Kapitel 10: Someday We Will Have to Fight for Real

In an unknown place.

"We are not monsters, we cry, we laugh, and we die just like humans. We are a living organism that only seeks tranquility, but due to our circumstances, we get scared like beasts caged within a rather terrifying metropolis, where we are judged as beasts that must be eliminated."

Kenzo stood up in front of over two hundred Ghouls who would join the organization Crow of Three Eyes, his gaze filled with serenity, and all signs of exhaustion had been discarded from his face at this moment.

He was currently in one of the main bases, an old abandoned theater in the heart of District 20, where Ghouls were trained and selections were made that would defend their lives from now on. The rules, principles, and shared vision were the only things they would adopt from now on.

Addressing hundreds of Ghouls and many others who were already veterans of the Crow of Three Eyes organization, Kenzo opened his hands and said, "My dear brothers and sisters Ghouls, today we are all gathered here for different reasons. Some of you seek protection, security, and strength in a world that has relegated us to the shadows. We are the Crows, the guardians of the night, and we are destined to lead a change that will transcend our lives and pave a new path for the generations to come."

"We, the Ghouls, are not monsters. We are not abominations destined to hide indefinitely in the darkness. We are beings with the same thirst for life, love, and belonging as any other human. It is time for us to reject the darkness in which we have lived for so long and seek a world where we can coexist in harmony with humans."

"But to achieve this vision of a peaceful future, we must be willing to sacrifice a lot. We must be willing to bleed for a better world. Make no mistake, the path we have chosen will not be easy. We will face challenges, hatred, and prejudice. But let us remember that we are strong, we are brave, and we are a united family."

"Each of you has a role to play in this struggle. We must be role models for future generations. We must show that Ghouls can be compassionate, understanding, and peaceful beings. We must fight those who seek to destroy us, but we must also be a beacon of hope for humanity."

"Today, with the integration of new recruits into the Crow of Three Eyes organization, we are taking the first step towards that world in harmony. Together, we will build a safe haven for all Ghouls seeking a place to belong. Together, we will work to change humans' perception of us."

"Remember, we are not alone in this fight. We have the support of our brothers and sisters present here and of all the Ghouls who share our dream. Let us move forward with determination and courage, and one day, our efforts will be rewarded with a world where we do not have to hide, a world where we can live in peace and harmony alongside humans."

"But also remember, we will not be the puppets of humans, and we will never stoop to the level of dogs! We will establish our own worth and fight a long war to sustain it, whether alive or dead, some of us here will enjoy that united future!"

"Let's fight together, my dear Crows, for the united world we deserve!"

"Ah!"

"Let's go to battle!"

"We will defend our existence!"

...

In a private room, there were nine seats where Ghouls with crow masks were watching this exciting speech, but none of them had an expression of admiration, pity, or hatred.

"I wonder how he does it... He always manages to excite the newcomers. Even now, my cold blood vibrates with excitement when I hear my master brimming with so much energy, despite being the most indifferent among us."

"He's preparing us for a war. We've been in hiding for over seven years, and we can say that we've fully integrated into District 20, but still, he doesn't think it's enough. Maybe, the time has finally come; we will take the other districts under the power of the crows."

A two-meter-tall man looked at the young man who said that and shook his head, "Denji, if we start a war recklessly, the CCG will eat us alive, we must match their technological level first."

Denji is a disheveled blonde-haired teenager with deep brown eyes and dark circles, making him look tired, but he was an SS-class Ghoul and was in the top 3, just below Viper, who was also an SS class. After being advised in that way, he stopped paying attention to the two-meter-tall man nicknamed Ares.

"Always with that technology stuff, you'll die without seeing a flying car, you old fool..." Denji was annoyed, although he was strong, everyone cared for and advised him as if he were a child.

"Aren't you supposed to be in school, demon child?"

Denji jumped from his seat and shouted, "Old drunk, it's already night!"

"Barbosa, stop tasting that wine that's still in the initial stages of mass production!" shouted a man named Kazuma, who was the weakest of the nine pillars of the organization, but he was here because his great ingenuity was making significant advances so that Ghouls could enjoy something more than just meat, coffee, and water.

"Damn kids, how the hell are we the pillars of this organization and in complete shambles?" asked Barbosa, the old drunk.

