Chapter 271
Considering that Gin was probably still busy, and with Usuha Izuki's email page right in front of him, the Boss simply chose to ask Usuha Izuki directly.
Besides, he had long gotten used to discussing topics both related and unrelated to the organization with Usuha Izuki—very few organization members enjoyed this privilege. Originally, not many people could contact the Boss directly, and when they did contact him, they would certainly only discuss serious matters. Only Usuha Izuki didn't care about this and would send whatever emails he wanted.
At first, the Boss was naturally annoyed, but after getting used to it, he could derive some amusement from it, and before he knew it, he felt it was perfectly normal to discuss these topics with Usuha Izuki.
[What happened? Why are you suddenly asking about this?]
Botanist: [I think you should hear Gin's explanation first. Even someone like me who has always disliked Gin was somewhat in disbelief after seeing that scene. Watching the recording from my side first might create preconceptions.]
The Boss immediately became alert.
This way of putting it... what exactly had Gin done?!
Even Usuha Izuki, who usually would directly curse Gin whenever he wanted to, was being so cautious this time, as if afraid that the Boss would be severely shocked after learning about it...
Human nature is such that the more something is forbidden, the more one cares about it.
Moreover, thinking further, what Usuha Izuki had was a recording, and recordings were very objective. The Boss hadn't been affected by Usuha Izuki's highly subjective complaints before, and he trusted his own judgment.
So the Boss told Usuha Izuki not to worry so much and to send him the recording directly.
Botanist: [Alright, I'll find someone to borrow a computer to export the video and send it to you in a bit. You must stay calm. Remember that it's me sending this video, so just consider it me finding fault with Gin! Don't overthink it!]
This self-deprecating explanation from Usuha Izuki not only failed to make the Boss relax, but made him even more tense, and countless negative speculations about Gin arose in his mind.
It could be said that during this period, the Boss felt like each day was a year, but exporting videos and uploading them to email did indeed take time, so he could only wait patiently.
Usuha Izuki leisurely had Chianti help him borrow a computer at the hotel.
Upon hearing that Usuha Izuki was communicating with the Boss, Chianti immediately went to run the errand without a word.
Ah, although Botanist didn't really do serious work, this attitude of being trusted by the Boss and calling people to watch the excitement together felt pretty good to follow Botanist.
Unlike Vodka following Gin, which Chianti felt had no future.
Although Usuha Izuki's side was a bit slow, the Boss didn't immediately turn to ask Gin what the situation was.
Because the Boss also wanted to see what kind of report Gin would submit without any hints.
Finally, Usuha Izuki's new email arrived with a video attachment.
The Boss's computer automatically scanned and confirmed there were no viruses before downloading.
The video wasn't long, and the Boss finished watching it quickly.
Boss: "...???"
What the hell was this?! Gin fighting with thin air?!
All those shots before deliberately missed vital points, and just when he was about to run out of bullets, he suddenly pulled this stunt...
No wonder even Usuha Izuki, who always found Gin disagreeable, had such a change in attitude, refusing to speak ill of Gin and instead constantly comforting him, telling him not to overthink!
Who wouldn't overthink after seeing this?!
Gin! You better really have a reason, not an excuse!!!
The Boss's face was dark, his breathing somewhat heavy, when he noticed Usuha Izuki had sent another new email.
Botanist: [Boss, what do you think are the chances that Gin has a crush on Sherry?]
Boss: "..........."
—Not likely! The possibility of Gin being an undercover agent was higher than him having a crush on someone to the point of shooting himself to let them escape!
Thanks to Usuha Izuki's comic relief, the Boss felt a bit better in his chest.
Thinking that this child might be trying to comfort him, not wanting him to be too angry... the Boss couldn't help but feel emotional. Although Botanist's mental state was worrying, he was indeed a good child when it came to being a junior!
Otherwise, if Usuha Izuki completely didn't care about his physical condition and mood, he should be wildly cursing Gin as an undercover agent right now! Settling personal scores!
But at the crucial moment, Usuha Izuki still prioritized the big picture and didn't add fuel to the fire...
Compared to Gin, who although the truth was still unknown, had indeed made him somewhat unhappy, the Boss felt that Usuha Izuki was still quite worry-free.
However, the Boss was still the Boss. Even with biased tendencies, he still needed to clarify some suspicious points.
After all, the possibility of Usuha Izuki having ulterior motives wasn't nonexistent, and he was indeed somewhat suspicious.
Boss: [Why did you suddenly bring a video camera this time?]
Usuha Izuki said he wanted to monitor Gin and had applied to him, but bringing a video camera so conveniently and recording all this was somewhat puzzling.
Botanist: [Because I wanted to bring Chianti along to avoid Gin assassinating me again, but Chianti said that after stealing Gin's prey last time, Gin wouldn't let her take action anymore. Seeing her with a gun would probably cause issues, so I had Chianti bring a video camera this time. After all, if there's nothing to hide, Gin definitely wouldn't mind being recorded, right? If nothing happened, I would definitely destroy it on the spot... Of course, I also admit that I was actually a bit annoyed and wanted to bring the video camera to anger Gin and record Gin's face changing, but what Gin does isn't something I can command. I was also very shocked to see him like this.]
