Amano Hiro checked Kirishima Arata's injuries. The recovery speed was still too slow.
Although he had replenished him with fresh flesh, the man's body had been depleted for far too long. His wounds were healing at a snail's pace.
At this point, the CCG's main force should be arriving soon.
Without another word, two tentacles extended from his back and efficiently secured Kirishima Arata onto his back.
"I'll get you out first," he said, turning his head slightly to the man behind him.
......
Yoshimura Eto drifted through the chaotic corridors of the detention center like a ghost.
While fierce fighting raged outside, she wandered about as if nothing concerned her, watching the entire battle unfold with interest.
The fight did not require her anyway. She was happy to stay idle and observe everything from behind the scenes.
As she pondered how to further inconvenience the CCG, a name suddenly flashed through her mind. Kamishiro Matasaka.
"Right, that big fish is still locked up at the very bottom..."
Her eyes lit up, and calculations immediately began clicking into place in her mind.
Kamishiro Matasaka was Kamishiro Rize's adoptive father. And that absurdly strong Amano Hiro seemed to have an unusual relationship with Rize.
By that logic, Kamishiro Matasaka counted as half a father-in-law to him.
"If I invite him into Aogiri Tree..."
A sly smile curved Yoshimura Eto's lips. "It might make inviting Amano Hiro easier too."
The more she thought about it, the more worthwhile it seemed.
Rescuing Kamishiro Matasaka would not only add a powerful fighter to Aogiri Tree, it would also give her a useful card to leverage against Amano Hiro.
Two birds with one stone.
"Alright. Let's do it."
Without hesitation, she vanished in a flash, avoiding several active battle zones as she headed straight for the gloomy lowest level of the prison.
While chaos consumed the upper floors, Yoshimura Eto had already reached the very bottom.
As expected, Kamishiro Matasaka, stubborn as ever, was quietly staying inside his single cell, as if the turmoil outside had nothing to do with him.
Yoshimura Eto did not bother with small talk. Standing before the cell door, she went straight to the point.
"Kamishiro-san, do you want to see Rize?"
The name "Rize" was like a key that instantly unlocked Kamishiro Matasaka's guarded heart.
He abruptly raised his head, sharp eyes locking onto Eto. "You know Rize. Where is she?"
"Then join our Aogiri Tree."
Yoshimura Eto smiled as she laid out the condition. "Once this is over, I will personally bring her to see you. How about it?"
Kamishiro Matasaka fell silent for a moment. The shadow in the corner fell across his resolute face. Rize's name was his only weakness.
"Fine," he answered in a low voice, without hesitation.
"Straightforward. Then Kamishiro-san, go up first and wait for me. I'll be there shortly." Yoshimura Eto smiled in satisfaction.
Kamishiro Matasaka gave her a deep look and said nothing more.
His figure flickered, becoming like a bolt of black lightning as he shot upward along the passage at astonishing speed, disappearing into the darkness.
Watching his decisive departure, Yoshimura Eto felt delighted. Things had gone even more smoothly than expected.
In high spirits, she even hummed an unknown tune like a schoolgirl after class, nimbly hopping past the scattered corpses in the corridor as she made her way back to the upper levels.
She strolled to the edge of a corridor, leaned over the railing with both hands, and stuck out half her body.
Looking down into the pitch-black abyss below, she spoke softly in a tone almost like singing.
"Hmm. The timing should be just about right."
......
At the same time, Amano Hiro emerged from a concealed passage with Kirishima Arata on his back.
His objective was clear. The tall single-person cells that rose up from the ground.
According to the original storyline, Kamishiro Matasaka had been imprisoned there.
He pushed off with his feet, accelerating sharply. Like a gust of wind, he moved swiftly through the lowest level, sharp eyes scanning each independent cell.
One. Two. Three.
Amano Hiro checked all the cells matching the description at high speed. They were all empty.
He stopped, frowning tightly. "Gone?"
This was not right. According to the original plot, Kamishiro Matasaka should have been quietly staying in his cell.
Now every cell was empty. The only explanation was that he had already left on his own.
"With his strength, in this kind of chaos, no one could really stop him."
Amano Hiro quickly reached his conclusion. Since the target was no longer here, there was no reason to remain.
"We're leaving first," he said to Kirishima Arata over his shoulder, adjusting his hold before decisively heading toward the exit.
While Amano Hiro searched for Kamishiro Matasaka with Kirishima Arata on his back, the battle elsewhere remained intense.
Tatara and Houji Kousuke were still facing off. Neither could gain the upper hand for the moment.
Tatara had little more than a bit of dust on his clothes. Houji Kousuke was far less composed. His chest rose and fell heavily, his breathing audible even from a distance.
At that moment, a shout suddenly came from the corridor above the central control room.
"I'll provide cover."
Takizawa Seidou had somehow made his way there. Holding his gun-shaped quinque, he began firing wildly at Tatara below.
The result was predictable.
His aim was painfully poor. Not a single shot hit. The bullets struck nothing but air and floor.
It was difficult to understand how the second-ranked graduate of the CCG Academy had earned his certification.
This clumsy ambush successfully drew Tatara's attention.
He frowned and turned his head, his cold gaze locking onto the quinque in Takizawa Seidou's hands.
"Fei's kagune," he said quietly.
Houji Kousuke's heart skipped. "Takizawa-kun. Fall back. Do not interfere."
Tatara let out an ambiguous cold snort. "Your subordinate?"
A red glint flashed in his eyes as killing intent surged. If Houji Kousuke made him uncomfortable, then he would let Houji taste the feeling of losing a companion.
Just as he was about to eliminate the troublesome rookie.
A piercing alarm suddenly rang throughout the entire prison.
Immediately afterward, countless openings appeared in the surrounding walls, releasing large amounts of dense white gas that spread through the space in the blink of an eye.
Tatara paused, recognizing it instantly.
"CRC gas."
A weapon specifically developed by the CCG to counter ghouls. It greatly suppressed the activity of RC cells.
He no longer continued the fight. With a cold snort, he turned decisively and slowly disappeared into the thickening fog.