Episode 52

The Answer to Everything ((凡テノ答へ,) is the 52nd episode of Bungo Stray Dogs anime series and the second episode of the fifth season.

Synopsis
As Fukuchi allies with plans to create an international anti-terrorist organization targeting the Gifted, Atsushi and Ranpo appeal to him for help. Ranpo turns his immense detective abilities to the question of Kamui's identity, and the truth will change everything.

Summary
The police car transporting Ranpo gets caught in a spike strip, and Ranpo is broken out of the car by Minoura. As they flee the scene, they are soon cornered by the military police. Minoura assures him that not all police are idiots like he thinks, upon which half of the military police break the encirclement to protect the detective from arrest, believing in their intuition. As the military police get divided amongst one another, they soon flee the scene with a car. Though the police officer chides how the detective has split the police forces into two, Ranpo says it is intentional. Minoura then lauds Ranpo for predicting how some of the police would get moved by his words. Still, Ranpo admits that he has had doubts and is initially hesitant about whether he could really sway the police according to his plan.

In Anne's Room, Atsushi is overjoyed to see Kunikida and the rest of the Agency including Yosano, Katai, and Ranpo, alive. Atsushi rushes to Kunikida and embraces him; Lucy asks Kyōka if she can also celebrate with them, though Kyōka tells her that she is controlling herself. Atsushi worries about Kunikida's amputation, but the latter assures him that Yosano will heal him up in no time. With the Agency partially completed, Ranpo instructs him and the others to find Kenji and Tanizaki. At the same time, he shall go and the most fun part of the job.

In his office, the Hunting Dogs commander is beseeched by United Nations delegates in founding an anti-terrorism association. The delegates are daunted by Fukuchi's intimidating aura, only for Fukuchi to vomit in front of them due to an overnight intoxication. Tetchō explains and apologizes for his commander's inebriation, though Fukuchi eventually sobers up. They continue their conversation, and the delegates inform Fukuchi of their plan to establish an anti-terrorist association comprising global military police to be led by him. First, they aim to bring down the Agency terrorists, but Fukuchi, believing that the Agency is not actually hostile, issues a condition to change the priorities of the situation.

At the Standard Island, delegates of the United Nations have gathered to vote for the forming of the Supernational Armed Security Force, and various opinions have been expressed. In amidst of the opinions, the UN Chairman welcomes Fukuchi. Fukuchi addresses how they are already losing in the current war against terrorism. Fukuchi claims that the typical framework can no longer protect the world. Hence, he stresses the importance of fighting back, especially on a global span of banding together in combating evil. To concretize this vision, he hopes to have the intended stateless troops, which he names the Army of Mankind, be established through their votes. As he leaves the final decision to the councilmen, they laud Fukuchi for his enthralling speech.

As he enters his quarters, Ranpo greets him and gives him a chance to report his presence to security, but Fukuchi calls the security, asking not to let anyone enter his room for five minutes. Ranpo and Fukuchi exchange pleasantries upon reuniting again since the founding of the Agency. Ranpo then states his reason for visiting him, which was to join forces with him as ordered by the President to defeat the Decay of the Angel and asks for his answer. Fukuchi states that the great detective has come to bargain with him with no persuasive technique or tactic whatsoever. Ranpo claims that he can instantly deduce his responses and even psychologically induce him to cooperate with them, but he chooses not to. Instead, Ranpo merely trusts Fukuchi simply because Fukuzawa asked him to believe in Fukuchi. Moved by how Fukuzawa has such great comrades, Fukuchi agrees to the deal.

Aboard the Boswellian, the disguised Atsushi spots Ranpo and Fukuchi arrive after the successful negotiation and assist them in boarding the ship. Upon boarding, Atsushi and Fukuchi both hide themselves so as not to get caught and urge Ranpo to join them, but Ranpo refuses. Fukuchi tells Atsushi and Ranpo of guards aboard the ship from several national affiliations who would shoot them if given the chance. Ranpo casually teases Fukuchi, compelling Atsushi to advise the detective to mind his language towards Fukuchi. The latter does not mind, thinking that Ranpo's attitude towards him is merely fueled by jealousy due to Fukuchi's longer time spent with Fukuzawa in their youth than Ranpo.

