Most of Goat was understandably wary about trusting two former investigators. They followed Rabbit's lead, but the thrum of tension in the crowd was obvious as they walked to the CCG Headquarters.
If Mr. Mado could see us now… Amon knew he was betraying everything his mentor had stood for, but he couldn't let that stop him from standing up for what was right.
He glanced at Akira and found it impossible to read her thoughts. She couldn't be regretting this, right? No, she had agreed to Nagachika knowing full well what it entailed.
Often, he thought she was the strongest woman he knew. No doubt she had her flaws, like all of them, but no matter how many times she was knocked to the ground, she got back up again and faced the world.
He loved her, for that and everything else.
It was easier to admit that now. Before, when they had worked together, he couldn't bring himself to think honestly about his feelings for her. Like rain droplets, he had felt that love, but he kept ignoring it until the drizzle turned into a torrent, until not loving her was as possible as not breathing.
"I love that dude. Do I need another reason?"
Amon didn't know the exact nature of Nagachika's feelings for Eyepatch, but that was none of his business. Looking into his eyes, Amon saw he had made his own promise of support and companionship long ago.
And so he—and Akira, who had softened at the admission—agreed to Nagachika's plan.
That confidence started to dwindle at the entrance of the headquarters, but steeling himself, Amon followed Nagachika inside.
"That's—"
"Investigator Amon…"
"Wasn't he declared killed in action?"
The whispers started from all around. Amon refused to slow his stride and look at any of them. He couldn't falter at this crucial moment.
He stood silently as Nagachika conversed with Marude, but then Investigator Ui appeared, causing more confusion and giving an ultimatum to the ghouls to leave or be killed.
They were teetering on the edge of ruining any chance of an alliance…
"What should be the most important thing for an investigator?" Amon spoke up, thinking about every word of the Countermeasures Law that he had memorised.
After his second encounter with Eyepatch, he had gone over it, hoping to find some article pertaining to that situation—showing mercy to a ghoul. He hadn't found any answers that time.
But that was because he hadn't paid mind to the preamble.
Peace is valuable above all else.
He understood now—the easiest way to achieve peace wasn't by eradicating ghouls, but by coexisting with them.
It wasn't impossible, either. The Great Wheel Act had proven that. Eyepatch, with all the bonds he had made, had proven that.
Akira and he were proof of it too, surrounded by ghouls that meant them no harm.
And so Amon would fight for it, that future of peace in which humans and ghouls could live together.
