"This ability user can prove problematic," Kunikida said. "The chaos he could unleash is unimaginable."

All current members of the Armed Detective Agency were summoned to the office with urgency. No one could have even guessed what kind of urgency it was. Fukuzawa looked at everyone gathered here. The news he delivered were immediate and grave danger. And he himself couldn't yet figure out how to approach the potential danger. Kunikida Doppo was tense and serious. Yosano Akiko looked worried. Edogawa Ranpo seemed disturbed by the news. And everyone else wore a common troubled expression on their face when faced with news like this. Everyone except Dazai Osamu.

"He is dangerous," president Fukuzawa nodded, "and is our top priority."

"But how are we supposed to catch him?" Yosano asked. If she was honest with herself, she was terrified by the news. There was an incredibly dangerous individual out there if Port Mafia decided to warn their enemy about him.

"Dr. Yosano is right," Kunikida supported, "the man is very problematic to identify even with Port Mafia's information being correct."

"I see no reason for them to lie," Dazai interrupted. Of all, he was most relaxed with the current situation. While everyone's eyes were hard and their shoulder were tense, Dazai was casually — almost lazily — resting gin his seat. His partner gave him a suspicious glance.

"I agree with Dazai," the president spoke. "Port Mafia's intelligence about the ability user is still limited, however, one thing is undeniable about his gift: he is able to assume the perfect physical copy of his victim."

"We are looking for a needle in a haystack," Doppo spoke gravely. "And the needle pretends to be hay too."

"Say, Kunikida," Dazai chuckled, "how does one find a needle a haystack?"

"Burn the haystack?"

"Or use a magnet."

She arrived at the place as fast as she could. She expected a boy his age to be somewhere like an arcade, something more social. But this looked very unlike that. Why would Tanizaki be here and what was he doing? More importantly, what the trouble he mentioned? The second floor of the building belonged to a law firm. Something wasn't right. The third floor was listed as vacant, for rent. And the forth didn't have anything on it either according to the navigation tablet near the entrance. But Junichiro was in trouble, that was the part she didn't doubt. And if she could help, she would. He called her, after all. She opened the door and walked inside to find… quite a scene. There were signs of struggle. A young woman laying on her back on the table. Unmoving but breathing. Yes, definitely breathing. Probably knocked unconscious. Saskia found Tanizaki. He was tied, tape over his mouth. Next to him was a boy with grey hair, couldn't be older than Junichiro. Tied, mouth taped. Both placed in the far corner of the room with a bomb between them. Then she found a man in sand-coloured coat, sitting atop a table on the opposite side of the room, casually reading a book. Final Exit.

"Oh, one more?" he asked. "The more, the better!" he spoke gleefully as the bomb counted a few seconds more. She made a few more steps into the office, slowly, looking around. The office was messy, signs of struggle, perhaps? Two boys tied up around a bomb. The unconscious woman. How did this happen? Why did he call her and not the police? She looked at the only person she recognized. He made some intangible sounds. Damn it. Saskia looked at the perpetrator. He was smiling. Malicious. Wide. Amusement in his eyes.

"I always wanted to die with a woman by my side!" he exclaimed. Saskia's eyes widened in shock. Nothing. Was he truthful right now? A suicidal bomber?

"I am detective Blok," she said, taking pout her badge. "Name yourself."

"Name's Dazai Osamu," the man said. "I expected you to be a part of the Agency. It's a shame you got involved, truly, I have nothing against you."

"Stand up," she commanded.

"No," he answered nonchalantly, turning another page in his book.

She needed to provoke him. It couldn't be. She could always tell the truth from the lie. He cannot be an exception. Even the gifted Tanizaki wasn't immune. I work as an informant at the Detective Agency, she remembered his words. Could this be the office of the Agency he worked for? Goddamn if it was. I have an ability. Those were no lies. My ability can nullify the powers of others. That was a lie. Tanizaki Junichiro was gifted, why wouldn't he use it? Non-combative? But it had to be something. Damn it, I should have asked. The boy was playing a game of trying to figure her out, started spewing stupid lies… Stop panicking, idiot. She took a deep breath and hummed, calmly taking out the gun out of the holster on her waist. No one calls her on her day off claiming to be in trouble in Yokohama and her not taking a gun with her. The city is filled with gifted ones and criminals. Too often those were the same people. Few more steps towards the hostages. The aggressor —the man who introduced himself as Dazai — didn't stop her. But he did put down his book. She needed to see how much time she had, which meant letting the man out of her eyesight if even for a second.

00:01:54

"Are you gifted?" Blok asked. Eyes on him. There's no fear in this freak. He's determined to die.

"Yes," the man answered. "With good looks. And an ability."

Nothing. He thinks himself good looking?

"Not immortality?"

