In the 12th Ward, within a secluded villa district.
Inside the basement, Kanou Akihiro had converted the area into a simple laboratory.
Aogiri Tree had only just regained control of the 11th Ward, and Kanou Akihiro had previously moved his laboratory there.
Unfortunately, fate was unpredictable. After the Anteiku Suppression Operation, Aogiri Tree collapsed once again.
Yoshimura Eto failed to recover Yoshimura Kuzen's corpse, and Kanou Akihiro's experiments came to a halt.
Afterward, he fled here in disgrace with several test subjects.
Officially, Kanou Akihiro was now a wanted criminal by the CCG, charged with colluding with ghouls and conducting illegal human experiments.
Uesugi Ryu slowly descended the stairs. The emergency lights lining the corridor reflected coldly in his golden eyes.
This laboratory was quite small, and there was nothing along the way to impede him.
Dark brown bloodstains remained on the dissection tables. The air was thick with the scent of formalin and the stench of despair.
The hem of Kanou Akihiro's white lab coat was stained with dried blood. His hands paused slightly over the centrifuge as Uesugi Ryu approached.
He had noticed Uesugi Ryu's arrival long ago, but he showed no intention of running.
Aogiri Tree was nowhere to be found, the Washuu had been annihilated, and now everything was under Uesugi Ryu's control. There was nowhere left to flee.
Kanou Akihiro turned to look at the approaching Uesugi Ryu, unable to conceal the admiration in his eyes.
"What an astonishing feat. You wiped out the Washuu Clan in one stroke."
"I thought only the One-Eyed King could accomplish something like that, yet you did it so effortlessly, Director Uesugi."
As he spoke, he sighed, a trace of regret crossing his face.
"So, are you here to kill me?"
Though the birdcage forged by the Washuu had been shattered, his dream of using ghouls for the advancement of medicine now seemed impossible.
Kanou Akihiro's trembling fingers cast flickering shadows across the control panel. One of the artificial ghoul subjects inside a cultivation chamber suddenly convulsed violently.
Uesugi Ryu shook his head and casually glanced around the laboratory.
He had no intention of killing Kanou Akihiro.
If he could travel freely between worlds in the future, a researcher like Kanou Akihiro would undoubtedly be of great use.
Compared to justice and righteousness, Uesugi Ryu valued his own interests far more.
"You're still useful. Bring your research materials and come with me."
Kanou Akihiro froze for a moment, then laughed.
"Is that so? A villain like me escaping punishment will surely displease the public."
Uesugi Ryu shot him a cold look.
"Research on ghouls will continue. Dr. Chigyou will be participating as well."
"Until he can completely replace you, you'd better produce results that satisfy me."
Kanou Akihiro studied the golden kakugan in Uesugi Ryu's eye sockets with unconcealed curiosity.
Those eyes were even more terrifying and beautiful than before. A trace of fascination involuntarily flashed across his face.
But even Kanou Akihiro knew better than to push his luck right now. After a brief glance, he quickly looked away.
"Research requires subjects and specimens. Even I can't meet your expectations without materials."
Uesugi Ryu's gaze swept across the cultivation chambers embedded in the walls.
"That's not your concern. Bring your toys and let's go."
Kanou Akihiro nodded lightly. His eyes lingered on Uesugi Ryu's back.
For some reason, he felt a faint sense of kinship from him.
...........
20th Ward, the Uesugi Residence.
A gentle aroma filled the kitchen.
Mado Akira, dressed in comfortable loungewear, was intently seasoning the pot of soup before her.
Yasuhisa Nashiro and Yasuhisa Kurona busied themselves nearby.
One was washing vegetables, the other preparing them. Though their movements were not particularly skilled, they were remarkably earnest.
While they could not eat ordinary human food, the rice produced by Wine-Sack Rice-Bag was the only kind they could consume.
Yasuhisa Kurona handed the peeled potatoes to Mado Akira, curiosity evident in her eyes.
