Bound by Obsession

Part 57

The Agency and the Port Mafia had worked together before, but this time, the tension between them was palpable. With a united front, they stormed the location where their sources had tracked Fyodor and Dazai—another one of Fyodor's sprawling mansions. Every second leading up to this moment had been filled with anticipation, but as they breached the front doors, an eerie silence greeted them.

The grand halls echoed with the sound of their footsteps. The mansion was just as luxurious and grand as they expected, but something was wrong. It felt... abandoned.

Kunikida was the first to break the silence, his voice low and tense. "Fan out. Search every room. Don't leave any corner unchecked."

Atsushi nodded quickly, his nerves on edge as he sprinted down one of the long hallways, Chuuya following close behind him. The mansion was massive, each room they passed filled with expensive decor, yet not a single sign of life. No servants, no guards. Nothing.

Ranpo, walking through the main hall, tapped his finger thoughtfully against his chin. "This isn't right," he said quietly to Kunikida, who stood beside him. "It's like they were never here."

Kunikida's jaw clenched. "They were. We confirmed it." He glanced around, frustration evident in his features. "Then where are they?"

As they moved deeper into the mansion, the unsettling realization began to sink in. Fyodor had anticipated them. He had known they would come, and he had taken Dazai and disappeared—leaving behind no trace, no clue as to where they might have gone.

Atsushi kicked open the door to what looked like a study, but the room was as empty as the rest. "Damn it!" he cursed under his breath. "Where could they have gone?"

Chuuya, who had been silent for most of the search, growled in frustration, slamming his fist against the doorframe. "This is his game. Fyodor's always ten steps ahead. He knew we were coming."

Ranpo stepped into the study, glancing around. "That's what's bothering me," he muttered. "He left this place too clean. No sign of a struggle, no personal belongings. It's like they were never here."

"Then we're back to square one," Atsushi said, his voice edged with hopelessness. "We have no idea where Dazai is."

Kunikida, who had been standing near the large windows overlooking the empty courtyard, suddenly spoke, his tone sharp. "Not necessarily."

Everyone turned to him, their eyes narrowing in confusion. "What do you mean?" Chuuya asked.

Kunikida held up a small piece of paper, which had been tucked under the windowsill, barely visible. The note was simple, written in a delicate, almost mocking hand:

You're too late.

That was all it said.

Ranpo raised an eyebrow. "That's definitely Fyodor's style. Subtle and infuriating."

Atsushi ran a hand through his hair, frustration building. "So, what now? We have no idea where they went. It could be another mansion, or somewhere we don't even know exists."

Chuuya's fists clenched. "We keep looking. We don't stop until we find him."