Chapter 80
In this heavy atmosphere, Usuha Izuki looked at Scotland, his face also showing some confusion.
"I also want to ask how you think... With this attitude, are you planning to buy bullets and guns at your own expense from now on, paying out of pocket to work for the organization? Then you really do seem like a traitor—can't blame me for being suspicious."
Scotland: "............"
So this little lunatic who seems crazy actually understands very clearly where his status and others' tolerance come from... Being cautious was indeed right.
But since Scotland had opened his mouth, he naturally had something to say: "I said before that I'm not an undercover agent. This kind of serious accusation—I hope you won't say it again in the future. But you obviously didn't take what I said seriously. I think this isn't how you treat a friend. Isn't it normal for me to be angry?"
Of course, part of the reason was that he couldn't not be angry at this time.
Although arguing with a mental patient, no matter how realistic the performance or how normal the reaction seemed like an organization member, it didn't seem very useful. But considering that if he didn't get angry now, when Usuha Izuki went crazy with others in the future, he might say things like "Scotland wasn't even angry at the time"...
Good temper wasn't necessarily praise in the organization. If someone else added "Maybe he's not angry because he feels guilty"... Although it wouldn't have a big impact, this kind of avoidable trouble should still be avoided.
Moreover, he was thinking that this was a good opportunity for him to separate from Usuha Izuki and do some missions that would make him valued.
Although his heart often felt uncomfortable when with Usuha Izuki, Scotland was actually quite grateful to Usuha Izuki.
During this time, his hands hadn't been stained with innocent blood. Although they were all killings, compared to aiding tyrants, the psychological pressure was indeed much less. It could be said he'd smoothly passed through the stage most likely to cause psychological problems.
But if this continued, he didn't know when his undercover mission would make further progress. From Vodka's hints today, he knew this comfortable life should probably end.
Originally, how to persuade Usuha Izuki was the most troublesome part, but after Usuha Izuki's performance today, it was actually very easy to operate.
Get angry, then have a cold war, go to Gin for missions—the plan was perfect.
Unfortunately, Usuha Izuki never played by the rules.
Facing Scotland's accusations, he said gloomily: "People flow to higher places, water flows to lower places—that's too normal. It's just that you look down on me and want to separate from me, yet you want to gaslight me into thinking it's my fault. Isn't that a bit too much? Scotland, oh Scotland, I didn't expect you to be this kind of Scotland."
Scotland fell silent.
He was somewhat shocked that Usuha Izuki had actually seen through his real purpose—he thought Usuha Izuki wouldn't think in this direction!
"You and Vodka were exchanging glances at the table, do you really think I'm blind?" While Scotland was silent, Usuha Izuki continued unhappily. "Before, I stopped you because I felt you weren't happy doing missions. Now that you're willing yourself, as a friend I naturally won't stop you. What kind of person do you take me for!"
Scotland: A mental patient...
Theoretically speaking, if they were really friends, Scotland should be moved after hearing Usuha Izuki's words.
But right now he only felt horrified.
What? Usuha Izuki's previous scolding of Gin telling Gin not to draft him was because he thought Scotland was unhappy with the work? He could even see this?! Just how good was this "very good at reading people"? Could someone give a standard?!
This conflicted somewhat with his persona in the organization. Had Usuha Izuki really not noticed anything?
Speaking of which, when asking him in the car earlier, the question was whether he knew Date Wataru, but when calling Boss, Usuha Izuki never mentioned this detail...
Moreover, if Usuha Izuki made a few more scenes like this, Boss and Gin would probably become desensitized to the intelligence that "Scotland is an undercover agent." From one perspective, this was actually helping him.
Scotland's heart gradually turned to suspicion and uncertainty.
He couldn't determine whether Usuha Izuki's series of actions were unintentionally helping him, or if they were originally done with the purpose of wanting to help him.
After all, the mental circuits and logic of a mental patient—if he tried to understand them with normal thinking, it might produce deviations and misunderstandings.
But if it was consciously helping him... what reason would Usuha Izuki, as an organization second-generation, have?
The Middle East wasn't a good place to cultivate saints. Rather than seeing many dead people and developing thoughts of wanting to save the world and eliminate war, most people would just become numb to life.
At this moment, countless speculations flashed through Scotland's mind, but none could convince him.
Anyway, regardless of what Usuha Izuki was thinking, he shouldn't ask questions like "why didn't you tell Boss you suspected I knew that police officer." He should continue maintaining his persona and pretend he knew nothing—that was safest.
So after holding his breath for a few seconds, Scotland said lightly: "I'm really angry. Don't change the subject to make excuses for yourself."
The acting was flawless, but couldn't escape the system's record of suspicion values.
[Morofushi Hiromitsu's suspicion value suddenly became so much!!!] The system was delighted. [Oh my, I thought we couldn't squeeze much more out of him!]
Usuha Izuki was triumphant: [That's because I changed to a new approach—just worrying about whether I've discovered he's an undercover agent really couldn't squeeze out much suspicion value anymore. Now I need to change tracks and make him suspect my position!]
The system clapped for him: [Amazing! It's best to make him suspect you're also an undercover agent or something, right?]
[Yeah, but that's a bit troublesome. Let's see if there's a chance to guide them to investigate Arak Wine Bar.]
While boasting to the system, Usuha Izuki didn't forget to reply to Scotland: "Just tell me if you want to ditch me to take on new missions."
"It's not ditching you..."
"Are you or aren't you."
"This matter of doing missions, it's related to what I just..."
Usuha Izuki chuckled twice: "Scumbag."
