Infinity, progressing from Arasaka

"Please convey my gratitude to Special Commissioner Shinohara. I will return a quinque to him."

Vera picked up the "Black Abyss III" briefcase, click. She pressed the fingerprint verification switch, buzz!

She held in her hand a two-handed knight's lance, about three meters long, entirely black with capillary-like patterns that shimmered with a purplish-red glow, its spearhead spiraled. It felt heavy in her hand. Compared to the Type I, it was heavier and larger.

Weighing the weight, Vera casually twirled the gun a few times, the air crackling with each swing.

Earthwalker A and B explained in a timely manner: "Based on 'Black Abyss II,' a second mixing and incorporation of Kagura has increased its hardness and weight. While retaining its variable protective wall and separable/combinable characteristics, the addition of the tail Kagura has stabilized its balance and high toughness, slightly enhancing its deformation..."

This is an explanation for Akira Mado.

"As expected of Dr. Earthwalker's work."

Vera nodded, placed "Black Abyss III" horizontally in front of her, and with a hum, it disappeared into her briefcase like a non-Newtonian liquid.

Compared to living kagune, quinques are dead bodies, and can only have a relatively stable shape and abilities according to a predetermined design, unlike kagune which can deform and stretch significantly.

"Black Abyss III" can expand, contract, and deform slightly, and can be separated, which is already a testament to the advanced skills of the Earth-type Armored Beasts.

Next up is "Gun III". The moment she opened the briefcase, the pinkish-white memory metal enveloped her left hand like a living thing. Compared to the Type II, the short gun barrel has extended from the wrist to the forearm and fits the arm better.

In addition to the main gun muzzle that originally fired explosive feather bullets, there are six smaller firing ports.

"The main material, the feather kagune, hasn't changed much in power, but I've added six rapid-fire ports using new feather kagune material. According to your design, this thing is meant to clear out 'grunts' below S-rank. The key to the adjusted quinque steel structure design is the integrated kinkune; its original owner must have engaged in cannibalism, resulting in regenerative abilities and extremely high plasticity..."

Before Di Xingjia and Yi could finish speaking, Wei stretched out her hand and tapped the armored surface of the cannon barrel.

In an instant, the pinkish-white cannon barrel armor retracted and extended, flashing red light, fitting her left arm like an arm armor with gauntlets, along with her fingers, palms, forearms, joints, and part of her upper arm.

As Vera moved her left arm, the tips of her five fingers sharpened and elongated the Quinque armor to a length of 3 inches, like a blade. Then, as her five fingers closed, they merged together, like a broad-bladed short sword...

boom.

Vera closed the silver-white box, showing no intention of putting Quink back into her briefcase.

"Ugh?"

Akira Mado blinked and paused for a moment.

"Do you have gloves?" Vera asked the two ground walkers. "Of course," he replied, clearly having anticipated Vera's actions.

"【Normal Quinque】is a small, compact weapon that fits snugly against the human body. While the project is tempting, controlling a Quinque is inherently very difficult. Maintaining a normal state requires constant focus and energy, and few people can do it. Russell, I don't recommend you do it."

As he spoke, he handed Vera a pair of white gloves.

"Give it a try. I know what I'm doing."

Vera glanced at the "Gun III" covering the cuffs of her suit, maintaining its ultra-thin gauntlet state, put on slightly oversized gloves, took a trench coat from Akira Mado, picked up "Black Abyss III" and the black gold box, and walked outside.

Why not give the new proto a try?

"No need. Doctor, after all, I am also one of its designers and participants in its production."

Upon hearing this, Earthwalker A and B smiled, hands in their pockets, "If you want to maintain the normal state, I've also prepared a box of Rc cell supply agents for you. Don't forget to take it." To maintain the quinque's state, an Rc cell supply is essential, especially in a continuously stimulated state.

“Xiao,” Vera simply said.

"Hmm." Mado Akira bowed neatly to the two men on the ground, picked up the box containing the Rc cell supply agent, and followed them.

Before leaving, Vera nodded to the ground crew: "Doctor, next time I'll give you a Kagura's Kagura bag."

"Don't die, Russell."

"of course."

...

In the main parking lot, in front of her car, Vera looked towards the 20th district. The sky was overcast and gloomy; it looked like it was going to rain.

She turned around and looked behind her.

Teams of investigators, dressed in white trench coats and carrying quinque cases, were already in position. These were four elite squads, each led by a senior investigator, transferred from Marude Sai.

"Set off."

------

Chapter 079 Vera is here, and the Anding District is in turmoil!

District 20.

cloudy day.

The sky was covered as if by a thick gray velvet cloth, with low-hanging clouds that seemed almost within reach, foreshadowing an impending rain.

The interior of the "Antique" café is currently closed and marked "Closed".

"The following is the latest news: Just now, according to the decision of the CCG and Chairman Tsuneyoshi Osamu, Special Officer Marude Sai has issued an order to dispatch additional investigators to the 11th, 13th, and 20th wards..."

