# 18 - The Conflict of Strategy
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GR5VXQ8PR/bungo-stray-dogs)
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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
***SIGN*** One Strike.
**[00:03] Mori**
*One strike...*
**[00:06] Mori**
It's necessary to hit the enemy's
vital point in one strike.
**[00:13] Elise**
You suck.
**[00:15] Mori**
All right.
**[00:18] Elise**
Hey! What are you doing?
**[00:21] Mori**
Writing a letter to a friend.
**[01:54] Margaret**
Load all the cargo from my
country into hatch number three!
**[01:58] Margaret**
Damage anything, and you pay for it!
**[02:01] Margaret**
Honestly...
**[02:03] Margaret**
Why must I direct the loading of cargo?
**[02:17] Nathaniel**
Cut it out.
**[02:18] Margaret**
Huh?
**[02:19] Nathaniel**
Your gaze is such a nuisance,
I can't hear the voice of God.
**[02:22] Margaret**
Is that so? What a pious minister you are.
**[02:27] Margaret**
Then I'm sure you must love this verse...
**[02:30] Margaret**
"Dust to dust."
**[02:39] Nathaniel**
Genesis 3:19.
**[02:43] Margaret**
While everyone else is
scattered upon the land,
**[02:45] Margaret**
it's our duty to protect this ship.
**[02:49] Margaret**
Did you forget that?
**[02:52] Nathaniel**
Are you sure you aren't
the one who has forgotten?
**[02:55] Nathaniel**
It is my sacred duty to
pass judgment on sinners.
**[02:59] Nathaniel**
Any number of enemies is
welcome to come at me.
**[03:02] [SONG] Text**
Guild Operative
Nathaniel H.
**[03:02] Nathaniel**
They will atone for their
sins with their lives.
***SIGN*** Ability: The Scarlet Letter
**[03:07] Nathaniel**
Or do you wish for atonement as well?
**[03:08] [SONG] Text**
Guild Apprentice
Margaret M.
**[03:10] Margaret**
You aren't even worthy of polishing my shoes.
***SIGN*** Ability: Gone with the Wind
**[03:15] Guy**
Um... Excuse me—
**[03:19] Guy**
Th-This letter was found among the cargo.
***SIGN*** Dear Guild
**[03:22] Nathaniel**
A letter?
**[03:27] Nathaniel**
Dear Sir and Madam...
**[03:30] Mori**
* I hope this letter finds*
* you in the best of health.*
**[03:35] Elise**
Rintarou, you jerk! Idiot!
**[03:36] Mori**
* I write regarding the*
* recent military conflict.*
**[03:38] Mori**
*While it may sound presumptuous,*
**[03:39] Mori**
* I wish to inform you of the Guild*
* assets that we will next obliterate.*
**[03:42] Mori**
Give me back my crayon!
**[03:44] Nathaniel**
"These are the guild assets that
we will next obliterate..."
**[03:50] Nathaniel**
"First, your luxury liner, the Zelda.
**[03:54] Nathaniel**
Second, the life of Mr. Nathaniel.
**[03:58] Nathaniel**
Third, the life of Ms. Margaret."
**[04:01] Margaret**
What?
**[04:02] Nathaniel**
"Sincerely, Mori Ougai,
Boss of the Port Mafia."
**[04:06] Margaret**
Obliterate us and the ship?
**[04:09] Margaret**
Unthinkable.
**[04:12] Guy**
We'll depart once all cargo is on board.
**[04:15] Nathaniel**
How long?
**[04:16] Guy**
About two more hours, I believe...
**[04:18] Nathaniel**
Get it done in thirty minutes.
**[04:19] Guy**
Thirty minutes?!
**[04:21] Nathaniel**
You can have the freight helicopter unload
**[04:22] Nathaniel**
on the deck helipad while the
regular loading is going on.
**[04:26] Nathaniel**
And strengthen security around the ship.
**[04:29] Margaret**
Are you serious?
**[04:30] Margaret**
This silly threat letter is just a prank.
**[04:34] Nathaniel**
Are you sure?
**[04:36] Nathaniel**
Given that our Guild has no base on land,
**[04:39] Nathaniel**
this ship is essentially our front-line base.
**[04:41] Margaret**
So what?
**[04:43] Nathaniel**
This moment, as we're replenishing
supplies, is when we're most vulnerable.
**[04:47] Nathaniel**
Our enemy, this supernatural organization,
may not be a threat to our lives
**[04:51] Nathaniel**
but should they launch a surprise
attack, they could sink this ship.
