Chapter 81: Sing the Song of Rebellion!
The moment Eyeshade Three appeared, all eyes were immediately on her. Some were wary, some were curious, and some were panic-stricken. No one had anticipated that Eyeshade Three would show up at that moment.
"How did you find us here?" Sakaguchi Ango asked cautiously.
"Of course, I followed you. Unlike my original body, I can't control the Clockwork Emperor, so I had to resort to this old method," Eyeshade Three replied nonchalantly.
"You've been following me all this time?" Sakaguchi asked.
"Don't make it sound like I'm some sort of stalker with no private life. I just planted a tracker on your car," Eyeshade Three said casually.
"…I'll be switching cars soon," Sakaguchi muttered.
"It doesn't really matter," Eyeshade Three shrugged. "After all, this is probably the last time we'll meet."
"Last time?" Sakaguchi furrowed his brows, sensing something hidden in her words. "Why do you say that?"
Everyone shared the same confusion. The more observant members, like Dazai Osamu and Edogawa Rampo, exchanged a glance, both feeling uneasy. The phrase "last time" was ominous was she going to die, or were they all going to die?
Eyeshade Three, seeing their unease, replied bluntly, "This city is going to perish soon. Before that happens, I'll be leaving, and I won't be coming back."
"What?!"
"Stop with the ominous predictions."
"You better provide some proof."
Everyone began speaking over each other. The possibilities behind her statement were chilling, especially since Eyeshade Three was a part of the Nightmare faction, which had the power to threaten Yokohama's safety.
Dazai's expression darkened as he stepped forward and stared at Eyeshade Three. "You know the reason why Nightmare has come to this city, don't you?"
"Yes, but it's just a guess," Eyeshade Three nodded slightly. "After all, I'm not the real Nightmare."
"Even if it's just a guess, tell us. What does Nightmare want to do?"
Dazai's tone grew serious, and even his usually carefree expression disappeared. This was a rare sight of Dazai serious, and everyone knew that when he acted this way, a real crisis was upon them.
After a brief silence, Eyeshade Three smirked and said, "It doesn't really matter if I tell you. It's better if you don't know about the inevitable doom and the despair that comes with it. At least that way, you can die a little more peacefully."
"So you're not here to help us?" Dazai asked.
"Of course not. Even if I wanted to help, you couldn't defeat Nightmare," Eyeshade Three replied coldly. "You're too weak. I'm not going to bet on you."
"How would you know if you don't try?" Dazai persisted. "Since you've appeared here, you must want to help us, right?"
"Such things are obvious. With Nightmare's overwhelming power, you lack the kind of strength that can turn the tide," Eyeshade Three said, shaking her head. "It took a lot of effort for me to escape from Nightmare back then. If she finds out I'm helping you, she won't let me go. After all, unlike you fools, Nightmare actually sees me as a threat."
Seemingly done talking, Eyeshade Three turned her gaze toward Bandage Three. "You heard that, right? These people can't win against the real body. We need to leave while we still have time."
The members of the Armed Detective Agency stared in shock. They finally understood why Eyeshade Three had appeared she wasn't there to help them, but to take Bandage Three with her!
"You can't take her!" Nakajima Atsushi blurted out.
"Why not?" Eyeshade Three asked in response.
"Because she is..."
"Because she is?" Eyeshade Three raised an eyebrow, her expression curious.
"She is..." Atsushi's words trailed off. He had started to say something but quickly realized that Bandage Three was not a member of the Armed Detective Agency, and thus, he had no authority to stop her. His initial burst of emotion faded, leaving him frozen.
The others shared similar thoughts, falling silent. After all, Bandage Three had only been temporarily sheltered by the agency to maintain Yokohama's stability. Now that Eyeshade Three wanted to take her away from the city, they had no real reason to refuse. In fact, it seemed they should allow it.
"Let's go. The Armed Detective Agency isn't where you belong," Eyeshade Three stated. "I am your kind, not them."
"Ugh... I..." Bandage Three hesitated, torn between her past and the present. Her eyes moved between the familiar faces of the agency members and Eyeshade Three. After a deep breath and clenching her fists, she made a difficult decision.
