On a bone-chilling winter day, especially when heavy snow was falling outside, being forced out of a warm bed was nothing short of cruel. However, Kaguya had no choice but to wake up early. It wasn't that Touka Kirishima had kicked her out, but rather that she had something important to do.
Otherwise, given Kaguya's lazy nature, how could she be so proactive—especially when nestled in the irresistible comfort of her bed? Unless, of course, the sun started rising from the west.
The matter was simple. Two days ago, after the arrest of the high-ranking official from CCG, some information had been obtained. It indicated that a group of extremists was secretly planning an attack. If they weren't dealt with in time, it would result in a large-scale massacre. In order to prevent unnecessary loss of life, she had to make a move—otherwise, the city would once again be painted in blood, turning into a battlefield where innocent lives would be caught in the crossfire.
"This is such a hassle," Kaguya muttered, scratching her head as she stood atop the mountain, gazing down at the vast, bustling cityscape. She sighed helplessly. "Is living peacefully really that hard? Why can't they just behave themselves?"
Based on the information extracted from the captured official, the extremists believed that their so-called "cleansing" was the only way to bring true peace. They claimed that as long as their plan succeeded, society would stabilize, and within 50 years, lasting peace would be achieved.
It sounded reasonable on the surface, but in reality, it was utterly absurd. It seemed noble in name, but in truth, it was just a veiled form of aggression.
If CCG's higher-ups—particularly the Washu family—had once sought to control the world through experimentation and genetic modification, altering ghouls to obey human commands, then these extremists were taking it one step further. They aimed to completely reshape humanity into true ghouls.
If they actually succeeded in turning humans into ghouls, would it really be an evolution? No, it would be nothing but an outright distortion of nature—a process no different from a viral outbreak in Resident Evil.
This wasn't some zombie apocalypse, for crying out loud!
When Kaguya arrived at CCG Headquarters, she found the place eerily quiet. Scanning her surroundings, she noticed there were barely any people around. Even the security personnel, usually stationed at every corner, were few and far between. This was definitely not how CCG operated, even during a state of emergency.
"Excuse me… Are you Lady Liuli?"
A timid voice came from behind her.
"Hmm?"
Kaguya turned around and was met with the sight of three young girls. They looked rather youthful, seemingly not yet adults, with traces of innocence still lingering on their faces. However, they were all quite pretty. The one who had spoken stood at the front.
"I am. Why? Do you need something from me?" Kaguya asked curiously.
The three girls wore investigator uniforms, but judging by the lack of formal identification on their chests, they didn't seem to be fully-fledged investigators. Most likely, they were academy interns undergoing field training.
Upon hearing Kaguya's confirmation, the girls' eyes lit up instantly, and they eagerly crowded around her.
"You really are Lady Liuli! We're your biggest fans! Could we… could we get your autograph?" one of them asked excitedly.
"Huh?"
Kaguya blinked in surprise. She had never expected to have fans—it was completely unexpected.
"We've heard so many stories about your feats! You're an inspiration to us, and we've always looked up to you!" another girl said enthusiastically. "If possible, could you please give us an autograph? It would mean so much to us!"
"Hey, don't be so pushy! You're making her uncomfortable!" the leader of the trio scolded her companion before turning back to Kaguya with an apologetic expression. "We're terribly sorry if we were too forward. If you're busy—"
"Do you have a pen and paper?" Kaguya interrupted with a small smile. "Didn't you want an autograph?"
Kaguya found herself quite fond of these three young girls. At such a young age, they already had such strong ambition—far better than someone like her, who was just drifting through life.
The three girls froze for a moment before their faces lit up with delight. Hastily, they fumbled through their bags and pulled out paper and pens.
"Yes, yes, we have them!"
With a few swift strokes, Kaguya's signature appeared on their notebooks in mere seconds. The bold and flowing calligraphy, sharp and forceful as if carved into the paper, radiated an air of strength and elegance.
"So beautiful!"
The three girls huddled together, exclaiming in awe, their eyes practically sparkling like stars.
"Thank you so much, senpai!"
"You girls are from CCG, right? Investigators?" Kaguya returned the pen to them and asked.
