Chapter 23
Asuka Kazuya’s hair-trigger psychosis was quite famous in the underworld.
Although they hadn’t actually crossed paths, as a member of the Black Lizard, Hirotsu Ryuro had heard some of his stories.
Like replacing the gasoline in someone’s car with perfume, causing them to faint from the fragrance upon starting the engine.
Or painting someone’s face blue like an Avatar after knocking them out, making them unable to hold their head up in the organization.
For the mafia, Asuka Kazuya’s mental torment was worse than directly killing them. Hirotsu Ryuro had always maintained an attitude of “respect but not understanding” towards this, until Asuka Kazuya called the police right in front of him.
Really?
Their organization didn’t even care about this?
Hirotsu Ryuro closed his eyes, pondering with an impassive face.
As expected of Dazai-sama’s friend, his thought process was as abnormal as ever.
Let him call the police. Hirotsu Ryuro didn’t act rashly. After all, Mori Ougai’s, their leader’s, attitude was unclear. He maintained a nonchalant attitude, as if this was perfectly normal.
After observing for a moment, Mori Ougai smiled: “It seems you and your new friend are getting along well.”
“Kazuya-kun, after hearing you went on that kind of mission, I thought you would be listless for a while.”
Mori Ougai knew he was from the Special Abilities Division, and Asuka Kazuya naturally knew what kind of mission he was talking about. The problem was that he couldn’t think of a way to stop Mori Ougai from speaking.
Times had changed. This guy was no longer just a mentally unstable, perverted doctor. If he used his ability on him, the Boss, it would be equivalent to declaring war on the Port Mafia.
Asuka Kazuya was expressionless. He listened to the police’s questions on the phone, deciding to hang up after realizing there were no other strategies.
“Is it very lucrative being the Boss?” Asuka Kazuya asked.
“I won’t pay you emotional distress damages.”
Mori Ougai lowered his eyes, calmly continuing his words.
“After all, your recent activities with Dazai-kun have also been quite troublesome for me.”
“Although I don’t object to your relationship, publishing ‘My Labor-Exploiting Capitalist Boss’ in the newspaper together seems a bit excessive.”
Asuka Kazuya: “…”
He told Dazai that their Boss would definitely find out! That guy Dazai even said it didn’t matter, there was no evidence anyway, and if he was found out, he could just jump into the river and be free.
What a joke, freedom was impossible. Asuka Kazuya had just learned how to swim, at most, he would show off his freestyle skills to Dazai in the river.
“…Ahem.” Asuka Kazuya coughed awkwardly. “Well, you know, I didn’t corrupt Dazai, he was already bad.”
This was like a meaningless excuse to a good friend’s angry parent. However, Mori Ougai’s lips curved, showing no signs of anger.
“Is that so?” Mori Ougai said. “But I only came out to play with my cute Elise-chan.”
Speaking of this, Mori Ougai’s tone immediately changed.
He lowered his head, speaking in a very cute tone: “Right, right, Elise-chan?”
The little blonde girl, who had been sizing up the grown-up Asuka Kazuya, immediately turned her head away haughtily.
“It was Rintarou who wanted to come out and play, don’t drag me into this.”
Mori Ougai pretended to be sad for a few seconds.
“Is this what they call a rebellious phase?” He said thoughtfully, suddenly looking up at Bourbon, who hadn’t spoken a word, across from Asuka Kazuya. “Then I’ll have to trouble you, Amuro-kun. Although it’s nice to reminisce like this, I have other things to do now.”
Bourbon frowned, surprised that he knew his name.
But then again, he had heard Calvados call him Amuro Tooru so many times that he almost forgot that the fake name he had chosen was actually Amuro Tooru.
However, before he could react, Asuka Kazuya, who considered Bourbon half a friend, noticed something was wrong.
He narrowed his eyes, starting to accuse him in a faint tone.
“What’s with this ‘thank you for playing with my child’ tone? Don’t tell me you really think I don’t dare to curse you?”
Afraid that Asuka Kazuya would use his ability, the Black Lizard members waiting nearby were poised to act. But Mori Ougai chuckled indifferently, patting Hirotsu’s shoulder as he turned around.
“See, Kazuya-kun can be quite sharp sometimes.”
