Vol. 4

Ch. 9

A Bargain Isn't Always Worth The Gain

Alu nodded. "Yeah, to be honest, I've been having this weird dream about Big Ben in London and it's a clocktower—I thought it was linked to that woman Jane Austen but now it's possible it was trying to tell me something about this other organization that's based in Britain," she explained eyeing Mori for any sort of reaction.

Mori frowned, and he put his drink down on the counter. "You've been having dreams?" He asked, intrigued.

"Yes, sometimes I have a vision in those dreams that has to do with either something that hasn't happened yet—-or it's just a sign trying to tell me something about er…stuff?" Alu scratched her head. "It's not clear ever to me to be honest…It can be rather annoying actually."

"We know a little about The Order of the Clock Tower," Elise piped up, helpfully.

Mori wanted to see how Alu would take the limited information he was allowing Elise to expound. Of course, Mori himself actually did have limited knowledge. What he knew was it was the organization responsible for driving Gide out of France due to some falsified military orders. However, beyond that, Mori had used that existing information to manipulate Gide into becoming a pawn for his own benefit…now that he had what he actually wanted, he'd chosen to gracefully stay out of anything regarding Mimic—mostly pertaining to Dazai's threatening—and only Mori would see it as endearing— request. Mori didn't do attachments but he'd always been somewhat attached to Dazai—after all, since he had first met the boy four years ago, he'd taken it upon himself to make Dazai his little protégé. While he did want that boy to come back and be an Executive again, he also knew that Dazai was a dangerous person and the only one capable of unseating him as Head of the Port Mafia.

But, in a weird way, Mori still found himself attached to that young man. Was it a parental thing like Fukuzawa with Ranpo? Mori didn't actually know. He didn't know what being a proper parent 'felt' like, but what he did know was that he saw potential in that boy four years ago, a lost patient who he made his own personal project. In some sense, while Dazai's suicidal nature was still present, Mori had done his best to give him reasons to live—and he was willing to be one of those reasons even if it meant facing the barrel of Dazai's gun again in the future.

"I take it you don't know a lot?" Alu asked, Elise, curious.

"Hey, information is information," Elise pouted. "Do you wanna know or not?" She began to tantrum and Alu quickly waved her arms.

"I-I'm sorry! No! I mean yes! Yes I'd be happy to learn whatever you do know!" She said, quickly, worried she'd hurt Elise's feelings.

Elise pouted but she spoke again. "All Rintaro and I are aware of, is that Gide and those soldiers of "Mimic" were given false orders by the French government which lead to their expulsion on orders of That Order of the Clocktower in Britain. Honestly though, that's all we cared to know," she shrugged.

Alu frowned but she was grateful for this information. "Why would the French government give them false orders? I mean, they were batting for the same team, right?" Alu found there was something that just didn't make sense. Why would France frame their own military?

"Who knows?" Elise rolled her eyes. "All I know is that Gide and his gang ended up coming here to Japan, and since he shared an ability with That Odasaku guy, it made sense to use him to take him out!"

"Why go to such extremes?" Alu asked, glaring a bit at Mori now as she spoke. "Why allow Gide and his men to try to harm those orphans?"

Elise quieted, glancing at Mori as well. Mori knew this wasn't a question for Elise to answer for him. He ran a hand through his messy dark hair, and sighed, finally. There was no point in painting an excuse, or giving some elaborate reason. In fact, he actually appreciated that Alu was so blunt and straightforward. "Sakunosuke wouldn't kill this man just because I asked," he said finally. "Because he was close to Dazai— one of my former Executives, I decided that forcing him would only turn Dazai against me, understandably."

Alu quieted. That made sense, in an odd sort of way. She detected something from Mori's tone—was he sad? Alu just sensed something melancholy and somber. It didn't fit with Mori's ruthless boss nature. Why tiptoe around this one particular pawn— unless he felt something parental towards Dazai, perhaps? "So, because you didn't want to anger Dazai…you instead felt you had to force Odasaku's hand in another way that would have to be made to look like it was entirely Gide's doing?" She finished, tilting her head at Mori. That sounded like something a parent would do—a parent who felt like their unruly child would get in the way and they needed to do the "mature" thing regardless of their own kid's opinion.