"I won't go!"
"What?"
"I said, I don't want to leave with you!"
"Why? Didn't you hear what I just said? If you stay with them in Yokohama, you'll all be killed!" Eyeshade Three sounded increasingly impatient. "Stop acting like a child. You've already betrayed the real body once. The next time, she won't show mercy!"
"Even if the road ahead is full of thorns, I will sing the song of resistance without hesitation!" Bandage Three countered fiercely, her eyes burning with determination. "This is my destiny, one I cannot defy or escape from, even if the enemy is the invincible Nightmare!"
"Ugh, ugh, ugh..." Eyeshade Three groaned, clearly frustrated. "Come to think of it, I was really a goody two shoes back then, trying to play the role of a righteous companion."
Sighing, Eyeshade Three pulled out two ornate flintlock pistols one long, one short from her sides.
"I really didn't want to resort to this," she said, raising the guns. "But since you refuse to listen, I'll have to forcibly take you with me."
Before she could make her move, the Armed Detective Agency members stepped forward, positioning themselves in front of Bandage Three to protect her.
Nakajima Atsushi's limbs immediately transformed into those of a white tiger, ripping through his clothes in the process. Dazai Osamu and Kunikida Doppo drew their guns, disengaging the safety catches. Fukuzawa Yukichi lightly placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, his cold, silver-gray eyes sharp like steel.
The other members prepared their abilities as well, displaying the Agency's formidable spirit.
"Heh, you want to oppose me?" Eyeshade Three sneered, the corner of her mouth curling up.
"Even if we can't defeat Nightmare, I don't think dealing with just one of her fragments will be much of a problem," Dazai said politely, his usual playful smile replaced with a cold, determined expression.
"This child, she doesn't seem to have anything to do with you, right?" Eyeshade Three asked coldly, her eyes flicking toward Bandage Three. "If I take her, it's actually a big favor to you, isn't it?"
"Since she's willing to stand with the Armed Detective Agency, she's already connected to us," Fukuzawa Yukichi replied sternly, turning his gaze toward Bandage Three. "Do you truly want to leave your kind behind and fight with us, with Yokohama, against Nightmare?"
"This is exactly what I want," Bandage Three replied resolutely, her voice filled with conviction.
"Even if that means you might die?"
"Even if the cost is my life, the soul of the brave will never bow to the shadow of evil!"
"Then, the Armed Detective Agency will accept you as our comrade in arms," Fukuzawa Yukichi said, his stern face softening slightly as he nodded approvingly.
"Child, do you wish to join the Armed Detective Agency and become one of us?" Fukuzawa asked, a genuine smile of approval appearing on his face.
Chapter 82: Moths to the Flame, Seeking Their Own Destruction
Upon hearing Fukuzawa Yukichi's formal invitation, Eyeshade Three remained expressionless, but a barely noticeable smile curled at the corner of her lips.
At last, the matter of getting Bandage Three to join the Armed Detective Agency had been settled. With this, the final hesitation on their part had vanished.
The group would soon cross the sea to Yokohama, and of course, the original body, Tokisaki Kurumi, was fully aware of this.
Once their people arrived, Kurumi would act according to the original plan.
She would complete the main mission, become the nightmare feared by everyone in Yokohama, and at the same time, she would complete the side mission of defeating the members of the group.
Once the plan succeeded and the main mission was completed, she would have no reason to remain in this world.
By then, if Bandage Three hadn't yet completed the task assigned to her, she would have no chance to do so.
Tokisaki Kurumi had already joined the Port Mafia, Eyeshade Three had joined the Ability Special Forces, and now it was just Bandage Three whose situation remained unresolved.
If Bandage Three failed to complete her task, side mission two would remain unfulfilled, rendering all previous efforts useless.
This was why Eyeshade Three was here today.
Her goal wasn't really to take Bandage Three away, but rather to use this excuse to force the Armed Detective Agency into a corner, so they would have no choice but to accept her.
It was a plan recently conceived by the recently summoned Lolita Three.
