Chapter 58: Staged Performance
[Ding! The host successfully prevented "Gecko" and Mado Kureo from killing Fueguchi Asaki, and received a reward: 50 fusion points!]
[Note: If Fueguchi Asaki dies within a short period of time, the host's 50 fusion points will be taken back!]
After receiving the system reward, Kanzaki Ryoma was immediately satisfied.
Although the condition requiring Fueguchi Asaki to survive for a while was still in place, Kanzaki didn't find it particularly troublesome.
The system's prompt sounded again.
[Ding! The host activated a task and opened the god-level choice!]
[Choice 1: Stop in time to avoid subsequent troubles, and receive a reward: 1 fusion point!]
[Choice 2: Protect Fueguchi Ryoko and Fueguchi Hinami, and receive a reward: 50 fusion points!]
"Let's go, Amon. It's almost time for us to head back, and I should also go request a new Quinque," Mado Kureo muttered.
The broken Quinque was put back into its case by Mado Kureo for recycling. For him, even a damaged Quinque held value for future study or parts.
Amon Kotaro nodded, then followed Mado out of the clinic.
However, not long after they left, Mado suddenly turned around without a word and headed back toward the clinic.
Amon, puzzled by Mado's behavior, silently followed him.
Mado didn't peek inside directly but instead pressed his ear against the wall.
His instincts told him Kanzaki Ryoma might be trying to protect the ghoul.
By listening carefully through the wall, Mado hoped to confirm his suspicions.
However, to Mado's surprise, he only heard the sound of someone being beaten and wailing in pain — unmistakably Fueguchi Asaki's voice.
Kanzaki's cold voice rang out from inside.
"Next time, cooperate with us obediently, understand? This is the only value you have left."
Satisfied with what he heard, Mado entered the clinic.
Inside, Kanzaki was still hitting Fueguchi Asaki while maintaining a cold expression.
Seeing Mado step inside, Kanzaki quickly stopped, his expression shifting.
"I just accidentally dropped something," Kanzaki said, his tone calm.
Mado took the opportunity to retrieve some small Quinque fragments from the floor — remnants he had deliberately left behind earlier as a test.
"..."
Kanzaki said nothing, and once Mado and Amon left again, he resumed his previous act.
This time, Mado and Amon walked far enough away not to return.
"Mr. Mado, just now..." Amon started, confused.
"I thought Kanzaki was trying to protect that ghoul, but I guess I was wrong. He's indeed an excellent newcomer," Mado muttered.
"Yeah, he's far better than I was when I started. Honestly, he's better than I am even now," Amon said with a serious nod.
Meanwhile, back in the clinic, Kanzaki only stopped after confirming Mado and Amon were out of sight.
Fueguchi Asaki, bruised and bloodied, groaned in pain on the floor. His face was swollen, and blood poured from his broken nose.
Sitting calmly in a chair, Kanzaki casually crossed his legs like nothing had happened.
"With your regeneration, you'll heal soon enough," Kanzaki said flatly. "Do you hate me?"
"..."
Fueguchi Asaki froze, as though something suddenly clicked in his mind.
"No... I don't hate you. I should say... I'm extremely grateful."
Fueguchi Asaki bowed deeply, pressing his head to the floor.
He had realized Kanzaki's beating had been staged — a performance to fool Mado and Amon. Kanzaki's blows were calculated to be non-lethal, and all his injuries would heal naturally.
Compared to dying outright at Mado's hands, this was a far better outcome.
This young investigator had saved his life.
"No need to thank me," Kanzaki muttered. "Just stay out of my way, and this will save me the trouble of explaining things to you."
He helped Fueguchi Asaki back to his feet.
As Asaki guessed, Kanzaki's earlier actions had been to eliminate Mado's suspicion. Kanzaki knew Mado's instincts were razor-sharp, so he'd deliberately staged the scene to mislead him.
"This is what you get for cooperating with CCG. Now find a place to hide, and don't let 'Gecko' track you down," Kanzaki warned.
"Understood!" Fueguchi Asaki nodded gratefully.
Without another word, Kanzaki turned and left.
This was as far as Kanzaki was willing to go. If Fueguchi Asaki still ended up dying after this, Kanzaki figured it was on him. Losing 50 fusion points was better than wasting time protecting someone who couldn't keep himself alive.
But Fueguchi Asaki wasn't foolish. He knew to hide somewhere far away, hoping to reunite with his wife and daughter once the situation calmed down.
---
Later that evening, Kanzaki returned to the CCG branch in the 19th Ward.
Koori Ui had already finished his assignment and had heard from Mado about Kanzaki's recent actions.
"I heard from Mado that you ran into 'Gecko' and did well. Is that true?" Ui asked as Kanzaki walked in.
"It's true," Kanzaki confirmed with a slight nod.
"I'm honestly surprised. 'Gecko' is an S-rated ghoul whose profile hasn't been updated for quite a while. The fact that you held your own against him is impressive."
Ui's voice carried a hint of admiration.
"It's no big deal. He wasn't even fighting at full strength," Kanzaki replied humbly.
Though in reality, Kanzaki hadn't gone all out either.
"Still, you faced an S-rank ghoul head-on — that's unheard of for a second-class investigator. Even Mado hasn't given such high praise to a rookie before," Ui said approvingly.
"In fact," Ui added, "Arima himself seems to have taken notice of you. Ihei Shio has mentioned it as well."