Infinity, progressing from Arasaka

The cockroach theory states that if you see one cockroach in your home, there are countless others lurking in the shadows.

"Russell, Ward 20 is now in your hands. If the situation is true, Mado-san and the garrison in Ward 20 are no match for 'Oogami' and Jason. What are your needs...?"

"No, just lend me your prized motorcycle for a spin..."

"Stop! Stop, stop..." Marude Sai immediately glared and said, "Stop thinking about my motorcycle, I'll buy you one, let's get down to business."

"It's not yours, it just doesn't feel right when I drive it."

I don't know if it's just my imagination, but Vera seems to really enjoy talking to these old... uh, no, I mean, middle-aged men. Arima Kishou is too calculating, Shinohara, Kuroiwa, and Hoji are too rigid, but Marude's personality is much more interesting.

"You woman, you have such a terrible personality."

"Likewise. Marude and cruel Marute."

Below the stage, a group of senior and first-class investigators twitched their eyes, suppressing laughter as they watched the two special agents stray from the topic. Even the prospective special agents were being referred to as "special agents."

The banter ended quickly.

After all, business was important, and Vera knew when to stop. The atmosphere could be lightened a bit, and some casual conversation with colleagues could help strengthen relationships, but it shouldn't be overdone. Back to business.

"Give me four teams, with top-notch team leaders."

"Wow, quite the ambition. But as you can see," Marude pointed to the large screen behind him, "the situation in Area 11 is worse than I thought. I'm preparing to reinforce our manpower, in terms of troop strength..."

"For now. After I've dealt with the troubles in District 20, I'm going to station myself in District 11."

"Okay, it's settled."

...

Squeak.

"Let's go, Akatsuki. Target: District 20."

Stepping out of the conference room, Vera straightened her slightly wrinkled uniform and spoke to Akira Mado.

"Now?"

"No rush, let's go see Dr. Earthwalker first. I have new Quinque weapons..."

------

Chapter 078 Ghouls and Quinque, Quinque and Vera

The surrounding buildings of the Tokyo Ghoul Countermeasures Bureau headquarters.

Vera stepped into the massive, two-story building with high steps, a high foundation, and a towering entrance adorned with the CCG emblem of 'a white dove with outstretched wings and a bud-shaped cross'.

They navigated the winding, circuitous route with practiced ease, passing through layers of Rc inspection gates.

Soon, Vera, accompanied by her junior officer who was carrying her trench coat, met the chief researcher of the CCG research lab who was busy at the workshop's control panel.

Knock knock, Vera gently knocked on the door frame.

"Dr. Earthwalker".

Hearing the door switch open and someone shout, he turned his head somewhat slowly at first, then looked at the person with a look of surprise and delight.

"Russell, First Class Officer".

"Doctor, one S+ grade Kagune, one S grade Ukagune, one S grade Rinkaku, and countless A grade Kagune packs, some complete and some incomplete, and Kagune in their unfolded state... Your work efficiency is truly astonishing. Have you used up all the materials so quickly?"

Following behind Vera, the junior adjutant, Mado Akira, curiously observed this CCG's top expert in ghoul research and a veteran quinque creator.

Influenced by her father, Mado Kureo, she was passionate about quinque research and design courses when she was in the investigator training school, and she had long admired the famous Dr. Jigoku Kou.

At first glance, he looks very ordinary and refined, with dark green hair styled in a mushroom cut, his bangs covering his eyes, and a unkempt mustache. He wears a short-sleeved shirt under a white coat, giving off a completely unkempt vibe.

She also seemed to have dark circles under her eyes.

Very standard, fitting the stereotypical image of an academic researcher or bookworm.

However, the PhD student didn't pay any attention to her at that moment, perhaps mistaking her for an administrative secretary.

"The 'New Proto' living armor-type Quinque project."

Standing up, Earthwalker A and B noticed Vera's gaze and enthusiastically pointed to the wriggling mass of dark red Hatsuno cells on the workbench, explaining:

"In order to test the extent of its backlash on the user, and whether it has a similar 'common ghoul' ability to devour ghouls in battle, I need to consume a large number of low-level ghouls' kagune."

As he spoke, he lightly touched a button on the workbench, and instantly, a sharp sound rang out!

The long, writhing kagune turned red and expanded, following the predetermined structure of the memory metal 'Quinck Steel,' becoming plastic, condensed, and solidified, interwoven and interlocking like giant steel teeth, forming a set of matte black living kagune armor.

Vera stepped forward and tapped the carapace, producing a dull, metallic sound.

Seemingly sensing flesh and blood, the armor itself, the solidified carapace surface, was filled with blood vessels, and a dark red light flowed within it like blood. Clusters of tentacle-like fleshy buds wriggled and forked, tugging at Wei's outstretched fingers.

She tried to cover the fingers within reach, but Vera flicked them aside.

"It's still somewhat unstable."

Earthly A and B shrugged.

"The requirements from above are that at least a safety threshold needs to be set, controlled by the user, so that the backlash can be kept within an acceptable and recoverable range before maximizing activation performance. In fact, thanks to the help of Russell and other special envoys over the past two months, the research and development progress is much faster than I originally expected."

Then, he pushed open the door to the workshop cubicle.

"Working overtime, I have completed the improvements to those two Quinques as required, using the latest fusion kagune cutting-edge technology... They will be the first batch of [Hybrid Quinques] born in my hands. Sir Russell, thank you for your suggestions and help in the research and development."

Vera responded with a polite smile.

