1st Ward, CCG Main Bureau.
Inside the vast conference hall, Marude Itsuki was briefing the assembled investigators on the intelligence regarding Aogiri Tree.
"What is Aogiri Tree's objective in all of this?"
A voice rang out from the audience, one of the Senior Investigators seated below. It was a question shared by many of those present.
Marude Itsuki scratched his head, just about to answer, when Uesugi Ryu narrowed his eyes slightly and muttered thoughtfully:
"In my view... their goal is a counteroffensive."
"A counteroffensive, is it? Let's hear it."
Marude Itsuki looked at Uesugi Ryu with curiosity and gestured for him to continue.
Sitting upright, Uesugi Ryu spoke in a calm, steady tone:
"Ghouls' fundamental need is feeding. If that were all they sought, there would be no need to form an organization of this scale."
"The only possibility... is that these filth aim to overturn the current order and become masters themselves."
"Ghouls aren't bound by money or politics. The only thing they submit to is overwhelming strength."
"I believe the true leader behind Aogiri Tree... is likely none other than the long-vanished One-Eyed Owl."
Gasps escaped from several veteran investigators who had once witnessed that monster's horrifying power firsthand. The very name alone sparked instinctive dread.
Mado Akira involuntarily clenched her fingers upon hearing it. Her expression showed clear surprise as her eyes locked on Uesugi Ryu.
Uesugi Ryu had previously instructed her to compile intelligence on the One-Eyed Owl. But the reason she'd completed it so quickly wasn't solely due to her efficiency.
Ever since she had joined the CCG, she had engraved every detail about this mortal enemy into her heart.
On one hand, she held boundless hatred for the Owl; on the other, deep down, she harbored a wordless, paralyzing fear.
She believed she understood the Owl's psychology, movements, everything. Yet she had never seen any evidence linking the One-Eyed Owl to Aogiri Tree.
Now, she was filled with questions..
She couldn't understand why Uesugi Ryu would make such a claim based solely on a conjecture. After all, everything up to this point was nothing more than inference, there was no solid evidence.
While intuition-based reasoning could be useful in certain situations, stating such a bold claim at a high-level meeting like this was undeniably risky.
This meeting gathered nearly half of CCG's elite investigators. If Uesugi Ryu's prediction proved true, he would earn immense recognition.
But if it turned out to be wrong, it would deal a severe blow to his reputation.
Marude Itsuki furrowed his brows and fell into deep thought.
Next to him, Kuroiwa Iwao's eyes flickered and he seemed to resonate with Uesugi Ryu's theory.
"The Owl..."
Kuroiwa murmured, and a complicated expression passed across his face.
"It's been ten full years since the last confrontation. Even now, the memory chills my blood."
Uesugi Ryu took a deep breath and added firmly:
"Given the Owl's terrifying power and personality, it doesn't make sense for him to simply vanish without a trace."
"To launch direct attacks on investigators, this isn't just any ghoul group. We need to respond with force."
"As for the alleged location of Aogiri Tree's base, I believe its credibility is questionable. It could very well be a decoy."
Shinohara Yukinori nodded in agreement.
"There's some logic to that. If so, our current strength may be insufficient."
The One-Eyed Owl had been gone for ten years, so long that aside from those who had directly fought him, few understood the level of devastation he could cause.
The SSS rating was created specifically for the Owl. Prior to that, the CCG had never even used such a classification.
Marude Itsuki rubbed his forehead. There was indeed a possibility that the Owl might appear again, but a concrete strategy would need to be discussed further.
At this point, the matter was beyond the level of Senior Investigators and below. It was also to prevent unnecessary panic among the lower ranks.
Exchanging a look with Kuroiwa Iwao, Marude raised his voice:
"All investigators below Senior rank, dismissed!"
"Yes, sir!"
Mado Akira said nothing more and followed the others out of the meeting hall.
Marude turned toward Washuu Yoshitoki, fixing his gaze on him.
"Director... if the One-Eyed Owl truly appears, I fear there's only one man who can match him."
But Washuu Yoshitoki merely shook his head slightly and replied softly:
"Arima is currently suppressing the uprising in the 24th Ward. He won't be able to return anytime soon."
At that, Marude's face twisted with frustration.
The One-Eyed Owl was simply too monstrous. Besides Arima Kishou, no one else could possibly confront him. More investigators would only mean more deaths.
"We've already pinpointed Aogiri Tree's base of operations. We can't afford to delay any longer."
"In the end, it's just a possibility. The CCG doesn't back down just because of one ghoul."
Marude's tone was grim.
"An important base wouldn't be exposed so easily. I believe it might be a trap," Uesugi Ryu said coolly.
"Everyone, take a look."
He pointed toward the large screen ahead.
As the display began showing detailed maps and analysis of the One-Eyed Owl's past activity patterns, Marude's eyes sharpened. It was as if he had caught onto something critical.
Suddenly, he exclaimed:
"Could it be... that Cochlea is their true target?!"
A glint of insight flashed in his eyes.
Ten years ago, the One-Eyed Owl had attacked Cochlea, the ghoul detention facility, it was a well-known incident.
Uesugi Ryu nodded in agreement and elaborated:
"Precisely. Judging by the current scale and strength Aogiri Tree has shown, they clearly lack the power to face us head-on."
"So, I deduce that they deliberately staged activity in the 11th Ward to divert our attention."
"Then they'll strike Cochlea while our defenses are scattered, freeing the high-risk ghouls imprisoned there and bolstering their own ranks in one swift move."
Hirako Take regarded Uesugi Ryu with curiosity, it was his first time meeting the young investigator.
Ever since Uesugi had been fast-tracked to Senior Investigator, his reputation within the CCG had been polarizing. Some hailed him as the next Arima; others thought that he'd just gotten lucky.
"Agreed. Cochlea is too important, we can't take this lightly," Shinohara said sternly.
Washuu Yoshitoki stood silently, his arms crossed.
For the Washuu clan, victory or defeat didn't matter. Their true priority was maintaining the balance between humans and ghouls.
Still, from a personal standpoint, even the Washuu had to admit, Uesugi's deduction made sense.
"The question now is force allocation," Shinohara muttered, arms folded. "Only Hirako and Kuroiwa have combat experience with the Owl. Deciding how to split our strength is going to be a nightmare."
"I request deployment to Cochlea."
Uesugi Ryu's calm voice echoed through the hall.
All eyes turned toward him.
"Ryu-"
Shinohara's expression tightened in alarm. He shot a look at Uesugi, signaling for him not to be rash.
Facing the Owl wasn't something to be taken lightly. Even Special Class Investigators had died at his hands.
Whether it was from personal concern or consideration for the bigger picture, Shinohara couldn't bear to see someone as promising as Uesugi Ryu throw his life away.