Kazuma is a 25-year-old young man who appears to be a 17 or 18-year-old teenager. He has messy black hair, black eyes, and constantly dilated pupils. To be honest, he doesn't care about living in harmony with humans or something like that; what matters to him is researching and creating new foods that Ghouls can consume. But because he needed money, joining this place was the best option he could take.

"So, what do we do with the sadistic woman that the Master Crow brought in? She's an S or SS-class Ghoul, containing her would be a threat... Do you really have orders to kill her if she becomes a problem?" Barbosa became more serious and asked Viper, who was the strictest leader and, in turn, Kenzo's right-hand man.

Viper, who had been silent, nodded and said, "We will kill her if she's a problem. She's now in a containment room and will be incinerated at high temperatures if she poses a threat to our regime. She was about to die under some metal pipes; do you think she's a problem for the High Crows?"

The coldness in Viper's tone was justified; they were all elites, each a captain of powerful Ghouls with A and S-class ranks. What would doubting a crazy woman who had been brought into the base complexes amount to? If they doubt, that doubt will be transmitted to their subordinates.

It was against the rules to be inferior to their ranks; if they weren't capable enough to earn the respect of the hundreds of Ghouls they commanded, could they achieve the dreams that many Ghouls hoped to achieve someday?

"Things are much more worrisome than we thought. The CCG is a threat we must always be prepared for. Even if we're Ghouls, we need to excel in combat and have plenty of weapons in addition to our Kagune. That would be essential to defeat them in battle." Kazuma stopped appearing disinterested and nodded in agreement with Viper's theory.

"Unifying all the districts is the first major step; agreeing to negotiate with humans is the second. If that doesn't happen, we'll seek acceptance in our own way."

Kazuma understood the significance of this, so he just smiled and said, "It's still very terrifying. Kenzo's plans are so destructive that it's impressive how he seems disinterested in everything around him."

"He is the Master Crow..."

...

It was already past four in the morning, and everyone in the cafeteria had fallen asleep. Kenzo believed that when suddenly a slender hand firmly grabbed his shirt. It was obviously Touka's hand, who seemed to have been sleeping at one of the cafeteria tables and woke up because of the noise he made when he entered.

"You haven't gone to sleep yet?" Kenzo's gaze locked onto Touka's; for a moment, he believed that everyone should be asleep, but it turned out she was still awake.

"Your scent of blood can't be hidden. What have you been doing outside so late?" Touka's gaze was filled with sadness. She didn't want Kenzo to be consumed by a desire for revenge. She knew a lot about his history because Kenzo had told her himself, so once she knew the truth, she couldn't leave him alone.

"Do you like my scent?" Kenzo asked with a deep look in Touka's eyes.

Touka was at a loss for words. She had never expected to receive such a serious question in the late hours, and because she had been asleep, she couldn't respond with full sobriety. Remembering the delicious scent of Kenzo, she closed her eyes and brought her nose to the man's chest.

"You smell delicious..."

Kenzo, being taller than Touka, snorted coldly and lifted her in his arms, holding her by the legs.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Touka's heart began to beat strongly. She regained some of her senses and wanted to resist, but after feeling that they were going up the stairs, she fell silent to avoid alerting anyone.

"Wait..."

Touka was lifted to the level of Kenzo's gaze, and she immediately lowered her eyes. His actions were very bold and unexpected.

"Look into my eyes..."

"Are you drunk?!" Touka looked at him, puzzled. His face, hidden in the darkness, was flushed, and she couldn't fully see Kenzo's expression at this moment.

"Do you want me to leave? You can decide now..."

At that moment, Touka stopped hesitating; her gaze met Kenzo's, and her lips gently touched the man's neck.

"There's no turning back..." Kenzo's voice snapped Touka out of her reverie. She had kissed his neck with a delicate electric sensation.

Kenzo's rough and warm hands caressed Touka's tense body. She instinctively pushed him away, only to end up held even more firmly in his embrace when he wrapped an arm around her waist. As Kenzo's hands touched her skin, she felt her body beginning to exude an unfamiliar heat that made her shiver for a reason she couldn't explain.

"You're acting very strange today... Oh, Kenzo, not so close..."