26 Ghoul Restaurant (1)

"This won't do; I will feel extremely guilty," Tsukiyama said hurriedly as he tucked away the bloodstained handkerchief, noticing that Kaneki's wound had already healed.

Thinking for a moment, Tsukiyama proposed, "Since you're curious about Miss Rize, why don't we visit a shop she used to frequent? It might also help alleviate my guilt. What do you think?"

Kaneki hesitated for a while, but after spending some time together, he started to believe that Mr. Tsukiyama was likely a good person. With that in mind, he agreed to the suggestion.

In the evening, as they made their way back to the Anteiku shop, the two of them decided to head straight to the 7th Ward.

Surprised by the luxurious and unconventional decor of the building, Kaneki asked, "Did Miss Rize often come to places like this?"

"Miss Rize always had unique tastes and ideas," Tsukiyama replied. "Kaneki, please go and freshen up first. The butler here will assist you."

Feeling slightly out of place in such an upscale establishment, Kaneki followed the lead of a black-suited butler. However, when he turned around, Tsukiyama was nowhere to be seen.

Obediently, Kaneki took a bath and changed into a handsome tailcoat as instructed.

Just as he finished getting ready, a masked maid guided him to the hall, but confusion set in. It was pitch black, making it hard to see anything. Kaneki regretted coming here and attempted to ask the maid about the purpose of this place, only to be completely ignored as she turned away.

Suddenly, the ground beneath his feet shook, giving Kaneki the sense that he had triggered something. Before he knew it, the ground began to rise, and an array of lights illuminated the area, causing him to instinctively shield his eyes.

After a brief moment, Kaneki finally took in his surroundings.

He found himself inside a circular building, reminiscent of a modern-style ancient Roman arena. Tall walls surrounded it, filled with corridors and rooms, all inhabited by masked figures.

As the lights brightened, the entire venue erupted with enthusiastic cheers.

High above him, a host wearing a white mask held a microphone, delivering a passionate speech.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. Today's main dish is quite unique—it's a ghoul!"

The announcement triggered a decrease in cheers, replaced by discussions among the crowd.

Cannibalism was something most ghouls couldn't accept.

While it could rapidly enhance their strength, it came with significant negative effects. Furthermore, the unappetizing taste of ghouls was due to their terrifying physical attributes.

"For this feast, the ingredients have been provided by Mr. MM!"

With a dramatic gesture, the lights shifted, revealing Tsukiyama atop the building. He was wearing a mask and accompanied by two attractive women, also masked.

And in this place, Mr. MM was Tsukiyama's alias.

Evidently, the name Mr. MM carried significant weight in this place, guaranteeing the quality of the food and earning high credibility. The cheers erupted once again, filling the air with excitement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight's party. Allow me to introduce today's dish. Firstly, the flesh of a ghoul is coarse and bitter, not worth a taste. You all, with your unique perspectives on gourmet food, should already be well aware of this," Tsukiyama proclaimed, his voice echoing through the venue.

"Tsukiyama-san!" Kaneki looked up at Tsukiyama standing on the high building, his face filled with panic and fear. At this point, he was no longer naive and knew that he had been deceived.

"Why?!" Kaneki shouted, his voice laced with desperation.

However, Tsukiyama paid no attention to Kaneki's plea and continued his speech, intent on creating an atmosphere that would climax tonight's banquet.

"What I am truly interested in is his scent. Although he is a ghoul, he carries a strong human scent, unlike anything I've ever encountered," Tsukiyama revealed, emphasizing the uniqueness of Kaneki's aroma.

To add credibility to his words, Tsukiyama theatrically discarded the blood-stained handkerchief, causing a frenzy among the ghouls who eagerly scrambled to grab it.

"Now that everyone has developed an interest in him, let's see what kind of mysterious taste and olfactory stimulation he can bring to us!" Tsukiyama concluded his speech, prompting a wave of cheers to erupt once again.

As the crowd's excitement reached its peak, the host swiftly arranged for the dissectionist to take the stage. This was not just a dinner; it was a macabre performance filled with gruesome displays.

Kaneki, overwhelmed by the unfolding events, found himself kneeling on the ground, his eyes vacant and hollow. Behind him, a two-meter-high iron door slowly opened, revealing a towering figure.

The dissectionist emerged, walking with the weight and presence of a mountain. His head was wrapped in red cloth, concealing his face, and his sunken eye sockets appeared hollowed out. In his hand, he wielded a massive saw.

"I don't want to die... I have to escape... There must be a way," Kaneki muttered to himself, his voice tinged with desperation.

Due to the intervention of Lin Yi, the plot had advanced prematurely, and Kaneki's performance was not as composed as in the original work. He had not yet received the special training from Renji Yomo that would have prepared him for such a dire situation.

Narrowly evading several attacks from the dissectionist, Kaneki grew increasingly frantic. The dissectionist's fist, resembling a football in size, struck him with tremendous force, sending him crashing into the wall.

With large strides, the dissectionist closed in on Kaneki, swinging the enormous saw menacingly.

The surrounding spectators and diners reveled in the excitement, cheering and shouting with sadistic enthusiasm.

"Quick, dig out his organs!"

"I want to see him dismembered into pieces!"

"Kill him! Hahaha!"

In the midst of the chaos and imminent danger, Kaneki's shattered body trembled as he watched the dissectionist approach. Fear consumed his heart, and he screamed in terror.

The razor-sharp saw, mere inches away from him, seemed to grow exponentially in his eyes, poised to strike. Kaneki shut his eyes tightly, bracing himself for the agonizing pain he expected to follow.

But after a few moments, the anticipated torment did not arrive.

Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded in his ears, cutting through the chaos.

"Hey, hey, isn't this little Kaneki? I distinctly recall warning you to inform me if you ever encountered any danger."

Kaneki swiftly opened his eyes, his gaze falling upon a slender figure standing before him. The backlighting obscured the person's face, but Kaneki recognized the trench coat they were wearing.

At this moment, the trench coat was stained with blood, turning black and red, as if it had been immersed in it. Lodged in the back of the dissectionist was a black-red Quinque longsword, silently proclaiming its lethal presence.

~~~

That Kimi Nishino chapter is such a turn off. sorry guys! I see many people complain and I can't blame them. Headache, really.

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