Osamu Dazai's Entrance Exam (Bungo Stray Dogs 1)

—But what happens next determines whether we’re in the clear.

“For certain reasons, we must secretly obtain information possessed by your country’s intelligence agency. We would like for you to provide data on bomb engineering specialists within Japan. This is an issue of national security, so we need to be quick.”

In one breath, I deliver the whole monologue I memorized prior to our arrival.

“Th-this is absurd.”

“I know it’s a lot to ask.” I double down. “If you do not possess the information we need, then could you introduce us to someone who does?”

“There are indeed people from the intelligence agency who come here, but… This is not quite that simple.”

“This is a time-sensitive matter. The lives of at least a hundred innocent people are on the line.”

The attaché turns pale the moment he hears that people could die. He seems like a good person.

“P-please give me a moment.”

Sweating profusely in fear, he picks up the telephone and calls someone. Speaking in almost a whisper, he argues with them for a while, then hangs up before facing us again.

“Oh, thank goodness,” the attaché says with a smile. “We usually cannot accept such requests, but…”

I internally let out a sigh of relief, thrilled with how perfect things seem to be going. “Thank you very much.”

“I spoke with the secretary on the phone, and she told me that my boss just happens to be having a meal with the Public Security Bureau’s director right now. My boss probably won’t be able to refuse a request from someone so high up. Phew. Thank goodness.”

“…What?”

“Your boss should be here in around ten minutes. Please make yourselves at home until then.”

He wipes the sweat off his forehead, a relieved smile on his face.

……This isn’t good.

This is not good at all.

The Public Security Bureau’s director has the same amount of authority as the chief of the Metropolitan Police, but he probably doesn’t even have a clue about the bomb threat. Even if he did, he would never agree to go along with a scheme—let alone one by imposters—to steal confidential information from a foreign intelligence agency, especially when we still have no way to prove a bomb even exists.

“No, we… That wouldn’t be good.”

“Hmm? Oh, don’t worry about a thing. The intelligence agency surely wouldn’t ignore a request from someone as important as the Public Security Bureau

’s director. So please make yourselves at home. I insist.”

What are we going to do? This entire mission will have been for nothing if the director shows up.

“That really wouldn’t be good. Because… Uh…”

The attaché stares back at me in befuddlement.

“The director cannot come here…for various reasons.”

“Are you sure? What reasons would that be?”

Damn it. I’m terrible at improvising.

“He’s…very busy right now. He has a lot to do.”

“I am sure he is quite busy, but they told me on the phone he could come and that it wouldn’t be a problem.”