Tokyo Ghoul: Madara Template Strikes Back!-Chapter 114 - 111: The One-Eyed Owl?

"I didn't expect Kanzaki to be a shooting genius. That shot just now took out the enemy sniper team's leader in one clean hit."

The tide had shifted. Special Class Investigator Marude Itsuki's mood visibly improved. Watching Kanzaki Ryoma fire repeatedly from the high point of Building 1, Marude couldn't help but comment to Special Class Investigator Ui Koori.

"I had no idea," Ui replied with a faint smile.

"Really? Guess he's been hiding that talent. An all-rounder, huh."

Marude speculated aloud, his voice half amused and half impressed.

Ryoma continued to fire with sharp precision, his position covering the entire approach to Building 1. Any ghoul from Aogiri Tree's sniper team that dared peek was immediately taken out by a headshot. His aim was near-perfect, no bullets were wasted.

Under this relentless pressure, the enemy sniper team became a non-factor. Their suppression lifted, CCG forces breached Building 1 at last.

Ryoma set aside the sniper rifle. It was time for close-quarters combat, and that meant unleashing the 11th Ward Special Countermeasures Team. Against kagune, only Quinques stood a chance.

Senior Investigator Hirako Take, First-Class Investigator Amon Koutarou, Quinx Squad leader Kuroiwa Takeomi, and others were already locked in brutal engagements inside Building 1.

Ryoma, along with Ui Koori and the rest, pushed forward, storming their assigned targets. One building after another fell. All squads began converging on the heart of Aogiri Tree's base.

"I haven't seen Juzo for a while. I hope he doesn't cross paths with one of the upper cadres..."

Shinohara Yukinori's voice was filled with concern as he scanned the chaos for any sign of Suzuya Juuzou, who had once again disappeared.

---

[System Notification]

Ding! Host defeated a B-Rank Ghoul. Fusion Points +5

Ding! Host defeated a B-Rank Ghoul. Fusion Points +5

...

The siege stretched from dusk to dawn. Ryoma had already eliminated a large number of ghouls.

Though the enemy base consisted of multiple structures, only Buildings 1, 2, and 4 were secured so far. And among all this, only one upper-level operative had been encountered— Kirishima Ayato.

Fast and evasive, Ayato was a Ukaku-type. Even when spotted, he was nearly impossible to pin down.

"Something's off. Only one squad ran into a named Aogiri operative... Where are the others?"

Shinohara's brow furrowed as he assessed the intel.

"The rest of the ghouls we fought were all low-level. There's no way Aogiri Tree's combat strength is this weak."

Amon added grimly.

Half of the Special Countermeasures Team had already regrouped.

Shinohara Yukinori, Kuroiwa Iwao, Hirako Take, Mado Kureo, and Amon Koutarou stood ready.

"Maybe the remaining operatives are concentrated at headquarters?" Kuroiwa suggested.

"Then let's push through and find out."

As they made their way to Building 5, closest to the Aogiri Tree command center, a towering figure stepped into their path.

"...!!"

Both Shinohara and Kuroiwa instantly froze, eyes wide. They had seen that silhouette before.

Mado's grip on his Quinque briefcase tightened, knuckles pale. He began to tremble.

"Hold!!"

Kuroiwa barked the command. Everyone behind him came to a halt.

"Special Class Investigator Kuroiwa?!"

"What's going on?"

Confusion spread among the others. Only Kuroiwa, Shinohara, and Mado understood the horror before them.

"No way... Why here..."

Shinohara muttered, voice strained.

"Mr. Shinohara, who is that?"

Amon looked from face to face.

"...That's Owl. The One-Eyed Owl. SSS-rated. The natural disaster from a decade ago."

Shinohara's expression darkened.

Ten years ago, a mysterious ghoul emerged. Known initially only as "X," the creature slaughtered Special Investigator Uehara from the 3rd Ward and was tentatively rated S-Class. A month later, it launched a mass assault on the 2nd Ward's CCG branch, pushing the threat level to SS.

That was when the name "Owl" first appeared.

According to the initial reports, the creature had six to eight kagune sacs and a distinctive kakugan, marking it a half-ghoul. A one-eyed one.

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Later, Owl led a coordinated assault on the maximum-security prison Cochlea in the 23rd Ward. Its threat level escalated to SSS.

On its return to the 2nd Ward, Kuroiwa, who was only a Senior Investigator back then managed to land a devastating hit on its kakugan.

But the third time Owl returned, it was stronger than ever. The CCG couldn't stand against it. That battle marked the rise of Arima Kishou, a mere second-class investigator at the time, who turned the tide.

Arima had just been promoted by Chairman Washuu, but even then, he wielded Special Class Quinques with terrifying ease.

(Note: In the manga, Arima fought Owl evenly with borrowed Special Class Quinques. The anime portrayed it inaccurately.)

Even then, the fight was brutal. Owl was wounded again but vanished afterward.

What the CCG never realized was that the Owl who attacked the second time wasn't the same one from before. Yoshimura had impersonated his daughter Eto, taking on her identity to divert attention and hide her existence as a natural-born half-ghoul.

This explained why the third Owl was far more monstrous in power. That was Yoshimura—the peak version of him. Back then, Eto was not yet the formidable "One-Eyed Owl" she would become.

The figure before them now... was that very same legend.

Mado Kureo, the man who had dreamt of vengeance for years, now found himself trembling. Rage and fear intertwined. His hands shook not just with hate, but with the suffocating pressure that Owl's presence exuded.

Shinohara gave Kuroiwa a nod, already understanding the silent message.

Don't let him break formation.

Everyone in the squad knew what happened to Mado's wife. But revenge taken in anger would end in death.

He had hesitated ten years ago.

This time, he would not.

Mado raised his briefcase slowly, voice raw.

"You!!!"

***

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