Chapter 106 Eighteen Presidents

When Kunikida Doppo first met Akae Nazuki, he once thought that this was a kid who was very suitable to be a member of the Detective Club. He was kind but independent-minded, strong but self-controlled, gentle but not weak, smart but not complacent. Everyone in the Detective Club liked him.

Then they learned that the boy picked up from the street by Oda Sakunosuke on a rainy day was actually a defected cadre of the enemy Port Mafia.

Moreover, he also brought back the boss of the Mafia who committed suicide by jumping off a building.

At that moment, Kunikida Doppo's filter about 'juniors who are like students' was shattered.

A year had passed since that incident, and Kunikida Dopo had finally surpassed Yokohama's number of solved cases in Tokyo, and had recreated a good image and filter for Akae Nazuki in his heart...

Then, looking at the so-called client brought back by Akae Nazuki under the euphemistic name of a 'souvenir', Kunikida felt the exact same stomachache as himself in the other world.

If the other Kunikida were here, they would definitely tell him: Stay away from Dazai Osamu and Dazai Osamu's students, otherwise you will become unhappy!

"That's exactly what it means." The little devil who always relied on his good nature to cheat and deceive said with a smile, "I happened to meet Shibuzawa-kun on my way back, and he happened to need some help from the detective agency, so I brought him here."

This explanation is the same as no explanation at all. At least Kunikida Doppo always feels that there are many flaws in it.

"Let's not talk about anything else for now." The blond young man held his forehead and said, "You know very well that he is..."

"The Collector and the White Qilin?" Chi Jiang Na Yue smiled, "I know."

His smile faded as his eyes met the projection on the whiteboard in the conference room.

"So, Shibuzawa Ryuhiko is now just a new client of the detective agency." Akae Natsuki's gaze moved to the side and bumped into President Fukuzawa who came in from the door.

He spread his hands and said, "The commission is to ask the detective agency to investigate the lost part of Shibuzawa Ryuhiko's memory and collect evidence of his crimes during the years he was a collector... something like that."

"You actually said 'something'..." Yoseno Akiko, who was leaning against the wall, twitched her lips, "How many crimes has that guy outside committed?"

"Don't worry about the details, doctor."

Shibuzawa Ryuhiko, who was brought back by Akae Nazuki, is now staying in the reception room outside with Akutagawa and others. As a guarantee, Ranpo and the president are also there. But now the president has also come in, and he walked straight to stand in front of Akae Nazuki.

"The detective agency has now accepted the government's commission." Fukuzawa Yukichi said seriously, "Have you made up your mind?"

Chijiang Nayue pursed her lips and her expression became serious.

"I've made up my mind, President." He looked directly at the former government agent and current president of the detective agency, who had a very strong aura around him, and his voice was still very relaxed. "Shibuzawa Ryuhiko's commission should now be ranked first in the detective agency. He is a crisis that has already arrived."

"As for the case of the Five Deteriorations of the Celestial Beings..."

Chi Jiang Na Yue smiled slyly: "I am also a member of the Detective Agency, so isn't the commission of the Detective Agency my commission?"

He is really good at changing the subject, Fukuzawa Yukichi thought helplessly.

If the government was really concerned about Akae Nazuki's involvement in the Five Decays of Heaven case, they should have handed the case over to the Armed Detective Agency branch in Tokyo instead of bringing it to Yokohama.

Since they were the ones who received the commission first, doesn't this mean that the government is unwilling to let Chijiang Nayue participate in the investigation of this commission?

However...

"I agree." Fukuzawa Yukichi asked in a deep voice, "Before the next dead person appears, completely put an end to their criminal behavior! Can you accomplish this mission?"

The Armed Detective Agency guards the city's dusk and prevents crime from happening. Even if there are many crises ahead, the Armed Detective Agency will never and cannot retreat, not to mention that standing opposite him is his old friend whom he once trusted. The mystery between Fukuzawa Yukichi and Fukuchi Sakura must be brought to an end.

Fukuzawa Yukichi believed that even if the detective agency would inevitably accept the disaster of the destruction of the top and become the target of public criticism, if it was the person in front of him, no crisis would bring turmoil to this city.

At that time, they will investigate the truth of the case, while Ranbu and Nayue will investigate the truth about the destruction of the detective agency.

If it's Yue, Luanbu will definitely be protected.

Just like he always did.

"Please leave it to me with confidence." Chijiang Nayue answered without hesitation.

Kunikida was surprised to find that the president smiled slightly after hearing this, but when he looked over again, it was still that stern face, as if it was just his illusion.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Nazuki." Fukuzawa Yukichi nodded, "Remember to contact Ranpo at any time. No matter what, this is Yokohama."

Mr. Ranbu...Akajiang Nayue froze.