Scotland stubbornly pulled the topic back: "I still think I should be angry."
"Your personality is really quite bad. Be careful about not having friends." Usuha Izuki sighed. "No choice—who told you you're my friend? I can only forgive you."
Scotland had been acting before, but now he was really a bit angry.
Just who has a bad personality—can this person have some self-awareness?!
Scotland smiled through gritted teeth: "Then I thank you."
Usuha Izuki said with a magnanimous look: "No need to thank me. Just unlock the door—the air in the car is bad."
Originally it was Scotland who was angry and demanding an explanation from Usuha Izuki, but somehow it ended with him thanking Usuha Izuki... This development was truly bewildering.
Although the process was a bit strange, Scotland had indeed gotten angry as needed and achieved his purpose. If he continued entangling, they might really tear off the facade. He could only speechlessly unlock the car door.
It felt like when with Usuha Izuki, seriousness never lasted more than five minutes.
Usuha Izuki jumped out of the car and started making a phone call.
Scotland locked the car and looked up to see this action, but couldn't quite get nervous. He was still guessing in his heart who the new unlucky victim would be.
Soon he knew the answer.
"Vodka! You don't know what just happened!" Usuha Izuki's exaggerated tone made a comeback.
Vodka said irritably: "How could I not know? Were you just planning to tell big brother I'm a traitor?!"
After all, what couldn't be said directly to him that required jumping over him to talk to Gin, who had already been blocked by Usuha Izuki? It must be to say bad things about him! He wasn't stupid!
"It's not that matter, and I didn't tell Gin that either."
"Nonsense! You just hadn't said it yet because big brother hung up on you, so you went directly to Boss to complain!"
Vodka was really impressed by Usuha Izuki's trouble-making ability.
Before, answering the phone might result in mental attacks. Now even hanging up had high-risk dangers!
If the Middle East didn't still need Usuha Izuki as a mascot, this guy would have been assassinated countless times already!
Usuha Izuki didn't seem to think this was a problem: "That's not important. Regardless of whether you're a traitor or not, you're my friend. Our friendship will last forever!"
Vodka: "............"
If anyone else said such politically incorrect words, they'd have been shot long ago... This kid Usuha Izuki better visit Arak Wine's grave more often and let Arak Wine's spirit in heaven protect him a bit longer!
Speaking of which, after Arak Wine's body was transported back to Japan, besides the burial day, has this kid Usuha ever gone to sweep Arak Wine's grave again?
Why does it feel like this mental patient might think that dead is dead, grave sweeping is just for show, and it's more lively with some wild grass and flowers growing, so he righteously stopped sweeping graves?
Usuha Izuki didn't pay attention to Vodka's silence.
Because many people became extra silent when facing him compared to usual, he was already used to it.
"What I want to talk about is Scotland's matter!" Usuha Izuki said. "Are you still listening?"
Scotland held the car keys, walking beside Usuha Izuki, heading upstairs while expressionlessly listening to this phone call.
Because of Gin's precedent, Vodka now didn't dare hang up on Usuha Izuki—he was even grateful that he wasn't elevated to Boss-level complaints when he hung up last time—so he could only perfunctorily respond: "I'm listening. What's wrong with Scotland now? Is he a traitor?"
"He is indeed a traitor."
Even knowing that nothing good came out of Usuha Izuki's mouth, both Vodka and Scotland's hearts skipped a beat upon hearing this.
Then they heard Usuha Izuki's angry complaint: "He's planning to work with you and Gin in the future, right?! For this, he actually tried to gaslight me, wanting me to think I was wrong, then use that to break up with me... Have you ever seen this kind of person?! It's my first time! This isn't even a matter of seeming like—this IS traitorous behavior!"
Listening to Usuha Izuki describe himself like a little white flower while painting him as a scumbag, Scotland, who had been holding back until now, couldn't help but reach out and pinch the back of Usuha Izuki's neck.
He knew Usuha Izuki was close to getting a stiff neck here, his muscles hadn't recovered yet, and a little massage would hurt a lot, so he specifically chose the most painful spot to pinch.
When Usuha Izuki turned around in surprise, Scotland calmly explained to him.
"Saw you were uncomfortable, so I helped massage. No need to thank me—we're friends."
Usuha Izuki was rarely at a loss for words: "...Give me a heads up next time."
Scotland smiled: "Then next time you go around telling people I'm a traitor, can you give me a heads up?"
Usuha Izuki said reluctantly: "I'll try."
"Then I'll try too."
Usuha Izuki: "............"
Vodka: "...Are you done talking? If so, I'm hanging up."
Worthy of being Scotland—such mental resilience, such mature methods and rhetoric for teaching Usuha Izuki lessons... No wonder he could handle Usuha Izuki!
It looked like the day when Scotland would work under big brother to help them reduce their workload was just around the corner!
"Not done yet." Usuha Izuki came back to continue the phone call. "Scotland is my partner. What am I supposed to do when he leaves?"
Vodka was very clever: "He's still your partner, just occasionally leaving... Of course, when he's not home or out on missions, the organization can assign someone to help you with cleaning and such."
Scotland, hearing this for the first time: "......"
Good thing he was determined to work solo, otherwise in the future he'd be a tool person who cleaned and comforted Usuha Izuki in the organization's minds.
Usuha Izuki's tone was reluctant: "Who?"
"...Someone called Miyano Akemi. Tentatively her. I'll have her contact you later. If you're not satisfied, we can change."
System: [Miyano Akemi is also a character with weight bonuses! And with her you might get introduced to a circle of important characters... Don't refuse! Go for it!!!]