Kapitel 45: A Night Darker Than Usual

As all the Ghouls sensed Kenzo's presence, the only thing they could feel was a deep fear stirring deep within their souls.

"They live like criminals, what a damn shame..."

Kenzo's words left everyone wondering what he meant, but they obviously couldn't express their doubts since they were just simple guards there to show the strength of the Twelve Monkeys organization.

"Over here, Crow Master!" A beautiful woman approached Kenzo and extended her hand toward the main path without daring to look him in the eyes.

Both organizations had communicated beforehand, something Kenzo had wanted to avoid unnecessary confrontations and drawing the attention of the CCG, which would have caused a lot of problems for whoever won.

On the way, only six people followed Kenzo, while the others remained outside. None of them understood why, but they knew these Ghouls were extremely powerful based on the way they walked and the confidence in their every move.

A Ghoul predator, one who controlled his Kagune better than any other and who was obsessed with battles. That was the description of Kenzo in his early months as a Ghoul, and his name and brutality had reached the ears of many.

After advancing through an endless corridor, they arrived at a door where there was a functioning elevator. They all went up, and Kenzo closed his eyes to sense the surroundings. There were no traps or signs of an ambush, so that was good.

"An incredible place, but living in trenches is not a lifestyle I respect much. If only they would form an organization, they must know there are better ways to integrate with society," Kenzo thought as he surveyed his surroundings.

When the elevator doors finally opened, they entered a vast open space inside the factory where the machines had been removed. In their place, there was a central arena where two Ghouls were currently engaged in a fierce battle for life or death.

When the old monkey, a tall, muscular man, spotted Kenzo approaching, he stood up and said, "On this particularly dark night, you are very warmly dressed, Mr. Crow. Do you not trust my hospitality?"

Kenzo was a bit surprised by this man's attitude. He walked toward him and sat directly in a large armchair. His hand moved slightly as he said, "Very curious, I thought you would try to attack me right after seeing me. You've surprised me; I still don't trust you enough, but you can call me Crow, as everyone else does."

"I'm Noah. My saintly mother was European, and she gave me that name, which is my Ghoul alias. What are we doing here exactly, Mr. Crow?" Noah asked, giving Kenzo a somewhat curious look.

"I suppose I should inform you... First, I must apologize for taking a district that originally should have belonged to you, Mr. Noah," Kenzo said these words as if they weren't that relevant to him, but he also wanted to find out if this man in front of him was temperamental or not.

"Well... You're wise to do so. We were all very confused by those Ghouls with Crow masks. They are demons," Noah acted as if he were frightened while taking a sip from his glass.

Kenzo took a lighter from his coat and said, "In life, we all have dreams, I suppose I have a very big one, and that's why I'm going to take District 14 under my control. This was a sudden decision, Mr. Noah. I've been debating which district to take for the last seven years, and finally, by fate's hand, I settled on your district."

"I must also assume that you won't stop with just districts 14 and 20, will you?" Noah asked in a much more serious tone. He was having a conversation with him now because the Crow's attitude toward the Monkeys had been very delicate, as if they were somehow avoiding a direct confrontation.

This was not due to fear, Noah was quick to realize upon seeing the leader of the organization entering his domain. He wasn't upset; he was intelligent and understood perfectly well that risking his life for an area he could take elsewhere was much safer than dying in a face-off with an unknown adversary.

"You're absolutely right. My desire is to unify all districts, one by one, and through dictatorship, carve out a place for ourselves in this country," Kenzo felt that the man in front of him understood him perfectly.

"Do you think you will gain a foothold in this world with that? It's quite absurd. Do you think humans will want that?" At this point, Noah scoffed at Kenzo, as he understood humans better than anyone, and the man's idea was garbage in his eyes.

"What makes you think they wouldn't accept it? They fear us, they fear weapons, drugs, and terrorism... Have you ever thought about what they would do if they were attacked through those means?" Kenzo asked as he reclined in the chair, then continued, "But I'm not seeking their blessing for my plan, Mr. Noah. I want to unite District 14 and 20 in strength immediately. However, there's one problem, and that's you, Mr. Noah."

"What do you want from me?"

"That you make a decision right now... Let me tell you one thing, I don't like to unnecessarily kill potential allies. I'm not bloodthirsty; I prefer to win through constructive ideas. So, in a few words, will you yield to the Crows or die being devoured by them?"

The question left Noah silent, and once again, there was no reaction on his face. To him, Kenzo's words were cold and direct, as they should be. He understood the man's unwavering intentions perfectly.

"I'm not one to risk my life for things that aren't worth it, Mr. Crow. Do you think you can win? To what extent are you willing to sacrifice to achieve what you want?" Noah asked as he stood up. His question required a clear and sincere response, or he would tear off that mask himself.

When Noah, the old monkey, stood up, all the Ghouls in the vicinity fell silent and looked toward the top leadership. They were aware of what was happening, so it depended on Noah's choice.

"My life... I won't enjoy life unless it's on the same terms as humans. I will make Ghouls have rights; I will go all the way and achieve it. Only then will I consider having a child and living the rest of my life with the woman I care about. I won't make the same mistake as my old man, so I'll need your answer as well," Kenzo said as he also stood up.

Tension filled the air, and everyone felt as if a battle would erupt at any moment. But before that could happen, a loud explosion was heard in the distance, and a voice echoed.

"This is the Metropolitan Police. You are surrounded by CCG agents, and you have a chance to come out unharmed if you surrender!"