After discussing the feasibility of this plan with her original body and receiving permission, Eyeshade Three appeared here.
Now, seeing that Bandage Three had been given the opportunity to join the Armed Detective Agency, Eyeshade Three's mood lifted.
All that was left was for Bandage Three to accept Fukuzawa Yukichi's invitation.
"Huh... me?" Bandage Three appeared a bit confused in response to Fukuzawa Yukichi's invitation. "But I am a fragment of the nightmare. Don't you care about my identity?"
"The Armed Detective Agency has no normal people. Compared to the former executive of the Port Mafia or the seventy-billion-dollar bounty hunter, your identity isn't that special," Edogawa Rampo said casually. "Moreover, we in the detective agency don't care about your identity. What matters is whether you have the ability and determination to protect others."
"Can I think about it?" Bandage Three said a little hesitantly. "Although I am very grateful for the invitation, I..."
"After all, this is a big decision. It's only natural to want more time to think," Dazai Osamu interjected timely. "But if you agree now, we'll overlook the incident where you stole my money, and I'll even return the black cat to you."
"I am willing to join the Armed Detective Agency," Bandage Three said without hesitation.
"Good."
Dazai Osamu smiled, looking at Eyeshade Three. "That's settled then. If you want to take a member of the Armed Detective Agency, you'll have to step over our dead bodies first."
"...It's a pity to come across a fragment that has betrayed the original body," Eyeshade Three said regretfully. "Since you want to die, stay here and die with them. I shall take my leave."
Just as Eyeshade Three prepared to leave, Sakaguchi Ango stepped forward, trying to keep her there.
"Wait a moment, I want to talk to you."
"I don't converse with the dead."
"If that's the case, then why did you give me the information on the Nightmare?" Sakaguchi Ango asked without giving up. "Back then, you must have been thinking of cooperating with us to defeat the Nightmare, right?"
"At that time, I indeed wanted to cooperate with you. I thought you still had a chance of defeating the Nightmare."
"And what made you think that now we have no chance of defeating the Nightmare?"
"Because it's already too late."
"Too late? What do you mean by that?"
"The group has already set off from North America. The biggest variable in the Nightmare's plan has already been settled. Everything is proceeding according to her plan. Once the group arrives in Yokohama, no one will be able to stop her." Eyeshade Three said with hatred, "I never thought that the masterminds in Yokohama, the Armed Detective Agency, would be foolish enough to make a deal with the Nightmare. If you had just handed over Nakajima Atsushi to the group, the disaster that's coming wouldn't have happened!"
"One of the principles of the Armed Detective Agency is that we never abandon our members," Fukuzawa Yukichi said seriously. "Are you underestimating us?"
"Sacrificing one person to save millions is the most cost-effective trade," Eyeshade Three snorted. "It's your stubbornness that will kill you, extinguishing Yokohama's last hope."
"Miss, please hold on a moment," Dazai Osamu sighed. "The Nightmare isn't going to reveal her plan to you. Your tone makes it sound like Yokohama is about to be destroyed. Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?"
"The Nightmare's plan isn't hard to guess. At least, it's easy for me."
Eyeshade Three lowered her gaze, speaking a little sadly. "Compared to those fools who know nothing over there, I know more, have experienced more, and thus, I am closer to the original body, and can somewhat guess what she plans."
"How dare you call me a fool repeatedly?! Do you think I'm made of clay?!" Bandage Three asked angrily. "If you know so much, then tell us everything you know!"
"Yes, if possible, please tell us everything you know."
Dazai Osamu shrugged, half-jokingly and half-seriously. "Even if, as you say, our end is inevitable, we'd rather take a gamble than sit idly by in ignorance."
The others' gazes were filled with solemnity and expectation.
Eyeshade Three bit her lip, looking conflicted.
After a long silence, she closed her eyes and sighed deeply.
"After all, birds of a feather flock together. No wonder I was willing to stand with you in the past."
Eyeshade Three turned back toward them. "Perhaps you think there's still a chance to defeat the Nightmare, or that you can stop her plan, but as the one who knows the Nightmare best, I warn you one last time. Don't try to oppose her. Leaving Yokohama now is the best way to save yourselves."
