Chapter 66
"Why isn't this a pretty goldfish?"
Ranpo, seeing Chuuya's slightly disappointed expression, said matter-of-factly, "I say he is, so he is. Hmph, does that mean there has to be sea bream in taiyaki? That doesn't make sense, does it?"
"…………"
The words that Nakahara Chuuya was about to say suddenly caught in his throat, and he found that he seemed unable to refute them.
Ye Yihe, who was listening in: ... (teasingly)
The sentence structure was so familiar; he could rattle off a whole bunch of them instantly.
But this isn't the time to discuss whether Ranpo, no, Mr. Rimbaud, is a pretty goldfish. "Isn't Ranpo worried that I'll arrest him and hand him over to the Special Abilities Division?"
—Ye Yihe scrutinized Lanbo for a while, then turned his gaze to Ranpo, who, although speaking confidently to Chuuya, clearly looked very guilty.
Compared to Rimbaud, who was pale and brooding, Ranpo was practically picking his fingers; he rubbed the floor with the sole of his shoe, and his reply became hesitant and stammering.
"Well, I can't really say whether I'm worried or not... After all, you did a good thing, eliminating a criminal organization and such. You probably wouldn't want me to hide any survivors, right? So, rather than waiting for you to come back and find out and get angry with me, I'd rather tell you in advance..."
"But, considering how badly he was injured before and still forced himself to save me, well, I'll definitely be biased, just a tiny bit, only a tiny bit..."
Ye Yihe couldn't help but chuckle.
It's clear that this famous detective is really racking his brains trying to figure out what to do.
Ranpo, having grown up being pampered by his parents, tends to act more according to his own desires than to the opinions of others. For him to change his actions because he cares about their opinions is a remarkable breakthrough.
The president used to worry a lot about him.
"Do you think of me as some kind of supremely virtuous person who deeply abhors evil and cannot tolerate even the slightest injustice?"
Ye Yihe shook his head with a smile, "I am actually selfish and biased. The starting point for doing those things was not based on any sense of justice or morality."
It's just to do good deeds and earn some points.
Even his past experiences in his own world would never earn him a compliment like "good person".
Concealed by the cloak, Ye Yihe slowly clenched his right fist and then gently released it.
He didn't think there was anything wrong with it.
"In short, as long as Mr. Lantang doesn't intend to harm you, I won't specifically hand him over to the Special Abilities Division," Ye Yihe said to Ranpo.
On another note... is there really a way to transfer this? This person is one of only a few dozen in the world according to the farming commander's intelligence, right?
Ye Yihe certainly wouldn't underestimate the combat strength of such a high-ranking superhuman selected through genuine merit.
Despite his current serious injuries and weakness, Mr. Rimbaud might still be able to turn the tables in a fight.
“I see, um, in that case… Rando,”
—The moment Ranpo heard that he didn't need to worry about it anymore, his features, which had been almost squeezed together, immediately relaxed completely. He happily called out to Ranpo and gave him a proud thumbs-up in the direction Ranpo was looking.
"Did you hear that? My problem is solved! So you'll definitely stay, right? We agreed!"
Ye Yihe: "...Hmm?"
Stay?
"You're planning to have him join the detective agency?" he couldn't help but ask Ranpo. "Will the president agree?"
Speaking of which, did that president know that Ranpo had helped him collect information on the Port Mafia organization...?
"It's alright, it's alright. The president doesn't know that Rando was ever in the port mafia."
Ranpo stared with his clear, bright dark green eyes, his expression utterly innocent. "He's currently worrying with Natsume-sensei about what to do with that unfinished 'Three-Part Concept,' so he won't delve too deeply into it—besides, Randou is the great benefactor who saved my life!"
...It seems that the president of the company is unaware of this.
"I don't object to your plans... but do you know how much of his memory he's lost?"
Ye Yihe tentatively asked Ranbu in a low voice, but Ranbu clearly didn't know either, and just shook his head.
Instead, it was Lantang who heard these words. His dark golden eyes blinked slowly. "My earliest memory," he said in a low and clear voice, with a slight tremor in his voice, "was more than five years ago, when I was wandering the streets of Yokohama."
Ye Yihe listened quietly, while quickly calculating in his mind and finding that it matched the earliest time of Rimbaud's disappearance.
"After that, the port mafia took me in... but to say they took me in was just to use me as the lowest-ranking member," Randou said slowly, seemingly trying to recall something. "Although I have superpowers, I wasn't well-regarded and could only do dangerous jobs without any support."
