I don't want to be an elf!

Hearing Higuchi Ichiyo's words, Mori Ougai couldn't help but laugh: "I'm sorry, it's my fault. I didn't tell you all the information about her, which caused you to have this misunderstanding. But you don't need to worry about her running away. Judging people by their appearance is a big no-no."

"Yes, Boss, I will reflect on my actions."

Although still somewhat puzzled, Higuchi Ichiyo naturally accepted Mori Ōgai's explanation.

In her eyes, the girl was merely a young and beautiful superhuman.

When I talked to her in the car, she showed an elegant and gentle side, just like a young lady from high society.

Always smiling, she exudes aristocratic air in every gesture, and her laughter is as clear and melodious as a silver bell. Even when talking to someone of the same sex, one cannot help but feel a sense of admiration.

Men want to have her, and women want to be her.

Even Higuchi Ichiyo felt the same way.

But it is precisely because of this that Higuchi Ichiyo, who is well aware of the dark side of the Port Mafia, can't help but wonder why such a girl who seems to have grown up in an ivory tower would be sent to carry out a mission.

Ultimately, why would she join an organization like the Port Mafia?

Having been a member of the Port Mafia for a full year, she naturally knew what kind of organization she had joined. Even though she had come to terms with it, she would still feel ashamed and remorseful for the sins she had committed.

However, as a subordinate, she had no right to ask Mori Ōgai anything.

Obeying orders, carrying out tasks, and achieving results—that's what makes a qualified port mafia member.

That's why she kept her doubts buried deep in her heart.

But now, almost half an hour has passed since the girl entered the factory, and nothing has happened yet.

This made her wonder if that well-mannered and polite young woman was just a pretty face.

"Higuchi-kun, don't overthink it."

Seemingly having seen through Higuchi Ichiyo's thoughts, Mori Ougai said meaningfully, "Tokisaki-san is not just a pretty face. Please treat her as a monster as Akutagawa-kun, no, even more terrifying than Akutagawa-kun."

"Yes, Boss..."

Having worked alongside Ryunosuke Akutagawa for a year, Higuchi Ichiyo knew her boss's personality well and wanted to refute, "How could that be?", but reason prevented her from saying it.

"Oh, are you talking about me?"

A girl's voice suddenly came from behind Higuchi Ichiyo.

Under intense tension, Higuchi Ichiyo placed her hand on the gun handle at her waist. Only when she saw Tokisaki Kurumi, dressed in a blood-red dress, gracefully emerge from the shadows did she release the gun, saying with some displeasure, "Ms. Tokisaki, please don't scare me. What if the gun accidentally goes off?"

"I'm so sorry, I'll be more careful next time."

"Since you're here, it means the mission failed?" Higuchi Ichiyo asked, looking at the girl with empty hands.

"Failure? Why would you think that?" the girl said calmly. "The mission was a success. All the information about the factory has been obtained. However, there is a lot of stuff inside. Please tell Mr. Mori and have him send someone to handle it."

"You acquired them all?" Higuchi Ichiyo asked incredulously. "In less than half an hour?"

"Yes."

"The first clone of Higuchi Ichiyo, who was sent to inform him, replied with a smile."

"Next, Ms. Higuchi, please proceed to the factory, where the main body will be handed over to you."

Chapter Twelve: Welcome to my darkside

After delivering the message, Clone Number Four bowed gracefully, and his figure disappeared into the darkness once more.

Higuchi Ichiyo licked her slightly dry lips and said in a low voice, "Boss, what you said just now..."

"Of course I heard everything." Mori Ougai's voice came through the earpiece. "I never doubted that Ms. Tokisaki could complete the mission. In the end, the purpose of this mission was simply to find out about her abilities. I originally thought we would get nothing tonight, but it seems we are lucky."

"She just said to hand over to the main body. Could it be that what appeared in front of us just now was a clone?"

"That's roughly it. Entering the shadows, teleporting, reading memories, creating clones—Ms. Tokisaki has already demonstrated four different abilities," Mori Ougai said with interest. "What kind of superpower could grant an ability user these four almost unrelated abilities? Or is she just creating a mystery?"

By this time, Higuchi Ichiyo had also dispelled her doubts about Tokisaki Kurumi.

She didn't think the clone that appeared earlier was lying, since she was going to go to the factory in person, and lying would be pointless.

Taking a deep breath, Higuchi Ichiyo took a step and carefully walked towards the factory.

The night is dark and windy.

Heavy leaden clouds obscured the silvery light cast by the crescent moon, plunging the entire earth into darkness.

Yokohama, on the outskirts of the city, is lifeless, like an abandoned wasteland, filled with an atmosphere of death and cold.

The biting night wind blew in through my collar, feeling like being slashed by the scythe of death, taking away the last vestiges of life's warmth.

In the pitch-black darkness, Higuchi Ichiyo could barely see anything in front of him. He had to take out his flashlight to see the road again.

Upon arriving at the factory gate, Higuchi Ichiyo saw a stunningly beautiful young woman in a gorgeous dress standing quietly at the entrance, waiting for her arrival.

"Ms. Higuchi, I have obtained the information you are looking for."

Kurumi Tokisaki still looked as elegant as ever, showing no signs of fatigue or dishevelment, unlike someone who had just completed a mission.

Behind her, there was the sound of something heavy being dragged.

