Chapter 86: Chapter Fifty-Four: Reinforcements

Su Xiao got off at the 20th District branch, wearing the Zero Team’s distinctive combat uniform—the white trench coat.

Zero Team members must wear this uniform during operational combat missions.

“Thank you.”

After thanking the driver, Su Xiao stepped out and entered the 20th District branch.

“Senior White Night, Special Grade Marute is holding a battle meeting on the twelfth floor; please follow me.”

A Third-Class Investigator was already waiting at the entrance.

At the meeting room door, Su Xiao heard Marute’s unmistakable roar.

“What the hell? The gear hasn’t arrived yet? What’s going on upstairs?”

“Sorry, I’ll go push them right away.”

“Special Grade Marute, this is the latest intel: Bronze Tree has assembled in District 11 and is showing signs of initiating hostilities.”

The meeting room was in chaos—it had become the temporary command center for the “Special Countermeasures Unit.”

Su Xiao walked into the meeting room; his Zero Team combat uniform stood out sharply.

“Is that Zero Team?”

“Is Zero Team joining this operation? I suddenly don’t feel so nervous anymore.”

Murmurs spread; Su Xiao walked up to Marute.

Marute looked disheveled—hair messy, eyes bloodshot.

“You’re here. This is the latest from District 11. Take a look. We’re moving out in two hours.”

Su Xiao froze—the timing for the offensive was rushed.

“So soon?”

“No choice. Those bastards in District 11 are showing signs of launching an attack. Districts 9, 10, and 12 near District 11 could be hit at any moment—we can’t just sit idle.”

Marute slammed a fist onto the table and muttered a curse.

The Special Countermeasures Unit isn’t fully prepared yet; rushing out like this could cause problems.

That’s precisely why Su Xiao was reassigned to the Special Countermeasures Unit—though Marute and Shinohara Kōki’s influence also played a role.

After all, they were both Special Grade Investigators, and together, the CCG high command couldn't ignore their proposal.

The Special Countermeasures Unit has three Special Grade Investigators: Shinohara Kōki, Marute, and Kuroiwa Iwa.

Marute handles battlefield command; Shinohara Kōki and Kuroiwa Iwa lead field teams—they’re combat veterans.

Kuroiwa Iwa is a seasoned Investigator with extensive combat experience; he’s defeated “Fukuro” twice and escaped unscathed, proving his strength.

Like Shinohara Kōki, Kuroiwa Iwa is also a user of “New.”

“Understood. But I have a strange feeling.”

Su Xiao set down the files and whispered a few words to Marute.

After listening, Marute’s expression changed slightly.

“Hmm… that’s not impossible. We can’t afford to ignore it. I’ll keep an eye out—I’ll temporarily pull in some specialists from CCG headquarters.”

“Turns out bringing you here was the right call. I’m counting on you in battle—I want to minimize Investigator casualties.”

Marute shed his usual careless demeanor and left the room with solemn expression.

Su Xiao found an empty seat, relaxed fully, and adjusted his state.

“White Night, you’re here.”

A familiar voice came; Su Xiao turned his head—it was Shinohara Kōki.

“Special Grade Shinohara, how long until we depart? After this mission, I need to return to the 24th District branch to continue exploring its underground.”

Su Xiao’s calm demeanor made Shinohara Kōki sigh with a wry smile.

Compared to Su Xiao, the other Investigators around him wore looks of deep anxiety.

“We depart in one hour and thirty minutes. Troop assembly has already begun. How’s things in District 24?”

Shinohara Kōki sat down, clad in a black combat uniform.

“The outer zones of District 24 are still safe, but the number of ghouls inside is high—I suspect there’s a massive ghoul concentration at the very center.”

The two chatted idly, killing time.

Not long after, Marute hurried back into the meeting room.

“Shinohara, how’s the civilian evacuation going?”

Shinohara Kōki stood up.

