District 1, Headquarters.
In the hall, a memorial service was taking place.
The scale of casualties this time was truly terrifying. Including investigator assistants and other non-official investigators, the number of dead and wounded reached several hundred.
For the CCG, this was also an extremely frightening casualty figure, therefore the memorial service was presided over by CCG Director Washuu Yoshitoki.
His heavy voice came through the microphone as the names of investigators were read out one after another.
"Second-Class Investigator Nakano Taishi....."
"The above sixty-one investigators fought to the death against the ghoul assault and unfortunately sacrificed their lives in battle. We will hold the highest respect for them!"
"The CCG will not forget this tragedy. The arrogance of Aogiri Tree's remnants will not last much longer!"
"Let us observe a moment of silence for those who died in the line of duty in District 11."
The memorial service soon came to an end amid a solemn atmosphere.
Amon Koutarou, Takizawa Seidou, and Hoji Kosuke walked side by side slowly toward the exit of the venue.
At this moment, Marude Itsuki walked over quickly from not far away.
He waved his hand while showing a helpless expression on his face.
"Mado didn't come to participate in this memorial service? Looks like quite a few people were absent today!"
Amon Koutarou felt extremely heavy in his heart at this moment.
After hearing Marude Itsuki's words, he did not say much and only nodded lightly.
Takizawa Seidou, who was standing beside him, stroked his chin and looked around before clicking his tongue and adding.
"Not only that. Second-Class Investigator Mado and Associate Special-Class Uesugi also didn't show up. What exactly is going on?"
"Takizawa-kun!"
Hoji Kosuke lightly patted Takizawa Seidou on the shoulder, seemingly reminding him not to continue.
Takizawa Seidou understood Hoji Kosuke's meaning and immediately changed his words.
"Alright alright, I get it. I won't say anything."
Seeing this, Marude Itsuki could not help laughing loudly and then said with a teasing tone.
"Look at you guys. This whole family is really exactly the same!"
He leaned close to the three of them and said with a gossiping expression.
"That guy Uesugi Ryu isn't even married yet and he's already like this. They really are a family by nature!"
Amon Koutarou looked at the frivolous Marude Itsuki and could not help sighing softly. A trace of dissatisfaction rose in his heart.
District 11 was the area managed by Marude Itsuki. Such enormous casualties had occurred, yet there was not the slightest trace of sadness on his face, and he even had the mood to joke about others here.
......
District 20, Anteiku.
"What? So you went back just to rescue those two people?"
Kirishima Touka tightly furrowed her brows. Her face was filled with displeasure as she stared straight at Kaneki Ken who was sitting nearby.
"Yeah... that's right, Touka. They are actually victims too. They were deceived by that guy Kanou Akihiro."
"Because we have similar experiences, I wanted to help them."
Kaneki Ken's expression was calm like still water as he responded without the slightest ripple.
After some time of experience, his skill at lying had indeed improved.
In the past, whenever he lied, he would unconsciously reach out to touch his chin.
That small action was too obvious and very easy for people to see through.
Fortunately, he had deliberately corrected that habit now.
After hearing Kaneki Ken's explanation, the suspicion on Kirishima Touka's face grew even stronger.
She stared at Kaneki Ken's face intently, trying to find even the slightest flaw.
However, Kaneki Ken appeared extremely calm, making it difficult for her to judge whether he was telling the truth.
The Yasuhisa sisters kept calling Kaneki "Oniichan" again and again. No matter how one looked at it, something felt strange.
Kirishima Touka stared wide-eyed for quite a while but still did not discover anything suspicious.
After thinking briefly, she seemed to suddenly remember something and asked somewhat puzzled.
"By the way, come to think of it, those two sisters were injured by that bastard Uesugi Ryu, right?"
"You rescued them. Won't that cause trouble?"
After saying that, Kirishima Touka gently placed a short knife she was holding onto the table in front of Kaneki Ken.
This short knife was the one that had previously been pulled out from Yasuhisa Kurona.