"Well…" The three glanced at each other shyly before replying, "We're just intern investigators who recently graduated. We haven't officially been promoted yet."
"Don't worry. With your abilities, I'm sure you'll become full-fledged investigators soon," Kaguya said with a smile.
For some reason, looking at these young girls reminded her of the twin girls back home. They had once been CCG's investigators too, but due to some unfortunate circumstances, they ended up the way they were now. It was a rather tragic story.
"Yes!"
Encouraged by Kaguya's words, the girls immediately perked up.
"By the way," Kaguya suddenly thought of something and turned to point at CCG's headquarters. "What's going on today? The place seems almost deserted. Is it a holiday or something?"
"Huh?" The three girls looked puzzled. "Senpai, you don't know?"
Kaguya's expression stiffened slightly. "Did something happen?" she asked urgently.
"It's said that a mutated ghoul manipulator was discovered in the 16th Ward, and it's suspected to be a high-level threat. The headquarters' Special Class investigators decided to deploy forces for a sweep," the leader of the girls said, tapping her chin in thought. "I think that's the situation."
"What?"
Kaguya's eyes narrowed as she immediately grabbed the girl's shoulder, her voice turning serious. "When did they move out?"
The girl, startled by Kaguya's reaction, stammered, "It… it was sometime around early dawn today."
Kaguya's brows furrowed deeply, a sinking feeling rising in her chest.
Recalling the intelligence extracted from the captured high-ranking officer, the unease in her heart intensified. If her hunch was correct—
This was a trap set for CCG.
...
The 16th Ward, located southeast of the 20th Ward, was once a bustling metropolis comparable to the 20th Ward. However, due to the presence of mutated ghouls, the majority of humans had long since evacuated, leaving behind only a few who had no choice but to stay. Over time, the ward had become a wasteland, inhabited mostly by ghouls who had taken it as their own territory.
For these ghouls, this district was both a sanctuary and a prison—there were no investigators to hunt them down, but at the same time, the lack of humans meant a severe shortage of food.
In order to obtain sustenance, they had two options: either venture into human-populated areas to hunt or resort to consuming mutated ghouls. The latter, however, was hardly ideal. Mutated ghouls were unstable, and consuming their flesh often led to unpredictable consequences—sometimes even death. Because of this, only the truly desperate would consider such an option.
As they walked into the city, they were greeted by a scene of utter ruin. The once-thriving district, now reduced to a wasteland of collapsed buildings and debris, bore countless scars of destruction. The cracked walls of abandoned structures were coated in layers of dust, erasing any trace of the liveliness that once filled the streets.
"Damn it!"
Itsuki Marude angrily kicked over a rusted bicycle, gritting his teeth as he spat, "Those damn pests! If they haven't already gone to hell, I'll personally send them there myself!"
Kishou Arima paid no attention to Marude's outburst. His expression shifted subtly as he silently walked toward a distant pile of rubble.
"Hey, where are you going?" Marude called after him. Seeing that Arima ignored him, he muttered in frustration, "Tch, fine. Not like you ever listen to anyone anyway."
Arima approached an abandoned, wrecked vehicle, his brows furrowing slightly. Bending down, he ran his fingers across the surface—and when he lifted them, a smear of crimson stained his fingertips.
Fresh blood.
Akira Mado, who had recently been promoted to Associate Special Class, walked over as well. Seeing Arima's grave expression, she couldn't help but ask, "Did something happen, Special Class Arima?"
"This isn't right."
Arima lifted his gaze, his sharp eyes narrowing. He stood up and ordered in a firm voice, "Alert all personnel. Prepare for battle immediately."
"Huh?"
The investigators present were caught off guard by the sudden command. Though confused, none dared to question him—Arima was never one to issue orders lightly. Seeing his rarely serious expression, they quickly armed themselves, gripping their Quinques tightly as they took defensive positions, standing back-to-back.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
"Impressive, Special Class Arima. You noticed so quickly. Truly remarkable."
A crisp applause echoed through the desolate streets. The voice, deep and magnetic, carried effortlessly through the silence.
Everyone tensed and instinctively turned toward the source of the sound.