**[04:56] Guy**
Mr. Nathaniel.
***SIGN*** Episode 18:
**[05:00] Guy**
We've found a suspicious man.
**[05:06] Guy**
He was found on the pier.
**[05:07] Guy**
He tried to escape, so we restrained him.
**[05:10] Guy**
He was carrying this.
**[05:13] Margaret**
He's just a thug from some island nation.
**[05:16] Nathaniel**
I saw your face pictured in a report,
**[05:19] Nathaniel**
Port Mafia Bomber.
**[05:21] Kajii**
Oh, who am I? Where am I?
**[05:26] Nathaniel**
I hear you once attempted to bomb a train,
but were stopped by the Detective Agency.
**[05:30] Kajii**
That was an experiment!
**[05:31] Kajii**
Every failure is a valuable sample!
**[05:34] Margaret**
Shall I make a mummy out of him?
**[05:36] Nathaniel**
No, I already have a good
idea of the enemy's hand.
**[05:40] Nathaniel**
He was, no doubt, in charge
of planting a bomb.
**[05:44] Nathaniel**
What a shoddy organization.
**[05:49] Kajii**
His blood...
**[05:50] Nathaniel**
The Scarlet Letter is the Word of God...
**[05:53] Nathaniel**
A judgment ability that penalizes the immoral
and leaves on them a mark that never fades.
**[05:56] Kajii**
W-Wait!
**[05:57] Kajii**
O-Okay, I get it! I surrender!
I'll tell you everything!
**[06:00] Kajii**
The truth is, I'm an ambassador representing
the commander-in-chief of the universe...
**[06:03] Kajii**
If you hurt me, you'll be in real trouble!
**[06:03] Margaret**
Oh, give me a break.
**[06:09] Nathaniel**
It appears that
**[06:11] Nathaniel**
you refuse to repent and atone for your sins.
**[06:16] Nathaniel**
These lemon-shaped bombs are your ability.
**[06:19] Nathaniel**
How truly foolish.
**[06:22] Nathaniel**
Even a common man can make bombs.
**[06:24] Nathaniel**
You thought you could sink this
ship with an ability like this?
**[06:29] Nathaniel**
You've obviously underestimated the Guild.
**[06:37] Nathaniel**
May God's grace be with you.
**[06:41] Guy**
* We will now unload the*
* supplies onto the ship.*
**[06:46] Kajii**
God... God, eh?
**[06:50] Kajii**
Are you saying you can hear the voice of God?
**[06:54] Kajii**
Science is the only language that allows us to
understand this universe God created.
**[07:00] Margaret**
The explosion didn't affect him?
**[07:02] Kajii**
I have bad news for you.
**[07:04] Kajii**
It's the job of you clergymen to believe,
**[07:08] Kajii**
but the very foundation of science
is to question everything.
**[07:11] Kajii**
You should have questioned this
bomb-making ability a bit more.
**[07:16] Kajii**
It is true that I made these
bombs on my own time.
**[07:20] Kajii**
And my true gift is the ability to take
no damage from lemon-shaped bombs!
**[07:26] Kajii**
Lemons! That beautiful spindle
shape is the ultimate geometry,
**[07:29] Kajii**
as well as the destroyer
of this tedious world!
**[07:31] Kajii**
On that note, here's a present for you from
**[07:34] Kajii**
the commander-in-chief
of the universe and myself...
**[07:39] Nathaniel**
It can't be...
**[07:42] Nathaniel**
Everyone get away from the ship!
**[08:03] Margaret**
The ship...
**[08:04] Margaret**
Just who is that man?!
**[08:06] Nathaniel**
It appears the threat
letter was no mere prank.
**[08:11] Nathaniel**
And two targets still remain.
**[08:16] Nathaniel**
The enemy will be upon us shortly.
**[08:18] Nathaniel**
We will engage them here.
**[08:20] Nathaniel**
If we stop their surprise attack,
**[08:22] Nathaniel**
no number of gifted enemies
can be a match for us.
**[08:27] Mori**
...is probably what our enemy will think.
**[08:31] Mori**
The Guild's gifted members
are indeed formidable.
**[08:34] Mori**
Even our elite would have a
difficult time bringing them down.
**[08:40] Mori**
Which is why...
**[08:44] Mori**
I've just played my most
eager, motivated piece.
**[08:57] Akutagawa**
This sea breeze is suffocating.
**[09:15] Akutagawa**
Let's get this over with quickly.
**[09:18] Nathaniel**
Are you a Port Mafia assassin?