"If I weren't a superhuman, or if I were a little unlucky... I might have already died in the battle with other organizations."
Aside from the indiscriminate massacre of ordinary residents of opposing organizations, the Port Mafia must also constantly compete with other organizations for territory and resources in order to maintain its leading position, making conflicts a natural occurrence.
Not to mention that the leader was an extremely cruel tyrant who had no concept of peaceful means such as cooperation, alliance, or sharing profits; his mind was filled only with savage and relentless devouring.
Fortunately, the old man was already completely cold.
The farming officer in charge of cleaning up the mess said that the leader was lying on the bed, covered in bullet holes and knife wounds, with almost every weapon used in the attack being a different one—it was unknown how many people had sneaked in to take their revenge on him during the chaos.
In short, apart from the surge in Ye Yihe's resurrection points, it is estimated that the happiness index of all Yokohama residents has also increased significantly.
Finally, we no longer have to worry about water sources being poisoned for no reason, being executed for complaining, being unjustly blamed because of a similar appearance, or being so unlucky as to be hit by a stray bullet while collecting laundry on the balcony.
Although there are other organizations... they have all been too scared to show their faces lately, and Yokohama has finally enjoyed an unprecedented period of calm—even if it is only for a short time.
"What...you're so capable, and you're still just a low-level employee?"
Ranpo could hardly believe it, so he dragged out a long, rising note at the end.
“After all, I have amnesia, my origins are unknown, and I’m a foreigner.” Rimbaud nodded slightly. “The organization would never accept me, let alone give me an important position.”
Exclusionary tendencies exist everywhere, especially since that leader was inherently suspicious.
Ranpo frowned, his lips twitching. "So, you were injured because..."
"Yes, they suspect I've colluded with enemies from other organizations."
When Rimbaud said these words, his face showed no emotion, and even his voice was calm.
"Then I was surrounded and attacked, and after being injured, I was infected with a viral superpower... I finally managed to escape with great difficulty."
Rimbaud spoke of these few words lightly, but Yeikh could imagine how dangerous the situation must have been.
Although Pushkin's viral ability is slow to take effect, during the 48-hour onset period, the virus host will experience physiological reactions such as high fever, dizziness, and weakness in the limbs, making it very difficult to use the ability.
Ye Yihe guessed that the reason Lanbo was able to escape unscathed in the end was most likely because during the virus's incubation period, his other virus host was killed by someone, which triggered the power-dispelling mechanism and saved his life.
“I see,” Ye Yihe nodded thoughtfully. “So you still haven’t regained your memories, or you could say you’ve become homeless again.”
"……Um."
After a brief silence, Lantang agreed to the statement.
"Then it makes perfect sense for me to invite Ranpo to join the Armed Detective Agency," Ranpo puffed out his cheeks. "Someone who would risk their life to help others even when they are in dire straits can't be a truly heinous criminal! At least he's acceptable to me!"
"The president will definitely approve his application to join the company!"
In the unusually quiet fourth floor, Ranbu raised his fist and delivered his last words with fierce determination and unwavering resolve.
"Whose membership application have you accepted?"
A low, slightly confused voice came from outside the door—or rather, from behind Ranpo.
In that instant, Ye Yihe watched as Ranbu's fur nearly stood on end.
Like a cat that gets so scared by a cucumber that it jumps on the spot.
He almost laughed.
No, Ranpo, his confident demeanor from just a moment ago has vanished instantly...
Why did you come back?
Ranpo turned around, his eyes wide, and even preemptively questioned the person opposite him.
With his hands tucked into the sleeves of his kimono, the club president, returning from Natsume-sensei's place, was completely bewildered by the questions he was being asked.
What? Shouldn't he be back by now?
“I came back after we finished talking,” he cleared his throat slightly, his gaze lingering briefly on Ye Yihe, Chuuya, and Lantang. “I think it’s you who should explain the current situation to me.”
Hopefully, it won't be a plot point that makes his stomach hurt... Behind his composed expression, the president sighed silently in his heart.
Ranpo: "…………"
Although reluctant, the detective, caught red-handed, honestly confessed what happened to Rando.
But he still only talked about Ranpo's affairs. Ranpo cleverly concealed the fact that Ranpo helped collect information and that Ye Yihe was the biggest instigator in destroying the port's Mafia.
It's not that he's unwilling to talk about it, but the president, overwhelmed by information, would definitely be so angry he'd vomit blood and collapse! He's doing this for the president's health!