The Boss was probably doing this on purpose.
Hirotsu Ryuro didn’t speak, just bowing his head respectfully.
This method of finding advantages within flaws was even more like an unreasonable parent.
“So why do you know the Port Mafia Boss?”
On the way back to the hotel, Bourbon asked this question.
Asuka Kazuya: “He used to be an improper proper person, I knew him before he went astray.”
A graduate of the University of Tokyo’s medical department, and an ability user, Mori Ougai was incredibly intelligent, unlike a normal person. Except for his strange hobbies, if he developed properly, he might have reached a position like Chief Taneda.
But that was probably impossible. Asuka Kazuya couldn’t associate him with a good person. From how he drove “Thou Shalt Not Die” to a breakdown before, it could be seen that Mori Ougai was the type to do whatever it took to achieve his goals.
Asuka Kazuya’s expression was indifferent as he said this. Bourbon glanced at him through the rearview mirror, not continuing the topic.
“How long are you planning to stay in the supposedly safest spot?”
Asuka Kazuya was stunned, then returned to his carefree demeanor. Refusing to sit in the passenger seat, Asuka Kazuya always sat in the back, which made Bourbon feel like he was his chauffeur.
“I can drive if you want,” Asuka Kazuya suggested, not reflecting on his behavior at all. “Although Scotch threw up after getting out of the car last time, I only took twenty minutes for a journey that normally takes an hour.”
During that time, not a single photo was taken, and the surveillance cameras at every intersection Asuka Kazuya passed conveniently malfunctioned.
Bourbon: “…”
Bourbon: “You should just keep tormenting Vodka.”
“Ah!” Asuka Kazuya exclaimed. “You’re speaking up for Scotch again! Amuro Tooru, do you want to be friends with Scotch? It’s useless, I asked him for you, he said he’s not close to you at all.”
He then put on a smug expression: “But it’s not a big deal, Scotch will definitely come to you to escape my torment. So, how is it? I’m quite good at making friends.”
Bourbon still didn’t understand what was wrong with him. He thought and thought, but every time he could only conclude that “there might be something wrong with Calvados’s ancestral grave.”
It was a bit ironic. Before meeting Asuka Kazuya, Bourbon had never believed in metaphysics.
However, as things stood now, he couldn’t say anything other than “thank you.”
Bourbon’s expression was unreadable as he drove into the hotel parking lot.
This was one of the organization’s properties. Even though he hadn’t yet reached the core, Bourbon could more or less guess that the organization had many high-level investors.
“That’s too polite.”
Not caring what he was thinking, Asuka Kazuya nodded, suddenly making a suggestion.
“You just have to help me catch that person from just now. Good luck, Amuro Tooru, everyone has a responsibility to fight against evil forces.”
Bourbon: “…”
He knew it! He knew this Calvados wouldn’t let anyone off the hook!
This statement was as absurd as asking him to force Gin to reveal the Boss’s whereabouts at gunpoint. He might as well just find a reason to gather everyone together and blow them all up.
Bourbon: “Be normal.”
Asuka Kazuya: “Am I not normal?”
Asuka Kazuya: “Then it must be the organization’s fault, it’s definitely not my fault.”
Rather than improving himself, it was better to harm others.
The reason Asuka Kazuya had been able to happily remain undercover until now was entirely due to his lack of self-reflection.
“By the way,” Asuka Kazuya said, “I seem to have been getting too close to you recently. Rum even asked me yesterday why I haven’t been pranking you lately.”
Bourbon suddenly had a bad premonition, but he still stopped and asked, “What did you say?”
This was a necessary task for Bourbon, obtaining information was the prerequisite for taking the initiative in a conversation.
However, this trick usually didn’t work on Asuka Kazuya. Bourbon really couldn’t predict his actions, let alone guess what he would say.
For example, now, after closing the car door, he was still complaining seriously: “I told him that sabotage is also very tiring. These past few years, to ensure that I don’t repeat my pranks, so many of my brain cells have died.”
Not only did he not get an answer, but he also had another unlucky day. Rum, a second-generation organization member, experienced for the first time the frustration of having to swallow his broken teeth.
