The things the mind conceals - Edogawa Ranpo x Reader

Chapter 10

You weren't sure if you should regret saying that you could handle the situation. It was quite a tricky one, in all honesty. But you knew you had to keep the promise you made.

"Can't we put one of these situations aside and solve one at a time?" Dazai asked.

"No. We have to communicate with Amaya to find out all the details to solve that case while simultaneously solving the other." Ranpo replied.

"If you're not willing to communicate, then the problem just sits there. If you just keep staring at it without doing anything, eventually you'll watch every last opportunity to resolve it slip away before your eyes." You add.

"Y/N. When did you become wise?" Kunikida said.

"What? I make a valid point. If you keep putting off a task, you'll never actually solve it. It's like housework. You see a dirty counter or floor and say, "I'll clean it tomorrow." But you keep on saying that and never actually do it. It's the same concept." You reply.

"She has a point. Putting something aside will never solve it." Ranpo added.

"Wait. Did the Ranpo just admit to someone else being right? Kunikida. Did you record it?" Dazai said, entirely teasing.

"Can we actually be serious for just a moment?" You said, curving the previous conversation.

"Fine, fine." Dazai sighed.

"Where to start?" Kunikida said aloud.

"Well, if we treat both cases as A and B we can divide the information and work out what we know. We'll start with A. Sato. We know some organisation is targeting people of low status and coercing them into doing tasks which would get them arrested. Case B. Amaya. The Port Mafia are after her because of her ability. Which, unfortunately, is an ability they can take advantage of. We need to protect Amaya and find out more as to why the Port Mafia are after her. And we need to find out what this organisation wants and what their motive is." You explain.

"Protecting Amaya is easy as she can just stay in the ADA compound." Ranpo commented.

"And Dazai. You can get the info from someone within the Port Mafia then." You said with a smile that said, "if you don't do this, I'll tell everyone you're an ex-Executive."

Dazai gulped, nodding in agreement. Your mind-reading ability really did come in handy most of the time.

You knew nobody else had the knowledge that Dazai used to work for the Port Mafia. You had no intention of telling anyone, but you found it hilarious how easy it was to get him wrapped around your finger. Ranpo surely would catch on and maybe even question why you're doing that.

You were now in a position of how to properly approach both cases and bring them both to justice without conflict, complaint or complication. How you were to do that, you didn't know.

You then got lost in thought in an attempt to work out the next course of action. The first course of action would most likely to be to work out how long the Port Mafia have been after Amaya and if there's any agreement to come to to stop them going after her.

For the first time in your life, you decided to do something reckless. What you had hidden from the whole Detective Agency. Well, maybe not Ranpo. Was that you had a contact in the Port Mafia. Getting up from your chair, a few turned their heads to you.

"Where are you going?" Kunikida asked.

"Outside. I need to make a phone call." You explain.

"Don't take too long. We have work to do." Kunikida says.

"I know, I know." You say, heading outside.

Weirdly, Dazai decided to follow you. You descended the steps from the Armed Detective Agency down to the café before stepping outside and calling your friend.

CALLING - Mara
What is it this time?
Mara! Am I not allowed to call?
No. Because whenever you call, you want something.
Fine... arrange a meeting between me and one of your executives.
Heh?! Why? That's reckless!
I know, I know. But I need this meeting.
Fine... to spare you, I'll ask Chuuya. I was going to be mean and ask Akutagawa. But he would never hear you out.
Thank you so much Mara!
Yeah, whatever.
CALL ENDED

"What risky thing are you planning?" Dazai said, scaring you.

"D-Dazai?! I didn't see you there." You exclaim.

"I'm meeting with someone." You reply, not giving much away.

"Is it about Amaya?" He asks.

"Of course it is! If I come to an agreement with them, problem solved." You sigh.

"Fine, I won't stop you." He sighed also, heading back inside.

Sighing a second time, you left the Armed Detective Agency and began descending further into Yokohama. Prior to leaving, you had received a text telling you to head to the centre of Yokohama to meet with the executive. Walking for a while, you eventually bumped into him.

"Are you Chuuya?" You asked, staring at the man before you.

"So what if I am?" He asked, a pang of annoyance evident in his tone.

"Mara said she'd arrange for us to meet." You explain.

"Oh so you're the thorn in the side." He replied.

"T-thorn in the side?! What's that supposed to mean?" You said confused.

"Never mind. What?" He said.

"Help me come to an agreement with your boss to stop chasing after Amaya." You declare.

"You know that's not going to happen. Let me guess, you're from the ADA?" He paused.

You nodded before he laughed and spoke again.

"God that girl has you wrapped around her fucking finger. You're so gullible." He replied.

"Gullible? I'm the gullible one? Wait... Amaya has and always was with the Port Mafia. Your intention was to draw me out, wasn't it?" You ask.

"Too bad you noticed." He sighed.

Then, a man with black hair dipped white at the roots came out and tried to attack you. You didn't get enough time to analyse his strength so was only able to produce a pistol. You shot at him a few times to which he blocked every time. You still weren't able to analyse him so threw a grenade. After a while, you began to feel more and more tired. The fatigue slowly setting in. As well as that, you'd been hit a few times by the unknown male.

After a mere five minutes longer, you passed out. Assuming the worst, you guessed that one of them had picked you up and brought you to their hideout. After a while, you woke up, tied to a cinder block.

"Wanna explain why I'm here?" You ask.

"Information." He explained.

"What information could you possibly want from me?" You asked.

"The secrets of the L/N family." A voice chimed in.

"Mara?" You ask.

"Yeah. Sorry, seems you got sold out." She sighed, though it was clearly not sympathetic.

"I don't understand." You eventually say.

"You really thought your family was pure? That's laughable. Tell us the secrets of the L/N family." Mara asked again.

Sksks I'm back. I've only managed to do this chapter for now, but I got big plans for this story. I have a few ideas I wish to include into this story but that's a secret. I hope this chapter is okay...