Belief versus reality.
Creative Staff
Story: Kafka Asagiri
Art: Sango Harukawa
Translation/Adaptation: Kevin Gifford
What They Say
Their war with the Guild may be over – and the truce with the Port Mafia still stands – but the Armed Detective Agency remains as busy as ever, with both Atsushi and Kunikida forced to confront their dangerous pasts. Soon, the agency is making contact with an ex-member to investigate the mysterious group that hacked the Moby-Dick, but no one can predict where the rabbit hole will lead…
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Since the war with the Guild is done, the Agency has been feeling a bit burned out, but when some misinformed gang members mess with their favorite coffee shop, they return to fine form in a flash. Later, Atsushi is assigned a case and the murder victim is the director of his orphanage. With no love lost from the death of his worst abuser at the orphanage, Atsushi continues to look for the cause of the director’s death. Akutagawa tells him the death is accidental as one of his men saw it happen. Atsushi has to come to terms that the man he hated all his life, actually was trying his best to make him tougher to face an even crueler world. Meanwhile, Kunikida, also has a chapter dedicated to him and his abilities including the fact that he is second in line in the Agency.
The Agency tasks former member, Katai, to look at the device that took control of the Moby Dick, but he’s too lovesick to use his skills. The Agency is then commissioned by Katai to find his love interest, so he can confess and in return he will do the requested work. After the involvement of some people from the Mafia, they find out the woman in question is Gin and is also Akutagawa’s little sister. However, the Agency isn’t the only looking for the person that took control of Moby Dick. They uncover it’s Dostoyevsky and capture him. Ace, one of the Mafia leaders, who captures Dostoyevsky, tries to sway him to his side by using his skill to lure him to do so. Dostoyevsky would rather kill Ace than be a slave to him. However, Dostoyevsky is far more talented than Ace and destroys the entire lot of them.
In Summary:
This volume is a bit of a break between story arcs with chapters focusing on various different characters. The last few chapters do blend into what seems to be a new arc on the horizon. As a whole, the entire volume has a bit lighter mood and more comedic elements to it. It does, however, continue to deliver witty and intelligent writing that really sets this series apart. I continue to really enjoy this smart and clever series that keeps me guessing and on my toes as a read it.
Content Grade: B
Art Grade: A
Packaging Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: B
Age Rating: Older Teen
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: March 19th, 2019
MSRP: $13.00
