Chapter 344 Bungo Stray Dogs and the Mysterious Organization

"A newly emerged mysterious organization?!" Nakajima Atsushi looked at the blond-haired senior opposite him in surprise, and his voice was accidentally raised.

After realizing this, he looked around guiltily for a while. Fortunately, there were only two customers at their table in the cafe at that time. The good boy, who was worried about disturbing others, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Don't be so unstable, Atsushi." Kunikida pushed his glasses and opened the notebook with "Ideal" written on it. He looked serious. "In fact, it is only 'speculation' that such an organization exists at present."

"About a week ago, a vicious murder occurred on the territory of the port mafia. The victim was from a rival organization of the mafia and had offended the mafia not long ago, so the police immediately locked the suspect on that side." Kunikida's voice sounded a little cold, "But the Yokohama police already have a lot of mafia people, and they were bombed by Akutagawa before... So they didn't contact the detective in the end, they just found a scapegoat and put the murderer's crime on him."

"Why is it like this..." Nakajima Atsushi clenched the fork in his hand and said indignantly, "Even if it's a mafia case, it's too much."

Kunikida glanced at the naive new member, sighed, and patiently explained to him: "In fact, although the choice made by the police is disgusting, it is at least safer for ordinary people than putting the blame on the Mafia. Just like now, the Mafia did not do anything about this case, but only participated in the subsequent investigation."

"But if they become suspects, the mafia will definitely do more than what they are doing now in order to clear their name or even to take revenge on those who framed them."

After all, the port mafia has always claimed to be a legal criminal association, and anything that would harm their interests is absolutely not allowed to happen. Even if the mafia is now covering up better and better, it cannot erase the fact that they are a dangerous group that is darker than the shadow of this city.

Atsushi tried to digest what Kunikida said, but the effect was weak. He nodded, not quite understanding, "Does this have anything to do with the mysterious organization?"

"Originally there really wasn't one. The mainstream speculation was that the killer was either from the mafia or simply had a grudge against the deceased."

Kunikida turned a page in his notebook and tapped the words on the paper with a closed pen. "The next day after the scapegoat the police had found was taken away, a second victim appeared. He died in the same way as the first victim, and his identity was also a member of another organization that was hostile to the Port Mafia. It was almost a replica of the first case."

Atsushi looked at his senior and suddenly got a start: "Wait? So that's why you suspect a third party was responsible? But why not just one person, but an 'organization'?"

"Really? You've been to a lot of crime scenes with Ranpo-san, right? You need to be more alert. There are too many problems." Kunikida glared at him angrily. "Why do you think the port mafia still participated in the investigation even though the police had already found a scapegoat?"

"…because they also want to find the murderer of the first case." Dun muttered with sudden realization.

"We have confronted the port mafia so many times. From a purely strength perspective, do you think an ordinary killer who kills people with the simplest and most brutal methods can really hide for several days under the search and pursuit of the mafia and the police?" Kunikida frowned.

"Moreover, the two deceased were from different organizations, and anyone with a discerning eye could see that they were organizations that were even more hostile to the Port Mafia. Unless the murderer was a hired killer, what reason would there be to target two people whose only connection in life was the Mafia?"

At the same time, it is because the mafia is too suspected that people think it was not them who did it. After all, if the port mafia really took action, they would not just kill two insignificant little people and leave it at that.

Even the killers in Yokohama know what missions they can take and what they cannot take. For example, a mission against an organization like the Mafia that has several powerful psychics is something they absolutely cannot take.

Otherwise, no matter where you escape to in the world, the vengeful mafia will definitely hunt you down to death.

The more Dun thought about it, the more he felt that his senior was right. According to this logic, the murderer was most likely a group that had been looking for trouble with the Mafia. Those who dared to do this were either idiots who had no idea of ​​their own strength, or they believed that they had the ability to compete with the Mafia.

He couldn't help but look at Kunikida with admiration and respect: "Mr. Kunikida is also amazing!"

The blond young man cleared his throat and took out a few photos of the scene from his notebook and handed them over.

"Of course, these are the main evidences for this conjecture." He closed his notebook as he spoke. "In the pool of blood at the crime scene, there were shoe prints from three people other than the deceased. Although it's strange that one of them looked like a light child, the other two were from adults."

At the same time, another suspicious point is that they found a bottle of blood-stained wine at the scene - in the home of the deceased. According to the police investigation, the deceased was allergic to alcohol. Let alone drinking, he would not even eat food with alcohol. The bottle of wine that had just been opened that night could not have been the deceased's own.

"Earlytime..." Nakajima Atsushi happened to find the photo of the wine. He carefully identified the words on the bottle and subconsciously read out, "...Bourbon?"

"Stage Bourbon? That one tastes pretty good, and it's the kind of beer that women and young people will like." A voice suddenly appeared behind Dun, "But this guest probably hasn't reached the legal drinking age yet."

The little tiger's hair stood up on his back, and his purple-gold eyes widened. He almost jumped up from his seat as if his hair stood on end. He turned around in shock and looked over: "Huh?!"

Kunikida also looked over with a serious look: As a user with the ability to transform into a tiger, Atsushi's perception ability is very strong, and he should not have been completely unaware of the other party's approach. But the fact is that it was not only Atsushi, he also didn't notice that there was a person standing there until the other party spoke.

