Following Takatsuki Sen's confession of her ghoul identity at the book launch and her arrest by Byakuya in CCG's name, an enormous sensation erupted.
The recording of that book launch spread widely across major video platforms. The impact continued to expand.
Protests flooded in. The phones at CCG headquarters and every branch were overwhelmed.
"Yes, this is the Commission of Counter Ghoul..."
"We're very sorry for your displeasure, sir. We'll find a way to handle this as soon as possible."
"We're very sorry! Very sorry!..."
"..."
Countless protest calls poured in—more in a single day than in the entire past year.
Customer service at CCG headquarters and all branches were completely exhausted.
The ratio of those supporting Takatsuki Sen versus those condemning her was roughly fifty-fifty...
No, wait—it had now reached sixty-forty.
Voices supporting Takatsuki Sen had gained the upper hand. This was incredible considering she had just outed herself as a ghoul—that the majority would support a ghoul was extraordinary.
Actually... among these sixty percent of supporters, most had read Takatsuki Sen's works, with this new book having the deepest impact on them.
The remaining forty percent were mostly people who didn't know Takatsuki Sen or hadn't read her works. As humans, disliking ghouls was perfectly normal.
Supporters who had read Takatsuki Sen's works—especially the new book King Bileygr—could understand her.
It was similar to how readers and viewers of Tokyo Ghoul naturally empathized with the half-ghoul protagonist.
As it happened, both the protagonist in Eto's writing and the protagonist of Tokyo Ghoul were half-ghouls...
Having a place in both human society and ghoul society, yet feeling like an outsider in both—such a protagonist would resonate with readers more deeply than a pure human or pure ghoul.
If one didn't delve into ghoul society through a half-ghoul's perspective, didn't come to understand the members of Anteiku, then...
To outsiders, someone like Yoshimura would just be an old ghoul that should be exterminated. Or rather, to most humans, ghouls were an enemy species that should be completely wiped from this world.
So whether supporters or opponents of Takatsuki Sen, both represented normal human attitudes.
Eto had calculated this perfectly, plunging CCG and the Washuu Clan behind them into this storm of public opinion.
...
At this moment, Byakuya had brought Eto to CCG headquarters.
Because of what Eto had deliberately said before the media—stating that Byakuya hadn't known her ghoul identity beforehand—her self-exposure hadn't significantly impacted Byakuya, who was closely associated with her.
Walking behind Byakuya, Eto was not only handcuffed but also wearing white prisoner garb.
Of course, the handcuffs were purely symbolic. Such things couldn't possibly restrain the fearsome One-Eyed Owl.
Byakuya had already injected Eto with RC suppressant—though... the RC suppressant in his hand was fake, just for show to others.
Next, Eto would undergo thorough examination. Once the results confirmed she was a ghoul, she would be transferred to Cochlea in Ward 23.
Due to the increasing number of protesters, CCG had no choice but to send Eto to Cochlea as quickly as possible.
On the way to the examination, Byakuya happened to encounter Akira.
"...Akira-san, we meet again."
Eto took the initiative to greet Akira.
"..."
Akira remained silent, not responding.
She didn't know how to respond right now—not when facing her blood enemy.
"Akira, I need to take her for examination first."
Byakuya spoke, breaking the heavy atmosphere.
"Mm..."
Akira finally responded—just that one sound.
As Byakuya and Eto departed, Akira stood there for a long while before finally leaving...
"Akira-san must hate me to death, right? Not only did I kill her mother, but I'm also trying to steal her man."
Eto still had the mood to joke around.
"Can you be serious for once at a time like this..."
Byakuya said.
"I am being serious."
Eto said. "After we actually take down the Washuu Clan, honestly, I don't know how to face her. Normally, blood debts are repaid with blood. If she really wants revenge when the time comes, she can kill me. By then my wish will have been fulfilled anyway—I'll have no regrets..."
"It's not time for that yet. Don't be so hasty about saying these things."
Byakuya said with some exasperation.
That said, the matter between Eto and Akira was indeed troublesome.
He couldn't just intervene—this was something Eto and Akira had to resolve themselves. After all, he couldn't simply tell Akira to forgive Eto. That would be too absurd.
Unless...
Byakuya thought again of the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique.
The premise was that the system would give him a modified version. If he could resurrect Akira's mother, that would undoubtedly be the best solution, bar none.
But the key was having such a modified version...
...
After Byakuya brought Eto to the examination area, he left.
But soon he encountered Akira again.
"Associate Special Class Amaha... she's the One-Eyed Owl, isn't she?"
Akira asked Byakuya, her expression complicated.
"Mm, yes."
Byakuya nodded in confirmation.
"..."
Akira was silent for a moment. "You knew about her ghoul identity all along, didn't you?"
"Yes."
Byakuya didn't hesitate at all, admitting it directly.
"I knew it..."
Hearing this, Akira wasn't surprised.
Though she hadn't realized it before—after all, Eto being a half-ghoul with characteristics beyond ordinary understanding meant regular investigators like Akira couldn't possibly know that half-ghouls could eat normal food.
But now that she thought about it, knowing Eto was a ghoul, her instincts told her something was off about the relationship between Byakuya and Eto...
Instinct never needed reasons. If something felt off, it felt off. That's why she'd just asked Byakuya that question.
...
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