Chapter 7
When Asuka Kazuya returned to the base, Gin’s mission wasn’t over yet. Ireland said that Rum had called him twice and told him not to keep his phone on silent.
“I deliberately didn’t answer,” the person sprawled on the sofa, staring at the ceiling, said righteously. “Rum must think Gin is persecuting me now. To maintain his groundhog image in my heart, he’ll give me a raise tomorrow.”
Ireland: “…”
Ireland: “Rum’s call hasn’t ended yet.”
Asuka Kazuya: “So what? He’s going to shoot me?”
…You’ve completely given up, haven’t you! Where’s your bootlicking spirit! What did the Whiskeys do to you?!
Oh, right, where were the Whiskeys?
Ireland exchanged a few more words with Rum, then hung up the phone and looked around, not finding Scotch or the others. “Calvados, did you really sell them to the police for money?”
Asuka Kazuya pondered: “Am I that kind of person in your heart, Ireland? Don’t forget who pleaded for you last time when your mission failed.”
Ireland was expressionless.
No! Was that pleading?! How was tying him to a rock and throwing him into the sea to feed the sharks better than letting Gin shoot him?!
Ireland was on the verge of a breakdown, warning him through gritted teeth: “I’ll give you my salary, just speak normally, okay?”
“Scotch is writing a report. Bourbon, like Vermouth, doesn’t listen to me.”
“As for Rye…” Asuka Kazuya sat up, chuckling after receiving the transfer. “I gave him eight hours off. I’m such a good boss, it’s truly outrageous that Gin won’t sign my recommendation letter.”
Greedy for money, disloyal, and fickle.
Ireland felt a pang in his chest, realizing he could speak normally after all.
“I think Rum is doing this on purpose.” After Calvados stopped laughing, Ireland changed the subject, attempting to retaliate. “Everyone knows Rum and Gin don’t get along, and you were transferred from Rum. By clinging to Gin like this, he’ll only think you’re being instructed by Rum to collect evidence of his incompetence.”
There were only a few members in the organization who could directly contact “that gentleman.” And as if to balance each other out, Rum and Gin would seize any opportunity to try and bring the other down.
Out with the old, in with the new. It wasn’t just Rum; other members of the organization were eyeing Gin’s position, with little loyalty to speak of.
“It’s okay,” Asuka Kazuya opened a shopping website. “I broke up with Gin an hour ago. Nothing can hurt me now.”
Ireland looked away, wanting to retort, “Since when were you two dating?” Unfortunately, before he could, the base door opened again, and the subject of their conversation stood there, looking very grumpy.
After being entangled by an unkillable, writhing zombie for half an hour, Gin looked expressionlessly at Asuka Kazuya on the sofa, seemingly wanting to shoot him twice.
“Get up,” Gin said. “I’m taking you to the research lab.”
“No.” Asuka Kazuya bought a bunch of online trolls. He ignored Vodka’s look and stared at Gin while lying down. “Sign my letter quickly, or I’ll get revenge on you.”
Although his expression didn’t change, anyone with a discerning eye could see that Gin’s mood had worsened.
To be honest, since taking over Asuka Kazuya, Vodka felt that his Big Brother’s temper had really improved—even if it was forced. Calvados couldn’t be beaten to death, couldn’t be choked to death, a truly stubborn vengeful spirit, as if saying, “I’ll always be watching you.”
Gin showed no intention of taking action. He stood there, looking down at the latter with a chilling tone.
“I’m not interested in retards,” he said. “Calvados, if you write any more of that idiotic news on the organization forum, you’ll be confined for another two months.”
—”Shocking! The story behind the TOP KILLER is actually…”
—”Secret love affair, two or three things about Gin that you have to know.”
The absurdity of the matter even led “that gentleman” to personally inquire about the situation with Gin during a call, subtly reminding him that emotional exchanges were not allowed between executives in the organization.
He was already getting ahead of himself by acting like an executive.
The reason Gin hadn’t signed his letter before was a rare agreement he had reached with Rum.
If this retard became an executive, wouldn’t it be embarrassing for the organization?
“…” Asuka Kazuya didn’t understand Gin’s thought process. He stared at him in silence for a few seconds, then sat up quietly.
He was supposed to be anonymous, how did Gin know it was him?
Asuka Kazuya sat up guiltily, automatically opening the back door of the Porsche and even obediently fastening his seatbelt.
If he had known this would happen, he wouldn’t have done it in the first place.
Vodka, witnessing this scene, exchanged glances with Ireland.
“But Bourbon gave me fever medicine,” Asuka Kazuya replied. “I suddenly feel he’s not that annoying anymore, there’s a tiny bit of room for development.”
Vodka was a little surprised: “You’d even share that with Bourbon?”
“No.” Asuka Kazuya opened Candy Crush. “He found out himself. He said my heartbeat was a little faster than before, that’s why I said there’s a tiny bit of room for development.”
He didn’t know what Matsumoto had said to Bourbon, but Bourbon’s attitude when he brought him back was quite subtle.
Vodka thought it made sense, then paused and asked, “What about the Port Mafia? Didn’t you get any information from Matsumoto?”
“Dazai’s not dead,” Asuka Kazuya said.
He didn’t look up, probably because of the medicine, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, his lowered eyelashes half-covering his eyes as he spoke.
“Things happened a bit suddenly, it’s good enough that we managed to kill that guy.”
Speaking of which, Asuka Kazuya stopped playing his game.
“Dazai was a bit strange. I was playing cards just fine, why didn’t he watch Matsumoto and instead came to watch me?”