Of course, he had tried to stop Calvados from secretly using his ability, but every time Calvados would say righteously, “Luck is conserved! The more unlucky you are, the more the organization benefits, do you want to sacrifice the greater good for personal gain?! Do you want the Boss to be unlucky instead?!”
Rum was speechless. What greater good, personal gain? He felt that Bourbon had made him watch too much news, he didn’t need a brain anyway, just watching mindless cartoons was fine.
“I understand,” Asuka Kazuya said. “Then I’ll paint your car pink.”
Bourbon, who had already entered the hotel, came back after hearing this.
He grabbed the back of his collar, lifting him like a chick through the hotel door.
Bourbon smiled: “Just not that.”
Asuka Kazuya didn’t understand: “So you care more about your car than yourself? Why? You don’t have a girlfriend, it’s only embarrassing for them when their girlfriends mock them on the way to pick them up.”
Bourbon, expressionless, decided to hide his car at night: “Who said I don’t have a girlfriend?”
Asuka Kazuya’s CPU overloaded again.
He recalled the report the executive officer sent him, pondering for a moment: “Bourbon,”
“What?”
“…You’re not going to say your girlfriend is the country or something, are you? You’re so extroverted.”
“…”
Although he didn’t say it out loud, Asuka Kazuya had “can you be more creative” written all over his face.
Bourbon looked down at him for a moment.
A few seconds later, Asuka Kazuya covered his head, thinking Bourbon’s character was getting worse and worse.
Matsuda too, Bourbon too.
Making friends was so hard. He didn’t understand.
The deal with the Port Mafia was set in a mansion near the sea. Bourbon, as an intelligence officer, had blended in with the surrounding tourists early on, while Asuka Kazuya sat in the meeting room, able to see the snipers arranged by the Port Mafia through the window.
“Asuka-kun,”
Across the long table, Ozaki Kouyou, one of the Port Mafia executives, reminded him with a smile.
“Although I can understand your desire to play with Dazai, at least look at the documents first.”
“…Where did you see that I want to play with Dazai?”
Asuka Kazuya slowly shifted his gaze back, estimating the time it would take for a bullet to reach him from this distance. He opened the document in front of him, his gaze resting on the signature at the bottom.
“You should know this won’t work, right? Interpol is currently inspecting outbound ships. Instead of risking the sea route, it’s better to transport it to North Africa first and wait for a while. The Hunting Dogs are currently on a mission there, they’re being played by the escaped prisoners and have no time for anything else.”
Ozaki Kouyou raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised as she observed his actions: “Since you’ve figured it out, what are you waiting for?”
Asuka Kazuya propped his chin, not expecting her to ask this.
“Of course, I’m waiting for my Big Brother’s order.”
The seated young man smiled, looking languid, his tone casual, but his green eyes met Ozaki Kouyou’s directly, with a hint of predatory excitement.
“Honestly, I don’t think we can reach an agreement on benefits. Gin isn’t the type to sit down and have a proper conversation with others, let alone with Dazai next door.”
The curve of Ozaki Kouyou’s lips widened. Her movements were elegant. Hearing this, she only took a sip of tea, unhurriedly, while Golden Demon appeared behind her, ready to strike a fatal blow with its long blade.
“You were the one who caught that Theos child, right?” Ozaki Kouyou replied. “That child killed many of my subordinates with those shady weapons.”
“How about handing her over to me?” Ozaki Kouyou looked up, a sense of oppression emanating from her despite doing nothing. “I believe you’ve also obtained a lot of information about the Port Mafia from her, she’s no longer of value to you, is she?”
“Oh, the way you put it.”
Clang! A metal clipboard blocked the long blade. Asuka Kazuya turned his head, glancing indifferently at the Golden Demon behind him.
“I wish I had that much authority. Ultimately, you’re just saying you think I’m protecting her.”
The young man’s wrist dropped. Ozaki Kouyou watched him casually toss the folder aside, not caring about the snipers watching everything outside.
“I see.”
Ozaki Kouyou understood.
“Can you tell me the name of the person disguised as Nagasawa?”
The snipers the Port Mafia had arranged in advance had been switched. Although it was just a guess, Ozaki Kouyou had noticed that the sniper rifle wasn’t aimed at Asuka Kazuya, but at herself.
