Infinity, progressing from Arasaka

It was a small person covered in bandages, wearing a loose pink overcoat with ripped sleeves and a hood. Although the bandages obscured her face, her body shape suggested she was female.

"Who is it? Which special agent has waited until the 14th ward, or is it Arima...?"

Swaying on top of the refrigerator, barefoot, with her calves tightly wrapped in bandages, the short man called Aite paused for a moment before asking. His tone seemed devoid of sadness or anger, rather lighthearted.

"It's Vera Adelheid Russell..."

"This name isn't Japanese?"

Aite let out a soft "Eh".

"American citizen."

The man in white calmly relayed the information he knew.

"An elite agent from the North American Regional Ghoul Countermeasures and Control Agency was transferred from North America to the Tokyo Ghoul Countermeasures Bureau in Japan about three months ago."

“Oh? I remember now… news from over three months ago. According to an unnamed source from the CCG, people from a high-level foreign organization came to Tokyo for an inspection…” Aite said with some surprise and a hint of mockery in his voice, “They stayed for three months and didn’t leave? Shouldn’t they have left after gilding their resumes?”

"Perhaps, but at least that Russell isn't. According to the intelligence I just gathered, she spends most of her time in the CCG headquarters in Zone 1 after arriving in Tokyo. In her spare time, she either goes to high-end restaurants or hunts ghouls. She has already hunted a large number of S-rank ghouls and even ghouls she has 'co-eaten' with."

"While we don't know exactly what she did at CCG headquarters, it's certain that her quinque seemed to be changed every time she appeared..."

The man's tone remained calm, but the moment he spoke of 'Kinker replacement,' his eyes darkened, became bloodshot, and a blood-red glint appeared in his eyes.

The origins of the Quinques are common knowledge among ghouls.

Every time White Dove changes her Quinque, it means that at least one ghoul with an awakened kagune predatory organ has been killed. And the Quinque that Vera, a glamorous senior investigator transferred from the North American region, uses must be an S-rank or higher kagune.

Perhaps he was simply a ruthless commander who didn't care about the casualties of his ghoul subordinates, but any ghoul with a kagune would feel disgusted and annoyed by such a pure-hearted dove who viewed ghouls as experimental subjects.

"You mean..."

Aite's hoarse voice sounded softly, devoid of joy or sorrow, seemingly devoid of any emotional fluctuation, "She is studying, or perhaps researching and experimenting with her own quinque manufacturing technology..."

Should I send someone to probe the matter?

"Forget it. Too much trouble... Her identity is too troublesome. If she's weak, we'll just be sending her quinque raw materials; if she's strong, she'll be too conspicuous. If things get deadlocked, or if she gets angry and asks the US military in Japan for help... we'll be dealing with more than just the 'Washu' and the CCG..."

Aite thoughtfully wiggled her little feet, bent her knees and gently pushed off, landing on the shoulder of a silent figure who was completely covered up and wearing a white, giant-mouthed mask.

"Well, Mr. Tatara... I'll take care of her."

"Aite, are you planning to use your human identity...?"

...

District 1.

In the early morning, Vera arrived at the headquarters of the Ghoul Countermeasures Bureau in an official car as usual. After passing through the Rc detection gate, she walked towards the direct elevator to the floor of Countermeasures Section II amidst polite greetings.

"Russell, Class A. Your coffee."

"Thank you."

During the brief wait for the elevator, Vera accepted the coffee handed to her by the receptionist.

CCG headquarters offers free tea, coffee, black tea, green tea, and soft drinks, but most people drink coffee because they are tired from the early shift.

Ding.

The floor where Countermeasures II is located.

Holding a corrugated cup in one hand, Vera pushed open the door to the reception hall of Section II and immediately spotted her junior adjutant.

Sitting on the sofa, dressed in a standard office lady suit, with blonde hair and blue eyes, her hair up and a cold expression, she was intently reviewing a briefing.

"20th ward, Mado Class 2... Looks like she misses her family."

Hearing Vera's voice, she turned her head, quickly stood up, and bowed slightly, saying, "Special Secretary Russell, thank you for your care over the past two months. Just call me Akira." Akira Mado also noticed Vera's gaze on the section of the briefing about the current situation in District 20.

“I’m just a little worried about my father… Ever since my mother was killed by ‘Owl,’ my father, who used to be so family-oriented, has changed. He’s been hunting ghouls like a madman… I’m afraid he’ll act impulsively…” she replied.

There's nothing wrong with admitting it; Vera is her direct superior. And everyone knows about her father, Mado Kureo's obsession with expelling and killing all ghouls.

"Jason, the 'Gecko' in the white suit, has been spotted in District 20..."

Vera naturally reached out and took the briefing from Akira Mado, then read it aloud.

She thought of Akira Mado's father, that hunched-over middle-aged man with sickly, uneven eyes.

A vengeful man who lost his wife due to a ghoul attack.

As for this 'Gecko' Jason, the half-Hercules, and—what is 1000-7?

"At least an S+ level Regalia..."

As she commented, Vera gestured for Akira Mado to follow her while quickly browsing through the information in other sections.

"While that old man is experienced, it's a difference in raw skill. If they really met, he wouldn't be Jason's match. Do you want to go to District 20 and fight alongside your father?"

"Ah? I...you've been too kind to me." It was clear that Akira Mado longed to see her father and fight alongside him, but she calmly shook her head. "The mission of Associate Special Agent Russell is the top priority. I am your adjutant."

As she spoke, she stopped and bowed to Vera again.

"Please forgive my rudeness regarding what happened the night before last... My personal strength is indeed lacking, and if I were to join you in battle, it would distract you and seriously disrupt your combat rhythm. But I will try my best!"

