Trader In The World Of Pirates!!!

"Touka?!" 

The man holding Kaneki spun around abruptly, his scarlet eyes flashing fiercely behind his glasses as he caught sight of the purple-haired girl standing behind him. 

A flicker of unease crossed his face as he suddenly released Kaneki and muttered, 

"I see..." 

"So that gluttonous woman is dead." 

"And now... what? This place has become 'your' territory?" 

The girl named Touka Kirishima scanned the alley around her. 

Her expression darkened as her gaze fell on the dead human bodies and the lifeless ghoul nearby. 

Without another word, the two began speaking in a language Kaneki couldn't comprehend. 

Their conversation was short-lived. 

In an instant, they clashed, launching into a brutal fight. 

It was over in the blink of an eye. 

Touka decisively defeated the man, forcing him to retreat in disgrace after hurling a final threat. 

Kaneki, overwhelmed and trembling, looked up at Touka as she slowly approached him. 

His world was crumbling around him. 

There was no salvation in her eyes—only an abyss that reflected his growing terror. 

But then— 

A familiar scent hit Kaneki's nose, sharp and overpowering. 

His left eye flickered and transformed, glowing crimson, the unmistakable mark of a ghoul. 

He followed the scent and found himself staring at the severed human arm the long-haired ghoul had earlier offered him. 

The unbearable hunger and his body's primal instincts took over, and Kaneki began to salivate uncontrollably. 

Yet, his human will fought desperately to resist. His trembling right hand dug into the ground, stopping him from reaching out. 

Tears mixed with saliva dripped down his face as he lifted his gaze to the girl standing before him. 

"Please… please save me…" 

Kaneki's voice was hoarse, choked with despair. 

"I… I'm human..." 

"But now… I…" 

"I want to eat that!" 

His arm twitched, extending toward the severed limb before he jerked it back, shaking violently. 

Tears streamed down his face as he cried out: 

"But… but…" 

"If I eat that…" 

"I… I won't be human anymore!!!" 

Touka Kirishima remained calm, her expression unreadable. 

Without a word, she bent down, picked up the severed arm, and held it out to Kaneki. 

"If it hurts that much..." she said coldly. 

"Then just eat it." 

Kaneki's lips quivered, his mouth opening instinctively as he stared at the human arm before him. 

Madness flickered in his eyes as he moved to devour it. 

But at the last moment, he recoiled, slapping the arm away. 

He collapsed onto the ground, curling into himself like a broken, helpless creature. 

"No… I can't eat it…" 

Kaneki's human will forced down the ghoul's instinct. 

The unbearable hunger and internal conflict drove him to repeatedly slam his head against the ground, as though pain could purge his craving. 

"I'm…" 

"Human!!!" 

The declaration echoed in his heart. 

But Touka didn't flinch. 

With unyielding calm, she crouched beside a corpse, tearing off another piece of flesh. 

Her detached expression betrayed no emotion, as though nothing in this world could stir her. 

She held the bleeding chunk of meat in one hand while gripping Kaneki's hair with the other, lifting him roughly. 

Before he could react, she forced the meat into his mouth. 

"If you don't have the courage, then let me help you!!!" 

The taste of blood and flesh flooded Kaneki's senses as his teeth sank into the meat. 

He gagged, desperately trying to spit it out, but Touka's palm clamped over his mouth, preventing him from escaping. 

No matter how much Kaneki struggled, her grip was unrelenting. 

Seconds passed, suffocating and endless. 

Finally, Touka let him go, letting his limp body fall to the ground. 

The moment Kaneki landed, he dropped to his knees, retching violently. 

Kaneki shouted angrily: 

"Why would you do such a thing?!" 

"I'm human! I'm not like you... you man-eating monsters!!!" 

Yet, even as he said this, the truth gnawed at him. 

The taste of human flesh lingered on his mind as something unbearably delicious. The scent of corpses pulled at him with an irresistible allure. 

But Kaneki still clung to his humanity, refusing to accept the horrifying truth— 

That he had become a man-eating monster. 

Touka, standing to the side, remained silent. 

Without warning, she stepped forward and kicked Kaneki hard. 

