"And now... Consider this, Dazai. Right now, Chuuya is the one who wields the most physical power in this room"
"But physical prowess does not count for all in the Mafia. Its true strength lies in using every method to exert rational control"
"Why're you giving me this lecture?"
"Well now, that is the question"
"Can we skip this part? actually, can we skip when it doesn't matter? their conversation is starting to feel boring" Ranpo said.
["Sure we can"] is the only thing Fumiya said.
The scene didn't changed from the room they're in, however, Mori is shown showing the previous Mafia boss on a projector. "I have returned... from the fiery pits of hell. And do you know why, doctor?" The previous boss face is shown closely.
"TF?!-"
"Wrath"
"The beast feeds on my wrath. It summoned me from hell...to spawn even more wrath
"... well, at least we can confirm that his habit of giving stupid speeches are still there..."
"Albatross-san..." Hirotsu says as he sighs.
"The monster of the Gods, the black flame Arahabaki..." Then the man is burn with violet like flames.
"So its not a demon but a God. Well that's just better"
Chuuya looks at his feet, as if it's the most interesting thing he had ever seen.
"that was the last of the recording" the windows began to open up. "Presently, all those who have seen this footage... are under strict gag order"
"But what if the man we just saw... repeats the same speech anywhere else?" Mori walks in between Chuuya and Dazai.
"He claims he did not die of natural causes. It was an assassination, he says"
"Which is the truth"
"If his old supporters were to find out, the mafia will turn on itself"
"You're not one of them? seeing you guys are here and are not bothered"
"Obviously"
"Regardless of who comes out on top, the Mafia will be destroyed"Mori said and Dazai sighs.
"Chuuya-kun. What is this being known as Arahabaki? I've made a few inquires myself. According to legend, Arahabaki is a retainer of the Gods. Yet these tales are old, so little is known of what it really is"
"Oh, so its just a retainer"
"What, do you really believe in Gods?"
"It is no coincidence that you chose to investigate Arahabaki. I presume you heard the same rumor we did and went chasing the truth, yes?"
"That is suspicious, you haven't told us why you were interested on that being" Hirotsu said.
"It doesn't matter" Verlaine murmurs, but no one heard him apart from two individuals who sat close to him and one great detective who can guess his words out of the movement of his mouth.
"There're a lotta wonderers in these parts. I won't waste my time finding who started the rumor. Do you all know how Cone Street came about?"
"Yes" a lot says apart from the foreigners.
"There was an explosion there near the end of the Great War. The area is that resulting crater"
"Yeah, and that explosion was caused by Arahabaki"
A lot widen their eyes. Never have thought they'd hear correctly. "You kidding me right?"
Chuuya shook his head.
"And how do you know?" Kouyou asked in interest. Being one who gathers entail, it pins her interest to see a young man gather easily. Part of her thinks maybe there is a reason on why he was chosen (thinking wheel from earlier was rigged).
"Hm?" Mori widen his eyes.
"I was shock for a bit, I didn't know that fact"
"And how do you know what I said was the truth?" Chuuya asked raising his eyebrow.
"I have the ability (without any pun intended) to see someone's characteristics. I judge them base from that and thus, knew you're not the type who would lie and give useless information unless you have too. You're too blunt"
"and obvious" Dazai added who have been silent the whole time. Chuuya grumbles. He doesn't have the strength to argue.
"They say that eight years back, a foreigner prison of war was tortured at a military base out in the settlement"
Some of the people's head turns towards the only foreigners in the room. Rimbaud (Randou) and Verlaine. Part of them thinks it Rimbaud, but then rethinks to Verlaine who is actually a stranger before their meeting in here. He is also somewhat-kind and does weird responses particularly towards Chuuya. There must be something in there.
Why else does a foreigner be close immediately towards a child but then again, is far from being innocent. He seems to know him... maybe that's also the reason why he was bought here together with them.
The next scene is shown a black like flame as the shadow of the being chained up into a wall. Its eyes are hollow red same as its wide mouth with sharp teeth. "His fury and resentment woke Arahabaki"
"Holy crap..."
"And the black flames... obliterate the entire military base. That explosion created..."
"-the crater of Cone Street" Mori finishes. "What do you make of this, Dazai?"
"He probably used an ability that we've never heard of. Because if what we saw on the video wasn't a trick, we're all done for"
"Heavens (yare yare)"
"Yep, we'd all die!" Ranpo said with a happy smile.
"...Aren't you worried?" Chuuya asked warrily.
"As the greatest detective~" this made Chuuya shiver. "It is my duty to solve all cases. This case has already been solve, thus, the result isn't that of a world wide problem as long as things are met and are in order"
"Don't worry blue eye, everything has not been set yet. And whether you like it or not.. secrets will eventually be exposed"
"..." Chuuya frowns. But it doesn't mean he liked it one bit!...
"Dazai, I have a mission for you"
"There it is!" Chuuya grumbles angrily while Dazai sighs in surrender.
"Before any of the old boss's supporters find what we saw in the video, find who is responsible for this. Understand?"
"There's not a lot of time. Do I really have to do it alone?"
"You won't be alone. I'll have Chuuya here be your assistant"
"WHAT!?"
"No! Absolutely no way! I wouldn't work with this guy in a million years"
"What was that?! You wanna go, kid?!"
"You both are kids"
Fumiya quickly taped both Chuuya and Dazai's mouths before they can start arguing. She sighs. (Being with their immature and loud parents are tiring!)
"Like you're not a kid!"
Ranpo: I suddenly want to put funny background music in here lol.
"At least I'm not three centimeters tall!"
"what?!"
"Maybe you'd better start drinking your milk, kid!"
"I'm 15! I'm still growing!"
Albatross: Okay, that was funny hahaha!
"they're just... kids..." At those words, everyone laughed. Even the ones that are quiet the whole time, let out a chuckle.
"When you're quite finished" Mori said loudly. Both became silent.
"pfft- "
"Dad's angry~"
Chuuya and Dazai both paled.
'Disgusting!!!'
"Chuuya-kun. Do you understand that you are in no place to refuse my orders? Like wise for you" he turns to Dazai. "If the boss's supporters discover you were my accomplice, you will be tortured. Hardly a painless death, now is it?"
"Why do you think sending us is the best option?"
"I have multiple reasons to pair up the two of you. First, you will have an easier time gathering information than Mafia members. You'll also keep an eye on Chuuya to ensure he doesn't cross us. And... well, that one's a secret"
'Hm... let me guess. He can blackmail the kid in the end for submitting, have the most loyal dog ever who happens to be the servant of Gods, and to create something him and Fukuzawa had left before' what an interesting goal you got there. Ranpo thought.
'And Chuuya will be played successfully in the end. Without him realizing it'
"Can we take a break?"
["Ye sure, I am also about to add a couple of people in here anyway"]
"wait? you can do that!?"
["yep! but as usual, once they are inside this ability of mine, no one can escape until they will watch with you guys"]
["On the room where Ranpo went is the living room"] Everybody began to walk towards the said room. There, they saw the place. It is wide and clean. Full of luxuries that Chuuya never seen before.
There is a beautiful and breathtaking view outside. "Can we go outside?"
["yes, but it is not really real, so you can't go far or else you'll get lost"]
"What's the point then?"
["To make sure you guys will stay sane"]
"Hm, fair enough"
["There are also upstairs. It is where your bed rooms are. And over there is the kitchen. Feel free to cook. The ingredients are unlimited"]
["I had fun creating these"]
"Its amazing, no doubt, this place would have been expensive in real life"
A/n: Credits to the real owners. I only needed the motivation for a better house in the future lol.