"It's beyond my expectation..." Ishikawa Takuboku held three photos in his hand, all of which were old photos with yellowed corners.

He sighed like this, put away the photos in his hand, and said to Edogawa Ranpo: "It seems that my special ability is not enough to solve this matter."

When saying this, Ishikawa Takuboku raised his eyebrows slightly. Although he had an innocent and simple face, he showed a frivolous feeling because of this tiny movement.

This sentence can only deceive a blind man - although he said regretful words, Ishikawa Takuboku's expression was full of interest.

Since there is only one "blind man" here, it is natural to say who he said this to.

It's not that Shi Wu didn't notice the problem - no one can underestimate the intelligence and reasoning ability of "Ranpo Edogawa". Even if he can't see, Shi Wu can know much more than ordinary people.

However, because there is a system in his head, Shi Wu himself did not realize that his subconscious mind trusted the other party. The system said not to worry, so Shi Wu naturally didn't think that anyone could explore his memory.

... However, he himself didn't have any memories that could be seen by others.

Thinking of this, this situation has nothing to do with him at all. Shi Wu easily gave up the idea of ​​continuing to explore.

"If there is no other way, then there is no other way." Dazai Osamu said with a smile in his highly recognizable voice: "Come to think of it, Mr. Ishikawa came to the detective agency not only for this matter, right?"

"Oh, I was discovered." Ishikawa Takuboku clasped his hands together, slowed down his tone, and said softly: "Indeed, there is something important~"

Speaking of important things, Ishikawa Takuboku actually said some official news. It cannot be said that it is very important to the detective agency, but knowing it in advance, the detective agency also has time to prepare in advance.

This kind of boring stuff, Shi Wu lost interest after listening to one sentence, but he knew that Edogawa Ranpo would not leave directly in this situation - because Fukuzawa Yukichi was also present.

Ranpo Edogawa noticed that Shiwu was bored, turned around and asked, "How about letting Naomi take you to the rooftop? The weather is nice today."

Shiwu didn't say anything.

So Ranpo Edogawa said to him, "Trust me."

Naomi Tanizaki is a better member than his brother, even without supernatural powers. She easily sensed something from this brief conversation, and said with a smile, "Indeed, this kind of weather is really suitable for sunbathing."

"Mr. Ranpo?" She squinted her eyes and waited for a reply.

"I see." Shiwu stood up from the sofa slowly, and without anyone leading the way, he naturally walked to the door. Naomi Tanizaki, who was said to be the leader, stood behind Shiwu in this situation.

After the door was closed, the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed.

Edogawa Ranpo's cold green eyes met Ishikawa Takuboku's.

Ishikawa Takuboku smiled, and his overly soft facial features made it easy for him to wrap himself up in a gentle appearance.

"Is this the necessary condition for you to use your supernatural power?" In the blank eyes of Nakajima Atsushi, Edogawa Ranpo spoke coldly but directly.

"Well - you can say that." Ishikawa Takuboku put the three old photos neatly on the table.

The three bright colors occupied everyone's sight.

- Black. Red. White.

"Although I really want to hide my special ability..." Ishikawa Takuboku changed his sitting position, crossed his legs, rubbed his chin with one hand, and said with a bit of helplessness in his tone, "Mr. Ranpo's reasoning ability is really terrible."

"Okay, let me introduce it again."

"My special ability is "A Handful of Sand", and the effect is indeed to read out people's memories in the form of photos." He laughed and added after this sentence, "This is the most basic way of expressing my special ability. "

Ishikawa Takuboku is from the Special Powers Division, and he also has the ability to read memories. Next door, Sakaguchi Ango is a corporate slave whose sleep time is squeezed. Ishikawa Takuboku looks more relaxed than anyone else.

This ability to read memories has always been the most suitable ability for intelligence gathering.

Because of the theory of corruption, Sakaguchi Ango's ability to read the memory of objects requires him to go deep into certain places to get intelligence. This is also the reason why he was sent undercover to the port mafia in the first place.

Corruption In terms of being able to read memories, he can gather intelligence into his heart without realizing it.

But Ishikawa Takuboku is different. Not to mention that his personality itself is not suitable for intelligence gathering work, his supernatural power is not as silent as Sakaguchi Ango's, and it is not used on objects, but must be used on living creatures.

But if that's the only thing, the Supernatural Special Service Department will never let him go, and they must squeeze all the value of Ishikawa Takuboku -

so there is only one answer.

Edogawa Ranpo said: "Your supernatural power is very dangerous."

