Chapter 216
After nearly a month, the Metropolitan Police finally processed the paperwork for Samukawa Shinryu's Special Advisor application.
Don't complain about the slowness—this was actually super-accelerated efficiency!
From Inspector Megure to Administrative Officer Matsumoto to Division Chief Odagiri, they would go urge whenever they thought of it, afraid that being too slow would cause Samukawa Shinryu to change his mind and refuse this advisor position.
During this month, Usuha Izuki lived up to expectations. After sending the former Criminal Investigation Division One elite to prison, he sent in another yakuza organization leader who had tried to recruit him.
Now that organization was in internal chaos due to their leader unexpectedly going to prison, inexplicably adding a lot of workload for the Organized Crime Countermeasures Division officers.
Even though he had resigned, people kept chasing to deliver achievements. Usuha Izuki felt it was really a loss not being a police officer—the Special Advisor's salary was base pay plus bonuses, and these people would all be his bonuses in the future!
Although he wasn't short of money, he couldn't allow money that should rightfully be his to be missed. So even if they moved slower, he wouldn't have changed his mind.
Anyway, being able to become this advisor earlier, Usuha Izuki was quite satisfied.
As for Inspector Megure asking whether he wanted publicity or to keep a low profile, Usuha Izuki naturally chose low profile.
"I don't like being in the spotlight."
He had refused public commendations before—it wasn't like he suddenly changed his nature now.
If he frequently appeared on TV and in front of important figures, what if [Black Screen Aura] got farmed to numbness!
In his superiors' eyes, this was considerate and understanding behavior. Even Division Chief Odagiri, who was usually stern and scolded even his own son more than praised him, was gentle with Usuha Izuki, feeling he was being wronged.
When Inspector Megure was seeing Usuha Izuki out of the Metropolitan Police, he was still cheerful: "This is good. It's also convenient for your future entrapment operations—quietly send those guys over without affecting your external image!"
Usuha Izuki: "..........."
In his lifetime, he actually heard police worry that catching too many criminals would affect Samukawa Shinryu's image...
He responded speechlessly.
"Ah, Inspector, little Shinryu~" Hagiwara Kenji happened to be passing by. Seeing the two of them, he walked over. "Have you finished the paperwork?"
Inspector Megure answered cheerfully: "All done! You're colleagues again!"
Hagiwara Kenji's face showed genuine happiness: "Wonderful! Although it's a bit regrettable we're not partners anymore, it's good that little Shinryu is still willing to be a police officer."
Usuha Izuki asked: "Where's Date?"
"He's writing reports."
Because Usuha Izuki had run away, Criminal Investigation Division One was short-staffed. They transferred Date Wataru, whom they already thought highly of, to partner with Hagiwara Kenji.
Hagiwara Kenji had magically achieved working in the same department as Matsuda Jinpei, partnering with Samukawa Shinryu, and now working with Date Wataru.
"Speaking of Squad Leader, when are you free? Squad Leader said now that he's in Criminal Investigation Division One, he wants to treat you and little Jinpei to barbecue." Hagiwara Kenji asked.
Knowing Samukawa Shinryu didn't like drinking, Squad Leader chose a barbecue place—quite considerate.
Usuha Izuki refused: "You guys go. I don't have time recently."
Hagiwara Kenji was very confused: "...What exactly are you busy with?"
Resigned for a month, just started work today—what could he be busy with? Busy fishing? Skipping gatherings with everyone just for fishing?
"Hmm..." Usuha Izuki pondered. "These days, I'll be busy saving people."
Hagiwara Kenji: "...???"
System: [...??? Who are you saving? Akai Shuichi? Or Miyano Akemi? Miyano Shiho?]
Usuha Izuki: [I'm saving Gin.]
The system was shocked: [Gin? How are you saving him?]
Usuha Izuki answered matter-of-factly: [Of course by reminding Gin that Rye is FBI and not to trust him.]
System: [...You don't actually want to save him, do you?]
With this reminder method, Gin's ears would get callused from hearing it. It would be a miracle if it worked!
During this month, Gin and Vodka had joined the intelligence team's small unit, privately investigating Akai Shuichi again.
However, because Akai Shuichi had previously received intelligence from Usuha Izuki about his identity being exposed, the FBI had conducted a self-examination and strengthened Moroboshi Dai's fake identity, ensuring there were no bugs. So when the organization investigated, they found nothing—this identity couldn't be more real.
Gin also relaxed from the paranoia he'd had since America.
Sure enough, Botanist had just gotten lucky last time.
Having personally participated in the investigation, Gin's trust in Akai Shuichi was at an all-time high.
Gin could distrust Usuha Izuki, could even distrust Vodka, but he definitely trusted his own judgment.
So now when Usuha Izuki said Rye was undercover, Gin would absolutely treat it as background noise.
[If Akai Shuichi gets exposed, Gin's face will definitely hurt more than before.] Usuha Izuki was so looking forward to it.
Usuha Izuki now returned home every day, asking Miyano Akemi for intelligence about Akai Shuichi to see what their next plans were.
