Yukinori Shinohara frowned slightly.
"The 20th Ward?"
He folded his arms.
"Mado… isn't that conclusion a bit too hasty?"
"Just because that ghoul might have appeared there once doesn't mean—"
"Hasty?"
Kureo Mado interrupted immediately.
His sharp eyes gleamed with unsettling excitement.
"On the contrary, Shinohara."
"This is the most logical deduction."
He leaned slightly forward in his hospital bed.
His voice growing sharper.
"Think carefully."
"Why the 20th Ward?"
"Because it has been the most stable ward for years."
"A monster with such terrifying strength…"
"And such flamboyant methods…"
"Could never remain hidden in other wards."
Mado's lips curled into a thin smile.
"His existence itself cannot remain quiet."
"But in the 20th Ward…"
"…his presence can be concealed."
Seeing Shinohara still unconvinced—
Mado pulled open the drawer beside the bed.
From inside—
He produced a slightly wrinkled newspaper.
"Look at this."
He pointed to a tiny article in the social column.
"Ghoul Attack in Aoba Alley, 20th Ward — Unusual Evidence Found at Scene."
"This case was marked as abnormal."
Mado's voice carried growing excitement.
"Now…"
"Combine that with what you witnessed at Cochlea."
"And the connection becomes obvious."
Shinohara glanced at the article.
His brow still furrowed.
Mado continued.
"What did 'Carnage' do inside Cochlea?"
"He devoured the kagune of other ghouls."
"But pay attention to how."
His voice grew intense.
"Ordinary ghouls who cannibalize…"
"Bite directly into the kagune."
"But Carnage?"
"He extracts it."
"With those tentacle-like appendages."
"Then devours it."
Shinohara remained silent.
His fingers tapping slowly against his knee.
"Mado…"
He said cautiously.
"Using tentacles to extract a kagune…"
"Could just be a unique hunting habit."
"Ghouls all have different methods."
"Basing your conclusion solely on that seems—"
Mado smiled wider.
As if he had been waiting for this question.
"Then let's add another clue."
His voice lowered.
"A head."
Shinohara's tapping fingers stopped instantly.
Mado stared straight at him.
"In Cochlea…"
"The victims of that massacre…"
"Were their heads intact?"
Shinohara's eyes narrowed slightly.
Before he could answer—
Mado shoved the newspaper forward again.
His finger pointing firmly at the report.
"In the Aoba Alley case…"
"The two ghoul corpses discovered at the scene…"
"Were also missing their heads."
"This isn't coincidence."
Mado's breathing grew faster with excitement.
"The method of devouring kagune…"
"Could be imitation."
"Individual hunting habits can vary."
"But this specific behavior—"
"Devouring the head of the prey…"
"…is extremely rare in recorded ghoul behavior."
His voice turned almost reverent.
"It's a signature."
He leaned forward slightly.
Ignoring the pain in his body.
"Now consider both clues together."
"The extraction of kagune using tentacles."
"And the consistent habit of removing the head."
"These appeared in both incidents."
Mado's eyes burned with certainty.
"Do you still think we're dealing with two different ghouls?"
Silence filled the ward.
Shinohara's expression slowly hardened.
The surveillance footage from Cochlea flashed in his mind.
The corpses.
The missing heads.
At the time—
He had assumed it was simply extreme brutality.
But now—
The pattern was undeniable.
He took a slow breath.
When he looked up again—
All hesitation was gone.
"…You're right, Mado."
His voice became grave.
"This is not coincidence."
"The killer in Aoba Alley…"
"…and the monster in Cochlea…"
"Are the same ghoul."
He finished the sentence quietly.
"And its nest…"
"…is most likely somewhere in the 20th Ward."
The tense silence was suddenly broken by a polite knock.
"Come in."
Mado replied.
The door opened.
A tall figure stepped inside.
Koutarou Amon.
He carried a bouquet of flowers.
His face filled with guilt.
When he saw both investigators—
He immediately bowed deeply.
"Mr. Mado."
"Mr. Shinohara."
"I'm very sorry I didn't visit sooner."
He stepped forward.
Placing the flowers beside the bed.
His gaze fell on Mado's pale face.
His fists clenched tightly.
"Sir…"
"I'm sorry."
"If I had reacted faster…"
"You wouldn't have been injured so severely."
His voice trembled with regret.
Shinohara stood up immediately.
Placing a hand firmly on Amon's shoulder.
"Amon."
"This wasn't your fault."
"No one expected Yakumo Oomori to possess such hidden strength."
"In that situation…"
"The fact that you and Mado survived was already the best outcome."
Mado let out a dry laugh.
"Heh…"
"He's right."
Instead of his usual harsh tone—
His voice sounded strangely gentle.
"That injury was mainly my fault."
"I underestimated the enemy."
"It has nothing to do with you."
Amon's shoulders relaxed slightly.
Though his expression remained serious.
Mado suddenly changed the topic.
"Amon."
"You're working with Akira Mado now, correct?"
Shinohara noticed the faint concern hidden beneath the words.
"How is it?"
Mado asked.
"My daughter can be stubborn."
Amon straightened immediately.
Answering with absolute seriousness.
"Please rest assured."
"Investigator Akira Mado is extremely capable."
"Our cooperation has been smooth."
He paused briefly.
Choosing his words carefully.
"Although…"
"She is very strict about certain details."
"But that is precisely proof of her dedication."
Mado nodded slightly.
"Hmph…"
"That sounds about right."
After speaking a bit longer—
Shinohara checked the time.
He stood up.
Signaling that it was time to leave.
"Mado."
"Your only task now is to recover."
"Leave Gecko…"
"And Carnage…"
"To us."
Amon bowed deeply once more.
"Please rest well."
"We will definitely bring Gecko…"
"And Carnage…"
"…to justice."
With that—
Shinohara and Amon left the ward together.
Leaving Mado alone in the quiet hospital room.
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