Chapter 242
Vodka went to see Miyano Akemi, who had returned from Usuha Izuki's place.
He asked with a serious expression but great unease in his heart: "Did Botanist say anything?"
"Mm... he asked about my recent situation."
Vodka became even more serious: "You didn't say anything carelessly, did you?"
With Usuha Izuki's sexist personality, using the excuse of helping Miyano Akemi vent her anger to find fault with him wasn't impossible!
"We talked about the FBI..." Miyano Akemi hesitated.
Vodka immediately became nervous: "What did he say?"
"He said even if I ran away with the FBI, I'd have to finish cleaning before leaving. If the FBI's treatment isn't good, he's willing to hire me to continue cleaning and would ask the organization for reimbursement. I don't need to feel sorry about the money for him—he'll give me a high price."
Vodka: "............"
How to put it... very much in Usuha Izuki's nonsensical style. You could tell it was him speaking just by listening. With Miyano Akemi's normal brain, she couldn't have made up such shameless words.
"Did you talk about me or Big Brother at all?"
"...Botanist-san complained about you wanting to kill him, but that was all."
Vodka sighed in relief: "Oh."
As long as they didn't discuss him and Big Brother's affairs. Seeing the big picture from the small details, from that conversation, he could basically judge that Usuha Izuki hadn't discussed anything serious with Miyano Akemi...
Seeing it was getting quite late, Vodka simply gave up on the interrogation, feeling that not asking wouldn't make much difference and would spare him from hearing more of Usuha Izuki's nonsense: "Alright, get some rest early. Since you insist you had no contact with the FBI, you'll have to go on a mission in a couple days to prove your loyalty..."
"Wait!" Miyano Akemi stopped Vodka. "Um, actually Botanist-san and I talked about something else."
Hearing that Miyano Akemi was actually volunteering more conversation content, Vodka not only wasn't happy but felt even more nervous—what terrible thing had been said that made Miyano Akemi so proactive about confessing?
"It's like this... Botanist-san actually also complained about the organization."
Although Usuha Izuki had told her to say this, Miyano Akemi still felt a bit nervous when speaking, worried whether saying this would bring trouble to Usuha Izuki.
But Vodka's heart was calm as still water: "Oh, totally normal. What was he complaining about this time?"
Miyano Akemi: "..."
Too practiced! Why so practiced! Just how many times had Botanist-san complained about the organization!
She struggled to suppress her urge to complain and continued: "He said an organization that only lets people in but never out was obviously problematic. Even hostages have ransom money. Most things in the world can be solved with money, and if they can't be solved, it's just insufficient funds..."
Vodka listened expressionlessly.
Heh, this was worth reporting? Miyano Akemi was still too inexperienced... Though Usuha Izuki was now making roundabout criticisms, when before he used to directly curse the black-hearted company for exploiting employees.
But soon, Miyano Akemi finally got to the main point: "So, I wanted to ask, if my sister and I wanted to leave the organization, how much money would we need to give the organization?"
Vodka: "..."
Vodka: "...Hah???"
No way, you actually took Usuha Izuki's nonsense seriously?!
"I really don't want to do drug trafficking. Please, help me ask Gin!"
Vodka was greatly shocked, but under Miyano Akemi's pleading, and since this mess was somewhat related to Usuha Izuki, he conveyed it to Gin after returning.
After hearing it, Gin also first gave a string of ellipses: "............"
Vodka looked horrified: "Miyano Akemi actually believed such words! She's so naive! Botanist was just complaining about the organization normally, but she actually listened seriously..."
After being speechless, Gin actually sneered: "Being naive is good. Tell her, ten billion yen, in exchange for her and Sherry's freedom."
"Big Brother! Sherry is an important researcher! A mere ten billion..."
"Just making her create some value." Gin lit a cigarette. "If she really believes it, let her work on raising that money."
Vodka thought about it and suddenly understood: "Worthy of Big Brother! This will make her socially dead! From now on she'll only be able to depend on the organization!"
"Her proposing to leave the organization already proves her insufficient loyalty to the organization. Maybe the FBI really has been secretly contacting her." Gin took a drag. "Take this opportunity to see if we can lure the FBI out."
Sherry's side was also quite annoying. Ever since Miyano Akemi started being investigated, she'd been on strike... Miyano Akemi's positive value was becoming less and less.
