Of course, Lucian wouldn't tell them that Kaneki is the "protagonist".
In fact, even he isn't sure that this position really makes a difference, but it's better to remain cautious than to have to remedy the situation in the future.
So he continued his daily life, full of relaxation and joy, developing his skills a little more and increasing the strength of his subordinates with kagunes.
Of course, he also continued talking to Ryoko, Hinami and Touka to cultivate their relationship. It must be said that having saved the mother-daughter duo earned Lucian a great deal of respect from her.
And so he simply spent day after day waiting for something big to finally happen.
Far away from Lucian and the infinite castle... Or close? It's not possible to answer that question due to spatial problems, but it doesn't matter – In the Anteiku, Kaneki had finally begun to realize that power is a very important thing.
Although he wasn't as affected as in the original work, knowing that even such gentle ghouls would be hunted down and eliminated still made him want to become stronger.
So he was training with Touka and Yomo. But on this particular day, what Lucian had been waiting for finally happened: Kaneki followed Tsukiyama to the ghoul restaurant.
.......
In a building similar to a coliseum, several masked individuals served as an audience, watching the few people present in the arena, and even though their faces were covered, the desire for the massacre that was about to take place was palpable.
"What I noticed was its aroma, so I present it to you." A ghoul wearing a mask similar to a waning moon with a big smile explained, trying to justify his deeds and calm the growing dissatisfaction in the audience.
Most ghouls are against cannibalism for one simple reason – the flesh of their fellow ghouls tastes terrible, but the masked man had brought a ghoul into this establishment that values taste above all else, so he needed to explain himself.
So after these words, he threw a handkerchief with a small red stain – Kaneki's blood – into the crowd.
Some of the masked men rushed forward to catch the slowly falling handkerchief, only to be perplexed by an odor they had never experienced before.
"What is that?"
"That smell is delicious!"
"It's a very complex smell."
"Yes. Even though he's a ghoul... He exudes a human smell," the purple-haired, moon-masked ghoul said, slowly becoming exasperated "Doesn't that intrigue you?! What will it taste like? A new stimulus for our sense of taste and smell! I even made him exercise and drink a cup of coffee, I'm sure his meat will be tender and aromatic!"
Soon his words became more and more frantic, as if he had found something he had been looking for all his life. The crowd also rejoiced at this idea, eager to taste this meat of unknown flavor.
On the other hand, Kaneki realized his situation: 'Gourmet... Tsukiyama... Going to talk to me and taking me to the cafe... Was it all a trap? I haven't learned anything from what happened to rize-san...'
A feeling of despair flooded his mind when he saw Tsukiyama Shuu's intention – to eat him.
The other guests, a man and a woman, also had a similar reaction on hearing their host's words, although unlike Kaneki, none of them were ghouls or knew that they had been invited by a ghoul.
"Hehe... What a lively restaurant! I've heard of similar restaurants in France, the food is incredible and we're still surprised!" The man next to Kaneki said, trying to comfort himself, denying the situation of being the food in a ghoul restaurant.
And even though he forced a smile on his face, his voice and trembling body denounced his inner fear.
Unfortunately for him, the butcher thought he'd make a good appetizer and, as he approached, grabbed him, throwing him to the ground.
Then the butcher stood above him and began his work, cutting the meat, so he pulled one of the man's arms and used his saw on him.
"Ahh... Wait! It can't be! Wait... Wahh!" The man squirmed in pain and despair as the giant in front of him cut his arm off at the root.
"Serra... Saw... The music of the saw..." The butcher hummed, completely indifferent to the lamentations of what was nothing more than an ingredient for him.
Then, after removing an arm, he threw it to the guests, presenting them with an appetizer, which they received with great joy.
As the first morsel was served, he returned to his work, finishing butchering the man who was still writhing on the floor.
With the first appetizer cut, the butcher turned to Kaneki and the woman, while some of the restaurant staff approached to collect the ingredient and prepare it for serving.
"Stay close to me! I'll get us out of this!" Kaneki said to the woman, demonstrating his willingness to help her.
Too bad not everyone has as noble a spirit as he does.
The woman kicked him and, with an expression that revealed how ugly she was inside, said: "If you want to help me, become a distraction and die first."
Immediately afterwards, she turned and ran in the opposite direction, hoping to survive longer.
