Yoshimura finally spoke, unable to stay silent any longer. "Mr. Sol, treating a Special Class Investigator from the CCG like this will bring serious trouble to Anteiku."
Sol rose to his feet and brushed his hands together. "Relax, he is not dying." He turned his gaze toward Arima Kishou. "And you are not going to report what happened tonight, right? Getting beaten this easily by someone unknown does not help the White Reaper's reputation, or the fear he is supposed to inspire."
Arima Kishou's eyes sharpened, colder than before, yet he gave a slight nod.
A satisfied smile appeared on Sol's face. "Good. Then we can continue."
He looked back at Yoshimura. "About the Washuu Family, I need your help spreading the truth."
Kirishima Touka cut in immediately. "Even if we agree, why should we trust you? What if you are just using us?"
Sol tilted his head slightly, amused. "Do you really have a choice?" He gestured toward Arima on the ground. "The CCG is already hunting you, and the Washuu Family is far worse. Compared to them, the CCG is just the surface. As far as I am concerned, the Washuu Family is nothing more than a tool."
Yoshimura fell silent for a moment, processing the weight of Sol's words. "If we agree, can you guarantee the safety of Anteiku?"
"Of course." Sol answered without hesitation. "I can also handle small inconveniences for you." His eyes shifted toward the window. "Like the investigators arriving right now."
Before anyone could react, every window in the café shattered at once. Armed investigators stormed inside.
"Don't move! CCG!"
The leader stopped mid-command the moment he saw Arima lying on the ground. His expression changed instantly. "Special Class Arima!"
Sol exhaled, mildly annoyed. "This is getting repetitive." He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
A sharp impact echoed.
Every investigator collapsed at the same time, as if struck by an invisible force. Not one remained standing.
Sol glanced at Yoshimura. "That is what I call a minor inconvenience."
The ghouls in the café stood frozen. None of them had seen how he moved. A single snap, and trained investigators were down.
Irimi Kaya muttered under her breath, "This is absurd…"
Sol casually walked to the counter and poured himself a glass of water. "Now, can we actually talk?"
Yoshimura inhaled deeply, then nodded. "What do you want from us?"
"It is simple." Sol took a sip. "Use your connections among ghouls. Spread the truth about the Washuu Family, especially to the groups being hunted. They will be very interested to learn who their real enemies are."
Touka frowned. "That will cause chaos."
"That is the point." Sol placed the glass down. "The messier things get, the better."
Arima forced himself upright, his voice steady despite his injuries. "You are provoking a war."
Sol turned to him, a faint smile lingering. "No. I am ending a lie that has lasted centuries. And this?" He gestured lightly. "This level of conflict is nowhere near a war. When the gap in power is this wide, it becomes a one-sided slaughter."
He stepped closer and crouched in front of Arima. "As a half-human, you should understand the Washuu Family better than anyone."
Arima's pupils shrank. "How do you know that?"
Sol straightened. "I know far more than you think. Including what goes on in the Sunlit Garden."
Silence filled the café again.
Yoshimura looked at Sol with growing seriousness. This man knew far too much.
Sol glanced at the clock. "It is getting late. I will leave now. Remember our deal."
He walked toward the door, then paused and looked back.
"Oh, and Arima Senpai."
Arima lifted his head.
"Recover properly." Sol's smile carried a hint of anticipation. "Next time, I expect a better fight."
In the next moment, he disappeared completely.
No sound. No trace.
Only silence remained.
After a while, Kaneki Ken spoke quietly. "Is he even human?"
Yoshimura sighed. "Whatever he is, the balance in Tokyo is already broken."
Arima pushed himself up, grabbing his damaged IXA. "I need to report to headquarters."
Touka scoffed. "Didn't you agree to keep quiet?"
Arima glanced at her. "I said nothing about being defeated. That is all." He paused. "But I will investigate the Washuu Family myself."
Yoshimura nodded. "That is wise."
Arima moved toward the exit, his steps unsteady. Before leaving, he looked back at everyone. "If what he said is true, the CCG will face a massive internal collapse. Until then, stay cautious."
Touka wanted to respond, but Yoshimura stopped her. The old man gave a slight nod. "We understand."
Arima left the café.
As he disappeared into the night, a thought lingered in his mind. If it was Sol, then overturning this corrupted system might actually be possible.
Inside Anteiku, the tension slowly eased.
"Manager, are we really going to follow what he said?" Irimi asked.
Yoshimura remained quiet for a moment. "We confirm the truth first. If the Washuu Family is exactly as he described…" His gaze hardened. "Then this lie deserves to end."
Kaneki looked at the unconscious investigators scattered across the floor. "What about them?"
Touka crossed her arms. "Throw them outside. Let them wake up in the alley like nothing happened."
Yoshimura nodded.
The café staff got to work, moving the bodies.
None of them noticed that on a nearby rooftop, Sol stood watching everything unfold.
"The first move is set," he murmured.
The wind brushed against his coat as he faded into the darkness once more.
Tokyo's night grew heavier.
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