“Vermouth,” Asuka Kazuya shrugged, generously answering. “She’s also a very amazing person. After the deal is over, you’ll probably find your sleeping subordinate in a suitcase at the drinks shop outside.”
Ozaki Kouyou sighed: “Just as Ougai-sama said.”
“…Just as he said what?” Asuka Kazuya hesitated. “I already said I didn’t corrupt Dazai, why does he keep badmouthing me everywhere?”
“It’s not badmouthing.” Ozaki Kouyou smiled, recalling the probing Golden Demon. “He said you’re actually kinder to those who are weaker, so he specifically called back the intelligence officer familiar with Europe.”
“…Oh.” Asuka Kazuya was speechless, quite self-aware on this point. “Then he misunderstood, I’m quite mean to everyone.”
“The other side should be almost done.” Ozaki Kouyou closed her fan, walking to the door. “Please don’t make things difficult for our newcomer, Kazuya-kun. You don’t think we’re completely unprepared besides the snipers, do you?”
Asuka Kazuya couldn’t help but feel that his name sounded strange when she said it.
He had come here in advance yesterday to scout the location, so he naturally knew what arrangements the Port Mafia had made. It was just those few ability users, no one would benefit from a real fight.
The door in the distance opened and closed. Asuka Kazuya pondered with his head lowered, quickly noticing someone pull up a chair and sit down across from him.
“Let me make it clear, I don’t have a habit of showing mercy. Your Boss called you here purely for fun, if you want to escape, it’s best to do it–”
Asuka Kazuya’s words abruptly stopped.
His irises reflected the image of the young man across from him. Sakaguchi Ango sat there, listening to him with an impassive face.
“Best to do it now, how?” Sakaguchi Ango continued his words.
Shock, doubt, disbelief, many emotions flashed across Asuka Kazuya’s face. In just these few seconds, Sakaguchi Ango concluded that his junior’s undercover methods were full of flaws, not understanding how he had survived until now.
Then, Sakaguchi Ango’s collar was grabbed, his back slammed against the wall.
Asuka Kazuya’s expression was cold: “Cunning fellow, trying to trick me with a disguise.”
He tugged, it didn’t come off.
He wiped, there were no traces of makeup.
Asuka Kazuya froze, watching Sakaguchi Ango calmly push up his glasses: “Your remedial measures are well done, but if there are cameras here, your expression upon seeing me just now is enough to expose your identity.”
That action! That tone! That voice!
Asuka Kazuya’s pupils constricted, realizing what he had done.
He calmly took two steps back, then closed the blinds.
“Why is senpai in the Port Mafia?”
Sakaguchi Ango: “…I was in training before, I’ve been here since last year. What about you, Kazuya, why are you suddenly at a place like this?”
At this point, how could Asuka Kazuya not know what had happened?
He was expressionless, thinking that the executive officer and Chief Taneda were truly cunning. He would shave their heads bald like Rum when he got back.
Undercover for so long, only to infiltrate the wrong organization. If he had known senpai was in the Port Mafia, he would have held Dazai hostage and made them hand him over.
“I’m fine,” Asuka Kazuya said, “but since Mori Ougai called you back, senpai, he probably guessed your true identity, right?”
Sakaguchi Ango: “…”
Sakaguchi Ango: “Although I kind of guessed it when I received the order, I didn’t expect to see you.”
As a member of the Special Abilities Division, Sakaguchi Ango had to train many people while still at headquarters. His juniors were scattered all over the world, and since they couldn’t contact the outside world during training, Sakaguchi Ango hadn’t paid much attention to their movements.
Among all his juniors, Asuka Kazuya was naturally the most troublesome one. Since Kindled Taneda couldn’t control him most of the time, and he would cause power outages throughout the Special Abilities Division when pushed too far, to avoid unnecessary losses, these ideological tasks were usually handled by Sakaguchi Ango personally.
Thinking of this, Sakaguchi Ango more or less guessed what excuse they had used to trick Kazuya into working hard this time.
He looked up at the inexplicably excited Asuka Kazuya.
The Port Mafia had strict rules for dealing with traitors, and since Mori Ougai hadn’t exposed him as a traitor, he must still be of some use.
