Chapter 50
6 pm. The lights were on in the Port Mafia Boss’s office. Mori Ougai was reviewing the casualty report when he noticed the commotion outside. The Port Mafia lost over 1600 members in this conflict, 23 of whom were ability users.
Ability users generated more profit—Mori Ougai chuckled, glancing at the names.
“Let him in, Kouyou.”
Asuka Kazuya’s arrival was sooner than expected. [“Loyalty can’t be ensured by severing bonds.”]—Rather than surprised, Mori Ougai had anticipated this since his conversation with Kindled Taneda.
The heavy doors opened. Asuka Kazuya stood there, his expression calm, glancing at the Golden Demon by his neck.
Beside Golden Demon stood the crimson-haired woman.
Ozaki Kouyou, sleeves folded, smiled at Mori Ougai.
“I regret my previous indulgence.”
Mori Ougai tilted his head, his tone apologetic: “It can’t be helped, Kazuya-kun is always unpredictable.”
“Wow,” Asuka Kazuya feigned surprise, pushing the blade away with his gun. “You can still see me? I almost thought I was invisible.”
“Invisible?” Mori Ougai blinked innocently. “Unfortunately, that ability user died three years ago, you can’t learn it.”
Ozaki Kouyou nodded at the Boss’s signal, recalling Golden Demon and closing the door.
The remaining ability users were summoned. Ozaki Kouyou’s task was to keep everyone out.
Asuka Kazuya watched the door close, then turned his gaze back.
“You really have no sense of humor.”
“How hurtful,” Mori Ougai replied with a faint smile.
He sat behind his desk, maintaining his composure unlike the Black Lizard outside.
Then, the polite facade dropped.
“I thought Dazai would be negotiating with me.”
“Why Dazai again? What does it have to do with him?” Asuka Kazuya raised an eyebrow, summoning a chair with a wave of his hand.
He sat down across from Mori Ougai.
Verlaine’s ability.
Mori Ougai watched, not surprised.
Instead, the harmless-looking Boss was silent.
“It seems Dazai didn’t tell you everything,” Mori Ougai chuckled. “You’re still young, maybe in a few years you’ll be able to fool me completely.”
Asuka Kazuya leaned back, crossing his legs: “I don’t understand, but if I were Dazai, I’d get back at you too.”
“Oh?” Mori Ougai blinked. “Why?”
“Eyes,” Asuka Kazuya replied. “Eyes can speak. The way you looked at him during the meeting, like you were sure he’d betray you.”
Mori Ougai knew exactly what transpired in that interrogation room. Knowing about the Ten-Year Bazooka, and Dazai Osamu’s subsequent behavior—he could easily guess the changes in the Port Mafia ten years later.
Overcoming difficulties with minimal losses, then expanding in the devastated underworld, this was why Mori Ougai involved the Port Mafia in the Dragon’s Head Conflict.
He had no better option.
Since Dazai Osamu failed to assassinate Asuka Kazuya, Mori Ougai considered him someone who would eventually leave.
“Isn’t that right?” Mori Ougai said regretfully, feigning thought. “First disobeying orders and missing on purpose, then secretly contacting you during the Verlaine incident—now you’re even telling him about a certain ability user in Yokohama.”
“…” Asuka Kazuya was momentarily convinced.
He sat still, unaware of the Bazooka, realizing the strangeness of it all.
“Moreover, the Special Abilities Division’s offer is quite tempting.” Mori Ougai smiled, pushing a letter forward. “They’re much more afraid of your betrayal than Dazai and I are. Shouldn’t you reflect?”
[Ability Operation Permit]
It would be announced after the Dragon’s Head Conflict.
This was the price for adding names to Verlaine’s list. Shifting blame, exploiting grief—emotional manipulation to ensure loyalty.
A thin piece of paper could legitimize the Port Mafia’s future operations.
Asuka Kazuya opened the letter, recognizing the signature.
He closed it, expressionless.
