Chapter 51&52

Chapter 51: The Visit of the Yasha

During the period she was fighting Akutagawa Ryūnosuke, Tokisaki Kurumi only had four clones.

This was not because she was intentionally hiding her power, but simply due to the time constraints she faced at that moment, preventing her from summoning more clones.

However, three days ago, in order to summon a unique set of clones known as the Four Heavenly Kings of Clones, Tokisaki Kurumi nearly exhausted all the time she had spent harvesting throughout the entire night.

She summoned nearly two hundred ordinary clones, and after much effort, managed to summon one of the Four Heavenly Kings: Bandage Three.

Initially, she had planned to tell Ogai Mori the truth and reveal that she had two hundred clones.

But after giving it some thought, in consideration of Ogai Mori's heart and sleep quality, she kindly reduced the number to just one-tenth of the original.

The sheer number of two hundred clones alone was already more than the total official members of the Port Mafia, including the combat group, finance group, assassination group, intelligence group, and both ability users and ordinary members combined.

Moreover, each of these two hundred clones had the ability to merge into shadows and manipulate flintlock pistols.

Even without the ability to control the Kokkoku, just these two abilities would allow any of the two hundred clones to be considered an ability user.

Though their combat strength might be weaker than other ability users, they were still classified as ability users.

Two hundred clones meant two hundred ability users.

Even for the powerful Port Mafia, the total number of ability users in the organization didn't exceed twenty.

It could not be overstated that Tokisaki Kurumi, by herself, represented an entire army.

If Ogai Mori knew that she had two hundred clones, it would certainly keep him up at night.

Ogai Mori remained silent for a long time, his long fingers lightly tapping on the table, his deep eyes gleaming with a strange light.

It seemed as though he wanted to say something, but after a moment of hesitation, he decided against it.

Although Tokisaki Kurumi had kindly reduced the number of clones from two hundred to just twenty, even twenty clones were still a formidable force for the Port Mafia.

Especially when that power was not under the control of those in charge.

"A week. I approve of this request," Ogai Mori said. "However, after a week, I expect to see you lead your clones on a mission to capture the target and eliminate any rogue clones."

"As expected," she replied, smiling.

"Now, you may leave."

"As you wish."

Tokisaki Kurumi stepped back into the shadows of the office, disappearing without a trace.

Once she vanished, Ogai Mori opened his computer and began recording the information and clues from his conversation with Tokisaki Kurumi, uploading them to the database.

He combined this with the information he had previously gathered and began to connect the dots, thinking deeply and summarizing his findings.

After eliminating most of his earlier speculations regarding Tokisaki Kurumi's abilities, Ogai Mori slowly wrote the following:

1. Tokisaki Kurumi's flintlock pistols are likely an ability artifact, as the energy bullets they fire can easily penetrate the human body.

2. Tokisaki Kurumi can merge into her own shadow and appear anywhere covered by shadows.

3. The clock-shaped illusion that appears behind Tokisaki Kurumi is known as Kokkoku, and it has twelve different abilities to manipulate time. Six of these abilities are known: teleportation (time acceleration?), time stop, summoning her other selves from different timelines, reading memories from objects, healing injuries (time reversal?), and merging into shadows. The remaining six abilities are still unknown.

4. There is no clear numerical limit to her ability to create clones. Currently, Tokisaki Kurumi has about twenty clones.

5. The clones do not possess the ability to control time but can use shadows and flintlock pistols. Their combat strength is estimated to be that of a typical ability user.

6. The clones have their own consciousness and will, which may lead to conflicts or even a split with the original.

7. Tokisaki Kurumi's personality has undergone a significant transformation compared to her past. This drastic change seems to be her greatest secret.

After uploading all the summarized information to the database and instructing the intelligence group to analyze it, Ogai Mori let out a long sigh.

While he had not fully grasped everything, at least he had gained some insight into Tokisaki Kurumi's abilities.

However, the more he learned, the more his wariness of this mysterious girl grew.

Even knowing just a part of her abilities had left him unsure of how to approach her.

This was not a good sign.

Just as Ogai Mori was deep in thought, the phone next to him suddenly rang.

Reluctantly, he paused his thinking and picked up the phone.

"Ogai-sama, I've completed the mission and am on my way back," a gentle, mature female voice spoke.

