Recalling his conversation with Kurumi just now, Ōgai Mori keenly noticed that crucial sentence.
"For me, I would prefer to find a long-term stable job."
A job.
Kurumi needed a job.
A job that would allow this visitor from another place to gain a firm footing.
And in Yokohama, which organization was more deeply rooted than the Port Mafia?
"Miss Tokisaki, I have a suggestion."
Having found a feasible solution, Ōgai Mori's face broke into a pleasant smile as he proposed to the young girl before him: "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 best solution under the current circumstances.
As long as he could bring her under his wing, Ōgai Mori would not only avoid worrying about her spreading the organization's secrets to others, but also gain a powerful and mysterious Ability User.
Killing two birds with one stone.
"Oh? Is Mr. Mori trying to recruit me?"
Hearing this, Kurumi chuckled softly.
Just as she had expected, Ōgai Mori had taken the bait.
Wrapping her true intentions in seemingly meaningless dialogue, deliberately allowing others to discover them, while also creating the illusion that they discovered it themselves.
However, thanks to Ōgai Mori's quick mind, he was able to extract important information from just a few sentences. If he had been an incompetent leader, Kurumi would have likely returned disappointed tonight.
Now, her objective was achieved.
Kurumi hadn't even hinted at wanting to join the Port Mafia, yet Ōgai Mori had proactively extended an invitation.
However, even though her plan had succeeded, she couldn't accept the offer immediately.
Accepting too quickly, with such enthusiasm, would inevitably raise suspicion. If Ōgai Mori sensed anything, with his cunning and schemes, he would easily suspect that her true purpose was to join the Port Mafia.
Composure is paramount.
"Is it really alright for someone of my unknown origins to join the Port Mafia?" Kurumi asked thoughtfully.
"At least for now, not only is it fine, it's even full of benefits."
"I can't promise I'll be a loyal woman, you know."
"This is the Mafia, not the Yakuza. Loyalty, perseverance, honor—these are meaningless to the organization," Ōgai Mori said calmly. "Here, the only thing that matters is value. As long as the value you bring is great enough, we will open our arms without hesitation, even to man-eating demons."
"Truly worthy of being the Mafia Boss who integrated all forces in Yokohama; such magnanimity is rare indeed."
Kurumi paused, then said meaningfully, "However, I am very expensive. I wonder if Mr. Mori can afford the price?"
"Of course, the more expensive, the better. Ideally, so expensive that other organizations can't afford it at all," Ōgai Mori said grandly. "Only then can the organization keep you tied to its side, isn't that right? People don't join the Port Mafia out of loyalty; they join because only by joining the Port Mafia can they fulfill their desires."
After speaking, Ōgai Mori looked deeply at Kurumi and said with certainty, "Moreover, I dare to assert that you are one of us."
"Where does this confidence come from?"
"Because the Port Mafia is Yokohama's, no, Japan's largest criminal organization. To put it bluntly, every day I either see criminals or people preparing to commit crimes," Ōgai Mori replied. "So the first time I saw you, I knew you wouldn't be a justice-bringer standing in the light. Only darkness is your rightful place."
Kurumi smiled, noncommittally.
He was indeed correct.
This was Kurumi's essence.
Should one say, 'As expected of the Port Mafia Boss'? His judgment of people was surprisingly accurate.
Precisely because of this, Kurumi's wariness towards this man increased by another level.
Although she had successfully tricked Ōgai Mori once with her rhetoric, this didn't mean Ōgai Mori was a fool.
Quite the opposite, he was a clever man.
Otherwise, how could he have risen from being a mere private doctor to the position of Port Mafia Boss?
The reason she was able to deceive Ōgai Mori earlier was simply because she was a transmigrator with an information advantage, not because she held a significant advantage in intellectual confrontation.
She knew almost everything about Ōgai Mori, but Ōgai Mori knew nothing about her.
Due to the information gap, Ōgai Mori made a misstep, falling into Kurumi's trap.
But precisely because Kurumi understood him so well, she was so wary of him.
And from now on, she would become a member of the Port Mafia, working for Ōgai Mori.
Having such a Boss above her was indeed very stressful.
Sighing inwardly, Kurumi maintained an unchanging expression on her face.
"So, Miss Tokisaki, what is your answer?" Ōgai Mori spoke again, bringing Kurumi back from her thoughts.
"Since Mr. Mori is so sincere, what reason do I have to refuse?"
Kurumi lifted the hem of her long dress and curtsied slightly: "Mr. Mori, it's a pleasure to serve you."
"Excellent, this is the most correct outcome, both for you and for me."
Having received a positive reply, Ōgai Mori's expression relaxed slightly: "From today onwards, you are a member of the Port Mafia. Your position in the organization is second only to the Five Executives. You will operate as my direct subordinate, the [Roving Captain], with the authority to mobilize members of the Combat Unit without approval, the authority to mobilize the special unit [Black Lizard] within the Combat Unit, the authority to mobilize members of the Intelligence Unit to investigate information, the authority to mobilize members of the Assassination Unit for assassination activities, and the authority to mobilize the Finance Unit to complete commissions."
"Thank you for your generosity."
"However, before officially becoming a member of the organization, as a capability assessment, I need you to complete a mission."
Ōgai Mori took out a photo from a folder; it showed a long-abandoned factory: "Go investigate what the people in this factory are doing and which organization they belong to. This mission carries a certain level of danger; the two individuals the organization sent out before have both gone missing, so please be extremely careful."
"I understand," Kurumi said without a hint of fear. "Then, without further ado, I will try to complete the mission before Mr. Mori goes to sleep."
"Having confidence isn't a bad thing. The secretary will take you to the underground parking lot, where a driver will take you to the mission location."
Ōgai Mori pressed the button on his desk again, and the door was opened by a butler-dressed Mafia member.
The butler bowed respectfully and gestured for Kurumi to proceed.
"Miss Tokisaki, this is your first mission. Please don't disappoint me."