"The early distribution of the Quinque equipment, and the opportunity to participate in several operations to exterminate A-rank ghouls as a freshman... Your extra care will be forever remembered by Akatsuki."

“Not bad, a spirited attitude.” Stopping in her tracks, Vera closed the briefing, shrugged, and said with a faint smile, “After all, I was the one who took you from the ‘White Death’.”

Akira Mado graduated with top marks from the Ghoul Investigator Training School. According to the original timeline, she should have spent her internship with Kishou Arima's team on missions before receiving news of her father's death in the line of duty.

In this timeline, Vera, who was transferred from the North American region to Tokyo, naturally received courteous treatment from the CCG's high-ranking officials. Regardless of what they thought, they had to be treated with respect.

Because Vera was a foreigner and might not understand the local situation, she was specially assigned an adjutant. Then, Vera selected Akira Mado from the list of graduates.

"The treatment we give him should naturally not be less than his. Hmm, let's go, Xiao."

Using a more intimate form of address, Vera headed toward the meeting room of Countermeasures Section II.

Akira Mado paused for a moment, then quickly followed Vera.

"Sir, do you really think killing ghouls is upholding justice?"

The relationship seemed to grow much closer in that instant, she asked thoughtfully.

"Naturally, it's to uphold justice, to kill and eliminate all ghouls that pose a threat or have a criminal record, to contain and control all ghouls that have been left out, and incidentally to accumulate merits and seniority for promotion."

There was nothing to hide. Vera frankly admitted the reason she was transferred to Tokyo: to borrow the heads of you ghouls.

"After all, by the time I joined the company, the ghouls in North America had been basically wiped out. There were only a handful left, and they were all very good at hiding. It was no fun. Tokyo was much better. Ghouls were everywhere, and ghoul fighting was the norm. There was no shortage of kagune to kill or kagune to worry about."

She makes no attempt to hide her malice towards ghouls, and mocks the anti-ghoul efforts in Tokyo.

"Although I know what you said is true, as a CCG investigator in Japan, I feel ashamed..."

"Shame leads to change. Slaughter and purge all the guilty ghouls, and restore a bright and clear world to the citizens of Tokyo."

"That was an unexpected answer. I thought you and my father were the same kind of people..."

"He is the Avenger, I am the enforcer."

Wow.

Not wanting to pat Makoto on the shoulder, Vera wouldn't spout any nonsense about letting go of hatred. Don't advise others to be kind if you haven't experienced their suffering. Then, she pushed open the door to the meeting room of the Countermeasures Headquarters, Section II.

"...Those guys are clearly carrying out an organized and premeditated operation. Citizens are being attacked, investigators are being injured or killed... The situation is deteriorating rapidly, and it's only a matter of time before a larger-scale ghoul riot breaks out. I need to emphasize again, this is the current state of Area 11, and we must..."

On the conference room stage, a middle-aged man with a dark purple center-parted hairstyle, a hooked nose, a high jaw, a suit and tie, and a rather imposing and mean-spirited appearance was spitting as he spoke.

The seat nameplate reads: Marutei.

CCG Special Investigator, Head of Countermeasures Section II, Commander of District 1.

Just then, he heard the sound of the conference room door opening and closing. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw Vera walking over, holding a corrugated cup, waving at him.

"It's Russell, Associate Special Class One. Thank you for your help with the matters in Area 14." Immediately, Marude Sai raised an eyebrow, tapping his finger lightly on the table as he suggested, "What about Area 11..."

"Stop, stop, stop, Marute Special Grade, you really are using it to the extreme because it's so useful."

Vera, who was shaking her head, sat down next to Marude Sai after stepping onto the stage. She took a sip of coffee and said casually, "I just happened to be passing by and wanted to give you a report. I'm planning to go to the 20th ward."

"Hiss... Ward 20, Anteiku. Mado and Amon just went there to conduct a search."

"Now even you're going to the 20th ward... That makes sense, the 11th ward's leader 'Oogami' and the 13th ward's 'Gecko' Jason both have traces of activity in the 20th ward... Oh, and recently there's been another 'Gourmet,' so it's normal that you're attracted to him... But I think it's more than that. Mado's only daughter is your adjutant, right... No wonder, do you want to fight alongside your daughter?"

Marutei stroked his chin.

"What a considerate and good superior, Russell."

Although he had only been working with Vera, who had been transferred from the North American region, for about three months, she was truly effective.

Perhaps the other party prefers to have Dr. A and B (the chief researcher of the CCG research lab) study quinque technology, but that doesn't prevent her from obtaining the White Single Wing Badge and the Silver Wood Osmanthus Badge.

The White Single Wing Badge is an award given for expelling an S-class ghoul; the Silver Osmanthus Badge is awarded to investigators who expel more than 50 but less than 100 ghouls each year.

Vera only took less than three months, and spent most of her time in the Quink manufacturing laboratory.

Marude Sai guessed that, given the opportunity, Vera would soon obtain the White Wing Badge to expel SS-rank ghouls. She was a monster with talent, just like Arima.

"Zone 14."

Vera rested her chin on her hand and looked at Marutei Sai with her profile.

“After I wiped out the local 'common ghoul' forces, I discovered that an external organization had appeared, seemingly wanting to recruit the ghouls of Ward 14. After I dealt with them, I found a large number of members of Ward 13’s 'white suits' under their uniform robes. Those robes…” Vera pointed to the central screen.

[This Month's Report for the 11 Districts]

[Predation-related deaths: 358]

Number of predation victims: 47

Number of ghoul encounters: 1,581

"It matches the organized and premeditated ghoul gangs in Area 11 that are carrying out their operations."

"So, that means Ward 11, Ward 13, Ward 14... Damn it!" *Bang!* Slamming his hand on the table, Marude Sai's face turned serious. "These cockroaches, they're up to no good."