“The internal turmoil within the port mafia is chaotic. The best doctor would be Mr. Mori himself, ruled out. Although the Armed Detective Agency has some background, they cannot treat you, ruled out. By process of elimination, the last option is the ability-specialized agents backed by a national government.”

Dazai, despite his young age, dressed himself in a black suit, adorned with a tie, presenting a demeanor akin to applying for a government position at the age of fourteen.

He turned to look at the much cleaner and tidier Raikou sitting obediently by the bedside.

“Okay.”

The more challenging something is, the more interesting it becomes, isn’t it?

Raikou watched various actions of the white flames flicker, this ‘Dororo’ looked lively.

“Raikou?” Dazai inquired.

Raikou accurately caught the two ties hanging down from Dazai’s chest.

Dazai remarked with amusement, “Are you trying to strangle me?”

Then, Raikou tied another bowtie on top of his suit’s necktie.

Dazai Osamu said with a deadpan expression, “…”

He reluctantly removed the bowtie that marred his image. As a gesture of retaliation, he took out a headband and attempted to tie a high ponytail bow for Raikou, but finding it too garish, he gave up in the end.

“Raikou Goutokuji, please maintain your puppet-like appearance!”

He handed over the switch.

The rest, he would muster the energy to deal with. He didn’t have time for suicide at the moment.

Feeling his dislike for the bowtie, Raikoutouched his disheveled hair that had been tied up, untied, and retied by Dazai, then proceeded to tie a new ponytail braid in front of Dazai.

“Do girls not like bowties?”

“It’s okay.”

Raikouheld the other person’s hand, the gaps between their fingers slightly loose, but eventually, they would interlace their fingers completely.

“Someday, I will know what you like… and give it to you again.”

– To the best person in the world.

Arranged by the Armed Detective Agency, Dazai secretly met with members of the Ability Special Division, accompanied by a semi-automatic doll, Raikou Goutokuji, who couldn’t speak or hear.

As soon as they sat down, Dazai was quite satisfied with the individual introduced by Fukuzawa.

The person seemed like a high-ranking official.

Balding.

At the same time, Chief Taneda, who had a connection with Fukuzawa, wore a kimono, his hands folded within his sleeves. His shining bald head didn’t give off any strange vibes; instead, he appeared amiable.

The four of them sat in the tea room, and Fukuzawa Yukichi, acting as the introducer, asked, “How is it?”

Chief Taneda took out a fan, covering the lower half of his face with a small mustache, and whispered something to Fukuzawa in front of Dazai and Raikou.

“It’s very good.”

“If it comes from your mouth, it must be quite good.”

Fukuzawa’s face bore a slight smile; everyone hoped that the people they recommended would be recognized.

Chief Taneda had the ability to see through people at a glance in government departments, and he was skilled at unearthing talented individuals. By gaining the other’s approval, he obtained the opportunity to enter the Ability Special Division.

“I will handle official matters impartially and won’t give you much face,” Chief Taneda said.

“No need for that,” Fukuzawa replied.

Chief Taneda nodded and said to Fukuzawa, who was about to leave the tea room, “Let’s have a drink together next time.”

“Okay,” Fukuzawa, who didn’t like drinking, agreed.

Dazai seemed as if he hadn’t heard their conversation, remaining quiet until Fukuzawa left before getting straight to the point, “Mr. from the Ability Special Division, I wonder if you understand my intentions.”

Chief Taneda’s gaze shifted from Dazai Osamu to Raikou, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes. He couldn’t help but think of the members of the Special Forces in the military and police—like Jouno Saigiku, who was also blind and exceptionally skilled despite his young age. Chief Taneda said, “You want to join the Ability Special Division, obtain information about healing-type ability users, treat the people around you… Additionally, gain some resources from the government to assist you.”   

Finally, Dazai smiled, breaking the tense standoff atmosphere.

“That’s right. I intend to join a government-affiliated department in exchange for government assistance in medical matters. May I ask if the Ability Special Division has any plans to recruit new members?”

“That’s difficult.”

Chief Taneda tapped his palm with the fan, expressing words of irony towards Dazai’s obliviousness to his own fortune. “The formal channel to join the Ability Special Division is to graduate from a military academy or have at least one parent who is a member of the division, with a clean family background. Candidates are recommended by internal members and must pass assessments before joining.”

He displayed a politician’s cunning and dark side when addressing Dazai Osamu.

“What advantages do you have?” It was like praising someone one moment and treating them as if they were adults the next.

Dazai handed over his application form unaffectedly.

“Please have a look first.”

Chief Taneda was intrigued by how Dazai managed to captivate him. In reality, the Ability Special Division had long been collecting information on Dazai, but the genuine information obtained was sparse. What could be confirmed was that this young man witnessed the demise of the former leader of the port mafia, directly facilitating the rise of the new leader. He emerged alive from the most chaotic succession vortex of the port mafia, with no one else managing to eliminate him.

Upon seeing Dazai for the first time, he was certain that this young man possessed exceptional intelligence. He was a master strategist, calm and cunning, making him an ideal candidate for senior positions within government departments.

