Chapter 36: Campaign Progress And Its Undercurrents
Tsuneyoshi Washuu took stock of his chess pieces while he looked over the reports coming in from the battlefield. The CCG's citywide ghoul eradication operation had been going on without a hitch so far. The past three weeks had seen their forces become relatively unstoppable as they journeyed from ward to ward trapping, rooting out and exterminating any ghouls found living amongst the humans. It had been a successful campaign so far with few casualties and many victories. Tsuneyoshi allowed himself a brief smirk as he noted how useful the CCG research department's latest inventions had proven to be. Chief among their priceless contributions being the new RC excitant drug they'd come up with. The drug which exposed ghouls who came in contact with it by causing symptoms such as bleeding gums, bloodshot eyes, bloody mucus lining the respiratory tract, and blood-filled itchy rashes on the skin which caused a desperate need to scratch their bodies. The drug also affected the mind of its victims by driving them to mindless aggression and raging bloodlust. The drug in gaseous form had been instrumental in rooting out the ghouls hiding in the various wards of Tokyo. Without it their hunt for ghouls hiding amongst humans would have exhausted a much larger amount of time and resources however with much less success. The creation of the drug had been one of the primary reasons Tsuneyoshi Washuu, patriarch of the Washuu Clan, had even authorized such an expensive and risky large scale CCG operation. After all as the Chairman of the CCG, while he did not care for the lives of those below him, the deaths of those under his command would weaken his dominion over Tokyo while leaving him and his clan vulnerable to their enemies.
Yes, the old man was glad for the futuristic scientific innovations produced by his research department. Another significant contribution was the improved anti-ghoul weaponry they'd been developing lately. The research department with the aid the scientists from the German ghoul research institute had upgraded the entire CCG arsenal. They'd gone all out in developing and customizing anti-ghoul weaponry with increased lethality regardless of cost. Weapons ranging from handheld automatic guns to explosives such as grenades or gas bombs to even projectiles such as rocket launchers or bazookas. Of course the research department had made sure to upgrade the ammunition, or Q-bullets to be exact, to increase their lethality, destructive power and utility in different scenarios. They'd even revamped the quinque used by investigators to focus more on dealing overwhelming lethal force rather than suppression or capture. Tsuneyoshi smiled in satisfaction as he looked over the latest reports on his desk detailing the current status of the eradication campaign. The weapons had been instrumental in his forces bulldozing their way through any forms of resistance by the ghouls they were hunting down. After the first few days of the operation, the CCG had lost all elements of surprise due to civilians leaking their actions to the media who alerted the entirety of Tokyo and all the ghouls in it to their plans. Despite that they'd had little issues dealing with ghouls who wanted to take the fight to them. They'd overcome situations where they entered a ward only to be ambushed by the ghouls ready and waiting for them. The newly formed ghoul mobs in the various wards utilized different tactics to combat the CCG forces moving into their territories to eradicate them. Some ghoul groups opted for a frontal assault while others went for guerrilla tactics. Some opted for a a combination of both however none prevailed under the CCG's heavy firepower. It was hard to hide when the RC excitant gas emitted by the gas bombs caused obvious symptoms and drove the ghouls in hiding violently insane leading them to cause a commotion which drew their CCG executioners to their location. It was hard for a ragtag mob of ghouls without any pre-established cooperation to prevail against the CCG's forces when they were equipped with heavy duty lethal weaponry optimized for battle against large groups.
It had been a massacre so far by the CCG as they systematically moved through the wards of Tokyo. Tsuneyoshi had planned out the route with the aid of the Special Class Investigators especially the Division 2 Chief, Special Class Investigator Itsuki Marude. So far their campaign had been a string of victories through 15 wards over the past three weeks. Of course this included the central wards 1-6 they'd previously campaigned in months prior as a response to the Academy attacks, however they'd been revisited by CCG forces now armed with the RC excitant gas to root out any ghouls living amongst humans. The actions of the CCG and their forces had begun forcing ghouls into hiding once they'd realized there wasn't any realistic chance of protecting their homes from the invading forces. The CCG forces had come to be referred to as "Crows" due to their affinity with corpses whether it was causing them through battles or gathering them afterwards to transport back to headquarters. Some ghouls had begun fleeing their wards in a mass exodus towards the underground 24th ward. Those who thought to hide out in their own wards were soon rooted out through the use of the RC excitant gas and executed. Very soon the information painstakingly collected by the CCG on the possible ghoul suspects in the various wards became of little use as many fled their homes towards the 24th ward in an effort to find safety in numbers. There they hoped to join forces in hopes of becoming a force large enough to rival and maybe even crush the CCG. Therefore despite the seeming invincibility of his forces as they moved unchallenged through the wards of Tokyo, Tsuneyoshi couldn't help feeling uneasy at how simple everything was going. It almost seemed too easy. There had been no major complications or casualties as well as no large scale retaliations by the ghoul organization he was targeting this campaign at as the operation's endgame, Aogiri Tree. The CCG hadn't even come across any of their forces in the past few weeks yet Tsuneyoshi somehow knew they were watching and waiting for the CCG to show any weakness before they confronted them. Tsuneyoshi knew that the ghouls escaping his forces were running to join the rapidly ascending ghoul organization. Messages from the V ghoul operatives he'd sent to the 24th ward as spies to hopefully infiltrate the organization had painted a partial picture of the scope of their capabilities. It seemed that the entire underground was united under their banner which Tsuneyoshi found horrifying at the thought of the strength and prowess needed to accomplish such a feat.
