"If possible, I hope it can have two modes: 'long spear' and 'lance'..."
"No problem. If it were other weapons, the difficulty would be greater, but it is very simple for a Quinque. The properties of the Kagune are sufficient to achieve this."
"Can the portability be improved?"
"This is quite difficult. After all, CCGs around the world have been researching this subject, but the effect is not very obvious. I'll do my best."
"Can the color be adjusted? I remember the 'Owl's' Kagune is white and red. Red is fine, but can the white be changed?"
"That's easy. How about changing it to black? I heard your nickname among ghouls is 'Death Bird'. Wouldn't that be cooler?"
...
Lancer requirements for the weapon were actually not too many. After all, as long as it wasn't an 'alien' weapon, he didn't care, but when he sneaked a peek behind him again, he found that Kureo Mado had disappeared at some point.
"Doctor, there shouldn't be any surveillance system here, right?"
"There is, oh. Why do you ask?"
"..."
Lancer didn't know how to complain. According to general practice, shouldn't there be none?
But seeing the strange expression on Lancer face, the other party smiled.
"Although it's a bit boastful, I am an important person in the CCG Neon Branch, oh~ But if you want to discuss something private, let's go to my bedroom. There is no surveillance system there."
While speaking, the other party stood up and led Lancer towards a certain room.
"Please state what you need to discuss. I am indeed a bit curious. Why would First Class Lancer, the provider of 'ghoul food' two years ago who then disappeared, come to see me?"
Although Akihiro Kanou, sitting in the chair, couldn't be seen because of his bangs, Lancer could feel an unusual aura.
Moreover, the information revealed in the other party's words seemed to suggest that he knew Lancer had another purpose for coming here from the start.
'As expected, none of these people are simple. Did Mr. Mado also figure it out, which is why he left first?'
After a few thoughts in his mind, he nodded.
"Yes, it is indeed related to that matter."
Suddenly, Akihiro Kanou, who was originally sitting casually, had a somewhat fervent expression on his face.
"So it is! It seems I guessed correctly!"
"Guessed correctly?"
"Yes, regarding the reason for your 'disappearance' back then. I have always suspected that you stole those 'ghoul foods' from some secret organization and then suddenly disappeared because you were being pursued. Now it seems you have found new items or information, haven't you? But this is truly interesting. What kind of organization produced this food? CCG German Headquarters? Impossible. I haven't heard of this project gaining traction since the last time I attended a meeting. Could it be your motherland? That is possible, as that country has always been mysterious, and even the CCG there is just a nominal presence, almost all their own people. Or perhaps..."
Akihiro Kanou was undoubtedly an intelligent person, and at the same time, a person who was very enthusiastic about 'research'.
"Please take a look at this document."
While speaking, Lancer handed a document to the other party, and Akihiro Kanou also looked at it with a face full of curiosity. His expression gradually changed from interested to serious, and finally became a bit displeased.
"Where is the rest? This document is clearly incomplete... Alright, it seems you came to see me for something, right? Speak, what is it? I imagine it's not a problem with the Quinque, is it?"
Coming here to see him using the pretext of the Quinque, or rather Kureo Mado's relationship, and then intentionally asking about a place without surveillance, and now pulling out a document that clearly has a beginning but no end, anyone who isn't an idiot could guess that Lancer purpose was not pure, but he wasn't worried about his safety at all. After all, this underground laboratory was completely sealed, and the other party couldn't escape at all if they did anything, and he also trusted Kureo Mado's judgment. Since Kureo Mado brought the other party, it meant Lancer was trustworthy.
"Since the following matter is relatively complicated, could you please sign an agreement before we proceed?"
While speaking, Lancer took out a handwritten 'agreement' from his pocket.
Akihiro Kanou took the agreement and read it carefully, then looked at Lancer with a strange expression.
The reason he showed such an expression was because he found it strange. The agreement itself was very simple: both parties to the agreement could not disclose any information from this conversation to others.
This in itself was not strange, but he felt that it was completely meaningless. After all, it was too easy to tear up such a private agreement, not to mention that even if he went back on his word later, it wouldn't matter, right? There were no notaries anyway...
After checking twice to confirm it was just an ordinary handwritten agreement, he signed his name.
