Suribachi's vagabond (english vers)

Chapter 2.2 : Entry into the shadow.

Toru followed Dazai and Chuuya into the office. The room was quite spacious. You could fit three homes like the one Toru rented in Suribachi inside it. The wall on their right and the floor were richly carpeted, while on their left stood a huge bay window that offered a breathtaking view of the city. At the back of the room, there was an imposing desk where a man was sitting, talking to a girl lying on the floor. He had a smile that Toru was particularly wary of. It was him. Mori Ogai, the current boss of the port mafia... According to rumors, he had inherited the title from his predecessor while the latter was on his deathbed. The former boss was known for the chaos that had engulfed the city a few years earlier. Even though Toru didn't really believe in this story of a power transition and rather in the theory of a very likely assassination, she couldn't deny that Mori's takeover of the mafia had been, vile as it may be, the turning point for a more peaceful era, although the times were no less sinister.

Next to the desk, the young girl was lying on the floor, drawing in a notebook. Toru glanced briefly at her, curious to know what a child like her could be doing here. The little girl felt Toru's gaze on her and looked up from her drawing... She looked at Toru for a moment before smiling mischievously and looking back at her sheets, then began a new drawing. Toru was surprised by the presence of this child in such a place but decided not to ask any further questions, just silently watching her.

While the two girls exchanged silent looks of curiosity, the two others were reporting to Mori, but of course, a new dispute soon broke out, so Toru turned away from the girl's drawing before silently watching them.

Chuuya: "What do you mean 'Chuuya almost messed everything up'?? You didn't lift a finger the whole time!"

Dazai: "And we would have gotten nothing at all if I hadn't gone to warn Toru that you were heading straight for them like an idiot! Can you imagine if your flashy entrance had killed everyone? Our surveillance would have been useless just because you wanted to draw attention to your little existence!"

This scene made Mori sigh as he watched them with an expression between exasperation and consternation as they left the office after finishing their report, leaving Toru behind and arguing on the way.

Dazai: "And stop going in the same direction as me!"

Chuuya: "I'm not going in the same direction as you, idiot!"

Toru watched them leave with a neutral expression until the door closed after them.

"These two still get along great as I see it..."
Mori sighed before looking at Toru and smiling.

"Well, young lady... Since you're here, I deduce that my offer reached you. We hear great things about you as a bounty hunter. I thought your likely involvement in this matter would be a good opportunity to get you to join our ranks. What do you say?"

Toru looked at him with a rather cold expression as she faced the imposing desk. This smile he wore annoyed her deeply, as if he found her stupid enough to fall for his false airs of kindness.

"I don't say much in reality... It's not like you've really given me a choice."

Mori laughed at Toru's direct response before his expression became more serious.
"Indeed... I'm not really giving you a choice. Although the mafia has had Chuuya among its ranks for two years now, it still sorely lacks ability users."
He then opened the desk drawer to take out a scarf... It was rather long and a deep dark green.
"It is tradition for every new member of the port mafia to be offered a garment upon their arrival... I gave Dazai his coat and Chuuya his hat. For you, it will be this scarf."

Toru looked at him for a moment before her gaze became even colder.
"One more thing..."

Mori looked at her with surprise.
"What?"