ตอน 7: The Master Crow Appears.

In the CCG division.

Two Ghoul investigators held a report in their hands.

"Another Ghoul we were investigating disappeared overnight. Judging by the traces of blood that weren't intentionally hidden, it seems the victim died instantly in one place. There were signs of a battle, but no other type of blood samples."

"It's strange that the Ghoul of the Books died so unexpectedly. He is extremely cautious, and although his victims are countless, each of his movements is well-studied. Perhaps the Crows took care of it; they are the ones operating in District 20. But it's been years since they made a big move. Could something have happened?"

"District 20 is very peculiar. It's referred to as a safe zone, but many A and S-ranked Ghouls disappear within days of entering the area. Lately, the safe area is not as peaceful as before, so things must be very significant for them not to be subdued."

"Is District 20 really that important?"

"There's a well-organized group of Ghouls in District 20, so organized that they never seem to venture out at night, keeping their faces hidden from the light. That's why any Ghoul incident in that district always draws a lot of attention. If we arrive before them, we might learn more."

"Anyway, our job is to investigate whatever is happening in District 20... Of course, our real mission is this."

"Well, I'm just curious, why now, after so many years, are they letting a Ghoul start hunting in the safe area? If we think about it that way, maybe the Ghoul moving in District 20 is stronger than the organization you mentioned."

"No, it's not like that; they call themselves the Crows, and among them is a Class S, SS, or maybe even SSS Ghoul... Their leader goes by the name Master Crow, and they've given us many threats not to target the places where the Crows sleep. Things like that, which is why, even though it's safe here, this place can be more dangerous than any other district."

...

District 20!

Night descended quietly over District 20, covering its streets with a dark and mysterious cloak. Streetlights began to flicker, casting yellow flashes on the pavement. The city's bustle gradually faded, leaving room for the whisper of the wind between the buildings.

As was customary, Kenzo was in remote places, investigating and, at the same time, ensuring that everything was in order.

Currently, his organization operates like a criminal entity. When there is chaos, they usually must hide and not reveal themselves so openly due to the care required to protect everything they have built. Open surveillance activities cease, Ghouls within the organization refrain from going out at night, and their activities, in general, go into a state of hibernation.

During this time, some of them began to participate in more social activities and moved away from the area of the troublesome Ghoul who had been causing chaos in District 20.

They were all fine because they had been doing this for years, and it was always a foolproof method that kept them protected. No one had ever recognized a Ghoul within the Three Eyed Crow organization, and there had never been a need for combat.

The difference today was that the Crow warriors, who were usually in charge of nighttime businesses like clubs, restaurants, crematories, taxi drivers, night guards, mechanics, and customer service, were more alert than usual.

A select group was chosen to accompany the Master Crow on an expedition mission. All of them had wanted to work alongside the Master Crow at some point in the last five years, but they had only seen him at special celebration ceremonies. The last time they had worked together was six years ago to eliminate a rival criminal network they now cooperated with.

Several days had passed since Rize Kamishiro disappeared from their radar, and even though his Crows were handling it this time, he wanted to do it personally. Once the organization V made a move, he would also act and eliminate them all.

This time seemed to be just another hunting day for Rize, who had taken the boy named Kaneki after leaving the café.

Kenzo knew that Rize must be very important to the organization V due to the continuous tracking from many districts behind.

As long as the organization V showed up, that was all that mattered to Kenzo right now. He knew very little about the past, but all he needed to know was who had caused his mother's death, and he had to finish what his father didn't have the courage to do.

If he ever met someone from the organization V, no matter who it was, Kenzo would kill them mercilessly.

"Zz... Viper, where is she?"

Kenzo walked back and forth in the dark alley at this moment. If it weren't for Touka's nagging and his father's warnings, he could have been here in advance and not have been late for the party.

Once that woman was ambushed, Kenzo could act alongside his members who were shadowing him.

"Zz... Master Crow, she's starting, and there are unidentified Ghouls nearby."

