Starting in The Boys to Become the Ultimate Lifeform.

**Chapter 281: Heading to the 23rd Ward, Cochlea!**

"I don't know. It could be as short as two or three days, or as long as several months."

Akihiro Kanou put on a pair of clean rubber gloves and walked into the operating room again.

"Their physical condition is stabilizing. You can come and take a look."

As a graduate of Teifou University's School of Medicine, who later studied in Germany for several years and became a researcher at a Ghoul research institution there, Akihiro Kanou also worked for the CCG for three years after returning to Japan. It could be said that for decades, he had been immersed in the research of Ghouls.

He had strong enough confidence in his medical skills.

"This is her X-ray image. Doctors usually use it to observe a certain lesion tissue and its condition within a patient's body. Look, these are Rize's organs inside her body. There are no signs of decay or deformation, which means she is gradually adapting to Rize's organs. However, the specific situation still depends on whether her subsequent various values can remain stable. Normally, if the patient doesn't experience a severe rejection reaction in a short period, it indicates that her body is slowly accepting the foreign organs."

"As expected of the widely beloved Dr. Kanou, you've proven your worth with your medical skills."

Xia Shang, with some of his blood inside Hinami Fueguchi, naturally understood that Akihiro Kanou wasn't lying to him.

Unfortunately, based on his observation, Hinami Fueguchi would need at least another week to completely fuse with Rize's organs. This meant that Hinami Fueguchi would miss the Cochlea battle two days later.

"Has anyone from the Washuu Clan contacted you during this time?"

Hearing Xia Shang mention the Washuu Clan, Akihiro Kanou couldn't help but be surprised, almost blurting out, "You know about the Washuu Clan?"

"He knows. He also knows who orchestrated that Steel Beam Incident."

Rize Kamishiro on the operating table suddenly opened her Kakugan, her tone chilling.

"Souta Furuta brought you to me initially, and he has been closely monitoring my research on you. So, there's no way I could hide the fact that you were abducted by the King of Dark Mist." Akihiro Kanou then recounted what happened after Xia Shang took Rize away that night.

He described how he reported to Souta Furuta and how he generally described Xia Shang's appearance.

"Because you said at the time, 'Since I've arrived, I am the endless darkness looming over their heads,' I estimate that's why they call you the King of Dark Mist."

"Alright, I won't dwell on the past. Next, I'll trouble you to take good care of Hinami Fueguchi. As for Souta Furuta, he'd better not come to the basement, otherwise..."

Xia Shang grinned hideously and split his body apart.

"Let him become my nourishment," two King of Dark Mists with identical appearances and physiques appeared before Akihiro Kanou, speaking in unison.

"Ka... Kagune Clone?" Akihiro Kanou's pupils constricted violently. He scanned the two King of Dark Mists, his eyes darting back and forth in disbelief, his voice slightly hoarse, "A Ghoul can actually construct a Kagune Clone! How did you do it? Kagune usually decays rapidly once separated from a Ghoul's body, unless you transferred your Kakuhou along with it to the clone."

"Put away that fanatical gaze. Don't tell me you want to research me too?" The expressionless Xia Shang clone said coldly.

Unexpectedly, his reaction shocked Akihiro Kanou even more.

"If it were just simple splitting, some Kagune monsters might be able to do it, but they themselves don't possess much self-consciousness, let alone a split clone. But your clone seems different. I see a soul in his eyes, a soul identical to yours."

The conditions simply didn't allow it; otherwise, Akihiro Kanou would definitely use all his family resources, even seeking help from the Washuu Clan, to turn Xia Shang into his test subject.

"Knowing too much isn't good for you, Dr. Kanou."

Xia Shang took Rize Kamishiro and walked out of the operating room.

...Late at night, inside the Anteiku Coffee Shop.

Kuzen Yoshimura watched Ryouko Fueguchi and her husband cleaning the tables, a hint of anxiety quietly appearing between his brows.

"Store Manager, are you worried about something?" Touka, who had just finished presiding over a Z-kill Ritual, walked into the cafe carrying a black box.

"Am I? You must be mistaken." Kuzen Yoshimura slightly raised the corners of his mouth, saying gently, "It's so late, and I still had to trouble you to go out. You've worked hard."

"It's what I should do. It's just that recently, more young people seem to be requesting Z-kill Rituals."

Touka placed the box on the table.

"In the past, it was mostly elderly people."

Due to certain special reasons, some elderly people in Japan cannot be supported by their children, and their pension is insufficient to maintain their lives, so they easily develop suicidal thoughts. At this time, they will find Anteiku through various channels to help them with their final arrangements, to prevent dying alone inside the house without anyone knowing.

Anteiku does not charge any fees for this and even accompanies the elderly through the last stage of their lives.

"The social pressure has increased now. The high prices of goods and housing make it difficult for them to breathe. Sometimes they are also subjected to malicious suppression by their superiors. Various factors combine, easily leading them to suicidal thoughts." As the store manager of a cafe, Kuzen Yoshimura's customers were not only Ghouls but also humans who occasionally stumbled in.

"Touka, from now on, when you receive requests from young people, be sure to persuade them more. They are still young and shouldn't pay the price for a moment of impulse." Kuzen Yoshimura's voice was slow and gentle.

"I understand, Store Manager."

Touka opened the black box and took out two strips wrapped in oiled paper, then walked over to Ryouko Fueguchi.

The Fueguchi family were old customers of Anteiku and naturally knew what was inside the oiled paper.

"Thank you."

"Ms. Ryouko, are you still worried about your daughter?"

Ryouko Fueguchi nodded.

"You said that man is called the King of Dark Mist, an SSS-rank Ghoul. I'm worried that Hinami Fueguchi will be in danger staying with him."

"Don't worry, he's an SSS-rank Ghoul after all. Besides Kishou Arima, probably no one can kill him."

Provided he doesn't court death, she added inwardly.

"It's almost time to close. Ms. Fueguchi, Mr. Tai, I have prepared a room for you. Please follow me." Kuzen Yoshimura turned and walked towards the back door of the cafe.

He sighed inwardly.

The King of Dark Mist had caused such a stir. The CCG would definitely spare no effort to hunt him down and find any clues related to him. Perhaps it wouldn't be long before Anteiku would have to truly close down.

On the other side.

A black sedan was driving towards the 23rd Ward.

And it seemed their destination was Cochlea, known as Ghoul Hell.

(end of chapter)