Honkai Impact

"Ahem~ Please don't take my earlier joke seriously. After all, the topic of ghouls is really serious and solemn, and it also involves a lot of other factors. It's good to start with some humor to help everyone relax a bit."

Host: "Professor Mishima is very thoughtful."

Greasy middle-aged man: "Before we talk about ghouls, let's talk about Tokyo's housing prices."

Host: "Huh? This ghoul even has a house?"

"Don't interrupt, I'll do the talking from now on."

The host held back, knowing that the higher-ups had instructed them to take good care of the professor, to center everything around him, and not to overstep any boundaries.

Now that this person has spoken, he no longer needs to rack his brains for flattering words. Thinking this, the host's expression, which had previously looked as if he had swallowed a fly, changed again, transforming into that of a "good student" listening attentively.

"Tokyo's status in Japan is self-evident. As one of the most developed cities in the world, its housing prices have always been high. But everything changed after the 'Cleansing Plan' led by the United States began a few years ago."

"Clearly, the CCG, the official agency of Yingzhou, has not delivered a satisfactory result in this ghoul eradication plan. In fact, the number of ghouls in the Tokyo metropolitan area has only increased despite the efforts to eliminate them. We'll discuss this later."

"Now let's continue talking about housing prices. Since the number of ghouls has increased, Tokyo has gone from being one of the most prosperous cities to a den of iniquity that young people are fleeing. The root cause is still the presence of ghouls."

"After years of development, things have gradually improved. But the once prosperous Tokyo metropolitan area has disappeared. We have also handed over our title as the most developed city in Asia to the neighboring country's Shanghai."

"Am I speaking ill of the CCG? A little, but not entirely. I am personally grateful to the CCG for protecting the people of Yingzhou from ghouls, but I also resent that the CCG did not go all out in the 'Ghoul Extermination Plan' a few years ago."

“The distribution of ghouls at this stage can be seen from the current housing prices in Tokyo. For example, in the ward where the CCG headquarters is located, the housing prices are the highest, and it is also the safest area for humans.”

"Secondly, it started to radiate outwards slowly. The ghoul security in the 20th ward used to be so-so, and housing prices had been sluggish. In recent years, due to the decrease in ghoul attacks on humans in the 20th ward, housing prices have been rising higher and higher. However, because of the 'Giant Ghoul' that haunted the 20th ward a few days ago, it affected the fluctuation of housing prices in the 20th ward and the surrounding areas."

"That's the rule. If you want to buy a house in Tokyo but your budget isn't that big, you have to look at CCG's next plan."

"Actually, I also have a question. The CCG always manages to deal a heavy blow to the ghouls in every large-scale operation, and can even completely guarantee the safety of an area. So why are there more and more ghouls, and why are attacks on people increasing year by year?"

"Is the CCG keeping ghouls in captivity?"

As these words were spoken, the shop manager and the other two SS-rank ghouls all turned their attention to the television. Even Touka, who had initially been disdainful, gradually became serious on her pretty face.

"Of course not!" came the professor's voice from the television speakers.

"This issue involves deeper political reasons, and I'm sorry I can't explain too much. If you have any questions, you might want to think about the United States, China, and Russia."

"Why are other countries able to expel ghouls, but Yingzhou can't? Why? Let's leave this topic at that." The middle-aged man laughed, "I don't want to go in for tea."

The middle-aged man took a sip of tea and continued, "Ghouls feed on humans and have physical abilities far exceeding those of ordinary people. If one day humanity can thoroughly understand ghouls, I believe that will be an era of universal evolution."

Host: "Professor, what you just said suggests that major powers have actually been researching ghouls all along?"

The middle-aged man shook his head: "I never said that."

Host: "RC inhibitors and quinacrine are products of research in recent years. Do we have an even more powerful secret weapon?"

Middle-aged man: "You can ask the director of the CCG about that."

Host: "Professor, I just heard you say that, from the perspective of current biological science, it is actually a relatively simple thing to make ghouls eat normal human food. So why do ghouls still hunt humans?"

Middle-aged man: "It's simple for humans, but difficult for ghouls. Ghouls' tongues are different from ours, and their taste buds are even more different. But tricking taste buds should be easy with current biological science. The difficult part is how to make ghouls absorb normal food."

Host: "Why is it that what is simple for us humans is difficult for ghouls?"

Middle-aged man: "Hahaha! What you said is so interesting. At this stage, we humans can be said to be the top of the food chain on Earth. What does this rely on? Of course, it relies on our brains and intelligence!"

