Arima was supposed to be investigating Aogiri Tree in the 24th Ward, yet here he was at CCG's 1st Ward Headquarters.
"Investigator Arima, it's rare to see you back here. What brings you back all of a sudden?"
A colleague, surprised by Arima's presence, asked him.
"There are some matters that need my attention. Besides, Byakuya's funeral is tomorrow, so I came back early..."
Arima responded with his usual blank expression.
"Ah... right."
That person remembered that Arima had been partnered with Byakuya for quite some time. Realizing it wasn't the best topic to continue, he awkwardly changed the subject before walking away.
But Arima's real reason for returning wasn't just to attend Byakuya's funeral.
The "matters that needed attention" were directly related to the One-Eyed Owl.
Arima was worried that Byakuya's supposed death would push Eto over the edge, making her act recklessly and ruin everything they had planned.
If anything were to happen to her, there would be no way to salvage the situation.
If Eto did decide to make a move, Arima needed to be there to stop her.
After all, the CCG Headquarters in the 1st Ward housed many of the Washuu Clan's high-ranking members — including chairman Tsuneyoshi and bureau director Yoshitoki — making them likely targets for her attack.
If the upper echelon was threatened, V would undoubtedly step in.
If Arima could intercept Eto first, at least he could put on a show.
But there was one thing he hadn't accounted for —Eto wouldn't be the only Owl showing up.
Not long after Eto and Yoshimura left Anteiku, Byakuya, as if by pure coincidence, arrived at the café—just a little too late.
While Hikari and the others were racking their brains over how to break the news of Byakuya's "death" to Mayu, they suddenly turned to see him casually walking through the door.
"Ah?!!"
Everyone froze in shock, as if they had seen a ghost.
Byakuya was supposed to be dead.
Even his last letters had already been delivered.
But standing before them was Byakuya, alive and well—not a scratch on him.
Was this… a resurrection?!
"Wait, Byakuya, you… CCG said you were dead?"
Hikari couldn't help but ask.
"I died?"
Byakuya looked genuinely confused.
He had no idea he had supposedly been "killed".
But it didn't take long for him to realize that things had gone very wrong.
He didn't see Yoshimura or Eto anywhere… Did that mean CCG had already sent out his "final letters"?
"Yeah, a ghoul investigator came by with a letter. She said your funeral was happening tomorrow, and we all believed it…"
Hikari said, still feeling dumbfounded.
None of them had expected this to be a false alarm.
"..."
Byakuya was at a loss for words.
He figured that when he teleported into the Kamui dimension, Kaiko and the others must have assumed he had died.
He walked over to a table and picked up an envelope that had been placed under a book. The seal had been broken.
Inside, he found the final letters he had written himself.
Eto had definitely read them.
Well, this is awkward…
Holding his own farewell letters, Byakuya suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
But more than embarrassment, he felt concerned.
"By the way, Yoshimura and Eto left just a while ago. You should hurry and find them. Eto's probably heartbroken right now."
Hikari reminded him.
"Yeah..."
Without wasting another second, Byakuya left Anteiku and rushed out into the city.
"I knew it. There was no way he'd go down so easily."
Yomo remarked.
"When did CCG get so sloppy? Making such an amateur mistake…"
Koma muttered.
"This whole situation turned out to be a complete joke. But Yoshimura and Eto should be fine. The real question is… where did they go?"
Hikari sighed.
They had no idea Yoshimura and Eto were heading straight for the Washuu Clan.
For now, they were just relieved that Byakuya was alive — at least they didn't have to figure out how to explain this mess to Mayu.
But now, Byakuya was the one with a headache.
...
1st Ward, CCG Headquarters.
After leaving Anteiku, Eto had immediately activated her kakuja, flying toward the 1st Ward at top speed.
That's right—flying.
Eto descended from the sky, crashing directly into CCG's headquarters.
The sudden attack threw the entire building into chaos. Investigators scrambled in a panic, grabbing their quinques.
"Is that the One-Eyed Owl?! They's attacking headquarters directly!"
"Alert the Director—NOW!"
"Damn it! Of all times, why now?! Tomorrow is Byakuya's funeral!"
Some of the investigators were furious. If the Owl caused too much destruction, it would completely derail the funeral.
But Eto couldn't care less about them.
Her only targets were the Washuu Clan members at the top.
"Stand down."
A calm voice rang out.
Arima stepped forward, quinque case in hand.
"Investigator Arima!"
The surrounding investigators were instantly reassured by his presence.
Since Special Class Investigators were rarely stationed in the 1st Ward, Arima was by far their strongest defense.
Apart from him, there were only two Associate Special Class Investigators in the building.
Of course, even if the other Special Class Investigators were here, Arima would still be their strongest weapon.
"The rumors say that Arima's real strength already surpasses a Special Class Investigator. If anyone can take down the Owl, it's him…"
"Trust in Arima. He was Byakuya's partner, after all."
"We should fall back. We'd only get in his way."
The investigators retreated deeper into the facility.
Against an SSS rated ghoul, they knew they would only be a hindrance.
And, to be honest, they were afraid of dying.
Now, only two people remained in the ruined CCG lobby.
Arima and The One-Eyed Owl.
"Move"
Eto growled coldly, not yet realizing why Arima was standing in her way.
Maybe… this bastard had decided to betray them after learning about Byakuya's death?
Either way, she didn't care.
She had no patience for this.