World Traversed: Tokyo Ghoul
World Level: Two Stars
Player Stay Duration: One Year
Friendly Reminder: When the host traverses a world, time in the main world will remain still.
Allen walked out of the alley, rain sliding off his black trench coat. Tokyo's neon lights blurred in the rain, and pedestrians hurried along the streets. No one noticed the man who had suddenly appeared.
He stood at the crossroads, his crimson eyes scanning his surroundings. Humans and Ghouls coexisted in this world, yet they hunted each other. What an interesting world.
"First, I need to find a place to stay," Allen murmured to himself, then strode towards an internet cafe across the street. As he pushed the door open, the bell hanging above it jingled clearly.
The receptionist didn't even lift his head: "500 yen per hour, 2000 for an overnight stay."
Allen pulled five damp banknotes from his pocket, which he had just "borrowed" from the alley. After paying, he found a corner seat and began to learn about this world.
Allen sat in the corner of the internet cafe, his fingers lightly tapping the keyboard, searching for basic information about this world. His gaze quickly swept across the screen, noting down useful intelligence one by one.
Based on the information he had just found, Allen decided to go to Ward 20 first, as that was where the story began.
After crossing a few streets, Allen arrived in front of a cafe called Anteiku Cafe. Through the glass window, he could see the cozy decor and a few scattered customers inside.
"This is it." Allen pushed the door open, and the bell rang clearly.
"Welcome." A somewhat indifferent purple-haired girl greeted him, "How many?"
Allen glanced around the cafe and spotted his target in a corner: a black-haired young man with his right eye covered, none other than the protagonist of Tokyo Ghoul, Kaneki Ken. He was currently engrossed in a book, stealing a moment of peace.
"One." Allen chose a table close to Kaneki Ken and sat down. "Black coffee, please."
"Certainly, please wait a moment." The girl turned to prepare the drink.
Allen pretended to flip through a magazine, secretly observing Kaneki Ken. This young man seemed meek and introverted, showing no signs of becoming the One-Eyed King in the future.
The coffee was served quickly. Allen took a sip; the taste was unexpectedly good.
The bottom of the coffee cup gently clinked against the saucer. Allen's gaze shifted from Kaneki Ken to the manager, Yoshimura Kuzen, who was wiping the coffee machine. His gray hair was meticulously combed, and his movements were too elegant for an ordinary barista.
On the surface, he was just an ordinary coffee shop manager, but his true identity was the administrator of Ward 20, an SSS-rated Ghoul—the Non-Killing Owl—who was now atoning for the heavy sins he committed in his youth.
"Is this your first time visiting our shop, customer?" Yoshimura Kuzen suddenly spoke, his voice gentle but carrying an undeniable power.
Allen raised his coffee cup, letting the steam obscure his expression: "I heard the coffee here is excellent."
"I hope it won't disappoint you." Yoshimura Kuzen nodded slightly, continuing to focus on his work.
Allen set down his coffee cup, his fingertips lightly tapping the table. He noticed that although Yoshimura Kuzen appeared to be focused on wiping the coffee machine, his shoulder muscles were noticeably tensed. This old fox was on guard against him.
"The manager's skill is indeed well-deserved." Allen suddenly spoke, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the old man behind the counter to hear, "However…"
He deliberately drew out the last syllable, his right index finger lightly tracing the rim of the cup. The ceramic cup silently split into two halves, the cut as clean as if made by a laser.
Yoshimura Kuzen's motion of wiping the coffee machine imperceptibly paused for half a second, then he casually looked up: "Is the customer dissatisfied with the coffee cup? I'll get you another one."
"No need." Allen stood up and slowly walked towards the counter. He could feel the air in the entire cafe instantly solidify. Kaneki Ken, who was reading in the corner, also seemed to sense something, looking up nervously.
Allen slowly walked towards the counter, deliberately slowing each step. He could feel Yoshimura Kuzen's breathing rhythm had changed. Although the old man still appeared focused on wiping the coffee machine, the eyes hidden behind his glasses had locked onto his every move.
"Does the customer need anything else?" Yoshimura Kuzen's voice was still gentle, but Allen keenly detected the hidden wariness within it.
Allen stopped in front of the counter, his right hand casually resting on the surface: "I heard the manager's coffee-making skills are the best in Ward 20. I'd like to see for myself."
His fingertips lightly tapped the wooden counter, each touch leaving a deeper indentation than the last. Yoshimura Kuzen's gaze lingered on those few marks for a moment, then he casually took out a new coffee cup.
"It is my honor to demonstrate for the customer." Yoshimura Kuzen elegantly took out coffee beans. "Which flavor do you prefer?"
Allen didn't answer immediately, instead turning his gaze to Kaneki Ken in the corner. The black-haired young man seemed to sense something, nervously closing his book and looking up, meeting Allen's crimson eyes directly. Kaneki Ken's body visibly trembled, and the book in his hand dropped to the floor with a "thud."
"I'll have the manager's specialty." Allen retracted his gaze, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Yoshimura Kuzen followed Allen's gaze to Kaneki Ken, his gray eyebrows almost imperceptibly furrowing: "Certainly, please wait a moment."
The sound of grinding coffee beans was particularly clear in the quiet cafe. Allen noticed that Yoshimura Kuzen's movements were a few degrees slower than usual. The steam rising as hot water was poured into the filter cup blurred the old man's face, but Allen could still feel those eyes watching him through the steam.
"Please enjoy." Yoshimura Kuzen pushed the steaming coffee cup towards Allen. "This is our special blend, with a subtle fruity aroma and a chocolate aftertaste."
Allen didn't immediately reach for the cup, instead looking directly into Yoshimura Kuzen's eyes: "How long has the manager been running this shop?"
"Almost ten years," Yoshimura Kuzen replied calmly, his fingers gently adjusting the cup's position. "Time truly flies."
Allen suddenly reached out and gripped the coffee cup; the scorching ceramic felt nothing to him. He deliberately slowed his movements, raising the cup to his lips, then paused just before drinking: "Doesn't the manager worry about safety issues around here? I heard Ward 20 hasn't been very peaceful lately."
Yoshimura Kuzen's hand, wiping the coffee machine, paused for a moment: "Ward 20 has always been very safe. We old residents cherish the peaceful life here."
Allen dipped a fingertip into a drop of coffee and flicked it towards Yoshimura Kuzen: "Is that so? That's a shame."
The drop of coffee liquid drew a brown line in the air. Before the old man could react, the coffee had already pierced his collar, landing on the wall behind him with a soft "hiss" and leaving a small hole.
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