"No, that would be the worst ability ever!" he said dramatically. He wasn't moved by the threat. He could be gifted with invulnerability to be so cocky. But if he just lied, why couldn't she feel it? The woman looked at the bomb.

00:01:44

"Why do you want to blow them up? What did they do to you?"

"They work with the Agency. And the Agency did me wrong. It's also a great way to commit suicide!"

"Jump off a bridge," the woman offered.

"I tried."

Nothing. Think. Think.

"Don't want to die alone so you decided to kill two kids along with your pathetic self?" Blok inquired. The corner of his mouth twitched.

"Trying to read me?" he questioned. "You are better than I thought you would be."

She shrugged. The gun in her hand now pointed at the boy with grey hair. Something about it just doesn't feel right. Something is amiss. If this is the office of the detective agency — the Armed Detective Agency — where are the ability users? How could one man take over the whole office of gifted people? This man alone doesn't look like much. And if his ability was truly so destructive, why not just wipe them out? Why bomb? Why wait?

"I'll kill them all before the bomb blows up," she shrugged again.

"You are a cop. You wouldn't," he countered calmly. Coldly. He's reading me.

"It will detonate after I'm gone. What's here to prove I even was here?"

"The bullets, the security cameras," he lazily answered. "Also, what about him?" the man nodded at the tied up Tanizaki.

"Ah," she smiled. This Dazai knew about her "relationship" with the teenager. A very fast friendship as she would call it. Wouldn't it make sense for Tanizaki to ask for her number and now be in sudden trouble. And choose to call her instead of the police. But Junichiro wasn't lying on the phone. I am working as an informant at the Detective agency. The man before her was immune to her ability. No one is. Even psychopaths. The gun was now pointed at the bomber again.

"I'll shoot you so don't get in my way," she warned, cocking the gun.

00:01:01

"But I want to die!" Dazai shouted, launching at her. Bang! The sound of the shot stopped Dazai only for a second. Until he understood her bluff. But that second was enough for her to throw a violent punch in Dazai's face. She can't just go around shooting the issued bullets from an issued gun.

00:00:52

The man stumbled backwards from the punch. The punch came out a bit too strong. Oh, well, she didn't feel guilty or sorry. It gave just enough time for her to dash towards two hostages. Saskia ripped off the tape from Tanizaki's mouth.

"What the hell is going on?!" her voice thunderous in the room.

00:00:44

The young man was obviously disappointed. He lowered his eyes. The only word he spoke to her were of a genuine apology. The apology didn't stop, truth be told.

"I'm sorry, Saskia-san," Junichiro said again, lowering his head to his knees. Dammit it, kid. He wasn't lying, sincere to the bone, but Blok was looking for answers right now. To hell with you all. The woman patted Tanizaki on a shoulder, trying to assure him that she wasn't mad. Frustrated, however, that she sure was. This was all fishy. And Junichiro alone couldn't pull it off. Meaning…

"Dazai-san!" shouted the boy with grey hair, running to help. The man showed his nose, swollen and red but not broken. Some blood ran down to his upper lip. The boy offered a napkin which was accepted. Saskia put away her gun filled with blanks. The woman who was laying on the table got up, revealing herself to be unharmed.

"Let him bleed a little," she said, straightening out her clothing. "Dr. Yosano Akiko, nice meeting you."

"Homicide detective Saskia Blok. Right back at you."

Two women shook their hands while measuring each other. The two looked nothing alike. Yosano had black straight hair that reached just past her chin. Saskia's hair was a mess, however natural that mess was. Frizzy brown curls ended just past her shoulders. Doctor Yosano wore feminine clothing, a contrast of black and white. Blok preferred to stick to blacks. She was also taller, wider in shoulders. Opposites.

"She couldn't shoot a civilian," commented Dazai. The door in the office opened and three men entered. The first one to show was the tall blond man with his hair in a ponytail. Then was a man with silver hair. He was older than any other person here. He had eyebags under those cold blue of his. Behind him was a man in brown cape and hat. She could recognize him as the detective who was helping out the police every now and then.

"She could," said the man with blond hair. "You were a threat to her and others and refused to follow commands."

"The bomb weren't real. Just like her bullets."

"You!" shouted Blok. It was the man from the coffee shot. The creep! She remembered him well. And she definitely remembered what she promised to do if he showed himself near her. No… If this man was a part of the Agency that Tanizaki worked at, it means they knew about her. They tailed her. They baited her.

"Why punch me?" the man in the long coat asked, smiling. He wiped the blood from his face, but there was a faint trace of it.

"Found you annoying." She shrugged. He pouted.

"She's a good judge of character," Kunikida said with a faint smile.

"I told you to stay away from me," Saskia warned.

