Chapter 113: Ma Gui

"Let me put it this way: the CCG you serve isn't a human organization—we the Bronze Tree fight for freedom, to shatter this world's warped rules."

Takatsuki Izumi's eyes burned with rage; she clearly harbored deep hatred for the CCG, her gaze fixed on Su Xiao, seeking the expression of shattered faith and existential doubt on his face.

Takatsuki Izumi was destined to be disappointed—Su Xiao accepted this news with calm indifference.

I used to wonder why the CCG's high command always issued idiotic orders, causing investigators to suffer heavy losses when hunting ghouls.

Su Xiao now understood the CCG's general structure: overall, the CCG didn't fight for humanity—it was an organization controlled by ghouls, and the highest human position within it was Special Class Investigator, with no possibility of further promotion.

Of course, some clever investigators had noticed the truth—and their fates were predictable: eliminated by powerful ghouls.

The CCG's method of controlling human and ghoul populations works as follows:

Investigators regulate ghoul numbers by using Quinques to kill them in small numbers.

Ghouls hidden among humans unconsciously control human population growth—they simply need to eat normally.

Under CCG interference, a warped balance is maintained: ghouls have sufficient food, and humans do not go extinct.

After the Bronze Tree disrupted this balance, the CCG's high command ordered a full-scale purge of the Bronze Tree.

The lie that firearms are ineffective against ghouls has become deeply entrenched—this is precisely why the CCG sends only investigators to confront the Bronze Tree.

"I have a question: besides sending investigators, does the CCG have any other forces?"

Su Xiao was asking Takatsuki Izumi.

"Of course—those investigators are the easiest to handle. I'm not afraid of them. The real threat to us are humans trained to use firearms."

Takatsuki Izumi pulled back the bandages on her abdomen, revealing faint, coin-sized scars across her pale skin—so pale they could only be seen with close inspection.

"That was the most dangerous time—I was ambushed by several human snipers. If not for Noro's support, I'd be dead."

Takatsuki Izumi pressed her hand to her abdomen, still shaken.

Under generations of the Washuu family's management, the CCG has formed its current power structure and balance.

Ghouls live in the shadows, humans in the sunlight—but in truth, humans are being farmed by the CCG's high command.

The Washuu family is a ghoul family and members of the V Organization, an exceptionally powerful group.

"Remember the 'Owl' you fought before? That was my father—he's merely a cleaner for the V Organization, a thug who eliminates rivals."

When Takatsuki Izumi mentioned her father, Yoshimura, her tone was bitter, as if she bore some resentment toward the shopkeeper.

"I think I understand now—but after all this, what does it have to do with cooperating with you two?"

Su Xiao looked at them both. Even if the CCG wasn't fighting for humanity, a human like Ma Gui would be unlikely to cooperate with Takatsuki Izumi—unless...

"Of course it does—because I'm not human either."

Ma Gui's words were shocking: the CCG's strongest investigator had just admitted he wasn't human.

"What do you mean?"

"My genes are half human, half ghoul."

"A one-eyed?"

Su Xiao had never seen Ma Gui use a Kaku, and his eyes were normal in color.

"Not a one-eyed. I'm a half-human. When a ghoul and human mate, two outcomes occur."

"The common one is a half-human—like me. The one you call a one-eyed is called a half-ghoul—extremely rare. To my knowledge, Takatsuki Izumi is the only half-ghoul alive."

Su Xiao's gaze turned to Takatsuki Izumi.

"Didn't realize you were a rare breed."

Takatsuki Izumi's face darkened, her eyes turning distinctly hostile.

"Half-humans possess exceptional physical strength but have severe flaws—short lifespans."

"Take me: my hair began turning white in my twenties. If nothing unexpected happens, I have three to four years left."

Now Su Xiao finally understood the source of Ma Gui's superhuman physical prowess.

"So your right eye is..."

"Glaucoma—vision is blurry. Glasses help a bit. But compared to the deterioration of my bodily functions, the eye is the lesser problem."

Ma Gui and Takatsuki Izumi's statements had no obvious flaws—but Su Xiao still had one unresolved question. If he didn't get it answered, he'd immediately plan to retreat.

"Ma Gui, if you're a ghoul, how did you pass the RC cell detection gate? Even as a half-human, your RC cell concentration should still be high."

Not just Ma Gui—if the Washuu family were all ghouls, how did they pass the RC cell detection gate?

Takatsuki Izumi spoke up:

"That damn gate has a 'flaw'—V Organization ghouls aren't detected. Not just Ma Gui—I'm not detected either."

Su Xiao suddenly recalled: in the original story, Takatsuki Izumi, the literary ghoul, had once visited the CCG branch to interview Shinohara Kiyomi and Suzuya Juzo.

So the Washuu family must have tampered with the RC cell detection gate—after all, it was invented by the CCG.

"My cooperation with Takatsuki Izumi began thirteen years ago. Now, I plan to do something neither of us can accomplish alone—I invite you to join us."

The cooperation between Ma Gui and Takatsuki Izumi had shown hints in the original story: they had fought before, and though the battle was fierce, neither truly tried to kill the other.

After Takatsuki Izumi swallowed her father and escaped, she said: "That guy really went all out."

The meaning was clear—they were staging their fight.

But during the staged fight, Ma Gui severed one of Takatsuki Izumi's Kaku-armored arms; enraged, she smashed his S+ Quinque, 'IXA'.

All these signs indicated they had long been allied—one hiding within the CCG as its strongest investigator, the other the 'King' of the ghouls.

"I can't find any holes in what you've said—but why did you start cooperating thirteen years ago?"

Ma Gui and Takatsuki Izumi's words were only their side of the story. Though logically consistent, their claim of having cooperated since thirteen years ago was hard to believe.

"Because I was the previous 'King' before Takatsuki Izumi."

Ma Gui dropped another bombshell.

"I possess the power of a 'King,' but I'm not a ghoul. Takatsuki Izumi is a ghoul, but she lacks the power of a 'King.' Neither of us is complete—so we cooperate to find and cultivate the next 'King,' a complete Ghoul King."

The situation had just become interesting.

"A complete King? Interesting—if I'm not mistaken, the King you cultivated is already dead."

"Yes. You killed him."

"You bastard."

Takatsuki Izumi glared at Su Xiao, eyes blazing.

"Why should we cooperate with him? He destroyed our plan."

"Because he's strong enough—and not a member of the V Organization, not a member of the Clowns, not even a ghoul."

Ma Gui stared directly at Su Xiao.

"We've told you everything. Are you ready to cooperate with us?"

Su Xiao paused, thinking. He'd just heard too many secrets—if he refused now, these two would surely team up to eliminate him.

Takatsuki Izumi was in poor condition, but Ma Gui was formidable—he excelled in both ranged and close combat, and his defense was bolstered by the Quinque 'IXA'.

"Tell me what you plan to do—I'm interested."