It took less than five minutes from the moment Lancer sent the message until the Ward 20 branch departed. After all, the painful lesson of the Ward 11 branch back then had made the Investigators in other branches develop the habit of keeping their equipment close. Upon receiving Lancer message, Kureo Mado immediately used his authority as the Section Chief to send all the action teams from the branch to depart, and he himself, rarely, put on his Quinque again and stepped onto the battlefield.
Hideyoshi Nagachika, back at the branch, was utterly Confused, especially when the people at the branch told him to put on a combat uniform. He was completely at a loss.
'Didn't they say I basically wouldn't go out on fieldwork?'
But confusion aside, as a Second-Class Investigator belonging to the CCG and Lancer assistant, it was impossible for him to be excluded from this operation, but before leaving, he didn't forget to send a reminder to Ken Kaneki, as he didn't know what the target of this branch operation was.
Hideyoshi Nagachika, sitting in the armored vehicle, looked anxiously out the window, but just then, a hand was placed on his shoulder.
"Calm down. Your main task is to seal off the area to prevent ordinary people from accidentally entering the battlefield. You are not the main combat force."
Koutarou Amon was always criticized by Kureo Mado for not being good at talking when he first became an Investigator, but having served as an Investigator for nearly four years, he could be considered battle-hardened, having participated in dozens of major and minor battles. This was not the first time he had comforted a rookie.
"Captain Amon, what exactly is this operation about?"
Because they left in a hurry, everyone in the branch only knew there was an emergency mission, and only the team leaders knew the specifics. So, upon hearing Hideyoshi Nagachika's question, Koutarou Amon clapped his hands to signal everyone in the vehicle to look at him.
"Actually, our mission this time is 'support.' Lancer... First-Class was attacked by Ghouls from the Aogiri Tree while on patrol. Our mission is to go and reinforce him, but the main combat personnel are First-Class Investigators and above. The task of everyone else, as I said before, is to seal off the area and prevent ordinary citizens from entering the battlefield. Furthermore, the reinforcement unit from the headquarters is already on its way, and all the Special Class Investigators have also been notified. They will arrive as quickly as possible, so everyone doesn't need to be too nervous."
There was no doubt that everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they heard that they wouldn't actually need to participate in the frontal combat and that the Special Class Investigators were all on their way.
But Hideyoshi Nagachika, sitting next to Koutarou Amon, felt a little strange.
"Captain Amon, I remember you and Mr. Lancer both served under Special Class Mado-Designate before. Aren't you worried?"
That's right, Hideyoshi Nagachika was indeed strange. Logically speaking, when your friend is attacked by Ghouls, you shouldn't be so calm, no matter what, right?
But Koutarou Amon just smiled at Hideyoshi Nagachika's question.
"Perhaps, I was a little worried when I first heard the news, but I still have faith in him. After all, he is 'Lancer.' How could he be defeated by Ghouls so easily?"
That look of 'trust' that lacked any reason but was simply 'trust' left Hideyoshi Nagachika speechless for a moment.
He really wanted to say that the opponent's baseless trust was meaningless, but for some reason, looking at the smile on Koutarou Amon's face, he also started to believe what the opponent said.
He just didn't know whether this was because of Lancer or Koutarou Amon's charisma.
Just at that moment, the vehicle suddenly started to slow down. A few seconds later, the vehicle drifted and stopped firmly, and the smile on Koutarou Amon's face instantly disappeared, replaced by a serious expression.
"Alright! Begin sealing off the area according to the original plan and prevent ordinary citizens from entering the battlefield!"
"Yes!"
After saying that, Koutarou Amon nodded to Seidou Takizawa, who was sitting next to him.
"Takizawa, I'm leaving everyone in your hands!"
"Yes!"
The once nervous and inexperienced young man who worried about fighting had now become a battle-hardened warrior. He also nodded seriously at Koutarou Amon's command and opened his briefcase, taking out a white crossbow-shaped Quinque.
"Everyone, set up a defensive line with the armored vehicle as the center! Load your magazines! Safety off! Free to fire on any unidentified person approaching within 10 meters!"
After saying that, he also glanced at Koutarou Amon, who was already fully equipped beside him.
"Amon."
"Oh!"
Neither of them said much, but it was enough. After all, their tacit understanding was not built in two or three days.
Koutarou Amon, carrying his briefcase and wearing his specialized protective plate, jogged towards the assembly point, and by the time he arrived, he already saw Kureo Mado, also fully equipped.
The opponent scanned Koutarou Amon and then waited for the last three subordinates to arrive before nodding and leading the Investigators towards the destination.
He was indeed very worried about Lancer situation, but as the commander of a team, he knew that he absolutely could not be swayed by personal feelings, and it was precisely because of the opponent's 'ruthlessness' that everyone trusted him even more, as they all knew that every decision Kureo Mado made would absolutely be the most suitable one.
"Bang~!"
"Snap~!"
The sounds of immense destruction became increasingly harsh as they got closer to the signal flare's location, and Kureo Mado's pace involuntarily quickened.
"Amon!"
"Yes!"
As the Investigator with the highest-grade Quinque in the entire branch, coupled with his youthful vigor and personal training, Koutarou Amon was undoubtedly superior to Kureo Mado, who had once been his teacher and guide, in terms of frontal combat ability. Kureo Mado, who knew his strength, did not hesitate to appoint him as the vanguard.
The white briefcase was opened, and Koutarou Amon took out his Quinque—Dōjima 1/2.
However, unlike before, he did not act immediately. Instead, he proceeded to 'transform' the weapon in his hand. That's right, Koutarou Amon also used a 'composite Quinque.'
The specialized weapon modified from the relic left by his former girlfriend, 'Dōjima 1/2,' and the Kakuhou of the Bin brothers, whom he and Lancer suppressed together—Dōjima Kai.
Dōjima 1/2 itself was a heavy weapon, and after further reinforcement, even most Ghouls would probably not be able to wield it easily, but Koutarou Amon, his muscles bulging all over, fiercely exhaled a breath and then swung his weapon, charging towards the battlefield.
"Keep up! Our mission is to reinforce First-Class Lancer! Do not rush forward blindly! Wait for backup!"
"Yes!"