Mori opened his mouth and shut it again. With her limited knowledge she had all but spot-on detailed his exact reasons for what he had done and why he did things that way in particular. The surprise showed for a moment and then he just shrugged. "I knew there was a chance he'd die—but if he could take out the leader and not die—-that was technically always another outcome I did consider," he admitted.

Alu eyed Mori. She got the sense that while he was cold and cut-throat when it came to using his own members as pawns in his schemes, that he actually didn't do anything without considering all the outcomes. He didn't do things for the sake of blood shed or loss of life either. It was cold and calculating, but it wasn't actually for the sake of meaningless violence. And yet he clearly cared about Dazai's opinion of him. Why hadn't she noticed before? This guy had been bitten by a parental bug, bad. But why for Dazai? She pursed her lips. Why did men —no people— often have so much trouble just talking things out? She glanced at Elise. Elise was eyeing her quietly, and Alu got the sense she was trying to figure out what Alu was thinking.

Alu hadn't actually considered that Odasaku could fight Gide and not have to die in order to take him out. It had felt so black and white before based on her own visions and what she'd managed to piece together herself. "You're right…" she said, thoughtfully, gazing at Mori. "There was no reason for Odasaku to face off Gide and have to die because of it! In fact, I think I'm getting an idea!"

She sounded excited, and Mori and Elise exchanged glances, honestly surprised at Alu's mood shift. They had not been expecting this. They'd assumed she'd give Mori a lecture on doing the right thing and not involving innocent people. "I get it now—you don't do something for the sake of senseless violence…but your hand was forced you felt. You didn't know any sure-fire way to get Odasaku to actually fight Gide seriously and you knew if you let it go on too much longer that it would make it look like you didn't have control of the situation, right?"

Mori pursed his lips. This girl was highly perceptive—-like that annoying kid Edogawa— but he had the feeling her perception was based on conjecture that was oddly correct rather than needing to see physical evidence first like how Ranpo worked. "You're correct," he finally said, impressed despite himself.

Elise hummed. "You should join us already," she said, pouting. "You're really smart. You'd make work more fun!"

Alu blinked. "Oh…oh actually, that was something else I wanted to talk about," she said sheepishly.

The doorbell rang just then, and Mori blinked, actually startled. Elise instinctively went into defensive mode, and Alu just laughed. "You both need to relax. That's just the food!" She giggled, as Mori and Elise both realized that they had been so wrapped up in the conversation that they'd honestly both forgotten that food was on the way.

I don't think that's the food.

Alu paused, jolting a little from Juubi's blunt interjection. What? But I'm so hungry, Alu complained, inwardly disappointed.

Get your head out of your stomach! There's someone here and I'm sensing they're dangerous—and that's not a good thing!

"I'll answer the door," Mori said with a sigh, and Alu's eyes flashed, realizing too late that Mori was already opening the door.

"Wait! Mori!" She said sharply and he paused, actually alarmed. It took a lot to surprise someone like Mori Ogai, but he was in a rare moment of being caught off guard—and his attention immediately turned serious, as Elise silently floated near him—summoned to his side. Alu noted that in this form, Elise's eyes were blank and red writing glowed all over her like a see through blanket. Alu didn't remark on it though. She was glad that Mori understood that he would need to be on the defensive. She just wished Miss Elise could remain sentient when like that.

"I—uh, I want to answer the door!" She said brightly, quickly coming over. Mori didn't know what was going on, but if the girl was taking charge he knew immediately without a doubt that it was serious. He was grateful he always carried his knives on him. He reached now, casually into his pants pockets, prepared to whip them out.

Juubi, report.

There's two people there. I can't ascertain much more than that—but one of those people…is that boy from before.