"Aah!"

At that moment, a scream sounded not far away.

"Hmm... I found it!" Kenzo's eyes showed a sadistic emotion, and he quickly moved with a dozen more figures to where the source of the sound had come from.

At night in District 20, there were generally no pedestrians in such remote alleys. Most of the surrounding areas could be inhabited by Ghouls lurking in the darkness, feeding on humans. Even though there were no feeding zones here due to the presence of the Three Eyed Crow organization, people could still run into unexpected encounters.

Just as Kenzo had suspected, Ken Kaneki was in shock from the large bite on his shoulder.

Rize Kamishiro had a smile on her face, completely in agreement with the mature woman she used to be at the old café. But after tasting Kaneki, her face was filled with ecstasy.

"Ahhh!"

Kaneki clutched his head, spat out blood, and his eyes were filled with fear.

Rize Kamishiro licked her lips, with a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth, as she had just tasted her delicious victim.

"At last, we meet, Miss Glutton. I apologize for introducing myself so late, but it was a necessary evil for somewhat selfish reasons." Kenzo's raspy voice sounded from a distant area, yet it seemed closer than usual.

"Who?!"

Rize Kamishiro's eyes turned towards the source of the sound, knowing it was other Ghouls. Since her arrival, no one had crossed her path, and she assumed that no one had the courage to confront her, but now it seemed that was not the case.

"Help me..." Kaneki saw someone approaching, as if he were grasping his last hope of survival. However, when he saw the figure emerging from the darkness, his hope shattered.

"It's you, the one who calls himself the Crow Master!" Kamishiro Rize recognized the figure that emerged from the darkness due to his extremely dark appearance and that characteristic mask.

Kenzo, like a mysterious and enigmatic figure, advanced in the darkness, his presence shrouded in a bloody aura that seemed to emanate from his being. Every inch of his figure was hidden behind a dark and macabre disguise that made him look like something out of a nightmare.

He wore a large crow mask over his face, with sharp beaks and enigmatic eyes hidden behind it, revealing only glimpses of malevolence. The mask added an air of mystery and terror to his appearance.

A long, tattered black trench coat covered his entire body, from shoulders to feet. The fabric gracefully fluttered in the wind, as if it had a life of its own, creating a sense of ominous grandeur. However, the most striking aspect was what lay behind his back.

A large, blood-red wing emerged from his back, with black details that made it resemble a mix between a crow's wing and a fallen angel's. It was majestic and terrifying at the same time, slowly spreading in the air like a sinister omen. This single left wing was as beautiful as it was sinister, his distinctive Kagune Ukaku, which was easily recognized as his enormous crow wing.

His hands were covered by black leather gloves, adding the finishing touch to his dark attire. Overall, this enigmatic man embodied darkness and mystery, and his presence left an indelible impression on those who had the unfortunate opportunity to cross his path.

To everyone else, he was the Crow Master, the leader of the Three Eyed Crow organization, and the father of the crows that moved in the darkness.

His voice was as indifferent as the wind, so he mentioned while holding a crow-tipped cane: "Well, it seems you recognize me, so I could assume you're not a foolish bitch who ventures into others' territory on a whim, right, Rize? But you're lucky; I'll only watch from the shadows."

"Really? It seems you've seen this kind of scene before!" Rize Kamishiro laughed at Kenzo's calm demeanor.

"Yes, these sorts of things happen often around here, in my territory. I usually assess the situation and pass judgment after they finish their meal." Kenzo said provocatively.

"Ha... Well, in that case, I can say I like that! Wait, do you enjoy watching Ghouls eat?" Rize Kamishiro moistened her lips, ignoring Kenzo's provocation.

At that moment, Kaneki was desperate because he realized that the figure that appeared was not here to save him at all.

"By the way, there's one thing I need to remind you of: crows can fly, but Ghouls never pay attention to what's overhead. A small reminder as a symbol of our friendship." Kenzo tilted his head slightly, and his cane pointed towards the sky.