“I don’t understand,” he said. “Is making friends outside the organization so dangerous now?”
“Not dangerous,” Mori Ougai replied casually, “you just haven’t handled it well. Using your ability for outsiders, almost dying, it makes one wonder if you’d turn against the organization for your ‘friends.'”
Asuka Kazuya was baffled: “Why think about what hasn’t happened? I didn’t harm my colleagues before Verlaine.”
Mori Ougai didn’t speak, looking out at Yokohama through the window.
Beautiful and filthy, a decaying city of violence.
He rested his chin on his hand, his long, gloved fingers toying with a scalpel.
“Kazuya-kun,” he said coldly, “a Boss is the organization’s slave, willing to sacrifice even himself.”
So making the worst assumption was natural.
Pushing the child he’d taken in towards destruction was also natural.
Mori Ougai saw Asuka Kazuya’s nature during the Suribachiyama battle. He helped the stranger Yosano Akiko, he was destined to help countless others.
This guy wouldn’t weigh pros and cons, only caring about making those he liked smile.
Letting him roam free was impossible.
If Mori Ougai were to raise him, he’d use the same methods as with Q.
“Is this why you wanted Verlaine to kill the Flags, to kill Shirase?”
Asuka Kazuya narrowed his eyes, understanding Mori Ougai.
“Isn’t it the optimal solution?” Mori Ougai continued, looking at him meaningfully. “Ultimately, Kazuya-kun, you couldn’t think of another way. Verlaine’s plan was to eliminate everyone keeping Chuuya in Japan. We’ve stalled as long as we could.”
“By making the Flags his first targets?”
“Ask Dazai.”
Mori Ougai shook his head, feigning regret.
“If Dazai hadn’t drawn attention by ‘playing’ with you, Chuuya wouldn’t have recognized you yet.”
Subtly informing Verlaine of Asuka Kazuya’s existence.
Having Verlaine eliminate his friends and take him away would weaken one side. And they could proceed with the plan regarding the Flags and Chuuya—
The Special Abilities Division agreed with Mori Ougai’s plan.
It would be ideal if the boy was completely loyal, but if he went berserk, they could send Dazai and Chuuya away, the Port Mafia and the Special Abilities Division could suppress him.
That wasn’t possible now.
It was hard to tear Chuuya’s gaze away from him.
Mori Ougai felt a twinge of regret, unconcerned about being attacked.
“Attacking me now won’t benefit you.” Mori Ougai said, “Dazai wouldn’t be Chuuya’s executive, do you think Chuuya can lead the organization now?”
Asuka Kazuya glared: “If you use that ‘Chuuya is my tool’ tone again, I’ll smash this photo frame on your head.”
“I refuse.”
Mori Ougai’s tone was gentle, but Elise held up a giant syringe.
“A reminder, for old times’ sake. You too, without control over the Special Abilities Division, your friends are in danger. Are you going to kill innocent people in the Special Abilities Division for them? That would fulfill Taneda-kakka’s prophecy.”
“We’ll talk about that later. Why are your thoughts always about violence?”
Asuka Kazuya stood, dodging Elise’s attack and chopping her neck.
Elise dodged, jumping back.
Asuka Kazuya met Mori Ougai’s gaze.
“The Special Abilities Division recalled their overseas agents, once the Dragon’s Head Conflict ends, you’re abandoning Chuuya, right?”
Mori Ougai saw the document in his pocket.
“Does Taneda-kakka know you intercepted this?”
“Nope,” Asuka Kazuya grinned. “I’m here to tell you, aren’t I?”
“We talked peacefully for fifteen minutes, you didn’t even have your men stop me. If this gets out through the Special Abilities Division’s mole, what will the officials think?”
“Good luck, Mori-kun, you pervert.” Asuka Kazuya gave him a thumbs-up. “Your permit is about to be revoked.”
Now Mori Ougai was confused.
“…What do you gain from turning against me?”
