"My daughter...? I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're talking about."
Yoshimura Kuzen's expression did not change. He maintained his smile, but inwardly he could not remain calm.
Even the Washuu Clan had only suspected that he and Ukina had left behind a mixed-blood child back then. They could not fully confirm whether the child truly existed, nor did they know whether it was a son or a daughter.
So when the other party mentioned his daughter, his heart skipped a beat.
But he had to forcibly restrain his emotions and reveal no flaws.
At present, Yoshimura Kuzen did not know what stance the young man before him held. By default, he could assume he served the Washuu Clan, because there were extremely few half-humans who defied the Washuu Clan.
"Yoshimura Eto. That should be the name, right?"
Ihei Byakuya did not circle around the topic at all. He spoke directly.
"..."
Yoshimura Kuzen fell silent at once, and his expression finally slipped beyond his control.
There was no longer any point in pretending, because Ihei Byakuya had completely dropped the act.
If the other party knew the name Yoshimura Eto, then he must have already come into contact with Eto...
"How do you know about that child..."
Since there was no need to continue pretending, Yoshimura Kuzen stopped as well.
"Naturally, I met her in Ward 24."
Ihei Byakuya answered truthfully.
"How is she now? Has she already been captured by you people?"
Yoshimura Kuzen asked with a grave expression.
"No. She is at my home."
Ihei Byakuya shook his head slightly.
"At your home..."
Yoshimura Kuzen was immediately surprised. "Are you not afraid?"
"You mean the Washuu? They do not know about this yet."
Ihei Byakuya said calmly. "Rather, you, Mr. Yoshimura, how long do you plan to maintain the status quo?"
Yoshimura Kuzen quickly caught the implication. "You intend to..."
"I believe Mr. Yoshimura already has an answer in his heart."
After saying this, Ihei Byakuya stood up. "I will take good care of Eto. In return, I will have to trouble you regarding Uruka-chan."
Byakuya did not intend to say too much to Yoshimura Kuzen. He knew it was impossible to change Yoshimura Kuzen's thinking with just a few sentences.
He only wanted Kuzen to know Eto's current situation, which would also benefit his plans later...
"I understand..."
Yoshimura Kuzen nodded slightly.
"In addition, there is someone called Ice Devourer. His kakuhou suffered a fatal wound. Has he come here?"
Ihei Byakuya asked directly.
"..."
Yoshimura Kuzen fell silent for a time.
Because he only wished to quietly run the Antique Coffee Shop and did not want to get involved in matters concerning positions and factions.
Even in the original timeline, when Kaneki Ken was taken by Jason, Kuzen had initially not wanted to intervene. Only after everyone in the shop expressed their stance did he change his mind.
Even that rescue operation had been driven by his own considerations, not purely for Kaneki's sake.
He knew that the Aogiri Tree led by Eto would attack the Cochlea prison in Ward 23 at that time, so he deliberately appeared before the CCG in his One-Eyed Owl kakuja form, helping Kaneki and Touka stall the CCG's Special-Class main forces while diverting their attention.
As a result, the CCG never anticipated that the main force of Aogiri Tree was actually at Cochlea...
Seeing Yoshimura Kuzen's reaction, Ihei Byakuya already understood.
Ice Devourer had definitely come to the Safe District and had likely sought help.
As for whether the Safe District had helped, it most likely had.
Even Kamishiro Rize, who had hunted recklessly in Ward 20 in the original timeline, had not been driven away by the manager and the others.
"I more or less understand now. There is nothing else. That will be all."
After saying that, Ihei Byakuya prepared to leave.
He now needed to capture Ice Devourer first...
"Please take care. You are welcome to visit again."
Yoshimura Kuzen did not forget to say this.
"Yes. The coffee is indeed very good."
Ihei Byakuya nodded slightly. "At least it tastes better than the café I took Eto to last time. Wouldn't it be a pity not to let her try it?"
Leaving those words behind, Byakuya departed.
When he reached downstairs, Ihei Byakuya chatted briefly with Minami Uruka.
"Ihei-kun, are you heading back already?"
Minami Uruka asked.
"Not exactly. I still have work, so I cannot rest for too long."
Ihei Byakuya said.
"Alright. Then be careful."
Minami Uruka said.
"I'm leaving first. Bye."
After that, Ihei Byakuya left the Antique Coffee Shop.
...
After quite some time, Yoshimura Kuzen finally came down from upstairs.
"Manager, what did that boy talk to you about just now?"
Irimi Kaya asked curiously.
"Nothing much. He was asking whether we had seen a fleeing ghoul."
Yoshimura Kuzen replied.
When he said this, no one else doubted him.
As for Eto's matter, he would naturally keep it buried deep within his heart.
"A fleeing ghoul? That must be..."
Irimi Kaya immediately thought of someone.
Sure enough, Ice Devourer, who had been pursued by Ihei Byakuya, had indeed come here.
At this moment, Yoshimura Kuzen had no mind to think about Ice Devourer.
He walked to a cabinet, on which rested an exquisite coffee cup with a somewhat classical style.
He carefully took it down and wiped it with a cloth.
Seeing this scene, both Irimi Kaya and Koma Enji were somewhat concerned.
Because in their memory, that coffee cup had never been used for any customer, yet the manager would wipe it clean every so often.
Perhaps it was prepared for someone very important...?