"I remember," he acknowledged. "I apologize for my behaviour the last time we met," he bowed. Blok almost staggered back in surprise of his actions. He bowed to her in apology. She didn't feel any pain.

"Allow me to explain," Kunikida said, moving forward. "My name is Kunikida Doppo. We all here are members of the Armed Detective Agency. And you are gifted."

"If that's your way to put it," she smirked.

Kunikida looked at her, his eyes hard and calculating. But she wouldn't bend to a man's stare. She ran her hand through her hair and looked at Dazai who was now standing right behind Kunikida.

"What's your deal, overcoat?" she tilted her head to a side, giving him the same once over.

"Hm?"

"What's your ability?"

"Dazzling smile!"

He did give her a wide white smile. But that's not how this works. Someone lies, she senses it. What is with this one? There was nothing. She sensed nothing. And he knew it. He was smiling innocently at her. He knows. She hated it.

"My ability nullifies other abilities," the man said with the same smile. "So… You can't tell if I'm lying or not. Fewh!" he wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead. Theatrical. Blok didn't need the ability to know that this man was overly theatrical. She looked at Tanizaki and shook her head.

"You really need to learn how to lie if you going to do it."

"Heh," Junichiro smiled at that.

"I wouldn't call it a pass," the man with silver hair finally spoke.

"As I said, President, her ability would taint this test," the one behind said.

"Test?" Blok asked, confused.

"For you to join the Agency," Doppo said, pushing the glasses up his nose.

"I don't want to join, though?" she asked, more confused. Saskia Blok never wanted to be a part of this world. The world of the gifted ones. She saw what it does since Port Mafia weren't very subtle with their operations. She also knew of many others, even across the world, organizations and groups of gifted ones that were creating chaos whenever it pleased them. They were also those who sought order too but they don't get featured in the crime news often. Whatever side this agency belonged to, Saskia Blok wouldn't be a part of it. For the simple reason of "I don't want to".

"Why not?" asked Dazai.

"Don't want to, don't care, have full-time employment with benefits and a retirement plan."

"Boooring."

"You here," she added, quieter.

"Mean!"

"Enough," the President said. So, you are it. Unmistakably, his age and the aura of authority indicated that he was the head of this organization. Saskia graced the man with a quick glance. Yet their eye met. In a quick exchange, they understood an important thing about each other: they do not bend. She will not bend to his will, whatever that may be, and neither will he.

"If she doesn't want to join, we cannot and will not force her," the man commanded. Everyone nodded in agreement. Saskia never quite got to experience such reverence for one person. From everyone in the room. Except for Dazai. He was the only one who didn't indicate any sort of agreement with the previous statement. His face was that of calm neutrality, apathy even. But it matters not, does it? Blok walked across to Junichiro, smiling with satisfaction that the ruckus will be over soon. They planned it all for nothing. A detective agency indeed.

"What trouble were you in?" Saskia asked, coming closer to Junichiro. That is one thing she didn't doubt. However small that trouble might be, she came here because of it. And then came was the whole thing with entrapment.

"Oh, he is in trouble," spoke Kunikida, "but nothing you can help him with."

Saskia flicked the young man's forehead. How dare he get her into this situation to join an organization she didn't want to join? Little liar. He figured her out. He will go far as a detective.

"Tanizaki, Atsushi," Doppo said calmly, "make our guest feel welcomed."

Two boys nodded. Every other employee of the Agency disappeared behind the door. It said "President Fukuzawa Yukichi" on it. The young man invited her to have some tea to which she couldn't say no to. For a few moments she believed the situation to be real and it almost made her lose her mind. Some tea would do her good. So, the two of the relaxed, sipping tea.

"I'm sorry," Junichiro spoke sincerely. "It was my fault. When I asked you if you wanted to be surrounded by people like you, you didn't give an answer. So, I took it as positive hesitance."

"Positive hesitance?" Saskia irked a brow. "I don't think it's a thing, kiddo."

"I thought that you wanted to a part of something like the Agency but couldn't admit it."

"Ah," she hummed, sipping on her tea. It wasn't all bad then. No, the day is totally ruined. And she had no idea what will come from this situation. They didn't just dismiss her after her refusal to join. It wouldn't be the end of it. Something bigger is at play here.

"So, what's your trouble?"

"Oh, that," Junichiro rubbed the back of his neck, uncomfortably. "I have to clean this up," he gestured at the mess on the office. Saskia measured the damage done to the office. There is a difference between the signs of a struggle and someone wanting it to look like it. That's what was throwing her off from the beginning. Something amiss.

"The tall blonde was right, I can't help here," the woman replied.

"Don't worry, I have help."