"Since you already know who we are, then you must know how we'll answer, right?"
"Don't think you're heroes bravely sacrificing yourselves for a cause. Your resistance is meaningless. In the end, it will only lead to your destruction," Eyeshade Three said sternly. "If you oppose the Nightmare, your choice will be the same as suicide."
"Suicide?"
Hearing Eyeshade Three's words, Dazai Osamu couldn't help but laugh.
"I love suicide the most."
Chapter 83: The True Purpose of the Nightmare Plan
"Perhaps if all of you are prepared, there may still be a sliver of a chance to stop Nightmare."
After much hesitation, Eye-Patch Three finally softened her tone, "Since that's the case, I'll risk being discovered by Nightmare and take a gamble with you."
Upon hearing this, the group breathed a collective sigh of relief. Until now, they had no clear understanding of Tokisaki Kurumi's plan, other than that the arrival of the "Combination" was part of her strategy. Even Edogawa Rampo, due to lack of information, couldn't offer any reliable guesses.
Now that Eye-Patch Three was willing to cooperate, it was a massive breakthrough. As the incarnation of Kurumi closest to the original "Nightmare," she knew far more than Bandage Three, who had long been discarded by her true self.
"Perhaps you already know this, but my ability, or rather, Tokisaki Kurumi's ability, Kokoro-tei (Chronos), was given to me by a mysterious figure called Phantom," Eye-Patch Three explained. "Phantom granted Tokisaki Kurumi the power over time, hoping she would work alongside her to punish the wicked and protect the innocent. You've probably heard this story from my younger self, right?"
"Yes, once we deduced this child was a split personality of the traitorous Nightmare, she revealed her background to us," Edogawa Rampo replied.
"But what if I told you," Eye-Patch Three continued, "that this story is a lie?"
"Absurd!" Bandage Three immediately retorted, "Are you implying I lied to them?"
"No, I'm not saying that," Eye-Patch Three responded with a hint of pity in her voice as she looked at Bandage Three. "After all, you only told them what you believed. But you were too young back then. After gaining power, you were blinded by it, forgetting that all gifts from fate come with a hidden cost."
"Wh-What are you saying?" Bandage Three asked, her face full of confusion and anger.
"It's simple," Eye-Patch Three sighed. "You were deceived by Phantom. That being isn't a righteous partner, and she didn't give you the power to control time because you had the potential to save the world."
"What evidence do you have?" Bandage Three snapped.
"The existence of Nightmare itself is the proof." Eye-Patch Three's voice became darker. "On my timeline, I began noticing Phantom's suspicious behavior. I didn't want to consider it at first, but after being summoned as a split personality and seeing the current version of Kurumi, I realized my suspicions were correct."
Upon hearing this, both Dazai Osamu and Edogawa Rampo exchanged glances. It was becoming clear that the mysterious "Phantom" had given Kurumi her powers for an entirely different reason.
When Bandage Three had shared her story with them, Phantom had always been portrayed as a force for good. However, Eye-Patch Three, being the version of Kurumi that was closer to the current "Nightmare," had long since suspected Phantom's true nature. She now confirmed that her original doubts had been justified.
"So, Phantom must have done something that led to your downfall and transformed you into Nightmare, right?" Edogawa Rampo speculated. "Do you have any clues as to what it was?"
"I do," Eye-Patch Three's expression wavered slightly, "but I don't want to talk about it."
"Alright, we understand," Dazai Osamu said, acknowledging her reluctance. "But based on your reasoning, we can infer that Phantom did something that made you extreme enough to become Nightmare. Is that right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"But why did Nightmare come to Yokohama? What's her plan here?" Dazai asked. "Could Phantom be hiding in Yokohama, and Nightmare is trying to cause chaos to flush her out?"
"No, I don't think that's very likely," Eye-Patch Three shook her head. "If my deductions are correct, causing chaos won't expose Phantom because her righteous partner persona is entirely a facade."
"Then why is Nightmare causing so much trouble in Yokohama?" Dazai pressed.
