Chapter 256
Akai Shuichi, having received Usuha Izuki's email, fell into contemplation.
Since he was already exposed, the email he was currently using naturally wasn't the one from his organization days. Otherwise, with the organization constantly sending people to hack emails, it wouldn't just be an intelligence leak problem—it would be annoying to death. So after returning to the FBI, he changed several email addresses, keeping FBI internal communications and personal emails completely separate.
After changing emails, he used his personal email to send Usuha Izuki a greeting email.
After all, among others in the organization who knew him, they might change emails, but Usuha Izuki definitely wouldn't for a while, because that guy had brain problems and might not even change his phone number...
Usuha Izuki never replied, and he didn't take it to heart. As long as he had this communication channel with Usuha Izuki, it was enough.
However, recently, Akai Shuichi finally heard that his FBI colleagues had been secretly contacting Miyano Akemi behind his back, causing her to be taken away for investigation by the organization. He couldn't help but send another email asking Usuha Izuki about Miyano Akemi's situation, only to discover he might have been blocked...
If he had known the FBI was conducting such operations behind his back, he might as well have been more forceful and directly taken Miyano Akemi away.
Akai Shuichi's superior, James Black, even apologized to him about this matter.
Akai Shuichi was a mature adult and said calmly: "You didn't know before either. This has nothing to do with you. Rationally speaking, making contact with Akemi would allow continuous intelligence gathering on Botanist and Sherry. Since Botanist doesn't really avoid people when talking on the phone with other organization members, we might get very useful intelligence. It's normal for higher-ups to make decisions based only on whether it's worthwhile, without considering my personal issues."
He had joined the FBI—how could he not know what the FBI was like? The higher up you went, the more problems there were.
Speaking of Usuha Izuki, although Akai Shuichi had answered Usuha Izuki's call during his escape, causing some confusion for Cameron and Judy in the car, when Akai Shuichi asked them to keep it secret, they really did keep it secret. When writing reports, regarding Botanist, they only said he was very perceptive and very crazy.
They all trusted Akai Shuichi's judgment and didn't completely trust those above them. After being agents for so long, they had far too many little secrets they kept from their superiors.
Many FBI agents were very familiar with certain illegal channels, using these to gather intelligence. They felt Akai Shuichi might have this tendency with Botanist too. The other party's cooperation level was indeed a bit low now, but it might be higher in the future. Such things that couldn't be brought into the open were better kept secret. They trusted Akai Shuichi—absolutely no problem!
The Akai Shuichi who was so trusted actually didn't even let them know about being blocked by Usuha Izuki...
Now that he seemed to have been removed from the blacklist, seeing the sender made Akai Shuichi think there might be big news, since Usuha Izuki's image in his mind had become rather bizarre—it felt like there was always big news every time.
Akai Shuichi was thinking it might be news of Miyano Akemi's death, and was considering how to relay this to his mother who cared about the Miyano sisters. But when he clicked in, this email had nothing to do with Miyano Akemi at all—it was actually related to his mother!!!
This was truly beyond Akai Shuichi's expectations.
Since he had previously speculated about how Usuha Izuki knew his identity and considered the possibility of intelligence leaks from his mother's side, Akai Shuichi had directly lost contact after going undercover. After returning to the FBI, he found a way to contact Akai Mary, hoping to resolve his confusion.
The result was that Akai Mary had never heard of Usuha Izuki either. Moreover, since she had joined MI6, her own intelligence was encrypted, so she felt it shouldn't be a problem on her end. Regarding her son being exposed so easily, Akai Mary's assessment was "you're still too green—I told you not to join the FBI."
...Looking at the email mentioning a suspected MI6 undercover agent, Akai Shuichi felt it was indeed necessary to contact his mother again, to let her know that MI6 wasn't any better off in front of Usuha Izuki.
But first, let him try calling Usuha Izuki... blocked, emails too, read but no reply.
Akai Shuichi was helpless about Usuha Izuki's willfulness and had no choice but to call Akai Mary first.
Akai Mary had always felt her eldest son was very independent, so she usually didn't bother managing him. This time, suddenly receiving a call and hearing his request, she couldn't help but feel this eldest son was too independent: "You're saying, have our MI6 undercover agent withdraw? The FBI has such broad authority?"