…Was it related to Kazuya?
Sakaguchi Ango’s expression became serious, deciding to relay this information back to the Special Abilities Division.
“I understand!” Ignoring Sakaguchi Ango’s thoughts, Asuka Kazuya suggested enthusiastically, “Don’t worry! I’ll take you out of here later! My bullet-blocking skills have improved recently, I guarantee their bullets won’t even touch your clothes!”
Sakaguchi Ango: “…”
Sakaguchi Ango: “…I don’t want to escape.”
Asuka Kazuya: “Okay, then I’ll go kill Mori Ougai.”
Sakaguchi Ango: “…You might not understand, but his existence is very important for maintaining peace in Yokohama.”
Asuka Kazuya: “Okay, then I’ll spare him and kill the rest of the Port Mafia.”
“…”
After a long time, Sakaguchi Ango once again experienced the familiar feeling of a heart attack.
He took off his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose with a headache.
“Kazuya,” Sakaguchi Ango said, “you’re still on a mission, you don’t have to worry about me for now.”
“And, you should remember that you’re also half a police officer, right?”
Sakaguchi Ango thought he had used simple language to subtly persuade his mentally sound junior to stop saying things like a terrorist.
However—
You’re still on a mission = It’s fine once the mission is completed.
You don’t have to worry about me for now = Because the organization is holding him back.
You’re half a police officer = It’s Vodka and the others’ fault for subtly influencing him to look scary.
Asuka Kazuya, believing his reading comprehension was perfect, formulated a perfect plan to complete the mission in 0.1 seconds.
“Of course!”
Asuka Kazuya’s expression was firm, completely forgetting the nonsense he had just said.
“I always remember your words, senpai, about protecting the weak! Don’t worry, I’ve already thought of a perfect escape plan, it definitely won’t affect ordinary people!”
Sakaguchi Ango: “…”
Sakaguchi Ango: That’s not what you just said.
The door in the distance seemed to be opening again. Under Sakaguchi Ango’s “I knew this would happen” gaze, Asuka Kazuya raised his modified gun.
Gin was expressionless, hearing him say eight words in total.
“I’m a police officer!”
“Surrender immediately!”
Forceful and resounding.
To add authenticity to his words, Asuka Kazuya even held up the document he had used for drafting. The white paper had a crudely drawn police badge. Perhaps because he couldn’t draw at all, Asuka Kazuya had simply written the English word “police” inside a circle.
He pulled the trigger, and a strange smell filled the air.
Dazai Osamu, who had come along, let out an “Oh”: “Not perfume now, switched to flower water?”
Asuka Kazuya: “It’s summer, mosquito repellent is more important.”
Dazai Osamu: “Where’s Kouyou-nee? Did you scare her away?”
Asuka Kazuya: “What are you talking about? She was worried you couldn’t win, so she specifically went out to check on you.”
Dazai Osamu looked thoughtful, glancing at the young man behind Asuka Kazuya.
If he remembered correctly, he was a newcomer who had just joined the intelligence department last year.
Was he called by Mori-san? Did he know Kazuya?
Asuka Kazuya: “Hey, I’m really a police officer, is anyone listening to me?”
The term “non-threatening” was perfectly embodied in Asuka Kazuya. Having long received the news that he was undercover in the Metropolitan Police Department, the mafia members guarding the door were firm in their resolve, unanimously ignoring his words.
As they say, every organization has its own clown. Amidst Dazai Osamu’s gleeful voice, Gin sneered.
“Asuka Kazuya,”
He said.
“Are you looking for death?”
After this incident, the negotiation process actually sped up—the Black Lizard members didn’t know Asuka Kazuya’s true ability. They only thought that since he hadn’t been killed yet, he must be very capable, so even Ozaki Kouyou and Dazai Osamu didn’t act rashly.
Only a few people at the scene knew the truth. Ozaki Kouyou closed her bat fan, recalling Mori Ougai’s words.
The deal wasn’t the real purpose.
The Port Mafia never intended to cooperate from the beginning. Having Sakaguchi Ango come here and making Asuka Kazuya doubt the Special Abilities Division itself was their goal.
In this battle for talent, in this operation to obtain the ability business license, they had the upper hand in the end.