The relaxed and pleasant atmosphere inside the store was instantly shattered by this unexpected news broadcast.

"Tch... Why would the CCG suddenly send investigators at a time like this?"

With her short, shoulder-length blue hair and blue eyes, the seemingly quiet and shy girl pouted in annoyance. She had just put on a green turtleneck hooded jacket and was about to leave when she suddenly lost all interest in going out. She sprawled on the sofa, crossed her legs in a very rebellious manner, and complained.

"It's precisely at times like these that we need to be patient, Touka-chan."

A man dressed as a coffee shop receptionist, with a suit-style haircut, light-colored hair, and a thick nose, crossed his arms and said in a deep voice:

"What is certain is that the CCG's sudden reinforcement of troops this time is not due to us. The continuous activities of 'Big Eater', 'Gecko', and 'Gourmet' in the 20th ward have attracted the CCG's attention... We were prepared for this."

“Kuma is right, our reserves of ‘corpse flesh’ are enough to sustain us for a while.” The mature woman with black hair and brown eyes, dressed similarly as a receptionist, nodded.

“During this period, Touka, all of us must be on high alert, especially you and Nishiki Nishio. Do not act impulsively or hurt anyone. Since the CCG has also reinforced its forces in the 11th district, it means that this case is a cross-regional case. As long as there is no major trouble in the 20th district, they will soon turn their attention to the 11th district.”

"Yes, Sister Xuan."

Although she was annoyed, the girl who was called 'Touka' still sat down properly and nodded seriously.

She was not a spoiled, rebellious girl who didn't know what was important or urgent.

She simply disliked this feeling of having to hide, like a rat in a sewer, unable to see the light of day.

They clearly also yearn for... an ordinary life under the sun.

Wearing a striped vest, with gray hair and wrinkles on his face, the elderly man, who looked very elegant, nodded gently with a kind smile.

As he continued making coffee, he turned to the handsome man standing next to him, who had silver hair and wore a simple, solid-colored turtleneck coat, and asked, "Sifang, what was the strange activity in Districts 14 and 13 a few days ago?"

"Manager, do you remember the news about the international inspection team that the North American CCG sent to Tokyo more than three months ago?" The man called 'Yoshika' looked around the room and spoke.

Immediately, everyone in the room put down what they were doing and what they were thinking, and listened attentively.

"The international inspection team?"

The old man looked thoughtful.

"Vera Adelheid Russell".

The man uttered a name that was clearly not Japanese, and pulled out a stack of old newspapers from his coat pocket. The front page headline was thick and bold, and Sifang pointed to a law enforcement officer's registration photo.

The others leaned forward.

She was a young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes.

He looked to be in his early twenties, with delicate features that exuded a certain air of authority. He had a dignified and upright appearance, appearing elegant and rational, yet his indifferent eyes revealed a strange sense of detachment.

You can tell at a glance that he holds a high position; he's the kind of official who bosses people around.

With a grim expression, Sifang said, "In Ward 14, a rookie leader-level ghoul organization with clear evidence of 'communist ghouling' was completely wiped out in one night by her. The 'White Suit' from Ward 13 was also involved for some reason, but was killed in retaliation, and his entire group was wiped out."

"That's not surprising."

Clang. The old man put down the pour-over kettle and opened his somewhat cloudy eyes.

The "white suit" represents Jason the Gecko's faction, and Jason has been appearing in Area 20 multiple times recently, so the CCG is clearly after him.

"Are even foreigners going to interfere with the ghoul situation in Japan?"

Touka grumbled discontentedly, "That foreign white dove is really petty."

Based on her simple, perhaps inaccurate, initial guess, it was because Jason's subordinate had bad luck and bumped into a high-ranking official from the USA region who was on patrol. The official was very unhappy, and as a result, District 13 would face a major sweep. District 20 was also drawn to White Dove's attention because of Jason's presence.

"Three months, and she still hasn't finished her inspection?"

She complained like that.

"Iruma... what do you think? This woman looks like the kind of troublesome one."

With a thick nose, Koma muttered something serious. He exchanged a glance with his former rival, a mature female colleague named Irimi Kaname. Their brows furrowed tightly, and the seriousness in their eyes was palpable.

Ghouls can increase the number of kagune (blood sacs) through shared consumption. Ghouls who have engaged in shared consumption are far stronger than those that hunt normally. The fact that they were all killed before they could even escape speaks volumes about the formidable foe they faced.

After finishing his explanation, he looked around and asked, "Touka, Kaneki, Mrs. Fueguchi, and Hinami, where are they?"

"Kaneki went home from get off work a little while ago. Mrs. Fueguchi and Hinami went to the bookstore to buy books..."

“At this point… just to be on the safe side.” The old man looked thoughtful. “Touka, Yomo… contact Kaneki and Mrs. Fueguchi. The 20th ward might not be safe anymore. Tell them to be prepared.”

...

"It is going to rain."

Inside the luxury Coaster business van bearing the CCG logo, Akira Mado turned her head.

"Russell, quasi-Special Class Officer?"