Chapter 381

Although Gin had been tormented by Usui Saiki for so long, when it came to dealing with undercover agents, the organization's boss still thought of Gin first, and thus decisively handed the task over to Gin.

Undoubtedly, Vodka, as Gin's second-in-command, also quickly learned the inside story.

Vodka glanced at the list and laughed: "Scotland is going to be investigated again?"

The memory of Potts identifying undercover agents everywhere is still vivid, and even he couldn't escape it. In recent years, Potts has finally calmed down, but now that Scotland is about to be investigated again, Vodka feels as if he has returned to a few years ago, with a sense of nostalgia.

Vodka had a good relationship with Scotland, and Scotland often spoke well of Gin, who was isolated. He subconsciously felt that Scotland was already one of his own, so he didn't have any thoughts about the investigation.

Previously, nothing was found during the investigations; as long as Scotland was innocent, it was just a formality.

Vodka was unaware that the reason Scotland hadn't been detected before was because Scotland was relatively cautious when it first joined the organization and hadn't leaked anything. But now it was hard to say. The organization's undercover agent in the Japanese Public Security Bureau had already obtained crucial intelligence, but it didn't match up. With further investigation and interrogation, Scotland's exposure would be irreversible.

Scotland was indeed the most suspicious person on the list, and the one whose intelligence matched the information sent back by the Japanese Public Security Bureau's undercover agents.

Gin actually thought highly of Scotland, otherwise he wouldn't have called Scotland to fill the void after Chianti was kicked out. However, Gin is more suspicious than Vodka and won't believe someone just because they speak well of him.

At this moment, Gin stared at the list that needed to be reviewed in his hand, recalled his whereabouts in Scotland during the mission, and asked.

Do you remember where you were in Scotland on the 7th?

Vodka paused, looking like he was trying hard to remember: "Generally, we operate together because he's a sniper and spends most of his time on standby at the base... but he still has to go out to buy food."

"Isn't it Ireland's responsibility to buy the food?"

Although people of their status could easily ask a few peripheral members to help buy or deliver meals, they could forget about missions with Gin around. He always preferred secret operations with a small but elite team. Occasionally, he would have to infiltrate with a member like Potts, which was a compromise. In short, he would do what he could himself, and having fewer people would avoid a lot of trouble.

Ireland had failed in his mission, so assigning him this menial task was a good way for him to make amends, and Ireland couldn't very well refuse.

If Ireland really dares to poison him, it would give Gin a more legitimate reason to shoot him, and he could also bring witnesses to the Boss to accuse Usakawa Saiki.

However, because of that mission, Usui would occasionally go there, and Gin would sometimes simply not return to the base to avoid Usui. Therefore, he was not very clear about these details of the changes at the base, which led to his questioning of the personnel who were buying food.

Vodka hesitated before answering: "On that day, I complained that Ireland was buying refrigerated bento boxes from convenience stores all the time, and I felt a bit nauseous. Scotland said he could cook dinner that night, and Potts was quite happy, saying we were in for a treat. Ireland said he didn't know how to buy groceries and found it too much trouble, so Scotland said he would buy them himself... So he went out that afternoon."

Gin frowned: "Just him?"

"...Potnis also went, to order food, but when he came back, there was only Scotland. Potnis didn't come back until dinner."

After all, these are members of the organization, not prisoners. It's only an ideal situation for people who are temporarily not on duty during a mission to work in pairs and monitor each other. Gin wouldn't be that demanding. As long as it doesn't affect the mission, they can do whatever they want. Who can stand being treated like a traitor reserve every day?

If nothing goes wrong with the mission, everyone will act independently and no one will say anything.

But when the intelligence was leaked, those who failed to notice in time that someone might be behaving strangely, although innocent, still seemed not very perceptive in the eyes of others... Oh, Usakata Saiki doesn't count, he's been saying for years that Scotland is an undercover agent.

Gin now gets irritated whenever he hears about Usui Saiki being involved, and he knows very well that this is a sign of his lack of professionalism, so he always tries to overcome his conditioned reflex and try to analyze things normally: "What did Potts go to do?"

