Overview (Spoilers Below):
Ranpo gets a ride to the police station, but the officer doesn’t seem to be who he says he is.
Our Take:
Another case has come to a close thanks to Ranpo’s intellectual gift. Unfortunately, when one mystery closes, another one immediately opens, as Fukuzawa learns that the playwright suddenly dies. Additionally, Ranpo gets a car ride to the police station from a trustworthy police officer named Miyamura…or so he thought.
The episode consists of Ranpo reflecting on the murder case in the theater to Miyamura during their trip to the station. Ranpo states that the victim, the gentleman with a cane, was knocked unconscious with organic salting and tied up in the rug by the actual perpetrator. But, unfortunately, that perpetrator happens to be Miyamura himself, who’s also a member of V, a mysterious organization of gifted people tasked with murdering other people with abilities. Miyamura then takes Ranpo hostage in a warehouse, forcing Fukuzawa to rescue him.
“The Secret Founding of the Detective Agency” has a search-and-rescue plot involving Fukuzawa saving Ranpo from Miyamura while learning more about the mysterious V that’s referred to more than one person. But, of course, it’s later revealed by another mysterious person that “V” is actually “Vi” at the end of the episode. Finally, we also found out that the gentleman with the cane was none other than Natsume Soseki, who would later become a mentor for Fukuzawa.
While the noir mystery element remains, it also doesn’t shy away from its action, mainly Fukuzawa battling the guards holding Ranpo hostage. I may not be able to understand the lore of Bungo Stray Dogs to its fullest like other people, but that doesn’t mean I can’t admire the effort displayed in the animation regarding that sequence. Afterwards, we get another touching moment between Fukuzawa and Ranpo, with the former scolding the child detective for gambling his life with his recklessness. This moment showcases that the bond between them is growing, allowing Fukuzawa to accept Ranpo as his partner and maybe his caretaker. I can only say that Fukuzawa definitely needs one in Ranpo for what they’re about to face next.