"Please tell me. I want to know what's going on."
Touka's expression was grave as she questioned Byakuya.
"The CCG has discovered Anteiku's... or more accurately, the Manager's true identity. They're about to launch a suppression operation against him."
Byakuya explained.
"The CCG?!"
Touka's first thought went to Byakuya, who was a CCG investigator, but she immediately dismissed that suspicion.
Byakuya had saved everyone at Anteiku countless times. No matter what, she couldn't suspect him because of this.
"The Manager's true identity... Is it something the CCG takes very seriously?..."
Touka had always known the Manager's background wasn't simple, but she didn't know the specifics. The Manager had never revealed anything about it.
"The One-Eyed Owl. You've heard of it, right?"
Byakuya said.
"The One-Eyed Owl?... Isn't that someone from Aogiri Tree?"
Touka couldn't understand why Byakuya was suddenly bringing up someone from Aogiri Tree.
"Correct. The 'One-Eyed Owl' is currently the SSS-rated ghoul that gives the CCG the most headaches and makes them most wary. The Manager is the 'Non-Killing Owl'—on the same level. Against an SSS-rated ghoul, the CCG will deploy unprecedented combat strength."
Byakuya explained.
The CCG's understanding of the One-Eyed Owl was still stuck at what they knew from ten years ago. Back then, the One-Eyed Owl had actually appeared weaker than the Non-Killing Owl, having been seriously wounded by Kuroiwa Iwao—then a First Class Investigator—who severed one of its kakuhou.
Now, ten years later, the CCG didn't know whether the One-Eyed Owl had grown stronger, nor did they know that the Non-Killing Owl had weakened considerably. Their assessment of the Non-Killing Owl's threat level was still based on a decade ago, which was why they were mobilizing everything they had.
Apart from Haisaki Shinme, who absolutely had to remain guarding Cochlea Prison to prevent another Aogiri attack, every other Special Class Investigator would be deployed.
This included Bureau Director Yoshitoki Washuu as Commander-in-Chief, Special Class Investigator Marude Itsuki as Deputy Commander, plus numerous Associate Special Class and First Class Investigators.
It was an unprecedented deployment of elite forces—nearly every available combatant was being sent to suppress the Non-Killing Owl.
"The One-Eyed Owl and... the Non-Killing Owl? Why are they both called 'Owl'? Does the Manager have some connection to that person from Aogiri Tree?"
Touka asked.
"...Another major reason the CCG decided to suppress the Non-Killing Owl is the suspicion that he's colluding with Aogiri Tree. That's about all I can tell you."
Byakuya said.
As for the Manager's father-daughter relationship with the One-Eyed Owl, he didn't intend to go into that much detail with Touka.
It wasn't that he was worried about anything—it was out of consideration for the Manager's feelings.
Up until now, the Manager had only discussed his daughter with Byakuya. Yomo might know something or could guess at it, but probably didn't know the full truth.
Now that the Manager's identity as the "Owl" had been discovered by the CCG, there was no harm in telling Touka about the Non-Killing Owl. But Kuzen's relationship with Eto could remain unsaid for now.
"..."
Touka lowered her head slightly. "I don't want to run. I want to protect Anteiku until the very end."
Byakuya shook his head slightly. "The Manager, Koma-san, and Irimi-san all want you to go somewhere safe with Yomo-san. They don't want you caught up in this crisis."
"But doesn't that mean I'd be abandoning them...? The Manager always said that Anteiku members should help each other..."
Touka's fists clenched involuntarily.
"Then... are you prepared to fight against the CCG's near-total deployment? There will be six Special Class Investigators alone."
Byakuya said.
"Even so, I can't just run!"
Touka declared.
"If you don't run, you might die."
Byakuya warned, his tone still calm.
"But! ...The Manager, Koma-san, and Irimi-san—they might die too!"
Touka's expression was filled with worry.
"...'Anteiku members should help each other'—the ones who have always upheld the Manager's words are Enji and Kaya. Think about it—why are they unflinchingly choosing to fight the CCG?"
Byakuya couldn't let Touka rashly join the battle. In a conflict of that scale, with Touka's current strength, something could easily go wrong.
The only reason he was confident he could protect the Manager, Koma-san, and Irimi-san was that all three of them possessed strength at least SS-rated—especially the Manager at SSS.
Even though Koma and Irimi hadn't consumed fresh human flesh in many years and had likely weakened considerably, they could still hold their own against a team of one Special Class plus multiple Associate and First Class Investigators.
But Touka was different...
These words struck at Touka's heart. Her hands unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothing. "...So that I... and everyone else can survive, they're willing to sacrifice themselves... The Manager, Koma-san, and Irimi-san are all such important people..."
Touka's expression was sorrowful. "The Manager... he's the one who encouraged me to go to school... He's been like a father to me, always looking after me. But why..."
Her mind also flashed with her real father's smile.
Finally, Touka couldn't hold back anymore. She covered her moistening eyes with her hands. "Everyone's just going to leave me behind..."
She sank down weakly, covering her face as tears fell. "Everything's gone... everything..."
"I want to save the Manager and the others. Even if it's useless... even if I die... I still want to go..."
Tears slipped through Touka's fingers. "I've really had enough of this... Please... let me go to the Manager..."
Byakuya had been silent for quite a while before finally speaking. "...Taking the willful lot of you somewhere safe is probably Renji Yomo's final mission at Anteiku. So whether or not I should indulge your willfulness is what I'm considering right now..."
Looking at Touka kneeling on the ground, Byakuya was deeply moved.
"...I know I'm being selfish. But I still want to... Please..."
"Then..."
Byakuya mentally opened the System Shop.
[Ding! The host has purchased "Akatsuki Robe ×1," consuming 10 Fusion Points!]
He reached out and gently stroked Touka's silky hair. "Stand up. Put on these clothes, and then come home with me."
...
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