Chapter 58
It had to be said that Usuha Izuki had been truly brazen recently.
Because Gin and Vodka had gone abroad on missions, temporarily reducing their attention to Japan, and when busy, Vodka wasn't as gossipy and constantly complaining about Usuha Izuki, so Morofushi Hiromitsu had deliberately waited a while before reporting to Vodka about the results of partnering with Usuha Izuki during this period.
The reason was that Usuha Izuki suspected he was Gin's undercover agent, so to better complete Gin's previous assignment of strengthening his influence over Usuha Izuki, he had temporarily reduced contact frequency.
But even with reduced contact frequency, the reported content was still explosive.
Simply put, Japan's crime rate had slightly decreased through the efforts of these two organization members, while the criminal death rate had drastically increased.
How many arsonists, bombers, and murderers were precisely discovered by Usuha Izuki's eyes, then he'd cheerfully come tell Morofushi Hiromitsu "I want to help the organization recruit this talent." Basically all Morofushi Hiromitsu needed to do was find a place and snipe the person.
Simple, efficient, plain and unpretentious.
Furuya Rei found an opportunity to check on Morofushi Hiromitsu.
As an intelligence officer, he could manage better, but Hiromitsu as a sniper was already under great pressure having to kill people, and his partner was also Usuha Izuki—was there really no problem...
Facing his childhood friend's concern, Morofushi Hiromitsu was somewhat moved: "It's pretty good. I've never been this relaxed since joining the organization."
Hearing strange rumors from Vodka like "Midorikawa tamed Botanist," Furuya Rei hesitated: "How exactly are you and Botanist getting along?"
"Not bad. Once you get used to Botanist's crazy talk, you'll find he's actually a decent boss."
Morofushi Hiromitsu's answer was genuine.
First, although Usuha Izuki had serious personality problems, he rarely appeared!
As Usuha Izuki's partner, even if Gin knew he was idle, he could only restrainedly occasionally give one or two missions that happened to be nearby, not taking up too much of his time. Otherwise Usuha Izuki would protest "Don't you have your own partner? Why are you always stealing mine? Do you look down on Vodka that much?"
And when Usuha Izuki finally remembered to make him work, the content was basically handling social garbage.
When Morofushi Hiromitsu went undercover in the organization, he had prepared himself psychologically for various situations, knowing his hands would definitely be stained with innocent blood. Even understanding these were sacrifices to destroy the organization, the mental pressure still existed.
However, now working as Usuha Izuki's partner, those who died were all criminals who clearly deserved death but would never be sentenced to death in Japanese courts. Although life has no hierarchy, having people die by his hand, the current situation indeed reduced Morofushi Hiromitsu's mental pressure considerably. At least the negative impact on social development wasn't on the same level.
He even felt like he wasn't in the organization but had returned to Public Security, spending every day fighting crime and eliminating evil.
Due to internal organization secrecy following Boss's lead, this was the first time Furuya Rei heard about Morofushi Hiromitsu's specific work content, and his mouth couldn't help twitching.
"......Is this really okay? It sounds so suspicious, just like an undercover agent......No wait, undercover agents wouldn't be this reckless......But won't he implicate you?"
"Uh, not for now. Gin and Vodka both think it's Botanist's fault, and I did try to persuade him......"
An undercover agent actually advising organization members not to be too excessive in killing criminals, to recruit some proper members for the organization to increase its strength—it was quite intoxicating.
But he had to advise! Usuha Izuki going crazy was normal—if he only cooperated without stopping it, that would be his problem!
Furuya Rei asked: "What was Botanist's reaction?"
"............"
Morofushi Hiromitsu showed an indescribable expression: "He thought I made sense."
Seeing his expression, Furuya Rei knew there was more to the story: "And then?"
Morofushi Hiromitsu smiled awkwardly but politely: "......Then Botanist called Boss to complain, saying what he was doing was so suspicious that even his partner noticed something wrong, yet Gin, who's responsible for cleaning up traitors, had no reaction at all—clearly dereliction of duty."
Furuya Rei: "............???"
Huh? This works too?!
—Even he, who couldn't wait for Gin to die, felt Gin was very innocent this time!!
Gin was indeed innocent.
On one hand, Morofushi Hiromitsu deliberately delayed reporting, shortening his reaction time. On the other hand, he had actually been suspicious, but wondered if Usuha Izuki was deliberately slacking off, because he had arranged several solo missions for Morofushi Hiromitsu, and this guy had called Vodka to make pointed criticisms several times......
You couldn't blame him for low vigilance—which undercover agent was so obviously righteous! Were they afraid of not being discovered?!
And he really couldn't think of which spy agency could train someone with Usuha Izuki's style.
Major spy agencies' undercover training almost had templates, but whether rebellious genius or obedient loyal dog, the goal was to gain the organization's trust and climb up.
Someone like Usuha Izuki who almost displayed suspicion openly, either lying flat or slacking off, either using organization resources to aid the Middle East or using organization resources to clean up social garbage—that was truly unique, completely at odds with the style of corrupt spy training institutions.
With such a high mission failure rate, forget climbing up—anyone else would have committed suicide in apology long ago. No spy agency would spend enormous effort cultivating talent just to have them die so worthlessly.
Therefore, when he received Boss's contact and heard about Usuha Izuki doing such suspicious things while also turning around to accuse him of dereliction of duty, Gin really wanted to kill someone.
Don't you know in your heart whether you're an undercover agent?!