Alu's mind flashed to Ryou. She opened the door almost immediately and came face to face, with the boy in question. "'Sup!" He said, grinning, arms crossed. Standing with him, Alu noted, was not Ms. Austen—but someone completely unfamiliar to her. He had short raven hair with a few combs of silver and a trimmed short beard, he had the stature of a middle-aged man, pale skin, sharp purple eyes, and was dressed in simple clothes and a long black windbreaker. He carried a cane with a red gemstone on the tip and wore white gloves. He came off a bit like a butler to Alu. A grandpa-like butler, anyways.

"R-Ryou!?" Alu remembered their last encounter—it involved him darting her and claiming he was going to make her his pet—and she cracked her knuckles, actually pleased to see his cheeky mug. "It's so good to see you!~"

Ryou quickly held his hands up as he sensed the displeasure from her —-and the deeper disdain from the man behind her, menacingly holding two scalpels with a floating girl in a nurse outfit looking ready to impale him with the giant syringe she carried. "I-I come to make peace!"

Alu pursed her lips. "…After last time you have some serious apologizing to do," she said, eyes narrowing. "If you're here to cause trouble for me and my friends, then you're wasting your time."

Ryou scratched his head, and he just waved a hand airily. "I know, I know!" He said, holding up his hands. "I come in peace!"

"I certainly have no plans to let him inside," Mori said, sharply, eyes narrowed.

Alu nodded. "Agreed. I'm sorry, Mister Mori…but I'll be stepping out with him…" Alu felt guilty. She knew now that Mori would have to move. If this kid had somehow tracked them all the way here then this meant she couldn't risk being followed this way in the future.

"You'll do no such thing on your own," Mori said sharply. "I'll be accompanying you with Miss Elise."

Alu blinked. She oddly felt grateful though. She didn't know what or who the man was with Ryou and she knew she couldn't have Juubi just forcing his way out every time a fight broke out. "Okay," she said, gazing at Ryou again.

"So, you can change your age too? Impressive," Ryou said, with a thumbs up. "You should stay like that, it makes talking to you way less awkward!" He added. He himself was no older than 11.

Alu rolled her eyes. She could sense the sudden dark mood from behind her and knew instantly that both Mori and Elise were murderously glaring at the boy. "If you're going to ogle her inappropriately like this then I must ask you to leave," Mori said, curtly.

Alu had to bite back a small puff of laughter that she felt bubble from that ironic comment. She wanted to say, 'like you're any better' but she refrained, pursing her lips. She knew Elise was thinking it because despite being in her nurse form—Alu noted the faintest of irked expressions that managed to momentarily flit across Elise's face. It comforted Alu to know that Elise was capable of that sentient reaction—she wasn't completely a blank slate after all!

Ryou however huffed. "And you're a creepy old man that has young girls over, so what's that make you?" He taunted Mori, glaring, arms crossed.

Mori wanted to cut out his tongue but before he could even at least indignantly retort, Alu slapped Ryou across the cheek, hard. The resounding slap made everyone's eyes widen. "Young Master!" Immediately, the other man grabbed Alu by the arm, disapproving. "Young lady! I will ask you to refrain from hitting the young master!"

Immediately, Mori grabbed Alu, wordlessly, yanking her free of the grasp of the other man. Alu's eyes widened, a bit taken aback, as Mori just hugged her to himself, glaring at the other two. "And I will ask you, to keep your hands off what isn't yours to touch," Mori said, with a bristling smile.

Ryou rubbed his sore face, eyes watering for a moment but then he began to giggle. "I like her fire," he grinned at them. "It's okay, Lewis, let her be," he hummed. The elevator dinged just then. Out stepped someone with a take out bag of food and they looked otherwise oblivious to the situation going on.

Walking over, the bored teenager held out the bag of food to Lewis. "Here's your food," the teenager said, chewing bubblegum, and holding their phone. Lewis just took it.

"Thank you, young man," Lewis said politely.

