I don't want to be an elf!

"Coincidentally, that's what I think too."

Kurumi Tokisaki looked out the window and said with a hint of melancholy, "You and I are both people who have fallen into darkness. Seeing Izumi Kyoka's appearance reminds us of ourselves struggling helplessly in the dark world in the past, so we naturally feel a sense of kinship and want to help her as much as possible."

"That's exactly right."

Ozaki Kouyou's tone held a newfound approval, and her gaze toward Tokisaki Kurumi changed: "That's precisely why I've taken such good care of that child, raising her as my successor. Only by wielding power and influence can one control their own destiny."

"Even if you've climbed to the top of the organization, you still can't control your own destiny, can you?" Kurumi Tokisaki retorted.

"At least, it's much better than having no choice at all."

"But what I want to give Jinghua is far more than this."

Ozaki Koyo was stunned.

As if understanding what Tokisaki Kurumi meant, his brows furrowed deeply.

"You mean...you want to leave the organization with Jinghua?"

“That’s right.” Tokisaki Kurumi nodded. “Although I am similar to you, we are also different. What you want to do is to elevate Kyoka to the top of the dark world and give her a chance to breathe, while what I want to do is to pull her out of the dark world.”

"Naive idea." Ozaki Koyo shook her head. "A flower born in darkness can only wither in darkness in the end. If it yearns for the light, it will only burn itself in the end."

Back then, Ozaki Koyo and her lover defected from the organization in order to pursue a normal life.

Their yearning for light and the future blinded them, ultimately leading to the death of their lover.

Born in darkness, return to darkness.

This is the truth of this world.

Anyone who tries to defy the rules will only end up with a bloody head.

"But these rules are just shackles used to bind the weak," Kurumi Tokisaki asked calmly. "Ms. Ozaki, if you had the ability to wipe out the entire Port Mafia back then, you would probably be living a happy life with your lover by now, wouldn't you?"

"No matter how powerful an individual is, they are limited and ultimately cannot contend with a large organization."

"But I am not alone," Kurumi Tokisaki said with a smile. "If I want to, no organization in this world can stop me."

The girl's voice remained elegant and gentle, but Ozaki Koyo could detect an unparalleled arrogance and confidence in it.

The most ridiculous thing is that even though Ozaki Koyo only had a superficial understanding of her supernatural abilities, she still believed that she had not exaggerated the facts at all.

Kurumi Tokisaki, who can infiltrate the shadows, and her twenty clones would be a nightmare for any organization if they got involved.

She and her lover are like moths flying in the darkness, yearning to embrace the light.

The girl before him was a nightmare in the darkness, to whom even the deepest darkness had to submit.

"If it were her, she could really help Kyoka live a normal life."

This idea suddenly popped into Ozaki Koyo's mind.

In the end, this world is still about using force to decide things.

The weak can only follow the rules set by the strong; only the stronger can break the rules.

"But even if the Port Mafia is willing to release them, what will the government do?"

Taking a deep breath to calm her turbulent emotions, Ozaki Koyo calmly asked, "Kyouka is currently a wanted criminal. If she loses the protection of the Port Mafia, she will have to spend the rest of her life in prison."

"You're right, so isn't Ms. Ozaki helping me?"

"I'm helping you? When? How?" Ozaki Koyo asked疑惑地, "This should only be our first meeting, right?"

"Mr. Mori should have given you the task of luring out the director of the Special Ability Agency, Ango Sakaguchi, right?"

"Indeed."

"I was the one who made this request to Mr. Xiang Sen."

"You mean...you want Kyoka to follow in Dazai's footsteps?"

In an instant, Ozaki Koyo understood what she wanted to do.

Although Tokisaki Kurumi had the ability to poach talent from the Port Mafia, even if she succeeded, Izumi Kyoka would still be considered a criminal by the government.

If we want Izumi Kyōka to live a normal life, we must get the government to drop the warrant for her arrest.

To achieve this, it is necessary to negotiate with the official supernatural ability organization.

Ango Sakaguchi, the head of the Special Ability Agency, is a representative of the government.

The Special Abilities Agency once cleared Dazai Osamu's name, so naturally it can also clear Izumi Kyoka's name.

However, Dazai Osamu is a key member of Yokohama's "Three-Part Plan." Whether it's the Port Mafia, the Armed Detective Agency, or the Special Abilities Agency, they all need him to maintain the balance between the three and ensure the safety of Yokohama.

Because he was so important, the Special Abilities Agency made an exception to clear his name.

Izumi Kyōka's influence was clearly not as great as Dazai Osamu's.

Given this, what leverage does Kurumi Tokisaki have to persuade the government?

Chapter 57 A Lie Made in Kind

The Special Abilities Agency and the Port Mafia are opposing organizations, at least on the surface.

To attempt to use the power of the Special Abilities Agency to whitewash members of the Port Mafia is, putting aside the question of how easy it would be, an act that crosses the line for both sides.

Because the Port Mafia will not allow its members to betray them.

The Special Abilities Agency will not allow villains to work in official organizations.

One of the reasons why Yokohama's Three-Tier Project has been able to continue to this day is that the three supernatural organizations have tacitly maintained their respective bottom lines.

