I don't want to be an elf!

Immediately afterwards, Bandage Three used his acting skills to temporarily gain the protection of the Armed Detective Agency.

Perhaps further planning is needed for her to truly join the Armed Detective Agency, but at least this scene gave Tokisaki Kurumi the opportunity to have her clone come into close contact with the Armed Detective Agency.

However, she did not expect that Dazai Osamu and Nakajima Atsushi would be so patient, and they had not made a move even after fighting for so long.

Perhaps Dazai Osamu wanted to wait for reinforcements to arrive, but if it dragged on any longer, he might realize that the two of them were actually acting. So, Tokisaki Kurumi made a tough decision and severely injured Bandaged Three to provoke the two of them.

However, she was about to lose her act, and the two detectives were still huddled inside the wall, showing no intention of rescuing her.

"Don't tell me that Dazai Osamu already guessed that this was a play I put on with Bandage Three?" Tokisaki Kurumi couldn't help but guess.

As a key figure in the detective agency, Dazai Osamu is often referred to as the man with the script in his hand.

Because every crisis seemed to occur as he anticipated, and he always had a way to resolve it, as if he had read a script.

To put it nicely, he was resourceful; to put it bluntly, he was cunning and treacherous. But in any case, Tokisaki Kurumi dared not underestimate this man's intelligence.

Could it be that he really did get the script again and guessed that this was a play staged against the detective agency?

"That shouldn't be the case. Even Dazai Osamu couldn't possibly have guessed my intentions. His understanding of me should be limited to the most basic level. No matter how smart he is, he couldn't possibly guess my plan." Tokisaki Kurumi's eyes flickered. "Or was it Nakajima Atsushi who held us back? At this time, Nakajima Atsushi was still a loser. It's very possible that I acted too strongly, causing him to lack the confidence to come out and rescue people..."

However, just as she was lost in thought, a dark shadow suddenly appeared above her head.

Kurumi Tokisaki subconsciously looked up and saw that the true form of the shadowy figure was Atsushi Nakajima, who had jumped down from a warehouse on the street with his back to the sun.

Unexpectedly, while she was distracted, Atsushi Nakajima stopped hiding behind the wall and jumped onto the roof of the surrounding warehouse.

Moreover, it was in a half-human, half-tiger form!

"Thankfully, you didn't disappoint me, Atsushi Nakajima."

A smile appeared on Tokisaki Kurumi's lips, but her movements were not slow at all, instantly disappearing into the shadows beneath her feet.

"boom!"

The unrestrained blow, combined with the momentum from jumping from a height, caused Atsushi Nakajima's punch to crack the solid asphalt road.

If this punch landed squarely on an ordinary person, it would definitely shatter their bones.

Atsushi Nakajima seemed to realize this as well, and a hint of fear appeared on his face. This was his first attack, and he hadn't been able to control his strength properly.

"Luckily she dodged it."

Relieved that his punch had missed, Atsushi Nakajima cautiously searched his surroundings for Kurumi Tokisaki, who had slipped into the shadows.

At that moment, Dazai Osamu, who was hiding behind the thick wall, also sprang into action, running to Bandage Three's side and dragging her to a safe place.

"Lie here and don't move, or you'll lose too much blood," Dazai Osamu said quickly. "Hang in there, our reinforcements will be here soon."

Although he wanted to bandage the wounded first to stop the bleeding, they were currently fighting a new ability user from the Port Mafia, and Dazai Osamu needed to focus 100% of his attention on the other party before figuring out their abilities.

After all, this girl named Nightmare was sent to capture Atsushi Nakajima in place of the rabid dog Ryunosuke Akutagawa, so she should not be underestimated.

With his eyes searching for the missing Nightmare, Dazai Osamu calmly placed his hand on the pistol hidden under his coat, just in case.

"I didn't expect to see you again so soon."

The girl's voice came from the shadows cast by the warehouse, causing both detectives to raise their alertness to the highest level: "Nice to meet you? But I think you already know who I am, so there's no need for you to waste your breath introducing yourself."

“I would be very grateful if you could tell us your abilities and name, Miss Nightmare,” Dazai Osamu said. “Personally, I don’t want to use such a terrifying code name to refer to a beautiful lady.”

"Are you trying to pry into my private information, Mr. Dazai?" Kurumi Tokisaki tilted her head. "Putting yesterday aside, today is only our first official meeting. Being too forward will make the girls uncomfortable, you know."

"I think we'll definitely have a lot of entanglements in the future, so the sooner we get to know each other, the better, right?"

"That's true, but I already know enough about you, and besides, you're not my target."

As she spoke, Tokisaki Kurumi looked at Nakajima Atsushi with great interest.

As if he were being watched by a predator in a high position, Atsushi Nakajima felt his hair stand on end and his legs go weak, but he still put on a fierce look.

With its half-human, half-tiger posture, it really does look quite fierce.

"I never expected that you, my target, would appear so openly in front of me," Kurumi Tokisaki said. "This is different from what the intelligence said. I thought this target was an easy coward, but it seems the intelligence team gathered the wrong information."

“I, I’m not afraid of you!” Atsushi Nakajima said, his words seemingly fierce but actually cowardly. “The senior members of the detective agency will be here soon, and we will take you to court to face a just trial.”

"It's quite a distance from here to the detective agency. Even if they go at their fastest speed, it will still take them ten minutes."

Atsushi Nakajima's expression changed; he hadn't expected the other party to have grasped the situation so accurately.

I had originally hoped to use the reputation of the senior detectives to drive away the nightmare, but it seems that this tactic won't work.

"However, my intelligence on Nakajima Atsushi was flawed. You know nothing about me, so you cannot devise a strategy. If we start fighting, the outcome is uncertain."