The teenager just nodded and turned away, leaving back the way they came. Alu's mouth watered. "I'll be taking that off your hands!" She eagerly swiped the take out food and hopped back with it, hanging back near Mori. Honestly, she was glad for the food delivery at that moment. It had been a rather nice ice breaker. "As you can see, I have dinner plans, so whatever this is, will have to wait, okay?"

"I just wanted a chance to properly offer you a chance once again to come back with me to the United Kingdom," Ryou said, with a sigh. "The longer you stay here, the more all these governments will be after you. Not just Japan's…but you're on the radar for the other world governments now too," he said, matter-of-factly.

Alu felt her heart drop. Oh crap—she had been so wrapped up with Odasaku's situation that she hadn't even given the thought that her recent actions would be alerting more than just Japan's government at this point of Juubi's capabilities. She grimaced. "Oh…that so…"

"Are you threatening her to go with you?" Mori asked, still smiling like a cobra wanting to swallow a field mouse whole.

"Not threatening," Ryou shrugged. "But, I'd advise you to tread with care in Japan. They are keen to capture you."

"And what about you, Ryou?" Alu said, frowning at him. She recalled vaguely how Ranpo had said something about Red Bean Buns having to do with Ryou. She still hadn't connected the dots but she knew she'd be asking Ranpo about that at some point. "You still plan to traffic poor children for profit?"

Ryou was quiet. He finally sighed. "That's just a small part of what I'm all about. I may consider stopping that side of operations however…if you were to consider going back with me by the end of this month," he said, bemused.

"I already said," Alu put her hands on her hips, frowning at Ryou. It was funny being shorter than him in this current form. "I need to be in Japan right now."

"So, you'll consider it later?" Ryou asked.

"I'll consider it if you stop attacking my friends and stalking me!" Alu retorted, exasperated. "I mean really—did you think darting me was going to make me say yes?"

"I use what I have at my disposal," Ryou shrugged.

Alu rolled her eyes. She felt her heart sink though. Ranpo had advised her that her expectations of Ryou wouldn't be what she was hoping for when she interacted with him. Alu wanted to still help Ryou turn over a fresh leaf. Actually, as the man, Fyodor popped into her mind, she gazed at Ryou. "Are you still in contact with that guy, Fyodor?"

Ryou blinked. "I was…but he's sort of off the grid, now." He shrugged. "But, I have his old contact information…here." Ryou pulled out a notebook from his pocket and scribbled a number on it, tearing the paper and handing it to Alu. "Look—you're impressive. I want you to at least consider coming to work with me in Britain."

"I don't do anything underhanded, or illegal, or in-humane," Alu flatly said.

"…Noted," Ryou scratched his head. "…I'm willing to work with that!" He brightly said. "C'mon Lewis, let's let them have their weird evening together."

Lewis pursed his lips, clearly disapproving of a grown man hanging out with a girl who looked no older than 10 even if she was technically still older than that although that wasn't much better. Alu eyed Ryou though. He looked so young but he carried himself with the air of someone much older. She frowned. "What would you even have me do for you?" She asked, confused. "I don't do anything violent if I can help it…so I wouldn't be much use to you in combat unless it's self defense. I also don't do smuggling or other illegal activities…"

Ryou eyed her and then he broke out into another huge smile. "I know! I don't want you there to do grunt work! I want you there to become one of my top people!"

"Top people for what?" Alu asked, confused.

Ryou grinned at her. "I mean, I want you to help my business grow! I do more than just underhanded stuff! Of course, I'd let Ms. Austen explain that in more detail since she actually runs things there! I just oversee operations!"

"Ah, I see," Alu let herself absorb that. She glanced at Mori who stood there, in the doorframe, hanging back, otherwise unreadable. She felt guilty again about him having to no doubt relocate. Alu wondered if she was being a burden. Her eyes flickered. She turned her gaze back to Lewis and Ryou. Elise, still in her nurse form, floated next to Alu, glaring at Ryou, suspiciously. "It's okay, Miss Elise, Mister Mori," she said, gazing at Ryou. "He isn't here to fight."

