Chuuya hates it the most

"Co-eating."

Mori Ougai twirled the scalpel in his hand, his expression somber.

"Just like the news that Dazai-kun brought back, it will devour life force, and whether one can regain consciousness is another matter."

Meanwhile, in the detective agency's ward, Dazai, who had been shot, sat pale on the hospital bed with a smirk on his lips. How interesting, Mori-sensei and the club president, huh?

Ranpo put on his glasses, opened his eyes, and a glint of light flashed across his face.

"The outside is surrounded by the Mafia, what should we do?"

Atsushi Nakajima glanced out the window, then immediately pulled his head back in. A bullet then pierced the glass and entered the room.

"Let's retreat first, leave one person to hold them off, and wait for Mr. Ranpo to figure something out. Let's go!"

Kunikida gritted his teeth and made a decision; dragging things out like this was truly troublesome.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief after boarding the bus through the back door. Atsushi Nakajima, unable to contain his impatience, looked directly at Ranpo, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

"None of you are allowed to carry out assassinations against the Mafia this time. Try to avoid direct confrontation with the Mafia. The main objective is to find the person behind the superpowers. This trouble is not as simple as it seems on the surface. I need more information."

As Ranpo spoke, everyone's attention focused on him. In the end, Kunikida still couldn't understand and asked a question.

"But even if we don't take action, the mafia will definitely target the boss. The only options are to deal with the person using superpowers or kill the other person."

Ranpo was silent for a moment, then slowly exhaled and opened his eyes.

"The Mafia's intelligence is a smokescreen. The actual person affected is not Mori Ougai. If we were to assassinate him, we would be walking into a trap. So I need more intelligence. Once we determine who the other person is, we must remain still. If the worst-case scenario is that we have to find that superhuman and force him to cancel his superpowers."

"What?!"

Several gasps of surprise rang out in the carriage; no one had expected the situation to take such a dramatic turn.

"Why would they spread false information? And who is the one who is truly hurt?"

No one expected things to develop in such a surreal way. Now their only goal was gone, and the situation had become unclear. Ranpo's expression was also very unpleasant.

"In short, I need more intelligence. Gu Qi needs help. The Special Service should have the information I need, but there's one more thing I need to confirm personally. I'll inform Dazai. We need to split up."

“I’m very familiar with the terrain around the Mafia area, I’m going to rescue them.”

As Ranpo finished speaking, Kyoka stepped forward first, leaving all the follow-up arrangements to Kunikida, while Ranpo fiddled with his phone, seemingly sending some messages.

Chuuya's awake!

[Oh my god, this is completely off-topic! Only Dazai doesn't know that it was Naka who was injured!]

"Chuuya-kun, you're finally awake! Much faster than I expected!"

Sitting next to the hospital bed, Mori Ougai smiled, while Chuuya propped himself up and rubbed his temples with one hand.

"What's wrong with me, Chief?"

"You got tricked by a rat, Chuuya-kun."

Chuuya vaguely recalled some things that happened before he fell into a coma, and raised his injured left hand, where a pattern was clearly visible.

"This is?"

"Hypostasis~ If the other person isn't dealt with, they'll both die the day after tomorrow."

Chuuya's pupils contracted, while Mori Ougai continued speaking beside him.

"Is there really no other way?"

"Yes, this is Pushkin's special ability. Unless we find him and let him cancel it himself, or Dazai-kun encounters the person who activated the ability and eliminates it."

However, judging from Nakaya's current state, it seems the impact isn't too significant, but the other person affected is the detective agency president.

"Now that Chuuya-kun has woken up, I'd like to ask him for a favor. Although I feel that the other side may have already seen through the fake news, Chuuya can still go and wander around. You don't need to do anything, just attract some attention, and leave the rest to me."

Mori Ougai suddenly smiled, but it sent chills down one's spine.

A master at exploiting employees.

[I have a feeling that Chief Mori is plotting something wicked.]

However, both sides understand that only by finding Pushkin can Mr. Natsume stop them from killing each other like this.

"No problem, I've been lying down for too long and need to go out and move around."

Chuuya got up from the hospital bed. Apart from being a little pale, he looked the same as usual.

After leaving the headquarters, Mori Ougai turned on his phone and made a call.

After the call ended, Hongye, who had entered the room at some unknown time, spoke softly.

"Is it alright to just tell Dazai directly like this?"

"It's alright, I'll leave Chuuya-kun to Dazai-kun from now on. I also need to go and find people for my subordinates."

Dazai, who had just hung up the phone, glanced at the messages on his phone, hurriedly got up, pulled out the needle from his hand, put on his clothes, and went out.

[I'm waiting for Dazai here.]

[When Chuuya woke up, Chief Mori told Dazai that he was afraid Dazai would come and blow up headquarters.]

