Chapter 87
087 - "Everyone in the world is a beast tamer"
Beside a river in Yokohama, a boy dressed in tattered clothes that were practically just a strip of cloth, and so weak that he seemed on the verge of stopping breathing, collapsed on the riverbank.
Anyone watching this scene would probably think that this boy is about to leave this world.
Surprisingly, he slowly got up, looking like he was about to die. His expression was initially blank and helpless, but as he recalled the events, his expression gradually tightened.
Finally, as if he had made a decision, the boy looked ahead with a determined gaze.
At that moment, a person drowning headfirst floated by in the river. (Image)
The boy's imposing aura vanished instantly, leaving him bewildered and confused.
Then, the boy's gaze unconsciously followed the drowning person (who was headfirst in the water).
The drowning person sank to the boy's bewildered gaze. Then, to the boy's even greater bewilderment, it floated back to life, startling a flock of water birds into flight.
"Hey hey hey!"
Realizing what had happened, the boy, Atsushi Nakajima, quickly jumped into the river and swam to the drowning man, desperately trying to pull him to shore.
I don’t know if it was just my imagination, but when I touched this person who had fallen into the water, Atsushi Nakajima inexplicably felt that he was much weaker.
However, Atsushi Nakajima, who was busy rescuing people, didn't pay any attention to it.
Atsushi, who was nearly starving, tried his best to save Dazai.
The boy, who had tried his best to save the drowning person, finally pulled them to safety. However, to his surprise, the person he rescued was not drowning—but had jumped into the river to commit suicide.
The result was that after saving someone, he was blamed instead, and because the person he saved had his wallet washed away, he almost didn't even get a meal.
It was almost a near miss because the drowning victim—Dazai Osamu's companion, Kunikida Doppo—arrived. And the rather reckless Dazai Osamu ultimately decided to use Kunikida Doppo's money to treat Nakajima Atsushi to a meal.
Then things took a more dramatic turn when Atsushi Nakajima casually asked Osamu Dazai and Doppo Kunikida why they had come out, and received an immediate answer.
They were hired by a state organization to search for the "tiger".
Nakajima, being chased by a tiger, has no ability to disguise himself, and tries to struggle. Atsushi: "Ah, I'm full. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
Then he was instantly exposed, and almost had one of his hands dislocated by Kunikida Doppo.
After being reluctantly threatened into revealing information and tempted by the bounty, he agreed to be bait and went with Dazai Osamu to find a place to ambush.
Kunikida Doppo, just in case, went back to the Armed Detective Agency to call for reinforcements to surround and intercept them.
After all, it's a very important task.
If Atsushi Nakajima hadn't been "Tiger," this story might have really developed into a battle between superpowered beings and ferocious beasts.
Rewind a bit, to the time when Atsushi Nakajima had just saved Osamu Dazai on the riverbank.
"This is such a hassle."
In the sky, Barry, who was rather perfunctorily draped in a dark blue cloth covering his entire body, held the edge of the cloth with one hand to avoid blocking his view, and held a military-grade high-powered telescope in the other hand. He clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.
"In the end, they still beat us to it... Really, if martial law hadn't been declared in the city, Pu Songling could have solved the problem on his own."
Barry bit his finger: "It just so happens to be 'No Longer Human.' It was a real miscalculation not to bring a gun when we came out."
Barry's fighting ability mainly comes from his supernatural powers. Aside from using his powers, Barry is probably only proficient with a small dagger.
"Exupé didn't come along, but even if he did, it wouldn't have made a difference. 'No Longer Human' is just too annoying."
Floating in mid-air, Barry pondered for a long time, even searching around for something he could use to smash someone, but in the end he had no choice but to give up.
Yokohama, a city where gunfire rages every day (not really), why isn't there even a single large piece of rubble?
Do modern-day Mafia gangs not use explosives in their fights anymore?
Barry, who was corrupted by Vladimir, did not realize that fighting against ordinary mafia members was the limit of what they could achieve by simply exchanging guns.
—Please ignore the lemon here.
Barry, who had rushed out to find Tiger before the Smile Merchants arrived, had to admit that he was still outmatched by the locals in terms of speed in finding people.
Draped under that perfunctory curtain, Barry picked up the walkie-talkie (which he and Vladimir had previously smashed but which Verne had finally repaired) as he flew and started shouting.
"Christie, this is terrible! The Detective Agency has found 'Tiger' ahead of time!"
"What should we do? Should we follow them and snatch the 'Tiger' back?"
Christie's voice remained calm, a stark contrast to Barry's loud shouting.
"There's no need. From the beginning, it was just a gamble. There's no need to go against the Armed Detective Agency for a mere 'Tiger.'"
"On the other hand, if the 'Tiger' is in our hands when the group arrives, it will actually become very troublesome."
“Oh yeah, and the group too.” Barry, who had already forgotten about it, scratched his head, glanced at Dazai Osamu lying on the ground, and asked, somewhat puzzled, “Then why did the Detective Agency take ‘Tiger’ back?”
"Hmm... because if we let Tiger roam around outside, he'll be caught by the group very soon, and then there'll be no point in luring the group here. But if official organizations like the ASA or Gakuen get involved, the group might not even bother to intervene and would try to resolve the issue through negotiation. So having the Armed Detective Agency, which is unofficial but has close ties to the government, take Tiger away is probably the best option—does that explanation make sense?"
Christie spoke a long passage quickly and with great emotion.
Barry, who hadn't heard Christie because she was speaking too fast, said, "Ah... I guess so, I understood more or less."
Christie chuckled lightly, clearly pleased with herself, "Afterwards, I guess this 'Tiger,' Atsushi Nakajima, will be recruited as a new member of the Armed Detective Agency. That way, with an official identity, Atsushi Nakajima can't be acquired through 'open' means."
Even though "Tiger" Atsushi Nakajima is a teenager, Christie's relaxed tone makes it sound like she's discussing a cheap item.
"Oh, I see. It seems like too much trouble, so I won't bother with the arrest."
Then Barry thought for a moment, and then added in a rather light and cheerful tone.
"Speaking of which, should we just take out 'Tiger'?"
"No, chaos isn't only to their advantage."
Barry tilted his head instinctively, and then, like an arrow released from a bow, he became a blurry silhouette as he streaked through the air.
Dazai Osamu, lying on the ground, looked up and squinted in the direction where Barry had been.
Barry's last words were uttered in the sky, leaving only a few syllables.
"It won't happen next time..."
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