Elise floated down, turning back into her girl form and she hugged Alu tightly, glaring at Ryou with hostility. "I don't care! I don't want you going anywhere with him!" She sounded upset and Alu felt the actual possessive concern coming off her. She felt touched. Elise really did care about her. On some level, Alu sensed it as Mori's feelings on some level as well. He was still making sense of her, but he too, didn't want her going into harm's way. Alu found that people were often not black and white. No one was. Despite Ranpo's warning, Alu wanted to prove him wrong—and change his perspective! She would prove it. She'd prove that people were capable of not being black and white. Even someone like this kid, Ryou.

"I have until the end of the month?" Alu asked, gazing at Ryou.

Ryou nodded. "Yeah, I can't stay much longer past that. I'm willing to extend the invitation though if you'll honestly consider it. I don't want us to part as enemies."

Alu quieted. "I really wish you would have just asked instead of letting Fyodor do what he did," she sighed.

Ryou grimaced. "I like him, I think he's cool…but he didn't tell us just how he was going to show off your ability…and I didn't exactly agree to it…" he trailed off. He rubbed his arm. He patted Lewis on the arm. Lewis nodded and stepped forward, wordlessly, holding out an envelope with a genuine red wax seal of a rose. "This is compensation…I know it's not much," he said, sighing. "But I find that money makes a great apology!"

Alu eyed the envelope. She took it. "You want me to…take your money?" She asked, puzzled.

Elise's eyes glinted. "Oh! Money! You can use that to buy yourself more clothes!"

Alu gazed at the envelope though. Money as an apology? She gazed at Ryou. "So you feel bad about what happened, huh?" She asked. Ranpo may have judged this boy based on what he'd deduced, but Alu felt and hoped that there was more to Ryou after all.

Ryou nodded. "I do. It's a truce sum, you could say."

Alu nodded, gazing at the envelope. "And you'll continue to do what you always do—minus attacking Odasaku and his orphans in the future?" She asked for clarification.

"If that's what it'll take to have you come to Britain, yes," Ryou nodded.

"I understand," Alu tore up the envelope clean in half with a ripping noise. Mori, Elise, and even Lewis looked at her, comically taken aback. Ryou's jaw dropped.

"D-Dude!" He spluttered. "Why'd you do that! That had a lot of money!"

"I don't want to be bought," Alu said curtly, putting the crumpled pieces into Lewis's hands. "You verbally apologized—that's what an apology should be."

"W-what?" Ryou looked at the torn up check in Lewis's hand. "I wasn't trying to buy you! I mean, it's not buying to be nice and give someone money in exchange for wanting them to join!"

"That's what buying someone is," Alu said, crossing her arms. "I won't be bought with financial incentive… That's not the way I want our relationship to be defined by," she turned away.

Ryou quieted. "If not money, then what could I possibly do to get you on my side!?" He sounded frustrated, tantruming a little.

Alu hummed, and she reached out her hand to him. "Let's try…and be friends?" She tilted her head, smiling smally. She felt better knowing this kid wasn't actively trying to kill Sakura. Fyodor, it seemed, offered his services and spun them out of control.

"Friends…" Ryou gazed at her hand. Then he smiled, taking it and shaking it. "Very well!"

Alu's eyes flickered. A sad little boy, crying in a room. Blood on the floor, on a shadowed body. Reports of a tech business —Adzuki Industries—going downhill half burned and torn up around the body. The little boy knelt near the body. "D-Daddy…"

Adzuki industries….translated to English…Adzuki meant "red bean"….

Alu shook and pulled her hand back from Ryou, holding it now. Ryou quieted, his smile faltering. "Hey? What's wrong?" He asked, worried.

"Alu!? Did he do something weird to you?" Elise protectively stepped between them but Alu shook her head quickly, before Mori could impale those two with his scalpels or Elise could roundhouse kick them out the window.

"No—I'm just tired," Alu said, smiling at Elise, reassuringly. Elise didn't look convinced and neither did Mori. Ryou frowned.

