Lancer resolute answer and decadent attitude made Touka Kirishima not know what to say for a while, but it was also fortunate that she could calm down and adjust her mood.
'Although the other party hasn't become suspicious, I should say something to divert his attention, right?'
With this thought, Touka Kirishima was about to speak when a 'classic' phone ringtone suddenly rang, and Lancer, after being stunned for a moment, quickly answered. Although he used to be a phone addict who couldn't live without a smartphone, he had completely given it up ever since he came to this world. After all, after encountering a door kill, if he didn't work hard, he would just be waiting for death. It was also because of this that his phone only had the numbers of some 'colleagues,' and at this time... it was probably a work matter.
"Hello? Mr. Mado? Hmm, I'm outside. Pick me up? No, no need, I'll be right there."
There was no doubt that it was a work matter, but Kureo Mado had originally planned to send someone to pick him up but was rejected. Although this place had not been exposed yet, if too many people knew about it, some problems would inevitably arise.
"Here's the money for the coffee and dessert."
While putting on his removed jacket, Lancer stuffed the change he had already prepared into Touka Kirishima hand and pushed the door open. But at this moment, he suddenly paused.
"I just received a notification from my superior that a very powerful ghoul has come from another ward. It's best not to walk in small, deserted alleys when you go home after work."
After saying that, Lancer didn't linger and jogged to the side of the road, hailed a taxi directly, and rushed to the assembly point, leaving Touka Kirishima with a baffled expression, looking at the empty plate and empty cup in front of her.
Every time Lancer left the 'Anteiku cafe,' he would carefully think about what he had done in the store before. After all, he didn't want to expose the fact that he already knew their identities. The reason he reminded Touka Kirishima at the end when he left today was to deepen this impression. After all, a CCG investigator would never tell a ghoul to be wary of another ghoul!
While praising his own cleverness, Lancer couldn't help but go through the 'plot' in his mind again.
When he heard that a 'Binge Eater' might have appeared in the 20th ward, he knew that the 'gears of fate' had finally started to turn, but he was more vigilant than excited.
In his work for the past month or so, his enemies were mostly ordinary ghouls without a codename, but from the beginning of the 'plot,' countless S-rank, SS-rank, and even SSS-rank ghouls would appear.
This was an 'opportunity' for him, but if he wasn't careful, he might be ruthlessly crushed by the 'gears of fate.' After all, he had learned one thing since that 'door kill' and 'first mission' started, and that was ———————— never underestimate your luck value, or you'll be GG in a moment.
Lancer temporarily ignored his mood speculation. At this moment, Touka Kirishima, who was cleaning up the cups and plates and wiping the table, was staring blankly out the window.
Why was the other person's attitude towards 'ghouls' so firm, but he would show a sense of powerlessness afterward? The other person didn't seem like a bloodthirsty person, so why did he hunt so many ghouls? Why did he specifically remind her before leaving?
Touka Kirishima, who had always considered herself 'well-informed' because she had integrated into human society, was rarely lost in confusion.
But at this moment, a hand gently patted her on the shoulder.
"Touka, it's getting late. There probably won't be any more customers today, you should go home."
Looking at the manager's slightly weathered face, Touka Kirishima hesitated for a while and decided to tell him about her 'confusion.'
Indeed, there were some things she couldn't figure out on her own, so she would ask someone with more life experience.
And after listening to Touka Kirishima, Yoshimura did not answer directly but organized his words before giving his answer.
"What he said... I don't agree with all of it, but most of what he said is 'fact'."
Yoshimura also opened his slightly squinted eyes at this moment.
"For me, you, and everyone in the cafe, his words are undoubtedly denying our efforts. After all, we haven't actively attacked humans since we came here, but so what? People like us are in the minority among ghouls. For humans, 'ghouls' represent enemies."
At this point, Yoshimura's expression also became serious, and his tone also became extremely formal.
"What he said is a fact. No matter how hard we try, we cannot change the fact that 'ghouls' and 'humans' are in opposition. As long as we still feed on 'humans' for a day, then we can never reconcile."
"Touka, I know you have a good friend at school, and this is what I want to see. After all, I was the one who suggested you make friends, but don't forget your identity. Once our identity is exposed, the result will inevitably be a disaster. Whether it's for us or for the humans we get along with!"
At this point, his originally serious expression also gradually became complicated.
Although it was never mentioned in the 'plot,' as a powerful ghoul and a ghoul who didn't like to kill, he also had 'human friends' before this. However, the fact that he was all alone now was enough to explain the final outcome, so he did not forget to use this opportunity to warn Touka Kirishima.
Yoshimura's words made Touka Kirishima already conflicted mood even more depressed. Remembering her friend and her efforts during this time, she suddenly felt extremely exhausted.
"Manager, is it... possible for us to live in peace with humans?"
"Maybe? Our biggest disagreement with humans is 'food.' If one day this disagreement can be resolved, then maybe we can truly live in peace with humans..."
Yoshimura's words undoubtedly gave Touka Kirishima, who was in a slump, a glimmer of hope, but there were many things he didn't say. Even if there was 'ordinary food' that ghouls could eat, it still couldn't change the fact that ghouls had once eaten humans. They would still be 'aliens' and would still be excluded. Even if 'ordinary food' really appeared, it would probably take at least a hundred years for the two races to live in harmony.
Unless... unless... something appears that forces the two races to cooperate...
But that's impossible, right?
Looking at Touka Kirishima, who had regained her motivation, Yoshimura also showed a wry smile from an angle where no one could see.