On the other side of the battlefield, Shuu Tsukiyama paid no attention to Ken Kaneki.
He led Kanae straight toward the emergency exit. Unfortunately, what he didn't know was that this so-called emergency passage had long been scouted by Uesugi Ryu, who had already relayed all relevant intel.
As for Ken Kaneki and Madam A, he had not arranged any defenses on their side.
Firstly, due to a lack of manpower, apart from himself, no one here could stop Kaneki.
Secondly, there was simply no need. After all, that was his dear friend. The massive gain they were reaping today was entirely thanks to the information provided by Kaneki.
Just as they reached the not-so-spacious exit of the passageway, two figures silently emerged, blocking their escape.
"Amon-kun, looks like we've got ourselves some real VIPs," said Kureo Mado, lifting the Quinque longsword in his hand, his face barely able to contain his twisted glee.
Koutarou Amon stared coldly at Shuu Tsukiyama and Kanae, both hands gripping his Quinque tightly.
Tsukiyama's brows furrowed, a look of surprise flickering across his face. This hidden passage, he had never told Kaneki about it. So how did the CCG know?
Kanae stepped protectively in front of Tsukiyama, her expression firm and resolute.
"My lord, please, go through the other side. I'll hold them off!"
Tsukiyama's face darkened, shifting between emotions. In his mind, he murmured:
"Kaneki-kun really has changed. Coldly selling out his closest friend like this... But that's exactly what makes you so much more delicious now."
With a crisp snap of his fingers, a deep violet, spiral-shaped kagune unfurled from his shoulder blades, swiftly wrapping around his arm.
He chuckled lightly and asked, in his usual gentlemanly tone:
"Mr. White, would you mind letting us through~?"
Kureo Mado suddenly let out a wild laugh. His lips curled back to reveal teeth glinting with icy menace. His eyes locked onto Tsukiyama's kagune like a starving wolf, and he showed a trace of regret.
"That's unfortunate. The answer is no. Beautiful kagune you've got there. Amon, a koukaku Quinque like that would suit you perfectly, wouldn't it?"
Amon's expression turned grim, his gaze fixed intensely on the kagune. In that moment, he understood its owner's identity.
He took a deep breath and said solemnly,
"S-rated ghoul... Gourmet!"
Meanwhile, Kanae glared furiously at Kureo Mado's greedy face. Rage surged within her like an ignited blaze.
Seeing this, Tsukiyama said nothing more. With a fierce swing of his arm, his kagune lashed out like lightning, streaking toward Mado's chest.
Amon reacted instantly. Gripping his massive sword with both hands, he swung it hard, intercepting the attack.
Clang!
A deafening metallic clash rang out as the blade and kagune collided, sending a burst of bright sparks into the air.
Battle had broken out in an instant.
Mado's green longsword traced a sharp arc through the air, precisely blocking Kanae's ferocious barrage.
Simultaneously, Amon and Tsukiyama engaged in a brutal melee. Both were power types; their sword and blade collided repeatedly, each clash thunderous, scattering embers with every strike.
Tension reached a breaking point across the battlefield.
Mado pivoted sideways and slashed through one of Kanae's kagune tendrils. Yet she paid no heed, pressing forward with her assault.
Mado sneered, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.
"A loyal little servant, huh? Dying with your master... not the worst way to go!"
Kanae said nothing. She abruptly turned and sprinted toward Tsukiyama.
Mado's blade caught her left arm, tearing open a deep gash that sprayed blood.
"My lord! Run!"
Tsukiyama's expression hardened. His opponents were formidable, he couldn't bring them down in a short time. Watching Kanae shielding him even while injured, he found himself torn.
Then a chilling voice cut in:
"No one's leaving. You're all going to die here."
Fura Taishi appeared behind them with another First-Class Investigator. Their Quinques were stained with fresh blood, clearly having just come from another battle.
"Four against two, I'd say we have the upper hand," said the other First-Class Investigator with a confident grin.
But just then-Boom!
A deafening crash rang out! One of the walls to the side shattered like paper, pulverized into rubble.
Chunks of debris and choking dust filled the air as a new figure emerged from the haze.
Clad in a black women's suit, with a massive shield in her left hand and a gleaming lance in her right, Matsumae charged in like a war goddess bursting from the shadows.
In a flash, her lance roared like a dragon, aiming straight at Amon.
His face shifted in alarm as he quickly dodged. Yet even so, the wind pressure from the strike scraped his cheek raw.
Just one blow, and Amon was forced to retreat several steps.
At that moment, Kanae reached Tsukiyama and regrouped with him.
Under the pale moonlight, Matsumae stood tall beside Tsukiyama like a knight of medieval legend, loyal, unwavering.
Her beautiful face showed no emotion as she spoke softly, "My lord, are you all right? Please, leave this place. I'll hold them off."
Seeing her arrive, Tsukiyama finally let out a breath of relief. He trusted her strength absolutely.
Without wasting words, he grabbed Kanae and turned to flee.
Mado watched their backs disappear, his brows slightly furrowed, lost in thought.
"Judging from this... the power behind this so-called 'Gourmet' may be far greater than I ever imagined..."
At the front line, Matsumae stood firm, lance in hand, blocking the investigators like a mountain. Under the overhead lights, her lance gleamed with a chilling brilliance, silently declaring her unshakable resolve.
Mado glanced helplessly at the other First-Class Investigator and sighed.
"Fura, we're treating this one like an SS-rated ghoul. Prepare yourself."
Fura Taishi's eyes narrowed, tension thick in his voice.
"Yeah, got it. Command's yours, Mado."
In the shadows, Mephisto silently watched the scene unfold. Its sharp claws gleamed with malice, its gaze fixed solely on Matsumae.
Previously, she had hidden herself among ordinary ghouls, evading Uesugi Ryu's surveillance. It wasn't until chaos erupted that she revealed herself and rushed in pursuit of Tsukiyama.