I don't want to be an elf!

To truly join the organization and become a full member, one must undergo numerous tests and tasks, demonstrating loyalty before being granted an opportunity to meet Mori Ōgai.

However, Tokisaki Kurumi not only skipped this rule, but Mori Ougai personally announced the arrival of the new member to the organization and promoted him to guerrilla captain right away.

This was simply unbelievable to the other members.

Even the executives couldn't help but wonder what kind of relationship this girl named Tokisaki Kurumi had with Mori Ōgai that would make the absolutely rational Mori Ōgai open his back door for her.

As the head of the intelligence team, Ozaki Koyo had naturally inquired about it long ago.

But the answer she received was the same as the one Mori Ōgai gave to Nakahara Chūya: special reasons, special treatment.

If Ozaki Kouyou hadn't known that her master, Mori Ougai, was a lolicon and not interested in women over twelve, she might have even suspected that Mori Ougai and Tokisaki Kurumi had some kind of special relationship.

"My relationship with Mr. Mori? Well, if I had to put it that way, it would be..."

Kurumi Tokisaki lightly tapped her lips with her index finger and said in a calm tone, "It's just a simple transaction."

"trade?"

"Yes, but you can ask Mr. Mori for details about the specific transaction yourself. If he is unwilling to tell you, I'm afraid I can't tell you either."

"I understand. Since Lord Ougai is unwilling to discuss this further, it is clearly information that I do not need to know."

"Don't you feel a little annoyed that you've been kept in the dark by someone you trust?"

"No, that person's every move is for the benefit of the organization, including concealment."

"Ms. Ozaki, you really do love the organization." Kurumi Tokisaki smiled. "It's hard to imagine that you, who used to regard the Port Mafia as your enemy, would now consider the organization's interests."

Upon hearing this, Ozaki Koyo raised an eyebrow, as if somewhat surprised that Tokisaki Kurumi knew about this.

During the reign of the former Port Mafia Boss, the Port Mafia was plagued by internal and external conflicts. Its aggressive expansion of power externally led to many enemies, while its strict rules, heavy workload, and high mortality rate internally caused great suffering for many members.

The high-pressure environment did not make the port mafia more united; instead, it turned them into a disorganized mess.

Some even wanted to leave the organization.

Ozaki Koyo's lover was one of them.

Her lover was just an ordinary member of the organization, and for such people, once they joined, they never left.

Only defection.

However, according to the rules of the Port Mafia, traitors only face death.

However, his lover could no longer endure life as a member of the mafia, and after he had prepared everything, he decided to leave the organization quietly.

However, he was not satisfied with leaving alone; he wanted to leave with Ozaki Koyo.

He promised Ozaki Koyo that he would definitely take her away and that they would have a better and brighter life than staying here, and grow old together as an ordinary couple.

At that time, Ozaki Koyo was very young and was easily moved by her lover's words. She also longed for the life her lover described, so she joined the defection team.

Too bad they failed.

The lover overestimated himself and underestimated the organization.

Both of them were eventually caught.

He might have been able to escape alone, but he chose to take Ozaki Koyo with him, a rare ability user in the organization. The previous Boss would never allow such a valuable fighting force to be lost during such a special time.

As punishment, the lovers were killed, while Ozaki Koyo survived.

This is why she once hated the Port Mafia.

Recalling her unforgettable past, Ozaki Koyo did not do or say anything outrageous. She simply said, "People always change, and organizations change too. What I hate is the Port Mafia of the past, not the Port Mafia of today."

She wasn't surprised that Tokisaki Kurumi knew about her past.

Although not many people in the organization knew about this, and those who did had no reason to talk about it, she did not actually try to keep it a secret.

However, she was still curious about how Kurumi Tokisaki found out about this.

Did Mori Ōgai tell her?

No, Mori Ōgai isn't that kind of gossipy person.

Or did other long-time members tell her?

That shouldn't be the case either, since she joined the organization she hasn't had much contact with the members.

Recalling the information Mori Ougai updated yesterday, Ozaki Kouyou seemed to have a sudden realization, as if she had just made a connection to something.

She also remembered that the intelligence report said that Tokisaki Kurumi had the ability to "read memories," and presumably, the reason why Tokisaki Kurumi knew about her past was because of this ability.

As the head of the intelligence team, her strong ability to think divergently and make connections led her to a general guess as she realized this, which led her to understand why Mori Ōgai recruited Tokisaki Kurumi into the organization.

Perhaps Mori Ōgai and the Port Mafia had some important secrets about them that this girl knew, and her supernatural abilities were too strange and mysterious. Without being 100% sure, Mori Ōgai made some kind of deal with her.

However, none of this actually concerns her.

Since Mori Ougai has personally accepted Tokisaki Kurumi, there's no need for her to worry about it anymore.

Moreover, her visit to Kurumi Tokisaki this time was not to obtain information.

Ozaki Koyo cleared her throat, preparing to get to the main topic of her visit.

Chapter Fifty-Four: Three Women? A Show

"Please enjoy your tea."

Just as Tokisaki Kurumi and Ozaki Koyo were chatting idly, Izumi Kyoka, who had already prepared the tea, came out of the kitchen with a tea tray.

