Chapter 22 (Vertical Comic)

Chapter 23 is the twenty-second chapter of the Bungo Stray Dogs (Vertical Comic).

Summary
As the agency cleans up following the attack from the Black Lizard, Kunikida tells Ranpo he has received a request to investigate a murder. As Ranpo arrogantly talks about how they would never catch a single criminal without his support and describing his ability as just not the best in the agency but in the country, he makes his way to leave when he stops and accidentally steps on a book. Atsushi tells Ranpo that he is stepping on a book that needs to be returned to a shelf, the shelf being right beside Ranpo. Ranpo steps off the book and has Atsushi pick it up himself, Atsushi shows visible confusion, seeming to doubt Ranpo's confident words from earlier.

Kunikida smiles to Ranpo and says the agency is counting on him, Ranpo goes on to talk about how the agency would crumble without him, to which everyone except Atsushi agrees to. Kunikida sends Atsushi to go work with Ranpo, Atsushi thinking he was going to be Ranpo's assistant when Ranpo tells Atsushi he is just coming along because he doesn't know how to ride the train.

Atsushi and Ranpo arrive at the murder scene beside a river, a police officer, Minoura, annoyed from their tardiness before telling them they aren't needed for the case. Ranpo calls him an idiot, telling him a famous detective must solve difficult cases. Minoura tells Ranpo that he'd never ask the agency for their help and Ranpo asks the reason to which Minoura reveals that the victim is his subordinate. The accompanying officer lifts a sheet to reveal the body of a woman, her blood staining her chest. Ranpo takes off his hat in respect as the 2 officers explain that the body was discovered this morning, 3 shots to the chest and no other information. Ranpo boasts that the officers seem to know nothing, to which the head officer agrees to, telling him that even more of a reason they shouldn't leave such a case to amateurs like Ranpo.

Suddenly, they were alerted by other officers that they have caught something in the river much to everyone's shock.