As he crumpled to the ground, she grabbed him by the hair and slammed his head into the wall. 

Then, like a relentless storm, her fists rained down on him, each blow harder than the last. 

Blood spattered from Kaneki's body, painting the ground. 

But his ghoul physiology betrayed him. The injuries healed almost instantly, and even the pain faded away within moments. 

Finally, with one last heave, Touka lifted him and slammed him into the wall again before stepping back. 

Calmly, she leaned in and asked: 

"If I'm a monster…" 

"Then what are you now?" 

Kaneki froze. 

Her words struck deeper than any of her punches or kicks. 

He touched his unscathed face, his mind reeling. Tears began to flow freely, streaming down his hands. 

Collapsing to his knees, he covered his face and sobbed: 

"Please… tell me…" 

"What should I do…?" 

---

An hour later 

Back at Kaneki's apartment, he sat at the table, staring blankly at a small package before him. 

The events of the past hour replayed in his mind. 

After he reluctantly accepted his new reality as a ghoul, an elderly man with gray hair—whom Touka called "manager"—had appeared. 

Kaneki instantly recognized him as the manager of the coffee shop he often frequented. 

The manager had taken both Kaneki and Touka back to the café, where he explained many things about the world of ghouls. 

Kaneki learned that while most human food was toxic to ghouls, coffee was an exception—something even ghouls could drink. 

Before they parted ways, the manager handed Kaneki a package without explanation. 

Kaneki didn't dare ask what was inside, and the manager didn't volunteer any details. 

But deep down, Kaneki already knew. 

---

Now, sitting alone in his apartment, Kaneki's eyes were fixed on the package. 

His stomach churned with hunger, and his saliva dripped uncontrollably as he stared at it. 

Suddenly, his vision blurred, and a familiar figure materialized before him. 

It was Rize Kamishiro, the woman who had nearly killed him—the ghoul responsible for his transformation. 

With her usual teasing smile, she whispered temptations in his ear, urging him to give in and eat the flesh inside the package. 

Kaneki's trembling hands moved involuntarily, reaching for the package. 

But just as he was about to open it— 

A familiar ringtone shattered the silence. 

Startled, Kaneki snapped out of his trance, blinking in confusion. 

"What…?" 

He glanced at the phone on the table. 

Seeing the caller ID—his best friend, Hideyoshi—Kaneki felt his hunger vanish in an instant. 

Wiping the drool from his mouth, he hesitated before answering the call. 

"Hey… Hide…" 

The moment he heard his friend's cheerful voice, tears began to stream down Kaneki's face once more. 

"Kaneki, you finally picked up!" Hide's voice was as lively as ever, oblivious to the turmoil Kaneki was experiencing. "When are you coming back to school? It's so boring without you!" 

Kaneki's gaze drifted to the package on the table. 

Without a second thought, he grabbed it and tossed it into the trash. 

Smiling through his tears, he replied softly: 

"Tomorrow." 

Hide let out a laugh of relief, clearly thrilled by Kaneki's response. 

The two began chatting as if nothing had changed. 

  ...

  ...

At the same time, in a familiar place... 

Enel sat cross-legged on the roof, observing Kaneki's actions. A satisfied smile played on his lips. 

"Not bad..." 

"Although no one knows what might have happened without that phone call..." 

"But to taste the allure of desire and still resist its pull..." 

"Kaneki Ken..." 

"Perhaps you have potential." 

After pondering for a moment, Enel's expression turned serious. 

"Given the nature of this world, it's best to submit a request to Sir Leo in advance." 

With that thought, he opened the system interface in his mind, spending his points to draft a written application. 

---

A Night of Silence 

After speaking with his friend Hideyoshi, Kaneki felt a fleeting sense of normalcy return to his life. 

Despite the gnawing hunger, he lay down on his bed. 

Exhausted from the events of the day, he drifted into sleep. 

Kaneki could never have imagined that while he struggled with his transformation, somewhere in an unknown corner of the universe... 

A pair of godlike eyes watched him intently. 

And his choices that day had set in motion a series of events that could alter his destiny forever. 

---

The Next Day 

At the gates of Kaneki's university, he hesitated. 

