Discussing ghouls so brazenly in their own territory, without a hint of discretion, naturally drew every eye in Anteiku to Altair.
Customers, staff, and the owner, all focused on him. Altair, unfazed, smiled at Amon across the table, waiting for his response.
Amon's stoic facade cracked, his face twisting with hatred. "Ghouls are the scourge of this warped world. They should be eradicated!"
A textbook CCG answer, drilled into investigators during training. The CCG needed tools to fight ghouls, not freethinkers. Amon's words sparked anger among the cafe's occupants, especially Touka, whose eyes, partially hidden by her hair, glared at him. From her angle, Amon didn't notice.
"Very by-the-book." Altair said, nodding in acknowledgment. "So, Amon, want to hear how I see ghouls?"
"Please, Mr. Arthur, go ahead." Amon replied.
Altair didn't rush. Instead, he launched into a lecture. "Before I share my view, let's cover the basics of what ghouls are. You've probably learned this at the academy: ghouls are beings with special abilities, using their kagune to fight and hunt humans. They kill and eat people, marked by their blood-red eyes, and their fighting styles vary based on their kagune type.
"Their power comes from high concentrations of RC cells stored in their kakuhou. These cells are remarkable, transforming into kagune with various forms during combat. But here's the thing, even regular humans have RC cells, just at lower levels, too weak to make a difference. Ghouls eat humans to replenish their RC cells, keeping them abundant and active.
"And here's the kicker: ghouls and humans have no reproductive barrier. They can have children together."
His words stunned the room, especially Amon, whose eyes widened. This was news to him.
Altair tapped the table, delivering his verdict. "So, to me, ghouls are just humans with higher RC cell counts who've mastered the power those cells grant. Ghouls are humans, evolved humans, even."
"Ghouls… are humans?" Amon stammered.
"Exactly. You could say they're an advanced form of humanity."
"Eating people counts as evolution?" Amon snapped, slamming the table, his anger flaring.
"Hold on." Altair said, leaning back calmly. "Do you know what becoming a ghoul means?"
"Eating people!" Amon shot back.
"No. It means a stronger body, unique powers, and incredible healing. As long as it's not a fatal wound and you're well-fed, you're nearly immortal. If you had those abilities, how would you feel?"
"If it didn't involve eating people." Amon said, frowning but considering it, "that'd be… pretty great."
"Exactly. Ghouls even live longer. And the only cost? Eating human flesh."
"That's not a cost, it's monstrous!" Amon protested.
Altair's next words cut deep. "Don't be so quick to judge. If the nation's elite had a chance to become ghouls, just for a longer life, no strings attached, do you think they'd hesitate? They'd line up in droves.
"For the average person, becoming a ghoul is tough. Even with all that power, their status keeps them low, and getting human flesh is a problem. But for the elite? They lack for nothing. Becoming a ghoul just adds one more resource to their arsenal: human flesh. And they don't worry about supply.
"The simplest way? Control a crematorium. Sit back as bodies roll in, no hunting required. By day, they live as humans, basking in high society. By night, they feast in their mansions. Compare that to the feral ghouls skulking in alleys, dodging investigators, and scraping for kills. The elite? They call that living."
Silence gripped the cafe. Amon was speechless, and the others were stunned. No one had considered this perspective. Two minds, however, churned faster: the elderly owner behind the counter and the green-haired girl seated behind Altair. They knew more than most but were still shocked by his words.
"So, Amon." Altair continued, "you're focused on the masked ghouls in back alleys. Have you ever thought some ghouls might never wear masks? They could walk right past you, and you'd never know."
"That's… impossible." Amon said, sweat beading on his forehead. Deep down, he was starting to believe it, though his words denied it.
"Is it?" Altair pressed. The cafe's occupants leaned in, curious about his next question. "Tell me, Amon, where do you think ghouls come from?"
***
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