Atsushi waved at her, "I'm Atsushi Nakajima." The boy smiled at her. Blok remembered one unpleasant thing about herself: she aimed the gun at him. She rubbed her forehead in embarrassment. She aimed the gun at a teenager. A helpless, tied up hostage. "Tied up hostage".

"I'm sorry for aiming the gun at you," the woman said with an awkward smile.

"It's okay," he said genuinely. "I knew you wouldn't shoot."

"Why don't you tell the department of your ability?" Tanizaki chimed in.

"Can you imagine what would happen if I told them? First, I would know no rest as everyone would ask me to be present for any questioning or interrogation, which would give me non-stop pain," she said, pointing at her temple. "I can't control it. It is always on. Secondly, everyone who is even remotely friendly with me would not speak to me for dear life."

"Oh," was all he could say as the realization hit him. "I'm sorry."

"Hm?"

"For the time in the car. I was lying to you on purpose. I must have given you a headache."

"All is forgiven, kid," she fixed him a smile.

The door of the president's office opened again with a creak. First came out Yosano. Her face remained passive and she walked out on them with an expression Saskia could only describe as 'cold rage'. Who was left inside, again? That arrogant one, the forgiven creep, the great detective and the oldest. Next, Kunikda Doppo came out. Straight face, unreadable. The last one who walked out seemed most okay with whatever happened inside. The detective's face was neutral but not forced like Kunikida's. He even spared Blok a gesture of goodwill. He waved her goodbye before leaving. Kunikida asked her to come inside the office. Two left inside. The one with a smile. And the president. Blok stood up and walked into the office. Two men were waiting for her. The man with silver hair dressed in Japanese clothing. His eyes were unsettling. Deep and cold and unintelligible. And next to him was the nullifier. He gave her a smile. It's arrogant, Saskia concluded. And overly confident. Annoying, basically. The door behind her was closed from the outside.

"You are helping us," Dazai said casually yet confidently.

"Interesting proposition," Blok said, "but I'll pass."

"I'm not asking."

She looked at him, closely now. Reddish-brown eyes, short dark hair. A bit wavy, a bit messy. Tall, slim and with a fair complexion. Sand-coloured coat, under which was a black vest, a dress shirt. A bolo tie, she deemed a bit old-fashioned, with a turquoise pendant. Beige pants, dark shoes, white bandages… The latter she didn't notice before. She took it for the sleeves of the shirt. Interesting...But her observing him didn't go unnoticed. He observed her too. She knew what he could see. She saw herself every day in the mirror. Big dark-green eyes with big dark undereye circles. A heavy silence settled between the three.

"Intimidating me won't work," Saskia spoke up.

"Won't it?" he said. "I can make a complaint about you for punching me in the nose."

"So what?"

"And Tanizaki can change his statement."

"The first is just an inconvenience, my record is too good. Your nose isn't even broken, so good luck. And even if Tanizaki changes his statement, at this point in the case, it just makes him an unreliable witness."

The man coked his head. Something in his eyes changed, yet Saskia couldn't quite put a finger on it. Her eyes travelled to the president. He offered her a seat with a gesture. Welcoming, sure, but it wasn't enough to sway her. So, she refused the offer.

"What was your ability, again? Sensing lies?" Dazai asked. That arrogant, confident smile of his turned into a wicked smirk.

No.

"You kept it a secret for so long… It would be a shame if it got out."

That asshole. Her hands formed tight fists, nails digging into the soft flesh of her palm, leaving crescent marks. Maybe she should have broken that asshat's nose.

"You wouldn't dare," she looked Dazai in the eye. She doesn't have a thing to hold above their heads. They are an agency with a license. They were known in Yokohama, they worked with the police. Sure, there were a few blemishes in their history, but they were all public and resolved already. The only thing she could possibly use against them is Kunikida's behavior when they first met and that was a laughable thing to have. Plus, he sincerely apologized to her.

"Would I?" he irked a brow. "Help us out and you can go."

"Why me?"

"Because of your ability, of course."

"If I do, will you leave me be?"

"Sure."

"No, not you. I need someone else to say it."

Green eyes fixed on the man wearing a yukata. His expression did not falter., eyes never softened.

"You have my word," the man said. "And more."

"You know," said Osamu, with a light smirk on his face, "I figured you out," he pointed on a piece of paper on the table. Saskia came closer to look at it. On top was a check for a good enough sum to convince her to help. And below was a contract letter already signed by the president Fukuzawa Yukichi. One-time help in exchange for their silence and non-disturbance. She keeps their secrets, they keep hers. She looked up at Dazai who already offered her a pen. All she needed to do was help them close the case. She can do that, she just didn't want to. But what choice does she have now? If she refused them, her life would get incredibly difficult. Green eyes fixated on the man in a coat. Him. It had to be him. The mastermind. She took the pen and signed her name. Blok Alexandra.