I don't want to be an elf!

Such a Dazai Osamu is extremely rare.

But everyone knows one thing: when someone who is usually eccentric starts to get serious, it means a real crisis is coming.

Feeling the heavy gazes around him, Eyepatch Three chuckled softly after a moment of silence.

"There's no point in saying it."

The blindfolded man spoke mockingly, his gaze towards the crowd tinged with pity: "Rather than knowing the sorrow and despair that comes with inevitable destruction, it's better to be completely ignorant from the start. At least that way, you can have an easier time before you die."

"So, you didn't come here to help us?"

"Of course not. Even with my help, you cannot defeat Nightmare," Eyepatch Three said coldly. "You are too weak. I will not bet my chips on you."

“How will we know if we don’t try?” Dazai Osamu insisted. “Since you’ve come here, you must want to help us, right?”

“You don’t need to try to know this. Faced with the Nightmare’s overwhelming power, you lack the strength to deliver the final blow.” Eyepatch Three shook his head. “I went through a lot of trouble to escape from the Nightmare back then. If she finds out that I’m helping you, she won’t let me off this time. After all, I’m not like the idiots on your side. The Nightmare really sees me as a threat.”

As if unwilling to waste any more words, after saying this, Eyepatch Three stopped looking at Dazai Osamu and instead focused his gaze on Bandage Three: "You heard it too, right? These people can't beat the real body. We must leave while we still have time."

The members of the Armed Detective Agency stared wide-eyed.

Now they all know the purpose of Eyepatch Three's appearance this time.

Not only was she unwilling to lend a helping hand, she even tried to dig out the bandages!

“You can’t take her away!” Atsushi Nakajima blurted out.

"Why not?" the blindfolded man retorted.

"Because she is..."

"Because she is?"

"she is......"

The still-naive Atsushi Nakajima wanted to say something.

But then he thought again, Bandage Three wasn't a member of the Armed Detective Agency at all, so he had no right to try to keep him.

The initial excitement cooled down as if doused with cold water.

The others shared the same thought, and everyone fell silent.

Ultimately, Bandage Three was someone they temporarily took in in order to maintain stability in Yokohama.

Now that Eyepatch Three is preparing to take her away from the city, they have no reason to refuse; on the contrary, they should allow it.

“Go on, the Armed Detective Agency is not a place for you,” Eyepatch Three said. “I am one of your kind.”

"I...I..."

On one side were his own kind, and on the other were the acquaintances who had taken him in; Bandage Three looked hesitant.

Looking back at the familiar faces in the Armed Detective Agency, Bandaged Three gritted his teeth, stamped his foot, and made a difficult decision.

"I'm not leaving!"

"what?"

"I told you, I don't want to leave with you!"

"Why? Didn't you hear what I just said? If you stay in Yokohama with them, you'll be killed along with them," Eyepatch Three said impatiently. "Don't act like a child. You've already betrayed the original body once; next time, the original body won't show you any mercy!"

"Even if the road ahead is full of thorns, I will still sing the song of resistance without hesitation." Bandaged Three glared back defiantly, "This is my destiny, which cannot be defied or escaped, even if the enemy is an invincible nightmare!"

"Ah, ah, ah..." Eyepatch Three said with a headache, "Come to think of it, I was indeed a stubborn person who used to play the role of a righteous hero."

She sighed, and two ornate flintlock muskets, one long and one short, appeared in her hands.

"Originally, I didn't want to use this method to take you away."

Eyepatch Three raised his two guns and said helplessly, "Even if you don't want to, I have to take you away by force."

However, before she could take a step, everyone from the Armed Detective Agency shielded Bandage Three behind her.

Atsushi Nakajima's limbs instantly tore through his clothes, transforming into the limbs of a white tiger.

Dazai Osamu and Kunikida Doppo both drew their pistols and released the safety catches.

Fukuzawa Yukichi's hand rested lightly on the hilt of the sword, his silver-gray eyes as cold as steel.

The other members also prepared to use their special abilities, demonstrating the spirit of the Armed Detective Agency.

"Heh, do you want to be my enemy?" A cold smile appeared on Eyepatch Three's lips.

“Even if we can’t defeat the Nightmare, I don’t think it’s a big problem if it’s just a clone,” Dazai Osamu replied with a polite smile.

"This child seems to have nothing to do with you, doesn't she?" Eyepatch Three asked coldly. "By taking her away, I've actually done you a great favor, haven't I?"

"The connection began the moment she agreed to stand with the Armed Detective Agency."

Fukuzawa Yukichi turned to Bandage Three and asked seriously, "Are you sure you don't want to leave with your kind, but instead want to fight the Nightmare alongside us and Yokohama?"

"This is exactly what I wanted."

Even if you might die?

Even if the price is death, the soul of the brave will never bow down to the shadow of evil!

"In that case, our Armed Detective Agency should also regard you as a partner in fighting alongside us."

A smile of approval appeared on the steely face of Fukuzawa Yukichi, the president of the Armed Detective Agency.

"Child, would you like to join the Armed Detective Agency and become one of us?"

Chapter 82 Moths to a Flame, courting their own destruction

Upon hearing Fukuzawa Yukichi formally extend the invitation, the blindfolded man not far away remained expressionless, but a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.

