The baby's cries were barely audible amid the chaos of the streets.
The young mother trembled, clutching her child tightly. Tears blurred her vision as she stared at the terrifying man in front of her.
Sol's finger brushed gently across the baby's cheek. That same hand had just deflected missiles and crushed Quinques, yet now it was unexpectedly gentle. The baby seemed to sense it, the crying fading as wide, curious dark eyes locked onto him.
"Stay by my side," Sol said again, his voice steady but filled with quiet authority. "No one will harm you."
He rose to his feet, crimson eyes sweeping across the area. Panic had already taken hold. The crowd scattered in disarray as the Self-Defense Forces pushed through. Tanks and armored vehicles blocked every intersection, while loudspeakers repeated the same message over and over.
"All citizens, return home immediately! Do not believe terrorist rumors! The government will ensure your safety!"
Sol let out a faint, mocking breath.
Safety?
They were using millions of people as nothing more than shields.
"That monster is over there!" one soldier shouted, his voice shaking.
Dozens of weapons turned toward Sol instantly.
The lieutenant stepped forward with a megaphone. "Surrender immediately! Otherwise, we will open fire!"
Sol didn't respond. He simply raised a hand.
Psychokinesis formed a transparent barrier, expanding outward and enclosing the civilians nearby.
He stood still, watching the trembling soldiers with quiet amusement.
The barrier shimmered like glass, sealing the frightened crowd away from danger.
"Fire!" the lieutenant screamed.
Gunfire erupted.
Bullets rained forward, only to halt midair a few meters from the barrier, frozen in place. Sol didn't move. His fingers curled slightly.
The soldiers' bodies twisted violently, bones cracking under an invisible force. Their weapons tore free from their hands, crushed into twisted scrap in the air.
Sol remained where he was, expression unchanged, crimson eyes cold.
"Monster! It really is a monster!" The lieutenant collapsed, completely breaking down.
Sol ignored them.
His psychokinetic awareness had already spread across Tokyo. Every conversation, every signal, all of it reached him, including the discussion deep within the Prime Minister's underground command center.
"Using civilians as hostages," he murmured, a faint smile forming. "That's your strategy?"
He raised his hand again.
An invisible force spread outward, gently pushing civilians toward safer areas. At the same time, his voice echoed directly in their minds.
"You have twenty four hours. Evacuate."
In the next instant, he vanished.
Only wreckage remained at Shibuya Crossing, along with a shaken crowd struggling to process what had just happened.
---
Prime Minister's Official Residence, underground command center.
"The target has disappeared!" the radar operator shouted. "All signals lost!"
The Minister of Defense slammed his fist onto the console. "What is he planning?"
The Minister of Health wiped sweat from his forehead. "He gave us twenty four hours. Should we evacuate?"
"No," Washuu Tsuneyoshi cut in sharply. "If we lift restrictions, the city collapses into chaos. Order must be maintained."
The Prime Minister nodded grimly. "Chairman Washuu is correct. Strengthen the blockade. Anyone attempting to leave by force will be shot."
The order spread quickly.
More armored vehicles sealed the roads. Helicopters circled low overhead. The warnings continued, louder than ever.
---
Ward 20, Anteiku underground shelter.
Yoshimura watched the news in silence.
On screen, soldiers forced civilians back, gunshots occasionally breaking through the noise.
"They're really doing it," Touka said, fists clenched, her Kakugan appearing. "Using everyone as hostages."
Kaneki rubbed his hands nervously. "Manager, what do we do?"
Yoshimura stayed quiet for a moment, then slowly pulled out the USB Arima had given him.
"Perhaps it's time the truth comes out."
The shelter door opened.
Sol stepped inside, his black trench coat damp from the rain.
"Plans changed," he said calmly. "The Washuu family is worse than I expected."
Yoshimura studied him carefully. "What are you planning?"
Sol glanced across the ghouls. "I need your help evacuating civilians."
Touka scoffed. "Why should we trust you?"
Sol met her gaze directly, a faint smirk on his lips. "Because I'm not like them. If I say I won't harm civilians, I mean it."
Kaneki spoke up suddenly. "I believe him."
Everyone looked at him.
"He protected people out there," Kaneki added.
Yoshimura considered it, then nodded. "Alright. What do you need?"
Sol's smile widened slightly. "Simple. Tell them the truth, your way."
---
An hour later, every major TV broadcast in Tokyo was hijacked.
Yoshimura appeared on screen as the Non-Killing Owl.
He exposed everything. The Washuu family's identity as ghouls. The truth behind the government's actions.
"All citizens, evacuate toward Ward 20," he said firmly. "We will protect you."
At the same time, Sol stood atop Tokyo Tower.
His psychokinesis expanded fully.
A massive invisible barrier spread across Ward 20, intercepting every bullet and missile sent its way.
"Move," his voice echoed in the minds of every ghoul. "Save who you can."
Touka and Kaneki led the effort, guiding civilians through underground routes. Other ghouls joined in, even members of Aogiri Tree stepping in with silent approval.
---
Back in the command center, chaos erupted.
"A barrier has formed in Ward 20! All attacks are ineffective!"
"Civilians are moving toward it in large numbers!"
"The Washuu family has been exposed!"
Washuu Tsuneyoshi's face darkened. "Deploy V. Eliminate all traitors."
Before anyone could respond, the door to the command center disintegrated into dust.
Sol walked in.
Red emergency lights reflected off his coat as he stepped forward.
"Game over, Chairman Washuu."
Washuu's Kakugan flared instantly. "Protect the Prime Minister!"
Forces rushed forward.
They never reached him.
Bodies collapsed mid-charge, crushed into nothing by invisible pressure.
Sol didn't even look at them. He walked straight toward Washuu.
"Your family ruled the CCG for over a century," Sol said, voice calm. "Hunting your own kind to maintain this fragile system."
Washuu roared, Kagune erupting from his back, power surging.
Against Sol, it meant nothing.
A slight motion of Sol's hand.
The Kagune shattered.
Washuu's body slammed into the ground, pinned by overwhelming force.
Sol crouched down, meeting his eyes.
His tone carried a trace of amusement.
"You're nothing more than a parasite."
His finger touched Washuu's forehead.
The body began to disintegrate, turning to ash from the top down.
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