Higuchi Ichiyo slightly raised his flashlight, letting the light shine into the factory and providing some visibility.

When she looked behind Kurumi Tokisaki, her pupils contracted slightly.

Inside the factory, four people who look exactly like Kurumi Tokisaki are dragging the factory workers, making them lean against the wall, to clear a path.

But these people did not resist at all, as if they had fainted.

Do you care about them a lot?

Seemingly noticing Higuchi Ichiyo's gaze, Tokisaki Kurumi said calmly, "These people are all employees of this factory. You Port Mafia can just deal with them."

"I understand, we will interrogate them."

“Interrogation? There’s no need. I already have all the intelligence.” Tokisaki Kurumi shook her head and said, “This is a stronghold of the Kansai yakuza, the Omi Alliance, in Yokohama. It’s also a drug production factory. They want to expand their business here, and this factory is their first test.”

Then, Kurumi Tokisaki handed her some documents: "These are the addresses of drug dens in Yokohama, as well as evidence of organizations that have private dealings with the Omi Alliance. I believe you can handle the rest."

“Ms. Tokisaki, you have done an excellent job in your investigation. Leave the rest to us.” Higuchi Ichiyo glanced at Tokisaki Kurumi with slight surprise. “Drug trafficking in Yokohama is a dead end. It’s one of the Port Mafia’s ironclad rules. We will not allow anything that could harm this city to happen.”

“After all, it’s the Port Mafia’s duty to fight against other gangs as a criminal organization.” Tokisaki Kurumi nodded understandingly. “Then, I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“Of course, now that we have the information we need, they are no longer of any value,” Higuchi Ichiyo said calmly. “We will send someone to kill them later; you don’t need to dirty your hands.”

"My hands are dirty...?"

Upon hearing this, Kurumi Tokisaki gave a strange smile.

A low laugh came from the Bluetooth headset connected to Mori Ougai.

Higuchi Ichiyo felt a pang of unease, wondering what she had said wrong.

"Did you hear that, us?"

Kurumi Tokisaki turned to look at her clones in the factory, a smile she couldn't hide playing on her lips: "Did you hear that? Higuchi-san said we don't need to dirty our hands."

Behind Kurumi Tokisaki, the equally graceful girls couldn't help but chuckle.

That laughter was clear and moving, like a clear spring in a valley, instinctively soothing the restless hearts of others.

But for some reason, when their laughter mingled together, it seemed to be imbued with the power to freeze souls, making Higuchi Ichiyo feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

The noble and elegant young women transformed into monsters who killed and made fun of others in the darkness, exchanging mocking glances.

The leaden clouds that had been obscuring the moonlight slowly moved away, allowing the insignificant silvery glow to fall upon the earth.

Thus, Higuchi Ichiyo saw the strands of white hair fluttering in the moonlight, and the old, withered corpses that looked like dried-up human bodies.

Like a legendary monster whose life force and essence have been drained, all that remains is this withered, aged body.

When Higuchi Ichiyo finally saw the factory clearly, her pupils contracted sharply, and she couldn't help but take a step back.

She felt as if she had stumbled into a vampire's lair, where pairs of bright red and golden eyes shone in the darkness, staring at her as if they might pounce on her at any moment and devour her like a lamb.

At that moment, Higuchi Ichiyo finally understood what Mori Ōgai had said.

They are not the pampered young ladies raised in an ivory tower; they are clearly the embodiment of evil, the purest form of evil in this world!

A monster even more terrifying than Ryunosuke Akutagawa!

A real monster!

"What's wrong, Ms. Higuchi? You don't look well."

With deep concern, Tokisaki Kurumi took a step closer to her, as if to check on her condition more closely.

Higuchi Ichiyo's face stiffened, and she forced out a few words through clenched teeth: "I...I'm fine..."

How could she not understand what mistake she had made?

That innocent and concerned expression is merely a disguise for Tokisaki Kurumi; beneath this charming exterior lies a bloodthirsty and brutal monster.

And yet, I had spent so much time with such a monster in a closed car?

They even treated her like a young girl, worrying about her future?

Recalling the smile on Tokisaki Kurumi's lips in the car, it was probably not out of politeness, but rather a smile full of mockery and teasing.

Higuchi felt a chill run through his body.

"Is that so? That's good." Tokisaki Kurumi said with a faint smile, "My mission is now complete. Please tell Mr. Mori that I will meet with him at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."

Higuchi Ichiyo remained silent; she was consumed by fear, and it was astonishing that she could still stand still.

"Then let's go."

She relayed the instructions to her clones inside the factory, and one by one, the clones slipped into Tokisaki Kurumi's shadow.

"I'm leaving the reporting to you. I trust you can tell Mr. Mori what happened here, right?"

Seeing Higuchi Ichiyo nod stiffly, Tokisaki Kurumi smiled and said, "That's great. See you next time, Higuchi-san."

With a slight bow, Kurumi Tokisaki bid farewell to her and disappeared.

After she left, the heavy atmosphere eased slightly. Higuchi Ichiyo gasped for breath in the cold air and knelt down on the ground.

The cold night wind almost took away every bit of warmth from her body, leaving her icy cold and shivering slightly.

But that shiver that came from the depths of his soul did not come from the cold.

Through the earphones came Mori Ōgai's compassionate words.