Chapter 101
Under everyone's gaze, Gin had no reaction whatsoever.
Gin, who had already been tormented to numbness by Usuha Izuki, felt he had seen through Usuha Izuki completely.
It was nothing more than ridiculous reasons like "We ordinary people can't stand such bloody scenes" or "How can you be so brutal to colleagues in the workplace."
At a time like this, giving Usuha Izuki even a single glance would be adding fuel to the fire, only making this guy get more excited in his crazy performance.
So Gin remained motionless, trying to make Usuha Izuki realize that performing alone was embarrassing and quiet down for a while.
But soon, Gin realized that if a psychopath could feel embarrassed, then they wouldn't be a psychopath.
Even though he was already extremely uncooperative with Usuha Izuki's performance, Usuha Izuki didn't need anyone's cooperation—he could perform an entire show by himself.
Usuha Izuki had originally turned his face away, but now hesitantly turned back to glance at the bloody mess of the traitor, then seemed to lose control as he covered his mouth, making a gesture as if he were nauseated, before asking with an expression that seemed to carry some sympathy, yet also seemed to suppress his emotions, trying not to let the sympathy show through.
"Gin, isn't this... a bit too much?"
Gin: "............"
Even someone with self-control as strong as Gin couldn't help but silently clench his fists at this moment to keep himself from pointing a gun at this guy who was performing so outrageously right in front of him.
Those who didn't understand Usuha Izuki noticed Gin's restraint and couldn't help but be shocked.
—Are you kidding me?! Such obvious mole behavior! This acting is like treating people as fools! Gin can actually endure this?!
Everyone unconsciously looked toward Gin's subordinate, Vodka.
Vodka wore sunglasses, making it hard to read his emotions, but his hands were also clenched tightly, and he seemed unable to bear watching this scene as he turned his head toward a blank wall.
All his body language seemed to express this single sentence:
—Big brother... it's too hard...
These people's expressions all became solemn.
Why such patience... Is this casting a long line to catch a big fish?! There really couldn't be any other possibility!
As for the few people who were quite familiar with Usuha Izuki, their reactions to this scene were as cold as Gin's, at most mentally commenting slightly: The acting has become much more layered, not as stiff as before, that feeling of trying hard to learn how ordinary people act but not getting it right has decreased a lot—there's progress.
Although Gin ignored him, Usuha Izuki didn't mind and continued his performance: "You made it too bloody. Can't you just give him a quick death?"
Vodka couldn't stand it anymore: "We need to interrogate him about which side he's from. How can we interrogate if we give him a quick death?"
"Don't waste words with him." At this point, Gin decisively chose to speak up. He was worried that Vodka would get drawn into another high-blood-pressure conversation with Usuha Izuki. "Everyone's here, let's go over the mission."
Vodka's expression became stern as he entered work mode: "Then I'll explain this mission. The yakuza in Kansai are in chaos because the leader of the largest faction died, and we need to help the XX Group win this battle."
"Isn't this a bit of an overkill?" Usuha Izuki raised an objection. "Don't you have anything more high-end, like assassinating FBI agents or sniping CIA operatives?"
Akai Shuichi, who was present, and the two CIA undercover agents: "............"
This person seems to have quite a deep grudge against America...
Vodka pushed up his sunglasses: "It's too troublesome to explain, and you don't need to know more. Anyway, this really is an important mission."
This XX Group was originally a local yakuza organization that the Organization had invested in and controlled. The expansion of XX Group would also benefit the Organization's expansion of influence.
Moreover, XX Group was supporting a certain congressman's candidacy, so helping XX Group would benefit the Organization in various ways.
Besides, this wasn't really overkill—just the day before yesterday, he had gone with Big Brother to threaten a company president. At least this time they had mobilized so many people to see blood together...
Thinking of their elaborate efforts to extort one hundred million yen, Vodka felt this mission actually had quite a bit of prestige.
"Fine." Usuha Izuki pouted. "How do we help? Give them strategic advice? I feel like except for me, no one here looks like the intellectual type."
".................."
Vodka took a deep breath and ignored this statement that seemed to disparage everyone's intelligence: "They've been fighting for a week now. If we want a quick resolution, it's best to target family members, so—"
"I refuse."
Usuha Izuki's expression suddenly changed, becoming unexpectedly serious: "Not targeting relatives—that's a basic principle of yakuza, right? If they abandon even 'chivalry,' then this XX Group might as well be destroyed sooner rather than later."
Vodka was getting irritated: "We're not yakuza! Why are you so concerned about yakuza principles?!"
"Because my name is Izuki! Don't you think my name has the perfect style to be a yakuza boss?!"
Usuha Izuki angrily patted the suitcase beside him: "How ancient and traditional! Anyone can see it's perfect for yakuza. I refuse to let this crappy mission create a stain on my glorious resume. I'm going to become a yakuza boss."