Later, Atsushi wonders who Kamui really is, but Ranpo tells him to slow down as it is not like a murder case. Ranpo then says that Atsushi only wants to see his Super Deduction in action. Nonetheless, after Atsushi offers him a Ramune, Ranpo agrees to use his "ability" to deduce the identity of their ultimate enemy mastermind once and for all. Ranpo then uses Super Deduction to figure out the identity of the Decay of the Angel's leader, Kamui-who is Ōchi Fukuchi, the leader of the Hunting Dogs.

Silently, Ranpo walks past Atsushi, making Atsushi confused. Ranpo then grabs a smoke candle from an electrical box, lighting the flame seemingly to make a flare. Fukuchi stands sternly, opening his sword when Ranpo seriously turns to Atsushi, apologizing to him. Suddenly, Fukuchi's sword swings through the air, and Ranpo shoves Atsushi out of the way as the sword slices him. Ranpo begins to transport into a novel, orders him to escape, and tries to tell him Kamui's ability, but before Ranpo can finish, he is already transported into the novel.

Suddenly, Fukuchi begins to laugh, his head falling into his hand as Atsushi uncomfortably stares at him in shock. Fukuchi says he expected the kid to discover him and that in his military days, he was called "The Man of a Hundred Faces" in undercover missions. Atsushi asks Fukuchi why he would do such a thing, being a representative of justice and a close friend of the director. Fukuchi agrees that he is close friends with Fukuzawa until a certain point when Fukuzawa doesn't go to the battlefield.

Fukuchi tells Atsushi he has 2 options. Confront him or escape, saying both of them won't be easy as he can't afford to let Atsushi return alive because of his knowledge of his true identity. Suddenly, Fukuchi pulls out a small piece of paper, and Atsushi becomes shocked. Fukuchi says it's the page. If Atsushi could take it from him, everything would return to normal, and the Agency would be saved. Atsushi debates on what to do, thinking that if he won, the whole incident would be solved. Atsushi ponders on what to do- if he will fight, but if he loses, he and Ranpo will die, or if he runs, Fukuchi will catch him. Atsushi decided to fight him.

Fukuchi asks Atsushi if he plans on fighting on that leg; Atsushi is confused until he realizes the lower half of his leg is amputated. He immediately falls to the floor, shocked at how he barely felt anything. Fukuchi asks why Atsushi is so surprised, as he becomes aware of his ability from that kid. Fukuchi orders Atusshi to stand up and acknowledges the impressive regenerative properties Atsushi's ability holds, then asks if his head grow back if he were to cut it off. Atsushi freezes in fear as he is currently alone in the fight, remembering that he always has someone he can fight with and wishes someone was fighting at his side, anyone.

A group of people arrives at the scene where the smoke is, and one suggests calling the police. A figure stands with their elbows on the railing, looking through binoculars in the smoke, seeing it's a smoke candle. The figure removes their hat, revealing their identity as Akutagawa. Akutagawa removes the binoculars and the hat, saying that the impossible prophecy has come true.

Manga and Anime Differences

 * After being defended by some of the police force, Minoura originally tells Ranpo to run. In the anime, they are seen straight in a vehicle after being defended. Minoura also asks Ranpo if dividing the police force was all part of his plan and what his goals are, to which Ranpo responds that he needed to do it to make a certain man change his mind. This was omitted in the anime.
 * Upon seeing his comrades, Atsushi is originally awfully mumbling that they are alive. In the episode, Atsushi walks straight to Kunikida.
 * Kunikida is the one who originally asks what Ranpo's actions are afterward. In the episode, Yosano asked the question. Moreover, Ranpo originally stated that he would be in contact with someone. However, he didn't say this in the anime.
 * The expanded impression of the United Nations members with Fukuchi are committed in the episode.
 * Tetchō stated that the edge of the pier found Fukuchi after drinking.
 * The conversation between the United Nations members and Fukuchi was shortened, omitting some parts of the conversation