The 24th ward was completely under the consolidated control of the ghoul organization Aogiri Tree. Upon hearing this, Tsuneyoshi had sent more ghoul spies in to infiltrate the organization and send back information on the identities and locations of the leaders as well as any high ranking officials. Tsuneyoshi hoped to assassinate them so as to destabilize the organization before his forces came down on them therefore increasing their chances for victory as well as reducing possible casualties. Unfortunately, infiltration has proven difficult for the V ghoul operatives sent in as spies. Due to the large influx of ghoul refugees fleeing the CCG into the 24th ward, Aogiri Tree seemed to have restricted the immigrants to live at the outskirts of the ward in the direct path of any army that sought to enter and invade the ward. Aogiri Tree on the other hand withdrew its members to the ward's interior making sure anyone who tried to cross into their territory without permission was killed. The only information his spies had gained so far were the rumors about the mysterious leader of the organization known as the One Eyed King. Tsuneyoshi felt increasingly frustrated at the failure of his spies to infiltrate Aogiri Tree or even gain any concrete information on the identities of its high ranking officials. He paused for a bit as he looked over the latest spy reports, the old man felt dissatisfaction at the incompetence of his clandestine operatives.
Tsuneyoshi Washuu leaned back in his chair as he used his thumb and index finger to massage the bridge of his nose. He could feel the stress of the entire operation resting on his shoulders, this was a very risky endeavor he'd had the CCG undertake. Just the thought of the massive funds they'd had to request from the government just to develop and mass produce the latest weapons from the research lab to equip their forces kept Tsuneyoshi up late at night. The CCG had never been an organization that made lots of money, it was more of a security firm contracted by the government to protect humans from the voracious ghouls. The CCG as well as the Washuu Clan would be in major debt should this campaign fail, they would be indebted to the government for a long time allowing the government to exert more control over them. While it wouldn't affect the Washuu Clan much since as an ancient clan of ghouls they could ignore the government's unreasonable demands and even flee the country should things get desperate, Tsuneyoshi couldn't handle the thought of the government weakening his control over the CCG and interfering in its affairs as well as how it's run. This was an organization started by his clan's previous generations who had built it up to what it was now while making sure never to lose control of the organization to outsiders, Tsuneyoshi wouldn't be the clan leader who wasted decades of the clan's efforts. Of course that was only if they lost, if they succeeded the CCG would be untouchable for decades to come with many requesting their services complete with enormous compensations. The most important thing to Tsuneyoshi Washuu however was that it would solidify his hold over Tokyo and soon all of Japan as he made his way to become its shadow ghoul emperor. His clan which was entirely made up of ghouls had long held influence in Japan while hiding their nature. They paraded as humans who hunted ghouls which led to them being given the authority to establish the organization that would come to be known as the CCG. It has been a long time coming and this campaign was the first step in proving themselves worthy of more influence over the whole of Japan. Tsuneyoshi hadn't commissioned the operation because of some abducted children, this had been in the plans for a long time, things had just coincidentally happened in such a way. Once they'd crushed the ghouls in Tokyo, more funds would be allotted to them by the government that would fear and come to depend on them. They would be given more authority to grow their forces and even station branches all over Japan. Before you know it, the CCG would become the unofficial military of Japan before they absorbed the already established military into their ranks. Tsuneyoshi hoped to stoke fear among the populace as they grew to depend on the CCG before finally staging a coup and overthrowing the government. Tsuneyoshi Washuu has big plans for the Washuu Clan and the CCG though they would take time to implement. He doubted he'd be alive by the time their plans came to fruit as he deeply believed like his predecessors in playing the long game. One day, The Head of the Washuu Clan would rule Japan and establish a dynasty that wouldn't collapse for many many years. All these future plans though hinged on the gamble that was the ghoul eradication campaign currently being carried out on the streets of Tokyo.
