Chapter 48
Faced with Vodka's strange attitude, Gin also sensed something was wrong.
He frowned and took the newspaper, unfolding it to look.
The reporters had limited intelligence, but all the basic elements were there: high-rise building, nighttime, curtains drawn, lights off, one shot to the head, bullet holes in both the glass window and curtains...
Gin: "...?"
He confirmed this was the news section, not the entertainment section's movie reviews.
He continued reading.
Currently, the police believed the bullet holes in the curtains and glass window might have been made by the killer to confuse them, making them think the killer came from outside, so people who were still in the building at the time would have alibis. In reality, the killer had acted first in the hotel, and what they saw was an already staged scene... But since many things didn't add up, like the missing second bullet, this was still just speculation.
Vodka added from the side: "At the time, Midorikawa was almost a thousand meters from the target. His own reported maximum record was only 600 yards..."
Midorikawa had even tactfully asked him how he'd described his performance to Usuha Izuki, wondering why Usuha Izuki thought this distance would be fine for him—at the time, neither of them knew it really would be fine!
Gin: "...???"
Gin was shocked, Gin said nothing, Gin repeatedly read this brief report.
He wasn't surprised by the police's conclusion, because under these environmental conditions—a moonless night through glass and curtains at this distance—even with thermal imaging scopes, you couldn't scan out a human figure. Even the most skilled sniper could only aim at a general direction, let alone achieve a headshot.
Even knowing that last night the organization had sent a sniper for assassination, seeing this report content, he momentarily wondered if Usuha Izuki had used the sniper as a front while secretly killing the person himself.
But he quickly ruled out this possibility based on his understanding of Usuha Izuki—unnecessary complications and troublesome work that the penny-pinching psychopath wouldn't do.
But believing this sniper shot could succeed was also difficult.
Gin's mind kept generating hypotheses.
The target was sitting in a chair by the window. Did Midorikawa remember the chair's position?
No, even if he remembered the chair's position, hitting the head was still luck, because at this distance, without a spotter, with strong high-altitude winds, even if you could see the target, whether you could hit it was questionable, let alone being blocked by curtains...
Was it Usuha Izuki and Midorikawa conspiring to create big news?
That wasn't right either. Usuha Izuki aside, he knew Midorikawa—he wouldn't cooperate with Usuha Izuki's nonsense...
Vodka was still muttering beside him: "According to Midorikawa, when he set up his rifle, he only aimed in the window's direction. Everything else was Usuha commanding micro-adjustments... saying things like 'lower the muzzle a few centimeters'..."
Gin's worldview cracked a bit: "...?!"
He'd thought when they said Usuha Izuki was commanding, it was just Usuha Izuki boasting with his codename, but the main work was still Midorikawa's judgment... This—Usuha Izuki had actually micro-managed the sniper to this extent?!
Gin frowned deeply, put down the newspaper, lit a cigarette, and fell into thought.
He recalled his knowledge of long-distance sniping, then recalled famous sniping cases in the underworld, and tried substituting this scenario with the world's top-ranked snipers...
Then he tentatively reached several possibilities:
1. New sniper assistance equipment appeared that could scan human figures through walls, fabric, and glass at long distances.
2. Usuha Izuki got lucky with a blind shot.
3. Midorikawa got lucky.
But these were all due to limited intelligence—maybe some decisive detail had been overlooked.
While Gin was suspicious, he was also somewhat excited, because if this case could be replicated, the organization would be invincible. He now wanted to know whether this was a series of coincidences or based on actual skill.
"Contact Botanist."
Since Usuha Izuki got his codename, Gin had properly called him by his codename instead of his name like Vodka still did in private—he only called him that in his mind.
But now Gin had made up his mind—if Usuha Izuki's performance was stable enough, even if he got tinnitus from being nagged, he wouldn't refuse to partner with Usuha Izuki in the future.
Compared to the organization, sacrificing some personal comfort was appropriate!
Vodka had been waiting for this. As soon as Gin spoke, he immediately dialed Usuha Izuki's number.
Very unexpectedly, Usuha Izuki's phone wasn't off, and he answered instantly.
"Vodka! Did you see the news?"
Usuha Izuki's seemingly never-tired, always spirited voice immediately rang out: "Midorikawa is so useful! Can he be my assistant from now on?"
Vodka didn't let him deflect this time: "Let's not talk about that first. How did you do it?"
"What do you mean?"
Although they weren't sure how much credit Usuha Izuki deserved, Vodka's attitude was obviously much more cautious than before: "That kind of sniping—how did you do it?"
"Huh? You don't even know this?" Usuha Izuki said in exaggerated surprise. "Get to the location, set up the gun, pull the trigger—isn't this something anyone with hands can do?"
Vodka: "..........."
He began silently collecting himself and constantly reminding himself not to engage with Usuha Izuki's trash talk—ask more questions!
Big brother was watching right beside him! He couldn't lose face like usual!
So Vodka asked in detail again: "You couldn't see the target at all. How did you know what direction and when to pull the trigger?"
