I don't want to be an elf!

But those violet eyes held no smile, only a chilling coldness.

"Could you please explain what those three words meant?"

Chapter Four: Now, it's time for a display of acting prowess.

Dragon Head Wars, Previous Boss, Scalpel.

The first word is still fresh in the minds of all Yokohama citizens: the war between multiple criminal organizations in Yokohama for the throne of Yokohama's underworld king.

The second term is something that any slightly experienced member of the mafia knows well: the Mad King, who nearly brought the Port Mafia to ruin during the Dragon Head War.

The last word, however, seems to have no meaning at all.

Because the significance of the scalpel is not something everyone knows.

"Do I really have to say it out loud?" Kurumi Tokisaki asked. "I thought we could have a little bit of tacit understanding where we see through each other but don't say it."

"I'm sorry, I don't really have any chemistry with people I'm meeting for the first time," Mori Ougai replied frankly.

"How indifferent." Tokisaki Kurumi wasn't annoyed. "During the Dragon Head War, Mr. Mori disregarded the wishes of the previous Boss, assassinated him with a scalpel, and then forged a will to usurp the throne."

Ten years ago, during the Dragon Head War, the previous Port Mafia Boss constantly waged wars to expand his territory, endlessly depleting the organization's resources and causing widespread suffering in Yokohama.

In order to ensure the continuation of the organization and the stability of the city, Mori Ougai, who was the former Boss's personal physician at the time, killed him during a treatment and forged a will, thus becoming the new Port Mafia Boss.

The tool used to kill the previous boss was a scalpel that was supposed to be used for treatment.

This is a secret known only to a handful of people in the Port Mafia.

If we had to say, only the two of them would know.

Ideally, only the two of them should have known.

At this moment, even the fake smile on Mori Ōgai's face completely disappeared.

He coldly scrutinized the girl before him, trying to discern her thoughts from her expression and actions.

Pretending, being afraid, being nervous and uneasy...

If we can analyze these psychological activities, the subsequent negotiations will go much more smoothly.

Unfortunately, these emotions did not appear on the girl's face.

Instead, Mori Ougai saw a calmness built on confidence in her expression.

It was as if he knew Mori Ōgai couldn't do anything about him.

In fact, Mori Ōgai really couldn't do anything about her.

As a spirit who controls time, Tokisaki Kurumi may not be strong in individual combat, and may not even be able to defeat Alice, who is an embodiment of superpowers, if there is not enough time. However, she is absolutely impossible to capture.

Even if they can't confront the Port Mafia head-on, a graceful retreat is perfectly acceptable.

Kurumi Tokisaki was originally a spirit skilled at escaping.

Whether it's her shadow that can appear anywhere and move stealthily, or her bullet that can accelerate time to achieve instantaneous teleportation, both give Tokisaki Kurumi the ability to infiltrate dangerous places at any time and retreat at any time.

Even if this meeting with Mori Ōgai turns into a bad situation, she can guarantee that she will be unharmed.

That's why she dared to break into the port mafia headquarters alone.

"How did you find out about this?" Mori Ougai tapped his fingers on the armrest of the chair. "Could it be... that Dazai told you?"

Osamu Dazai, former head of the Port Mafia's intelligence unit, is the youngest executive in history.

At the same time, he was Mori Ougai's right-hand man, to whom he placed the greatest trust and expectations. Many members of the organization even believed that he would be the next Port Mafia Boss after Mori Ougai stepped down.

However, one day, the next boss, on whom such high hopes were placed, defected.

He not only betrayed the Port Mafia, but also joined its arch-enemy—the Armed Detective Agency.

If it were anyone else, Mori Ōgai would have already sent assassins to execute the traitor, but Dazai Osamu's identity was too special, and the Port Mafia could not afford the cost of killing him.

Therefore, as the only one who betrayed the organization yet lived a vibrant life, he enjoyed his second life right under the nose of the Port Mafia.

However, regardless of the circumstances, Dazai Osamu was indeed the only person who knew that Mori Ougai had assassinated the previous Boss.

That day, that room, that blood-stained wall.

And the only man standing beside her, Osamu Dazai.

There could never be anyone else who knew this secret besides the two of them.

If a third party finds out, it can only mean one thing.

Dazai Osamu leaked the secret.

“No, I know this secret not because Dazai Osamu told me,” Tokisaki Kurumi said, denying Mori Ougai’s conjecture, “but because my own abilities told me.”

"What are your abilities?"

"That's right, I should say it's one of my abilities."

Kurumi Tokisaki raised her hand, and a short flintlock pistol appeared in her hand.

Alice, who was on guard nearby, assumed an attacking stance, but Mori Ougai gestured for her not to make any rash moves.

