As he emerged from the passage, he happened upon several Aogiri Tree members guarding the exit. The ghouls at the door froze for a moment, then immediately assumed fighting stances, ready to subdue the intruder.
But once they got a clear look at that ice-blue mask, they all stopped, not daring to make any rash moves.
Louis glanced over them. Ignoring their openly murderous looks, he walked straight up to the masked, white-haired man. The ferocity in the latter's eyes swiftly turned to surprise and confusion when he recognized the newcomer.
"Long time no see..."
Louis looked over the ghouls wearing Aogiri Tree robes. Once he confirmed that none of them was stronger than the man before him, he pointed at the passage behind him.
"Aside from the ones who just went in, you're the highest-ranking person here, right?"
Strength was everything in Aogiri Tree. Whoever hit hardest had the final say. Eto had said as much before Ken Kaneki joined, so even Ayato Kirishima, who had joined Aogiri Tree before Kaneki, merely watched from a distance rather than acting on his own.
"I wonder which of us is stronger now..." Louis muttered, glancing at the combat rating the system provided.
The two had never fought again since Ken Kaneki knocked him unconscious that time. During the last fight over Nashiro Yasuhisa, Louis had only fought Shachi.
"Why are you here...?" Confusion filled Ken Kaneki's eyes. He glanced at the empty passage behind Louis, his exposed brow creasing slightly.
"Hmm... that's a bit complicated... I really can't explain it in just a few words..." Louis scratched the back of his head, discreetly studying every Aogiri Tree member present.
"Anyway, Kaneki, you know what this place is, don't you...?"
"And what do you think of Kanou Akihiro...?"
Kaneki fell briefly silent