Walking through the familiar campus felt surreal. 

The scholarly atmosphere, the voices of students, the cheerful chatter—it was all the same, yet he felt like a stranger in his own life. 

As he passed by, the subtle scent of a girl caught his attention. 

But this aroma had nothing to do with love or attraction. It was an unsettling, primal hunger. 

Kaneki clenched his fists. 

After yesterday's ordeal, he felt his resistance to his ghoulish instincts had strengthened. Though the craving stirred within him, he managed to suppress it. 

---

Soon, Hideyoshi came jogging toward him. 

"Kaneki! You're back!" Hide's cheerfulness was infectious. 

The two friends chatted like old times, and for a moment, Kaneki felt almost normal again. 

Morning classes passed uneventfully, a quiet reprieve from his internal chaos. 

---

After class, Hide invited Kaneki to meet a senior to gather some information. 

Kaneki, eager to cling to any semblance of ordinary life, agreed without hesitation. 

But he could never have guessed that this simple decision would alter the course of his life forever. 

---

"Nishio-senpai, I'm coming in~!" 

Hideyoshi pushed open the activity room door without waiting, ignoring Kaneki's attempts to stop him. 

From inside the room, muffled sounds of surprise rang out: 

"Uh… huh?" 

The door swung open wide, revealing a startled girl inside. 

She froze in embarrassment for a moment before letting out a shriek. 

Panicked, she clutched her uniform and bolted from the room, her face red with shame. 

---

A sigh of exasperation came from deeper within the room. 

"Really, Hideo... Next time, could you knock first?" 

"Sorry, Nishio-senpai," Hide replied nonchalantly, stepping into the room with a grin. 

Kaneki hesitated, lingering at the doorway. 

Hide was about to introduce Kaneki to his senior when the room fell into an eerie silence. 

Kaneki's pupils contracted as his gaze locked onto the man inside. 

Wearing a clean shirt and exuding an air of studious charm, the senior appeared perfectly ordinary. 

But Kaneki recognized him instantly. 

It was the same ghoul Kirishima Touka had driven away in the alley the night before. 

Why... 

Why is a ghoul here, at my university?!

Kaneki's mind went blank. 

---

For a moment, Nishio also seemed stunned as his eyes met Kaneki's.

But years of hiding his true identity had honed his ability to act convincingly. 

In a flash, he resumed chatting with Hideyoshi like any other friendly senior. 

Seeing this, Kaneki let out a small sigh of relief. 

But just as Kaneki thought Nishio might not want to stir up trouble... 

The ghoul suddenly invited Hideyoshi to his house to search for the remaining information. 

---

"What is he planning!?" 

Kaneki's mind raced as images of the previous night resurfaced—the memory of Nishio Nishiki mercilessly killing another ghoul still fresh in his mind. 

A cold realization struck him: 

Hideo is in danger! 

"Wait... wait a minute!" 

Kaneki blurted out, grabbing his friend's arm to stop him. 

Then, forcing a calm tone, he addressed Nishio: 

"Um... can I come along too?" 

---

Nishio's glasses gleamed, concealing a flash of malice. With a grin, he replied: 

"Of course." 

---

And so, Kaneki and Hideyoshi followed Nishio to his home. 

During the walk, Nishio and Hideyoshi chatted and laughed, sharing jokes as though nothing were amiss. 

To Kaneki's astonishment, Nishio even ate a red bean bun—a seemingly normal act that completely contradicted the agony ghouls experienced when consuming human food. 

Kaneki was shocked, knowing firsthand the pain such food caused ghouls. 

This small gesture planted doubt in Kaneki's mind. 

Could it be possible that Nishio had truly adapted to human life? 

Kaneki even felt a flicker of admiration for Nishio's courage. 

But that sense of ease would be short-lived. 

---

As the group reached a secluded underpass, Kaneki failed to notice the ominous setting. 

The towering bridge piers created dark, damp shadows, distorting the view. The roar of traffic overhead drowned out any nearby sounds. 

And then... 

Bang! 

Without warning, Nishio spun around and delivered a brutal kick to Hideyoshi's chest. 

The force sent Hideyoshi flying through the air like a rag doll, crashing ten meters away as if struck by a speeding car.