Even with only a third of the story, it was enough to plunge the president into a long silence.
He clearly hadn't expected that this troublesome little black cat would, in the blink of an eye, bring back a dangerous and mysterious beautiful goldfish, and even plan to take it in at the detective agency.
“The detective agency is short-handed,” Ranpo counted on his fingers for him. “The only full-time employees are you, me, and Akiko. We’ll be overwhelmed if the workload gets even a little bit heavy, right? Randou can help out. He’s a very powerful esper too!”
“That’s definitely a very powerful superhuman.” Ye Yihe nodded in agreement.
It just so happens that he can't call Verlaine over right now, so it wouldn't be bad if Rimbaud were willing to stay at the detective agency for a while.
After hearing Ranpo's request, the president closed his eyes, wanting to ponder for a moment—while also listening to Ranpo babbling in his ear for a while—unable to concentrate due to the noise—and finally opened his eyes in exasperation, "I understand."
“I will conduct a qualification test,” the president declared definitively. “If he passes, he can join the detective agency.”
"A test..."
Rimbaud spoke softly, pulling the blanket tighter around himself with the hand that wasn't holding the book, "It would be terrible if it were too difficult... I'll try my best. But until then..."
The president let out a questioning sound from his nose.
"Could you please give me another blanket...?"
Rimbaud exhaled softly, as if trying to warm his hands in the cold winter. "I'm sorry... even though I'm basking in the sun, it's still not enough. My body is almost frozen..."
"I'll go get it for you!"
Perhaps worried that the president would continue to press him, Ranpo immediately slipped away.
The president and Ye Yihe were left looking at each other in bewilderment.
Part of it was confusion about today's body temperature, and another part was... "I remember you," the president began, "you were in that theater back then..."
The innocent victims of the "Angel Killer" incident were arrested and detained after their identities were discovered to be illegally crossing the border during an identity check.
“It’s me,” Ye Yihe said, pleased that the other person remembered. “I was planning to visit you last time, but you weren’t here.”
Looking back now, I'm so glad I didn't visit him—this president supports the [Sanke Concept], after all. If he had found out… cough, I would have been doomed.
As he spoke, his gaze drifted downwards, and he noticed that the club president had a sword tucked into his waistband.
The last time I saw him, he didn't have this sword... So he wasn't a master of physical combat, but a master of swordsmanship?
"Looking at this?" The president noticed Ye Yihe's gaze but did not look away. Instead, he drew the sword from his waist. "It's just a wooden sword. It's very useful for stunning criminals who are enraged after their truth has been exposed when you accompany Ranpo to work."
"Sometimes it can also deter the other party from making any rash moves, which is more intimidating than being empty-handed."
After all, some criminals, seeing that the criminals are unarmed, always feel that they can retaliate or take them hostage to threaten the police... Carrying a wooden sword would be much more effective, at least it would make some of them weigh the strength of both sides before considering whether to make a move.
The president held up the wooden sword and habitually swung it in an arc to show Ye Yihe, "It also helps prevent me from accidentally hitting too hard when I use a real sword."
After all, it takes years of honing one's skills through sword wielding and real combat. It's fine when you're unarmed, but the habits you develop when fighting with a sword are extremely difficult to change in a short time.
"I see……"
Ye Yihe nodded in realization. As he looked at the other person's familiar sword-raising gesture, a familiar scene flashed through his mind.
[Oh, so this is the Solzreuni!]
The familiar exclamation seemed to echo in his ears again.
When Fukuchi Sakura untied the cloth wrapped around the sword and held it up to her eyes to observe it, her posture was almost exactly the same as that of the president!
No doubt about it. If you recall the two people's habitual exertion and alert movements when they walk, they are exactly the same.
In other words, the fact that they could reach such a tacit understanding means that they definitely have a close relationship.
Ye Yihe even heard Fyodor make a low "hmm?" sound in his mind, clearly surprised by the discovery—Fyodor was always extremely perceptive when it came to observation.
However, since Fyodor had also noticed this, Ye Yihe decided to ask the president openly, "May I ask what your relationship is with that [Hero of the Far East] Fukuchi Sakura?"
"Genichiro?"
The president was surprised that Ye Yihe would suddenly bring him up. "He is a good friend I have known since childhood, and still is."
Ye Yihe suddenly realized.
Perhaps he has found someone who can stop Fukuchi Sakura's obsession.
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