Forget beating around the bush or secret investigation—Usuha Izuki collected intelligence by directly asking the parties involved!
Miyano Akemi had recognized her usefulness. She not only told Usuha Izuki but also told Akai Shuichi what Usuha Izuki had asked today and how she had answered.
She couldn't fool Usuha Izuki anyway, so she gave up.
After several times, Akai Shuichi finally couldn't help but actively called Usuha Izuki.
"Botanist, what exactly do you want?"
He had his phone number—why always have Miyano Akemi relay messages? What was he hinting at?
Hinting that Miyano Akemi was under Botanist's control, so whatever he wanted to do was futile?
But Usuha Izuki complained first: "What's wrong with you? Why don't you call me? I waited for your news for so long!"
Akai Shuichi: "..........."
Were he and Usuha Izuki in some kind of good relationship where they could even discuss running away and plotting against the organization?! Where did Usuha Izuki get the nerve to blame him like this!
Even the usually thick-skinned FBI was shocked.
But thinking this was Usuha Izuki, it suddenly didn't seem that outrageous.
After all, this guy's codename had almost become an adjective.
Like "don't be too Botanist as a person."
Knowing that arguing such meaningless topics with Usuha Izuki meant Usuha Izuki would win steadily, Akai Shuichi didn't accidentally fall into it like Vodka and become Usuha Izuki's plaything. Instead, he calmly skipped ahead and directly entered the main topic.
"Miyano Akemi has made her decision today. She doesn't plan to leave with me. You can rest assured."
Under organizational surveillance, Miyano Akemi had found an opportunity to go shopping for clothes with her sister, quietly communicating in the changing room.
Her sister with the codename Sherry immediately thought it was unreliable.
She had studied in America and witnessed the terrible aspects of real American police and FBI more than the idealized TV portrayals.
Plus this involved her own sister—Sherry didn't dare take any risks.
If it failed... the organization would still want her to continue research, so they definitely wouldn't kill her. But their attitude certainly wouldn't be as gentle as now. Before, they hinted that her sister was in the organization's hands and she should research well so both would live comfortably. In the future, it might directly become threats.
Moreover, with a failed defection history, her sister's freedom would definitely decrease. The organization would worry that a first time meant a second time.
Sherry felt sorry for Miyano Akemi, so she thought this plan would affect Miyano Akemi most if it failed. She couldn't bear this risk.
Besides, what kind of cousin was this? She always felt there was something wrong! Maybe it was the sinister FBI secretly manipulating things.
How could it be such a coincidence? Even soap operas wouldn't dare perform like this!
Hearing this, Usuha Izuki wasn't surprised. Given the Miyano sisters' current situation, being cautious and steady was more beneficial. This choice was very normal.
"What about you? Since you can't bring your cousins, you should bring something else, right?" Usuha Izuki asked. "Vodka told me Gin investigated you again and found no problems~ If you want to plot against Gin, now is the best opportunity."
Even though he had gained Gin's trust and should continue undercover, when Usuha Izuki said this, Akai Shuichi couldn't help thinking—if he wanted to stay long-term, would Usuha Izuki really expose his identity?
This guy seemed to really want to watch the show.
Fortunately, the FBI also felt that since Usuha Izuki already knew his identity, even if he hadn't told the organization yet, he wasn't safe. Taking this opportunity to withdraw wasn't bad. So even if the Miyano sisters disagreed, he planned to withdraw.
Akai Shuichi probed: "If I do this, what are your plans?"
"Hah? Can't you guess? I'm an organization executive! Although Gin has always been cold and unreasonable to me, I'll still kindly remind him before he falls into a pit: 'Rye is an undercover agent!'"
Akai Shuichi: "...I understand."
So he was mainly about watching the fun, right?
Although he still couldn't figure out whether Usuha Izuki's attitude of watching organization executives fall into pits was targeting Gin or the entire organization, as long as Usuha Izuki wasn't his enemy even once, that was wonderful.
Thinking this, Akai Shuichi confirmed: "What do I need to pay?"
There was no free lunch in the world. Accepting Usuha Izuki's help, he always felt he'd be unlucky in strange ways...
Usuha Izuki: "Ah, there is something. If you succeed, remember to record it. Capture Gin's incredulous, regretful expression after learning you're really FBI, because he didn't believe me!"
Akai Shuichi: "..........."
If this was the request, then Usuha Izuki's turning a blind eye this time was probably quite sincere, without digging a pit for him...
"But although your abilities are indeed pretty good, are your colleagues okay? I went to America to investigate recently and felt those FBI didn't seem very capable." Usuha Izuki was more worried than Akai Shuichi himself. "I feel like they'll be pig teammates."
Akai Shuichi: "I trust my companions."
Usuha Izuki: "Mm, remember your current feelings. Good luck."
After saying this, he hung up.
Akai Shuichi: "...?"
Were there organization people among his companions?! That shouldn't be possible. If there were, the organization should have discovered his true identity long ago. But what did Usuha Izuki's words mean... could it be sowing discord...
Akai Shuichi once again fell into paranoia.
Better have Judy investigate more. The colleagues coming to Japan must definitely be clean...