Tsuneyoshi awakened from thoughts of grandeur about the future of his clan as he refocused himself on the reports before him that noted the key victories the campaign had achieved in rooting out and executing ghouls with influence over human society as members of the upper class. The operation had coincidentally exposed several members of high society to be either ghouls or harboring ghouls as their pets and security force. The hunt had led them to the compounds of some of the wealthiest families in Tokyo with some happening to be vacationing outside the city during the spring just as the CCG's forces drew close to them. Many who were living as elites of human society were exposed and executed including celebrities, athletes, politicians, businessmen and even socialites. Some whose identities had been exposed were kept secret from the media while others were shared and posted on several news and social media sites. Despite the seemingly tyrannical actions of the CCG, many civilians supported their actions as protecting them from the human eating ghouls. Also it helped that the CCG didn't focus on the masses but also brought down several upper class individuals exposed as ghouls. When Tsuneyoshi Washuu thought of the battle and bloodshed currently going on somewhere in Tokyo, he couldn't help reminiscing about his younger days and wishing he still had his youth so he could partake in the battle. It had been so long since he'd personally erased the light from a person's eyes. He didn't even remember when last he summoned his kagune or kakuja. Tsuneyoshi felt his blood pumping at the thought of returning to the battlefield and decimating his foes. So strong was the feeling that he felt his lower shaft stiffening into a strong youngster-like erection. Tsuneyoshi smiled as such an erection was rare for an old man like him. He pressed a button on his desk and sent a message to his aide to summon the beautiful young female branch family member he'd recently had his eye on. She was supposed to be related to him somehow but he couldn't care less as he'd noticed she'd developed nicely into a buxom young flower. He told his aide to bring her to his office for a private personal meeting with her clan leader. It was time to produce a new spawn to carry on the Washuu bloodline, Tsuneyoshi smiled in anticipation.
The night was dark and windy as a hooded figure dressed in black complete with a black faceless mask lay in wait for the mission to come. The figure stayed hidden in the alleys outside the Washuu Clan estate and compound. The figure kept watch over the compound as he searched for ways to get in without alerting those inside. His allies hid themselves as well in other shadowy parts surrounding the compound. Tonight they had come to spill the blood of the compound's inhabitants and wipe them out especially the elderly head of the Washuu Clan currently residing in his residence. They had come today because today was a special day. Today was the day the CCG's forces invaded the chaotic 13th ward so as to wipe out the ghouls living there. It had been a little over a month since the beginning of the CCG's citywide campaign to eradicate every ghoul in Tokyo and so far their forces had hit every ward except four excluding the
24th ward. These wards included the 20th ward, 14th ward, 15th ward and 13th ward which they were taking care of currently. The 13th ward had become a sort of rallying point for many of the ghouls displaced from all over Tokyo as they fled the Crows, otherwise known as the CCG's forces. The ward was known for its rampant bloodshed and excessively violent ghouls. Same ghouls who refused to flee their ward as the CCG's forces approached. This had attracted many of the fleeing ghouls filled with hatred and wanting to exact vengeance on the CCG's forces. Soon the ghouls stopped fighting amongst themselves and with the help of the ghouls fleeing into the 13th ward to make a stand with them had formed their own little army called the Owls. Four days prior as the CCG's forces were dealing with the 12th ward, the Owls had attacked the CCG's 13th ward branch office and wiped out all the investigators there. The attack was lightning fast and over before any reinforcements could reach them. They arrived to find the office covered in blood with no sign of any corpses. The main command center seethed in fury as they listened to the communication from the 13th ward as the massacre took place. They heard the screams and dying pleas of their allies as their attackers showed no mercy in killing them. Afterwards, the CCG took a break to honor those fallen and properly prepare to wipe out all the ghouls in the 13th ward. Reinforcements were called in from different wards enlarging the size of the Crows taking part in the 13th ward battle. The battle began at sundown and so far all eyes were on it. This was why the hooded figure in black and his allies had decided to attack the Washuu Clan's compound as well as several other locations at this time while everyone was so focused on the 13th ward battle. It was time to cut the head off the beast.