Kurumi Tokisaki has two flintlock muskets, which are formed from the hour and minute hands of her clock angel, Zafkiel. The long flintlock musket, symbolizing the minute hand, is her main weapon for attack, while the short flintlock musket, symbolizing the hour hand, is the weapon she uses to activate Zafkiel's twelve abilities.

Among them, the Tenth Bullet's ability is to convey the target's past memories.

Playing with the exquisite, classic flintlock pistol in her hand, Kurumi Tokisaki briefly explained, "One of my abilities is to convey the past memories of the target I hit. You can think of it as the ability to read memories. In other words, I can obtain the past memories of people and objects by hitting them."

"I see. So that's how you learned my secret." Mori Ougai accepted this explanation for the time being, and could only sigh helplessly, "Even though I was fully prepared, something still went wrong. There are just too many uncertainties in this world."

Kurumi Tokisaki was not lying about her abilities; the Tenth Bullet's ability is indeed to read memories.

However, the reason she knew Mori Ōgai's deepest secret was not because of the Tenth Bullet.

It's because she's a time traveler.

Having read Bungo Stray Dogs gives them an intelligence advantage.

But she could never tell anyone the real reason.

Regardless of whether Mori Ougai would believe it, if he did, then side quest three would be a complete failure.

Therefore, using the tenth bullet as an excuse is the best choice.

"So, you've brought my secret into the Port Mafia; I'm sure it wasn't just for a simple visit."

Mori Ougai was slightly frustrated, but he quickly adjusted his mindset, remaining calm and wise.

He has done everything he could to keep this secret.

Even if the news still leaked, it wasn't his fault.

"Please rest assured, Mr. Mori, I have no hostility whatsoever," Kurumi Tokisaki said amicably. "On the contrary, I have come with goodwill."

"To be honest, I don't care whether you come with good intentions or bad intentions."

Mori Ōgai stared at the girl before him, as if trying to see the color of her soul.

"What I care about is your purpose in coming here, Miss Stranger. What brings you here?"

Chapter Five: Outwitting and Outmaneuvering the Mafia

Kurumi Tokisaki's intentions were simple.

Of the three supernatural organizations in Yokohama—the Special Ability Agency, the Armed Detective Agency, and the Port Mafia—only the Port Mafia is the most suitable for her.

That's why she came here.

However, this reason cannot be stated directly.

why?

Imagine this scenario.

You are a gang leader with a dark secret. One day, someone suddenly finds you and clearly tells you your biggest secret.

When you ask her why she came, she says she wants to contribute to the organization.

Would you believe it?

Of course not.

Anyone's first reaction would be that this guy is definitely up to something, and joining the organization can't be anything good.

Therefore, Tokisaki Kurumi cannot directly tell Mori Ōgai her true intentions.

As a lady, one should still be a little reserved.

Even in the original work, when she first met Itsuka Shido, she didn't say "I want to eat you" right away. She at least approached him as a transfer student first, right?

If you want something from someone without arousing their suspicion, you must never tell them what you want. Instead, you must hide what you want in other desires.

It's like falsifying accounts, listing countless tedious, bloated, and meaningless data just to cover up the most crucial one.

Faced with Mori Ōgai's questioning, Tokisaki Kurumi parted her lips slightly and revealed the false purpose she had fabricated.

“I want the Port Mafia to provide me with identification documents, other documents required in this country, and a large amount of cash.”

"Oh? It sounds like you've only been in this country for a short time, and you definitely didn't come through legal means." Mori Ougai showed some interest. "Are you a foreign superhuman?"

“You can think of it this way,” Kurumi Tokisaki replied. “For certain reasons, I had to leave my hometown and start over in a foreign country, which is why I need the Port Mafia’s help.”

"Of course, no problem. It's a small matter for us."

Mori Ougai rummaged through the drawer of his desk and pulled out a form that looked like a resume. He handed it to Tokisaki Kurumi: "I'll have someone from the organization planted in the government arrange a new identity for you. Just tell me some basic information that you're willing to fill in. I don't think you'd want me to help you choose a name."

Kurumi Tokisaki took the form and began filling in the information.

She filled in most of her personal information as usual.

However, things like age are fine as long as she stays sixteen. Whether the other person believes her or not is not a problem for Tokisaki Kurumi.

After filling in her personal information, she returned the form to Mori Ougai.

"Well then, Ms. Tokisaki Kurumi," Mori Ougai glanced at her personal information, "please come tomorrow morning to collect your new identity. Professionals will complete your background information, so you don't need to worry about that. As for the cash, is 10,000 yen enough?"

"That's enough, thank you for your generosity."

"Well then, I've done my job. I hope Ms. Tokisaki will keep her mouth shut and not tell any more people secrets that shouldn't be revealed," Mori Ougai said calmly. "If some people in the organization hear about this, I'll be in big trouble."