"Oh, you mean that." Usuha Izuki said. "Because I came back from the Middle East."
Vodka patiently waited a few seconds and found that was the end: "...? You came back from the Middle East, so?"
What kind of reason was coming back from the Middle East?!
Usuha Izuki said in a tone suggesting Vodka was being tactless: "This is our Middle Eastern trade secret. Those who understand, understand. Those who don't understand wouldn't get it even if I explained."
Vodka: "...???"
Gin couldn't stand listening to Usuha Izuki's nonsense anymore. He didn't know of any skilled snipers in the Middle East, and even if there were, they couldn't have taught Usuha Izuki—because the famous snipers there were either FBI and CIA people or Soviets!
He signaled for Vodka to hand him the phone so he could communicate with Usuha Izuki.
"Botanist." Gin's voice seemed naturally commanding, making people not dare to act rashly. "If you just got lucky, admit you got lucky. Don't try to claim credit that doesn't belong to you."
Usuha Izuki fell silent.
Vodka looked at Gin with reverent eyes.
As expected of big brother! He really knew how to make Usuha Izuki get serious!
He'd discovered before that this kid Usuha couldn't stand provocation!
With big brother's words, Usuha would definitely be eager to prove himself!
"Fine, I admit it." After a silence, Usuha Izuki entered sarcastic mode. "It was Midorikawa's luck, okay? It has nothing to do with me. Go ask Midorikawa, heh."
Then he hung up.
Gin: "..........."
Vodka: "..........."
When they called back, it was turned off—clearly Usuha Izuki didn't want to deal with them anymore.
Vodka laughed dryly: "Big brother, don't mind him. His temper is just that bad."
Going too far with provocation and getting blocked was also possible... Anyway, Usuha was a psychopath—anything could happen.
Gin frowned, feeling this development was somewhat within expectations.
If Usuha Izuki could really explain some mysterious technique that greatly improved sniping success rates, he'd find that absurd instead.
"Call Midorikawa." Gin issued instructions. "This can't be explained clearly over the phone. Have him come directly."
Compared to the occasionally crazy Usuha Izuki, the normal Midorikawa was easier to communicate with, spoke more clearly, and wouldn't ramble.
Morofushi Hiromitsu received Vodka's call, hurriedly left Tokyo, and ran to meet up with Vodka and Gin near their mission site, then began dryly recounting his experience from yesterday again.
After a long while of talking until his mouth was dry, he was finally released. Morofushi Hiromitsu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Gin was even more particular than last night's Usuha Izuki, obsessing over small details for ages.
Fortunately, Morofushi Hiromitsu also wanted to know how Usuha Izuki had done it, so he was quite cooperative with the professional Gin, trying to work together to figure out the answer.
"...No good, big brother. I can't figure out how Botanist did it."
Vodka looked troubled: "Midorikawa, think harder. Did you have a flash of inspiration, suddenly feel great, and think you should shoot in that direction..."
Morofushi Hiromitsu said woodenly: "I told you, there was nothing like that. I did whatever Botanist told me to do. My brain was completely blank, thinking about how to write the report... I wish I were a genius, but I know my own level very well."
Gin stubbed out his cigarette and checked his new emails: "We'll know if we try again."
The other two looked up at him.
"Boss says to pick another mission for Botanist to try. Midorikawa is responsible for notifying him." Gin sneered. "Whether it's luck or skill, I'll witness it personally."
No matter how many times he heard it or how many details he asked about, Gin's assessment of last night's sniping process remained: absurd.
But he wasn't willing to give up even the slightest possibility of increasing the organization's strength. Even if Usuha Izuki just had mystically good luck, he had to find a way to utilize that luck. So he sent this report to the Boss.
Sure enough, the Boss also wanted to know what was going on and whether the miracle could be repeated.
Vodka suddenly spoke: "What if he doesn't cooperate?"
Gin naturally knew about this problem. He looked at Morofushi Hiromitsu. "You're more familiar with Botanist. Think of a way."
Morofushi Hiromitsu: "..........."
Morofushi Hiromitsu felt a bit dazed. He'd previously been racking his brains to climb up, but now he seemed to have already integrated into the organization's executive circle... and it was to test another organization member.
This was hard to evaluate.
But he felt he should thank Usuha Izuki. Without Usuha Izuki, where would he be today?
Far away at the Police Academy, Usuha Izuki didn't know Gin was still pondering how to test him. Right now he was receiving praise from the system.
[Not bad! You actually didn't get provoked! I was really afraid you'd get hot-headed and say something wrong!]
Usuha Izuki: [...What exactly is my image in your mind?]
The system didn't answer, but Usuha Izuki could roughly guess.
He snorted: [I'm not stupid. Whether I admit it or deny it, which gives more suspicion values than what Gin is giving me now? Let him guess!]
[What if Gin wants to partner with you once?]
[Well.] Usuha Izuki was casual. [I have my own clever plan. We'll talk about it then. Let me solve the school situation first.]
As soon as he finished speaking, someone knocked on his dormitory door.