In his opinion, the organization had been too lenient with these sisters before. For someone timid like Sherry, threats would probably be more effective than incentives.
Unlike Vodka's idea of "social death," Gin was actually more inclined to directly kill Miyano Akemi and pin the blame on the FBI. After all, Sherry had no sources of information—whatever the organization said was what it was.
A Sherry conducting research with hatred for the FBI might be more efficient.
Like this, Miyano Akemi received Vodka's message.
Miyano Akemi: "...Ten billion yen, is it? I'll work hard."
Shock! Botanist-san actually guessed right—Gin really would agree to that request! Although it was pretending to agree... but this amount... did they think she was an idiot?
No choice, she could only continue pretending to be an idiot now. Only this way could she make Gin and Vodka lower their guard...
With mixed feelings, Miyano Akemi began researching her first criminal plan.
Honestly, it was quite difficult. She had no idea where to start. She ordered 100 crime-themed novels online overnight, trying to get some inspiration from them.
Vodka, monitoring Miyano Akemi, was speechless looking at her shopping list: "Big Brother, if she gets caught midway..."
This rookie using novels as textbooks... it would be a miracle if nothing went wrong.
Gin was quite indifferent: "Then we can directly silence her."
Vodka: "............"
Did Big Brother have some grudge against Miyano Akemi? Why did it seem like he really wanted to kill her?
Usually Big Brother met with Sherry more often... Oh, Sherry had been on strike recently. Was this what they called displaced anger?
Gin, believing himself to be completely business-like, seriously wrote a report, reporting Miyano Akemi's situation to the BOSS and outlining reasons one through four why he thought Miyano Akemi couldn't be kept...
First, she was related to that FBI undercover agent. Although she didn't run away with her relative at the time, who knew if they had been secretly communicating all along, just pretending to have recently acknowledged their relationship? Maybe they had the idea that if one side was exposed, the other could continue staying in the organization to leak intelligence!
Don't underestimate Miyano Akemi as just a bottom-level member—she'd always been around Botanist, and everyone understood Botanist's sexist issues. If Miyano Akemi influenced Botanist, who knew if that brain-damaged Botanist might spill intelligence he shouldn't tell her. Although Botanist usually didn't manage affairs, whatever he wanted to know, as long as it wasn't particularly classified, he could basically find out!
Second, FBI traces had clearly appeared around Miyano Akemi. They couldn't guarantee whether this was recently discovered or if they'd been in contact for a long time...
The organization had already been extremely benevolent to Miyano Akemi. Now she was actually proposing to leave the organization—simply shameless, with no loyalty to the organization left. Keeping her would only be a disaster! After squeezing out her last drop of value, send her on her way!
This report received the Boss's approval, and Gin finally received Miyano Akemi's contact saying the money was ready and asking to meet.
At this crucial moment, Usuha Izuki called: "Hello? I told Miyano Akemi to come clean for me tomorrow, but she said she's busy and has an appointment with Gin. What's going on?"
Vodka wiped his sweat: "Well, there's a mission that requires Miyano Akemi's participation..."
"What mission?"
"This... it's a classified mission."
Usuha Izuki was straightforward: "Won't say? Fine."
The call ended. Vodka felt his hands and feet go cold: "Big Brother, Botanist seems about to cause trouble again..."
Gin frowned. Although he had a bad feeling, he thought the Boss shouldn't let Usuha Izuki interfere this time.
Then he received Chianti's call.
"Hello? Undercover... I mean, Gin, whatever mission you're on now, add me in." Chianti said carelessly. "Botanist says he suspects you're up to something. Last time you almost killed him, this time you're being sneaky again and who knows what you're planning. He wants me to monitor you. Do you have any objections? If so, Botanist will apply to the BOSS..."
Gin: "............"
What essential difference was there between joining immediately and joining after applying?
Forget it, at least it was Chianti joining, better than Botanist joining himself.
Gin's bottom line had been lowered again and again by Usuha Izuki, and unknowingly he made a decision he'd regret: "This mission has no reward."
Chianti rolled her eyes on the other end: "Tch, who cares about your reward? I'm just helping Botanist watch you. Tell me, what mission is it?"
Gin pressed his temples, cautiously refusing to reveal the mission content: "You'll know when the time comes."
—The later Usuha Izuki found out, the better. Otherwise, once he knew his housekeeper was going to die, Usuha Izuki would definitely make a fuss! This was non-negotiable!