Chapter Eighty-Six: The Shepherd, Part One

“A monster?” Mu Yang’s answer left Touka momentarily stunned. To her, it felt oddly out of place, because her world was only as large as the ghoul world. But for Mu Yang, it was absolutely correct. With such a terrifying healing ability, he no longer belonged among ordinary humans. SCP-682? Not quite, either. Mu Yang was still human in form, still possessed a human heart, still thought in the uniquely human way, still belonged to a creature ruled by feeling. Wasn’t all of that proof that his mind still remained human?

“Don’t overthink it. You won’t be able to figure it out. When the time comes, I’ll tell you everything. If the time isn’t right, then even if I told you, you wouldn’t believe me anyway. It’s late. I’m going. Remember to take good care of Kaneki.” Mu Yang glanced at the sky and said this, then seized the water pipe on the wall for leverage and leapt straight up onto the rooftop.

“Hey! Wait, Mu Yang, explain yourself first!” Touka started after him, but the manager appeared at that very moment.

“Don’t chase him for now, Touka. Bring this boy back to the shop first,” the manager said.

“Manager!” Touka called out.

“Since Mu Yang entrusted him to us, and paid an equal price for it, then we have a duty to look after him, don’t we? Besides, you’ve already accepted the reward,” the manager said.

Touka fell silent.

“Touka, remember this: ghouls helping one another is our principle. So stop thinking about it so much,” the manager said.

...

After the manager and Touka left, Mu Yang looked toward the Antique Coffee Shop.

“The Antique Coffee Shop: the manager, an SSS-class ghoul; Touka, an S-class ghoul; Koma, an SSS-class ghoul; Irimi, an SSS-class ghoul. They should be able to protect Kaneki well enough. I need to start laying my own foundations too. If I don’t build my own power, stirring this world into chaos won’t be easy,” Mu Yang said with quiet feeling.

...

Ward 11. That night, Mu Yang sat silently on a bench in the park, wearing a mysterious mask, waiting for something to arrive.

Soon, a rustling sound came from the bushes near the park, telling him that what he had been waiting for had finally come.

A ghoul crawled swiftly across the ground. The moment it reached behind Mu Yang, it burst up suddenly, its tail striking straight toward him. Of course, Mu Yang would not let it have its way. He casually caught the ghoul’s tail with one hand and hurled the creature aside.

“The Lizard, an S-class ghoul. Active in the parks of Ward 11. He likes to prey on people sitting alone on benches, looking lonely and depressed. He feeds once every nine days. You should be the one,” Mu Yang said, looking at the ghoul sprawled on the ground before him.

“Are you an investigator? And you’re alone?” The Lizard looked at Mu Yang and asked uncertainly, though he remained highly alert inside, ready to flee at the slightest sign that something was wrong.

“Relax. I’m not a search officer, and I didn’t come with anyone. I came here specifically to find you,” Mu Yang said.

“Find me? To be eaten by me?” The Lizard’s wariness eased slightly, but he was still on guard.

“No. I want to create my own faction, so I’ve come to invite you to join me,” Mu Yang said.

“Hahaha, you? Create your own faction?” The Lizard laughed at Mu Yang’s ambition.

“Yes. If you refuse to join, then I’ll have no choice but to make you join by force. By the way, my faction will be called Shepherds,” Mu Yang said...

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