chakra flowed into the ground through his palms, transforming the previously solid floor into fine sand that quickly spread to the waiter’s feet.

The berserk waiter had clearly lost all sense of reason.

He likely didn’t even know who he was anymore, let alone how to react to his enemies’ attacks.

Caught off guard, his feet sank into the sand almost instantly. The more he struggled, the deeper he sank.

Even as he flailed his kagune wildly to strike the ground, it was all in vain.

‘First, extract earth-element chakra, then perform the corresponding sealing gestures. By injecting this chakra into the ground, it’s possible to alter the terrain’s composition, transforming it into sand along pre-designated paths.’

Kaneki gently adjusted his glasses, silently analyzing the chakra’s flow.

In the end, the waiter, who had been implanted with a kagune, was completely trapped in the pit of sand.

Clap. Clap. Clap.  

Amidst the chaotic room, the sound of applause echoed.

Sakamoto was clapping his hands.

Rather than being angered by the sudden attack, he wore an excited expression.

"As expected of the almighty Cursed God, to think it’s actually possible to transform an ordinary person into—"

Sakamoto trailed off.

He didn’t know what to call such a being. Or rather, this creature.

Thankfully, Kaneki picked up where he left off. "Mr. Sakamoto, you may refer to them as—"

"*Ghouls.*"

Sakamoto raised an eyebrow, pondering the term for a moment before breaking into an even brighter smile.

"Ghouls, huh? What a fitting name."

"But I have a question," he added.

Kaneki replied calmly, "Please, go ahead."

Sakamoto glanced at the "ghoul" trapped in the sandpit. "Mr. Kaneki, does everyone who’s implanted with a kagune lose their sanity?"

This was an important issue.

Sakamoto had already witnessed the power unleashed by the kagune, and it was indeed formidable.

In one-on-one combat, such a creature could match a standard genin.

While some might dismiss genin as weak, for ordinary people, even a novice ninja was an invincible force.

If it were possible to mass-produce such ghouls capable of fighting against ninja—

Forget taking on Gato; Sakamoto might even gain the strength to challenge the ninja villages themselves!

In response to Sakamoto’s question, Kaneki shook his head. "Not all ghouls fall into such a frenzied state. The effects of a kagune implant vary from person to person."

Hearing this, Sakamoto’s face lit up with excitement. He eagerly asked, "So, it’s entirely possible to create rational ghouls who can follow orders?"

Kaneki nodded, his tone calm and measured. "A kagune merely amplifies and influences a person’s inner self. As long as one’s willpower is strong enough to control their inner desires, it’s theoretically possible to maintain sanity."

This, however, was something even Kaneki couldn’t guarantee entirely.

After all, a kagune was essentially a parasitic organism born from genetic fusion and mutation. And the nature of parasites was inherently to devour and kill. Thus, personality changes following implantation were only natural.

Of course, Kaneki himself had no such issues.

As the king of all Jashin races, a mere kagune could not affect him.

As for Hidan?

That lunatic was already immune to anything that targeted the mind.

Hearing Kaneki’s answer, Sakamoto grew even more enthusiastic. He immediately summoned his subordinates to prepare for more kagune experiments.

At that moment, one of his men approached, whispering something into his ear.

Sakamoto’s brows furrowed instantly—a familiar sign of his impending anger.

Yet, for some reason, Sakamoto suppressed his fury this time.

He turned to Kaneki and asked, "Mr. Kaneki, are there any other Jashin Cult members accompanying you on this trip?"

Kaneki raised an eyebrow but quickly deduced the situation.

It seemed likely that the troublemaker, Shiraishi Mori, had gotten himself caught by Sakamoto’s men while trying to steal Kaneki’s necklace.

Sure enough, through his black beetles, Kaneki sensed the boy sneaking into the dungeon and being discovered by Sakamoto’s guards. However, due to the Jashin Cult’s status, they hadn’t captured him outright.

Feigning nonchalance, Kaneki shook his head. "There shouldn’t be."

Sakamoto’s eyes narrowed, a menacing aura of killing intent swirling within them.

(To be continued...)  

Chapter 25: Clash of the Mutants

“Could it be someone is impersonating the Cult of the Evil God?”

Sakamoto’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent as he barked, “Lock him up! Investigate his identity.”

“Yes, sir.”

His subordinates swiftly retreated to carry out the order.

Sakamoto turned to Kaneki and asked, “Would you, as the divine emissary, be interested in accompanying me to confront this fool who dared to impersonate our cult?”

With a stoic expression, Kaneki nodded. “Of course. I can’t allow anyone to tarnish the honor of Jashin.”

“Please, follow me.”

Under Sakamoto’s guidance, Kaneki soon arrived at a damp, dimly lit dungeon.

One had to admit, Sakamoto Trading Company’s ship was astonishingly well-equipped—even the dungeon was impressively authentic.

As soon as they stepped inside, a putrid stench of rot and dampness assaulted their senses, mixed with the heavy metallic tang of blood in the air.

Kaneki’s eyes swept over the bloodstained torture devices hanging on the walls, revealing just how frequently they had been used.

“President, Divine Emissary, the boy is just ahead.”

A subordinate led Sakamoto and Kaneki to a specific cell.

Inside, a small, dark-skinned boy named Shiraishi Mori was curled up in a corner.

“Divine Emissary, we found this on him.”

