The man at the desk turned slowly, his gaze cool and calculating. For a moment, the room was still—too still. It felt like the air itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
I could see it in his eyes. He wasn't afraid. Not even the slightest bit. This was no ordinary enemy. This was the mind behind the operation. The one pulling the strings.
"You must be the ones causing all the trouble," he said, his tone casual, almost amused.
I took a step forward, not bothering to hide the anger in my voice. "You're behind all of this. The rogue hunters. The manipulation. Everything."
The man's lips curled into a small smile. "Manipulation? I prefer to think of it as... guidance. Leadership. Someone has to steer the ship, after all. And as you can see," he gestured around the room, "we're doing quite well."
"You've been using ghouls as pawns in your game," Kaneki said, his voice dark. "And now we're here to end it."
The man's eyes flickered to Kaneki, an almost imperceptible shift of interest. "Interesting," he mused. "You must be Kaneki, the one they say can't die. I've heard much about you."
I tensed, my instincts screaming at me to be ready. This man wasn't just powerful—he was dangerous. His calm demeanor was the sign of someone who had seen countless battles, someone who didn't flinch at the idea of taking lives.
Touka's voice broke the tension. "Who are you? What do you want with us? Why create this chaos?"
The man chuckled softly, almost in amusement. "You're asking the wrong questions. The real question is: why haven't you figured it out yet?"
I felt a cold chill run down my spine. "What are you talking about?"
He slowly stood from his desk, his gaze never leaving us. "You're pawns in a much bigger game than you realize. The world is changing, and I'm simply preparing for what's to come."
Rize stepped forward, her voice dripping with disdain. "You're nothing but a coward hiding behind your power. You've used ghouls as weapons, as tools in your sick plan."
"Tools?" The man raised an eyebrow. "No. Ghouls like you have been given a gift. A gift that you've squandered. Power, freedom, evolution. And yet you resist it at every turn. You fight for survival, not for purpose. That's the difference between you and me."
"You're insane," I spat, my fists clenching at my sides.
"Am I?" he asked, his smile widening. "Tell me, what would you do if you had the power to reshape everything? To bring about a new order? Would you hesitate? Would you fight it?"
I took a step closer, my heart pounding in my chest. "We'd fight you. We'll stop you. You won't get away with this."
The man's smile faltered slightly, but his confidence never wavered. "We shall see, won't we? You think you can stop the inevitable? I've already planted the seeds. The world is already changing. The ghouls you know—your kind—they are simply a stepping stone."
"You're not going to get away with this," I repeated, my voice firmer. "There's always a way to stop people like you."
The man's eyes narrowed, but the amused smile returned. "Oh, I'm not worried about that. You think you're here to kill me, but you're just walking into my trap. I've anticipated every move you've made. You're not the ones hunting me. I'm the one hunting you."
I felt a cold wave of realization wash over me. This wasn't just a fight for survival anymore. It was a game—and we had just walked right into the lion's den.
"You think you can win against me?" The man's voice was cold now, his eyes glinting with something dangerous. "I've made sure of it. You're nothing but pieces on a chessboard. And now the game is over."
Before any of us could react, the door to the command room slammed shut, locking us in.
A series of high-pitched alarms blared across the facility, and the lights flickered before plunging us into darkness.