That's why the Supernatural Special Service Department dare not let him go, nor dare to use him too much.

Ishikawa Takuboku did not refute this point, but just said: "The focus now is not on my supernatural power, right?"

He shifted the focus of the topic and placed his fingers on the three photos on the table, "I have used supernatural powers on people with amnesia. ”

“For people who have not lost their memory, I can use this method to materialize the memories they are reluctant to speak out.”

“Haha, you must be very curious. If it’s just photos, you have no idea what the person in this memory said or what happened, right?”

“As long as I read three [photos], I can go deep into this person’s brain - even if they have lost their memory or are hypnotized - I can read all the memories in their brains, including the infancy period that most people don’t remember.”

“Rather.” Seeing the doubts of the others, Ishikawa Takuboku said the most dangerous words in the most normal manner. His eyes narrowed slightly: "People whose memories I have read will suffer irreversible damage to their brains. In other words, they will become fools. "

——This is the true effect of "A Handful of Sand." "

When hearing this, almost everyone's expression changed slightly——because, just now, Ishikawa Takuboku read Tokino's three photos.

Lie. Edogawa Ranpo stared at Ishikawa Takuboku's expression and confirmed this in his heart.

If this was the only consequence, the Special Powers Department would never be so wary of him. That means the consequences will be more serious than what Ishikawa Takuboku said at the moment.

Ranpo Edogawa guessed the answer.

The nature of the method of reading memories mentioned by Ishikawa Takuboku can even be explained by hypnosis - Ishikawa Takuboku can distort and control the memories of others.

Once the memory is erased by Ishikawa Takuboku and the command "obey Ishikawa Takuboku" is filled in, the people who have been read by Ishikawa Takuboku will become his puppets.

Although there are many disadvantages, Ishikawa Takuboku himself has no intention of doing such a thing - but the human heart is the most unpredictable.

Just like Yukito Ayatsuji, one of the A-level personnel with special dangerous abilities. Because of the special nature of his ability, the proposal to assassinate Yukito Ayatsuji is proposed every week, but because his own reasoning ability is strong enough, the government has let it go and let him act as a government detective.

After all, the government cannot entrust all unsolvable cases to Edogawa Ranpo alone.

But while becoming a government detective, Ayatsuji Yukito is still under surveillance.

Ishikawa Takuboku's reputation is not as big as Ayatsuji Yukito, which means that all the results caused by Ishikawa Takuboku have been suppressed. Probably everyone who has been read by Ishikawa Takuboku is under strict surveillance.

"Ah, I guess you are not interested in my supernatural powers." Waving his hand casually, Ishikawa Takuboku clicked on the three [photos] on the table.

"Since people with amnesia have lost their memories, my ability naturally cannot achieve the original effect." Ishikawa Takuboku explained, "But I can read the emotions of the memory that they remember most deeply. Different emotions will show different colors."

"By the way, haven't I explained how I can read and confirm memories through photos?"

Ishikawa Takuboku turned over one of the photos, tapped the back of the photo with his fingertips, and the golden sand emerged again - turning into a line of beautiful words.

Just like when people take photos, they leave the date the photo was taken, the name or address of the person appearing in the photo on the back. Some people will leave their own words or stories on the back of the photo.

The words that appeared on the back of this photo have the same meaning.

Ishikawa Takuboku turned over the white photo. According to Ishikawa Takuboku, this is a display of emotions.

The front of the photo is not pure white, but stained with some gray, as if it was covered with a layer of gray.

The sentence at the back is even simpler, so simple that it silenced everyone in the detective agency.

[Who am I? ]

It ends with a period, as if the owner who has this doubt is not confused about it, nor is he curious about what his past was like.

Ishikawa Takuboku admired their expressions and turned over the red photo in the center.

Red has always been the most passionate color, but the emotions they perceive from the photo are not positive. It is obviously just a photo, but the moment their eyes meet the photo, it is as strong as smelling blood.

This time, the text on the back is no longer a short sentence.

[For everyone, I must protect you two!

I must...

find a way to stop him...

before I...die...】

The moment they saw this line of text, everyone in the detective agency stopped breathing - perhaps their brains hadn't reacted yet, but when they realized what this line of text meant, it would definitely be a disaster.

Ishikawa Takuboku anticipated this, and before they opened their mouths, he turned over the last sheet.

That was the black one.

Again, there was only one line of text this time.

[Why? I've tried so hard, and you still won't praise me...]

The author has something to say:

Shi Wu:...I don't remember.