Chapter 34
When Gin got in the car, Vodka was busy.
"Right, send it to the research lab first, have them confirm... send everything over, don't miss a single piece! Yes, yes... Ah, Boss."
Hearing the car door open, Vodka quickly hung up the phone.
Gin frowned, rapidly recalling recent missions, not remembering anything related to the research lab: "What happened at the research lab?"
"It's not an organization mission, it's that kid Usuha."
Vodka still habitually called him by name rather than codename: "When we investigated his house before, we accidentally broke some things. We'd already replaced them with identical new ones, but somehow he could tell at a glance something was wrong, and he insisted I return even the fragments to him. I suspect there's something off about those items, so I'm having the research lab investigate."
Gin nodded, feeling Vodka's caution was commendable.
Although it was probably just Usuha Izuki having another episode, having this kind of vigilance was better than not.
After explaining the phone call, Vodka began reporting today's progress: "I guess it's resolved. He promised not to disappear without reason anymore."
Vodka felt a bit guilty thinking that being angry and disappearing because items were switched couldn't count as disappearing without reason—that would be a special circumstance, right?
And if they couldn't contact him, how would they return those fragments to Usuha Izuki? So it was basically equivalent to not disappearing!
Gin didn't notice Vodka's mental gymnastics, just nodded to show he understood: "Did you find out what he's been doing recently?"
"He said he couldn't answer calls conveniently at the Police Academy—probably being sarcastic." Vodka complained. "Amuro Toru might be able to find out something. I saw him very actively follow Usuha, so it can't really be just to thank him."
As soon as he finished speaking, Vodka's phone chimed with a new email notification.
He opened it: "It's from Amuro. So fast?"
Gin hummed, and Vodka understood, opening the email and reading its contents aloud: "'Usuha seems to have issues with the organization. Was he forced to join?'..."
The car fell silent.
Vodka complained somewhat speechlessly: "That guy's dissatisfaction with the organization isn't exactly news. I'm too lazy to even ask, feels like if I did he'd just say 'We ordinary people all have issues with our companies, what employee wholeheartedly works for their company?' Amuro asking this now seems a bit late... Huh? There's more below."
Amuro Toru was still in his probationary period as a rookie and didn't dare follow Usuha Izuki's nonsense. He didn't mention anything about reimbursement and directly sent this worthless intelligence to Vodka.
Scrolling down a bit to see the second paragraph, Vodka read: "'Usuha says he wants to take the Police Academy exam.'"
Now Gin reacted.
He frowned: "He really went to investigate the Police Academy?"
Although Gin didn't believe Usuha Izuki had really been at the Police Academy this whole time, it did seem like he had some connection to it... Honestly, he'd rather Usuha Izuki had just been lying around doing nothing during his disappearance.
At least people who lay around don't cause trouble. This guy Usuha Izuki had no restraints in the Middle East before and was always very conspicuous in his actions. If he attracted police attention, the organization would have to clean up his mess...
Vodka also analyzed seriously: "Whether he investigated or not is unclear—it might just be a random excuse. But him telling Amuro he wants to take the Police Academy exam..."
"He won't." Gin sneered. "His personality isn't suited for it at all—no cooperative spirit, no team consciousness... Making him follow rules and be a proper police officer, he wouldn't be able to stand it himself. Let's worry about it when he actually tries to take the exam."
Vodka was instantly convinced: "True, wearing uniforms year-round—he'd be impressive if he could last three days. Does Amuro Toru actually take everything Usuha says seriously? That's really unprofessional for an information broker."
"He's probably trying to probe for valuable intelligence from you in reverse." Gin had seen this tactic many times and didn't mind. Capable and conscious rookies were too rare—as long as they didn't have crooked intentions, he'd pretend not to notice these little schemes.
Neither of them took this intelligence too seriously. After all, the organization had undercover agents in the police force—if Usuha Izuki really tried to take the Police Academy exam, they'd definitely discover it.
As for what intelligence Usuha Izuki had obtained at the Police Academy, they cared even less about that.
The Police Academy was full of new students, and the instructors were just so-so. Any truly valuable intelligence definitely wouldn't come from the Police Academy. Usuha Izuki was probably just spouting nonsense to torment Amuro Toru.
Vodka sympathized with Amuro Toru for spending several hours with Usuha Izuki, suspecting he'd suffered greatly. Therefore, with compassionate mercy, he charitably sent back an email.
[There's no such thing as being forced to join. We negotiated terms until he was satisfied before he joined. He just likes to act dissatisfied with the organization—probably makes him feel more like an ordinary person enduring hardship at work. But report it if he goes too far. Also, his attention to the Police Academy is worth noting. Let me know if you get new intelligence.]
When this email arrived, Amuro Toru had just finished cooking.
He wasn't particularly good at cooking—the one who was really good was Morofushi Hiromitsu. He'd only learned the basics, so he didn't understand why Usuha Izuki suddenly wanted him to cook.
Actually, Usuha Izuki just wanted an excuse for someone to help carry his purchases, since his driving skills were with Samukawa Shinryu and he couldn't drive, plus he was too lazy to carry things upstairs...