“Mori-san even tricked me.” Dazai Osamu sat beside Ozaki Kouyou, chuckling after guessing the whole story.
“Isn’t this good?” Ozaki Kouyou looked at him. “At least we’ve confirmed the possibility of inducing Asuka-kun’s defection.”
Defection?
Dazai Osamu looked up at Asuka Kazuya in the distance, who was still lamenting, “Heartbroken, true heartbreak isn’t a big fuss.”
He didn’t need this guy to join the Port Mafia, he just found it fun to tease him.
Sensing Dazai Osamu’s reaction, Ozaki Kouyou deliberately raised her voice: “But thanks to Asuka-kun’s suggestion, I believe this plan will go very smoothly.”
Asuka Kazuya: “…?”
Asuka Kazuya caught the keyword, perking up his ears.
“Slander! This is slander! I didn’t suggest anything!”
Ozaki Kouyou: “Didn’t you just say to have the goods pass through North Africa? Because of the Hunting Dogs, the police will lower their guard.”
The mafia was quite good at creating heroes. A few years ago, they even made a promotional film for the Hunting Dogs, and even Interpol had many of their fans.
Asuka Kazuya was shocked.
That was then, this is now. If Ozaki Kouyou said that, wouldn’t Ango-senpai think he was helping bad people do bad things?
“That’s not the point.” In front of a group of criminals, Asuka Kazuya lowered his voice, pretending to be mysterious. “Do you know why I know about the Hunting Dogs’ movements?”
Dazai Osamu: “Yes, yes, because you’re a police officer, right?”
Asuka Kazuya: “…”
Asuka Kazuya fell silent, giving a “can you shut up if you have nothing to do” look.
He turned around, pointing at Dazai Osamu, but looking at Gin, whose face was darker than the bottom of a pot: “Big Brother! Why didn’t you kill him just now, Big Brother!”
There he goes again, talking about killing people in front of others.
A vein throbbed in Gin’s forehead: “Shut up.”
After so many years of teaching, even a dog would learn to speak human language. But Asuka Kazuya didn’t learn his lesson, being serious when he shouldn’t be, and not serious when he should be.
“You can’t say that.” Ozaki Kouyou, seeing this scene, considerately spoke up for him. “He even rushed over to help just now, he seems to admire you very much.”
Asuka Kazuya’s face turned green: “I don’t.”
Ozaki Kouyou: “It’s too late to deny it now, Asuka-kun, your habit of chasing after people isn’t a secret here.”
Thanks to Asuka Kazuya’s past actions, Ozaki Kouyou had no trouble refuting him.
She opened her bat fan, covering her lips: “How nostalgic, still at the age of being shy.”
Asuka Kazuya: “…”
Malicious, nine out of ten points for maliciousness.
He should have really fought her just now.
Asuka Kazuya reflected painfully, deciding to curse everyone equally from today onwards.
Without Ango-senpai, what was the point of getting promoted? It was the executive officer and the others who insisted he take this mission. Let them be doomed, let them all be doomed together.
The young man’s expression changed unpredictably. Asuka Kazuya’s appearance was naturally soft, his frame slender, his golden hair draped over his shoulders, occasionally revealing the back of his neck with his movements—
There was a faint scar there, left from a mission a few years ago.
It was when Gin had just been transferred to Japan, and there weren’t many people at the base who obeyed him. There were even malicious incidents of ignoring signals and attempting to kill each other.
One Asuka Kazuya, one Vodka, with no other support, it could be said to be the most embarrassing moment in Gin’s killer career. The man known as the Top Killer was always calm. After he finished dealing with the nearby enemies, Asuka Kazuya had already thrown the last magazine to Vodka.
The golden figure charged towards the bullets, his movements swift and ruthless. Accompanied by a sharp gust of wind, the sharp dagger plunged directly into the target’s head.
This scene was both shocking and terrifying. The surrounding mafia members momentarily forgot to shoot.
The young man’s vocal cords were damaged, blood flowing down the wound on his throat, slowly turning around under Gin’s gaze.
Those green eyes were filled with pride, much like a newborn lion cub learning to walk on the grasslands for the first time.