[Isn't it the most annoying thing? Neither of you are honest.]

Not long after leaving the headquarters, Zhong encountered an unexpected person.

"A famous detective?"

"So it really is you, Hat Guy, the other person with superpowers."

The moment Ranpo saw Chuuya in person, he was certain of everything, and a confident smile appeared on his lips.

What do you want to do?

Chuuya showed more patience towards this ordinary detective without any special abilities.

“I didn’t mean anything by this, Hat-kun. It’s just that the other person who got infected was the president. I had a feeling that if you were the one who got infected, we would only have the last option left: to find Pushkin.”

"Why? Couldn't killing someone else also solve the problem?"

Upon hearing Ranpo's words, Chuuya asked a sincere question. Ranpo was clearly stunned for a moment, then revealed a sullen expression.

“Hat Guy, all of us in our detective agency combined might not be enough to warm you up. Besides, if we kill you, the trouble that follows will be much more complicated than finding someone now, and I hate trouble.”

[Ranpo: Don't you have any idea what your own abilities are?]

[If Xiao Zhong dies, let's not even talk about whether the person in the basement will go crazy, someone in their detective agency alone will go crazy, don't you think, Dazai?]

[Yokohama at that time: Big brother, please don't kill me!]

So, what brings you here this time?

"Of course, it's so I can stay with you first, Hat Guy."

Finally, Ranpo got to the point, a glint of light flashing in his eyes behind his glasses.

"You? Do you think that's possible?"

It's not that Chuuya looks down on Ranpo; he still values ​​Ranpo, who is considered one of the script team's famous detectives. However, in terms of physical combat, even though his body is somewhat weakened due to the Co-evolution, Chuuya, even in his current weakened state, could still defeat ten Ranpos without using his special abilities.

"Of course it's not just me, and of course you're not the only one we need to hold off."

As Ranpo finished speaking, hurried footsteps could be heard in the distance. Chuuya looked in the direction of the sound and saw Dazai rushing over.

Chuuya subconsciously reached out to support Dazai, whose face was pale, whose breathing was rapid, and whose forehead was covered in cold sweat. Dazai leaned against Chuuya.

"You're injured."

"Yes, it's all Chuuya's fault. What a coincidence, Ranpo-san..."

Chuuya used a declarative sentence, and Dazai's soft voice floated over from his shoulder. As if he had suddenly noticed Ranpo standing to the side, Dazai slowly added a sentence afterward.

[Men who know how to be charming have the best lives; Dazai looks so charming!]

"As expected, everything is developing as predicted. The relationship between the two of you is indeed extraordinary. Fortunately, we included Dazai-kun in our calculations from the beginning."

"What nonsense are you thinking, Mr. Ranpo? I need to remind you that if something happens to Chuuya, things will only get more complicated. I came here to protect this city."

Dazai's smile vanished, and he spoke with a serious expression.

"Why would Dazai-kun think that way? I still really like Hat-kun. So, do you guys like mystery novels?"

This abrupt and incomplete statement startled Chuuya, but Ranpo didn't give them time to react.

Chuuya: "What?"

"Special abilities are useless against me, Mr. Ranpo, have you forgotten?"

Unlike Chuuya's bewilderment, Dazai remained calm.

"Yes, that's why the famous detective said from the beginning that he included Dazai-san in the calculations."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ranpo threw the book in his hand forcefully in one direction, and a boy wearing a green suit jacket walked by.

Because Ranpo's direction was so erratic, Chuuya didn't even have the desire to dodge. He just watched helplessly as the book hit the passerby, not noticing the smile on Ranpo's lips.

The moment the man in the suit was hit, he immediately fainted. Dazai was stunned for two seconds, then his expression changed drastically. Oh no!

[Isn't that Mushitaro?]

[You included Dazai in your calculations from the very beginning; that shows foresight.]

When Chuuya saw someone in the comments call out the name of that passerby, he already felt something was wrong. The people in the comments were not simple characters. But by the time he realized this, it was too late. The book that was scattered in the room suddenly emitted a blinding light. A white light flashed, and Chuuya and Dazai disappeared.

"Enjoy the story of the perfect crime novel. I'll handle the symbiotic relationship smoothly. I hope you can make it to the celebration banquet."

"It's a singularity. That passerby's ability and this ability created a singularity. Seriously, we were tricked by Mr. Ranpo."

Dazai slammed his fist on the ground with a grim expression, and the surrounding environment had changed drastically.

His ability can only neutralize a single ability, but he has absolutely no way to deal with singularities like this.

Whether Ranpo opened it or not, he knows perfectly well.

[Ranpo: If it's not off, then it's on, right?]

[Mushitaro's ability is to commit the perfect crime, automatically erasing all traces of his crimes. If it were Chuuya alone, he would be in deep trouble. However, there's also the brainpower team, Dazai. I wonder how long it will take them to solve this.]