When Izumi Kyoka came to their side, a hint of tenderness appeared in Ozaki Koyo's eyes.

Izumi Kyoka placed two steaming cups of black tea on the living room table and bowed slightly.

Just as she was about to leave, Kurumi Tokisaki pulled her to the sofa next to her.

"Ms. Ozaki, would you mind letting Kyouka join us for a chat?" Kurumi Tokisaki asked knowingly.

“Of course not, on the contrary, you are very welcome,” Ozaki Koyo said with a smile. “It has been a long time since I have seen this child, so it is very nice to have a long-awaited greeting.”

Just as Tokisaki Kurumi had thought, Ozaki Kouyou would not refuse the offer.

Ultimately, the main reason she personally condescended to visit Kurumi Tokisaki was for this girl.

Otherwise, why would she, as a dual-team leader, condescend to personally visit Tokisaki Kurumi, a newcomer?

"Kyouka, Ms. Ozaki is your teacher, right?" Kurumi Tokisaki asked.

"Hmm." Izumi Kyoka nodded expressionlessly.

Although she was taken in by Ryunosuke Akutagawa and brought into the Port Mafia, Akutagawa's fighting ability comes entirely from his supernatural powers, so it's highly unlikely that he would want to teach others how to fight.

Each profession has its own expertise, and the teaching of assassins should naturally be left to assassins themselves.

Izumi Kyoka has two teachers in the organization, one of whom is Ozaki Kouyou.

The moment Ozaki Koyo saw Izumi Kyoka, she fell in love with the child from the bottom of her heart.

Not only because she is very cute, but also because the two of them have the same superpowers and the same experiences.

Looking at Izumi Kyōka, she felt as if she were seeing her past self.

Living in a daze, not knowing why I live.

Therefore, Ozaki Koyo took great care of her, sharing all her experience and knowledge with her, hoping that she could catch up with the organization's pace as soon as possible.

Because I've been caught in the rain myself, I always want to hold an umbrella for others.

With her unreserved training and her own talent, Izumi Kyoka became the second most skilled assassin after Ozaki Koyo in just six months.

Perhaps even Ozaki Koyo herself didn't realize that she almost treated Izumi Kyoka as her own daughter.

Now that her favorite child has been assigned to the hands of someone who seems even more ruthless than Ryunosuke Akutagawa, she naturally has to come and check it out.

If Izumi Kyoka doesn't like this place, Ozaki Kouyou will take her away without saying a word.

Kurumi Tokisaki had naturally guessed her intentions from the start, which is why she had Kyoka Izumi join the conversation.

As long as Izumi Kyoka shows any intention to stay by her side, Ozaki Kouyou will leave alone.

Kurumi Tokisaki didn't want to have too much contact or conversation with Kouyou Ozaki.

After all, playing along with Mori Ougai was already mentally taxing enough, and Tokisaki Kurumi didn't want to waste any more energy on Ozaki Kouyou.

In any case, the two of them have no vested interests. Ozaki Koyo can't control her, the guerrilla leader, and she doesn't have any system missions involving Ozaki Koyo. The ideal relationship is for the two of them to have no contact with each other.

"It's been a long time since you've seen each other, isn't it? Is there anything you want to say to her?" Kurumi Tokisaki asked. "Ms. Ozaki is very busy. If there's anything you want to tell her, now is a good opportunity. Otherwise, who knows when we'll meet again."

"Actually... it's nothing..."

Kurumi Tokisaki thought the child was just shy, smiled helplessly, and continued to coax him.

Ozaki Koyo sat upright, elegantly sipping her tea, but the glances she occasionally cast revealed her eagerness to know what Izumi Kyoka had to say.

Under Kurumi Tokisaki's persistent questioning, Kyoka Izumi opened her mouth and said helplessly, "We're really not familiar with each other."

Although Tokisaki Kurumi was prepared for her to spout nonsense from the beginning, her unvarnished bluntness still almost made her spit out the tea in her mouth.

After all, Ozaki Koyo was her mentor who imparted knowledge to her, and they had been together for more than half a year.

To put it bluntly, after half a year, even a dog would have developed an attachment to it, right?

Moreover, Ozaki Koyo took care of her without expecting anything in return, raising her like her own daughter.

After learning that the ownership of Izumi Kyoka had been transferred from Akutagawa Ryunosuke to his own, he even made a special trip to see how she was doing.

The result was that he was met with indifference.

Even Kurumi Tokisaki felt a little sorry for Kouyou Ozaki.

Unconsciously, a hint of pity crept into his eyes as he looked at her.

However, Tokisaki Kurumi also knew that this couldn't be blamed on Izumi Kyoka's cold personality.

Although Ozaki Koyo did take good care of her, spending most of her time thinking about Izumi Kyoka outside of work, Izumi Kyoka was completely unable to feel her enthusiasm.

After all, at that time, Izumi Kyoka was still immersed in the misunderstanding that she had killed her parents.

How can someone who shuts down their emotions and inner self, like a living doll, possibly be moved by the care and concern of others?

Moreover, she genuinely rejected the assassination missions assigned to her by the Port Mafia.

Therefore, it was even less likely that she would fall in love with Ozaki Koyo, who taught her how to kill.