Chapter 270 The Third Player

Mochizuki Kaoru chose to do nothing and pretend nothing happened.

As long as he acted as if nothing had happened and pretended that he was not embarrassed, no one would notice that he was embarrassed.

Fukuzawa Yukichi nodded to him naturally, but there was still a trace of unfamiliar doubt in his eyes: "What are you doing...?"

He and Ranpo Edogawa had just finished a commission, and Ranpo Edogawa left first because he was tired of socializing, but Fukuzawa Yukichi couldn't do that. When he finally finished socializing with the client and rushed over to find Ranpo Edogawa, he saw a scene where Kaoru Mochizuki seemed to be "threatening" Ranpo Edogawa, which almost scared him.

He originally thought that Ranbu had encountered some danger, but if it was Mochizuki Kaoru... he still had some impression of her. And no matter based on what he knew about Mochizuki Kaoru or what Ranbu had just said, it seemed that Ranbu was... "deliberately frightened" by Mochizuki Kaoru?

"President, you came just in time! I just received a request from Uncle Mochizuki! Actually, the secret that Uncle Mochizuki just told me is not that dangerous, right? He just wanted to scare me, right?"

Edogawa Ranpo raised his hand to show off. His tone was firm, his face showed curiosity, his emerald green eyes were bright, like a cat that was ready to stretch its claws at any fun toy because it had nothing to fear.

It's very difficult to get angry with a cat.

"Ranpo-kun, are you really that curious?"

A helpless look appeared between Mochizuki Kaoru's eyebrows, and then she returned to her previous calm and gentle appearance: "It's indeed not that dangerous, but..."

After a two-second pause, as if to compromise, Mochizuki Kaoru suddenly asked, "Ranbu-kun, how do you tell whether two people who are almost identical are the same person?"

The issue about the "book" is too important, and it also involves the Special Powers Department. No matter what Mochizuki Kaoru says, she can't just tell Edogawa Ranpo so simply. As for the secrets hidden in Dazai Osamu, Mochizuki Kaoru is more inclined to take the initiative to explore and verify them - especially when the secret is obviously related to him.

But the question about the "two Dazai Osamu" can be easily asked to Edogawa Ranpo with just a few minor modifications. Besides... he also wanted to know what Edogawa Ranpo thought.

Edogawa Ranpo said proudly: "I told you that you should ask the famous detective for help!"

"Two identical people?" Fukuzawa Yukichi was stunned for a moment. I don't know what he thought of, but his expression suddenly became serious and solemn.

——Just now he happened to hear a rumor about "Port Mafia is hunting down the leader" in that commission, and it was said that it was because two identical leaders suddenly appeared in Port Mafia... Originally he just thought that this rumor was just a rumor. After all, there have been countless rumors about Port Mafia, especially about the mysterious Port Mafia leader, but most of them are just groundless rumors and exaggerated rumors by various people with or without intentions. Most of them are false and even contradictory. Even the person who just talked to him about this news inadvertently also obviously just regarded this news as a funny rumor and did not believe it himself.

But Mochizuki Kaoru suddenly mentioned this issue... It was hard for Fukuzawa Yukichi not to associate the "two identical people" he mentioned with the leader of the port Mafia.

"Uncle Mochizuki, this is really strange. How could there be two identical people in this world? And Uncle Mochizuki, you don't even believe it, right?"

Edogawa Ranpo said in a strange tone, "And even if there are two identical people, they can't be the same person. There must be only one real person and the other one is fake, right?"

"So, Uncle Mochizuki can't tell which one is the fake one?" he asked.

"It can't be the same person..." Mochizuki Kaoru said with a subtle expression.

"But what if those two people do have a lot in common?"

"Uncle Mochizuki is really an idiot." Ranpo Edogawa looked at Kaoru Mochizuki with an idiot look and shook his head: "If it's fake, then it must be close to the real one, right? In that case, it will definitely be similar to the real one."

"But the fake one is fake. If it was an imitation, wouldn't it be easy to find the difference between them if you put the two together and observe them carefully?"