Yes, yes, he also wanted to talk to Mr. Ranpo about bringing Shibuzawa Ryuhiko back and preparing to take over the case of the Five Degenerations of Heaven alone...

The reason why he brought Shikozawa back was certainly not a joke as he said when he was teasing Kunikida Dopo. In essence, in addition to ruining Fyodor's script, there were other important factors.

Akae Nazuki could almost understand Dazai Osamu's thoughts - her teacher had gained the memories of the other world during the Dragon War and must have known everything about Shibuzawa Ryuhiko, but she still let this man leave Yokohama after the war.

It's easy to guess. Dazai Osamu probably had the same idea as when he left behind the Five Degenerations of Heavenly Being, to let the children experience it.

The kids were referring to the new 'black couple' of the detective agency.

Akae Nazuki could see that Shibuzawa Ryuhiko's missing memory was related to Nakajima Atsushi, so he had no objection to Dazai Osamu's move - who would refuse a good thing that would allow those two people to have more opportunities to grow together? In the end, he and the teacher would back him up anyway, so Shibuzawa Ryuhiko would not have the opportunity to start a second battle for the top spot in Yokohama.

"Speaking of which, I can't use my supernatural powers on that person." The savior who was so reliable just now suddenly felt embarrassed. He pursed his face and confessed to the two seniors and presidents in the conference room another reason why he kept Shibuzawa, "It's better to say that it's not possible now..."

The simplest and most brutal way to prevent the special point from forming a door between the two of them is for him to stop using his supernatural powers. If Dazai Osamu had not shared the [Disqualification of the Human Gate] with him as a gift through the medium of [Book] a year ago, Akae Nazuki would not have been able to open and close the [Klein's Pot] on his own.

Thinking about it this way, the intelligence Fyodor got was probably the information about Akae's supernatural powers when he was an officer in Gang Hei that month. At that time, the [Klein Kettle] was indeed a passive ability and could not be turned off.

However, not being able to use my special powers on Shibuzawa Ryuhiko doesn't mean anything.

"But don't worry, he can't beat me." Chi Jiang smiled brightly, "Even if I don't have superpowers, I'm more than capable of dealing with him."

Just kidding, he is the physical version of the criminal nemesis who has the record of fighting five people at once (here referring to the five gorilla friends he knows). With Shibuzawa Ryuhiko's special ability alone, even if he releases mist to separate him and the [Klein's Pot], Akae Nazuki is not afraid at all.

After all, he had said it long ago that the powerful one was never the [Kleinju], but Akane Nazuki herself. —

When Chijiang Nayue came out of the conference room, a noisy sound came from the reception room next door.

Even he couldn't hear clearly through the thick door, but it sounded like they were not fighting.

He knocked casually on the door to announce his presence, then pushed the door handle and entered.

"Hey, what are you talking about?" Chi Jiang walked in briskly with a harmless smile on his face, "Tell me about it too."

The situation in the reception room was a little strange. Before Akae Nayue came in, the people inside were gathered around the table, looking at something unknown, while Shibuzawa Ryuhiko and Nakajima Atsushi were both at the center door, with only their heads visible.

It was not until the voice of Chijiang Nayue was heard that the people around dispersed, allowing Chijiang Nayue, who had just entered, to see the scene inside.

Then Akajiang Nayue also fell into a brief state of aphasia.

The man with silver hair and red eyes was seen holding a needle and thread in his hand, sewing Nakajima Atsushi's black windbreaker seriously. The latter had to wear a thin shirt and sat opposite Shibuzawa Ryuhiko, feeling a little awkward and dazed.

Chijiang Nayue asked the equally serious and solemn Quan Jinghua in a subtle tone: "Um, little Jinghua...what are they doing?"

"Atsushi's windbreaker was torn by the hook at the door, and Mr. Shibuzawa said he could help." Izumi Kyoka stared at that place intently and answered Akae Nazuki's question seriously.

Of course he could see that, but what he really wanted to ask was... why did you all so naturally accept the fact that Shibuzawa Ryuhiko was helping Nakajima Atsushi sew his jacket!

Chijiang Nayue covered the lower half of her face to prevent herself from laughing too loudly.

Although he also discovered that the clothes Shibuzawa Ryuhiko was wearing were made by him himself, he did not expect that he would directly help Atsu-kun.

Is this a problem of the incarnation of supernatural powers, or is it a problem that Shibuzawa Ryuhiko himself possessed when he was alive... haha.

He quickly raised his mobile phone and took more than ten photos of Shibuzawa Ryuhiko over there, and sent them to his teacher with a happy mood.

The other side responded immediately with a series of earth-shaking laughter.

Shibozawa Ryuhiko, who was being filmed, stopped what he was doing for a moment and looked up indifferently. There was no special emotion in his gaze towards Akae Nayue. Instead, he was so calm as if he was really an ordinary client.

