If Touka Kirishima and Nishiki Nishio did not experience the most frantic era due to their age, then Enji Koma and Kaya Irimi could barely be said to have witnessed the tail end of that era: the insane slaughter between humans and ghouls, with large numbers of ghouls and investigators sacrificing themselves every day, until 'Special Class Arima' defeated the 'Owl' did the two sides maintain a strange balance.
Ghouls began to conceal themselves, and investigators used this precious time to train new recruits.
"So, what is the price?"
Enji Koma at this time showed no sign of his usual buffoonery. After speaking with a serious face, he remained silent and looked directly at Lancer.
Undoubtedly, this was not only his question but also what Yoshimura Kuzen wanted to say, but he could not speak, because once he did, the topic might be prematurely ended, leaving no room for maneuver.
And at this moment, Lancer suddenly wanted to say 'all this', but in the end, he held back, because he always felt that after saying it, he would be chopped up with a hatchet and have his head squeezed.
"Very simple. I hope you and the ghouls under your command can temporarily follow my instructions to do some things."
Lancer request was both unexpected and within expectations.
"Do you plan to betray the CCG and use ghouls to become the underground emperor of Tokyo? Or are you..."
"Wait, hold on a minute."
Kaya Irimi's words were interrupted by Lancer before she could finish.
"What image do you guys have of me? Putting aside whether ghouls can achieve that, what difference would it make even if they did? I'm not interested in that kind of thing."
Generally speaking, a normal person's desires are nothing more than power, wealth, and sex, and Lancer 'reputation' is even more unnecessary to elaborate on, basically equivalent to demonization. The most crucial thing is that this time is different from before. Previously, Lancer was completely pushed by others behind his back. As for this time, it can only be said that he was unlucky.
Normally, other people's 'misunderstandings' can generally lead to HCG (H-scene), but his misunderstandings only lead to misunderstandings and no CG (in-game scene) can be obtained at all.
For Lancer, his 'vision' is much broader. He has lived in modern metropolises and has also been to ancient feudal empires. If he really wanted to experience power, there were plenty of simpler ways. There was no need to control ghouls to do these things, let alone that it was completely unrealistic, after all, that 'ghoul food' is not a mandatory option.
"What I want you to do is actually very simple. I hope you can help me gather some intelligence, some information about the CCG."
"Intelligence about the CCG? Did something happen to the CCG?"
This was the first time Yoshimura Kuzen spoke, but Lancer merely shrugged, a strange smile even on his face.
"I am just an ordinary First Class Investigator. I wouldn't know about these things. I just hope to know some things."
"First, tell us what intelligence you want to collect?"
"Any intelligence about the CCG high-levels is fine."
"Alright."
"Manager!"
Neither Enji Koma nor Kaya Irimi expected Yoshimura Kuzen to agree so readily, because Yoshimura Kuzen's response was too decisive.
But Yoshimura Kuzen only pressed his hand to signal the others to calm down and did not give too much explanation.
After all, Lancer request was to 'search for intelligence', but he did not demand that any specific intelligence must be found. To a certain extent, this leaves room for maneuver. He didn't know if Lancer said it intentionally or didn't think of it, but he didn't want to say anything more on this topic.
"I imagine your purpose isn't just this one, is it?"
"That's right. I want to know about the 'Owl'."
Regarding collecting CCG intelligence, Lancer also planned to use his transformation ability to collect it himself. His real purpose was the second question.
The information he knew about the 'Owl' came from the manga he once read, but he already knew one thing –––––– this is a truly existing world. Never underestimate anyone or be too self-righteous.
And after hearing Lancer words, the coffee cup in Yoshimura Kuzen's hand was unconsciously put down. He lowered his head and silently looked at the cup, as if there was something hidden in the continuously rising white mist...
The atmosphere in the entire store also became a bit low. It wasn't until the coffee in his cup gradually cooled down that he recovered, but he still didn't speak. Instead, he drank the coffee in one gulp.
"As expected, coffee is more bitter when it's cold..."
Only he himself knew whether the slightly bitter expression on his face at this time was because of the coffee in his hand or something else.
"Regarding the 'Owl's' matter, I'm actually not very clear myself, but I can tell you about my own story. Perhaps it will be useful to you... if you are willing to listen."
"Of course."
––––––
Yoshimura Kuzen's so-called 'story' was actually not too unusual.
A killer employed by an organization falls in love with a girl. This is a relatively old-fashioned story, but the unusual part is that the 'killer' is not human but a ghoul, so the difference in their positions is even greater.
But the development of the story was not completely 'unexpected'.
After finding his own 'light', the killer wanted to quit, but the organization behind him naturally would not allow it, but at this moment, something even more unexpected happened: the human woman was pregnant.
One must know that it is very difficult for a ghoul-human hybrid to be born, especially when the male is the ghoul.
As for the reason? Very simple. Because the ghoul part wants to mix with the human part, it is extremely difficult, and the mother needs to provide more 'energy'.
"Wait?! Does that mean that woman..."
"That's right. In order for the child to be born, she did something a human shouldn't do –––––– cannibalism."
Speaking of this, Yoshimura Kuzen's expression became extremely complex. Even after more than twenty years, he still could not forget the scenes from back then. For him, he regretted countless times that he shouldn't have fallen in love with the other party, because it was because of him that the other party suffered so much hardship.
After Lancer fell silent, the other party continued to speak, and the final outcome was not 'unexpected'.
The woman died under the organization's pursuit, and the man finally wandered the world with their child.
"Your child is that 'Owl', right?"
"That's right, Eto... she is the Owl. Eto is her name..."
Lancer knew most of the information about this matter, except for what the other party's wife did, but he started to feel a little strange.
"Manager, how strong were you more than twenty years ago?"
"Stronger than I am now."
"That means a mysterious organization was strong enough to hunt down an SSS-rated ghoul more than twenty years ago?"
Everyone focused their attention on that family due to the solemnity of Yoshimura Kuzen's 'story', but Lancer found the anomaly.
This is too strange...