Desperate to regain his mental stability and find a sense of purpose after the horrifying events at the laboratory, Kaneki returns to the 20th Ward for a brief, emotional meeting with Yoshimura at Anteiku. The wise manager reveals his own dark, tragic past as a legendary cleaner named Kuzen, and his connection to the unstoppable, mythic creature known as the One-Eyed Owl. Meanwhile, the CCG consolidates its massive data network, officially identifying the peaceful coffee shop Anteiku as the primary operational hub for the 20th Ward's ghouls. The military brass orders a full-scale, absolute extermination campaign, gathering hundreds of elite investigators to wipe out the sanctuary.