High above them, on the rooftop of a dilapidated building, stood a man. He had a strikingly handsome face, slightly long hair, and a tall, lean build. His lips curled into a mischievous smirk, his gaze filled with a teasing glint.
It was Furuta Nimura.
"So, it's you." Marude gritted his teeth, glaring at him with pure hatred. "I should have known you'd been hiding within CCG for so long. What the hell are you doing here?"
Furuta clicked his tongue and shrugged. "Ah, Marude Special Class, still so quick to anger. You really do scare me," he said in mock fear before bursting into laughter.
"State your purpose." Arima stepped forward, his voice calm and composed, yet carrying undeniable authority.
Furuta's smile widened. "Even if I don't say anything, I'm sure you've already figured it out, haven't you?"
Just then, an investigator came running toward them in a panic, his face pale with fear.
"Bad news! A massive horde of mutated ghouls is approaching from all directions!"
"What?!"
Marude's heart sank. He grabbed the investigator by the collar and growled, "How many?!"
"This… this is way too many! As far as the eye can see, it's nothing but mutated ghouls!" The investigator's voice trembled with fear. "Hundreds of thousands… possibly even more!"
The moment those words fell, chaos erupted among the gathered investigators. A wave of panic surged through them.
If it had been a few thousand mutated ghouls, they might have still stood a chance. With well-trained investigators, a proper strategy, and adequate firepower, victory was possible. But hundreds of thousands? How were they supposed to fight such overwhelming numbers? It was like trying to stop a tidal wave with bare hands!
"Oh, right. I nearly forgot something."
Furuta Nimura's voice suddenly cut through the tense air.
Hearing this, everyone instinctively turned their gaze back to the man standing atop the building.
"The 20th Ward is said to be the most prosperous and stable place, isn't it?" Furuta smirked, his lips curling into a dazzlingly bright smile. "Yet here you all are, having left it completely unguarded. Tell me… aren't you worried something might happen over there?"
The pupils of every investigator present—including Akira Mado and Itsuki Marude—contracted sharply.
...
Kaguya did not head to the 16th Ward immediately. Instead, she rushed back home. Fortunately, thanks to Yomotsu Hirasaka, she could travel through space, allowing her to return in an instant without wasting much time.
The advantage of Yomotsu Hirasaka was obvious—it enabled her to reach a location thousands of miles away in mere moments. However, it required a spatial coordinate as a reference point. If she had never been to a place before, she risked getting lost in the void. That was precisely why Kaguya rarely used this ability recklessly—after all, she had never been to the 16th Ward before.
Another drawback was its chakra consumption, which increased exponentially with distance. If she traveled too far, even she wouldn't be able to withstand the drain. Fortunately, her home was relatively close, so the cost was negligible.
But the moment she opened the door, the sight that greeted her was not the twin sisters, Nashiro and Kurona, as she had expected. Instead—
"Touka?"
Kaguya was momentarily stunned. "Why are you here?"
"What, am I not allowed to be here?" Touka Kirishima snorted softly, reaching out to tidy up the messy clothes scattered on the couch. She then poked Kaguya's chest accusingly and complained, "Seriously, can't you take better care of yourself? The house is a complete mess!"
"Yes, yes, I'll be more careful from now on," Kaguya said with a dry chuckle, internally grumbling. This isn't my fault! It's those two brats!
Those two troublemakers, Nashiro and Kurona, might look elegant and refined on the outside, like perfect young ladies, but at home, they were a disaster. They had absolutely no sense of personal image—running around stark naked at times and leaving things lying all over the place. Most of the time, Kaguya was the one cleaning up after them.
Wait.
That thought suddenly triggered an alarm in Kaguya's mind. Something was very wrong.
Hurriedly stepping forward, she changed the subject. "Uh, have you eaten yet? Let's go grab something to eat first! We can clean up later. I remember there's a really good Western restaurant nearby—you might like it."
But before she could finish speaking, Touka suddenly bent down and picked up a small, lacy piece of fabric from the couch. She held it up, inspecting it curiously, before turning back to Kaguya.
"What's this?"
Shit.
That was Kurona Yasuhisa's underwear.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon:
Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven