-Con Artist Arc-

Chapter 2: The Hidden Viper and The Phantom

I more or less could assimilate the situation; on my left was a senile old man itching for the right chance to rip my head off my neck and the one the right had been wanting to smash my head in, but I was only drinking my usual bitter coffee as I scanned through the routes I was given to carry out my work. I barely made any sign of movement from where I was, I only took a few sips of my beverage and nothing more.

Mado-san and Amon-san moved and acted quickly, they do their jobs well I'd give them that, although they were so anal, "Ever since you two had been going around with me, rumors are now spreading that I work for you. I can do things on my own, you know."

The old man thought for a second before he could answer, "Rumors do spread around like plague. No matter, you shouldn't concern yourself with trivial thing such as that," Mado-san stated, lifting his index finger to emphasize his point.

"And we can't let you wandering around unsupervised," Amon-san added.

I flicked a finger around the new collar set around my neck when I woke up that morning, "Yeah, I might kill as many people as I want with this thing on," I said sarcastically. The collar had a mechanism within it that could protrude spikes made out of specialized quinque metals and with that, it could squeeze my neck when activated. A guaranteed death for me, surely, and for some reason a creepy old man had the remote and key for it. The old man liked testing out his new toys on me.

Before the young male could retort against me, the old man cut him off with him scavenging through his files and started mentioning names with his rusty voice. Names of all the current targets.

"Let's recap a few things:

Setsuna Michida - Female, 5 years old

Shizuki Michida - Female, 6 years old

Ryouko Fueguchi - Female, 20th Ward

Kirihara Kaoru - Male, S ranked

Takeshi - Male, 20th ward..." he went on with his list. There were a few details about the targets but no matter how small they were, it was all crucial. With Mado-san's sharp instincts, I doubt his assumptions were wrong.

"You know, I'm a con artist not some sort of assassin, I'm not doing any of this," I said, quickly returning the briefcase where the butcher's knife was contained, I didn't want it. Playing role after role just to trick other ghouls was already a ridiculous task to begin with and now that were rumors spreading about me being a dog to the CCGs, the ghouls could literally swarm around me and rip me apart.

"You won't?" he chuckled creepily, it was as though I was looking at a corpse livelier than me, "Perhaps you are in need of a thorough squeezing on the neck?" his hand went into his pocket, patting what was in it with a grin and I knew that was the remote to the device on my neck.

"No..."

"Oi, ghoul. Know your place before you turn down your own duty," Amon-san scowled, a sour disgust painted across his face as he met my eyes.

"I have a name. It's Saika," I declared, returning his scowl with a glare of my own. There was no way I could get along with these humans, their hatred was just as great as mine, if not, worse.

As we went on with our growing farce, Mado-san did the honor of separating us before we could break a few bones and twist some limbs, and as he did so, he reprimanded as both, he didn't took the side of his subordinate or mine. He was fair with his words, we were both at fault to him.

Amon-san clicked his tongue and fell silent. I may be a female but he would take me on with his fists even if he knew that, I was a ghoul to him and nothing more. At least he didn't discriminate. I didn't like men who went easy on me knowing that I was just a woman, though I shouldn't be one to talk when I couldn't even swung around a fruit knife properly.

"Saika-san, if you're very worried with your reputation with other ghouls, you could always try and clear up the 'misunderstandings'. Fabricating your words with lies is something you have a talent with, no?" said the senile old man, handing me a small earpiece and I reluctantly set it on my ear, "I'll keep this warm for you in the mean time," he patted the briefcase I returned to him.

I nodded and left the two of them. Coating lies with a much bigger lie was something I really did excelled in.

He sure was strange, I'd give him that. I wasn't exactly aware what were his intentions as he permitted me to put an end to the rumors about me when he called it trivial earlier, so I just left it as that and roamed the shady streets and corners of the 20th ward.

The source of the rumors had to be somewhere in the ward, but how would I face those ghouls? Would I resort to force if I fail to convince — deceive them? But I wasn't built for the kill (fend off ghouls to be exact).

I guess I'd have to rely on my own caliber.

I didn't need no mask to hide my identity, my varieties of personas would suffice. And my weapons were words, my silver tongue, but I couldn't bet my safety on that. Hatred and greed reeled the world, it could be seen in every corner and swallow anyone, I couldn't make up for the ghouls who lost their family and loved ones because of me. There had to be countless consequences for all my sins and I was willing to face them one day.

But I can't die right now..

The dark alleys led me to a dead end, a wall looming over me on my way to the other side. That was when I noticed the sun had set, making everything at sight almost pitch-black.

A smile immediately formed on my face when I sensed a presence. I spun around to see nothing but thin air, and under my feet was a black cat and amber-like eyes. I thought I felt someone had their eyes on me but it was only a cat nuzzling me for attention.

