"A job…?"
Ranpo slightly raised his eyebrow at my request.
"Think about that Ranpo-san, if you get another one willing to give a hand at the Agency, maybe… he can praise you at the job."
I then whispered that before he could deny me, and his face immediately brightened at my suggestion.
Although the result may not be what I exaggerated, the possibility is still there, and it's not like this is a bad chance or anything. Beside, by having me by his side, Ranpo can closely observe my actions, who claim to know the future events and possibly more than that.
This is also my chance to get more info on how to counter Abilities users, and could have some allies to take down the Hunting Dogs, outside of just having a stable income.
So, in short, this is the kind of deal that benefits each other unconditionally.
"Deal! I'll ask the boss for a position for you!"
Ranpo excitedly accepted my request, which relieved me out of concern of being rejected. Although the chances of him rejecting me aren't that high, the chances are still there so I can't afford to relax until he agrees.
At that moment, a truck suddenly accelerated right beside us and, by the map that Aya provided earlier, heading to the beachside. It barely avoids other vehicles with that crazy speed, which raises some suspicions in me.
(That reminds me… Isn't today the day Atsushi got captured?)
Based on Aya's horrific experiences, I'm certain that today is the day Atsushi got deported on a boat as the Port Mafia deals with three foreign organizations, which he successfully escaped with his newfound control over his ability…
"Ranpo-san… Has Dazai been absent since yesterday?"
Ranpo looked at me with a surprise look, but he quickly shrugged it off since he already knew my identity.
"Yeah."
His answer confirms the timeline, which means… today's indeed the day Atsushi got captured…
Not my problem though. In the end, everything's gonna be alright.
"Hm?"
A vibrant sound suddenly fell in my ear, as Ranpo took out his phone and slightly frowned at the caller identity. Judging by his face, I take it that the Agency's already gone to save Atsushi.
"Ranpo listening."
Ranpo took the call with an anticipated tone, but then fell into dissatisfaction as the call continued. Ranpo only interested in any murder cases, as his job is "the best detective ever", and he rarely put his hand on any other matter.
"Ok, I will contact you guys later."
With that, he called it off and looked at the direction of the truck with a dissatisfied expression.
"Let me guess, they wanted you to find the weretiger?"
I gave out my guess with Ranpo, and his face stiffened in annoyance looking back at me. Then, he suddenly twitches his face, as his eyes then brighten while still pin his eyes on me, which makes me feel a bit uneasy.
"Yeah… The guy got captured by the Mafia, and is currently missing… Wish that it hadn't been today…"
Ranpo phones the vibrate a bit, and Ranpo quickly checks the phone with an annoyed look.
"Let's see… so this is the truck…?"
Ranpo slightly twitched his eyebrow, then looked back at the direction of the crazy truck just now, signaling me about the whole thing.
"Um… Ranpo-san, don't tell me…"
"Yep, the truck just now is the one they're looking for…"
Ranpo sighed in disappointment, as I started to act. Looking around a bit, I spot a sport bike and quickly approach the one standing beside it, seemingly the bike owner, with Ranpo by my side.
"Sir?! May I ask for your bike?"
"Huh?! My bike?"
The guy, who was really jack and wore a tank top, immediately expressed his confusion with my seemingly desperate request, but I kept persuading him.
"Please!! My friend got kidnapped, and we need some vehicle to follow them, or else we'll lose track of them!!"
"Kidnapped?!"
Hearing that, the man became active and ready his bike in a serious manner. Look like my desperate conviction have hit the spot.
"Hop in! I'll help you save your friend!"
I immediately jumped on his back seat with Ranpo, who was surprised with my action, and the guy then started the bike.
"Wa–wait?! Let me join!!"
Aya realizes what we're trying to and eager to join, but the guy immediately revs off, leaving her behind in confusion in pursuit of that truck.
After some sharp turns (and arguably more fine than the truck), we finally spotted the glimpse of that truck.
As I suspected, there's no other cars escorting it, showing that the Mafia wanted to get rid of Atsushi as soon as possible.
It is now not that far from the harbor gate, meaning that we must act quick.
"Now what?!"
The man asked us to keep our distance from the truck as I proposed, because I didn't want to attract any attention from the driver.
"Time to risk it! Please go close to the truck tire, sir!"
"Ok!"
With a grun, I jumped on the truck, opened the door and held on to the wheel. By the time the driver realized what happened, I already steered it all the way to the left.
The truck started to lose balance as the guy decelerated, and finally the truck turned over crashing to the sidewalk. Luckily, I jumped right at the time the truck started to do a barrel roll, successfully landing on the sidewalk with some bruises.
"Holy?! That was risky, young man!"
"Sorry, I was just too eager to… save my friend."
The guy asks worriedly after drived to my side, and I assure him while looking back at the upside down truck.
Around us now is just empty construction tied to the harbor, where there are countless obstacles to hide. I don't think the Mafia's hiding in this dirty place, considering their powerful position in the cities, but being careful is never wasted.
"Dang, that was dumb!"
Ranpo leers at me with an excited look, eyes fully locked on me, who just brushed off the bruises, while the guy checking my wound with a worried look.
"Can't let him stand in our day right? Besides, isn't this the most optimal way?"
"~"
Ranpo silently whistled with a hint of interest, but I didn't really care for his response much. What I've said is the truth, believe it or not.
I could just let him be, wait for him to beat "that guy" on the boat and get saved by Kunikida, while marking his growth in the story. On paper, quite literally, that did sound good…
But I can't risk it being the case.
This is real life, with real consequences. The fact that Ranpo, who was supposed to stay at the office lazy around, now stays with me wandering around, proves that everything can go wrong in every way.
In the worst cases, Atsushi may actually die in this world, leaving the Book locations to a null, and his death could mark the end of this world, with how the story progressed.
Of course, I did do this to leave an impression in the Agency and Ranpo view, and doing this risky play could certainly do that. But honestly, I won't do this again if there's a chance.
With many concerns inside, I slowly approached the truck behind the jacked guy, until…
"Weird…"
A distant voice echoes through my ear, then, the guy died.
He's been torn to shreds by a bunch of black "beings", if I can call them that.
Blood from his body then spilled everywhere, blocking our vision for a moment.
No sound, no scream, he just died horribly silent. At least he died quietly, without pain to go through.
And then, I can finally see him, as well as Ranpo.
The one that dressed in all black, devoid of any light. The one that devours anything that stands in his way…
"What brought you here, against the Port Mafia?"
The "Beast" that exists solely to kill, molded by darkness itself… The most famous individual that not even the Agency dares to fight heads-on…
"Shit…"
Ranpo gasping in shock, eyes locking on the individual now stand atop the truck.
Yep… of course this guy must be here…
The wild card of the Port Mafia, also the archnemesis of the main character, Atsushi Nakajima. The one who can destroy even space, now stands right in front of us with an emotionless face.
"Doesn't matter, you're all gonna die anyway."
Ryunosuke Akutagawa. Bearer of Rashomon.
The one I've been expected, is here…