The Ghoul Zone, within the realm of the supernatural.
Against the backdrop of modern civilization, this world is largely indistinguishable from human society.
However, among these humans hide creatures known as ghouls.
Ghouls are beings that appear almost identical to humans but must consume humans to survive.
This is because, apart from human flesh, all other foods are like poison to ghouls, making them incredibly difficult to swallow and even causing harm if forced down, much like humans consuming putrid matter.
Humans perceive ghouls as monsters disguised as people, as no one wishes to be eaten.
Furthermore, in a certain sense, while ghouls eat humans out of necessity, they do possess monstrous aspects.
Although ghouls behave like humans in their daily lives, they possess a unique organ called a "kakuhou" (赫包), used to store or absorb cells known as "rC cells" during consumption.
These rC cells are also a ghoul's most potent weapon, capable of releasing weapons called "kagune" (赫子) from the kakuhou.
The more rC cells a ghoul possesses, the stronger it becomes. Ghouls can even absorb the rC cells of their own kind by consuming them.
On the human side, there are specialized forces dedicated to eradicating ghouls, referred to by humans as "Ghoul Investigators" and by ghouls as "Doves."
To combat ghouls, humans, in addition to their own training, extract the kagune from deceased ghouls to craft weapons, known as Quinque.
Ghouls devour humans, and humans hunt ghouls...
It is not so much cruelty as it is a sense of helplessness.
A helplessness born of natural selection and the cycle of the food chain.
Ghouls do not wish to eat humans, but they are unable to consume any other food.
Some ghouls attempt to endure by sustaining themselves with liquids, such as coffee.
However, such ghouls are rare.
While a ghoul's body far surpasses a human's, prolonged starvation is dangerous. Therefore, they occasionally excavate corpses from cemeteries for consumption.
Of course, the majority of ghouls follow their nature. Heaven has given them a reason to eat humans, so to survive, they must necessarily do so.
Just as humans consume cattle, sheep, and pigs.
Some ghouls even regard humans as beings inferior in biological structure.
However, the number of ghouls is very small compared to humans, meaning that while hunting humans, ghouls face a greater danger of being hunted themselves.
Thus, ghoul factions aimed at countering the Doves have emerged.
Aogiri Tree is one such faction, and it is continuously expanding.
The rescue of Byakuya is a part of Aogiri Tree's expansion plan.
The so-called "devourer" is the man in the suit Byakuya saw last night. He has committed over a dozen similar acts within a month.
Such behavior has drawn the attention of the Doves and also that of Aogiri Tree.
The Doves intend to eliminate such a ferocious ghoul.
Aogiri Tree aims to recruit such a ferocious ghoul into its ranks.
Thus, the scene at the hotel unfolded.
The Doves dispatched numerous Ghoul Investigators to the hotel to kill Byakuya, while Aogiri Tree sent an executive, Ayato Kirishima, to rescue Byakuya with his subordinates.
The only problem is...
Byakuya is not a "devourer"!
Learning the general situation from Ayato Kirishima, Byakuya felt incredibly frustrated.
Who had he offended?
But at this moment, there was someone even more frustrated than Byakuya!
"This script is not going as planned!"
Li Jia Yi sat atop a building, watching the Doves clean up the mess below, looking utterly bewildered.
Li Jia Yi had only intended to lure Ghoul Investigators to deal with Byakuya. The first half of his plan had proceeded smoothly, and the Ghoul Investigators had indeed arrived.
However, the latter half had deviated from Li Jia Yi's plan. He had never anticipated Aogiri Tree's appearance.
And Aogiri Tree...
Happened to be Li Jia Yi's target!
Li Jia Yi absolutely did not want Byakuya to get involved with Aogiri Tree, but at present, it seemed...
Byakuya had already become entangled with Aogiri Tree.
Meanwhile, Ayato Kirishima had brought Byakuya to Aogiri Tree's headquarters.
A废弃的 factory!
Ayato Kirishima said as he got out of the car, "We're here. From today, you are a member of this place."
Byakuya asked, "Are you so certain I will join Aogiri Tree?"
Ayato Kirishima sneered, "The Doves have already set their sights on you. If you don't join us, you won't be able to move an inch. You'll be found by the Doves soon enough. What will your fate be then? You can probably guess."
Ayato Kirishima spoke as he walked towards the factory.
"Of course, we at Aogiri Tree do not force any ghoul to join us," Ayato Kirishima continued. "If you wish to leave, feel free to do so."
Byakuya shrugged his shoulders and followed Ayato Kirishima into the abandoned factory.
Byakuya was now somewhat intrigued by this area.
Ghouls, Investigators?
Byakuya held some interest in both, but if he had to choose, his interest in ghouls was greater.
This interest stemmed from what he could gain from them.
Based on the current situation, the most valuable thing for ghouls would be Quinque, but the core of Quinque is a ghoul's kagune, so the fundamental source is still the ghoul.
As for the value of ghouls themselves...
Ghouls are the most valuable entities.
Byakuya was interested in both the kakuhou and the kagune. Furthermore, based on the information obtained from Ayato Kirishima, Byakuya deduced that becoming a ghoul would undoubtedly enhance one's physical attributes.
Ghouls' physical attributes in all aspects far exceed those of humans, and they possess kagune as special weapons.
Byakuya did not rule out becoming a ghoul. As long as it could enhance his physical attributes and increase his strength, Byakuya didn't care if he became what humans called a monster.
However, the current problem was that Byakuya felt if his inference was correct, becoming a ghoul would come at a great cost.
That cost was...
The inability to consume any food other than human flesh.
This side effect was quite significant.
Byakuya could no longer recall the exact number of people he had killed in both his past and current lives.
To survive in the world battlefield, one must constantly grow stronger. In his pursuit of strength, Byakuya had long ago become numb to killing.
If this world demanded killing to live.
Byakuya did not mind dividing "people" into two categories.
The first category was himself.
The second category was everyone else.
For the sake of himself, Byakuya could kill all others.
However, the act of eating people...
This was something Byakuya could not accept. Regardless, as long as the concept of "humanity" still existed, this was an act that should not be committed.
...