Helping Kaneki Ken had been nothing more than a casual act for Kyo, something done on a whim.
What truly concerned him was the shadowy hand operating behind the scenes Kano Akihiro. Kyo knew all too well that this man was the real culprit who had turned Kaneki Ken into a ghoul.
"I wonder just how far that bastard's experiments have progressed by now?"
"Rize should be in his hands at this point, right?"
In the original story, Rize had not been crushed to death by the steel beams. Instead, she had been taken away by Furuta Nimura, delivered to Kano as an experimental mother body. In the end, Kano had even used Rize to create the horrifying existence known as "Dragon," a calamity that nearly wiped D-City off the map entirely.
"I've always hated scheming trash like that. Really hope I run into him someday so I can cut him down with a single slash," Kyo muttered inwardly.
...
Ward 24.
Deep underground, within an enormous subterranean laboratory, Kano Akihiro was busy working in front of his computer.
Just then, the telephone beside him rang.
"Hello? What is it?" Kano asked as he picked up the call.
"Doctor, the people we sent to tail Kaneki Ken have been killed," a man's voice reported from the other end.
"Oh, I see. Then send someone else to monitor him. This time, be more discreet. Those reference data are very important."
Kano gave the order calmly.
"Yes, Doctor."
After hanging up, Kano walked over to a cylindrical cultivation tank filled with green solution.
Inside, a female body floated up and down.
Staring at that figure, Kano's eyes burned with fanatic enthusiasm.
"As expected of the most outstanding mother body from the Washuu bloodline. Although the first experimental subject I created wasn't perfect enough, once I gained experience, subsequent experiments have only become smoother. The probability of success will continue to rise."
"Still… what I need now are experimental materials. A great many experimental materials," Kano murmured to himself.
Suddenly, with a soft beep, the laboratory's main door slid open.
Two figures entered one tall, one short. They were none other than Takatsuki Sen and Tatara.
Behind Tatara, his kagune dragged along a long chain of corpses.
"Doctor Kano, these are today's experimental subjects," Takatsuki Sen said in a pleasant, melodious voice.
"More test subjects already? Excellent. Some of my hypotheses can finally be put into practice," Kano said with delight.
"Doctor," Takatsuki Sen continued, "you've been researching ghoul organ transplantation into humans for quite some time now. How is it going? Have you made any breakthrough progress?"
She cared deeply about this question.
Aogiri Tree was expanding at a rapid pace, yet it was critically lacking in top-tier combat strength.
Back then, she had heard about Kano's hypothesis that humans implanted with ghoul organs had a certain probability of giving birth to one-eyed ghouls. That was precisely why she had been so supportive of his experiments.
As a one-eyed ghoul herself, she understood better than anyone how terrifying they were practically royalty among ghouls, possessing boundless potential.
If Kano truly could manufacture one-eyed ghouls, even if their potential was only half of hers, they would still be terrifyingly powerful. At that point, Aogiri Tree's shortage of high-end combat power would be resolved.
"Hahahaha, Miss Eto, you came at just the right time. My experiment has just achieved a breakthrough," Kano said, laughing loudly.
As he spoke, he handed a tablet over to Takatsuki Sen.
Displayed on it were detailed records of Kaneki's transplantation surgery involving Rize's internal organs.
Takatsuki Sen took the tablet and carefully flipped through the data. More than ten minutes later, she looked up at Kano with clear delight in her eyes.
"Not bad. Doctor, you truly didn't disappoint me."
"You actually managed to cultivate a one-eyed ghoul. But Doctor, why did you let him remain outside?"
"It's mainly to study whether this experimental subject will lose control in an external environment, as well as to observe his natural growth trajectory."
"If he were kept inside the laboratory and his development forcibly interfered with through violent means, it could result in catastrophic consequences. There's a very high chance the experimental subject would be destroyed."
Kano spoke with a grave expression.
"Doctor, is there any way to speed up the experiment? Aogiri Tree needs this power."
"What we require are tools, tools that can clear away obstacles for us. Doctor, you understand what I mean, don't you?"
Takatsuki Sen said calmly.
The Takatsuki Sen of this world differed greatly from her personality in the original story.
In the original, she leaned toward finding someone with both strength and character to inherit the position of the One-Eyed King, resolving the hatred between humans and ghouls and allowing the two species to coexist in lasting peace.
But the Takatsuki Sen of this world was clearly far more murderous in nature. Her creed had always been simple only when strength is equal does one earn the right to negotiate. If you remain weak forever, then peace will never exist.
Her ideology was not flawed in the slightest. In the original story, humanity was only able to achieve temporary peace with ghouls because of the emergence of the all-destroying Dragon, as well as the invention of food that ghouls could consume. Otherwise, true peace between the two races would have been impossible.
"There are ways to rapidly enhance the experimental subject's strength. I also have many hypotheses grounded in actual data," Kano said.
"However, once those methods are used, the subject's personality may fracture. There's even a chance he could become an extremely dangerous creature."
Kano issued a warning.
"It doesn't matter. Just do it," Takatsuki Sen replied indifferently.
"Very well. Then I will retrieve the experimental subject as soon as possible…"
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