My body moved on its own to pet the cat, "I read that cats feed off their deceased human owners after their deaths, letting them live a few more days... I guess you're not so different from me." I mumbled but the cat only purred cutely as though it understood me and then I found myself distracted and mesmerized by it. That was when I felt another presence with me at that time, it wasn't human. Surely a ghoul who was watching me but before I could dart my eyes around, the unknown presence was gone and so was the black cat.

What was that all about?

"You actually showed your ugly mug here? You're really asking for a death wish, you fucking CCG dog."

My eyes scanned around to the source of voice that seemed to belong to a guy. Loathe and regret was drawn from his every word, it won't end well for me then. There was no luck to finding the source even if I heightened my senses, I had never met a ghoul that good in concealing their presence.

"Doves, dogs, cats. I don't see any difference anymore in this corrupted world," said a calm voice coming from above, "Pathetic."

A lanky young man descended in front of me, he didn't look very displeased with me, more like interested but he spoke with a hidden sliver of hope — for what, I wouldn't know. He wasn't the ghoul I felt earlier with the cat and the first ghoul to have spoken was still nowhere to be found. Not good. I was drawing so much attention over a damned rumor.

The young man approached, his dark locks of messy hair was in contrast with his eyes that was in a shade of insipid gray, a color that was dull and unappealing to me, even so, he piqued my interests as well. He had worn a black trench coat with a matching gray turtle neck under it, he carried a knapsack over his shoulder, its weight nearly lowering half of him and whatever was in it sounded like clattering metals as he took a few more steps, he awaited my answer.

"Pathetic? You can describe it beyond those words actually. And you are?" I asked, taking steps backwards as he moved forward. My back had hit the cold concrete behind me, "You too, the one hiding. I know you're still here. Come out where I can see you."

"No can do. You're not worthy to see my greatness. They don't call me 'THE HIDDEN VIPER' for no reason," said the narcissistic guy. And who's '"they"?

"Kirihara, come out already," said the male in front of me. He probably referred to the ghoul hidden.

"Eh? Phantom guy's here too?!"

"Who is he talking to?" I asked, referring the so-called 'Hidden Viper'.

"I dunno," said the mysterious guy in trench coat.

"Well, I was just talking to this wall in front of me! Obviously!" said the narcissist, attempting to be sarcastic on me as he unknowingly gave away where his location was.

"All right. Keep talking to it," I said, dismissing him from the chitchat, "Might I know your name?" I asked once more to guy who stood in front of me.

"Takeshi," he stated blandly.

"I'm well heard of here, I suppose. A pleasure to meet you, Takeshi-san."

"Likewise, Saika-san."

"What the hell, man. You're supposed to kill her, not make idle chat with her." A younger dark haired boy with sharp yet calming shade of blue for eyes finally appeared near Takeshi, he wore a school uniform from a school I wouldn't know yet. His fists clenched and his teeth were gritting together at the sight of me.

"Why would I?" asked the older ghoul, "I still have an unanswered question to prioritize."

"Are you serious?" he asked, dumbfounded.

Wait...These guys are in Mado-san's wanted list.

"Course I am," he shifted his neutral gaze from Kirihara to me, "First things first: Why did you allow yourself to be used by the likes of humans?"

"If there's a point asking her that, I tell you there isn't, Takeshi," Kirihara stated, "She's a traitor."

"I'm a traitor? Why would I be?" I asked, trying hard not to sound sarcastic, "All ghouls are like a family to me. I know they hate me but I would never loathe my kind."

Takeshi's brow lifted at what I'd said, looking skeptical, while the other ghoul remained disdainful towards me, "Doesn't change the fact you're usually seen with the Doves as you roam the nights with not even a mask on. You sure are carefree. Too carefree."

"You two are smart men, you don't waste your time in rumors," I said, smiling, "A rumor's just a rumor if there's no proof."

"That is true. It's not like we've seen you with our own eyes or anything," Takeshi said and Kirihara shook his head in disagreement. I wasn't sure what their relationship was, but I assumed they'd work together to bring me down if necessary.

"What! You can't just let her off the hook like that!" protested Kirihara.

"Well, you can kill her if you want," the older ghoul proceeded to walk away with his heavy knapsack hanging on his shoulder, "I'll take no part of it."
He disappeared into the mist of darkness, gone from sight so I was left with furious Kirihara. The chat ended as soon as it started, I didn't know what to make out of Takeshi's motives for his unexplained curiosity on me and I found it unusual for him to let me off just like that.

Oh well, a different problem for a different time.

I stared at Kirihara who was silent and in deep thought, "Coffee?" I casually asked.

"What?" his eyes widened by a fraction, shocked entirely.

"I'm inviting you out for coffee."