"You're welcome... Doctor, you are one of the most authoritative scholars in the field of ghoul research, and a top scientist in the field of quinque production and improvement. It is my honor to work with you. For this reason alone, this trip to Tokyo has been worthwhile."

Vera meant it sincerely when she said that.

Why did she come to Tokyo to wade into this murky world? Firstly, it was a convenient place to accumulate merits, enhance her resume, and get promoted and a raise. Secondly, it was for the advanced manufacturing techniques of Quinque.

The inventors of the quinque were Yoshiyuki Washu, former chairman of the Japanese CCG, and Adam Gohanner, then director of the German CCG.

It is impossible to pinpoint exactly when ghouls became rampant worldwide, but one thing is certain: the 'Ghoul Countermeasures Institute' established in 1890 by Washu Daikichi, the head of the Washu family, was the earliest organization to combat ghouls.

At least in this world, in terms of investment in and R&D experience with quinque technology, even the victor in the war, the United States, which economically colonized Japan, was not as good as the Washuu family and the earliest established Tokyo CCG.

During the wars of the last century, the Washuu family maintained neutrality and made contact with the Allied forces stationed in Japan in advance, thus ensuring their survival.

Of course, it's also possible that the US military doesn't need it. They do have the technology to manufacture quinques, but compared to these strange and unusual raw materials, most CCG agents in North America are clearly more enthusiastic about firing cannons and blasting their mothers. Open the door, CCG!

There is no market without demand.

In this respect, Tokyo has a unique advantage. After all, ghouls are everywhere.

As for Earthwalker A and B, the creators of Quinques who came from behind, their personal talent and ability are beyond doubt.

Vera, possessing extraordinary 'future vision,' also knows that in the next ten years, he will successively develop [Hybrid Quinque], invent [Quinque Surgery] (including controllable kagune implantation and semi-ghoul transformation surgery), and lead the research and development of [high Rc cell food that ghouls can eat and perceive taste]...

Vera naturally wanted to cultivate a good relationship with such a top expert in the field.

She learned the basics of quinque making and design at a professional college in the USA.

On the contrary, the USA's agent academy teaches a great deal of special agent disciplines, such as firearms, tactical chemistry, first aid, vehicles, psychology, criminology, and wilderness survival.

During her three months in Tokyo, Vera naturally developed an interest in quinque manufacturing and design.

While at the headquarters in District 1, aside from chatting with Marude Sai and going on duty, he spent most of his time in the workshop assisting Dr. Jigyou Kou and observing his production techniques.

Di Xingjia and Di Yi didn't hold back either, just like a teacher guiding an apprentice or a mentor guiding a student, naturally teaching Vera the key points and precautions for making quinques.

Vera adapted to the role perfectly.

While learning the world's most advanced quinque manufacturing technology, the help of the original timeline memories and the multi-life, multi-perspective experiences brought by "divine gift" enabled her to keenly point out the optimal future solution for the project in the hands of Earthwalker A and B during the experiment, and provided him with new ideas on many occasions.

Although there's a saying that "a trade is like a mountain," there's also a phrase that means "to understand by analogy."

When Jigyo A and B lacked live kagune, she would work overtime, take on missions from Marude Sai, eliminate the ghouls, and then deliver the live kagune and kagune to the doctor's laboratory as quickly as possible.

Many future developments in the original timeline were thus brought to fruition ahead of schedule, to varying degrees, thanks to Vera's influence.

During this process, after confirming that Vera's learning talent and identity were not in question, Di Xingjia even passed on some of the secrets he had figured out to Vera.

There is only one requirement: the spread of quinque technology must be strictly limited and subject to high standards, especially to prevent its leakage to ghouls.

Vera naturally had no objections.

She learned this skill purely for herself and for more 'selves'.

For at least a long time, she had no intention of taking on apprentices.

"Although it's an improvement, implementing the same effect on the 'Gun III' and 'Black Abyss III' is equivalent to starting from scratch."

"I am looking forward."

Upon entering the workshop, Vera saw many completed silver quinque briefcases, each bearing the nameplate of its respective investigator. On the long table that Earthwalkers A and B walked over to, there were three quinque briefcases: two silver and one black.

The junior adjutant, Mado Akira, exclaimed in disbelief, "A black gold box?!"

As far as she knew, within the CCG, only the 'White Reaper' with the rank of Special Grade Officer, Kouma Kishou, seemed to use the Black Gold Box. Generally speaking, the Kagune prototypes used by Quinques of this rank possessed extremely high levels of quality and potential!

"This is..."

Looking at the three quinque cases in front of her—two silver and one black—Vera chuckled and looked at Earthwalker A and B, who had their hands in their pockets, with considerable surprise.

"Is this a gift for me?"

"I heard you're about to head to the 20th ward... the Aogiri Tree, an organized and premeditated ghoul organization that's expanding rapidly. 'Oogiri,' 'Gecko,' 'Gourmet'... they're all at least S-rank, vicious and ruthless villains."

Earthly A and B placed their hands on the black gold box.

“More strength means more security. It originally belonged to Special Class Officer Shinohara, but after learning about the difficulty of Associate Special Class Officer Russell’s mission, he specially gave up his spot and asked me to give it to you first. His share of the extension is also fine.”

After listening, Vera couldn't help but sigh, "This is the advantage of having the right system and the right path."

Perhaps the top echelons of the CCG, as well as a few districts and individuals, are utterly corrupt, but the CCG's founding principles are sound. The majority of the middle and lower ranks, and the ordinary humans in the special officer positions, all harbor the ideal of expelling ghouls and are prepared to die for it.

They're really capable when things get tough.

It's nice and comfortable to be with colleagues like this.