Big Madam only appeared female—in reality, she was a male ghoul.
This was undoubtedly tied to Big Madam's psychological perversions.
"Target SS-rated Big Madam—subjugation successful!"
...
Another underground warehouse.
This was not the same warehouse where Urie and Suzuya had hidden earlier.
Besides numerous ghoul VIPs and bodyguards, there was also a group of "merchandise" here—ordinary humans who had been auctioned.
Having located the victims, Byakuya prepared to act.
The one with Suzuya earlier was merely one of his Wood Clones. His true body was here, leading Mutsuki in the search for victims.
"We've already been discovered by the 'Doves'? This quickly?!"
"Don't be scared! There's only two of them. Let's rush them together!"
"Where are the bodyguards?! Get over here and protect us!"
"..."
The ghouls fell into chaos upon spotting Byakuya and Mutsuki.
Bodyguards immediately charged at them from all directions.
"Amaha-san, they're coming!"
Mutsuki called out in warning.
"..."
Byakuya stood motionless, not saying a word.
Yet in the next instant, the dozen-plus rushing bodyguards all collapsed before reaching him.
This was Byakuya's "Limbo: Border Jail" at work.
Four invisible shadows took down the bodyguards with nothing but fists and feet, stripping them of their fighting ability.
[Ding! Host has defeated a "B-rated ghoul." Reward: 5 Fusion Points!]
[Ding! Host has defeated an "A-rated ghoul." Reward: 10 Fusion Points!]
[...]
The bodyguards' strength varied, but all were small fry who fell to Byakuya's shadows in a single blow.
Mutsuki stared at the scene in stunned amazement.
She knew Director Amaha was incredibly powerful, but witnessing it firsthand was something else entirely. So many ghouls couldn't do a thing to him.
She wished she could be this powerful too, but she knew it was impossible for her...
"Surrender or die. Your choice."
Byakuya addressed the remaining ghouls with cold detachment.
Most of them were frozen, rooted to the spot in terror.
But quite a few refused to comply, trying to sneak away through another passage.
They couldn't escape Byakuya's eyes.
Universal Pull!
Byakuya randomly selected two lucky winners.
Using Universal Pull's gravitational force to seize control of them, he then launched them at the other rebellious ghouls like guided missiles.
Limbs flew everywhere.
Universal Pull's power was enough to shatter even a ghoul's formidable physical durability.
"AHHHHH——!"
"Please! Don't kill me!!"
Screams filled the air.
Some who hadn't yet been hit immediately dropped prone, clutching their heads, not daring to move.
Having made examples of a few troublemakers, the remaining ghouls became completely docile.
Some stood frozen in place. Others lay on the ground, trembling.
Byakuya had thoroughly cowed them all.
...
The civilians present were easily rescued, and the surrendering ghouls were taken into custody by arriving investigators. They would all be processed and sent to Cochlea Prison.
Most victims had been rescued, and the primary target, Big Madam, had been successfully eliminated—but the auction raid was not yet over.
Another ghoul faction was still fighting investigators.
The ones engaged with them were Ihei Squad—the squad led by Ihei Hairu.
Hairu was facing an SS-rated half-kakuja, along with multiple S and A-rated ghouls.
Among Ihei Squad, only Hairu herself possessed exceptional combat ability. The other members were rather mediocre—essentially one elite carrying multiple weak links. They were struggling.
"I never expected to encounter an enemy this strong beyond Big Madam."
Hairu gave a light flick of her wrist, shaking blood from her longsword-type Quinque.
She had already exchanged several blows with the enemy. When her opponent released their half-kakuja form, she had been temporarily forced back.
The enemy's left side and left arm were encased in massive blue kagune, the tips extending from the left hand into three enormous claws.
In half-kakuja form, the enemy had lost all reason and wouldn't respond.
"Kill... KILL YOU——!!"
The half-kakuja roared and charged at Hairu.
Hairu immediately retrieved her other briefcase containing her S+-rated ukaku Quinque: T-Human.
Just as she raised the cannon-type weapon to fire, the enemy's body suddenly twisted, seized by some unknown, invisible force and yanked away.
Ihei Squad was momentarily stunned—except for Hairu, who reacted fastest.
Seeming to realize what had happened, she immediately turned. Sure enough, she spotted Byakuya.
"Byakuya-senpai!"
Hairu waved excitedly.
Byakuya was simultaneously using Universal Pull to slam the half-kakuja into a wall while walking toward Hairu.
"You really did run into trouble."
Byakuya smiled.
CRASH!
At the same time, Universal Pull smashed the half-kakuja through the wall.
The ghoul was still alive. After a brief rest, it roared again and charged on all fours like a hunting dog.
But Byakuya didn't even turn to look. With a mere thought, the ghoul's body shot toward the ceiling, beyond its control.
CRASH!
CRASH!
"..."
Nearly every floor's ceiling was smashed through before the ghoul finally plummeted back down, creating a massive crater.
At last, it lay there, barely clinging to life, with only its fingers twitching feebly.
[Ding! Host has defeated an "SS-rated ghoul." Reward: 50 Fusion Points!]
"I'll leave the finishing blow to you," Byakuya said to Hairu. "I won't steal your credit."
...
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