"Don't mind it, Shibuzawa-kun, it's just a souvenir." Akajinazuki shook her phone with a smile, "You made the clothes you're wearing yourself, too, right? Very tasteful." It is undeniable that the fashion guru Akajinazuki expressed high recognition of Shibuzawa Ryuhiko's clothing style at this moment.

Shibuzawa Ryuhiko's indifference dissipated a little, and he smiled with great satisfaction and nodded: "I think so too."

Akae Nazuki's thoughts on the relationship between Shibuzawa Ryuhiko and Nakajima Atsushi were renewed in her mind.

These two people have no apparent intersection, and Nakajima Atsushi was taken back to the port mafia by Dazai Osamu when he was in his early teens. If there is a possibility that they may have had an intersection, it could only be that Shibuzawa Ryuhiko visited the orphanage where Nakajima Atsushi was when he was a child.

So, was it the young Atsu-kun who killed Shibuzawa Ryuhiko?

Chijiang Nayue gave an affirmative answer in her heart.

As for who guided Shibuzawa Ryuhiko to look for Atsu-kun...it was obviously this troublemaker, right?

The fact that Shibuzawa Ryuhiko's avatar with supernatural powers can start a dragon war in Yokohama means that Shibuzawa Ryuhiko himself is definitely not a fool. Such a person would be killed by Atsu-kun, who had not yet grown up at that time, only because Shibuzawa Ryuhiko saw something in Atsu-kun that shocked him and he could not recover quickly.

Tiger? The supernatural power "Moon Beast"? Shibuzawa Ryuhiko must have wanted Atsushi-kun's supernatural crystal at first, but the supernatural crystal alone was not enough...

Ah, another person who fell to the stubborn and dazzling life brilliance of the White Tiger boy.

Chijiang Nayue lowered her eyelids to hide the murderous intent in her eyes.

Even after death, she still held on to this obsession and was willing to kill so many irrelevant people just to find the Atsushi in her lost memories.

This guy, even if he died once, is still beyond help.

He quickly suppressed his inner turmoil, pretending not to notice Nakajima Atsushi's embarrassed look asking for help, and walked towards Edogawa Ranpo, the only one who did not come over and was sitting behind the desk by the window playing with glass beads.

"Mr. Ranbu——"

"I don't want to talk to stupid Xiaohong for the time being." Edogawa Ranpo put down the glass beads, puffed up his face childishly and turned his head away.

"...Ah, that's a problem." As she said this, Akajonatsuki pulled out a paper box from her sweater pocket like magic and shook it gently twice. "I'll go ask everyone if they want to eat it. We can't waste this box of Miharado's red bean Dorayaki."

Edogawa Ranpo turned around and looked over, saying in a dissatisfied tone: "That's my hush money!"

Akae Nazuki seized the opportunity and skillfully stuffed the handmade candy that had just been opened into Edogawa Ranpo's mouth, and also put the Dorayaki into the hands of her little idol.

"For the sake of hush money." The little devil half-knelt beside the detective, blinked his wet eyes, and begged for mercy pitifully, "Master Ranbu, can you forgive me?"

Edogawa Ranpo snorted, "Don't use what I taught you on me. I'm not that stupid Dazai. I won't be fooled by you."

That being said, if he could have said this without showing an impatient expression and instead started to solve the copperware in the box with great enjoyment, the attention of the people around him might have been drawn to him and they would have believed him a little more.

Chijiang Nayue just smiled at him again without answering this question. The latter paused in stuffing the copperware into his mouth, opened his green eyes which were always squinting, stared at Chijiang Nayue seriously for a long time, and then understood.

"You told Dazai that? He must be very angry. It's been a while since he's been that angry. And the last time was because of you."

Edogawa Ranpo curled his lips and said, "I say, you came to me without hiding anything, just to make me angry and scold you?"

"I just wanted to let Mr. Ranpo know that I'm safe. We'll all be busy for a while, and it'll be hard to find a chance to chat like this." Chijiang Nayue said confidently, "Besides, Mr. Ranpo has already received my hush money, so he won't waste time scolding me, right!"

Edogawa Ranpo immediately showed a tangled expression as if he wanted to push the hush money back, but the Dorayaki was so delicious that he couldn't bear to give it up.

"Anyway, Xiaohong is an idiot." He held it in for a long time, and finally turned around angrily, leaving the back of his head to Chijiang Nayue.

Ranpo Edogawa was a man so smart that even Dazai Osamu and Akae Nazuki, who were "geniuses" in a certain sense, admired him. Akae Nazuki did not spend much time cleaning up the marks on his body, so Ranpo Edogawa naturally understood what he wanted to do.