With reverence, Sakamoto’s subordinate handed Kaneki an item.

It was the necklace Kaneki had deliberately left behind, a symbol of the Cult of Jashin.

Kaneki smiled faintly. “This is indeed my necklace. I didn’t expect him to pick it up.”

As Sakamoto and Kaneki approached, Shiraishi Mori raised his head slightly, his eyes glaring at Sakamoto with unbridled hatred.

It was him—he had captured his parents!

Noticing the burning resentment in Mori eyes, Sakamoto turned to one of his subordinates.

“Who is this boy?”

The subordinate lowered his head respectfully. “President, do you recall the man who led those fishermen to cause trouble about half a month ago?”

Sakamoto’s eyes flickered as he furrowed his brow. “That troublemaker? I remember—he was called—”

“My father is not a troublemaker!”

Mori abruptly lifted his head and crouched like a beast, growling deeply.

Sakamoto snorted coldly. His subordinate immediately lashed out with a heavy kick, sending Mori sprawling to the ground.

Retracting his foot, the subordinate glanced disdainfully at Mori and continued, “This boy is that troublemaker’s son.”

Sakamoto’s eyebrows rose with interest.

“So, you’re that man’s child. Foolish, just like your lowlife father, daring to infiltrate Sakamoto Trading Company all alone.”

Sakamoto’s tone grew darker, but then his eyes lit up suddenly.

“I think I just had a brilliant idea!”

He clapped his hands together sharply. “Wasn’t there a woman with that troublemaker back then?”

Sakamoto’s amused gaze pierced through the bars, fixing on Mori .

“If I’m not mistaken, that woman must be your mother, right?”

“What are you planning?”

Clutching his injured stomach, Mori painfully got to his feet, his face contorted in rage.

Sakamoto chuckled mockingly. “It just so happens that the Kagune experiment needs some test subjects. Why don’t we start with your parents?”

“No! Stop it!”

Mori lunged forward again.

Though he didn’t fully understand what the Kagune experiment entailed, the word “test subject” alone filled him with dread.

But his efforts amounted to nothing more than rattling the cell bars. His thin arms couldn’t even graze the edge of Sakamoto’s coat.

Watching Mori futile struggle, Sakamoto burst into a hearty laugh before abruptly falling silent.

“Take his parents away.”

“Yes, sir.”

The subordinates moved efficiently.

Two minutes later, a man and a woman, battered and on the verge of unconsciousness, were dragged out from the depths of the dungeon.

“Father!”

“Mother!”

Mori pounded on the bars with all his strength. The loud clangs and his desperate cries jolted his parents awake.

Their blurry vision slowly focused on the child they had been longing to see. But before they could say a word, their mouths were covered, and they were dragged away by Sakamoto’s men.

Only Mori anguished screams remained.

After Mori parents were taken away, Sakamoto wasted no time in beginning the Kagune experiments.

Due to the Kagune’s peculiar nature, Sakamoto naturally couldn’t limit himself to just two subjects.

He selected eighteen additional slaves from the prison, making a total of twenty test subjects.

As the Kagune was implanted into their bodies, screams of agony filled the entire ship.

“Ahhhhhh!!!”

An ominous aura poured out of the laboratory.

The test subjects unleashed their newfound Kagune abilities, but Sakamoto had prepared in advance. With pre-set traps and his subordinates’ skilled ninjutsu, the rampaging ghouls were quickly subdued.

About an hour later, Sakamoto’s trusted lieutenant, Abe, emerged to report.

“President, of the twenty test subjects, eleven went berserk and were killed. Their Kagune have been successfully preserved.”

“Nine others survived: six are unconscious, and three remain lucid.”

“Only three lucid subjects out of twenty?”

Sakamoto rubbed his ring, clearly dissatisfied with the results.

Sensing this, Abe quietly reminded him, “The Kagune from failed subjects can be reused.”

Realizing the implications, Sakamoto’s eyes gleamed. “You mean, as long as we have enough test subjects, we can produce as many ghouls as there are Kagune?”

Abe nodded. “Theoretically, yes.”

Hearing this, Sakamoto broke into a wicked grin.

“Heh, the Cult of Jashin truly has some remarkable treasures.”

His beady eyes darted around, contemplating his next move.

After a moment, he asked, “Who are the three lucid ones?”

“The couple Shiraishi Aoi and Keiko , and a middle-aged man named Ken Shimizu.”

Sakamoto narrowed his eyes and smiled cryptically.

“So, both members of the Shiraishi couple stayed lucid?”

“In that case, I have an excellent idea.”

That night, Sakamoto made an announcement via the ship’s broadcast system:

“In one hour, there will be a special beast fight in the Octagonal Cage Arena!”

“*Clash of the Mutants*!”

The announcement caused a stir among the distinguished guests aboard the ship, who hailed from all over the Land of Rivers.

“What are mutants?”

“Maybe some kind of deformed humans?”

“Could be. I’ve seen circus performers from the Dwarf Clan—tiny people no taller than a jar. They were hilarious!”

“But what’s so entertaining about deformed people fighting?”

“Don’t underestimate Sakamoto’s methods. If he’s personally inviting us, it’ll definitely be worth watching.”

“True enough.”

Thanks to Sakamoto’s charisma, the Octagonal Cage Arena was packed to capacity in just thirty minutes.

(End of Chapter)