Chapter 79
After hearing Usuha Izuki's words, Gin's first reaction was to hang up the phone.
Usuha Izuki, who was building up emotion: "............"
Scotland, who was on tenterhooks: "............"
Usuha Izuki was shocked: "Gin hung up on me?!"
Scotland, with complicated feelings, spoke well of Gin: "Maybe he accidentally touched the hang-up button..."
Usuha Izuki stubbornly called again, found the line busy, and didn't receive a call from Gin.
So who was Gin calling?
Answer: Gin was calling Vodka.
Don't think he didn't know what Usuha Izuki went to do tonight. Vodka had told him everything. There were only three people total. From the sounds, Usuha Izuki was still sitting in the car that Scotland was driving. First rule out Vodka and Usuha Izuki himself. If Scotland was a traitor, then Usuha Izuki would die after getting involved—besides, it was most likely Usuha Izuki going crazy again.
Therefore, Gin decided not to waste time listening to Usuha Izuki's nonsense. He'd call Vodka first to ask what happened tonight.
Vodka's voice sounded very haggard: "Botanist called big brother? Didn't he say he'd never talk to you again?"
"He said he thinks he discovered a traitor." Gin snorted coldly. "Do you have any findings?"
"...I think he's quite like a traitor himself." Vodka couldn't help muttering. "Today he said he wanted to be Superintendent General, then ran to help police solve cases, calling himself Great Detective Conan."
Gin: "............"
At this time, Gin didn't yet know what consequences his busy line would cause.
Anyway, Usuha Izuki, who'd been hung up on by Gin, was extremely furious. After failing to get through twice, he decisively started dialing the organization Boss's number.
He persistently called three times before Boss answered. Electronic synthesized voice came through the receiver: "Good evening, Botanist."
"I'm not doing well." Usuha Izuki said.
Scotland: "............"
He felt Boss's meaning might be: it's so late, could you not make harassing calls...
But was it also evening on Boss's side? Could he be in Japan? That was actually decent intelligence.
Boss's synthesized voice couldn't tell if he was angry: "Is there something important this time, Botanist?"
Scotland silently translated in his heart: If it's trivial nonsense, don't bother me.
Usuha Izuki said aggressively: "Boss, I'm certain I found a traitor!"
Scotland: "...?"
Wait, when you called Gin earlier, you weren't that certain. How did your attitude become so confident after just a few minutes?!
Could it be...
Boss seemed infected by Usuha Izuki's unquestionable momentum and became somewhat serious: "Who?"
Usuha Izuki said decisively: "Gin!!!"
Boss: "............"
Scotland: "............"
Ah, how to put it, he actually kind of guessed it...
Boss was silent for a while, seemingly thinking how to respond to Usuha Izuki: "Did Gin make you work overtime again?"
Last time when he made Usuha Izuki work overtime, Usuha Izuki dragged Scotland to complain to him, saying Gin being so hardworking definitely had problems and must be an undercover trying to climb up. He still remembered it vividly.
"No, I just called Gin saying I seemed to have discovered a traitor. Gin actually hung up on me directly, and when I called again it wouldn't go through. He seems to have blocked me—always busy!"
Usuha Izuki's tone was serious: "This kind of behavior that can't stand others mentioning traitors and blocks at the first mention is obviously protecting traitors!!!"
Boss: "......"
Scotland on the side wanted to speak but stopped, even couldn't help sympathizing with Gin.
Does this guy really not consider reflecting on himself at all?!
Boss, who received this meaningless harassing call late at night, felt he needed sympathy more.
Why else would Vodka call Gin big brother while Boss was Boss? He wasn't led astray by Usuha Izuki's logic, but very calmly asked the key point: "Before this, which traitor did you want to tell Gin about?"
"Not which one, but two." Usuha Izuki said very gravely. "Scotland and Vodka both seem very much like traitors."
Hearing this, Scotland's heart was now calm as still water, just wanting to see how else Usuha Izuki could act crazy.
Boss's heart was also as if dead, since discovering one at a time was already difficult, yet here were two at once, with one being Vodka...
He also wanted to learn from Gin and hang up, but he was Boss—he needed to have composure and had to be responsible for appeasing the somewhat worked-up Usuha Izuki.