Not suspecting you, and you're still unhappy about it, even bothering Boss with such nonsense—just tell me which spy would do this!!
Gin seriously suspected Usuha Izuki had gone through such a big circle just to get revenge on him.
After all, Usuha Izuki was a psychopath—when he went crazy, anything was possible.
Fortunately, Boss also knew Usuha Izuki was mentally ill and didn't believe his slander. He probably felt some sympathy for Gin and specially came to comfort him, saying he saw Gin's loyalty and contributions to the organization, and whatever Usuha Izuki said, he believed Gin.
He even hinted that if Gin wanted to retaliate against Usuha Izuki, as long as it wasn't excessive and didn't affect the Middle East line, he supported Gin, trusting that Gin knew proper limits.
After hearing this, Gin's first reaction wasn't "Boss really trusts me," but rather—
......Had Boss also been bothered by Usuha Izuki privately many times and finally couldn't help wanting someone to teach him a lesson?
Anyway, with Boss's support, Gin could finally be a bit tougher with Usuha Izuki. After a quarrel, he set a requirement for him to produce some decent results by the end of the month at least.
If he continued wasting organization manpower like this, it would only prove Usuha Izuki wasn't suitable for recruitment, and he'd have to change jobs.
Vodka immediately perked up, making time despite his busy schedule to frequently ask Morofushi Hiromitsu about Usuha Izuki's progress.
That's why he could receive tip-offs so promptly this time.
Although knowing this continued development would give Usuha Izuki a lesson, looking at the "recruitment list" Morofushi Hiromitsu sent, Vodka still couldn't help complaining.
"Big Brother, can't we really control him now? This guy doesn't seem like an organization member at all. I even suspect he didn't seriously try to recruit that Cult Leader either—actually just looking for excuses to kill people, maybe because he doesn't believe in that religion......"
"Two more weeks."
Gin was very patient. Since he told Usuha Izuki to wait until month-end for performance evaluation, he'd really wait until month-end......Half the month had already passed. Unless Usuha Izuki successfully recruited two people next, changing jobs was a foregone conclusion.
Given Usuha Izuki's average of recruiting two or three people per month with a 100% failure rate, this was nearly impossible.
And now every failure was adding bricks and mortar for later making Usuha Izuki accept a job change.
Although Vodka felt very unbalanced psychologically and deeply worried about the organization's image, he understood the reasoning.
Just two more weeks—endure a bit longer!
Soon, Morofushi Hiromitsu received Vodka's reply, telling him to cooperate with Usuha Izuki's actions and report results promptly.
Morofushi Hiromitsu: "......"
He looked at Usuha Izuki's second email asking if he'd heard Vodka and Gin saying bad things about him recently, feeling very conflicted.
A Public Security undercover agent who, after joining the organization, was now serving as an undercover agent between organization members......He hadn't imagined such things before joining the organization.
[They're expecting your mission to fail and already think you'll slink away to change jobs.]
[Hmph, leaving aside this serial killer, the person I recruit next will definitely succeed.]
Morofushi Hiromitsu was speechless.
So you also think it'll definitely fail, but just insist on recruiting then silencing them?
Honestly, if this behavior wasn't really too psychopathic, unlike what normal people could do, he'd suspect Usuha Izuki was some kind of undercover agent.
As for Usuha Izuki's claim that his next recruitment would definitely succeed, Morofushi Hiromitsu didn't take it to heart. He was just somewhat worried about how the organization planned to arrange him after Usuha Izuki changed job content.
Vodka and Gin were abroad after all, with too many things more important than Usuha Izuki, who simply wasted organization resources, so they could only understand Usuha Izuki's situation through Morofushi Hiromitsu, this insider.
But the closer to month-end, the more excited Vodka became. He really couldn't wait to return and see Usuha Izuki eat crow.
"Big Brother, should we call Botanist over after returning to Japan tomorrow?"
Gin looked up from materials for the next mission, as if reminded of something: "Did he fail everything this month too?"
Vodka was overjoyed: "That serial killer from last time is already dead. The day before yesterday Midorikawa said Usuha Izuki had his eye on a sniper and was going to recruit him, having Midorikawa go protect him. I estimate that sniper should be dead by now......"
Before he finished speaking, Vodka's email notification suddenly chimed.
He checked and found it was from Morofushi Hiromitsu, feeling even more certain: "Midorikawa's email, probably reporting mission failure......Huh!?"
Gin frowned at his startled reaction: "What's wrong?"
"The sniper Botanist went to recruit actually agreed! Even got a bonus—introduced another sniper......Botanist actually successfully recruited two snipers this month, one male and one female......"
Gin was also somewhat surprised upon hearing this.
Vodka's expression was grave: "Big Brother, could there be a conspiracy here?"
Just as Gin thought Vodka suspected that people Usuha Izuki's previous 100% failure rate could recruit might be undercover agents who had long coveted the organization, he heard Vodka say worriedly:
"Maybe Usuha Izuki discovered it was almost month-end, didn't want to admit defeat, and cheated—agreeing with these two people to fake it and join the organization together to freeload salaries......"
Gin wanted to say impossible, but thinking of Usuha Izuki's style, he suddenly fell silent.
"......Anyway, new people must be reviewed by me." Gin answered cautiously. "After returning to Japan, have Botanist bring them for me to see. If they're just muddling through......hmph."
Vodka nodded with deep agreement.
Usuha Izuki! Big Brother's back in Japan! Your good days are over!
—Especially those recruitment failures—you better have legitimate reasons!