**[09:20] Akutagawa**
How are you feeling, irmão of the Guild?
**[09:23] Nathaniel**
Pretty awful.
**[09:24] Nathaniel**
A bit like I've had a run-in with
the devil spoken of in the Bible.
**[09:29] Nathaniel**
May I ask your name?
**[09:32] Akutagawa**
Diablo.
**[09:34] Nathaniel**
Then this must be Mount Hermon.
**[09:37] Nathaniel**
Are you a trial sent to test this
humble servant's faith in God?
**[09:41] Akutagawa**
Is it a trial you want?
**[09:43] Akutagawa**
Then I'll give you one!
**[09:49] Nathaniel**
Do not call me "irmão."
**[09:51] Nathaniel**
I am a minister, not some
relic of ancient Rome!
**[09:55] Nathaniel**
Don't think that will be
enough to test my faith,
**[09:58] Nathaniel**
you trash!
**[10:02] Nathaniel**
Repent, little guy of the Port Mafia!
**[10:05] Akutagawa**
Interesting!
**[10:11] Nathaniel**
* The enemy's ability is intermediate-range*
* matter manipulation,*
**[10:14] Nathanial**
*both offensive and defensive?*
**[10:17] Nathaniel**
*That's similar to my own.*
**[10:20] Nathaniel**
*In that case...*
**[10:23] Both**
* The one whose ability holds*
* the most potential will win!*
***SIGN*** Rashoumon
**[10:26] Akutagawa**
Rashoumon!
**[10:30] Nathaniel**
The Scarlet Letter!
***SIGN*** The Scarlet Letter
**[10:37] Akutagawa**
Is that all you can do, irmão?
**[10:42] Nathaniel**
You are no devil at all.
**[10:46] Akutagawa**
What?
**[10:49] Akutagawa**
*The blood on my coat is turning into writing?*
**[10:53] Nathaniel**
You are merely a soulless beast
that craves the flesh of the weak.
**[10:58] Nathaniel**
I'm sure you've only fought gifted enemies
**[11:01] Nathaniel**
who were weaker than you up until now.
**[11:06] Margaret**
The Port Mafia is nothing.
**[11:08] Margaret**
I will take back my family's honor!
**[11:15] Akutagawa**
*My coat is falling apart...*
**[11:17] Akutagawa**
*A weathering ability?*
**[11:19] Margaret**
I cannot lose to one like you,
**[11:23] Margaret**
who has never known defeat or humiliation!
**[11:30] Akutagawa**
Never known defeat, you say?
**[11:39] Nathaniel**
Margaret!
**[11:41] Akutagawa**
Defeat and humiliation are always with me.
**[11:50] Akutagawa**
I am a remnant, going through the darkness.
**[11:54] Akutagawa**
As such, despair of this nature
**[11:59] Akutagawa**
will not ruin me!
**[12:10] Akutagawa**
Not now...
**[12:12] Nathaniel**
* That's not a wound caused*
* by The Scarlet Letter.*
**[12:15] Nathaniel**
* Could it be... he was seriously*
* injured when he came here?*
**[12:19] Akutagawa**
This is nothing! Come at me!
**[12:21] Akutagawa**
Fight me with all you've got.
**[12:24] Akutagawa**
Otherwise, there was no
point to me coming here!
**[12:29] Nathaniel**
Why would you go to such lengths?
**[12:31] Akutagawa**
My only hope is for one word.
**[12:35] Akutagawa**
A simple, trivial word
from a certain person...
**[12:38] Akutagawa**
For the sake of hearing that word,
**[12:41] Akutagawa**
I have come through countless
humiliating defeats!
**[12:47] Nathaniel**
* This man is a ruthless*
* killer from the Port Mafia,*
**[12:51] Nathaniel**
* yet at the same time,*
* he longs deeply for something.*
**[12:54] Nathaniel**
*Something worth giving his life for...*
**[12:57] Nathaniel**
* And with an intensity that nearly*
* rivals that of religious faith.*
**[13:03] Nathaniel**
You asked me to fight with all I've got, yes?
**[13:08] Nathaniel**
I've changed my mind. I will grant your wish.
**[13:18] Akutagawa**
What?!
**[13:47] Akutagawa**
Rashoumon...
**[13:49] Akutagawa**
Jaws of Endless Gates!
***SIGN*** Jaws of Endless Gates
**[14:05] Nathaniel**
Margaret...
**[14:23] (Flashback) Naka**
People need to be told they're worthy
of being alive by someone else, or they can't go on.
