Chapter 117: Operation Begins

Su Xiao returned to his temporary branch dormitory; he had agreed with Ma Gui to depart in ten hours.

Having spent over a dozen hours deep in Zone 24 and sustaining injuries during combat, he was utterly exhausted.

Besides, once they reached the Ghoul Containment Facility, it would be anything but calm—he wasn’t going there just to escort Kōkaku Izumi.

So during these ten hours, he needed to rest, at least get some sleep.

After a hot shower, Su Xiao lay down comfortably on the bed and suddenly remembered the blue treasure chest dropped by Jin Muyan had yet to be opened.

With one thing after another happening before, he hadn’t had time to open Jin Muyan’s treasure chest.

Su Xiao wasn’t particularly optimistic about Jin Muyan’s chest.

Though it was blue-rarity, Jin Muyan’s strength was weak, and he wasn’t the type of protagonist destined for fate’s favor.

More importantly, his “Great Chief’s Soul” would soon play a crucial role.

He pulled out Jin Muyan’s treasure chest—a palm-sized box radiating brilliant blue light, as if carved from sapphire.

【Open treasure chest (blue)? Yes/No】

He chose to open it, but the expected flash of light never came.

【You opened the treasure chest (blue).】

【You obtained 3,000 Paradise Coins.】

【You obtained 300 Paradise Coins.】

【You obtained 1,000 Paradise Coins.】

【You obtained a Fate Coin.】

…

【Fate Coin】

Rarity: Blue

Type: Consumable

Effect: Upon use, randomly grants one of thirty effects: “Misfortune,” “Fortune,” “Omen of Death,” “Life Revival,” etc.

Note: Probability of beneficial effect: 50%; detrimental effect: 49%.

Note: Effect duration: 30 minutes.

Rating: 32 (Note: Blue items range from 30 to 70; higher ratings indicate greater value.)

Description: Fate is unfathomable—good fortune or misfortune? Or perhaps…

Price: 1 Paradise Coin.

…

Opening Jin Muyan’s treasure chest yielded a total of 4,300 Paradise Coins—not bad at all.

As for the “Fate Coin,” Su Xiao found it perplexing.

Literally, using it grants a random effect, but the sum of beneficial and detrimental probabilities is 99%; the remaining 1% is unknown.

Su Xiao instinctively distrusted the item and planned to sell it to a “fated buyer”—after all, it was a blue-rarity item and should fetch a decent price.

After opening Jin Muyan’s chest, Su Xiao fell into a deep sleep, sensing vaguely that his next rest might come at an unpredictable time.

Hours passed—no one knew how many.

“Knock, knock, knock…”

A knock came at the door. Su Xiao jolted awake instantly, hand gripping the hilt of Zhan Long Shan beside him.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

Ma Gui’s voice came from outside. Su Xiao sheathed Zhan Long Shan, rose from bed, and opened the door.

“Already ten hours? Hah~.”

He yawned, dressed neatly, washed up—when conditions allowed, he was a man who valued cleanliness.

“It’s been twelve hours. Kōkaku Izumi was badly injured by you, so I delayed our departure.”

“And one more thing—someone tried to sneak into my room.”

Su Xiao’s heart tightened—had someone uncovered their plan? Then instantly, another possibility occurred to him.

“Shinohara Akira?”

“Yes.”

As expected, Shinohara Akira had moved—but with Ma Gui present, Shinohara had no chance even to approach Kōkaku Izumi.

“Let’s go. It’s time.”

The three of them drove straight toward the Ghoul Containment Facility in Zone 23; Kōkaku Izumi was seated in the back, shackled with wrist and ankle restraints forged from Quinque steel.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the Ghoul Containment Facility.

As a ghoul prison, the facility housed numerous investigators, surrounded by walls over ten meters high.

Though the facility appeared modest on the surface, its underground levels were deeply excavated; nearly the entire structure was built above ground to prevent escapes.

As the vehicle approached the main gate, it was immediately stopped by guards.

“Please present your credentials.”

Though the guard recognized Ma Gui, he checked the documents meticulously.

After confirming the credentials and authorization were flawless, the guard allowed entry; the vehicle slowly drove into the facility’s courtyard.

“This damn place—I’ll destroy it someday.”

