Recalling his recent conversation with Tokisaki Kurumi, Mori Ōgai caught onto one crucial sentence:
"What I truly hope for is a stable, long-term job."
A job.
That was what Tokisaki Kurumi needed—a position that would allow this outsider to gain a firm foothold in this foreign land.
And in Yokohama, which organization was more deeply rooted than the Port Mafia?
"Miss Tokisaki," Mori Ōgai said, a pleased smile now gracing his lips as he proposed to the girl before him, "I have a suggestion. The doors of the Port Mafia can open for you. If you wish, I can arrange a suitable position for you within the organization."
This was the optimal solution under the current circumstances.
By bringing her into his ranks, Mori Ōgai wouldn't have to worry about her leaking the organization's secrets—and he'd simultaneously gain a powerful, mysterious ability user.
Two birds with one stone.
"Oh?" Kurumi chuckled lightly. "Is Mr. Mori trying to recruit me?"
Just as she'd anticipated—Mori Ōgai had taken the bait.
She'd wrapped her true intention within seemingly casual conversation, deliberately letting him discover it himself, all the while making him believe the insight was entirely his own.
Still, she had to admit—Mori Ōgai truly was sharp. He'd extracted the critical detail from just a few vague remarks. Had he been an incompetent leader, Kurumi would have likely departed in disappointment.
Now, her goal was achieved.
She hadn't even hinted at wanting to join the Port Mafia, yet Mori Ōgai had extended the invitation himself.
However, even though her plan had succeeded, she couldn't accept the offer too quickly.
Agreeing immediately would seem overly eager—and that kind of enthusiasm might raise suspicion. If Mori Ōgai sensed anything off, his shrewdness and cunning would easily lead him to suspect her real motive was to join the Port Mafia all along.
Restraint was key.
"Are you sure it's really alright to let someone of unknown origin like me join the Port Mafia?" Kurumi asked thoughtfully.
"At the moment, not only is it alright—it's highly advantageous."
"I can't promise I'll be a loyal woman, you know."
"This is the mafia, not the yakuza," Mori Ōgai replied calmly. "Loyalty, perseverance, honor—those mean nothing to this organization. Here, the only thing that matters is value. If your value is great enough, we'd welcome even a demon who devours humans with open arms."
"No wonder you're the Boss who unified all of Yokohama's underworld factions—such magnanimity is truly rare."
Tokisaki Kurumi paused slightly, then added with deliberate meaning, "However, I don't come cheap. I wonder, Mr. Mori, can you afford my price?"
"Of course I can. In fact, the higher the price, the better—ideally so high that no other organization could possibly match it," Mori Ōgai declared generously. "Only then can the organization keep you firmly by our side, wouldn't you agree? People don't join the Port Mafia out of loyalty. They join because only here can they fulfill their desires."
Having spoken, Mori Ōgai fixed Kurumi with a deep, knowing look and stated confidently, "Moreover, I'm certain of one thing—you belong on our side."
"And what gives you such confidence?" she asked.
"Because the Port Mafia is the largest criminal organization not just in Yokohama, but in all of Japan," Mori Ōgai replied. "To put it bluntly, everyone I meet each day is either a criminal or someone preparing to commit a crime. The moment I saw you, I knew—you're no beacon of justice standing in the light. Darkness is where you truly belong."
Kurumi smiled faintly but offered no confirmation or denial.
He wasn't wrong.
That was her true nature, after all.
Perhaps it really was fitting that he was the Boss of the Port Mafia—his eye for people was frighteningly accurate.
And precisely because of that, Kurumi's wariness toward him rose another notch.
Although she'd just successfully manipulated him with her words, that didn't mean Mori Ōgai was foolish.
Quite the opposite—he was exceptionally intelligent.
Otherwise, how could a mere personal physician have risen to become the leader of the Port Mafia?
The only reason she'd managed to deceive him just now was her advantage as a transmigrator with prior knowledge—not because she'd outsmarted him in a battle of wits.
She knew nearly everything about Mori Ōgai, while he knew nothing about her.
It was this information gap that had allowed her to gain the upper hand and lure him into her trap.
But it was precisely because she understood him so well that she remained deeply cautious.
And now, she was about to become a member of the Port Mafia—working directly under Mori Ōgai.
Having a boss like him looming overhead was truly nerve-wracking.
Inwardly, she sighed. Outwardly, her expression remained perfectly composed.
"Well then, Miss Tokisaki," Mori Ōgai spoke again, pulling her from her thoughts, "what is your answer?"
"Since Mr. Mori has shown such sincerity," Kurumi replied with a graceful smile, "what reason could I possibly have to refuse?"
She lifted the hem of her long skirt and gave a slight curtsy.
"Mr. Mori, it's a pleasure to serve you."
"Excellent. This is the best possible outcome—for both of us."
After receiving a positive response, Ōgai's expression relaxed slightly. "Starting today, you are a member of the Port Mafia. Your position in the organization is second only to the five main executives. You will be active as my direct subordinate, Guerrilla Leader, with the power to mobilize members of the Martial Arts Group without approval."
He continues, "the power to mobilize the special team Black Lizard within the Martial Arts Group, the power to direct members of the Intelligence Group to investigate information, the power to mobilize members of the Assassination Group for assassination activities, and the power to use the Financial Group to complete commissions."
"Thank you for your generosity."
"However, before you officially become a member of the organization, I need you to complete a task as part of your capability evaluation."
Ōgai took out a photograph from a folder. The photo was of a long-abandoned factory. "Go investigate what the people in this factory are doing, and which organization they belong to. This task is somewhat dangerous. Two people we sent before have already gone missing. Please be very careful."
"I understand." Tokisaki Kurumi said without a hint of fear. "Then there's no time to waste. I'll make sure to complete the task before Mr. Mori goes to sleep."
"Confidence is not a bad thing. The secretary will take you to the underground parking lot, where a driver will take you to the task location."
Ōgai pressed a button on his desk again, and the door was opened by a mafia butler in uniform.
The butler bowed respectfully and made a gesture to invite Tokisaki Kurumi to follow.
"Miss Tokisaki, this is your first task. Please don't disappoint me."
★ ★ ★
If you see any translation errors, please tell me so I can fix it. Thanks.