"I didn't do anything," he said defensively, stating this with his arms crossed. "C'mon Lewis, let's go."

Alu eyed Ryou and Lewis as they left. She stood, still holding the bag of food, and Elise gazed at her. Alu looked at Elise. "Hungry?" She asked, brightly.

—X—

"Mr. Edogawa, I don't think this is the most appropriate way to spend your time," A frustrated Ango Sakaguchi stated, eyeing Ranpo. Why was Mr. Ango so flustered? Well, Ranpo was currently sitting in Chief Taneda's chair, sucking on a lollipop, otherwise completely unperturbed by the fact he was completely behaving like a child.

"I said I wouldn't leave until I could speak with Officer Chief Taneda and I stand—well, in this case, sit—by what I say!" Ranpo said, cheerfully, beaming at Ango.

Ango had found out from some other disgruntled employees this morning that Ranpo had all but hijacked the boss's office. Now he stood here, awkwardly trying to diffuse this man-child detective from his boss's chair with no luck. Ango almost wished he had Odasaku there as backup. But that was wishful thinking. Why would Odasaku even want to help him out? He was only there out of a sense of guilt for all that girl, Alu, had done for his orphans. "Please wait in the main lobby like everyone else!" He said, exasperated.

"Nope," Ranpo childishly replied, with a shrug.

"Don't make me call President Fukuzawa," Ango threatened, feeling like he was chastising an unruly child with a call home to their parents—which in a way he was.

"President Fukuzawa is well aware about my decision to come here," Ranpo stated, bluntly, shrugging. Ango sighed with exasperation.

"Is there a reason you're behaving like this?" He asked, irritated.

"Sure," Ranpo replied, and he continued to suck on his lollipop, not bothering to expound. Ango was frustrated. What was causing Ranpo to behave so uncouth? Was he upset that Odasaku had chosen to come work here instead of with the ADA?

"Mr. Oda has a right to choose where he works," Ango said, stiffly, not used to calling his former friend by his last name. But it felt appropriate in this case.

"Oh, I'm not here about that," Ranpo hummed, eyes opening just a little, to look at Ango. Ango felt oddly put off more when Ranpo's eyes were open than when they were closed. To be more concise, he felt like prey. "I'm here about Officer Chief Taneda's decision to use Odasaku's orphans as a means to trap Alu into a corner where she has to say yes to working specifically with you lot."

Ango's blood ran cold. Ranpo was speaking casually, but Ango wasn't stupid. This man's childish demeanor was suddenly much colder and mature. Ango felt himself shiver, and mentally steeled himself. He wouldn't be afraid of a man-child! Even if it was a revered detective that even his boss acknowledged as being cream of the elite when it came to detective work. He found himself swallowing hard, regardless, like a rock was in his throat. "We are merely working with her," he said, stiffly. "Whether or not she joins is entirely her choice."

"And if she refuses?" Ranpo asked, casually.

Ango quieted. He shivered again, as Ranpo's unapologetic cold gaze just fell on him. Even without wearing his glasses, Ranpo was not someone to make angry, Ango was quick to realize. And this man was definitely angry.

He grit his teeth.

He knew what Ranpo was getting at. Since Alu was still technically a foreign threat, if she chose not to form an alliance that could be monitored by the Japanese government she could alternatively be labeled a threat and otherwise taken in by force. "You don't need to worry so much," Ango said, curtly, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, finally, forcing his voice to work and relieved to find it didn't sound any more shaky than he felt inwardly. "We understand that unlike an individual like Gide, she has no interest in causing harm to this city—or this country. If anything, Officer Chief Taneda wants what's best for her. With an ability—a fox demon like hers— you need to understand that there will be governments besides our own eager to capture her—to either force her to work for them or worse dissect her. As it stands, she's admitted to not belonging to any specific country."

Ranpo was quiet for a moment. "Arresting her isn't something your boss hasn't considered himself," he said, coolly. "Tell me, what sort of agreement did you make with her in order to get Sakunosuke's orphans to a proper safe house away from this city?"