But as soon as he finished the last stroke of his name, the 'anomaly' appeared.
He felt a burning pain on the back of his hand, but the feeling was only fleeting. Then he noticed a strange pattern on the back of his hand.
"What is this?"
"It's a contract. As long as we don't violate this contract, there will be no effect."
While speaking, Lancer also exposed the back of his hand, which also had a strange pattern.
"This is unscientific!"
"But this is magic, isn't it?"
While speaking, Lancer took off his coat and simultaneously removed the illusion magic on his arm. An arm made of ice appeared in front of Akihiro Kanou, and Lancer simply moved his arm and made a grabbing motion, which completely stunned Akihiro Kanou.
Undoubtedly, the existence of 'ghouls' is strange, but it is 'common knowledge' for people in this world, so they do not find it strange at all, but the existence of 'magic' has undoubtedly never been seen by anyone before. Akihiro Kanou was completely stunned.
While muttering 'This is unscientific' in his mouth, he walked to Lancer and observed by holding his arm.
Although his hand felt nothing because the arm was made of ice, being held and stroked by a man while muttering something made all the hair on Lancer body stand up.
"Although forcibly creating a contract is somewhat against 'contractual spirit', this matter is quite serious, so please forgive me for contacting you in this manner."
While explaining in all seriousness, he subtly withdrew his arm and handed the document to the other party.
Although the other party was very curious about 'magic', remembering the document he had only read half of earlier, he was even more curious, so he took the document and began to read it.
This time was different from the previous one. After reading it once, he pinched his chin with his hand and then continued to flip through it. It wasn't until he had read it for the fifth time that he rubbed his slightly sore eyes.
"Sorry, I read it for too long, but this information is truly... incredible."
Some of the information Lancer provided were hypotheses that the CCG had already begun to verify, but most of it was something they had never heard of.
However, after reading it, his feelings were more of complexity.
"I dare say that no research organization in this world could have such detailed information. So, this information is the result obtained using 'magic'?"
"That's right. I wonder if you can manufacture food that ghouls can eat based on this information?"
"No problem. Although this information does not involve the dietary habits of ghouls, it is very detailed regarding the Kagune and the ghoul's body structure. I can even manufacture some ordinary ones right now, but the problem lies in mechanical operation. After all, laboratory products cannot be popularized..."
Looking at Akihiro Kanou, who was continuously rambling on, Lancer was also relieved. As expected, he had not found the wrong person.
––––––
Kureo Mado, sitting on the sofa and drinking coffee, smiled when he saw Lancer walking towards him.
"Are you done talking?"
Kureo Mado's very simple sentence immediately made Lancer originally excited expression become awkward.
"Mr. Mado..."
"No need to say anything. I trust my own judgment, and I also trust Doctor Akihiro Kanou."
The more the other party trusted him, the more Lancer felt uneasy. After all, even though he knew he was doing this to protect the other party, concealing things from someone who trusted him was quite a stressful matter.
And Akihiro Kanou, who was following behind Lancer, also shrugged and said nothing more.
Sitting in the returning car, Lancer would occasionally sneak a peek at Kureo Mado sitting beside him.
"Mr. Mado, do you think that researching food that ghouls can eat can improve the current standoff between humans and ghouls?"
Lancer asked a seemingly unintentional question, and Kureo Mado, who was originally dozing with his head down, was stunned for a moment, and then shook his head.
"Not likely. After all, just like human laws prohibit hunting protected animals, there are always some people who want to try something new, not to mention that even now, we cannot confirm whether ghouls preying on humans is due to instinct or some other reason, such as the fact that they will die if they don't eat humans."
Although he was just answering the question in all seriousness, Lancer was relieved, after all, the strange silence just now made him feel somewhat at a loss.
Lancer is a collection of contradictions. On the battlefield, no matter who the enemy is, he has the courage to swing his long spear. Even if the opponent is an insurmountable enemy, he will never surrender before making a move, but in daily life, he is extremely 'weak'. Simple gossip is enough to shake his heart. Although he has grown somewhat since the Empire incident and has learned to ignore the words of irrelevant people, he is still somewhat at a loss when faced with the changes in those he is familiar with...