Finally, the matter of Bandage Three joining the Armed Detective Agency has been settled.

In this way, their last concern disappeared.

The group will soon cross the sea to Yokohama, a fact that Kurumi Tokisaki herself is naturally aware of.

As soon as their people arrive, Tokisaki Kurumi will begin to act according to the original plan, completing the main mission and becoming a nightmare feared by everyone in Yokohama, while also completing the first side mission: defeating the group's members.

Once the plan succeeds and the main mission is completed, there is no need for her to stay in this world any longer.

If by then, if Bandage Three hasn't given her a task, she'll never have another chance to complete it.

Kurumi Tokisaki joined the Port Mafia, and Eyepatch Kurumi joined the Special Abilities Agency. Only Bandage Kurumi is still missing.

If Bandage 3 fails to complete its mission, then Side Quest 2 cannot be completed perfectly, and all previous efforts will be in vain.

That's why I'm here today.

The real purpose wasn't to take Bandage Three away, but to use this excuse to push the Armed Detective Agency to their limit and force them to take her in.

Actually, this plan was actually conceived by the three lolis who were recently summoned.

After discussing the feasibility of the plan with the main body and obtaining the main body's permission, Eyepatch Three appeared here.

At this moment, seeing that Bandage Three had been given the opportunity to join the Armed Detective Agency, Eyepatch Three's mood also became pleasant.

Next, all that's needed is for Bandage Three to accept Fukuzawa Yukichi's invitation.

"Eh...? Me?"

Faced with Fukuzawa Yukichi's invitation, Bandaged Three seemed somewhat at a loss: "But I am the incarnation of Nightmare, don't you care about my identity?"

“There are no normal people in the Armed Detective Agency. Compared to the former Port Mafia executive and the Tiger with a seven billion dollar bounty, your identity isn’t even that special,” Edogawa Ranpo said casually. “Moreover, our agency doesn’t care about identity; we only value your ability and determination to protect others.”

"Could I consider it?" Bandaged Three said somewhat embarrassedly. "Although I am very grateful for the invitation, but..."

“After all, this is a big deal, and it’s only natural that we need more time to consider it,” Dazai Osamu interjected at the opportune moment. “But if you agree now, we can wipe the slate clean on the money you stole from me before, and I’ll also have the president return that black cat to you.”

“I am willing to join the Armed Detective Agency,” Bandage Three said without hesitation.

"very good."

Dazai Osamu smiled and looked at Eyepatch Three: "That's how it is. If you want to take away the members of the Armed Detective Agency, you'll have to step over our dead bodies first."

"...It's a pity to encounter a clone that has betrayed its original self." Eyepatch Three said with a regretful tone, "Since you want to die, then stay and be buried with them. I will not accompany you any longer."

Just as Eyepatch Three was about to leave, Sakaguchi Ango stepped forward, trying to stop him.

"Please wait a moment, I want to talk to you."

"I don't have the habit of talking to dead people."

"If that's the case, why did you give me the Nightmare data back then?" Ango Sakaguchi asked persistently. "You must have had the intention of cooperating with us to defeat the Nightmare, right?"

“At that time, I did want to work with you because I felt that you still had a chance to defeat the Nightmare.”

"And what makes you think that we no longer have a chance to defeat the Nightmare?"

"Because it's already too late."

"Too late? What does that mean?"

"The group has already departed from North America. The biggest variable in Nightmare's plan has been determined, and everything is proceeding according to her plan. As long as the group appears in Yokohama, no one can stop her," Eyepatch Three said bitterly. "I never expected that Yokohama's strategist, the Armed Detective Agency, would be so foolish as to make a deal with Nightmare. If you had handed Nakajima Atsushi over to the group directly, the subsequent disaster would never have happened!"

“One of the detective agency’s principles is to never abandon its members,” Fukuzawa Yukichi said earnestly. “Are you underestimating us?”

“Sacrificing one person can save ten thousand; there’s no better deal.” Eyepatch Three sneered. “It was your stubbornness that killed you and extinguished Yokohama’s last hope.”

“Miss, could you please stop for a moment?” Dazai Osamu sighed. “Nightmare isn’t going to tell you her plans. You’re making it sound like Yokohama is about to be destroyed. Isn’t that overreacting?”

"Nightmare's plan is not hard to guess, at least not to me."

Eyepatch Three lowered her eyes and said with a hint of sadness, "Compared to that fool who knows nothing, I know more, have experienced more, and therefore am closer to the original body, so I can guess her thoughts to some extent."

"You rude bastard, calling me a fool time and time again! Do you think I'm made of clay?!" Bandaged Three asked angrily. "If you know so much, then tell me everything you know!"

"Yes, if you can, please tell us everything you know."

Dazai Osamu shrugged, half-jokingly and half-seriously saying, "Even if, as you say, our inevitable demise awaits us, we would rather take a gamble than sit idly by and wait for death."

Everyone's eyes were filled with solemnity and anticipation.

Blindfold Three bit his lip, his expression conflicted.

After a long silence, she closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

"Birds of a feather flock together, no wonder I used to be willing to stand with you."