Byakuya had destroyed the control system but he had not actually opened Cochlea's front gates.
This meant the ghouls inside could only escape through certain routes.
And the main exit?
It was located at the lowest level-through an underground passage.
After all, Byakuya didn't want them escaping too quickly.
His mission wasn't done yet.
At that moment, Byakuya and Arima passed through the biometric security gate and entered Cochlea.
By now; the Aogiri Tree members who had been attacking outside had already completely vanished.
They had already regrouped with Eto.
"Stay calm! Prioritize your own safety!"
The moment Byakuya stepped inside, he immediately reassured the panicked Investigators.
"Special-Class Uchiha is here! We have a chance now!"
With Byakuya's arrival; morale was restored.
The Investigators quickly followed orders.
They didn't recklessly chase the escaping ghouls.
Instead; they grouped together and formed a defensive position.
"Kishou, that group over there is yours."
Byakuya gestured toward a cluster of S-rated ghouls.
That was Arima's target.
As for himself-his eyes had already locked onto another figure.
The white-haired, white-browed man
standing not far away.
A Russian ghoul, who looked to be in his fifties.
The Third Clown King.
"The Priest" Donato Porpora.
This SS-rated ghoul was a high-ranking member of the Clown Organization.
If he escaped; it would only spell trouble.
Donato was not like the other Clowns who treated everything as a joke.
In some ways; he was actually a realist; a man who understood the world far too well.
And precisely because of that; Byakuya believed this man was better off rotting in prison.
Let him stay here, occasionally reminiscing about his "father-son moments" with Amon Koutarou and stay out of trouble.
Currently Donato wasn't even in a hurry to escape.
Instead, he leisurely strolled through Cochlea, watching the Investigators panic in amusement.
Then, his gaze fell upon a black-clad Investigator walking toward him.
He instantly felt something was off.
And yet he made no effort to run.
"Ah… Mister Investigator, this must be our first time meeting, yes?"
Even now, Donato had the leisure to chat.
"Indeed, a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Byakuya spoke calmly.
At the same time; he unlocked the golden Quinque case
and pulled out one of the 'Owls'.
Donato's pupils contracted.
His vast knowledge told him; this Quinque felt… familiar.
And in mere seconds, he recognized it.
Yoshimura Kuzen's Kagune.
Although Donato wasn't close to Yoshimura, as the Third Clown King, he had countless connections and sources for information.
That was why the CCG often came to him for intelligence.
"Hoh… Kuzen, huh?"
His eyes flickered with understanding.
"That means; you must be one of the CCG's Special-Class Investigators."
Without hesitation; Donato raised both hands.
A clear gesture of surrender.
He had zero intention of fighting Byakuya.
Because anyone who wielded Yoshimura Kuzen's Kagune was at least as strong as Kuzen himself.
And Donato knew firsthand; back when Kuzen was a Cleaner for 'V'… his power was absolutely terrifying.
Donato knew very well how powerful Yoshimura Kuzen had been during his time as a Cleaner.
He had no desire for a meaningless battle.
Since he knew he couldn't win; surrendering was simply the best option.
Even locked in Cochlea; Donato could still find ways to amuse himself.
"Then come with me."
Byakuya spoke calmly.
"Once I finish my work, I'll return you to your original cell."
Donato's quick surrender had saved Byakuya some trouble.
Now; he needed to find a few "unlucky bastards" to hand over as a cover.
The best candidates?
The ghouls who hadn't managed to escape through the underground tunnel.
As for keeping Donato by his side; Byakuya wasn't worried about a sneak attack.
With his Mangekyō Sharingan, such tricks were useless.
And besides; Donato wasn't foolish enough to try something like that.
"Of course, of course."
Donato's smile remained perfectly pleasant.
To someone unaware of his true nature, he probably looked like a kind old priest.
Arima, meanwhile was still engaged in battle.
He had intercepted the group of S-rated ghouls before any of them could escape.
Byakuya's loaned Quinques; Tsukikage and Fūrei had significantly boosted his combat power.
After all, A-rated Quinques were far superior to B-rated ones.
Cochlea, Underground Passage.
This already narrow tunnel was now completely blocked by a hulking figure; the One-Eyed Owl.
Alongside her stood a group of Aogiri Tree members.
As for Tatara and Noro's unit-they were still in the 13th Ward.
Only Eto had rushed over to execute Byakuya's plan.
The so-called plan was actually quite simple:
Recruit some of Cochlea's ghouls to expand Aogiri Tree's ranks and bolster its strength.
As for Hoito Roma; originally she wasn't part of Byakuya's plan.
But now; the System's new mission required him to bring her into Aogiri Tree.
So, he might as well get it done.
"Who the hell are you people?!"
"Why are you blocking our way?!"
"Get lost! Move aside!"
The ghouls trapped in the tunnel immediately began shouting in frustration.
Since Aogiri Tree was still a new organization,
and Eto had only gained notoriety in the past six months;these long-imprisoned ghouls had never heard of her.
Even when Aogiri Tree had previously attacked Cochlea; their cells had remained locked.
Still; the sight of Eto's massive kakuja form made them uneasy.
They knew just how powerful a full kakuja could be.
So for now; none of them dared make a move.
"No need to panic~"
Eto's distorted voice rang out.
"You all have two choices."
"Submit or die."
"Who the hell do you think you are?!"
An SS-minus rated ghoul immediately shouted in defiance.
He then rallied several other S-rated ghouls to try and force their way through.
But of course, Eto was faster.
Within three seconds all of their heads had been sliced off.
"Anyone else care to try~?"
Her warped, gleeful voice sent a chill through the remaining ghouls.
That single moment had made them realize just how powerful this one-eyed ghoul was.
It was obvious; they had no choice but to submit.
Meanwhile-a small figure lurked among the fleeing ghouls.
She was waiting for a chance to slip away.
"The Dodgy Mother" Hoito Roma.
She had no interest in joining this organization.
How boring.
It was nothing compared to her beloved Clowns.
Since her short stature kept her hidden behind others; Eto hadn't noticed her yet.
But the moment the other ghouls began swearing allegiance; Roma suddenly sprang into action.
She leaped onto the tunnel walls and began sprinting away at high speed.
She didn't try to force her way past Aogiri Tree.
Instead; she turned back and ran deeper into Cochlea; she simply planned to find another exit.
After all, she wasn't one of those powerhouse SSS-rated ghouls; she had no intention of fighting Eto head-on.
Eto naturally noticed immediately but she didn't chase after Roma.
Instead, she let her run back inside.
Because she knew; that damn Lolicon Bastard was about to arrive.