She almost went into business-mode.
Akai Shuichi said calmly: "Not necessarily. I'm just talking about the worst-case scenario. Let me explain first."
Akai Mary: "Alright, explain."
She wanted to hear what reason could make her eldest son interfere with MI6!
"Do you remember the Botanist I asked you about before?"
Akai Mary frowned: "I remember. That guy who somehow knew your identity but didn't tell the organization, just maliciously forced you to leave."
"Yes, he told me that your MI6 undercover agent Stout has been exposed and should withdraw."
Akai Mary: "...???"
Damn, she really did know who the MI6 undercover agent in the organization was—a friend of hers... the codename was indeed Stout.
Her attitude immediately changed, becoming cautious and serious: "How was he exposed? Did Botanist figure it out too?"
Akai Shuichi: "I don't know. I'm blocked. But his meaning is that if Stout doesn't leave on his own, he won't be polite... I guess Stout might have recently provoked him."
"...He actually went through you to give a roundabout warning..." Akai Mary was very confused. "What does he really mean?"
Akai Shuichi said seriously: "I can think of two possibilities. One is intimidation, showing that my social connections and yours are all under his control. The second is that he finds simply reporting undercover agents to the organization boring and likes to add some flair, just like when he dealt with me."
"..........."
Akai Mary was speechless for a moment, then asked according to common sense: "Is it possible he's trying to show goodwill?"
"...Mom, I wouldn't dare dream that big even in my dreams." Akai Shuichi said expressionlessly. "Don't trust the humanity of a psychopath. It's safer to believe he's just bored and wants to play."
Akai Mary: "...You're right, you are blocked."
What exactly had her eldest son been through... He had even borrowed many MI6 internal training materials related to personality analysis from her before...
Finally, Akai Mary felt this intelligence was indeed very valuable and agreed to find a way to tip off Stout, while also asking what conflict he'd recently had with Botanist. She'd send her eldest son a copy when she had news.
However, since Stout was still undercover, communication would be rather troublesome and would take some time—she could only say as soon as possible.
Usuha Izuki didn't waste this window period either. After receiving the information on Stout that Rum sent him, he tossed it aside, played for a few days, then sent Rum an email.
[I think Stout is like an MI6 undercover agent.]
Rum was very speechless.
He knew it—Usuha Izuki wouldn't sit idle and would definitely try every means to smear this competitor. He had even considered how to handle it if the other party complained to the Middle East contacts.
But it really was this simple and direct, continuing to use the "I think he's an undercover agent" tactic to squeeze people out!!!
Seven years! Couldn't he change to some new tricks?!
Although the Akai Shuichi incident had indeed been correct, that was at least based on contact with Akai Shuichi. Now it was just from looking at information!
Just because the person mainly operated in Britain, he thought the person was an MI6 undercover agent?!
Not even pretending, just running over to frame people?!
This was really just the exhaustive method! If I reject this, are you going to say I'm an undercover agent next?!
In his impatience mixed with some relaxation, Rum felt that no matter what, Usuha Izuki's methods being so simple was a good thing. That guy really only knew how to play around normally, without any workplace maneuvering skills, only knowing how to make accusations like an elementary school student.
Rum symbolically replied: [Why do you think he's an undercover agent?]
Usuha Izuki: [Don't you think he works too proactively? According to the information you gave me, when he first joined the organization, he would immediately take on the next mission right after finishing one, even taking on two simultaneously, one of which was very high-difficulty. Maybe MI6 is helping him... The organization doesn't pay him dividends, so working too actively indicates problematic thinking. Moreover, his work ability is too strong—he must have been trained by other organizations. Anyway, this person feels wrong. Trust me, he's an undercover agent.]
Rum: [Alright, I understand. I'll investigate.]
After dismissing Usuha Izuki, Rum tossed the matter aside.
Ridiculous—when he decided to promote Stout, he had already investigated him several times. How could he waste human and material resources again because of Usuha Izuki's idiotic reasoning?
Even if Usuha Izuki complained to the Boss, he could guarantee to the Boss that Stout absolutely had no problems!