"About that... I must apologize," Eye-Patch Three said, "The information I gave to Mr. Sakaguchi earlier wasn't complete."
At this, Edogawa Rampo quickly spoke up, "Though the information you gave us didn't mention it, I managed to deduce something. It was quite simple, really."
"You figured out what the missing abilities are, didn't you?"
"Yes. The abilities of the 11th and 12th Balls are time travel," Rampo confirmed.
"That's right. You're sharp," Eye-Patch Three said with approval. "The 11th Ball allows the user to travel to the future, and the 12th Ball lets them travel back to the past."
"Why did you deliberately hide these two abilities?" Bandage Three demanded, her voice sharp.
"Because I was worried you would lose hope. After all, these two abilities are far too extraordinary," Eye-Patch Three replied.
"Now that you've brought them up, is it because they're related to Nightmare's plan?" Dazai asked.
"More specifically, it's the 12th Ball that's relevant," Eye Patch Three explained. "If I'm not mistaken, Nightmare plans to use the 12th Ball to travel to the past and kill Phantom."
"That explains it," Edogawa Rampo said, nodding thoughtfully. "If Phantom did something monstrous that caused Tokisaki Kurumi to fall and become Nightmare, then Nightmare could use the 12th Ball to go back and kill Phantom. This would change the timeline entirely."
But just as Rampo finished speaking, Dazai's face went pale, as though a sudden realization hit him. He recalled the information they had received earlier, and his eyes widened in fear.
"Nightmare consumes time to use Kokoro tei," Dazai muttered under his breath. "The further down the list the Ball is, the more time it consumes. And her Time-Eating City has the power to drain time from others..."
The others immediately understood the terrifying implication.
They had misunderstood what Eye Patch Three meant when she spoke of the "destruction of Yokohama."
They were wrong. They were terribly wrong.
"Nightmare plans to steal the time from Yokohama's citizens!" Dazai said, his voice grim.
"She intends to turn Yokohama into a dead zone!"
Chapter 84: The Appearance of the White Whale
At an amusement park in Yokohama.
Tokisaki Kurumi and Izumi Kyōka were sitting in a slowly rising Ferris wheel, quietly overlooking the entire park below.
A clone emerged from the shadows, breaking the serene atmosphere, and reported to Tokisaki Kurumi, "The plans from Eye Patch Three and Bandage Three are proceeding smoothly. We can start our operation against the Combination at any time."
"Good."
Tokisaki Kurumi gave a slight nod and waved her hand, signaling the clone to retreat.
This outcome was, of course, as she had anticipated. After all, sending Eye Patch Three to stir things up today was partly to push Bandage Three to join the Armed Detective Agency as quickly as possible. The scene that had played out in front of Sakaguchi Ango and the members of the Armed Detective Agency had been carefully planned in advance by Tokisaki Kurumi, Eye Patch Three, and Bandage Three.
With such a smooth and flawless script, it would be strange if there were any issues.
"One less thing to worry about."
As she sipped on the strawberry milkshake Izumi Kyōka had bought her, Tokisaki Kurumi thought to herself, I hope the next phase of the plan goes as smoothly as well.
With Side Mission 1 completed and Side Mission 2 about to start, there weren't any significant issues with Side Mission 3 either.
Now, the only thing left to focus on was the main mission.
According to the system, in order to move on to the next world, the main mission must be completed it was a strict requirement. Side and random missions didn't matter, and could be ignored.
However, completing side and random missions would affect the final performance rating, which in turn influenced the reward draw after finishing the main mission. The higher the performance rating, the greater the chance of drawing useful abilities.
Tokisaki Kurumi didn't want to spend all her time completing the main mission only to end up with useless abilities in the draw.
So, as a non speedrun player, she had decided to take care of side and random missions before completing the main one, as much as possible.
Now, there were no pressing side missions left, and only a difficult random mission remained. It was time to focus on how to complete the main mission.
The main mission was simple: become the nightmare that makes Yokohama tremble in fear.
This task was simple, but also difficult.
The easiest way to complete it would be to go on a random killing spree in the streets, and once the body count reached a certain level, the task would be finished.