Kōkaku Izumi clenched his fists, breathing heavily.

They stepped out of the vehicle. Su Xiao and Ma Gui escorted Kōkaku Izumi toward the main building of the Ghoul Containment Facility.

“Senior Investigator Ma Gui, long time no see.”

A balding old investigator with pale yellow hair and a clean-shaven face stepped forward to greet them.

“Senior Investigator Hoshizaki Shinmoku, long time no see.”

Hoshizaki Shinmoku was the director of the Ghoul Containment Facility, overseeing all operations. Once a powerful investigator, his aging body had severely deteriorated, leading to his assignment here.

Few senior investigators lived to old age—and even fewer were sent to manage the Ghoul Containment Facility. Clearly, Hoshizaki Shinmoku had deep ties to the CCG’s upper echelons.

Hoshizaki Shinmoku glanced briefly at Su Xiao, said nothing, and led the way ahead.

This man was clearly a power broker with a taste for status—Su Xiao’s provisional rank meant nothing to him.

Su Xiao let out a quiet laugh and followed Hoshizaki Shinmoku into the facility, still escorting Kōkaku Izumi.

To enter the Ghoul Containment Facility, one must first take a long elevator deep underground.

None of the four spoke inside the elevator.

The elevator doors opened. They stepped out into a cylindrical chamber: the elevator stood at the center, flanked by control rooms and other departments; surrounding walls held multiple tiers of ghoul cells, each tier accessible by a walkway lined with metal railings, connected by staircases and numerous steel footbridges linking the entire structure.

Most of the facility’s construction was metallic, lending it a cold, sterile atmosphere.

“Senior Investigator Hoshizaki, has the Quinque the headquarters commissioned for me been completed?”

Su Xiao suddenly spoke—he had promised Xiu Jishi that after assisting Ma Gui, he would receive a Quinque.

All CCG Quinque were crafted by Doctor Dihang, who routinely resided at the Ghoul Containment Facility, where he had ample “experimental materials.”

Hearing Su Xiao’s question, Hoshizaki Shinmoku paused, his eyes darkening.

“Not yet. It’ll take at least half a month.”

“Hmm?”

Su Xiao narrowed his eyes—this man was deliberately stalling. He was Xiu Jishi’s lapdog; by the time half a month passed, Su Xiao would have already returned to the Cycle Paradise.

“As I understand, Quinque production normally takes no more than twenty-seven hours. Senior Investigator Hoshizaki—is there some unexpected complication?”

Ma Gui spoke up—he knew if he didn’t intervene now, the situation would turn dire.

Ma Gui’s tone startled Hoshizaki Shinmoku. He pondered the relationship between them—Ma Gui was someone he dared not offend. Though both were senior investigators, their statuses were worlds apart; Ma Gui belonged to that organization.

“An accident occurred during production. The Quinque is currently being repaired in the nutrient solution. I’m concerned its quality might be compromised.”

“If you don’t mind potential damage, you may retrieve it from the lab after we’ve imprisoned the One-Eyed Owl. The lab is on the seventh basement level.”

Hoshizaki Shinmoku shifted his tone—from needing half a month to being ready immediately.

Perhaps Xiu Jishi had given him instructions to harass Su Xiao; Ma Gui’s intervention made this power-hungry old man unwilling to risk offending him.

“First, imprison the One-Eyed Owl. That’s the priority.”

Hoshizaki Shinmoku emphasized again, his gaze lingering greedily on Kōkaku Izumi—he still used an S+ Quinque and saw a chance to harvest an SSS-grade Kakuja organ from him.

After all, Kakujas possess multiple Kakuja organs; severing one alive shouldn’t raise objections from above.

Soon, they reached the high-risk ghoul detention zone. As soon as Su Xiao stepped inside, Zhan Long Shan appeared in his hand.

“Squelch.”

The long blade pierced through the heart. Hoshizaki Shinmoku stared in disbelief at the blade tip protruding from his chest, now stained pale red.

“This is… how…?”

Hoshizaki Shinmoku collapsed, blood pooling beneath him. In this sudden attack, the senior investigator had no chance to react—especially since he was far too old, aged even beyond his original canon fate of being instantly slain by Tōdō.

“Click.”

Kōkaku Izumi’s shackles were unlocked. Operation begins.