The Three Sided War

Ch.26 Catching Up

"No...it'll work... I know it."

I sigh as Karl climbs out of my arms and onto my shoulders. I simply pick up the book and sit in the chair Ranpo was sitting in. I open it and began to read it a bit.

"...They looked surprised... You didn't warn them about my ability, "Black Cat in the Rue Morgue". Why?"

"Simple."

I look at him.

"Out of everyone in The Guild, I like two people. You're one of them, of course. I know how much you wanted to best your rival. If I were to warn them, they could have simply avoided your ability. That wouldn't make you happy. Plus, I know you wouldn't really kill my friends. It's not like you."

"..."

I smile at him.

"I want you to win, that's true. But, I also want Ranpo-san to win as well. And we need those documents you have there, so I really want him to win. Sorry."

"I see... Well, thank you for not interfering."

"Anything for my old reading buddy. So, how have you've been?"

"The same. Nothing's really changed."

"Really? You don't have any exciting stories to tell me? I've always enjoyed your stories."

"Sorry, I've been concentrating on creating that novel in your hands. I made it just for Ranpo-kun."

"You made this book?"

"Yes, no one can solve it, not even Ranpo-kun. It's a supremely unusual meta-mystery written specifically with him in mind. Once he's in there, it's over. He'll never figure out the killer or how they did it."

"...This isn't a challenge, is it?"

"Correct. It's revenge. He might have forgotten, but I never will. The day he defeated me in a battle of wits, I lost all reason to show my face to anyone. My mind wandered in an endless, dark room. But I realized I can live on. If I only had the plentiful glory and praise he did, I could..."

"..."

"I'll take it from him. Even if that means I have to burn him alive."

I snap the book shut, startling Poe. I was serious as I spoke.

"Listen, you shouldn't think like that. You're one of the greatest detectives I've ever met. You don't have to be better than Ranpo-san. Hell, you don't even need to be like him. I like you the way you are now. If you became better than Ranpo-san, there's no doubt in my mind that you'll let the glory go to your head."

"..."

"You would end up just like every other Guild member. Then...we couldn't be friends anymore."

"...I know you hate that about the others."

"That's right. The other's have too much glory, which leads to too much money. If you end up like them, then I would have to use my ability to stop you right here and now. You know my real ability, don't you?"

"Of course I do. You can copy others. There's a person you work with that disables other abilities. I bet you would use that on me."

"Correct, as always."

"..."

"Just think about my words, please. I really don't want to lose a friend."

"...Okay."

"I bet you'll even become good friends with Ranpo-san."

"I doubt that."

I smile.

"We'll see."

"...I'm glad you found your brother."

"Me too. I have to thank him for letting me sneak away with so much money. It costs a boat load just to locate him. That's the last time I ever use some shady underground intel group."

"So you used up all the money?"

"Nope. I had some left over."

"You stayed at the orphanage, right? What happened to the left over money?"

"Well, I had to make sure my brother was my brother. I wouldn't be happy if I did all that for nothing. I spent the rest on a D.N.A. test from a shady doctor at the orphanage. I'm glad it came back positive."

"So you ended up broke?"

"Yeah. So I lived with my twin at the orphanage. I hated the way they treated him. I could care less about the other kids, they were always pinning their little crimes on him. They got what they deserved."

"Still dark as ever I see."

"Well, I was a member of the Port Mafia before The Guild, remember? I had two dark teachers. I guess one of their madness got embedded into my brain."

Karl rubs his cheek against mine. I smile as I pet him.

"I've missed you too, buddy. How have you been? You've gotten bigger."

He makes a sound as he replies.

"Hehehe. Is that so?"

"Stop messing with me. You can't actually talk to him."

"Yes I can. You know this. I've always talk with him back in the day. He would say some wild things about you."

"No he didn't...right?"

I just giggle.

"Stop it!"

The book suddenly starts glowing.