"Akira-nee, has Ue-sama mentioned what he'll do with Kanou Akihiro?"
Mado Akira accepted the potatoes, scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it, and tasted it.
After thinking for a moment, she replied,
"He'll most likely have him continue his research while awaiting punishment. It would be too wasteful to throw away his talents."
"Who knows? His research might even benefit humanity."
Yasuhisa Kurona and Yasuhisa Nashiro exchanged glances and responded in unison.
"Oh."
Then they lowered their heads and continued working.
Mado Akira noticed their disappointment.
She set down the spoon and said calmly,
"But you don't need to feel too bad. When the time comes, I'll have the two of you supervise him."
"As long as you don't go too far, I doubt anyone will speak up for someone like him."
The twins' eyes instantly lit up.
They each grabbed one of Mado Akira's arms, smiling gratefully.
"Thank you, Akira-neesan!"
Caught between them, Mado Akira could only smile helplessly.
Despite the twins being about the same age as Uesugi Ryu, she always felt like she was taking care of two children.
"Alright, alright. Your Dogeza King-sama will be back soon. Get ready for dinner."
Mado Akira teased.
Yasuhisa Kurona's face immediately turned bright red.
"Akira-neesan, stop saying that. It's so embarrassing..."
Yasuhisa Nashiro nodded in agreement and explained,
"We only said that to get back at Mephisto, that stupid bird. He's always bullying me and Kurona!"
In the living room, Mephisto, who had been lazily sprawled across the sofa watching television, twitched an ear.
Clearly, he had heard everything.
He curled his lip disdainfully and muttered under his breath,
"Stupid flat-chested twins. Other than Bro Uesugi, who could possibly control me?"
"Tattling is useless. Muda muda da!"
Hearing Mephisto's grumbling, Mado Akira turned and glanced toward the living room.
A faint smile tugged at her lips. She found the little domestic dispute strangely amusing.
As she stirred the soup, inspiration suddenly struck.
She ladled out a small bowl of curry, then leaned close to Yasuhisa Kurona and whispered something into her ear.
Kurona immediately nodded, excitement shining on her face.
After giving a few final instructions, Mado Akira set down the spoon, stretched lazily, and headed toward the study.
Because public discussions had mentioned Takatsuki Sen's latest novel, Mado Akira had recently found time to read One-Eyed King.
As an investigator, reading such a subversive novel felt somewhat uncomfortable.
But the character Kamiyama Tsuki had piqued her interest.
After all, there was something both novel and strangely intimate about seeing her boyfriend written into a book.
She slowly pushed open the study door.
Just as she was about to pick up the book from the desk, a sheet of paper lying in the center caught her eye.
A large blot of ink covered most of the page, obscuring much of the writing.
The study was usually off-limits.
It contained fragments of knowledge recorded by Uesugi Ryu, as well as rough drafts of earlier plans.
Even the Yasuhisa sisters never entered, and Uesugi Ryu handled the cleaning himself.
Mado Akira had only recently moved in, and Uesugi Ryu had apparently forgotten to put everything away.
She picked up the sheet and carefully examined the contents.
"When you read this letter, perhaps XXXX has already begun..."
She murmured softly, trying to make out the obscured words.
As she continued reading, her brows gradually furrowed.
Her long hair fell forward, casting shadows over her face.
Uesugi Ryu was not the sort of person who wrote things like this.
During both the Cochlea Defense and the Anteiku Suppression Operation, he had never once left behind a will.
Mado Akira knew that very well.
The sudden appearance of such an unclear letter filled her with an inexplicable premonition.
The study was utterly silent, save for the occasional whisper of wind outside.
Mado Akira clenched the paper tightly, her gaze once again falling upon One-Eyed King.
The story and reality seemed to intertwine, as if warning her that something was quietly unfolding.
"Kamiyama Tsuki..."
Sitting in the chair, Mado Akira's hand trembled slightly as she gripped the paper.