However, such a method was the least suitable for Tokisaki Kurumi's character. Despite being known as the most vicious spirit, she mostly killed bad people or villains, at least in the majority of cases.
To preserve her image, she decided to choose a more complicated method that wouldn't ruin her character.
She would use Time Eating City to spread fear.
Telling the Armed Detective Agency and the Special Ability Bureau about Tokisaki Kurumi's plan to steal the time of all Yokohama's citizens and turn the entire city into a dead zone was the first step in spreading fear.
Eye-Patch Three had informed them that the nightmare was preparing to use the 12th Bullet to travel back in time and kill Phantom. This was something Tokisaki Kurumi had instructed her to do.
But she didn't actually plan to drain the entire city's population of their time. After all, her main objective was simply to make Yokohama's organizations and citizens feel fear there was no need to go that far.
Moreover, the 11th and 12th bullets were the most special of the Time Eating bullets. To use them, only enormous spiritual power was required, without consuming any time.
However, neither Dazai Osamu nor anyone else could know this. To them, since the 1st through 10th bullets required time to use, the 11th and 12th bullets must logically also require time to activate. This was basic reasoning, and even a detective like Edogawa Rampo couldn't deduce otherwise.
As long as Tokisaki Kurumi didn't reveal it, no one would know about the special nature of the last two bullets.
"Look."
Suddenly, Izumi Kyōka, who had been gazing out at the scenery, pointed to the horizon, her eyes wide. "Something's flying toward us."
"Hmm?"
Tokisaki Kurumi, lost in thought, looked up and squinted toward the sun drenched skyline. A blurry object was slowly approaching Yokohama.
More and more people in the amusement park began to notice the object and either gathered in groups to watch or took out their phones to record videos.
Because what they were seeing was no ordinary aircraft.
As the object drew nearer, a massive flying steel whale became clearer in the sky.
The Combination's mobile headquarters the White Whale!
"They're here so soon?" Tokisaki Kurumi chuckled softly. "It seems like after hearing about the transport ship being hijacked, they finally couldn't sit still anymore."
"Does Sister know what that is?" Izumi Kyōka asked.
"That's the White Whale, an ability-based creature controlled by the Combination, an airborne castle. It's my prey."
"Prey?"
"Yes, I've been planning this for a long time, just waiting for this moment."
"Do you need my help?"
"Kyōka, just stay at home and wait. No matter what happens, don't come out."
"Yes..."
"Don't be disappointed. I don't think you're weak. It's just that I'm too strong."
Tokisaki Kurumi gently patted Izumi Kyōka on the head, a warm glint in her eyes.
At first, she had taken in this girl out of guilt. But as the days passed, the cold yet warm-hearted young girl had truly grown on her.
When the time came for their inevitable farewell, even Kurumi found her heart heavy.
"Sister..." Izumi Kyōka pursed her lips and asked, "Are you leaving?"
"You're such a perceptive child."
"You brought me here today to play, but it's really to say goodbye, isn't it?"
"Yes, my time in Yokohama is probably coming to an end, so I wanted to make it up to you before I leave."
"There's nothing to make up for. You gave me my life."
"Don't say such formal things. Aren't you my cute little sister?"
"Then... can I come with you?"
Faced with Izumi Kyōka's playful and persistent antics, Tokisaki Kurumi felt a pang of reluctance.
If only she could take her along.
But Kurumi wasn't a traveler exploring Earth she was a traveler between worlds, and even if she wanted to, it was impossible.
Unless the system allowed it?
Of course, that was impossible.
The system wasn't some agreeable entity; she only came out when issuing random tasks.
"The place I'm going isn't one where ordinary people can follow," Tokisaki Kurumi said, opening her arms for a light hug. "But before I go, I'll make sure you're well taken care of, just as I promised."
"Yes..."
"The White Whale arrived faster than I expected. It looks like our fun amusement park trip has to end here."
Standing up from the seat in the Ferris wheel, Tokisaki Kurumi was gradually swallowed by the shadow beneath her feet.
"Let's head home, Kyōka."
Before she left, she left a final word.
"Because the riot is about to begin."
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