"How did you discover this?"
Usuha Izuki said very naturally: "I invited Vodka and Scotland out to eat today. Boss, you don't know—midway through, the restaurant suddenly had a murder case, and I even helped police solve it—ah, I'm getting off topic, that's not the point!"
Boss: "............"
That IS the point!!! Don't you think your actions sound most like a traitor?!
"The point is, while eating, Vodka praised me for having a sense of justice and advised me to become a police officer!" Usuha Izuki said indignantly. "Gin and Boss trust him so much, yet he's secretly recruiting for police everywhere! Although he said this to me because he trusts me as a friend, I really can't stand this behavior. I can only righteously eliminate relatives and must report him!"
Scotland: "......"
That wasn't praise from Vodka. Vodka is so wronged. Can't you hear such obvious sarcasm? This returnee's Japanese level really fluctuates...
Boss was speechless for a moment. Though he wasn't at the scene, based on this guy Botanist even helping police solve cases, he could roughly imagine the scene where Vodka said such things. So he perfunctorily hummed and said: "I understand. I'll investigate. Then where does Scotland seem like a traitor?"
Although he felt Usuha Izuki probably couldn't say anything proper, Scotland's heart still instinctively tightened again.
Usuha Izuki frowned: "When Vodka said those things, Scotland was right beside him. Boss, don't you understand what this means? If Vodka doesn't trust Scotland very much, then it means Scotland very much agrees with Vodka's thinking! —These two might be birds of a feather. I've long felt Scotland secretly got too close with Vodka in private. Now I've finally caught evidence... Scotland! I've said my piece. Whether you're a traitor or not, confess if you should. It's not embarrassing!"
Scotland: "............"
Boss: "...Scotland is right beside you now?"
Usuha Izuki seemed not to notice any problem: "Yeah, he's driving. It's inconvenient to answer the phone, but I put it on speaker."
Boss: ".................."
Even someone as composed as Boss felt he couldn't hold it together now—who reports traitors when the traitor is sitting right beside them and even driving? Isn't this putting your life entirely in their hands?!
If Scotland were really a traitor, you'd already be dead in a car crash, you know, you psycho!!!
After hearing Usuha Izuki's logic, Scotland's tortured heart had now completely settled back in his chest.
Scotland said in a tone that was calm with exhaustion, exhausted with resignation, resigned with forced cheerfulness: "Boss, I'm really not a traitor."
Boss sympathized with him greatly and wanted to say I believe you, but Usuha Izuki, who'd just finished complaining, was still watching menacingly. He had to prioritize Usuha Izuki's feelings.
Therefore Boss said: "I'll investigate. You've worked hard, Botanist, but you don't need to tire yourself so much for the organization. You're still young—play more with friends."
"Boss really is the best!" Usuha Izuki was indeed deeply moved. "But it's fine, I'm not tired! This is just a small effort! In the future when I have such discoveries, I'll continue..."
"Ahem... actually, Rum is responsible for this area of work. I'll give you his contact information. From now on, find him for all undercover-related matters." Boss irresponsibly started passing the buck.
Currently, Usuha Izuki's accuracy in reading people seemed quite limited. Even if he could predict certain people's next actions, he couldn't see through their true thoughts. This should be inexperience due to age limitations, or problems with a mental patient's logic. His imagined undercover was probably completely different from real undercover... As for finding undercover agents, better not expect too much from him. However, the monthly talent list could be anticipated.
After giving Usuha Izuki Rum's contact information and repeatedly promising to send people to investigate Gin, Vodka, and Scotland who was sitting beside him listening to everything without killing him, Boss hung up the phone as if liberated.
At this time, Scotland had already driven the car to the underground garage and turned off the engine.
Usuha Izuki wanted to get out but found the door was still locked: "Scotland, open the door."
"...I really want to know how your brain works."
Scotland's tone was troubled, his blue cat eyes seeming to peer with malicious surveillance, carrying some oppressive feeling. Even his usual smile carried dangerous meaning. In this cramped car interior, the pressure was even greater.
"What makes you think that after slandering me to Boss in front of me, I would still continue listening to you? You're no longer my superior."