Standing behind the booth was a handsome young man with blond hair and dark skin. He was still wearing a waiter's uniform. He seemed to be shocked by their reaction and apologized: "Sorry, I just heard this guest talking about bourbon whiskey when I came over, and I couldn't help but... did I scare you two?"

He raised his arm a little, so that the two of them could see the two small plates of noodles with meat sauce on the tray in the young man's hand, and belatedly smelled the tempting aroma emanating from there.

The blond waiter dragged the tray with one hand, and after their eyes fell on the plate, he pursed his face shyly: "This is what I just tried to make. The boss said he wanted you two to try it and see how it tastes. If you like it, I will put it on the menu in the store later."

"Are you the store manager's new employee?"

The other person seemed to be just an ordinary waiter, and Kunikida didn't see anything wrong in his behavior...so it was a coincidence?

They are now in the Whirlpool Cafe on the first floor of the Detective Agency. Almost all the members of the Detective Agency are regular customers here. They are so familiar with the employees in the store that they can't be more familiar with them. Not to mention that even Lucy, a former member of the guild, is now working here, so Kunikida is confused by the other party's appearance.

The coffee shop usually has good business. A shop manager who is always in the shop and has excellent coffee making skills and two female employees are enough. There is no need to hire another employee, right? Moreover, how can he remember that he didn't see this person when he came to the shop yesterday.

"Ah, yes. The store manager is going to be away for a while starting tomorrow, so the store won't be open if only Miss Lucy and the others are there."

The strange blond young man said, "It's a coincidence. When the store manager was talking to Miss Lucy about this yesterday afternoon, I was waiting for someone in the store... I thought about it and decided that it would be nice to help out for a while. After all, this way the store doesn't have to close for a while."

This guy seemed to be a very outgoing person, and he talked a little too much to the guests he met for the first time, but Atsushi and the other two didn't interrupt him.

"You don't look like you just arrived." Kunikida pushed up his glasses again and pointed out bluntly.

"Haha, I'm embarrassed to say this because I used to work part-time in a cafe." The person being asked waved his hand in a good-natured manner, "Unfortunately, that shop is in Tokyo, and I recently moved to Yokohama, so I had to quit."

"Uh, that, Mr. Clerk! I didn't mean to drink just now..." Dun was still thinking about the misunderstanding just now, and he raised his hand weakly to explain, "Really! I just said something, uh."

"Bourbon whiskey." The kind-hearted waiter smiled and said, "Sorry, sorry, I was just joking. My name is Toru Amuro, you two can just call me Amuro - I've said so much, but the noodles won't taste good if they get cold, so please try my cooking!"

The man who called himself Amuro put down the tray, looking quite proud: "The store manager also said that this is delicious. It would be great if you two like it."

The little tiger, who just felt hungry, swallowed his saliva and looked expectantly at Kunikida opposite him. The latter frowned slightly, but Kunikida did not feel any hostility from Amuro Toru.

Since the store manager agreed to let me stay...

Kunikida politely nodded to Amuro Toru and introduced himself in return: "Thank you, please put this on my account as well... Excuse me, I'm Kunikida Doppo, this is Nakajima Atsushi, we are both members of the detective agency upstairs."

As regular customers of the Whirlpool, the detective agency members who dine here have long been accustomed to keeping track of their bills and paying them all at once when a certain period of time has passed.

Mr. Amuro blinked, made an OK gesture, and with that hearty smile, he looked like a college student who came to work part-time during the holidays.

Atsushi couldn't help but guess the age of Mr. Amuro.

After Toru Amuro left with the tray, the two returned to the previous topic. Atsushi couldn't wait to roll up the noodles with his fork: "So the wine was probably left by the murderer? What's the point?"

Kunikida on the other side snorted, "It's impossible to judge their intentions if it's just a bottle of wine, but Ranpo-san happened to be at the detective agency that day and not on a business trip, so he also heard about the case."

"Huh? What did Mr. Ranpo say?" Dun looked over and put the fork with noodles on it into his mouth.

"'This is the code name of the members of that organization.' That's what Ranpo-san said." Kunikida recalled for a second, "A mysterious organization using the name of a liquor called Bourbon as its code name... This is indeed the first time I've heard of it, but since Ranpo-san said it, it means that this organization does exist."

"You still call it 'speculation'... but Ranpo-san clearly... ugh!"

Dun suddenly stopped talking, his eyes widened even more than before.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Kunikida couldn't help but look over and tensed up, "Is there something wrong here?!"

“This Bolognese noodles…”

Dun couldn't help but pick up the plate and pour it directly into his mouth. While chewing, he said with emotion: "--It's really delicious!"

"Hello!"

Kunikida glared at him unhappily. "Anyway, Ranpo-san is not here, and the president said that we should not get involved in this case for the time being. Now is not a good time to confront the Port Mafia... But the Mafia will hold a banquet tonight, and the Detective Agency is on the invitation list."

This is really strange. The Mafia and the detective agency have always been sworn enemies. It was a rare thing that they cooperated in several major incidents before. This time, they were actually invited to the banquet?

Dun put down the empty plate and looked at him with a clear and innocent look: "Hmm?"

"I have another commission, so the president said that Dazai will lead the party this time." Kunikida looked at Atsushi with pity, "And Dazai disappeared without a trace since the afternoon. He also left a note saying that you and Kagamika can attend tonight's party."

"ah?"

There was still some sauce on Dun's mouth that had not been wiped clean.

"……ah???!"