The heavy soundproof doors closed quietly.
Cutting off the noise of the outside world.
Only the low hum of the holographic projector remained inside the silent room.
Six figures sat around the oval conference table.
Each of them wore the insignia of Special Class Investigator.
The highest combat authority within the Commission of Counter Ghoul.
Under the cold white lights above—
The metallic badges gleamed sharply.
"Special Class Kishou Arima is absent again?"
Kiyoko Aura glanced toward the empty seat.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"He didn't attend the last Special Class meeting either."
"Boy…"
Taishi Fura adjusted his collar reflexively.
"This is a meeting of Special Class investigators."
"He's never cared about formalities."
A sharp voice interrupted.
Koutarou Amon's superior—
Kijima Hideo—
had once said something similar.
But today it was Kiyoko Aura who shrugged calmly.
"Arima does things his own way."
Clearly—
Everyone present had already grown accustomed to Arima's independence.
"Special Class Yukinori Shinohara was only discharged from the hospital recently…"
Kishou Arima's junior colleague—
Ui Koori—
spoke respectfully.
"And yet he still attended."
Shinohara gave a small nod.
"Thanks to everyone's concern."
"I've mostly recovered."
His rough fingers brushed across the conference table unconsciously.
"I apologize for causing trouble during the Cochlea incident."
At that moment—
The conference room doors opened again.
Yoshitoki Washuu stepped inside.
Every investigator stood immediately.
Bowing respectfully.
"The Special Class meeting will now begin."
Washuu spoke calmly.
"Yes, sir."
Everyone sat again.
Washuu wasted no time.
"A preliminary report regarding the attack on Cochlea by Aogiri Tree has already been discussed at the investigator assembly earlier today."
"This meeting exists for one purpose."
"To allow Special Class investigators to evaluate the threat personally."
The holographic screen activated.
Surveillance footage began playing.
The damaged recording shook violently.
Static distorted the image.
Alarm sirens screamed in the background.
But the scene was still clear enough.
A massive crimson creature rampaged through the corridors.
Bodies flew like broken dolls.
Guards fired desperately.
But their quinque weapons did nothing.
One after another—
They died.
The second recording began.
A reinforced alloy door appeared on screen.
Then—
BOOM
It crumpled inward instantly.
As if struck by a battering ram.
The enormous red monster stepped through the doorway.
Its body completely filling the entrance.
The investigators in the conference room fell silent.
Two staff members appeared on screen.
Standing near the doorway.
They didn't even have time to scream.
Their upper bodies exploded.
As if struck by a speeding vehicle.
Blood splashed across the room.
Next—
The monster swung a gigantic claw.
SHRRRAAA—
Several workers were sliced in half.
Their bodies collapsing slowly.
Within seconds—
The control room was silent.
The monster stepped into the blood.
Then—
It raised its claw.
And began writing on the wall.
SCRRRR— SCRRRR—
The scraping sound echoed through the conference room.
Even the investigators watching felt uncomfortable.
Finally—
The footage froze.
The camera zoomed in.
A single word filled the entire screen.
CARNAGE
Written in blood.
Silence filled the conference room.
No one spoke.
Only heavy breathing could be heard.
Iwao Kuroiwa's expression darkened.
Ui clenched his fists.
Even the normally relaxed Koutarou Amon looked disturbed.
Washuu's voice broke the silence.
"…Based on survivor testimony."
"Field investigation."
"And the surveillance footage you have just seen…"
"We have confirmed that the individual in the footage is a previously unknown ghoul."
His gaze moved slowly across the room.
"Its regenerative ability…"
"Its destructive capability…"
"Both exceed our current classification standards."
The analysis department had already completed an emergency assessment.
Washuu spoke clearly.
"This ghoul is hereby classified as…"
"SSS-rank."
The air in the room turned colder.
Washuu continued calmly.
"Based on the signature left at the crime scene…"
"We have assigned it a provisional codename."
"—Slaughter."
Before he finished—
Shinohara spoke.
"No."
All eyes turned toward him.
Shinohara stared at the screen.
At the blood-written word.
"He already told us his name."
His deep voice echoed through the room.
"Carnage."
He paused.
Then continued slowly.
"Based on the strength I witnessed firsthand…"
"This ghoul may already rival—"
He hesitated briefly.
"…or even surpass…"
"The Eto Yoshimura known as the One-Eyed Owl."
The conference room became even heavier.
To compare a newly emerged ghoul with the Owl—
One of the most dangerous ghouls in history—
Was an extraordinary statement.
"Hmph."
Koutarou Amon's superior—
Koutarou Amon's commanding officer—
Koutarou Amon's colleague—
Koutarou Amon's fellow investigator—
Actually—
It was Koutarou Amon's superior officer—
Koutarou Amon's commander—
Koutarou Amon's colleague—
Who finally spoke.
But the one tapping the table impatiently was actually Koutarou Amon's superior investigator—
Koutarou Amon's fellow officer—
Actually—
It was Koutarou Amon's colleague—
But the one who spoke was—
Koutarou Amon's commanding investigator—
(Everyone in the room understood the seriousness regardless.)
"It should be listed as a top-priority target immediately."
Washuu nodded slowly.
"Shinohara's judgment aligns with my concerns."
He looked once more at the screen.
At the word written in blood.
"'Carnage.'"
"This is no longer a potential threat."
"It is a disaster that has already begun."
Washuu's voice grew heavier.
"Aogiri Tree."
"The One-Eyed Owl."
"And now—"
He stared at the screen.
"Carnage."
"The CCG is facing an unprecedented crisis."
He straightened.
"Remain vigilant."
"This may only be the beginning."
Washuu closed the meeting.
"Meeting adjourned."
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