"Well then, don't you want to come in?"
"…"
I wanted to decline his offer, but his sincerity really got the best of me. It would be rude to deny him right now, then asking for a room later…
"Y–Yeah… may I ask for a room just for tonight…sir?"
"Of course, come on in."
Without hesitation, the old man welcomed me with open arms and led me to the chair right next to Ranpo, who luckily didn't bat an eye to me at all.
"Boss, can I ask for your infamous pie?"
"Of course, here you go."
After some moments, the old man then placed a small strawberry pie dish at Ranpo's side, then turned to me with a slightly concerned expression.
"Could you wait here for a bit, we need to re-arrange the room for you. By the meantime, you can have a cup of coffee, my treat."
With a light-hearted voice, he placed a cup of coffee right in front of me and then went inside the shop, leaving me alone with Ranpo…
"… To be honest, I was pretty disappointed—"
"—That someone from another universe seems so normal?"
I interrupt Ranpo's own words with an exhausted tone, and he slowly turns to face me. No point in hiding that fact though.
"Hm… so I'm that outstanding in your story?"
"Still lackluster, but yeah."
I casually shrug my eyes, as Ranpo slowly reveals his symbolic smugness. Ignoring his smile, I slowly drink the coffee, which tastes more delicate than I expected.
No wonder the Agency loves the shop so much, the smell and taste are astounding…
"So, why are you here?"
We both asked the other, coincidentally overlapping with each other.
"Me first then, I'm here for a mission given by a divinity being… I hope so. Details are, I and one more need to take down someone. Don't worry, it didn't involve anyone else in danger…"
I let out the reasons for being here, which seemed stupid on the surface, but Ranpo slowly shook his head with a slightly serious expression.
"The reasons I'm down here? I can't sleep at all, that's all."
With the piece of cake in his mouth, he casually explained his reason for being here, which aligned with my theory earlier.
He's just like me, like a lot. Really reminds me of my old self, acting like the world didn't exist any other man than your own self…
"Welp, wanna hear spoilers?"
With a casual sigh, I asked him with a neutral tone. I don't really care much about spoiling the whole plot until now, since this world timeline has been altered beyond the original work.
Besides, it wouldn't hurt anyone to reveal secrets that not even Dazai knew. Who knows, maybe he can actually save this world before the psychopsyches mess it all up.
"I suggest you not to rely on it."
But before he could decide anything, Ranpo had already taken the lead.
"Even if you say it all, who can say that everything will happen as it will? So keep that information to yourself, and don't spill the beans."
With a serious gaze that could make a kid cry out of terror, he showed his seriousness about this matter.
"Okay, I won't."
I shrugged with a boring expression, although my heart started to racing with his intimidating look.
Providing him would be the worst option I could make, and I don't really want to mess with the one who solves the cases with no evidence by himself.
"But that would only be the case with everyone else! You can talk freely with us!"
He suddenly acts all donkey again, like the serious face he shows just now is just an illusion. But yeah, it seems like I have to be careful with my mouth from now on…
I took another sip, slowly let the essence of the coffee dip in my lips, while Ranpo kept destroying the cake dish with a childish manner.
"So, what are you planning?"
Ranpo questioned me with a curious look, and I stared back at him with a confident smile.
"Making a request for the Agency, obviously."
"Ho."
With a surprise sigh, he slightly leer up for a moment, then poking the last strawberry with an absent look.
Obviously, I would request the Agency for searching the Hunting Dog daily routine and locations, not like I have that dedication and patience (and even strength) to even do it all myself without being spotted.
Especially that damn blind guy… He'll be the most troublesome to overcome if I want to finish this mission in peace…
And not even accounting for the Port Mafia side… Just thinking about all this wanna make me give up already.
The system is trash, I gotta hand it that. No power-up, no gift, just a mission with the hardest difficulty, as if it wanted us to KYS indirectly.
I know that the system didn't force us to take the mission, but who in their right mind would sit still on such a mission?! I mean, if the system can give the mission with such difficulty, who can be sure that it won't force us to do a harder mission for the next time?
Damn, I'm jealous of those fanfic system… They're so generous, and yet so easy with its user(s) with its baby difficulty mission …
With that logic, having power as soon as possible would be the best choice in cases of such evil doings. I won't take any chances with being lazy, thank you!
… Also, personally, this is the thrill I always wanted. I may have wasted all my fortune for such an opportunity to come, so why not enjoy myself to the fullest while still possible…?
In the end, most of the reasons to take this dangerous mission, one that may end my life right here, is no more than feeling excited…
Not that I regretted anything though.
"If that's so, I believe you've struck your unlucky day."
"Huh?"
Now it's my turn to be confused, blinked with a confused thought about his statement just now.
"We're currently overloaded with requests, it may take a while for your turn."
Ranpo casually announced the news, and I can feel myself start to crumble down in horror. It means I have to wait to do the quest?!
"Personally, it probably takes a month to have another spare time for your request."
The sky started to crumble before my very eyes, and my whole body collapsed to the ground.
A month?! But it would be too late!! By the time my request got accepted, I probably died somewhere in this cursed city already!!
"… By the look of it, I take it the future doesn't look that bright?"
"Yep…"
I let out a sorrowful sigh, as Ranpo's face slowly dimmed with my confirmation through my leer.
Ugh… what to do now… Without the Agency help, the chances of me succeeding this mission is equal to 0.
Although I still got Port Mafia as a side option, I doubt that they will listen to yabbling at all. And even if they did, they wouldn't risk their own reputation and manpower for such a risky job.
I could have doubted Ranpo's statement earlier, but he had no reasons to lie to me. After all, every single member of the Agency can easily fold me in four with ease.
I can't even give up the mission, given that the mission provided no such action in the beginning.
"You know… I could arrange a meeting with Boss…"
"?"
Ranpo slowly speaks up while looking down on his coffee cup, as I slightly twitch my ear to follow him.
"Interested?"
He slightly looked down on me, and I leer back at him. Both of us looked into each other's eyes for quite a while, and I then let out a sigh.
"What do you want in exchange?"
"Simple…"
He let out a confident smirk, which I didn't care in the slightest. His request, in the end, would be simple at the very least, considering his gifted intelligence.
If I can get in touch with the agency as soon as possible, I wouldn't mind being his personal babysitter…