“Nothing,” Asuka Kazuya shook his head, feigning regret. “I just like seeing you want to eliminate me, but can’t.”
Mori Ougai: “…”
He watched Asuka Kazuya walk to the sofa, resenting his quick wit for the first time.
“Kazuya-kun,” Mori Ougai smiled, maintaining composure, “are you moving in?”
Asuka Kazuya took a book from the shelf, pressing a button. He entered the hidden compartment, picking the most expensive wine.
“You said Chuuya can’t inherit the organization now, then it’ll be fine once he can.”
“That’s not it,” Mori Ougai deadpanned. “You were just planning to force your way in, have them revoke the permit, and annoy me.”
“Hmm?” Asuka Kazuya peeked out. “You know that too? As expected of the organization’s slave.”
“…”
Was that how it was used?
Mori Ougai maintained his polite smile, his blood pressure rising.
“Now I understand why Taneda-kakka gave you an executive officer.”
“Oh my, how polite,” Asuka Kazuya widened his eyes, shaking the wine bottle. “Then I choose Ango-senpai. Don’t worry, Mori-kun, I won’t leave until Chuuya takes your place.”
The more he said, the worse it got.
Mori Ougai gave up.
He considered throwing him out, but it would only hurt him more.
This guy had two Transcendentalists in his head.
Hurting himself thirteen thousand, the enemy 0.8.
“This is your whole plan?” Mori Ougai said, giving up on stopping him. “Those cases, your police friends, you’re not dealing with them?”
“Humans invented cell phones,”
Asuka Kazuya opened the wine.
“Besides, I’ve compiled everything about you, if anything happens, Amuro Tooru will put you on the news.”
“You don’t think I learned nothing after all those years undercover?” Asuka Kazuya asked, “How do you think I intercepted Chief Taneda’s information?”
The Special Abilities Division’s ability users were divided into two groups, one following orders like the Hunting Dogs, the other controlled, only released at specific times, like Shibusawa Tatsuhiko.
Asuka Kazuya didn’t know who his designated ability user was, but he knew a few special cases from his years there.
Threatening them with abilities wouldn’t work.
He promised them freedom.
“Besides,” Asuka Kazuya said innocently, “you invited me to join the Port Mafia.”
Mori Ougai’s smile twisted: “I was being sarcastic.”
“Makes sense,” Asuka Kazuya pondered. “Although I don’t mind spending hours reaching an agreement, I have a feeling things are about to get noisy outside.”
“You mean Dazai and Chuuya…” Mori Ougai’s tone was cold. “Whose fault is this?”
Should he throw him out while the fog was thick?
Mori Ougai considered having Shibusawa Tatsuhiko eliminate him, but Verlaine and Randou were part of his ability, he didn’t want to involve all of Yokohama.
“I don’t care, how could I be wrong?”
The door opened. Seeing Asuka Kazuya emerge, the tense atmosphere froze.
As Elise said, “Rintarou, you look ten years older,” Asuka Kazuya met their stunned gazes.
“I heard Dazai lives in a shipping container? Is there a vacant dorm room then?”
Dazai Osamu, looking at the exasperated Mori Ougai and the pilfering Asuka Kazuya, caught on instantly: “It’s occupied now, sleep in the corridor.”
“So stingy.”
“Why didn’t you think of this when you shot me with paintballs?”
“Going to cry?”
Asuka Kazuya blinked, ignoring Dazai Osamu, circling the silent Nakahara Chuuya.
“I didn’t even fight, what did Dazai tell you to make you so sad?”
Nakahara Chuuya didn’t answer, staring at him, imagining his other self ten years later, seeing his corpse.
“Nothing,”
Nakahara Chuuya replied.
“Has nothing to do with you, my own reasons.”
Having just learned about the future from Dazai Osamu, Nakahara Chuuya maintained a calm facade.
His cobalt eyes were unreadable, but he glanced at Mori Ougai, unusually not bowing.