The middle-aged man lowered his head to read the thin piece of paper, which contained only a few simple pieces of information:

Name: Dazai Osamu

Gender: Male

Age: 14

Ability: No Longer Human (Can nullify all abilities.)

Residential Address: Yokohama, Japan…

Nullify all abilities?!

Chief Taneda retrieved his inner shock, his expression becoming much milder. “Dazai, your qualifications are excellent. The Ability Special Division needs talents like you.”

Dazai joined in with the playful deception, eyes wide open. “Really? I was worried that I was too young to join a government department. I didn’t realize I was so outstanding.”

Chief Taneda chuckled heartily. “Indeed. If you want to join the Ability Special Division, I happen to have a suitable assessment task for you, Dazai. Care to guess what the task is?”

Dazai glanced at Raikou kneeling beside him in the tea room, pondering.

“It’s a task that would require your immediate determination and response… It’s related to the Port Mafia, isn’t it? I see, you’ve been observing me for a while. Your position is much higher than I imagined, being the head of the Ability Special Division…”

Finally, he spoke without hesitation, “It’s an undercover mission!”

Chief Taneda was pleased.

This was a promising candidate. With a little cultivation, the Ability Special Division would surely have its ace.

Most importantly… they needed to keep a close eye and prevent the military and police from snatching him.

Chief Taneda revealed his true objective, “During the internal turmoil of the Port Mafia, the government department needs to monitor it to a certain extent. Currently, no one is more suitable for this than you, Dazai-kun.”

Dazai responded indifferently, “How do I know you’re not deceiving me?”

“The character of President Fukuzawa is always reliable,” Chief Taneda replied.

Sensing that the other party might not be familiar with Fukuzawa, Chief Taneda reconsidered and continued, “As evidence that I haven’t deceived you, for every piece of information you provide, the Ability Special Division will provide corresponding medical information to you. After you officially join the Ability Special Division, relevant information will be made available to you. Whether or not we can invite foreign ability users to Japan will depend on your abilities and contributions to the division.”

Dazai nodded, finding this approach in line with what the Ability Special Division would do.

Information exchange.

He bore the risk, while the other party only needed to provide relatively unimportant information, enabling them to monitor the Port Mafia and potentially gain a new employee after the assessment. Indeed, government intelligence agencies were bound by numerous regulations and wouldn’t readily accept outsiders…

Fortunately, the weight of “No Longer Human” was substantial.

“Let me think about it.”

Dazai didn’t immediately agree. Chief Taneda expressed understanding, finished his tea, and there were still some snacks left on the table. He addressed Raikou, who hadn’t spoken a word throughout the meeting.

“Young man, I look forward to the day when we can have a conversation.”

Chief Taneda left through the back door.

Then, Dazai let out a sigh of relief and leaned back, lying down on the tatami mat in the tea room. Raikou followed suit, lying down beside him, their gray-brown eyes on Dazai’s face mask.

Raikou used his fingers to gently stroke Dazai’s features, tickling him.

“Dororo must be very beautiful.”

Naturally.

This was the Dazai who would one day have countless women crying for him.

The young Dazai squinted his eyes. When Raikou’s fingertips reached his lips, he recoiled, feeling taken advantage of by an ignorant puppet. He flipped over, pinning Raikou’s limbs down on the tatami mat, teasing him, “Raikou, don’t push your luck!”

“Did I touch the wrong place?”

Raikou lacked the ability to blush. After a moment of minor embarrassment, and having identified Dazai as the main character, he internally struggled once again, “I shouldn’t be pressing on a male, Dororo.”

Dazai stiffened Raikou Goutokuji, chuckling, “What kind of person am I in your heart? Am I a good person or…” He raised his lips, revealing a future tenderness and affection in his eyes, “someone you think needs more protection, someone who’s afraid of being harmed by villains?”

The other always seemed to be nervous around him, standing in front of him whenever danger arose, using a puppet body that could be pierced by bullets to protect him, firmly believing that he was a trustworthy person.

What a mistaken judgment.

Raikou, who always made erroneous judgments in Dazai Osamu’s eyes, couldn’t witness Dazai’s handsome appearance, couldn’t hear his deceptive words, and could only gently stroke Dazai’s back in his own way.

“Never mind, Dororo can just like whatever he likes.”

“…”

Dazai felt a shiver run through the sharpness and vigilance projected by the outside world, and he relaxed, his cheeks puffing up with frustration.

What was he arguing with Raikou about…

He was just someone who could be led by the hand, easily manipulated!

Dazai carefully avoided pressing on the “skin” beneath Raikou’s bandages. With a bit of effort, he sat up, thinking of the requirements of the Ability Special Division, and muttered strangely, “After going around in circles, are we back to the Port Mafia?”

Mr. Mori, it seems we’re truly fated!

In the headquarters of the Port Mafia, behind a certain leader who had evolved from a black doctor into a corporate slave, there was a chill, and he looked around.

The Port Mafia was about to welcome a new undercover agent—Dazai.