**[14:27] (Flashback) Naka**
Why can't you understand such a simple thing?!
**[14:32] (Flashback) Naka**
Those words...
**[14:35] Akutagawa**
I don't need you to tell
me that. I already know.
**[14:40] Rampo**
Man, I'm so bored!
**[14:42] Rampo**
I wanna go outside!
**[14:44] Yukichi**
Nothing out of the ordinary in the footage?
**[14:47] Akiko**
Just a bunch of nothing.
**[14:50] Yukichi**
The only way to get into this hall
**[14:53] Yukichi**
is through the underground railroad tunnel.
**[14:56] Yukichi**
Even if the enemy does try to enter,
**[14:58] Yukichi**
the security camera footage will
tell us before they get here.
**[15:03] Akiko**
And there are lots of
traps along the way, too.
**[15:06] Rampo**
War is so boring.
**[15:10] Rampo**
My emergency snacks ran out in half a day.
**[15:14] Rampo**
I know!
**[15:15] Rampo**
Hey, Yosano-san, let's play hanafuda on this!
**[15:18] Akiko**
Oh? What are we going to bet?
**[15:22] Mori**
Attacking enemy bases always
makes my heart dance with joy.
**[15:26] Mori**
It's time for the next move.
How go the preparations?
**[15:29] Guy**
Everything is ready.
**[15:31] Mori**
You have more than enough force to
crush the Armed Detective Agency.
**[15:36] Mori**
I look forward to hearing a superb melody.
**[15:39] Akiko**
What's the matter?
**[15:40] Rampo**
President, I think we should
call back the defensive teams.
**[15:44] Yukichi**
The enemy?
**[15:46] Yukichi**
How many are attacking?
**[15:51] Rampo**
One.
**[16:03] Kirako**
Mii-chan...
**[16:05] Kirako**
As soon as this whole mess is over,
I'll come for you, okay?
**[16:11] Kirako**
N-N-Naomi-chan!
**[16:13] Naomi**
Haruno-san...
**[16:13] Kirako**
I-I-I was working! Really!
**[16:15] Kirako**
We office workers are
part of the company, too!
***SIGN*** Tokyo Daily News
**[16:20] [SONG] Text**
40 Killed, 300+ Injured in Cruise Liner
Explosion at Yokohama Commercial Port
**[16:24] Naomi**
An explosion on a cruise liner
at a commercial port in Yokohama?
**[16:28] Naomi**
That's not the Guild's ship, is it?
**[16:31] Naomi**
Then what caused the explosion?
**[16:33] Kirako**
It was the other enemy,
the one who loves explosions.
**[16:36] Kirako**
The Agency may be his next target...
**[16:40] Kirako**
I hope my brother is safe...
**[16:45] Kirako**
Don't worry, Naomi-chan.
**[16:48] Naomi**
We know Mii-chan is okay, after all!
**[16:51] Kirako**
Please forget that.
**[16:55] Akiko**
Cameras 3, 4, and 8 have stopped transmitting.
**[16:58] Yukichi**
Activate the automatic turrets!
**[17:12] Chuuya**
* You'd send these puppets*
* to receive a special envoy?*
**[17:15] Chuuya**
*You're so short-staffed, I could cry.*
**[17:18] Chuuya**
* Could you send out something*
* that's actually alive?*
**[17:21] Rampo**
President...
**[17:24] Yukichi**
Are you of the same opinion as I am?
**[17:33] Chuuya**
Oh, come on...
**[17:34] Chuuya**
Only two?
**[17:36] Akiko**
If you're dissatisfied with your reception,
come back after making an appointment.
**[17:40] Chuuya**
You think the Mafia needs an appointment
to raise hell in an enemy base?
**[17:44] Kenji**
Oh! I don't think they do!
**[17:46] Akiko**
If you want to raise hell, have at it.
**[17:49] Akiko**
But that's not what you came here for.
**[17:52] Akiko**
Am I right?
**[17:54] Chuuya**
How do you know?
**[17:55] Akiko**
We're a detective agency, you know.
**[17:57] Akiko**
What good would we be if we couldn't figure
out a client's intentions at a glance?
**[18:03] Chuuya**
Where's your president?
**[18:04] Akiko**
Over there.
**[18:08] Chuuya**
Here's a present from my boss.
**[18:12] Yukichi**
Those are...
**[18:14] Yukichi**
Members of the Guild?