That was the first time Gin felt that this little brat was somewhat useful.
Of course, it would be better if he was always mute.
“Six in the west, nine in the east,” After a while, Gin suddenly spoke.
Asuka Kazuya, still lamenting life, was stunned, raising his eyes: “…What?”
“I saw them on the way here.”
Wind speed, terrain, Gin was always calm when doing such things, indeed not the type to sit down and have a proper conversation with others.
The Top Killer’s lips curved into a cold and sarcastic smile: “Calvados, when did your temper become so good?”
Asuka Kazuya slowly sat up straight, seemingly realizing something, ready to pull the frail Sakaguchi Ango from the battlefield at any moment.
“The organization won’t give up 30% of the profits.”
In this heavy atmosphere, Gin met Ozaki Kouyou’s eyes. He had no intention of beating around the bush, directly exposing her hidden thoughts.
“Using a deal as a pretense to induce this brat’s defection, what a boring trick.”
The man’s eyes were deep, the disgust and killing intent in his words almost tangible.
“Tell your Boss, the deal is off.”
When she received the retreat order, the moon had almost risen. Vermouth took a deep breath, seeing the retreating Port Mafia through her sniper scope.
“How did the deal go?”
“Failed.”
Bourbon answered her question through the earpiece.
Vermouth chuckled, having expected this outcome.
“Was it Calvados?”
“He said it had more to do with Gin.”
“Well, after all, Gin isn’t the type to swallow his pride.” Vermouth put away her gun, removed her mask, and started walking down from the rooftop. “I didn’t expect the agreement to be reached anyway, this time it was mainly to find out their purpose for extending the invitation.”
“…Their invitation?”
“That’s what I heard.” Vermouth said, smoothing her hair. “Where’s Calvados? Why don’t I hear him?”
Normally, that kid should be energetically looting everywhere by now. Vermouth had been robbed by him several times and usually chose to stay away at this time.
“…He’s asleep.” Bourbon glanced at the person lying in the back of the car. “It seems he overused his ability, he didn’t rest much last night either.”
“Then take him back to the base first,” Vermouth thought for a moment. “Gin might call the researchers over later.”
As a survivor of the APTX series, Asuka Kazuya’s physical data was currently the only standard for evaluating the drug’s effects and side effects. The Boss’s previous order was not to assign Calvados missions unless absolutely necessary, but the base didn’t follow this order well, and over time, the Boss just let him be.
“What’s wrong, Bourbon?” Seeing that Bourbon hadn’t replied for a long time, Vermouth raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me he’s threatening you not to talk to me right now?”
Bourbon leaned against a utility pole, pulling down the brim of his hat upon hearing this: “You seem to have misunderstood something, Calvados isn’t in my car.”
Vermouth stopped.
She turned and looked out the window, just in time to see the black Porsche drive past downstairs.
Since he didn’t directly throw the trouble to Bourbon, it either meant that something had happened that required reaffirming Calvados’s loyalty, or Calvados had provoked Gin again.
Vermouth was a little curious. Gin could even tolerate Calvados treating his room as a resort, what else could he not tolerate?
But even if she didn’t ask, someone else would, like Chianti across the street. If it weren’t for Gin in the car, she would probably attempt an American-style interception.
Sensing Chianti’s death glare, Vodka didn’t dare reply to her message, only weakly calling out, “Big Brother.”
“Is Kazuya really dying?”
There were no signs of breathing from his appearance. Vodka broke out in a cold sweat, speeding up unconsciously.
Although he was often pranked, Kazuya had saved him several times. Vodka thought it would be a pity if he really died.
Gin snorted disdainfully: “He’s perfectly fine.”
He was playing dead because he knew he would be confined.
Gin knew his tricks. He was angry just thinking about how he kept looking back at the Port Mafia.
“If you hold it in any longer, I’ll send you straight to the dissection table.”
“…”
Asuka Kazuya slowly opened his eyes.
He was still thinking about why Sakaguchi Ango didn’t leave with him, lazily turning over after hearing this.
“I’m a dignified person now, I’m not playing with you.”
Vodka felt something was wrong. The Port Mafia must have poisoned the food and damaged Kazuya’s brain. Otherwise, as Big Brother’s anti-fan… no, biggest fan, how could he dare to speak to Big Brother like this?
