Su Xiao got out of the car at the 20th District branch, wearing the special combat uniform of Team Zero, a white trench coat. Team Zero had to wear this uniform during combat missions.
"Thank you," he said to the driver before stepping into the branch.
"Special Investigator Bai Ye, Special Investigator Wan Shou is holding a combat meeting on the twelfth floor. Please follow me," a third-class investigator said, waiting at the door.
As they arrived at the meeting room, Su Xiao could hear Wan Shou's distinctive roar.
"What kind of joke is this? The equipment hasn’t arrived yet? What’s going on up there?"
"I'm sorry, I’ll hurry them up."
"Wan Shou, the latest intel shows that the Bronze Tree has gathered in the 11th District and is showing signs of initiating an attack."
The meeting room was noisy, having become a temporary command center for the Special Response Team.
Su Xiao walked in, and his Team Zero uniform stood out.
"This is Team Zero?"
"Team Zero is also participating in this operation? I suddenly feel less nervous."
He heard whispers as he approached Wan Shou.
Wan Shou looked a bit disheveled, with messy hair and bloodshot eyes.
"You’re here. This is the latest situation in the 11th District. Take a look. We’ll be moving out in two hours."
Su Xiao was taken aback; the attack was happening a bit too soon.
"So urgent?"
"We have no choice. Those bastards in the 11th District are showing signs of taking the initiative. The 9th, 10th, and 12th Districts nearby could be attacked at any moment. We can’t just sit back and watch."
Wan Shou slammed his fist on the meeting table, cursing under his breath.
The Special Response Team wasn’t fully prepared yet, and rushing into action like this could lead to problems.
This was also why Su Xiao had been assigned to the Special Response Team, partly due to Wan Shou and Shinohara Yukiki's influence.
Both of them were special investigators, and when they teamed up, the higher-ups in the CCG couldn’t ignore their suggestions.
There were three special investigators in the Special Response Team: Shinohara Yukiki, Wan Shou, and Hei Panyan.
Wan Shou was in charge of battlefield command, while Shinohara and Hei Panyan led the teams in the field. Both were practical fighters.
Hei Panyan was an experienced investigator who had taken down the "Hawk" twice and had returned unscathed, proving his strength.
Like Shinohara, Hei Panyan was also a "new" user.
"I understand, but I have a strange feeling about this," Su Xiao said quietly to Wan Shou after putting down the documents.
Wan Shou's expression changed slightly after hearing him.
"Well, it's not impossible. We have to be cautious. I’ll arrange for some personnel from the CCG headquarters. You were the right choice to bring in. During the fight, I want to avoid any casualties among the investigators."
Wan Shou, usually laid-back, now left the meeting room with a serious expression.
Su Xiao found an empty seat, relaxed, and adjusted his state.
"Bai Ye, you’re here."
A familiar voice came, and Su Xiao turned to see Shinohara Yukiki.
"Special Investigator Shinohara, how long until we leave? After this operation, I want to return to the 24th District to continue exploring underground."
Su Xiao’s calm demeanor made Shinohara smile wryly. Compared to him, the other investigators around looked worried.
"We’ll be leaving in an hour and thirty minutes. We’ve already started gathering the teams. How’s the situation in the 24th District?"
Shinohara sat down, wearing a black combat uniform.
"The outskirts of the 24th District are relatively safe, but there are quite a few ghouls inside. I suspect there’s a major gathering point for ghouls right in the center of the 24th District."
The two chatted to pass the time.
Before long, Wan Shou hurried back into the meeting room.
"Shinohara, how’s the evacuation of the residents going?"
Shinohara stood up.
"Though it was rushed, it’s done. We can leave at any time."
Wan Shou took a deep breath, picked up a microphone, and looked at the investigators present.
"It’s time to go, everyone!"
"Yes!"
All the investigators stood up and quickly walked outside.
At the main entrance of the CCG branch, a long line of vehicles was waiting. This time, over a thousand people from the CCG were mobilized, making the convoy quite impressive.
Su Xiao found a transport vehicle and was about to get on when he heard Wan Shou calling him from a distance.
"Bai Ye, come to the command vehicle. There’s something I want to discuss with you."
Su Xiao walked to the front of the convoy, where many people were gathered, making it very noisy.
There were leaders from various departments in Tokyo and a crowd of reporters. Wan Shou casually dealt with a few questions from them before entering the command vehicle.
"Mr. Wan Shou, can you give us an optimistic outlook on this situation?"
"Yes, please share some information with the citizens."
The reporters rushed forward with their cameras, but CCG staff held them back.
Among the crowd, a petite and pretty female reporter was pushed out due to her lack of strength.
Looking anxious, she felt she needed to capture a photo of Wan Shou for this major news story, but now she couldn’t even see him clearly, let alone take a picture.
With tears in her eyes, she felt she might lose her job.
Just then, she spotted a special investigator. While the other investigators wore black combat uniforms, this one was in a white trench coat.
Her reporter instincts told her that this man was definitely someone worth interviewing.
"Excuse me, sir..."
The female reporter hurried towards Su Xiao but stumbled over her own feet.
She fell forward, her microphone pointing like a sword.
Seeing the reporter coming at him, Su Xiao instinctively stepped back.
She was too enthusiastic; was she trying to shove the microphone in his mouth for an interview?
Tokyo TV’s interviews were truly unique.
After the female reporter got up, Su Xiao had already entered the command vehicle, leaving her teary-eyed behind.
In the 20th District, at the Andong District café, also known as the Antique Café.
"Trying to sneak into the 11th District to rescue Kaneki is no easy task. We need to consider the movements of the CCG and the personnel from the Bronze Tree.
According to the news reports, the CCG has mobilized over a thousand people, indicating they are ready for a direct confrontation with the Bronze Tree.
Even if we go to rescue Kaneki, the chances of being wiped out are very high."
The café owner said this while looking at Don Tsukiyama, Hinami, and Nishio Nishiki. He was speaking directly to them.
The owner didn’t want these three to go rescue Kaneki; he and others already had a rescue plan in place.
These three were under the protection of the 24th District, and he didn’t want them to get hurt.
"Hey, old man, what are you talking about? Do you want to just watch him die?"
Nishio Nishiki, though not very strong, was not ungrateful. Kaneki Ken had saved his girlfriend, and now that Kaneki was in trouble, Nishiki wouldn’t just stand by.
"I’m going to rescue him," Don Tsukiyama declared.
"I-I’ll go too," Hinami said timidly.
The owner sighed inwardly.
"I understand everyone’s feelings. I’ve actually prepared a plan to rescue Kaneki. I just worry about you three getting into danger.
If you want to save Kaneki, you’ll have to gamble with your lives."
Hearing this, the three of them looked excited.
Just then, the door swung open, and a handsome guy in purple walked in—Tsukiyama Shuu.
"You, you bastard."
Nishio Nishiki bent his body, taking a fighting stance, as Tsukiyama Shuu had once captured his girlfriend.
Don Tsukiyama also became alert.
Tsukiyama Shuu raised his arms dramatically, showing a heartbroken expression.
"It’s truly heartbreaking. My only friend, Kaneki, has been captured. How can I not care?
Also, I have some information to share with everyone here. Among the personnel mobilized by the CCG this time, there’s a new addition we ghouls call the Black Reaper!"
Upon hearing the name Black Reaper, the ghouls present, including the café owner, turned pale.
(End of Chapter)