Kurumi Tokisaki emerged from the shadows and said with utmost sincerity:

"How about we make a deal that benefits both of us?"

Chapter 42 You've Been Fooled

Upon hearing Kurumi Tokisaki's suggestion, Osamu Dazai appeared somewhat tempted.

Perhaps due to pressure, or perhaps because of the unclear situation, he tentatively asked, "Tell me about it, what kind of deal is it?"

"Although Mr. Mori gave me the mission to kidnap Atsushi Nakajima, I had no intention of carrying it out today. Meeting you was purely coincidental," Kurumi Tokisaki said without changing her expression. "We can pretend we didn't meet each other. I'll let you leave unharmed, and you hand over the girl to me. We'll all be fine. Sounds like a good deal, doesn't it?"

"How could our detective agency possibly..."

"Atsushi, let me talk."

Just as Atsushi Nakajima was about to immediately reject the other party's offer, Osamu Dazai raised his hand first, stopping him from continuing.

Seeing that Dazai Osamu intended to continue the conversation, Nakajima Atsushi became anxious.

However, the other party was his benefactor and senior, and as a newcomer, he couldn't say anything in this situation.

So he could only stand there, anxiously signaling to Dazai Osamu with his eyes not to accept the deal.

“I can agree to your deal. To be honest, if Dunjun gets arrested, I’ll be in big trouble too.”

Ignoring Atsushi Nakajima's hint, Osamu Dazai slowly said, "We have no intention of confronting the Port Mafia today. We are just carrying out other commissions as usual. If both sides can leave peacefully, that would be the best."

"Ah, as expected of the talent Mr. Mori always mentions. It is indeed very pleasant to communicate with someone like you who can rationally analyze gains and losses." Tokisaki Kurumi's smile remained unchanged. "Then, please leave that child where he is, and you two may leave now."

"Before that, I have one more question to confirm."

"Please say."

“I need to know this girl’s identity,” Dazai Osamu said seriously. “As an armed detective agency that protects Yokohama and its citizens, if this girl belongs to a group we need to protect, then I’m sorry I cannot accept your proposal.”

"There's no need to worry about that. That child isn't some innocent civilian. I think you can tell from her appearance," Kurumi Tokisaki said calmly. "As for her true identity, unfortunately, that's my privacy, and I can't easily tell others."

"This answer is clearly not satisfactory to me, Miss Nightmare."

"If you don't believe me, Mr. Dazai, perhaps you can ask that child yourself, ask her if she is an innocent citizen... Hehe, if she is willing to tell you."

Kurumi Tokisaki removed her dual pistols and temporarily chose to cease hostilities, looking rather amused.

After receiving permission, Dazai Osamu stopped keeping his gun ready to be drawn at any moment. After warning Nakajima Atsushi to be wary of Tokisaki Kurumi's potential sneak attack, he walked back to the side of Bandaged Kurumi, who was lying on the back of the car.

"Don't be afraid, little girl. I just want to know who you are. Can you tell me your identity?"

“I…I am…” Bandaged Three’s face was pale, and he couldn’t help but look away. “My true form cannot be revealed to you mortals.”

Dazai Osamu's eyes flickered. Although he hadn't been able to get any information directly from her, he still had some guesses in his mind.

This girl is not someone like Atsushi Nakajima who was hunted by the Port Mafia for no reason, but rather, like him, a traitor.

However, whether it was the Port Mafia or Nightmare that betrayed them remains to be seen.

Judging from her attitude, this girl also has quite a secret, which is very likely related to her identity.

Perhaps her identity is the reason why the nightmare is chasing her?

Did the nightmare have a reason that it had to kill her?

"But I am by no means a despicable person."

Bandaged San grabbed Dazai Osamu's sleeve as if seeking help, pleading, "The gears of fate still need me to turn. I cannot perish here before my destined death arrives!"

"Don't worry, I'll save you. That's the detective agency's duty."

Although he didn't quite understand what the girl meant by "mission," Dazai Osamu held her hand, trying to offer her some warmth. "I won't hand you over to Nightmare. Even if you're not innocent, the one who should judge you is the government, not her."

"Thank you, I will remember this kindness."

"..."

"..."

Neither of them continued talking.

However, Dazai Osamu remained squatting there, showing no intention of going out to meet Tokisaki Kurumi.

She even has time to use the rearview mirror of an abandoned car to fix her hair.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Bandaged Three couldn't help but ask.

"Hmm? Of course, it's about stalling for time."

As Dazai Osamu fixed his hair, he said this as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

He guessed from the beginning what the "deal" between Tokisaki Kurumi was about.

At the same time, he never intended to make a deal with Kurumi Tokisaki from the beginning.

However, if he refuses outright, a battle between the two sides is inevitable. His superpower has no combat power whatsoever, and Atsushi Nakajima is a novice who has only recently mastered superpowers. He has little chance of winning against Kurumi Tokisaki.

Therefore, he could only stall for time as much as possible and wait for reinforcements from the detective agency to arrive.

What? You call it despicable?

What need is there for morality or ethics when dealing with the Port Mafia!

"As expected, Mr. Dazai would never do such a thing."

The half-human, half-tiger form not only gave Atsushi Nakajima strength and speed, but also greatly enhanced his hearing.

After hearing Dazai Osamu's plan, Nakajima Atsushi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He had thought that Dazai Osamu's long and earnest negotiation was because he genuinely wanted to exchange the girl for his and his own safety. It seems he underestimated Dazai Osamu.

A few more minutes passed, and Dazai Osamu still showed no intention of coming out.

Kurumi Tokisaki then belatedly frowned: "Dazai-san, does it really take this long to confirm an identity?"