Twenty-seven

If the situation were not so inappropriate at this very moment, Dazai Osamu would have honestly wanted to just throw in the towel and quit.

Ever since he was picked up by Mori Ogai at the age of fourteen, he had stepped into the darkest corners of this city. He had weathered countless storms, manipulated the King of Sheep, driven powerful ability users to their deaths, become the youngest executive of the Port Mafia at seventeen, and even managed to stay alive and kicking after defecting from the organization. It is no exaggeration to say that his life between the ages of fourteen and twenty was more absurd than some novels, with a record so complex that it took the Special Ability Department two years just to scrub it clean.

Yet, despite such a rich and dramatic life, he had never encountered anyone more absurd than Tsujitsu Tomie! Oh, and at this point, he couldn't even be sure if Tomie was human. As this thought crossed his mind, Dazai nearly lost his composure, reminded of another non-human entity. Do you non-humans all have such strange thought patterns? I don't quite understand your logic, but please, stay away from me.

Tsujitsu Tomie did not sense Dazai’s speechlessness in the slightest—or perhaps, he simply never considered what those around him thought. He did exactly as he pleased, arrogant, capricious, and overbearing.

"Did you hear me?" The handsome youth’s brows furrowed with displeasure, his pitch-black eyes fixed dangerously on the two men.

Dazai endured it, but finally, through gritted teeth, he spoke, "I apologize, but I am not interested in adult males who are taller than me!"

Munakata Reisi adjusted his glasses, a flash of light reflecting off the lenses. "So, Dazai-san, does that mean you would be open to an adult male shorter than you?"

Dazai choked, his russet eyes darkening as he looked at Munakata. "Captain, if you have the leisure to concern yourself with my romantic life at a time like this, it seems you are quite confident in dealing with the 'Dragon'."

"Merely curiosity. It seems I spoke out of turn." Munakata shrugged, brushing the topic aside with a light touch. He hadn't intended to provoke Dazai; it was just that this man’s voice sounded somewhat like Fushimi’s, and he had been unable to resist a bit of mischievous teasing. However... Munakata glanced at Dazai from behind his lenses, a meaningful smile curling his lips. While it was just a jest, Dazai's reaction reminded him of the 'rumors' he had previously investigated.

"Tsujitsu? You're here. Are you alright?"

As the atmosphere grew rigid, Fushimi Saruhiko finally arrived with Suo Akira.

"Suo-sensei!" The youth, who had been so haughty just moments before, cheered with delight. Suo Akira steadied Tsujitsu Tomie as he stumbled toward him, looking the boy over carefully. Seeing no injuries, it seemed he was fine.

"It was so terrifying, Suo-sensei, woo-woo-woo! There were so many strange people chasing me, I was so scared, and that monster, woo-woo-woo-woo-woo." Tomie threw himself into Suo Akira's arms, weeping pitifully. As he cried, he filed his complaints, his helpless, aggrieved appearance enough to stir pity and affection in anyone.

Most people would have been outraged, clamoring to protect Tomie and seek revenge for him. However, of the four present, three had iron wills and were well aware of Tomie's demonic charm, while the fourth was entirely immune to it.

The 'staunchly straight' Suo Akira, entirely unmoved, gave Tomie a perfunctory pat on the back for comfort before setting the still-sobbing boy aside to approach Munakata Reisi. Tomie, tears still on his face, stared at Suo’s retreating back in disbelief, barely maintaining his composure.

Dazai, who had felt a chill down his spine watching Tomie pretend to be pitiful, couldn't help but laugh out loud at this scene. He was immediately met with a blank, terrifyingly sinister gaze from Tomie.

Dazai shrugged innocently and said to Suo, "Suo-san, Tomie-kun is crying, you know. Aren't you going to comfort him?"

Suo Akira glanced back at the pathetic-looking Tomie, then turned away coldly. "It’s fine. Don't worry about him, Dazai-san. The matter of the 'Dragon' is more important. I believe Tomie will understand."

Tomie, who had been about to throw a tantrum, swallowed his words upon hearing that last sentence. His expression became incredibly twisted and grim, a sight that earned him Dazai’s newfound respect for Suo.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, King of Colorless, Suo Akira." Munakata Reisi shook Suo’s hand politely. Suo nodded. "Blue King, we can save other talk for later. Fushimi has already told me the cause of this anomaly. Do you have a good solution?"

Suo had no intention of making small talk. Reason told him that Munakata must have a backup plan if he were so relaxed, but the thought of the lives of every person in Yokohama entering a countdown made it impossible for him to stay calm.

Dazai stroked his chin, a dark glint passing through his russet eyes. Beside him, Fushimi Saruhiko clicked his tongue softly upon seeing this. The King of Colorless was still too impatient; worst of all, Dazai had noticed it. Fushimi could already foresee the difficult position the King of Colorless would face in Yokohama.

At the very least, he would be led by the nose by Dazai or the Port Mafia’s boss, Mori Ogai, for some time. The Colorless King’s character and temperament were already among the top tier, but compared to black-hearted figures like Dazai and Mori, he was still too naive.

Furthermore, Scepter 4 would not be able to justify helping the Colorless King openly. Yokohama was an exclusionary place; both the Special Ability Department and the Port Mafia operated on the principle that even if their own house were in ruins, they would not let others benefit from it. If Scepter 4 were to intervene forcefully, Fushimi had no doubt that the Special Ability Department would seize the opportunity to stir up trouble with the government, putting Scepter 4 in an even worse spot.

Munakata, naturally, understood what Fushimi was thinking. He picked up where Suo left off with tacit understanding. "Do not worry about that. I can take responsibility for defeating the 'Dragon,' though I am afraid I will have no time to attend to other matters then."

"Many ability users have been pulled into the Dragon’s Eye. They are likely scattered everywhere now. I will trouble you to ensure their safety, Your Excellency."

Munakata did not mention that the 'Dragon' was merely the external manifestation of the anomaly. Only after the Dragon was fully defeated would the true nature of the anomaly be revealed. However, as long as a massive monster like the 'Dragon' was dealt with, the revealed anomaly, 'Shibusawa Tatsuhiko,' would be relatively easier to handle.

Hearing this, Suo Akira finally breathed a sigh of relief. His emerald eyes glowed faintly, as striking as crystal. "I will take over the protection of those ability users."

Pale flames fell to the earth, instantly forming a chain of fire across the ground. The tiny flames barely reached a person's ankles and looked entirely harmless.

"Wow." Dazai crouched down, reaching out to tentatively touch the fire. It had no temperature and no tactile sensation; his fingers passed through the flames as if through nothingness.

Wherever the flames reached, Suo Akira could sense the breath of the living and the souls of the departed. He awakened the souls and used the fire to guide them to protect the surviving ability users.

Seeing this, Munakata Reisi withdrew the power protecting the lives within the Dragon’s Eye. His gentle, noble aura suddenly turned sharp, and the Blue Sword in the sky seemed to sense it, bursting into brilliance.

"With sword, we rule with sword; our cause is clear, without a shadow."