"Is it Koyo? Your efficiency this time is remarkable," Ogai Mori immediately recognized the voice. "I thought it would take you three or four days to finish the mission. Did something special happen?"

Within the Port Mafia, aside from the Boss, there are five leadership positions:

The leader of the combat group, the leader of the finance group, the leader of the assassination group, the leader of the intelligence group, and the leader responsible for training new recruits.

After the former intelligence group leader, Dazai Osamu, defected, the intelligence group merged with the assassination group due to the lack of a suitable replacement.

And the leader of these two groups was the woman currently speaking with Ogai Mori.

Ozaki Koyo.

The only dual-group leader in the Port Mafia.

"Have you heard of Tokisaki Kurumi?" Ozaki Koyo asked bluntly.

"Of course. I personally allowed her to join the organization, so I'm well aware of her."

"Although I've been outside Yokohama, as the leader of the intelligence group, I'm still sensitive to rumors in the organization," Ozaki Koyo replied. "This new member seems to have a worse reputation than Akutagawa, doesn't she?"

"Why are you so concerned about Miss Tokisaki?"

"Isn't it because Ogai-sama didn't inform me and gave Kyouka to someone else?" Ozaki Koyo's voice carried a hint of displeasure.

"Rumor has it that Miss Tokisaki is a heartless, inhumane monster worse than Akutagawa. I don't want anything bad happening to Kyouka."

"Well... I actually think the child you care about would be safer with Miss Tokisaki than with Akutagawa."

"Either way, I'll personally visit the new member tomorrow and see if she deserves Kyouka's service."

"Of course, if that helps ease your worries."

After a brief report on her mission, Ozaki Koyo hung up the phone.

Sitting in her car on her way back to Yokohama, she looked over the document that Ogai Mori had personally prepared about Tokisaki Kurumi.

As the leader of both the assassination and intelligence groups, she couldn't avoid investigating Tokisaki Kurumi.

She had tried many ways to gather information about her, but none of them had yielded valuable results.

Her interest in investigating Tokisaki Kurumi wasn't because of personal curiosity, but because another group leader, the leader of the combat group, Nakahara Chūya, had drunkenly shared his impression of Tokisaki Kurumi with her.

A ruthless, inhuman monster.

While such individuals were not uncommon in the Port Mafia, when even Chūya, a leader within the mafia, said so, it became a serious matter.

"Tokisaki Kurumi, huh... I'll take this opportunity to meet you."

Ozaki Koyo's expression turned cold.

However, as she took out a photo of a young girl in a kimono, her gaze softened.

"By the way, I'll also meet this child."

Chapter 52: Nightmare and Yasha

The next day, morning.

In the spacious bathroom, the faint steam from the hot water glistened under the light, turning a pale orange, making the girl standing beneath the showerhead look even more enchanting.

Tokisaki Kurumi carefully applied bath gel to her body, rubbing it into foam, scrubbing every inch of her skin clean. Just like elves needing to go to the bathroom, bathing was also necessary for her. Though when using her Kamui armor, her spiritual energy would automatically shield her from dust and other impurities, sweat still accumulated at other times.

Becoming Tokisaki Kurumi was not the first time she had bathed in this form. Though, compared to her earlier awkwardness, she had now become more accustomed to it and could go about it with little change in expression, she still hadn't completely adjusted. There was still some distance to go before she could truly maintain composure.

"Onee-san, someone from the Port Mafia has come to visit."

At this moment, a hazy figure of Izumi Kyoka appeared outside the bathroom door, her calm voice reaching Tokisaki Kurumi's ears.

"I understand," Tokisaki Kurumi responded. "I'll be out soon, please entertain the guest in the meantime."

"Yes."

Kyoka nodded outside the door, her figure slowly fading away.

"How strange. Who would be looking for me?" Tokisaki Kurumi thought, slightly puzzled. Though she was one of the two leaders of the Port Mafia's guerilla division, second only to the five senior executives and the Boss, placing her in the upper echelons of the organization, she was not the type that everyone would go out of their way to flatter.

After all, this was the Port Mafia. Her only peer, Akutagawa Ryūnosuke, had a reputation both internally and externally that was far from admirable. As another leader of the guerilla division, it was only natural that others would associate her with his bad reputation.

Additionally, her infamous incident where she drained the life force from an entire drug factory, leaving the gang members as desiccated corpses, had spread throughout the organization, further tarnishing her image. Even the staff involved in that operation spoke of it in hushed tones, as though it were some kind of taboo.