The injuries on Yasuhisa Nashiro's body were not light either. Afterwards, Yasuhisa Kurona's wounds had all been treated by Kirishima Touka.
Kaneki Ken picked up the short knife. The blood on it had already been wiped clean.
He put away the knife and thought silently that he should find a suitable opportunity later to return it to Uesugi Ryu.
Then Kaneki Ken turned his head and his gaze fell upon Kirishima Touka who was leaning against the bar counter.
"It's fine. Also, sorry for the trouble Touka-chan. Thank you!"
Kirishima Touka slightly raised her chin as if she did not care about these matters at all. She asked with some curiosity.
"That doesn't matter. But speaking of it... that beast Kanou Akihiro was taken away by Aogiri Tree."
"Kamishiro Rize is also dead. Are you still going to continue investigating?"
When Kirishima Touka asked this question, Kaneki Ken froze slightly. Then he remembered the matter regarding the Owl and his expression became somewhat serious.
Kirishima Touka did not notice the change in Kaneki Ken's expression and only tentatively said.
"Come back to Anteiku. Recently Nishiki hasn't come to help in the shop either. We've been a bit too busy lately."
Kaneki Ken fell silent for a moment. He did not know how to answer that question.
Irimi Kaya was organizing the counter nearby and placing some newly prepared coffee beans into containers.
Looking at the two chatting, a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, but there was a trace of regret in her eyes.
Two Owls appearing at the same time. She understood better than anyone what that meant.
After thinking about it, she pretended to speak casually.
"Touka-chan should have final exams soon, right? There's no need to stay in the shop every day."
"There aren't many customers lately and we can still manage. It's rare to have some free time. Let Kaneki, this top student, tutor your studies."
Kirishima Touka felt a headache when she heard that. She hated those things the most.
"Hah! No way. I absolutely don't want to study those annoying things!"
Kaneki Ken looked at Irimi Kaya and said somewhat hesitantly.
"Irimi-san..."
Irimi Kaya's expression instantly tightened and a trace of alertness flashed across her face.
"Wait. It seems a customer has arrived."
"Touka-chan, Kaneki, go call the manager downstairs."
When Kaneki Ken heard this, his originally calm pupils suddenly shrank and a sense of ominous premonition rose in his heart.
Without the slightest hesitation, Kaneki Ken grabbed Kirishima Touka beside him and hurried toward the second floor.
Kirishima Touka was confused by this sudden action.
She frowned and asked in confusion.
"What exactly is going on?"
At that moment, a crisp doorbell sound broke the quietness inside the shop.
With a slight creaking sound, the old wooden door was gently pushed open by a hand wearing a white glove.
In the dim corridor appeared a slightly hunched man wearing a white trench coat. It was Mado Kureo.
The sunlight inside the shop stretched his shadow long. The hem of the trench coat merged with the Quinque case like a gigantic beast filling the corridor.
"Welcome!"
Irimi Kaya forced a professional smile and politely greeted Mado Kureo.
However, facing this uninvited guest, the uneasiness in her heart grew stronger.
Mado Kureo appeared extremely calm. Holding the Quinque in his hand, he slowly walked inside.
After scanning the surroundings, his gaze finally landed on Irimi Kaya. On that gloomy face appeared a trace of excitement that was difficult to hide.
"Konnichiwa. May I ask if this is the place where Kaneki Ken works?"
Mado Kureo's voice was low and hoarse, carrying a chilling coldness.
Before Irimi Kaya could respond, his gaze had already pierced toward the staircase leading upward.
Accompanied by faint footsteps, Yoshimura Kuzen slowly walked down from the narrow stairway.
At this moment, Mado Kureo happened to be standing at the entrance. The dazzling sunlight outside perfectly illuminated half of his face.
Yoshimura Kuzen stood quietly at the narrow stairway entrance. The eyes that were always slightly narrowed opened a little at this moment.
The two looked at each other from afar, and time seemed to stretch at this moment.