Ango pursed his lips. Ranpo hummed, and Ango eyed the black frames that Ranpo now played with, before Ranpo slid them onto the bridge of his nose, and Ango felt another cold shiver like ice dunked down his spine run down his back. Without saying anything— Ango realized too late that Ranpo had deduced quite a bit from him. Ango reminded himself that everything he did was for the sake of the Greater Good. Wasn't the ADA supposed to be on their side? He didn't appreciate Ranpo's rude hostility. "I do feel the need to remind you that we are not simply out to capture her," he said stiffly. "We would like to have her as an ally."

"If that's the case, then why are you so guilty about your role in all of this," Ranpo quipped, eyeing Ango, with a frustrated frown. It wasn't a question—no he was stating it like he already had Ango all figured out and Ango found himself increasingly agitated.

"I'm not guilty," Ango found himself stating, adamantly. "I'd appreciate you to not go making things up to suit your deduction—" just then, the door opened and Ango looked quickly over his shoulder. Officer Chief Taneda stepped into the room, and he glanced at Ranpo and Ango. He raised his eyebrows.

"Ah, so Mr. Edogawa did come to speak with us," he said, good-naturedly, despite the tense air in the room from the other two young men.

"S-Sir, I apologize!" Ango said, flustered. "I tried to have him leave your office but he refused."

"It's quite alright," Officer Chief Taneda chuckled, bemused. "I would say it's rare and an honor when someone like Mr. Edogawa pays us a personal visit. To what do I owe this?" He asked, eyeing Ranpo, with a smile.

"I was just curious to know more about what method you're using to trap that girl," Ranpo said cheerfully, cutting through the good mood like a cold wind.

Ango was appalled at Ranpo's behavior but Officer Chief Taneda merely chuckled, alarming Ango. "I see," he said, bemused still. "Miss Alu has made it clear she is not going to be an exclusive part of Japan's government. However, we did come to an agreement that she would be an ally and therefore allow her skills to be utilized if the situation calls for it," he said, eyeing Ranpo. "She will be as free as she desires while in Japan—unless she breaks the law in which case we must act accordingly, wouldn't you agree, Mr. Edogawa?"

Ranpo was quiet. He eyed Officer Chief Taneda and then he just smiled, getting up from the chair finally. "I agree to disagree," he said cheerfully, putting his hand in his pocket, the other holding the lollipop in his hand as he fiddled with the stick between his fingers, eyeing it and not either of the other two men.

"I see, I am sorry you feel that way," Officer Chief Taneda sighed, glancing at Ango. "If you or President Fukuzawa ever wish to talk to me about this further, you may of course."

"Nah, I've gotten all I need," Ranpo said brightly, opening the door as he brushed past Officer Chief Taneda and Ango, airily.

"Oh?" Officer Chief Taneda blinked. "I'm glad to hear it. I do hope this won't affect our working relationship."

"That depends on you, Chief," Ranpo said, cheekily before he left, popping the lollipop back into his mouth. Ango was appalled.

"S-Sir, I'm so sorry," he began but Officer Chief Taneda just shut the door, turning to him.

"It's okay." He gazed at Ango. "Ranpo is not a government official of our status. He doesn't understand that our jobs are very complicated. It's not going out and picking through clues—our jobs involve the very security of this nation. We have nothing to feel guilty about, understand, Ango?"

Ango quieted but nodded, feeling relieved to hear his boss talk with such confidence. He hated the lack of his own. He hated that he was apparently too weak to stand up to someone like Ranpo. And much too weak to stand up to Dazai… or even apologize to Odasaku. He wasn't guilty of whatever Ranpo was accusing him of. He disliked Ranpo on some level after this encounter because he didn't like how Ranpo seemed to make things back and white. Everything Ango did was for the well being of Japan. That girl could prove to be a useful asset, but he had to remember that she could be a danger too if they weren't careful!

"Yes, sir."