He touched his chin, his eyes lit up, "What kind of supernatural power is this? Can it make another person appear? If it can make another famous detective appear... No, no, there is only one famous detective as smart and capable as me in the world! If it can make another president appear... No, that's not right either, then wouldn't my snacks be completely gone!"

He muttered to himself, his thoughts drifting off course without him noticing, and he soon forgot the question asked by Mochizuki Kaoru.

After all, in his opinion, isn't this a very simple matter? There is no difficulty at all, it is as simple as it can be, right? So it is not important at all, and there is no need to care too much.

But Uncle Mochizuki doesn't even know this? Ah, he is really stupid... Is he the only smartest detective in the world?

Mochizuki Kaoru was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Ranbu-kun is right, you are indeed a smart and famous detective."

Indeed, even if he couldn't tell the difference between "real" and "fake", Dazai Osamu himself would definitely be able to tell the difference - after all, he was the real, original person in this world.

Fukuzawa Yukichi, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up: "Mochizuki-kun, is the person you are talking about the leader of the Port Mafia?"

Mochizuki Kaoru's eyebrows did not move, and she smiled flawlessly: "I have nothing to do with the Port Mafia, it's just that one of my friends encountered some troubles."

He remembered that when he met Mochizuki Kaoru before, the other party made it clear that no matter whether it was the Port Mafia, the Armed Detective Agency, or the Special Powers Special Service Department, it was "none of his business", whether in front of Teacher Natsume or in front of him. Now that he said this, it also meant that he would not have anything to do with the Port Mafia, so it should not be related to the leader of the Port Mafia, right?

Ignoring the small and strange feeling in his heart, Fukuzawa Yukichi felt a little relieved.

Edogawa Ranpo blinked again.

However, out of some intuition, under the gaze of Mochizuki Kaoru, he did not say anything this time, but just said: "If there is another famous detective in the world, then the famous detective can pass the commission to another famous detective, right? Ah, but my snacks..." He hesitated for two seconds, and finally made up his mind: "The famous detective can give him one third... No, half is fine... But I will definitely not give him all of it!"

The boy's expression was not concealed at all, and the pain on his face was extremely clear to everyone.

Mochizuki Kaoru couldn't help but smile: "Well, for this commission from the famous detective, can I use snacks as payment?"

Unexpectedly, Edogawa Ranpo shook his head.

"Isn't this the only problem that Mochizuki has? Don't you need to ask for help with other problems?" Ranpo Edogawa asked in confusion, and emphasized again: "Both the famous detective and the president are very powerful!"

Fukuzawa Yukichi, who hadn't figured out the situation yet, was caught off guard by Edogawa Ranpo and was taken away: ...

Although he still had many questions in his mind and wanted to ask Ranpo, he still had to maintain his child's reputation in public. Fukuzawa Yukichi's face remained calm. He nodded to Mochizuki Kaoru and said, "If Mochizuki-kun needs any help, you can send a request to the detective agency. Ranpo and I will do our best to help."

Mochizuki Xun shook his head. His expression was calm and composed, and there was no sign on his face that he was troubled by any trouble.

"No need, the commission has just been completed." He said, "As for the other questions, I already have the answers in my mind. Thank you, Ranpo-kun."

——He understood the meaning of what Edogawa Ranpo had just said about "another identical famous detective."

"In that case—"

Edogawa Ranbu jumped up and said, "For this commission, I want Uncle Mochizuki's autograph!"

"I really like the book 'Seven Thieves'! And the book 'Reader's Letter' and 'Nameless Wax Museum'. The fifth letter in 'Reader's Letter' is the letter the president sent to you, Uncle Mochizuki, right? And I have read all the other works too! And the president likes them too!"

Edogawa Ranpo counted on his fingers, and was very excited for a moment, then said regretfully: "But the president's luck is too bad, he didn't even get a signed copy. And all those books are in the detective agency today and he didn't bring them out."

Fukuzawa Yukichi, who was very unlucky, coughed and looked a little embarrassed: "Ranbu!"

Edogawa Ranpo was confused: "What's wrong with you, President? Ah, are you catching a cold? Yeah, I know I should remember to take cold medicine! I'll remind you when I get back to the agency!"

