Eto had been waiting many years for this moment.
Originally, she had planned to change the world herself as the One-Eyed King. But then she was attacked by Kishou Arima, who was already a "Cleaner" for the V Organization at the time.
Back then, her strength wasn't what it was now. Arima, on the other hand, had been at the peak of his physical condition. Naturally, she was defeated.
But on the verge of death, Eto realized that Arima was a half-human oppressed by the Washuu. She proposed they work together to change this absurd world.
Arima accepted her invitation, and from then on became Aogiri Tree's "One-Eyed King."
But Eto and Arima faced a problem: Eto, as a one-eyed ghoul, wasn't the "strongest," while Arima, though the strongest, had an extremely limited lifespan.
Therefore, neither was suited to become the true One-Eyed King. From that point on, they worked together to pave the way for the future, true One-Eyed King...
Until Byakuya appeared out of nowhere and completely disrupted the plans they had laid for so long.
But Eto had also discovered that Byakuya was the perfect One-Eyed King. Not only was he a half-ghoul, but he also possessed overwhelming, absolute power.
In her view, as long as Byakuya was willing, he could definitely change this world.
"But I refuse."
Byakuya answered without hesitation.
"...Why?"
Eto immediately asked.
She remembered that Byakuya's attitude toward the Washuu was similar to hers. Given that, he shouldn't refuse her...
Unless... he looked down on them completely...?
"Because my principles are different from yours. You're willing to sacrifice countless lives and commit endless atrocities just to produce a so-called 'One-Eyed King.' You'd even have your own father captured and used as an 'experimental subject'... though I can completely understand why you hate him."
Byakuya spoke calmly.
"You understand why I hate him? Then go ahead and tell me."
Eto's attention was immediately diverted. She questioned Byakuya with a sardonic expression.
Byakuya hadn't intentionally redirected her attention—Eto was simply sensitive about this topic...
"Manager Yoshimura has already told me many things over time, including about your mother, Ukina-san..."
Byakuya said expressionlessly. "As I recall, Ukina-san was a human journalist who deliberately approached Manager Yoshimura to investigate certain truths about the V Organization. Perhaps because of that, you came to believe... that you were just an incidental byproduct of your father and mother's relationship—something unnecessary?"
These words, especially the last sentence, struck precisely at the painful place in Eto's heart.
"Too bad I don't have the power, or I'd really make you shut up..."
Eto said coldly.
"So I was right?"
Seeing her reaction, Byakuya understood immediately.
"That's right. Just as you said, I'm nothing but something unwanted. They brought me—someone whose very existence is sinful—into this absurd world. How could I not hate them?"
Eto spoke casually. "Though I have no memory of my mother at all, so it doesn't really matter. But Kuzen... or should I say 'Father'—I hate him so much~"
She tried to gloss over the matter of Yoshimura with just that one sentence, as if she were hiding something...
"Mm, I'm sure you hate Manager Yoshimura very much. After all, he killed Ukina-san with his own hands. But I also think you once held a sliver of hope for him—it's just that later, even that hope turned to despair..."
Byakuya nodded.
"Tch..."
Eto's expression turned cold. "How annoying. You act like you know me so well."
Her reaction clearly showed Byakuya had hit the mark.
"I don't know you that well. Just a little."
Byakuya said mildly.
"..."
Eto suddenly felt this guy really deserved a beating. Too bad she didn't have the strength to do it. Otherwise, she would definitely throw a couple of punches at him.
"You've despaired of this world. Despaired to the point where you could calmly have your father used as an 'experimental subject.' But in the end, that's only because your power is insufficient."
Byakuya's demeanor suddenly turned cold. "The so-called 'Washuu Clan' is nothing but a joke in my eyes, yet you're still racking your brains scheming just because of their existence. That's the difference between me and you..."
"..."
When it came to strength, Eto had no rebuttal.
After a moment of silence, she spoke. "So what are you going to do with me? Kill me? Or hand me over to the CCG for credit?"
"Neither."
Byakuya shook his head slightly. "I have no interest in killing you. And the Manager definitely wouldn't want me to kill you either. No matter how cruel you tried to be to him, he would never think of harming you. You should know that in your heart."
Eto wasn't stupid—if anything, she was extremely intelligent. If Byakuya could figure out these things based on her circumstances, how could she not have thought of them herself?
It was just that she had already completely despaired of this world. She was willing to pay any price to change it.
Eto lowered her head slightly, her voice heavy. "...If he really cares about me, then have him come see me."
"Sure. Actually, I also think the Manager has been doing this wrong—only knowing how to protect you from the shadows, never daring to face you."
Byakuya agreed immediately.
All these years, the Manager had never taken the initiative to meet his daughter. It certainly wasn't just because he was worried about the V Organization discovering his whereabouts—V didn't have the capability to keep Yoshimura under constant surveillance. The main reason was that the Manager felt guilty toward Eto and couldn't face her, because of what he had done to Ukina.
He had just waited for Eto to come to Anteiku. And when Eto finally did come that one time, she was driven away by the warm, harmonious atmosphere inside the coffee shop. How awkward...
As Byakuya left the room to fetch Manager Yoshimura, Eto sat there and raised her head slightly, laughing at herself mockingly.
Not only had she been outmaneuvered by that guy on the battlefield, but he had also seen through nearly all her secrets. How annoying...
But now she was even more curious about what exactly that guy was after. Otherwise, how could he so confidently reject her principles...?
After a long while, Yoshimura, having recovered from the brink of death, arrived.
"Eto..."
Yoshimura's expression was grave. His wrinkled face seemed to have aged even more.
In contrast, a smile of ambiguous meaning appeared on Eto's face, looking somewhat eerie. "Long time no see, Dad~dy❤"
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