Although her reputation was still not as fearsome as Akutagawa's, she didn't expect anyone would have the nerve to visit her. However, Tokisaki Kurumi wasn't too concerned about building relationships with other mafia members. She didn't see the need to after all, she wouldn't be staying in this world for long and she didn't enjoy wasting too much time on interpersonal connections.

"But since they're here, I might as well see them," she mused. Turning off the shower, she began to finish up.

---

Stepping out of the bathroom, Tokisaki Kurumi made her way to the living room leisurely. As she glanced at the sofa in the living room, she saw her visitor for the day.

The guest wore a colorful pale pink kimono, dotted with white patterns, and two golden, understated hairpins secured her cherry-red hair in an elegant updo. Her eyes were framed with eyeshadow the same shade as her hair, giving her an air of nobility while maintaining a mature and seductive charm. A fringe covered her forehead, mirroring Tokisaki Kurumi's own, partially obscuring her left eye and adding a layer of mysterious allure.

The moment Tokisaki Kurumi saw her, she recognized her identity immediately. The leader of the Port Mafia's assassination and intelligence division, the most skilled assassin in the organization, and the possessor of the Golden Yasha ability.

Ozaki Koyo.

"Why would the leader of the assassination division come to see me? Is Mori Ogai finally taking action against me?" Tokisaki Kurumi thought, feeling both surprised and wary.

But after a moment's reflection, she dismissed the possibility. If Mori Ogai truly intended to act against her, Ozaki Koyo would never come to see her so openly. Perhaps Ozaki Koyo was just here to visit after hearing about Kyoka's service under her?

"I have no business ties with her. Although I am part of the organization, I am directly subordinate to Mori Ogai, so even if she has official business, she wouldn't ask me for help." As she thought this, Tokisaki Kurumi glanced toward the kitchen where Kyoka was preparing tea. "Which means this visit is purely personal."

With that thought, her previously tense nerves relaxed. Meeting Ozaki Koyo's eyes, she immediately put on her signature elegant smile.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Ozaki."

"Nice to meet you, Miss Tokisaki."

"I'm sorry for making you wait so long, I didn't realize it was you coming."

"No, no, I should be the one apologizing. I hope my visit hasn't caused you any trouble."

"Not at all. If it's Miss Ozaki, I would be more than happy to chat."

---

Hearing herself being addressed as "Miss Ozaki," the otherwise indifferent but slightly dignified expression on Ozaki Koyo's face became contemplative. The Port Mafia's hierarchy was strict. As one of the five senior executives, everyone besides those of equal rank were required to address her as "Lady Ozaki." Even Akutagawa Ryūnosuke did so.

However, this girl, Tokisaki Kurumi, seemed entirely unconcerned with the organization's structure. She showed no respect as a subordinate, nor did she display any deference for her superior. If it were anyone else, Ozaki Koyo might have assumed they were just a disrespectful, hot-headed rookie, but given what she had heard from both Mori Ogai and Nakahara Chuuya, she realized Tokisaki Kurumi was someone who was both highly capable and confident.

However, it wasn't just her lack of respect that intrigued Ozaki Koyo; it was her demeanor. Although Ozaki Koyo's attire might make her seem like she was in her thirties or approaching forty, she was actually only 26, a young woman full of vitality. Yet, as an assassin in the Port Mafia, her personality couldn't be compared to that of other women her age. The things she had seen and done made her far more mature than her peers.

Her mental age affected her physical appearance, leading many in the organization to mistakenly think of her as an older figure. But in front of Tokisaki Kurumi, Ozaki Koyo didn't feel the need to act with the same sense of seniority. Instead, she felt the girl before her was so unconcerned that it made her wonder just how old Tokisaki Kurumi really was.

As for Tokisaki Kurumi's true age? Though the original work didn't explicitly mention it, scholars estimated she was likely in her forties by now. She was probably in the same age range as the elf who had suffered the most persecution, Honjou Nia.

Yet Tokisaki Kurumi, despite being in her forties, was considered a "wife" by many, while Honjou Nia was mockingly referred to as an "old aunt." How this unfair treatment came about, no one could say. But no matter what age she was, as long as she looked like a beautiful young woman, who would care?

After all, there were people who liked even thousand-year-old women, so forty didn't really matter, did it?