Chapter 6
Vermouth arrived at noon.
Due to the Organization's emphasis on the Middle East smuggling routes, after learning that Usuha Izuki had run off to Japan, they'd already dispatched Vermouth, who happened to be free and was a core executive, to Japan. As soon as the advance team found him, she'd handle negotiations, which was why she could arrive so quickly.
Vermouth disguised herself, dressed up, then found the room according to the number Vodka had given her.
Even with Vodka's warning, seeing Usuha Izuki for the first time, Vermouth still felt her eyes were assaulted, and her walking pace imperceptibly paused.
Golden haori, blue shirt, four-leaf clover shaped green hair clip, not only wearing a black choker around his neck but also a rose rosary cross necklace, while the prayer beads on his hands looked so out of place...
Four-leaf clover, cross, prayer beads... Believing in whoever seemed most effective?
Although it was quite harsh on the eyes at first glance, Vermouth had spent years in America where avant-garde art could also be very jarring. If it didn't match aesthetic standards, so be it—she'd just pretend not to see it.
It's just that Vermouth actually somewhat believed that clothing and aesthetic choices could roughly reflect a person's inner world.
This Usuha Izuki was somewhat seriously ill.
But considering he'd just returned from the Middle East... Children raised in such environments having psychological issues when suddenly entering normal society was very normal, well within Vermouth's expectations.
Therefore, Vermouth used her superb acting skills to show no disgust toward Usuha Izuki's outfit, introducing herself: "I'm Vermouth. I had some dealings with your adoptive father... May I call you Usuha-kun?"
"Of course." Usuha Izuki smiled in response. "Unfortunately, my adoptive father basically never mentioned Organization matters to me, so I haven't heard of you. I'm afraid I can't say something like 'I've long admired your reputation.'"
"That's fine. It's normal for your adoptive father to be cautious." Vermouth handed over a slip of paper. "I'm very sorry he was ambushed by the CIA this time... I heard you want to leave the Middle East and integrate into society. If you don't mind, here's my phone number for any problems in daily life. You can call me and I'll definitely try my best to help, consider it repaying your adoptive father's favor."
Usuha Izuki graciously accepted: "Then I'll thank you in advance. Since you also know I want to quickly integrate into normal society, you should understand my feelings about wanting to escape the Middle East, right? So just tell me directly what problems there are in the Middle East. Once I resolve things there, I can start my new life."
Vermouth: "..."
Your new job is working as HR for the Organization—strictly speaking, that's not really integrating into normal society either.
But quickly resolving the Middle East smuggling routes that had the Organization at their wit's end was also Vermouth's wish, so she didn't point this out, going along with it: "Indeed, there are quite a few remaining problems in the Middle East. Speaking of this, we have to mention the CIA that caused all this... You want to avenge your adoptive father too, right?"
Usuha Izuki raised an eyebrow slightly: "The Organization is willing to offend the CIA for my dad?"
"I won't say something like avenging Organization members that you definitely wouldn't believe." Vermouth gazed at Usuha Izuki. "But the Organization has actually clashed with the CIA, MI6, KGB and other organizations many times. We don't mind causing them greater losses when we have the chance. If you want to avenge Arak Wine, the best way is to help us."
Although Vodka had said on the phone this was just a cold-hearted lunatic, Vermouth had dealt with Arak Wine. She felt that a child raised by Arak Wine, even if truly mentally ill, wouldn't have no feelings for him at all.
Usuha Izuki was somewhat puzzled: [System, your items aren't broken, right? Why do I feel like Vermouth seems to have some goodwill toward me... Is this normal? Could she really have had dealings with Arak Wine? It wasn't written in the materials! Or is this acting that can deceive even herself?]
Although this goodwill was limited, Usuha Izuki felt that since he hadn't saved Vermouth and wasn't a good person, Vermouth couldn't possibly have any filter for him. It should be related to Arak Wine.
System: [Uh, I can't check that either. I don't have materials for that part—it might be with the Undercover System that wasn't transferred to me. Use your imagination to improvise.]
Usuha Izuki: [...Hasn't the Undercover System finished debugging yet? Hurry up and fix it and come back to hand over properly. This is so inefficient!]
Not understanding what was up with Vermouth's attitude, he'd assume it was Arak Wine's personal charm for now. Usuha Izuki also slightly modified his conversation approach.
"After saying so much, basically the people who used to cooperate with my dad in the Middle East aren't cooperating with you anymore, and you need me to mediate, right?"
Vodka listened on the side, thinking no wonder this kid acted so confident—he clearly knew he was indispensable to the Organization now... Good thing they didn't try to deceive him yesterday, or it would have been troublesome.
Vermouth nodded: "Since you understand everything, you should also realize I'm not trying to fool you. As long as you can get them to cooperate, whatever needs you have, the Organization will try its best to satisfy... This is also one of the inheritances your adoptive father left for you. Whether you want it or not is up to you."
Usuha Izuki was silent for a few seconds: "I don't want to stay in the Middle East too long—meet everyone once and return to Japan. Also, since you've chosen to ask for my help, you'd better do whatever I say."