"Today, all sorts of geniuses and elites continue to emerge in society, but what about ghouls? They are nothing but waste abandoned by the times! How many ghouls can complete a human higher education by relying on disguise? Not to mention the academic circle, which is a height they cannot reach!"

"It is impossible to verify exactly when ghouls appeared in this world, but human society at that time must not have been as advanced as it is now. If there were truly intelligent ghouls at that time, they would have developed long ago and treated humans as meat to be raised in enclosures, to be consumed at will."

"But what was the result? Despite their powerful strength, they were ultimately just monsters that ate human flesh. Their desire to eat outweighed everything else. I think it's quite fitting to compare them to 'pigs'."

Host: "After saying such things today, aren't you afraid that they might disguise themselves as humans, infiltrate academic circles, and achieve something beneficial to ghouls?"

Middle-aged man: "How could that be? Do you really think the RC detection device is just for decoration? The best days for ghouls are over! Now it's the age of technology, and humanity reigns supreme! Ghouls are destined to be the victims of this era. Once we humans figure them out, they will never have a chance to rise again."

Kirishima Touka stared blankly at the television screen, feeling a chill travel from her tailbone to her skull.

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Chapter 18 Closing the Net (3/3) Please Subscribe

Between Cherry Blossoms, Caltech Acceptance Letter, Ghoul Specialist

All these events combined, is this really just a coincidence?

The shop manager sat opposite Touka, accompanied by two SS-rank ghouls, and began to offer Touka advice.

"The ghouls I sent to the ghoul expert have already been driven out by G," Koma Enji said expressionlessly. "I don't think any of this is a coincidence, but rather someone is pulling the strings behind the scenes."

"It's easy to deal with the ghoul experts. Just give them some money and they'll pull off a whole bunch of stuff for you." Irimi Kaname frowned slightly and added, "They can get a TV station, create a chain of restaurants that's popular all over the world, and even secure a spot at a prestigious university like Caltech. If there really is a mastermind behind this, then that person must be a very important figure in the human world."

“But that’s the strange thing!” Touka’s eyes narrowed slightly as she clutched the acceptance letter from the world-renowned university in her small hand, her voice filled with unease: “Why make such a fuss about a ghoul like me? If that person’s target is really a ghoul, why didn’t Nishiki Nishio, who is studying at Kamii University, and other ghouls who are disguised as humans receive acceptance letters?”

“It might be because of you, Touka,” Koma Enji said with a smile. “S-rank ghouls of this age are rare, especially one with a guillotine.”

“It shouldn’t be,” said Yoshimura Kozen, the store manager. “I’ve also received a lot of news lately that several ghouls have gone missing in the surrounding area.”

"Isn't this normal?" Koma Enji said nonchalantly. "In the ghoul world, these things are perfectly normal."

Yoshimura Kōzen looked at the "Demon Ape" and said, "Also disappeared at the same time was the ghoul who ravaged the 20th ward a few days ago. Moreover, there's no news from G, and no news from the other wards either, unless..."

"So, if it were because of me, there would be no need for such a big fuss." Touka seemed relieved, but her rapidly beating heart showed no sign of slowing down.

“Yes, given their methods, they should be able to capture Touka silently. There’s no need to do so much for her.” Irimi Kaname crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. “Perhaps we can look at these three things separately: the Sakura-Rin incident, the Ghoul Expert, and the acceptance letter.”

“But when these three things are linked together by the TV station, it’s hard not to make ghouls have wild ideas.” Koma Enji glanced at the admission notice in Touka’s hand and said, “We just ate the food that Touka brought from the Sakura-Rin area, and Touka just received a mysterious admission notice from a prestigious university. The next day, a TV station invited a ghoul expert to talk at length, and even focused on explaining the ghouls’ taste buds and cultural level.”

“I ate at the Sakura Rin-no-Mae again,” Koma Enji continued. “It’s just like that ghoul expert said. It deceives our taste buds and allows our stomachs to absorb and convert it into energy for daily activities. But it can’t increase rc cells.”

"And then there's Touka inexplicably receiving an acceptance letter from a prestigious university, giving her a 'credential' to go to the elite level of the human world, and then ghoul experts start mocking the ghouls' level of education. I don't agree with separating these three things."

Yoshimura listened quietly to Miku's point of view, then suddenly said, "Have you forgotten what the ghoul expert said? He said we missed the best era, and no ghoul has been able to contribute to the ghoul race within the academic circle."