**[18:16] Chuuya**
*We reeled them in with bait.*
**[18:18] Chuuya**
* The time and location they'll*
* appear is written here.*
**[18:21] Chuuya**
*You don't get many chances like this, do you?*
**[18:24] Chuuya**
* You can get one over on*
* that detestable Guild!*
**[18:30] Yukichi**
* The chance to ambush gifted Guild*
* members is indeed attractive...*
**[18:35] Akiko**
I see. That's a titillating proposal.
**[18:39] Chuuya**
Isn't it?
**[18:40] Akiko**
But I've got an even better one.
**[18:42] Akiko**
How about I hack off your limbs
**[18:45] Akiko**
and make you cough up your plans?
**[18:49] Chuuya**
Now that's a brilliant idea.
**[18:52] Chuuya**
Give it a try.
**[18:53] Akiko**
Kenji!
**[18:54] Kenji**
Got it!
**[18:58] Kenji**
Hi-yah!
**[19:00] Chuuya**
Nice!
**[19:02] Kenji**
Watch out, now!
**[19:06] Chuuya**
This is exactly what a job ought to be like!
**[19:15] Akiko**
What?!
**[19:18] Akiko**
That ability...
**[19:20] Akiko**
You're Nakahara Chuuya, the
gravity manipulator, aren't you?
**[19:23] Chuuya**
That damn Dazai must have blabbed...
**[19:25] Kenji**
He's standing upside-down,
but his hat isn't falling off!
**[19:29] Kenji**
City folk really are amazing.
**[19:37] Chuuya**
Now...
**[19:39] Chuuya**
Who wants to fight against gravity?
**[19:46] Yukichi**
Here's my answer, special
envoy of the Port Mafia.
**[19:49] Chuuya**
*Huh?*
**[19:50] Yukichi**
It's true that if the Detective
Agency defeats the Guild,
**[19:53] Yukichi**
you will slash the enemy's strength
without lifting a finger.
**[19:56] Yukichi**
If you're lucky, the Detective Agency and
the Guild might even take each other out.
**[20:02] Chuuya**
*But you have nothing to lose yourself.*
**[20:05] Chuuya**
*Right?*
**[20:06] Yukichi**
If what you say is true, then yes.
**[20:09] Rampo**
Sheesh...
**[20:10] Yukichi**
What are you hiding?
**[20:12] Chuuya**
*Nothing.*
**[20:14] Yukichi**
What action is the Port Mafia going to take?
**[20:18] Chuuya**
They don't have to take any action.
**[20:22] Rampo**
I see. So that's what's going on.
**[20:27] Rampo**
* The Guild must have suspected*
* a trap, just like we do.*
**[20:32] Rampo**
*But they fell for it.*
**[20:35] Rampo**
Because the bait was just too appetizing.
**[20:38] Rampo**
What did you use to bait the Guild?
**[20:43] Steinbeck**
No matter what nation you're in,
being in the countryside soothes the soul.
**[20:47] Steinbeck**
So, the Port Mafia's gift is just ahead.
**[20:51] Lovecraft**
This is obviously a trap to
lure us out. Why should we go?
**[20:56] Steinbeck**
Because the bait's so appealing.
**[20:59] Steinbeck**
If we succeed in the abduction,
**[21:00] Steinbeck**
we've basically defeated
the Detective Agency.
**[21:03] Yukichi**
You used our office staff as bait?!
**[21:05] Chuuya**
*You can still get them out of there in time.*
**[21:08] Chuuya**
* Plus, the Guild has no idea*
* that you're about to act.*
**[21:12] Chuuya**
*It'll be an easy win.*
**[21:14] Yukichi**
Is anything he's said untrue?
**[21:17] Rampo**
No, unfortunately.
**[21:21] Rampo**
Times like these are when the
truth is the most effective.
**[21:27] Chuuya**
"Even if they know it's a pitfall,
the Agency will still fall right into it."
**[21:32] Chuuya**
My boss's words.
**[21:35] Yukichi**
Order the office staff
to evacuate immediately.
**[21:38] Yukichi**
And...
**[21:41] Yukichi**
Put me through to Kunikida.
**[23:16] Doppo**
We're the only ones who
can get to them in time?
**[23:19] Doppo**
Right...
**[23:21] Doppo**
Right. We'll head straight there.
**[23:28] Tanizaki**
The president?
**[23:30] Doppo**
Yeah.
**[23:32] Tanizaki**
What'd he say?
***SIGN*** Episode 19:
Will of Tycoon
**[23:36] Doppo**
We're going head-to-head with the Guild.