Muri was bored waiting for the signal to begin their simultaneous attack on the various locations in Tokyo. He knew the mission was coming up eventually and was excited to begin the final aspects of his plan. The mission was a collaborative effort between members of the V organization, Clowns, and Aogiri Tree. Of course Muri was a person with no obvious ties to any of these groups and had been brought into this mission by his brother Kichimura who'd orchestrated the whole thing. Their plan was to use the 13th ward battle as a distraction for the CCG's forces to attack and wipe out three separate locations, the Washuu Clan compound, the CCG main command center and the Sunlit Garden. Top priority targets were members of the Washuu Clan regardless of whether they were from the main or branch family. Muri had slipped out of the 13th ward battle a few minutes before it started to meet up with his brother and those participating in the mission. They included Kichimura, Kaiko and his most trusted subordinates, Uta, Nico, Roma and several other Clown members, his main body Shiki and his small company of brainwashed artificial half-ghouls led by Captain Juuzou (Rei) Suzuya. The cadets he'd abducted and changed into artificial half-ghouls were finally being put to action after so many months of training. Muri changed when he arrived at the rendezvous point into the outfit and mask prepared by his brother to hide their identities in case of any surveillance cameras. Once they'd gone over their plans for the night the group separated into three, with each going in a separate direction. Muri, Kichimura, Kaiko and the V operatives were heading to the Washuu Clan compound to wipe out every living thing there with a priority target on the Clan head himself, Tsuneyoshi Washuu. Shiki and his half-ghoul company were headed to the CCG command center to primarily eliminate Matsuri and Yoshitoki Washuu as well as any other individual present there including Itsuki Marude. Finally Roma, Uta, Nico and the other Clown members were to infiltrate the Sunlit Garden and wipe out all the children studying there. They had separated half an hour ago and were now all in position to attach their targets. Muri was dressed in a black hooded cloak that covered all hints of his body complete with a black faceless mask. He held in his hands a new pair of quinque he'd had made for this particular mission. The quinque were shaped like a pair of short handle berserker axes with blades long and sharp enough to decapitate a person with one swing. The axes also had the added feature of morphing into shields of different sizes when the user was in need of defense.
Muri used his radar senses to pick up the locations of Kichimura, Kaiko and the rest of the V operatives joining them in assaulting the Washuu Clan estate. Tonight was a perfect time to attack the clan since Tsuneyoshi Washuu had summoned all the main and branch family members to stay at the clan's estate for the duration of the campaign. Muri surmised it was probably to prevent any subterfuge which could interfere with the campaign's progress. Only family members taking part in the operation and those standing by at the V organization headquarters were allowed to move about. Muri extended his radar to cover the Clan estate where he pinpointed the location of every living being. He observed the movements of the security patrols as well as their numbers. He even found his father, Tsuneyoshi Washuu in his home office watching the 13th ward battle progress alongside some branch family leaders. Muri took note of everyone's positions and planned out his route of attack as he waited for the attack to begin. They'd agreed to begin the operation at exactly 45 minutes after going their separate ways, Muri noted they had a little over ten minutes left. He sensed his main body arriving at the CCG command center through their psychic link. Shiki took the same precautions he did and used his radar to observe the numbers and positions of the people he'd arrived to kill. Shiki had no weapons on him as he intended to carry out the mission solely relying on his kagune. He dressed in a black fur hooded coat over a black outfit, complete with his dragon mask. Shiki and his Half-ghoul company stealthily edged closer to the building which housed the main command center for the entire ongoing CCG campaign. He'd already pinpointed Yoshitoki and Matsuri, he was just waiting for the time to start. He had no idea if Roma the Gypsy along with the rest of the clowns had arrived at the Sunlit Garden yet though he doubted that since they'd yet to fail at tasks they were given. Uta and the rest had begun to question him about Itori's location since she'd gone missing after Eto had killed her. Shiki so far had played dumb to the matter, citing his involvement in his research as more than enough reason why he hadn't seen her much. Shiki could tell they suspected him of something, especially Nico who was aware of his relationship with Eto. They'd probably bring it up at the next clown meeting if Itori still didn't show up but Shiki couldn't care less, after all they were of little use to him nowadays. Different thoughts such as these drifted through the shared minds of Shiki and Muri as they patiently waited for the time to run out and their mission to start. The time passed slowly in silence as both kept watch over their targets with their radars. Soon enough the time had come and as both golden eyed men walked toward the buildings housing their targets, they allowed an evil bloodthirsty smile grow on their faces. Time for the massacre to begin.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Chibi_Senpai
Chibi_Senpai Two guys are out hunting in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn’t appear to be breathing, his eyes are glazed over. The other man pulls out his phone with trembling fingers and calls 911. He gasps, “My friend is dead! What can I do?”
The operator says “Please stay calm. I will help you. First of all, let's make sure he's dead.”
There’s a silence, then a gun shot. The guy gets back on the phone and says “OK, now what?”
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