"Hide!" 

Kaneki screamed in panic. 

But his fear only deepened when Nishio's entire demeanor shifted. 

The once-amiable senior now stood before him with a sinister aura, his smirk twisted into something monstrous. 

Gone was the charming, scholarly student; in his place was a predator, cold and calculating. 

Nishio stepped closer to Kaneki, still grinning, and spoke with venom in his voice: 

"I never expected..." 

"To meet another ghoul at the same university." 

He sniffed the air lightly, his nose wrinkling in disgust. 

"Ugh, you reek." 

"Why do you smell like 'her'?" 

As he said this, his expression darkened, contorting into pure rage. 

Clearly, the humiliation inflicted on him by Touka still burned fresh in his memory. 

Kaneki froze, dread pooling in his stomach. 

He had walked right into the lion's den. 

Peng! 

The familiar force slammed Kaneki against the wall as Nishio grabbed his collar, his grip vice-like. 

"Hey, kid, do you want to devour your friend, Hide?" 

"Betrayed by the one you trust most... watching their dull, desperate expression..." 

"What could possibly satisfy your appetite more than that?!" 

"Am I right, Kaneki-kun?" 

Nishio's grin grew wilder, his scarlet eyes glowing with madness. The pressure he exerted on Kaneki's body grew more intense, making it nearly impossible to breathe. 

"I..." 

Kaneki coughed up blood, his voice trembling. Yet, despite his agony, he gasped: 

"You and I... are 'not' the same..."

"Eh?" 

Nishio's eyes narrowed, his tone suddenly sharp with irritation. 

"It's really annoying to be talked back to by a brat like you." 

Without warning, Nishio raised his free arm and drove it straight into Kaneki's abdomen. The sickening crunch echoed as Kaneki was pinned to the wall, blood pouring from the wound. 

"Ah!!!" 

Kaneki screamed, the pain overwhelming. 

For a normal human, such an injury would have been fatal. But as a half-ghoul, Kaneki's body stubbornly clung to life. 

The ghoul factor coursing through him surged into action, spreading rapidly to protect his failing body, though it could only stave off death—not the agony. 

Nishio pulled his blood-soaked arm free and threw Kaneki to the ground like discarded prey.

Kaneki crumpled to the floor, clutching his abdomen as his vision blurred. Through the haze, he saw Nishio turn his gaze toward the unconscious Hideyoshi. 

Step by step, Nishio closed the distance, his arrogant laughter reverberating like a predator's triumphant roar. 

"Wahahahaha..." 

Planting his foot on Hideyoshi's head, Nishio leaned down slightly, exerting just enough pressure for blood to seep from Hideyoshi's wound. 

With cruel amusement, Nishio smirked and taunted: 

"You and this guy seem to share quite a bond, huh?" 

"So, Kaneki, which part of him do you want to start with?"

"Stop... no..." 

Kaneki's hoarse voice trembled as he stumbled to his feet, one hand pressing desperately against the gaping wound in his abdomen. 

"Hide... he's not food!" 

"Get your damn foot off him!!!" 

Kaneki's eyes locked onto Nishio's, fierce despite the pain wracking his body. 

Unbeknownst to either of them, the ghoul factor within Kaneki continued to spread, triggering strange changes throughout his body. 

But Nishio, drunk on his arrogance, paid no mind. 

Like a predator playing with its prey, he ruthlessly kicked Kaneki away, sending him crashing to the ground once, twice, three times. 

Blood soaked the cold concrete beneath them.

Finally, Nishio's patience wore thin. 

A blue, serpent-like tail unfurled from his back, its sharp tip glinting ominously in the dim light. 

It was Nishio's kagune, a deadly weapon aimed directly at Hideyoshi's head. 

"Look at you," Nishio sneered, turning toward Kaneki. 

"You don't even have the strength to stand anymore." 

With a cruel grin, he inched the kagune closer to Hideyoshi's temple, relishing Kaneki's helplessness. 

When no response came, Nishio sighed as if bored by the lack of resistance. 

Raising his tail, he prepared to strike. 

The sharp tip plunged downward— 

And then... blood erupted!