"Seriously?" the furrow on his brows never left his expression. He seemed to scowl far too many times, perhaps it was his natural expression.

"Yes, I'll treat you so? I was gonna invite Takeshi-san too but he left right away."

"Fine," he sighed and surrendered, "but I'm picking the place," he scowled then added, "And that guy's just in a hurry to hide his loot."

"What?"

...

I let the hot-headed male lead me to a plain yet pleasant cafe, 'Anteiku' it said on its signage. A smooth and sweet aroma oozed from the cafe and yet my nose scrunched up from the familiar scent of ghouls in it. Though it was my job to leak information about locations of other ghouls, I decided to keep this place a secret for now, what the CCG didn't know wouldn't hurt them.

"Get in," Kirihara opened the entrance door for me, the little bell attached to the door frame chimed, which alerted the employees of our arrival so I casually let myself in after I thanked him for the small gesture of kindness (no matter how rude he was).

"Welcome!" greeted a jittery boy, attempting to look collected but failed as soon as a faint blush on his cheeks appeared. He must had been new, I assumed.

Kirihara and I took a seat nearest to the window and across each other, he stared at me the whole time with his usual scowl from earlier. I didn't mind his rash treatment since it was obvious that no matter how much he claimed that he'd kill me, he easily got swayed by my invitation. He wasn't so bad after all.

Though I was getting glared at by Kirihara, my eyes were somewhere else, gazing and observing the timid boy who happened to wait on our table, "Hello," I smiled brightly. He twitched then returned my greeting with a sweet smile of his own.

"Good evening, ma'am," he politely bowed, "sir, I'm Kaneki and I'll be taking your order."

"Kaneki-san then, Espresso for me. Kirihara-san?" I glanced over to the seated across me.

Kirihara cleared his throat, "Coffee latte," he said, looking sideways.

"Espresso... and Coffee latte, got it," smiled the boy-waiter as he wrote down our orders.

I couldn't help but scrutinize over our waiter's mediocre yet enticing appearance. Scrawny but didn't appear unhealthy (just hungry, which was later proved true). My eyes fell on the side of his face as he conversed with a pretty waitress who somehow scolded him, his jaws weren't sharp but instead rounded, his eyes were rounded also and reflected all his boyish features— in short he was rather baby faced. He wore a mysterious eyepatch that hid his left eye, which peeved me to know more about him.
One last thing to mention was he also appeared 'innocent', a type of ghoul that usually didn't last very long.

You can't keep turning a blind eye on what's really going on in this world. I know because I've seen it all happen.

Even so, I inwardly smiled to myself at each discovery I made with the ghouls I've met today. I've never interacted with any of them this long, usually they were killed before I got the chance to know their story.

"Stop grinning. It's creepy," said Kirihara.

"Sorry," I said, "it's nice to meet you too, Kirihara-san."

"Shut up already, you sound like a pushover."

Rude as always.

"Here's your coffee." A formally and neatly dressed middle-old-aged man was the one who had deliver our coffee in place of Kaneki-san, he wore a simple smile as he settled our beverage on the table, "You must be Saika-san."

"Yeah, that's me," I casually nodded my head then finally sipped my coffee.

"Do you have a second?" he asked.

"Yes."

...

"I'm Yoshimura, the manager of this cafe."

I was brought at the back of establishment, it wasn't fully dark since there were a few lamps that lit our way.

"I see. If this is about the rumor of me, I tell you: it's not true, Yoshimura-san." I sincerely smiled, "I don't have ill intentions as I'd treated my friend Kirihara-san in your establishment."

"What ghouls have seen was that you were usually around with the CCG and what you have said is another. But I will be honest with you, the hatred of other ghouls weighs more than your words," his tone suddenly changed and air around us was heavy on the chest."

"So you're saying you don't believe me? The ghouls have no proof. No pictures, no videos. No concrete evidence."

"Not very likely, Saika-san. They wouldn't hate you for no reason. You are not safe here. Your presence affects the 20th ward greatly upon your arrival, ghouls don't feel safe knowing that you may be a spy for the CCG."

A spy... What a nice way to call me a dog.

This old man considered the safety to those around him, I could understand that but I also have a job I needed to do. I fell silent for a second, "Then what must I do to stay? I have no home to return to and I hear this ward is the safest.. I just didn't want to fight anyone."

"Why not work here at Anteiku?" he smiled warmly, "We could use an extra hand."

I clamped my hands together, "You'd let me stay?" he nodded. I guess that was one way to keep an eye on me.

"You can start working tomorrow," Yoshimura-san held out a hand I gladly shook it, "Welcome to Anteiku."

This way I could clear those rumors about me then report to Mado-san.

The collar on my neck seemed to have strangely grow tighter though.

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