Mado Kureo's face twisted in fury as the chainsaw in his hands slowly pressed downward. The sound of flesh being cut apart was enough to make anyone's skin crawl.
Blood sprayed everywhere, staining the entire execution platform crimson.
"Die! You filthy bastard!"
Mado Kureo roared like a wild beast.
It took nearly two full seconds for the chainsaw to completely sever Yoshimura Eto's head.
Her body collapsed limply, blood gushing forth like a fountain.
Yoshimura Eto's severed head slowly tumbled from the high platform.
"Caw! Caw! Caw!"
At that very moment, a piercing chorus of caws erupted across the sky.
The once-clear heavens were instantly engulfed by a vast flock of black crows, as though night had descended ahead of schedule.
Countless crows surged forward like a tidal wave, the beating of their wings rumbling like thunder.
Leading them was an enormous crow that swooped down from above. Its crimson eyes burned like twin flames, reflected in the eyes of every witness below.
It caught Yoshimura Eto's head with perfect precision, letting out a shrill cry as if mourning her death.
The noon sunlight was completely blotted out by the flock, plunging heaven and earth into gloom.
An indescribable sense of oppression filled the air.
The murmurs of the crowd abruptly ceased as everyone raised their heads to stare at the bizarre sight.
Those crimson eyes. Yoshimura Eto's final declaration echoed madly through every mind.
A deep, primal fear took root in every heart.
The gigantic crow circled overhead for a few moments with the flock, then beat its wings and soared into the distance, carrying Yoshimura Eto's head away into the horizon.
Mado Kureo's unrestrained laughter rang across the deathly silent plaza.
Raindrops suddenly began pattering against the execution platform, the water spreading the crimson blood into dark stains.
Rain ran down Mado Kureo's face, soaking his white hair.
Whether it was rain or tears sliding past his lips, no one could tell.
His lips trembled as he muttered softly.
"K-Kasuka..."
This execution was broadcast nationwide. Nearly everyone watched through television or other means.
The people at Anteiku were no exception.
Watching the scene on the screen, Yomo Renji's expression grew complicated. He gripped his coffee cup and let out a quiet sigh.
"Yoshimura-san..."
Kirishima Ayato raised his glass and drained the strong liquor in one gulp. He casually brushed aside the hair falling over his forehead.
Inwardly, he thought, 'Farewell, Boss..'
"Goodbye, Takatsuki-sensei.."
What should have been humanity's triumphant declaration had suddenly turned into something deeply unsettling.
Whether people believed it or not, the seeds of fear had already been planted deep within their hearts.
The execution itself was one grand performance. Even the crows had been arranged by Uesugi Ryu.
The purpose of the execution was for Yoshimura Eto to spread fear.
As long as the 24th Ward still existed, that fear would remain etched into humanity's consciousness.
Someone had to seek out the truth behind the One-Eyed King, and the CCG was the only possible choice.
After this incident, the CCG, or rather Uesugi Ryu, would continue to hold power firmly in his grasp.
It was not exactly deception. The Underground King truly did exist.
Until the 24th Ward was completely eradicated, the CCG still had a reason to exist.
"As expected of you. You even arranged artificial rain."
Marude Itsuki spoke with admiration. Several nearby Special-Class Investigators nodded in agreement.
Uesugi Ryu's lips twitched slightly. Looking at the bizarre sunshower, he said slowly,
"I didn't arrange any artificial rain. This should... be natural weather..."
The smile on Marude Itsuki's face instantly stiffened.
The rain grew heavier, and the civilians hurriedly began leaving the plaza.
Mado Akira staggered back half a step, staring blankly at the headless corpse on the execution platform and at her father, laughing maniacally toward the heavens.
Memories from more than a decade ago flashed through her mind.
The gentle scholar who had taught her to read in his study.
The broken man curled up in a closet, clutching her mother's ruined coat.
The father who would sip tea and read the newspaper on quiet holiday afternoons, while her mother gently straightened his messy silver hair.
That warm scene felt as though it had happened only yesterday.
Revenge.. Revenge...
It had always been the shadow hanging over Mado Kureo's heart.
Mado Akira's feelings were complicated. Though she felt some satisfaction at avenging her mother, an undeniable sense of emptiness remained.
Even after killing her mother's murderer, her mother would never return.
Uesugi Ryu gently pulled Mado Akira into his embrace, covering her eyes with his left hand.
"It's all over now. Let Mado-san vent a little."
Warmth enveloped her.
Nestled against Uesugi Ryu's chest, Mado Akira could feel his steady presence and familiar scent.
A few crystal-like tears slowly slid silently from the corners of her eyes.
[Tokyo Ghoul World Settlement in Progress...]
[Overall Evaluation: A+]
[Rewards Obtained: 1 True Attribute Point, 2 Normal Attribute Points]
[You have drastically altered the course of the Tokyo Ghoul world and exerted enormous influence upon it. This is humanity's true victory.]
[Aside from the very small number of ghouls you spared, you were nothing short of a ghoul slaughter machine.]
[Selecting Next World...]
[Akame ga Kill!]
[Time Ratio: (Tokyo Ghoul) 1 : (Akame ga Kill!) 6]
[Would you like to designate the Tokyo Ghoul world as your primary world?]
[After designating the Tokyo Ghoul world as your primary world, the host may freely adjust the time flow between the two worlds.]
[For example: 6 days pass in Akame ga Kill! while 1 day passes in Tokyo Ghoul, or 6 days pass in Tokyo Ghoul while 1 day passes in Akame ga Kill!]
[Evaluating host's influence on this world...]
[The host may adjust the time flow 5 times per Ghoul Month.]
[Ghoul Month: One month in the Tokyo Ghoul world.]
Uesugi Ryu was slightly stunned as he listened to the system notifications. He had not expected an additional reward.
But when he saw the time flow option, he let out a long sigh of relief.
"That means I don't need to make this so melodramatic. I can pretty much just come back anytime."
"Akame ga Kill, huh? That's actually a pretty interesting world..."
With Yoshimura Eto's execution, the age of the ghouls officially came to an end.
Many ghouls, guided by Yoshimura Eto's final words, fled voluntarily to the 24th Ward.
It was not so much guidance as necessity.
They had no other choice.
Only now, their previous attitude of merely hiding there and waiting to die had changed.
They banded together and began venturing deeper into the 24th Ward, hoping to find the sleeping One-Eyed King.
The CCG now stood unrivaled.
After Wakayama was arrested, he was executed on charges of colluding with ghouls.
The newly appointed officials naturally did not dare oppose Uesugi Ryu. They had effectively become puppets.
Although he now held absolute power, Uesugi Ryu had no particular desire to make sweeping changes.
Agreeing to Yoshimura Eto's terms had simply been a way to avoid public backlash.
Not that such things could truly affect him, but endless complaints were always annoying.
Power was best kept firmly in one's own hands.
Uesugi Ryu served as Bureau Director, while the Special-Class Council handled the ordinary day-to-day affairs.
Kaneki Ken and the other ghouls, along with Arima Kishou and the other half-humans, were assigned to live in the district formerly occupied by the Washuu estate.
When the Washuu family had been attacked, the Sunlit Garden area had been deliberately avoided, so most of its buildings remained intact.
It was worth mentioning that once the situation had stabilized, Arima Kishou resigned from his position as a Special-Class Investigator.
Arima Kishou had grown weary of killing.
He returned to Sunlit Garden, intending to spend the final years of his life there.
Besides, there was little left that required his intervention.
The 24th Ward still needed to be explored, but there was no need to rush.