Vermouth nodded: "Of course."
"Good, then before I go to the Middle East, don't waste time. You should discuss aid projects with those people first."
Vermouth and Vodka: "...???"
Even Gin, who had been standing quietly in the corner, couldn't help but glance over.
Vodka was first to speak: "Must we do aid projects? Other smuggling operations don't seem to go this far?"
System excitedly: [Vodka's suspicion value +300!]
Finally! The system had been feeling that Usuha Izuki's main body was being too cautious, acting like he didn't plan to grind suspicion values now. Today there was finally some income!
"Do you understand or do I understand?" Usuha Izuki became impatient. "This is called 'three years without changing from father's way'... no, I mean, this shows an attitude, meaning that however my dad treated them before, you'll treat them the same way, letting them know you and my dad are on the same side, reducing resistance to the personnel change!"
Vodka: "..."
How did Arak Wine's aid projects become "father's way"? Arak Wine suddenly had his seniority elevated to become the Organization's father?!
Was this analogy intentional or accidental?
Vermouth didn't dwell on these details. After brief consideration, she agreed: "No problem, I think that's a good approach too."
Anyway, to maintain this smuggling route, the Organization was already prepared to spend money. Aid projects were just that—Arak Wine had pioneered it and proven this method worked, so they'd follow suit.
They hadn't done it before partly because many in the Organization felt it was unnecessary, and partly because aid without reaching people's hearts was wasted aid. Now with Usuha Izuki helping to speak well of them, the effects could emerge.
With this aid project proposal that made Vodka uncomfortable at the beginning, the subsequent suggestions and plans seemed much more normal.
Vermouth and Usuha Izuki finished their discussion in an hour.
While Usuha Izuki went to buy drinks, Vodka asked Vermouth: "Is that it? I thought you'd need to discuss for several days at least."
Vermouth was emailing Boss to report: "It's not that complicated. The current situation just lacks a person in charge that those people can accept. With Usuha-kun willing to cooperate, 80% of the problems are solved. The rest are just details."
Vodka sighed: "Relationship-based societies are so troublesome."
"Only Arak Wine was like this. Most smugglers only care about money, not people. We encountered a special case." Vermouth reflected. "When we sent him to the Middle East, we just thought he was good at dealing with people. We didn't expect he'd go this far... If Usuha-kun can be like Arak Wine, he should quickly integrate into society and make friends."
Vodka suddenly fell silent.
Vermouth keenly asked: "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with what I said?"
Vodka hesitated: "I think this kid and Arak Wine might be two extremes..."
"...? Can't he deal with people? He seemed fine when talking just now?"
"If Arak Wine was a social butterfly, then he's a social terrorist... He completely ignores what others think, just unilaterally defines who's a friend, and when asked just says 'we ordinary people are like this'..."
Not just Vermouth—even Gin was speechless hearing this.
Vodka summarized: "Anyway, I feel he's completely unlike Arak Wine. He's more like someone who just came out of St. Elizabeth's sanatorium."
Vermouth actually felt that in some ways, this father and son were quite similar.
—Both liked to fleece the Organization, going to provide aid to the Middle East. Normal people really wouldn't do such things.
"Alright, my mission is complete. Next is sending him to the Middle East—it'll take at least a few months."
Vermouth was very ready to wash her hands of it: "Don't stop his salary during this period, or if Usuha-kun goes on strike in the Middle East, be careful of logistics cutting off your supplies. You'll have to buy bullets at high prices on the black market then."
Vodka: "...I only did it once—it won't be blamed on me forever, right? I'm in the action group! What's the point of telling me!"
But with Vermouth saying this, Vodka thought about the finance department's efficiency, then imagined how they might have their weapons cut off because the finance department forgot to transfer Usuha Izuki's money, and felt suffocated.
Obviously Gin had thought of this problem too.
Considering that BOSS attached great importance to this mission and absolutely wouldn't tolerate any mistakes, everyone should spare no effort to achieve their goals...
Then thinking of this lunatic who insisted on experiencing ordinary people's life...
Gin felt they couldn't place hopes on the finance department.
He trusted himself more.
So under Vermouth's mysterious smile, Gin was silent for a while, then coldly pulled out his wallet.
Vodka still hadn't figured out the connection: "Boss?"
Gin: "It's all for the Organization."
So when Usuha Izuki returned from buying drinks, what he saw was a conflicted-looking Vodka handing him an envelope.
Usuha Izuki: "What's this?"
"Your salary card, no password needed. Inside is settling-in money, and salary is deposited on the 5th of each month." Vodka's eyes were full of pain.
Usuha Izuki confusedly accepted the salary card, asking the system in his mind: [What's wrong with him? Giving me a salary card like I robbed his money.]
[Because they're worried about the finance department's low efficiency, so this is actually Gin's bank card... Gin really treats the Organization like family, very considerate of BOSS.]
Usuha Izuki: [Is it necessary? This is too polite.]
System: [............]
—Don't you have any idea what kind of bizarre impression you've given people?!