Bringing the food to the table, Amuro Toru said politely: "I don't cook very often, so it might not taste very good. Please bear with it."
Usuha Izuki also said politely: "It's fine, you'll cook better in the future."
Amuro Toru: "...?"
Not sure if this was a blessing or ill intent. He was going to Hakata next—surely he wouldn't be called to cook for Usuha Izuki regularly?
...Becoming an executive was urgent. If he didn't become an executive, he'd be ordered around by this psychopath to do these ridiculous things.
"By the way, do you have the gift I gave you before? Did you bring it?" Usuha Izuki suddenly asked for a spot check.
Since Amuro Toru wanted to build a good relationship with Usuha Izuki, he naturally wouldn't miss such details: "It's in my wallet. Want to see?"
"No need, I trust you're an upright good person."
Amuro Toru: "...Sorry, are you being sarcastic?"
"Not at all." Usuha Izuki looked at him sincerely. "To meet a good person like you in such a terrible company, I'm really moved!"
Amuro Toru's grip on his chopsticks tightened.
For organization members, "good person" wasn't exactly a positive description...
Usuha Izuki continued: "If it were Vodka, he definitely wouldn't help me with delivery! What an ungrateful person! That kind of person won't do—I'd avoid him from far away if I met him on the street, to avoid being mistaken as one of his group."
Amuro Toru: "...Haha."
—Can't take it anymore. With all this back-and-forth talk, is he being overly paranoid or is this guy's speaking style just like this? Why does it always feel like he's already been exposed?!
Just then he received Vodka's email. After reading the contents, Amuro Toru's mouth twitched.
So Usuha Izuki really had voluntarily joined the organization!! Why pretend otherwise in front of people? What was the point?!
Could it be that the evaluation from Usuha Izuki wasn't over yet, and those ambiguous statements that seemed like probing but also like he knew something were still fishing?
Vodka didn't get along with Usuha Izuki and didn't think he was an undercover agent, so he'd given him inside information?
Amuro Toru felt that today's mental workout had already equaled a week's worth.
Working with Gin wasn't this exhausting...
When Usuha Izuki opened his mouth again, wanting to say something, Amuro Toru finally couldn't take it anymore and said with a forced smile: "Sorry, I prefer not to talk while eating. Could you be a bit quieter?"
Anyway, Usuha Izuki wouldn't stop suspecting him just because he acted submissive! Similarly, being a bit rude shouldn't increase suspicion—Usuha Izuki should have some awareness that he was actually quite annoying, right?
Usuha Izuki looked aggrieved: "You don't talk when eating with friends?"
Amuro Toru answered coldly: "Yes."
"...Alright, I understand."
Regardless, Amuro Toru finally got through a quiet dinner, and after putting the dishes in the sink, he immediately prepared to leave.
"Sorry, I still have a mission and must return to Hakata immediately."
Amuro Toru had never been so grateful for an organization assignment: "I'll take my leave now."
Usuha Izuki didn't stop him, just enthusiastically invited: "Come visit often when you're free!"
Amuro Toru: "......"
Thanks, but I refuse.
Spending one hour with Usuha Izuki felt like losing ten years of life.
After Amuro Toru left as if liberated, Usuha Izuki washed the dishes himself, checked his beloved items once more, locked the doors and windows, then decided to go out for a walk.
He'd almost been driven crazy being cooped up at the Police Academy. If not for the high efficiency of farming suspicion values there, he might have given up halfway.
Now that he was finally out, of course he had to get some fresh air.
Since he was going to walk around anyway, Usuha Izuki found a safe corner, switched to Samukawa Shinryu's appearance, activated the "Black Screen Aura," and headed toward a nearby park.
He was going to walk anyway—being able to farm some suspicion values from passersby along the way, wasn't that perfect?
There weren't many people in the park. Usuha Izuki didn't cause any commotion—everyone just avoided him from a distance. On the contrary, the stray cats in the park probably didn't know how to overthink and weren't affected by the "Black Screen Aura." They still approached him as before, meowing and rubbing against him affectionately.
Usuha Izuki stopped and crouched down to pet the cats. After a couple of strokes, he suddenly noticed something.
There seemed to be a strange beeping sound. Considering the danger level of this world, Usuha Izuki keenly followed the sound and discovered a suspicious package under a nearby park bench.
Although he hadn't opened it yet, Usuha Izuki probably already knew what was inside—only confirmation remained.
He took off his coat and spread it on the ground, then lay down and carefully unzipped the suspicious package, seeing the flashing red countdown inside.
"...Local conditions breed local customs. Beika people just love codes and bombs."
Usuha Izuki muttered, then found Matsuda Jinpei's number in his phone and dialed it.
Matsuda Jinpei was a bit surprised to receive his call: "It's rare for you to call me. Did you fight with Hagi?"
"No." Usuha Izuki answered calmly. "I found a bomb under the park bench on the west side of xxxx park. Calling you is faster than calling the regular police."
Matsuda Jinpei: "...Hah???"
Hagi had just called him complaining about Instructor Onizuka's worries, fearing Samukawa Shinryu would get involved in incidents again after leaving school, and here he was receiving a report from the person in question.
—You're really something! When trouble finds you, you really don't let it sit overnight!!