“Though time was tight, we completed it with police cooperation—we’re ready to deploy at any moment.”

Marute took a deep breath, picked up the microphone, and faced the Investigators.

“Let’s move, boys!”

“Yes!”

All Investigators rose and marched swiftly out.

At the main gate of the CCG branch, a long line of vehicles waited; over a thousand CCG personnel were deployed—the convoy was massive.

Su Xiao found a transport vehicle and was about to board when Marute called out from afar.

“White Night, come with me to the command vehicle—I need to discuss something with you.”

Su Xiao walked to the front of the convoy, where a large crowd had gathered, noisy and bustling.

There were leaders from Tokyo’s various departments and a swarm of TV reporters. After briefly brushing off these people, Marute entered the command vehicle.

“Mr. Marute, could you give us some insight—is the situation optimistic?”

“Yes, please give the public some reassurance.”

Reporters with cameras and microphones surged forward but were held back by CCG staff.

Among the crowd of reporters, a petite, delicate-looking female reporter, weakened by poor stamina, was pushed out of the throng.

Her face was anxious—this was a major story, and she needed at least one photo of Marute. But now she hadn’t even clearly seen his face, let alone taken a shot.

Tears welled in her eyes; she felt her job was slipping away.

At that moment, she spotted a uniquely dressed Investigator—while all others wore black combat uniforms, this one wore a white trench coat.

Her reporter’s instinct told her this man was no ordinary figure—he was worth interviewing.

“Sir, could I…”

The female reporter sprinted toward Su Xiao, but her steps were clumsy—she tripped over her own left foot.

Her body lurched forward, the microphone in her hand like a spear thrusting ahead.

Watching the reporter charge at him, Su Xiao’s eye twitched—he instinctively stepped back.

She was too “enthusiastic”—was she trying to jam the mic down his throat for the interview?

Tokyo TV interviews really were uniquely bizarre.

By the time the reporter got up, Su Xiao had already entered the command vehicle, leaving behind a tearful, bewildered reporter.

District 20, Antō District café—also known as the Antique Café.

“Rescuing Jin Muyan from District 11 won’t be easy—we must consider CCG movements and Bronze Tree’s personnel.”

According to news reports, CCG has deployed over a thousand personnel, clearly indicating they intend to confront Bronze Tree head-on.

Even if we go to rescue Jin Muyan, the chance of total annihilation is high.”

The owner finished speaking, looking at Dong Xiang, Hinami, and Nishio Kini—his words were meant for them.

The owner didn’t want them to go rescue Jin Muyan; he and Shihō Renshi and others already had a rescue plan.

These three were under the protection of the Quiescent Zone—he didn’t want them harmed.

“Hey, old man, what are you talking about? Are you just going to let him die?”

Nishio Kini wasn’t strong, but he wasn’t ungrateful—Jin Muyan had once saved his human girlfriend; now that Jin Muyan was in trouble, Nishio Kini wouldn’t stand by.

“I’m going to save him.”

Dong Xiang spoke.

“I—I’m going too.”

Hinami’s timid voice came.

The owner sighed inwardly.

“I understand your hearts. I’ve already prepared a plan to rescue Jin Muyan—I only feared you three might be endangered.

If you want to save Jin Muyan, you must risk your lives.”

Hearing this, the three brightened.

The door opened, and a purple-haired handsome man walked in—it was Tsukiyama Ken.

“You bastard.”

Nishio Kini tensed his body into a combat stance—Tsukiyama Ken had once captured his girlfriend.

Dong Xiang beside him also grew alert.

Tsukiyama Ken raised his arm, wearing a look of heartbreak.

“It’s heartbreaking—my only friend, Jin Muyan, has been taken. How can I do nothing?”

“And… I have information to share with all of you: among the CCG personnel deployed, a new name has been added—among ghouls, we call him the Black God of Death!”

Upon hearing the name “Black God of Death,” every ghoul in the room changed expression—including the owner.