Attachments: [Image1 Image2]
The attached images were chat records from a group. The Boss felt somewhat speechless seeing the group name [Anti-Gin Squad], but since Usuha Izuki was being so open about it, he wouldn't overthink it.
After reading the chat records, the Boss felt he could understand why they happened to bring a video camera this time...
Boss: [Can I join this group?]
He didn't prohibit organization members from forming such private groups because he knew prohibition was impossible without corresponding monitoring means, but since he knew about it, he would naturally be vigilant and curious.
Botanist: [Ah, that's not really appropriate. Actually, everyone doesn't dislike Gin. It's completely my personal dislike of Gin. I created the group to have people echo me when I want to curse Gin. What if you join and get influenced by me?]
The Boss didn't care about others' refusal when he wanted to do something: [I'll give you a secondary account later. Add that account to the group.]
Botanist: [Alright.]
After chatting with Usuha Izuki, the Boss replayed the recording several times, deduced some situations from the details, and waited for Gin's report.
Finally, Gin's report was sent over in the evening.
He didn't avoid the fact that he encountered Sherry again only to let her escape, detailing everything he did, what happened in between that led to this result, that Pisco also saw Sherry, that Pisco didn't know he was photographed, and so on.
The Boss no longer cared about Pisco's death—that was his order. He now paid more attention to Gin's experience after catching Sherry, carefully comparing it with the recording several times and confirming there were no discrepancies, and the explanations were quite reasonable.
...Although Gin claimed he was hit by something invisible, possibly an anesthetic dart, this couldn't be shown in the recording and looked like fighting with thin air. Even medical examinations couldn't detect residue, but considering Gin's long-standing credibility, the Boss decided to believe Gin's explanation.
After all, if Gin really wanted to let Sherry escape, he wouldn't need to act so dramatically... right.
Despite this, the suspicion caused by watching the recording first and having preconceptions hadn't actually disappeared, just temporarily suppressed.
Compared to the Boss, Vodka was actually more suspicious of Gin now.
Because Usuha Izuki had separately sent him the prophecy [Gin will later let people see Sherry but won't actually catch Sherry], and now the prophecy had come true. His boss had let Sherry escape right in front of him. Although someone had interfered, neither Sherry nor the interfering person was caught. Even if he explained this to Usuha Izuki, Usuha Izuki could say it was arranged by Gin in advance... just thinking about it gave him a headache.
Usuha Izuki also sent him a new email: [See, what did I tell you before? Do you now think Gin is a pervert or an undercover agent?]
Vodka read but didn't reply.
He could no longer care about the possibility of Usuha Izuki holding grudges for doing this. His mind was in chaos. He wanted to ask Gin but was very afraid... as for what he was afraid of, he didn't know either.
The system watched Usuha Izuki spreading discord everywhere and suddenly noticed a problem.
[Why don't you emphasize to the Boss that it's weird for Gin to recognize Sherry from just one hair?]
Usuha Izuki: [Ah, you can't release too much material at once—the effect would be halved. I want to combine that with evidence from next time.]
System: [You're already planning for next time???]
Usuha Izuki: [The organization's top-level assassin—he's worth it!]
System: [...]
It felt that Gin himself probably didn't want this treatment.
Meanwhile, Dr. Agasa, who was driving back, suddenly remembered something and said to Edogawa Conan and Haibara Ai: "Oh right, when I was on the roadside, I saw Usuha-kun also entering the hotel."
Edogawa Conan was startled but quickly reacted: "Chris Vineyard is also there. He should have gone to find Chris Vineyard."
After all, they had made dinner plans by phone yesterday.
"She's also one of the seven suspects, right?"
"Yes. Although Pisco did it, he could escape because he definitely had accomplices helping him. That accomplice should be among the other suspects..." Edogawa Conan frowned. "Even if she's Usuha-nii's friend, we can't rule out suspicion because of that."
Dr. Agasa sighed: "A big star—it shouldn't be likely..."
"That's hard to say." Haibara Ai, lying injured in the back seat, said, "Pisco was also a major corporation's chairman, yet he still had to carry out such assassination missions."
Suddenly, Dr. Agasa's phone vibrated.
Dr. Agasa said: "I'm driving. Shinichi, help me check."
Edogawa Conan picked up Dr. Agasa's phone and looked: "Ah, it's an email from Usuha-nii. I'll read it directly then."
"Go ahead. What a coincidence—we were just talking about Usuha-kun and he sends an email." Dr. Agasa said cheerfully. "What did he send?"
Edogawa Conan: "..........."
His silence made Dr. Agasa somewhat puzzled: "What's wrong?"
Edogawa Conan's mouth twitched as he looked at the email content and read word by word:
"'I just saw Conan-kun asking about some wine cellar at the hotel front desk, and now the wine cellar area is on fire... This couldn't be related to Conan-kun, could it? Also, why is Conan-kun here?'"
...How was he supposed to explain this?! Usuha-nii wouldn't suspect him of arson, would he?!