After Amaha Byakuya and Kasuka Mado explained, Kiyoko Aura also learned about Kasuka Mado's resurrection.
"I never imagined that after all these years, I'd be able to see you again."
Kiyoko Aura sighed with emotion.
Eleven years ago, Kasuka Mado had been her senior.
At that time, Kasuka Mado was already an Associate Special Class Investigator and the strongest female investigator. Back then, almost all female investigators looked up to Kasuka Mado as their role model.
Although Kiyoko Aura had later risen to become the only female Special Class Investigator, Kasuka Mado still held a high place in her heart.
"Kiyoko, with your abilities, you must have become at least Associate Special Class or even Special Class by now, right?"
Kasuka Mado asked with a smile.
"Yes, I somehow managed to become a Special Class Investigator..."
Kiyoko Aura said quite modestly.
"Come now, what do you mean 'somehow'? The Special Class rank is exactly where someone of your ability belongs."
Kasuka Mado said.
"Well, you two continue catching up. I need to go handle some other matters."
At that point, Marude went off to attend to his own business.
"So many years have passed, and everyone has grown. Kureo and Akira are both Associate Special Class Investigators now too."
Kasuka Mado remarked with feeling.
"But everyone's also gotten older. Meanwhile, Mado-senpai is still so young—that's something countless people would envy."
Kiyoko Aura said. "Speaking of which, if Mado-san hadn't kept refusing promotions, he probably would have been a Special Class Investigator by now."
Kureo Mado's abilities were definitely more than sufficient. His intuition was practically a cheat-level existence. The fact that he had trained both Yukinori Shinohara and Kousuke Houji—two future Special Class Investigators—spoke volumes.
As for why he was killed by Touka and Hinami in the original story, firstly he hadn't expected Hinami to have two types of kagune, and secondly his equipment couldn't keep up.
The weapons Kureo Mado used were always Quinques he had developed himself. Limited by his rank as a First Class Investigator, he couldn't carry very powerful Quinques.
The strongest Quinque he had developed himself was the dual-mode, roughly S-class Koukaku "Kura." But he never used it himself—he left it for his subordinate, Koutarou Amon.
A Quinque's power directly determined an investigator's upper limit. Kureo Mado had been limited by his investigator rank and Quinque level. Otherwise, in terms of both ability and contribution to the CCG, he absolutely met the standards for Special Class.
He would have been among the more formidable of the current Special Class Investigators.
"Refusing promotions? That does sound like Kureo. But he eventually made it to Associate Special Class, so it seems he came around."
Kasuka Mado said.
"That's basically all thanks to Byakuya."
Kiyoko Aura turned to look at Amaha Byakuya.
"..."
Amaha Byakuya could only smile awkwardly. How did the topic end up on him again...
"I can imagine. Byakuya really is the best son-in-law in the world."
Kasuka Mado's face was full of delighted smiles.
Byakuya as a son-in-law was immensely satisfying to her, and she couldn't stop praising him.
"..."
Hearing Kasuka Mado refer to Byakuya as a son-in-law, a subtle change came over Kiyoko Aura's expression.