Vodka: ".........??? Weren't you going to become an ordinary person???"
Usuha Izuki said very calmly: "In Japan, yakuza boss is a legal profession. Since it's legal, why can't it be a career choice for ordinary people?"
Mizuno Rena, the CIA undercover who had joined the Organization not long ago, was stunned speechless by this series of bizarre conversations.
Huh? Huh?? Huh???
What is all this?! Is this Botanist brain-damaged?! He can come up with such reasons to refuse missions?!
First sympathizing with undercover agents, then refusing to do missions—what is there that he can't do?
And why is he so arrogant yet Gin shows no reaction at all?
No, Gin did have a reaction.
Gin took a deep breath and said with a cold expression: "If you don't want to do it, there are plenty of people who will. We don't need you. You can scy— you can leave now."
Everyone except Usuha Izuki: "............"
My god, Gin even swallowed that word "scram"... He's sacrificing so much... Such patience...
Usuha Izuki was indignant: "One email demanding I come, refusing to tell me what to do, and now that I'm here you say you don't need me and tell me to leave. Am I just easy to bully?!"
The others: "......"
No, you were the one who didn't want to do it! And who could have expected you'd refuse even after coming?!!
Vodka began taking deep breaths: "Didn't you call me later? What do you mean 'one email'?"
"Anyway, I'm not leaving. I'm staying right here." Usuha Izuki sat on the suitcase he had dragged along. "For you guys, I even pushed off the chance to hang out with friends on Christmas Eve. I heard it would last several days, so I even packed my luggage. Wouldn't I lose face if I just left now?"
Gin ignored Usuha Izuki and signaled for Vodka to continue.
Vodka continued explaining the mission details.
Even so, Usuha Izuki didn't quiet down. He rummaged through his suitcase and pulled out a radio, starting to listen to broadcasts.
Probably because it was Christmas Eve, he randomly tuned to a channel that was playing music full of Christmas atmosphere, adding some background music to Vodka's explanation.
Vodka: "............"
I'll endure it!
To the melody of Jingle Bells, Vodka struggled through the first part of his explanation.
Then the music stopped.
[Static... Emergency news bulletin... Static... Gorbachev announces resignation... President Yeltsin... Soviet Union...]
Hearing the keywords, everyone who had been listening seriously to the mission unconsciously focused their attention on the radio.
Then they heard that sentence.
[The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics announces its dissolution.]
The abandoned factory fell into an eerie silence.
A socialist superpower that everyone thought would be locked in a Cold War with America until the end of time, one of epochal significance, had actually dissolved. Everyone felt as if they were dreaming, momentarily unable to believe it.
Even the system couldn't help but sigh: [So it's today in this world... What a strange timeline.]
Usuha Izuki said nothing.
He silently stood up and began rummaging through his box again.
The crowd, still in a daze, was unconsciously drawn to his movements. Even though they didn't know what he was doing, they reflexively watched this person who was the only one moving in the abandoned factory.
More than ten seconds later, Usuha Izuki found what he was looking for.
A black hat.
He put the hat on his head and adjusted it, ensuring that the printed words on the hat were visible to everyone else.
Because of his strange behavior, everyone's gaze was drawn to this hat and, as Usuha Izuki intended, fixed upon it.
The hat had white letters on a black background that read:
[I'm KGB]
I am KGB (Soviet spy).
The CIA undercover, who was practically a natural enemy of the KGB, saw these words and felt his hair stand on end.
Is this person insane? Because the Soviet Union is gone, he's revealing himself as a Soviet undercover?! Is he going to die for the Soviet Union?! And why would he carry this hat with him all the time?! Isn't he afraid of Gin seeing it?!
Wait, come to think of it, I already felt this guy had obvious hostility toward America earlier—turns out he really is a Soviet spy!!! Everything makes sense now!!!
The CIA undercover, having just learned that his arch-nemesis had dissolved itself, was so shocked by Usuha Izuki's unconventional behavior that his brain shut down. He couldn't even think more deeply and could only instinctively look toward Gin.
If all the previous tolerance was casting a long line to catch a big fish, the fish had now jumped ashore by itself. Shouldn't it be time for reckoning?
Even Scotland was somewhat shocked and uncertain.
Usuha Izuki's adoptive father, Arak Wine, was rumored to have been suspected of being a Soviet spy. Although the Organization had no follow-up reaction and seemed to have found no evidence, they couldn't be absolutely certain he wasn't a Soviet spy.
And Usuha Izuki himself had very obvious pro-Soviet tendencies, which he had witnessed firsthand.
Could it be that the two of them really were Soviet spies, and this time Usuha Izuki, suddenly learning of the Soviet dissolution, lost his country of allegiance, suffered a collapse of faith, leading to a complete mental breakdown and direct self-exposure?!