Over all this time, the only person who has been whitewashed by the supernatural agents is Osamu Dazai.

Putting aside Dazai Osamu's identity as a superhuman, he is also a once-in-a-century talent with high intelligence, deep cunning, and many tricks up his sleeve. He is almost a shoo-in for the next boss of the Port Mafia, and at the same time, he is an important figure in maintaining the Three Kingdoms concept.

Only such a character has the right to make the Special Abilities Agency cross the line.

Kouyou Ozaki couldn't fathom what kind of bargaining chips Kurumi Tokisaki had to earn Izumi Kyoka the same treatment as Osamu Dazai.

“Miss Tokisaki, I must remind you that the price to pay for clearing the name of a criminal by the Special Ability Agency is very high.”

"It's just that the price is high, not that it's impossible, right?" Kurumi Tokisaki said calmly. "I will give them a bargaining chip that they can't refuse. I already have a preliminary plan. All I need to do is have a talk with Ango Sakaguchi, the branch manager of the Special Ability Agency's Yokohama branch."

“Since Miss Tokisaki already has a plan, it is probably not my place to give advice,” said Ozaki Koyo. “Since Miss Tokisaki’s purpose in wanting to meet the branch director of the Special Ability Agency is for Kyouka, then I will put in more effort to complete it as soon as possible.”

Upon hearing this, Kurumi Tokisaki was secretly delighted.

Her real purpose in wanting to meet Sakaguchi Ango was to get the opportunity to join the Special Ability Agency; clearing up Izumi Kyoka's name was secondary.

However, her primary objective was something she couldn't tell anyone, and Ozaki Koyo mistakenly took her secondary objective for her primary one, even willing to accelerate the process of luring Sakaguchi Ango out, which was an unexpected delight for her.

"I have achieved my purpose in visiting you today, so I will not disturb you any longer, Miss Tokisaki." Ozaki Koyo slowly stood up. "I entrust the child Kyoka to you."

"I will take good care of Kyoka. If Ms. Ozaki wants to visit her, she is welcome anytime."

"Then, next time I come, I will let you know in advance."

Ozaki Koyo walked outside the door.

Before leaving, as if suddenly remembering something, she asked, "If your plan succeeds and Jinghua is able to return to a normal life, where do you plan to place her?"

"Outside of Yokohama, somewhere the Port Mafia can't find us."

"Will I still be able to see that child at that time?"

"That's not something I can decide," Kurumi Tokisaki shrugged. "You'll have to ask Kyoka yourself."

"My concubine understands."

Standing at the door, Ozaki Koyo nodded slightly to Tokisaki Kurumi in farewell: "Well then, Miss Tokisaki, I wish you success in your plan."

"Thank you for your blessing."

After saying their goodbyes, Tokisaki Kurumi watched Ozaki Kouyou's figure gradually disappear.

Just as she was about to close the door, a dark figure jumped down from the second-floor balcony.

Izumi Kyōka landed steadily on the ground, her expression somewhat unnatural.

"I thought you'd already gone to the supermarket." Tokisaki Kurumi tapped her forehead dismissively. "Eavesdropping isn't something a good kid should do, you know."

"I'm sorry," Izumi Kyoka said, bowing her head in apology.

Clearly, although Tokisaki Kurumi sent Izumi Kyoka away to have a private conversation with Ozaki Kouyou, the child did not leave. Instead, she used her skills to jump to the second floor after leaving the house and eavesdropped on their conversation from upstairs.

Seeing that Izumi Kyoka looked like she was honestly admitting her mistake, Tokisaki Kurumi couldn't continue to criticize her.

"Sister, are you leaving?" Izumi Kyōka asked.

"Yes, I won't stay in Yokohama any longer; this is not my final destination."

"Can I leave with you?"

"No."

"why?"

"Because the place I'm going to is very far away, I can't take anyone with me."

As Izumi Kyoka's benefactor, Tokisaki Kurumi knew that she had become a new source of support in Kyoka's heart.

Therefore, it is reasonable for Izumi Kyōka to make such a request.

But ultimately, Kurumi Tokisaki is just a passerby in this world.

Once the mission is over, she will be forcibly sent to the next world by the system, where she will disappear without a trace.

Even if Izumi Kyoka wanted to stay by her side, she was powerless to stop her.

The only thing Kurumi Tokisaki could do before leaving this world was to arrange her affairs and send Kyoka Izumi to a place far from conflict so that she could spend the rest of her life in peace.

This is clearly the best possible outcome.

Although she could have sent Izumi Kyoka to the Armed Detective Agency, in the original story, her final destination was indeed the Armed Detective Agency.

However, in this world, because of Kurumi Tokisaki's butterfly flapping its wings, Kyoka Izumi, who was supposed to meet Atsushi Nakajima, was saved by him ahead of time, thus losing her chance to join the Armed Detective Agency.

After much deliberation, since we've already deviated from the original timeline, we might as well go all the way and send Izumi Kyoka out of Yokohama.

"Then, will my sister come back?" Izumi Kyoka asked with a hint of anticipation.

"..." Tokisaki Kurumi fell silent, because she couldn't answer this question herself; only the system could.