This was probably a kind of insurance policy for him - an insurance policy to use to explain to his peers after the incident was over: "My plan was not hidden from others, Mr. Ranpo and the teacher knew about it."

"I'm just fulfilling my duty." Akajinazuki stood up and said briskly, "Protecting that city and ordinary people are my duties as Akajinazuki, Mr. Ranbu."

On the other side, Ranpo Edogawa immediately covered his ears and started to act like a spoiled brat, while protesting loudly: "I don't care! You and the president are the same, do whatever you want!"

Chijiang Nayue sighed.

The Edogawa Ranpo he knew had always been this kind of person, whether it was their accidental first meeting many, many years ago, or their formal meeting at the detective agency a year ago, this little idol of his, who was only 27 years old, had the appearance of a 17-year-old and the mentality of a 7-year-old, had really never changed.

Three days ago, after Chi Jiang Na Yue confirmed that his next opponent would be Fyodor, all plans took shape in his mind. And according to his habit, no matter how the situation deviated from the script, he would always have a plan B.

But to ensure that the plan can be implemented smoothly, he also needs to consider the wishes of the two 'elders' in his camp who can guess his script, so before leaving, he went to see the teacher specifically, and after coming to Yokohama, he took the initiative to come to Mr. Ranpo to scold him.

Chi Jiang Na Yue thought sadly: He is really not a strange person, but these two people will definitely scold him after knowing his plan, but he has to reveal the plan to them...

Hmm? What is his plan?

[I almost forgot that this is my own world.] Chi Jiang Na Yue complained to herself weakly in her mind, [I was used to being a riddle teller in the last mission world, and now I am involved in a game with Fei Jia and his gang. I can't get my mind back into shape. It's really troublesome...]

The [book] hanging on him finally relaxed: [Great, Xiaohong is still normal! ]

This normal refers to the fact that Chijiang Nayue has not been completely assimilated by Fyodor and others into a script-speaking master who does not speak human language - although he is also keen on giving scripts to others at any time.

Don't hurt him when you get the chance. Chi Jiang Na Yue complained in her heart.

"It's not that complicated. Even if I didn't take the initiative to participate this time, you would have given me a new mission to perform in the main world, right?" He said bluntly, "Because the thing they want to fight for is you, right? Aren't we the first two to disagree with what they want?"

It is not difficult to know the purpose of Fyodor, Fukuchi Sakurachi and others. Although Dazai Osamu will not take the initiative to say it, he has never concealed anything. Not to mention that Akae Nazuki is really sensitive about this new world that was created by herself and the "book".

Perhaps in the eyes of Fyodor and the others, this is still the sinful old world, but Chijiang Nayue knows very well that this new world has long been different from the original one.

Maybe it is not obvious now, but the future of the new world is definitely bright.

[If they want to stir up unrest in Yokohama, let them do it. Yokohama is not such a fragile city, and no one here will allow anyone to take away their peaceful life... If you underestimate the power of ordinary people, Feijia might suffer a loss. ]

Chijiang Nayue hummed a song in her mind.

[They want to trap me here, and use Fukuchi Sakura as a new landmark to gain greater and greater power, and then destroy Tokyo, destroy Yokohama, destroy the original order of this world, and build their ideal world on the ruins of this world——]

[Then, give them a chance and let them see how their ideal world will end.] He slowly withdrew his mind from talking to [Book], clenched his palm into a fist, [and woke them up again.]

In reality, from everyone's perspective, Na Yue Chi Jiang just stood there in silence for a few seconds, then spoke again: "Thank you, Mr. Ranpo."

He knew that what Edogawa Ranpo said meant that he would not be stopped from taking any action of his. This was the greatest trust and recognition that the great detective could give him.

With Shibuzawa Ryuhiko here, the detective agency's next commissioned activities should revolve around that guy. As for the Five Degenerations of Heaven case, it would be better to leave it to him as he is the professional counterpart.

Saving the world is what he's best at.

Chi Jiang Na Yue heard the great detective who had seen through everything say to him with his back turned: "Don't be so stubborn this time, idiot."

"No matter what, you are a member of the detective agency, and the detective agency will always accept your existence..." Edogawa Ranpo still looked angry, and snorted while saying loudly, "You are a member recognized by the president and me!"

Yes, that's why he deeply loves Tokyo, the city that loves him, and also deeply loves Yokohama, the city that has people who accept him.

It was not until Chijiang Nayue said goodbye to the other people in the detective agency and left that [Shu] suddenly reacted.

[So cunning——Xiaohong, you still didn’t tell me what you were going to do! ]

[It’s like this, like that, like that.]

[…So I don’t understand at all!!]

[It doesn't matter if you don't understand.] Chijiang Nayue walked into the elevator of the detective agency and reached out to press the button for the next floor. [Let's go. While I'm free now, it's time to go to the next world.]