Fukuzawa softly scolded Ranpo, who cheerfully answered with an “Okay!” before letting go.
A year had gone by since the incident. Unable to get rid of Ranpo and at his wits’ end, Fukuzawa had no choice but to temporarily hire Ranpo to help with miscellaneous duties. Fukuzawa came up with a plan. In return for food and clothing, Ranpo would be taught various odd jobs, social norms, and academics as well, for knowledge was the world’s foundation. Studying was necessary to live, just as oxygen was needed to survive. That was the principle by which Fukuzawa lived.
And that…was how Fukuzawa lost his job. His job was to guard his clients, but whenever he brought Ranpo to help with the paperwork, Ranpo would swiftly figure out who the risk factor for the client was and where they were…before Fukuzawa ever even needed to guard anyone. Fukuzawa couldn’t simply ignore what Ranpo was doing, so he removed the risk factor as he was pressed to do. Before long, there was no longer any need to guard the client. Some people even began to request that only Ranpo came. Fukuzawa was on the verge of unemployment thanks to this sudden turn.
Granted, it was Ranpo who caused the slow business to resurge as well. Fukuzawa, with too much free time on his hands, received a new job offer, this time asking Ranpo to do some detective work. Rumors of a young detective who possessed supernatural powers capable of uncovering any truth had slowly spread throughout the city after the incident at the theater. He started receiving job offers from various strata of society and people from all different types of work, including the police. He would solve almost every case instantly at the scene of the crime.
Things were complicated for Fukuzawa, though. While it wouldn’t be a problem letting Ranpo work alone, Fukuzawa accompanied him for the most part. One of the reasons was because he knew all too well how reckless and dangerous Ranpo could be, like during the incident at the theater, which was now known by many as the case of the “Murdering Angel.” But for the most part, the biggest reason why he accompanied Ranpo was because he was “the only one who could control him.” Ranpo was selfish and egotistical, but he listened to Fukuzawa for some reason. Maybe the slap and scolding after the first incident had had an effect on him. Or maybe there was something else that tugged at his heartstrings. In any event, Ranpo was attached to Fukuzawa and never left him alone. He was like a little puppy running around yipping, “Fukuzawa! Fukuzawa!” Even then, he would sit quietly for an hour or two if Fukuzawa ordered him to. From then on, every time a client wanted to request Ranpo’s services, they would beg, “Fukuzawa, please come with him! I’ll pay double!”
Before long, not a soul in the neighborhood hadn’t heard of the detective duo Fukuzawa and Ranpo: a selfish and uncontrollable yet genius detective teenager and an unsociable, quiet middle-aged man who was a master of close combat and boasted extraordinary strength. There wasn’t a conspiracy they couldn’t see through, no enemy that could escape them, no case they couldn’t crack. Murderers trembled at the sound of their footsteps, and wealthy men frequently came to pay the two their respects. Even the police sometimes visited in secret, begging for help on difficult cases. Known as skilled detectives, Ranpo and Fukuzawa solved countless cases together. Nobody stood a chance before them as the days of prosperity and unrivaled victory continued. And that was exactly why…
…the moment of decision was nearing.
“Looks like this is the place,” said Fukuzawa in the middle of a dark underground passage.
“Looks that way,” agreed Ranpo, pushing up his glasses by Fukuzawa’s side.
One day, Fukuzawa had requested Ranpo’s help. He asked Ranpo to find someone who appeared in unexpected places at unexpected times—someone whom no investigative organization could get a lead on. And in spite of all this, said individual was rumored to have connections with both the government and underground organizations, along with being near every conspiracy and scheme in Yokohama.
“I’m opening the door.”
In Fukuzawa’s hand as he pushed the iron door in the underground passage was a dignified-looking cane. That cane was the only lead they had. Without Ranpo’s powers of deduction, it would surely be impossible to find the target with such a small clue.
They strode through the dim room before descending even more stairs until they found themselves in a bright auditorium. There was a row of benches and tables with a blackboard and a teacher’s desk against the front wall.
“Welcome to Bankoudou Hall,” a cheerful voice echoed throughout the room. “Good work on finding the place.”
Fukuzawa lightly bowed before showing the cane in his hand.
“Oh, why, if it isn’t the cane I lost some time ago. You came all this way to return it to me? How commendable.”
“Your reputation precedes you, sir. If you would pardon my intrusion, I came to ask a favor.”
“Don’t be so formal. Come, have a seat.”
Fukuzawa bowed before taking a seat in the nearby chair. Ranpo, on the other hand, quietly stared at the man before him without even moving.
“No way… I didn’t notice before, but he’s—”
“I owe you my gratitude for saving me that day, my dear boy.” The man cackled. He wasn’t wearing a suit this time, but he still had on a bowler hat.
“Oh, okay,” Ranpo mumbled as if he were standing on pins and needles. His voice was hoarse. “You saw through that trap at the theater from the beginning. You noticed the rug’s adhesive, and yet, you allowed yourself to fall into the trap. Why? Was it to lure out the enemy—? No, there were plenty of ways you could have done that—”
“Whether I did or not, I owe your father.” He smiled faintly.
Ranpo stood absolutely still as if he were struck by lightning. “Don’t tell me… From the very start, you—”
“I came with a request,” Fukuzawa abruptly said, cutting him off. “As you know, Ranpo here has been building a reputation as a skilled detective. But it is taboo in the world we live in for a skill user to go public and try to make a name for themselves. That is why I would like to request your help.”
“A Skilled Business Permit, yes?” The man grinned. “So you’re telling me…you plan on starting a business?”
“Yes,” replied Fukuzawa.
Fukuzawa asked himself:
Am I even capable of becoming a boss?
Am I prepared to be the leader of an organization?