"If the mastermind behind all this is a ghoul who has infiltrated the upper echelons of humanity, then everything will fall into place. And as the region where ghouls are currently most active, Yingzhou is offering young ghouls a prestigious university admission letter. Don't forget which country Sakura and Rin started their careers in."

"How is that possible?" x3

"That's way too difficult."

"But upon closer reflection, it is indeed possible."

"Are we ghouls really dumber than humans? It's just that the human population is so large. If ghouls and humans were on the same level, we ghouls would definitely rule the world."

"Let's put this matter aside for now," Yoshimura said. "Use this time to gather more information, and Touka should also study English more, just in case."

"The real decision-making power still rests with you, Touka. If there really are ghouls controlling everything across the ocean, I hope you can go there for further studies. If not..."

However, they never imagined that the establishment of the Sakura-Rin relationship was because Schicksal's biological laboratory did not have any high-level ghouls and was only used for experiments.

Touka Kirishima was just at this point, and the ghoul expert was just creating hype and giving Touka a false impression.

However, in terms of importance, Kirishima Touka, who possesses S-rank strength, is actually ranked near the bottom in the Yae Ji Project.

The so-called coincidences are nothing more than people who are rich and willful.

Between Sakura and Rin.

Hideyoshi Nagachika was munching on an oversized Yae-style rice ball, occasionally glancing up at his buddy sitting opposite him.

Ever since his best friend's "first love" was snatched away by that rich man, they have never seen that elegant and intellectual woman again.

My best friend has also undergone a complete transformation in just a few days. He seems to be the same as before, silent and fond of reading, but upon closer observation, there is a slight difference between him and before.

"Are you really decided? You're going to the United States?" Hideyoshi Nagachika swallowed the rice ball in his mouth with difficulty.

"Hmm." Kaneki Ken, who was eating snacks and reading a book, nodded and said, "The opportunity to study at a world-renowned university is extremely rare. If you don't seize it, it will be hard to get another chance. Besides, there's nothing here that I'd like to stay for."

"Fine! You heartless man! Don't you think I'm worthy of your affections?" Hideyoshi Nagachika looked heartbroken.

Kaneki Ken was taken aback, looked up at his goofy best friend, and said with a smile, "Don't tell me you wouldn't go to such a good opportunity?"

“If you’re not going, I’m not going either. But since you’re going, of course I have to go with you,” Hideyoshi Nagachika said matter-of-factly.

Kaneki Ken's eyes crinkled into crescent moons as he smiled: "Eiryo, it's so nice to know you."

Are we free?

The two sisters, Anju Heina and Anju Naoshiro, looked at the bright sunlight in the sky, their eyes gradually becoming moist.

"Dr. Kanao has been taken away by them, what should we do, Dad?"

The two sisters looked confused.

"The academy said they would take us to the United States for an exchange meeting," Anju Naoshiro said softly.

"Shouldn't we have left by now?" Anju Kuro, the older sister, looked confused, unsure of what to do.

"I heard from the doctor that Dad's company has also been acquired."

"Sizzle!"

An SUV suddenly stopped in front of them, and the heavily armed men who had taken Dr. Kanao away earlier rushed forward to open the door.

A handsome young man with pink hair and an extremely infectious smile stepped out of the car.

Chapter 19 Stockholm Effect (1/3) Please subscribe

United States, New York, Destiny Holdings Building, Kaslana Laboratory.

For the Anju sisters, who are young girls in a period of confusion and have no sense of guard, there is naturally no need to expend as much effort as with Kirishima Touka.

Fortunately, Kanou doesn't seem to have found a suitable ghoul donor yet, and hasn't started experimenting on the two sisters.

Under the guise of a medical check-up, he has obtained blood samples from the Anju sisters and Kaneki Ken.

For future experiments, Yae Kiyoshi expelled the two sisters from the CCG Academy and sent them to a higher education institution in the United States for training.

He didn't need to worry about the rest; his subordinates would take care of everything.

Inside the laboratory, Yae Ji, after repeatedly observing the genes of these four individuals, still couldn't decipher the secret of how ghoul rc cells match humans.

Yae had no choice but to send the samples to various biological laboratories for assistance.

After tidying everything up, Yae Ji returned to the laboratory. She glanced at the data displayed on the screen and, after confirming that it was within the safe range, opened the nutrient chamber.

Without Yae Ji saying anything, Kamishiro Rize climbed out of the nutrient tank and shook her long purple hair, which was soaked with dilution inhibitors.