The more he spoke, the happier his tone became. Well, before it was the president who reminded him to drink the bitter cold medicine every day, now it's his turn to make the president drink it!

Fukuzawa Yukichi: "... Ranpo, I don't have a cold."

Never mind, this can be considered as successfully diverting Luanbu's attention, right?

The inspiration for the fifth letter in "Reader's Letter" comes from a letter from a reader that Mochizuki Kaoru received before. It was indeed a letter from Fukuzawa Yukichi... and the style of that letter, how should I put it, is not entirely the style of Fukuzawa Yukichi himself. Part of it is very coincidental to be similar to that of Edogawa Ranpo.

Now it seems that it is not a coincidence.

Mochizuki Kaoru was a little surprised, but she nodded and said with a smile, "How about I send the book with my signature to the detective agency later?"

Edogawa Ranpo smiled widely and raised a finger, "In that case, can you also add a signed copy of the book that you haven't published yet, Uncle Mochizuki?"

He showed a sincere and eager look, and his emerald green eyes were full of brightness: "Please, please! Teacher Mochizuki! Is it okay?"

"Ranbu!" Fukuzawa Yukichi frowned slightly, somewhat helplessly: "You are asking for too much, please don't bother Teacher Mochizuki too much."

...Can you even see this?

This time, Mochizuki Kaoru was truly surprised.

Whether Edogawa Ranpo had almost figured out at first glance that the person he was talking about was Dazai Osamu, or had guessed that he was "Mochizuki Kurumi", an identity that had never been revealed to the public, Mochizuki Kaoru was not overly surprised.

After all, whether it is his relationship with Fukuzawa Yukichi, the readers' letters with whom he had intersected in the past, or the "hunt for Dazai Osamu" behavior of the Port Mafia that appeared in the past two days, these clues can be traced.

But he currently has a book that is almost finished and has not yet been published, and he has not revealed any trace of this... But can even this be guessed?

Mochizuki Kaoru has a new understanding of how intelligent and demonic Edogawa Ranpo is.

"It's not a big deal, but the book is not finished yet."

Mochizuki Kaoru said, "Besides, that book is not a mystery novel, but just an ordinary, boring record... Even so, do you want it, Ranpo-kun?"

Edogawa Ranpo only thought for less than two seconds and nodded.

"Because that book is probably Mr. Mochizuki's last book, right?"

Edogawa Ranpo didn't care how shocking what he said was, and said naturally, "So, did Uncle Mochizuki agree?"

"Okay, then when the book is finished, I will send a copy to the Armed Detective Agency for Ranpo-kun." Mochizuki Kaoru agreed.

"Uncle Mochizuki, you must remember this!" Edogawa Ranpo narrowed his eyes and a big, satisfied smile appeared on his face.

No denial... So, was what Ranpo just said true? Fukuzawa Yukichi next to him could not help but be surprised again.

But…why is this the last book? Are you planning to stop writing and quit the literary world? Or has something happened?

Although he wanted to ask, the relationship between the two of them was not yet at the level of friends where he could ask such a question casually, so Fukuzawa Yukichi remained silent.

Until they parted, watching Mochizuki Kaoru's figure disappear, and on the way back to the detective agency with Edogawa Ranpo, Fukuzawa Yukichi was still a little distracted.

"It's not that I don't want to write anymore, but there is a very important reason why I can't write anymore, right? And it should be related to the trouble that Uncle Mochizuki is facing now."

Edogawa Ranpo answered Fukuzawa Yukichi's question and said distressedly: "As for the exact reason, I don't know."

So it was because he saw this that he kept trying to get Mochizuki Kaoru to commission him and Fukuzawa Yukichi.

Unfortunately, it still failed. Uncle Mochizuki’s attitude was very determined.

What a pity... He said he really liked Kurumi Mochizuki's works. He was serious about that. I probably won't be able to see them again.

However, since the other party has been refusing, there is nothing we can do about it.

And it is also very exciting to be able to see the last book that others may not be able to see!

"Forget it, President, I'm so hungry - I want to eat yam steamed bun!" With a wave of his hand, he put the matter of Mochizuki Kaoru behind him, and Edogawa Ranpo's voice became lively and full of anger again.