Unfortunately, she wasn't very bright or didn't pay attention to the host's words – Kaneki is the main course.
And you don't serve the main course before the appetizers.
So the butcher moved towards her in large strides, ready to continue fulfilling his vocation.
After a short chase, she was caught and put on the plate, causing the misfortune of a large number of people.
The woman, for being pressed on a hot plate, and the guests, for the fact that the food hadn't been washed beforehand.
Meanwhile, Kaneki was just stunned, shocked by the betrayal of the one he wished to save, the brutality of the butcher and the indifference of all the ghouls present.
"What an idiot, he could have attacked when the butcher was busy killing one of those two unfortunates!" Lucian couldn't help but comment quietly as he looked at Kaneki's stupid face.
Yes, he had been there watching everything from the beginning, even eating popcorn at the same time, as if he were just watching a movie.
'Too bad the protagonist of this horror movie isn't as smart as he could be...' sighed Lucian, a little disappointed by such naivety and lack of action, 'so many missed opportunities.'
On the other hand, Kaneki was in a bad position, just frozen, as if he was waiting for the butcher to approach and butcher him like he does the others.
'Even if I beat the butcher, hundreds of ghouls will come after me,' he thought, looking at the giant approaching with a saw.
Fortunately, Kaneki still possessed a certain dodging ability, and deftly dodged the butcher's sawed-off blows.
"Go Taro-chan! You can do it!" shouted Madame A, urging the butcher to act.
And he didn't let her down. Advancing with determination, he soon caught up with Kaneki, throwing him to the ground and then running his saw through him.
However, ordinary saws are far from capable of hurting a ghoul, not even scratching the tough skin of this species.
Without much suspense, the saw broke, giving Kaneki a space to escape.
But his joy didn't last long, coming to an end the moment a quinque was handed over for the butcher to use.
Even so, Kaneki continued to persevere, dodging the blows until he finally found an opening to strike back.
He spun the butcher's arm, turning the elbow joint upwards, and then delivered a knee to the underside, breaking his pursuer's arm.
"Putting into practice what you learned from the books?! That's who you are! But unfortunately I'm one step ahead... The moment you entered this ball your fate was placed in my hands..." Tsukiyama exulted and uttered his admiration for Kaneki.
At that moment, Kaneki overbalanced and was hit by the butcher's quinque saw, knocking him to the ground.
The host then explained: "MM-san warned us to take all possible precautions. Although much more slowly, those who haven't had their coffee have inhaled a gas that inhibits motor skills – soon he will no longer be able to stand."
Hearing this, Kaneki remembered the closed corridor they had passed through, connecting the dots one by one. His expression became increasingly grim.
"Ahhhh!" Using all his strength, he threw the butcher away and tried to get up, although he failed miserably.
But it wasn't completely in vain, considering that the revelation of his lone kakugan had completely changed the way people saw him.
"An eye? I thought they didn't exist"
"One-eyed ghoul!"
"Quick! Cut it off!" The crowd became excited, more and more anxious.
'A rarity! A delicacy!' Tsukiyama realized his mistake – bringing Kaneki into the restaurant – a delicacy of this level should be enjoyed only by him.
So jumping up from his stand, he moved quickly and stabbed the butcher in the back before saying, "Sorry ladies and gentlemen... I didn't know he was a one-eyed ghoul, but I don't intend to ruin tonight's feast... How about we treat ourselves to Madame A's pet?"
He suggested as he tore apart the body of Taro, the butcher, immediately putting him in a state of near-death.
"Don't worry, Madam A, I'll find a replacement that suits you better." After that, Tsukiyama turned to Kaneki and said close to his ear: "It was just a little joke, don't worry about it and just forget it."
......
With the end of the banquet, the restaurant was soon empty and totally different from the morbid animation of before, the atmosphere was simply depressing, as if it reflected the mourning of all those who had died in that place.
That left only Tsukiyama, who was wildly thinking about how to prepare the most magnificent of delicacies.
And when Tsukiyama least expected it, a figure appeared, taking a seat at the table opposite him.
"Who is visiting me at this hour?" he asked, maintaining his elegance despite the surprise he felt in his heart.
"I'm Lucian and I've come to have a little chat with you..." The figure introduced himself.