And who was playing with him?! Wasn’t it this guy who always forced others to play with him?!
Not hearing Vodka’s complaint, Asuka Kazuya, after much thought, finally came to a conclusion—
It must be because he wasn’t strong enough, Ango-senpai was afraid he couldn’t win, so he didn’t leave with him!
Asuka Kazuya reflected, sitting up abruptly.
“Stop the car,” he said. “I’m going to find Rye.”
Vodka: “…”
Vodka: “What are you looking for Rye for? To help Bourbon get his money back?”
Asuka Kazuya: “To ask him to teach me hand-to-hand combat—what money? I just won the lottery this morning, I haven’t spent it all yet.”
Right, right, you won a lot of lottery tickets, and then used other cards to buy things, right?
Vodka was used to this, deciding not to argue about it for now, stealthily checking Big Brother’s expression.
“You’re not going anywhere until you solve the trouble you caused.” Gin coldly interrupted him, his pocket containing the confiscated flower water gun. “And learn what a police badge looks like, so you don’t embarrass yourself next time.”
Asuka Kazuya: “…”
Asuka Kazuya: “I’m not a police officer, why should I learn? You wouldn’t be happy if I actually became one.”
Vodka still didn’t know what had just happened, so he was a bit puzzled by this statement.
“Calvados,” he asked, “aren’t you undercover in the Metropolitan Police Department?”
“…So what?”
“You said you want to learn hand-to-hand combat, so you’re going to use your ability less? But if you don’t use your ability, won’t your cover be blown quickly?”
Asuka Kazuya was expressionless.
He had only stopped using his ability for a while, how did even Vodka become smarter?
“It’s all Gin’s fault!”
Asuka Kazuya, deciding to abandon Gin’s thigh, gave up on himself.
“He calls me an idiot or useless every day, there’s psychological evidence for this, it greatly affects my true level!”
“What level do you even have?”
Gin scoffed at Asuka Kazuya’s accusation.
“You’ve become even slower after spending time with Bourbon, you can’t even see what the Port Mafia is planning.”
Asuka Kazuya: “…You’re doomed, I curse you to be stabbed by a tranquilizer dart tomorrow.”
This curse was slightly more mature than before. Gin snorted, not taking his words seriously at all.
“And I’m looking for Rye, not Bourbon.”
“…”
“Gin? Big Brother?”
“…”
“Hey, are you really ignoring me?”
“…”
The car was unusually quiet for a few seconds. However, as soon as Gin lit his cigarette, the flame was extinguished by a strange gust of wind.
This was thanks to Asuka Kazuya’s curse. Gin calmly turned his head, meeting those green eyes.
Asuka Kazuya lay there obediently, not at all like the person who had just fought back and forth with Golden Demon.
“I’ll let you light it if you talk to me.”
His capriciousness hadn’t changed at all. Useful for only 24 minutes out of 24 hours a day.
Annoying to keep around, but a pity to give away.
Especially in the recording Bourbon sent him, that “you’ve worked hard,” Gin felt furious just hearing it.
He calmly looked away, not intending to compromise on this.
“There’s only one fate for those who leave the organization.”
Not answering the question, Gin lit his cigarette again under Asuka Kazuya’s gaze. The man’s features were sharp, his expression obscured by the swirling smoke.
“Calvados, don’t even think about switching sides.”
The air seemed to freeze.
Vodka held his breath, afraid that he would object again.
He knew the consequences of Asuka Kazuya being treated as a traitor. After all, to prevent him from betraying them, the organization had specifically added extra ingredients to his medicine every time.
So, where Gin couldn’t see, Vodka frantically winked.
And as if responding to Vodka’s efforts, Asuka Kazuya withdrew his hand, actually not mentioning switching sides again.
The young man lowered his gaze, looking at his phone.
“Oh, I knew that although you always scold me, Big Brother, you still care about me in your heart. But my ideal type has changed, so I refuse.”
“Vodka, did you hear that? From now on, please call me ‘Calvados who rejected Gin.’ Ah, the great Cal–”
Crash.
Vodka’s hand slipped, and the car crashed into a utility pole on the side of the road.