The research lab wasn’t far from the base. As soon as the camera caught sight of the Porsche, personnel in white coats were already waiting at the gate.
Gin sneered disdainfully, watching them drag Asuka Kazuya inside for a physical examination.
Every adverse reaction to the drug had to be recorded promptly, so Asuka Kazuya had a lot of blood drawn. He had just had his left hand poked yesterday, and today it was his right hand.
“It would be better if we could enhance his physique a little.” The personnel reporting to Gin said, “Calvados is somewhat malnourished and anemic. Some of the abnormal indicators might be caused by a picky diet.”
Gin had his hands in his pockets, looking like a parent being lectured by a teacher from afar.
Asuka Kazuya couldn’t help but laugh.
Gin’s move to raise his hand and shoot him was stopped by “White Coat.” The young man pushed up his glasses, emphasizing, “Anemia will affect the experimental data. You know what the Boss thinks about this.”
Asuka Kazuya laughed so hard he fell to the floor.
Gin felt like shooting both of them.
“Yay!” Asuka Kazuya was actually quite happy. He got up from the floor, wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes. “Vodka, Gin is treating us to a feast tonight. Let’s eat from the top floor to the bottom floor.”
Vodka covered his ears. He sometimes felt that Kazuya might be a masochist. He clearly knew that saying such things would get him beaten by Big Brother, but he still insisted on doing it.
“I mean you need a balanced diet.”
“White Coat” turned around, addressing Asuka Kazuya.
“Especially vegetables. Your data doesn’t lie.”
“…”
Asuka Kazuya stopped laughing.
His expression changed instantly, pointing at Gin: “Quick, shoot him.”
Gin: Heh.
What a disgrace. After personally witnessing Asuka Kazuya take the new drug, Gin carried him away like a sack of potatoes.
“White Coat” followed behind him, holding a clipboard and reading out side effects like delirium and lethargy, but Vodka covered his mouth before he could finish.
“Can you change your grip?” Asuka Kazuya, treated as a sack of potatoes, protested. “My stomach hurts. Big Brother, why don’t you gain some weight?”
“Just shut up.” The Top Killer’s response to Asuka Kazuya’s suggestion was still unkind. “I’ll supervise your training, Calvados. Don’t be useless.”
Training right after returning from a mission. It was one thing for Gin to be a workaholic, but why drag him along too?
“There’s a deal with the Port Mafia next month.” Seemingly sensing Asuka Kazuya’s complaint, Vodka whispered, “Normally, only executives can attend, but Rum was injured today, and the Boss said you’re to go with him instead.”
—You know what I mean.
Vodka winked frantically.
Asuka Kazuya pondered for a moment, wasn’t that a good opportunity for a promotion?
Three years of enduring humiliation hadn’t been in vain! Great! Once he found a clue about Ango-senpai, he would shave everyone in the organization bald!
Asuka Kazuya suddenly felt energized, instantly filled with passion for training.
“What kind of training?” he asked enthusiastically. “Hand-to-hand combat or shooting? Big Brother, don’t worry, even if I get promoted, you’ll still be my good Big Brother. I was just kidding earlier, I knew you wouldn’t be so heartless and would definitely sign my application.”
“Those two things shouldn’t be difficult for you, right?”
A familiar voice came.
Vermouth was satisfied to see Asuka Kazuya freeze, turning to look at her like a robot.
She smiled: “There are many ways to obtain information. Just like this mission, Calvados, you’re going to learn disguise from me.”
There she was! The terrifying woman who could read minds!
Asuka Kazuya had a stress reaction, subconsciously wanting to run away, but he couldn’t break free no matter how hard he tried.
Asuka Kazuya thought.
Asuka Kazuya acted.
Asuka Kazuya hugged Gin’s waist from behind in this position: “I won’t let go! Unless you get someone else to teach me!”
This bizarre scene could be included in the organization’s top ten classics. Gin clicked his tongue, his blood pressure skyrocketing.
The next second, the world spun. Asuka Kazuya reached out instinctively, realizing he was being held by Gin in a different position.
…Oh, he almost forgot, besides marksmanship, Gin was also good at hand-to-hand combat.
Asuka Kazuya replayed the scene in his mind, but he didn’t intend to tangle with Gin, calmly putting his dislocated wrist back in place.
“Calvados, what’s with that look?” Vodka, who had been observing, asked awkwardly.
“What look?” Asuka Kazuya waved his hand, laughing awkwardly. “Of course, it’s a happy look.”
Vodka: “…”
Vodka: You’re lying, I clearly sensed killing intent just now.
Vodka hesitated to speak, subconsciously looking at Big Brother and Vermouth, only to find that both of them looked unconcerned.
“When Gin first came to Japan, Calvados ambushed him at the base and fought him as soon as they met.”
Vermouth smiled, watching Vodka’s shocked expression with amusement.
“If it weren’t for Rum’s words, they might still be fighting now.”
That recording was still a classic teaching material at the training camp. Porcelain shards, glass, fishing line—Calvados was good at using anything at hand to kill. Unfortunately, after Rum said he needed Gin’s approval, Calvados embarked on the path of clinging to his thigh.
“Blah blah blah.”
Before Vodka could react, Asuka Kazuya interrupted Vermouth. The young man had a serious expression, his wrist still bearing red marks from the dislocation, yet he assumed a protective stance.
“Don’t bully Vodka, Vermouth. He’s looking at me like a heartless man who betrayed his pure feelings.”
So that’s it, Kazuya was such a good… wait.
Vodka fell silent.
Vodka went mad.
Who’s bullying whom?! Aren’t you the biggest bully of all?!
