Chapter 191
Akai Shuichi had originally thought that given Usuha Izuki's peripheral attitude toward the organization, their next meeting probably wouldn't know when it would be. He hadn't expected to see him again in less than a week.
"Hm? How is this my fault?"
The smiling silver-haired youth sat casually on the table, talking to Vodka who stood across from him.
"Just tell me if the person I provided is talented or not!"
Vodka's mouth twitched: "Indeed talented, but—"
"No buts." Usuha Izuki raised an eyebrow. "I heard the organization had people who wanted to recruit her before but failed because they didn't know Plamia's identity. This time I found out her identity, and the failed recruitment is your problem. Instead of thanking me, you want to pin the blame on me... Gin! Hey! Gin! Stop spacing out! How does the organization usually handle such incompetent deadweight?"
Gin didn't even lift his eyelids, continuing to maintain his gun.
Vodka was shocked at how quickly his treatment had declined: "...??? Is this how you treat your friends?"
Having Big Brother deal with him? Did this kid Usuha Izuki have any humanity!
Usuha Izuki snorted coldly: "You stopped being my friend when you kicked me out last time."
Vodka: "..........."
"Besides, this situation is your decision-making problem, right?" Usuha Izuki said righteously. "If you'd agreed to let me negotiate, wouldn't everything have been fine?"
"...Where do you get such confidence..."
Vodka barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes and complained: "Plamia would definitely kill you too."
This bomber Plamia was indeed very famous, her abilities met the organization's requirements, and even being smart enough to hide herself without exposing information met Gin's standards. After Gin received the real identity and several safe house addresses that Usuha Izuki provided for Plamia, he even quite rarely praised Usuha Izuki internally.
Mm, this troublesome thing finally remembered to work.
Although he'd been slacking for half a year, the quality of this submission was quite good.
But the organization's negotiators somehow leaked their tracks. Not only did Plamia refuse, she even counter-investigated the organization and very actively bombed one of the organization's bases.
Being able to trace back to the organization's base meant this person absolutely couldn't be left alive if she didn't join. Looking at her attitude, she didn't seem like she'd join either. Plus she could infiltrate the base to plant bombs, she might have discovered other secrets from the base, so they decided to silence her.
Vodka had just been complaining that the "talent" Usuha Izuki provided this time was causing too much trouble for the organization.
Plamia was really difficult to deal with, her counter-tracking abilities were strong. She abandoned all safe houses and her surface identity in society also disappeared completely. The organization wanted to silence her but couldn't find her, while they might be ambushed by Plamia at any time...
Vodka felt he had grounds to complain to Usuha Izuki, who had brought this big trouble to the organization.
Akai Shuichi leaned against the wall corner, quietly listening to the two bicker, then suddenly heard Usuha Izuki say:
"Fine! You just want to say I've always looked unfavorably on the organization, and this time I conspired with Plamia to mess with the organization, right? I admit it, okay?"
When saying this, Usuha Izuki looked angry. After noticing Akai Shuichi's gaze, he even glared at him as if venting his anger.
Different from that night's treacherous aura, those green eyes now were like vibrant spring, with a clarity you could see through at a glance. That fake anger couldn't fool anyone—anyone could see Usuha Izuki was deliberately putting on this act.
Akai Shuichi couldn't help thinking that he'd always felt Usuha Izuki's acting was over the top... but now it seemed that being able to hide such deep schemes for so long without anyone discovering showed his acting was already better than his own.
Hearing Usuha Izuki's words, Vodka actually softened a bit: "It's not that serious... failed recruitments requiring silencing have happened many times before. It's just Plamia's destructive power is a bit strong."
Usuha Izuki: "Stop talking. I'm just an undercover. You should quickly call the boss to report me."
Vodka said helplessly: "Can you stop using 'whether someone suspects you're an undercover' as the standard to judge if others are undercover? Especially me and Big Brother! You know this trick doesn't work on me and Big Brother anymore!"
Bourbon, leaning by the window, joined the battle, saying sarcastically: "From the results, Plamia has already killed several organization members and bombed a base. As the person who recommended Plamia, Botanist's contribution to destroying the organization is indeed comparable to an undercover."
Although Bourbon said this, Akai Shuichi could see Bourbon was just following along with complaints, his brain probably not engaged at all. Maybe encountering the topic of Usuha Izuki + undercover made his brain directly enter power-saving mode, too lazy to analyze.
Akai Shuichi: "..........."
Was he the only one who truly felt that Usuha Izuki had long known that recruiting Plamia would lead the organization to this outcome, and everything was indeed intentional?
But probably not actual cooperation with Plamia. With Usuha Izuki's level, guessing Plamia's reaction was as simple as breathing.
Probably no particular purpose either—most likely Usuha Izuki suddenly went crazy, found something about the organization or someone displeasing, and wanted to use Plamia's hand to cause some trouble...
Usuha Izuki seemed to really like occasionally doing dangerous behaviors to provoke the organization or certain people. What was scary was that even after doing this much, Vodka was still making excuses for him, Bourbon was only verbally suspicious, and Gin had no reaction at all!
Akai Shuichi suddenly felt the melancholy of being the only sober one among the drunk.
How great it would be if Usuha Izuki were on his side. With this level of manipulating people's hearts, being undercover would never need to worry about exposure. If willing, he could definitely infiltrate the upper levels early!
Having stared at Usuha Izuki a bit too long, Usuha Izuki suddenly cursed at him: "What are you looking at, FBI!"
Akai Shuichi: "..........."
Vodka sympathetically patted him: "Don't worry, no one will believe it."
Bourbon even directly rolled his eyes: "Botanist, didn't you say this was a secret you'd only tell me?"
"Ah, seems like it." Usuha Izuki seemed to suddenly remember. "Should I tell you a different secret then?"
"Forget it, I respectfully decline." Bourbon curled his lip. "Always rehashing old news, treating widely known things as secrets... I'm not in the mood to play along."
Akai Shuichi couldn't help glancing at Bourbon.
He felt a bit heartbroken.
What a waste! If you don't want it, give it to me!
Usuha Izuki was actively offering to tell you secrets! Why didn't you agree! Why waste this opportunity! What if he was in a good mood today and willing to share intelligence freely!
Bourbon misunderstood his meaning and even explained: "Last time this guy said only I was reliable, so he had important intelligence to tell only me. The result was saying you're FBI..."
"I heard from Vodka." Akai Shuichi's mouth twitched. "Does he have any other intelligence that can only be shared privately?"
Currently, it seemed the things Usuha Izuki said in front of everyone were of unknown truth or falsehood, mostly likely crazy nonsense. But those situations where he privately emphasized he was serious seemed to give accurate intelligence.
Like him being FBI...
Indeed, Usuha Izuki wasn't really on his side—completely mood-dependent. He'd even told Bourbon about this, fortunately Bourbon didn't believe it.
Akai Shuichi didn't know whether to thank Usuha Izuki for previously working tirelessly to make everyone numb to the concept of "Moroboshi Dai/Rye is FBI"...
"Don't know." Bourbon was expressionless. "As long as you're not afraid of wasting time, you can try if you want."
Akai Shuichi sighed: "He hates me."
"He doesn't like anyone." Bourbon complained.
"Who says so! I really like my foster father!" Usuha Izuki interjected. "Oh right, you reminded me... Gin! Where's my photo you took from Yarik? I forgot to ask for it before—you should return it now, right?"
Gin, who had seemed mute since Usuha Izuki entered, frowned and looked at Vodka.
Vodka was dumbfounded: "Ah? Photo? It's been so many years—why are you suddenly remembering to ask for the photo now?"