[If Chuuya gets into trouble, Dazai will definitely upset everyone. Ranpo: What's all this nonsense? Ban them all, deal with it first, then release them. It's not a big deal.]

Chuuya gained a new understanding of the script team once again. Wasn't he cheating? Why were some people so powerful even without superpowers?

“I know that person. His superpower is the perfect crime, which can destroy evidence to achieve the effect of the perfect crime.”

Chuuya also revealed the information he learned from the comments. Although he was unhappy about being locked up with this guy, he had to admit that this guy was quite reliable when it came to things that required his brain.

Thinking about what happened last time, Chuuya looked away and suddenly felt a little awkward.

"Ah, is that so? But I'm injured, my head hurts so much, I can't think of anything, what should I do, Chuuya?"

"You'd better do that."

Dazai suddenly clutched his forehead, looking sickly as he leaned against Chuuya. Hearing Dazai's words, Chuuya was speechless. This guy was at it again.

[Haha, Dazai's acting is so cool!]

[Dazai: I'm weak and injured, but Chuu will protect me, right?]

Why does a wound on the abdomen cause a headache?

"To find 500 murderers, if we wrongly accuse one person, we have to start all over again. Each time, the faces will change, and all the evidence of the crime will be hidden. Mr. Ranpo has really gone to great lengths to trap us."

Chuuya: "This is absolutely impossible, isn't it? It's simply impossible to accomplish."

"Then we'll just stay trapped here. Anyway, we don't know if we can get rid of Chuuya's symbiotic illness. It's not so bad to just die here like this."

"You do have some trust in your comrades outside!"

Chuuya looked helpless. It was safer here. No one outside could hurt him. The famous detective was obviously very confident in locking him up. Dazai, who was usually calm, was unusually anxious this time.

Surely he can't be worried about losing his job if the detective agency goes bankrupt after the president dies, right? In that case, I might reluctantly take this guy in.

"What if it can't be resolved? What if something unexpected happens?"

Like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, Dazai suddenly raised his head and stared intently at Chuuya, his eyes reddening. His expression seemed to want to devour Chuuya whole. Chuuya was stunned for a moment. Was he worried about him?

"Dazai, are you actually concerned about me now?"

Chuuya thought this and asked it out loud, and Dazai's expression froze as if he suddenly realized how overtly he was showing his emotions. In an instant, he immediately returned to his previous expression, but he couldn't laugh. His expression was gloomy, and his gaze was still fixed on Chuuya.

"Huh? You've become even more narcissistic these past few years. I wouldn't care about a little slug who doesn't even care about his own body!"

"Huh? You damn mackerel!"

Chuuya was also provoked by Dazai's words and instantly jumped up and down, throwing his previous guesses to the back of his mind. He realized that he had indeed been affected by this superpower and actually thought that Dazai would worry about him. If he really died, this guy would probably want to pop open champagne to celebrate.

【Chuuya, I hate that you're such a blockhead】

[Dazai is genuinely worried this time. Although he knows Chuuya will be fine, he's trapped again, and Chuuya just doesn't seem to care.]

[It's so rare for Dazai to be so emotional, yet Chuuya noticed it all, but Dazai dismissed Chuuya with just a few words. He really knows Chuuya too well; I don't even know how to ship them anymore.]

This is so Dazai-esque.

After saying that, Dazai walked forward alone with his head down, while Chuuya followed behind, glancing at the comments on the screen.

I'm clearly not a blockhead; if I had to say, I'd say I'm Araha-toku.

So you didn't say anything wrong, it's just that guy who stubbornly refuses to admit it, right? There's nothing shameful about that.

In the end, Chuuya agreed with the comments in the live chat, saying that this was indeed very Dazai-like. He used to act like this whenever he was sulking when they were partners. However, his mood inexplicably improved, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

"Has Zhong also evolved from a slug into a tagalong? Can you please stop following me?"

"Who's following you! That's obviously the place with the most people, right? Even though all the evidence has been erased, we still need to gather intelligence; it's just something we did along the way."

Dazai's muffled voice came from ahead, and Chuuya retorted from behind. Dazai fell silent again, and the two walked slowly in silence. Every now and then, Dazai would say a few meaningless words, and Chuuya would always retort, creating a strangely harmonious atmosphere.

"I hate Chuuya the most."

"What a coincidence, I hate you the most too."

"Chuuya, you should just die already."

"Then I'll kill you before I die."

Gradually, the two went from following one after the other to walking side by side with a distance between them, and finally to walking side by side.

Is this the arch-rival you were talking about?

This is exactly like a boyfriend who doesn't know how to talk trying to appease his angry girlfriend.

I don't know, but I certainly wouldn't walk side-by-side with someone I dislike.

[Taiwanese Central University is still too authoritative]