21 Secret Deal
Akihiro Kanou knew about Lin Yi's from the very beginning.
It's important to note that Kichimura Washuu is still alongside Akihiro Kanou, acting as an assistant. This is evident from their involvement in bringing the bodies of Ken Kaneki and Rize Kamishiro here.
Lin Yi's words conveyed only a small amount of information, as he didn't want to reveal his true intentions.
Akihiro Kanou fell into contemplation, and a brief, eerie silence hung in the air.
"Very well," Akihiro Kanou spoke after a while, about to offer some warnings when he was interrupted beforehand.
"There's no need for further discussion. As a CCG investigator, you conspired with me and made a secret deal. Haven't I already given you leverage?" Lin Yi retorted.
Akihiro Kanou also fell silent. He stood up, approached a painting on the wall, and triggered a hidden mechanism.
The painting descended, revealing a safe behind it.
Akihiro Kanou opened the safe and retrieved a folder and a USB drive.
"Here are the human experiment data on the One-Eyed Ghoul and my summarized experiences."
"Thank you," Lin Yi accepted them without hesitation.
"May I examine the patient?" Lin Yi asked.
Akihiro Kanou immediately gave Lin Yi a vigilant look.
"Don't look at me like that; it's just out of curiosity," Lin Yi shrugged.
Surprisingly, Akihiro Kanou complied and led the way.
Ken Kaneki's hospital room had undergone special modifications. A two-way mirror faced the bed, allowing visibility from outside while concealing any abnormalities inside.
Behind the mirror was a hidden chamber.
"He is my most perfect creation," Akihiro Kanou said, caressing the figure reflected in the mirror with satisfaction and excitement.
Ken Kaneki remained in a coma.
It was the first time Lin Yi had seen the protagonist of this world. In the original work, Ken Kaneki had endured immense suffering.
Yet, each time, he relied on his resilient spirit to grow stronger step by step.
After being unconscious for a long time, Ken Kaneki suddenly awakened. Startled, he sat up from the bed, drenched in sweat, as if he had just experienced a nightmare.
But what stood out the most was Ken Kaneki's left eye, with its black sclera, crimson iris, and prominent blood vessels surrounding it.
In contrast, his right eye appeared normal, revealing his confusion and fear.
"Look at how beautiful he is," Akihiro Kanou proudly displayed his creation.
"I'm beginning to feel a hint of regret. I used to believe that I was the one being taken advantage of in this arrangement," Lin Yi glanced at Ken Kaneki's left eye. "However, rest assured, I am an honorable person. Based on our agreement, I won't harm him at this moment."
"Heh, it seems we are more alike than I thought," Akihiro Kanou responded confidently, unfazed by Lin Yi's words. He took self-absorbed pride in his creation. "Our goals are essentially the same; the only difference is that I operate in the shadows while you bask in the limelight. If anything, you are even more hypocritical than I am."
Lin Yi chuckled.
Indeed, his plans had changed. Initially, he aimed to verify the information in the files and seize the opportunity to acquire Ken Kaneki's Kagune, enhancing his Quinque's powers.
However, after witnessing Ken Kaneki's condition, his thoughts underwent a complete shift.
To clarify, it wasn't a sudden surge of kindness that prompted this change. It was rather a sense of pity that arose upon looking into Ken Kaneki's eyes. Lin Yi concluded that it would be more beneficial to temporarily entrust Rize Kamishiro's Kagune to Ken Kaneki.
By doing so, the Kagune could be significantly strengthened. And when the opportune moment arrived, Lin Yi would reclaim it.
In that sense, Akihiro Kanou was correct in asserting that their goals aligned.
Akihiro Kanou regarded Ken Kaneki as a research subject, and Kichimura Washuu desired to transform Ken Kaneki into a "Dragon" to address the short lifespan issue of Half-Humans. As for Lin Yi, his intention was to shape Ken Kaneki into a qualified cultivation vessel.
In the hospital room, Ken Kaneki, still unaware of the situation, remained in a state of bewilderment. Suddenly, he heard the footsteps of a nurse, causing him to instinctively lie back on the hospital bed and wrap himself tightly with a blanket.
"Enjoy your time here. I won't keep you company," Lin Yi patted Kanou Akihiro on the shoulder and exited the secret room.
Observing Lin Yi's departing figure, Akihiro Kanou's expression slightly changed. He hesitated for a while but lacked the courage to take action.
Being able to subdue Rize Kamishiro throughout the process and inflict severe injuries on her.
Even an ordinary Special Class Investigator might struggle to accomplish such a feat.
If things escalated too much, Kanou Hospital would not be able to withstand the pressure. Without his public identity, Akihiro Kanou would also encounter numerous obstacles in his future experiments.
Once Lin Yi left, he examined the information Kanou Akihiro had provided. While he couldn't comprehend much of it, he could discern that the records of human experiments were likely authentic.
However, whether Akihiro Kanou had any hidden agenda remained unknown.
Returning to his residence, Lin Yi sought out Kimi Nishino, handing her the folder and USB drive. He instructed her not to disclose the contents of the documents to anyone.
Kimi Nishino remained composed, undeterred by the numerous records of human experiments within the documents. That evening, she began studying them intently.
This was one of Kimi Nishino's admirable qualities, which brought Lin Yi a sense of relief.
"Just because of my intervention, Rize Kamishiro died much earlier than in the original work. I wonder if 'Yamori' will still make an appearance."
Lin Yi recalled how, in the anime, Yamori visited Asaki Fueguchi to obtain a new pair of pliers after Rize took his previous pair. Asaki agreed, while Ryouko and Hinami hid from Yamori. Yamori returned later to claim the pliers and was requested by Asaki to leave him alone. Yamori agreed but proceeded to throw Asaki out of his office. Asaki died, and Mado turned him into a Quinque, leading to the discovery of Hinami's mother and the subsequent events involving Yamori capturing Ken Kaneki under the orders of Aogiri Tree.
Lin Yi was uncertain about the extent of the butterfly effect on the plot this time.
"Regardless, in the face of adversity, one must adapt. Overthinking won't help at this stage. Perhaps I should find a suitable time to contact the Anteiku shop."
Residing in the 20th ward, it was impossible to avoid contact with the Anteiku shop.
Shaking his head, Lin Yi cleared his mind and, as he regained focus, he noticed Kimi Nishino still sitting at the desk, fully engrossed in studying the extensive folder.
Kimi Nishino also wore a pair of black-framed glasses, adding an air of intellectual beauty to her.
Lin Yi's heart stirred, and he couldn't resist approaching her, wrapping his arms around Kimi Nishino's waist from behind. However, before he could make any further moves, Nishino swiftly slapped his hand away.
"Don't disturb me now. Wait until I finish reading all of this."
Did I fall out of favor?
In Lin Yi's mind, just having Nishino by his side was enough, but her ability to assist him was the greatest gift she could offer.
Their disparate positions, with Lin Yi being a high-ranking CCG investigator and Nishino being a mere university student, occasionally led Nishino to feel a sense of inferiority.
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