Vodka stammered, "Uh, according to the Scottish version, we passed by a cat cafe..."

Although Vodka was worried that his brother might get angry if he said it out loud, he didn't explain it very clearly, but Gin still understood.

Gin closed his eyes in pain.

Going to a cat cafe to pet cats during the mission... Potts... You're great...!

If this were any normal member of an organization, they would have been shot!

But this is Potness!

Even the boss excluded Potts from the review process, not allowing him to ask a single question, and was unwilling to let Potts suffer even the slightest hardship!

Okay, he admits that Potts, as a second-generation member of an organization, and having previously lived in the Middle East far from Japan, has a clean background and the censors couldn't find anything out... but isn't this just too much leniency?

I was initially quite optimistic, thinking that Scotland was innocent like vodka, but after Gin's questions, I started to get a little uneasy: "Scotland can't be that bad, can it?"

Gin asked, "You're going to vouch for him with yourself?"

Vodka broke out in a cold sweat: "Uh, it hasn't gotten to that point yet... So, brother, what do we do now? Should we detain the people on the list and wait for the investigation results?"

Gin gave him a look that said, "You're smart enough to still have a brain."

After all, what if the investigators alerted the real mole while the investigation was underway, and the mole escaped? Of course, the first thing to do is arrest everyone.

As for what happens if you make a mistake... be grateful you're still alive. This is a criminal organization; if you want to reason with them, go take the civil service exam!

Vodka started making arrangements. Others were a bit more complicated, but for Scotland in the action team, it was simple. Scotland almost never refused any of the organization's arrangements; they would just say there was a mission and ask him to come over.

The problem arose at this very step.

"A mission?" Scotland answered the phone and was polite, but Vodka didn't really want to hear what he said. "Sorry, I probably can't go."

Vodka was shocked: "What? Why can't I come?"

Could it be that he's already heard rumors and is preparing to run away? I didn't expect that Scotland, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, would also... No, Scotland shouldn't still be answering his calls now, and his attitude is still so normal.

Scotland calmly replied, "I have an appointment to clean at Potts' house tomorrow."

Vodka: "…………"

In truth, this mess was pushed onto Scotland by Vodka. Otherwise, a dignified code name member like him would never have fallen to this level; even with a bargaining chip, he would have been at a disadvantage.

But since Akemi Miyano died at the time, and he was in charge of the investigation, Saiki Usaba came after him, and Vodka had no choice but to urgently ask Scotland to take the blame...

Now, when Vodka tells Scotland, "It's okay! Don't worry about Potneys, I can handle it," it sounds like he's just being a busybody and asking for trouble after the fact. It's a miracle Scotland isn't beating him up.

Normally it wouldn't be a big deal, but this time it concerned a major investigation into an undercover agent, so Vodka had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "This mission is very important..."

"It's the middle of the night, I don't want to go out... The organization has other snipers we can use."

"Big Brother called you out!"

Scotland's tone turned somewhat displeased: "I remember I could refuse. I just finished a mission, and I haven't even had a few days of rest before I have to go clean for Potts. Do you think I'm having it too easy?"

Vodka, feeling guilty, said, "No... but... what if I could talk to Potts? Could you come?"

In short, let's get the Scottish side over with first. As for Potts... we'll deal with that later. Things will work themselves out...

Scotland paused for a moment: "Why did you suddenly... Never mind, where shall we meet?"

Vodka gave an address, arranged a time, and then hung up the phone with a sigh of relief.

Gin was editing emails and arranging review matters while listening to Vodka's hands-free phone call. His face darkened halfway through the call.

As soon as Vodka hung up the phone, Gin immediately said, "Send a few people to monitor the actions in Scotland."

Vodka stared blankly: "Huh? Didn't he already agree to come?"

“If he’s an undercover agent, you’ve already been exposed.” Gin couldn’t help but press the bridge of his nose. “You think he can’t tell how you usually treat Potts, and how you treat him now?”

Vodka opened his mouth slightly, realizing where he had gone wrong.

He was willing to risk offending Potts to insist on having Scotland participate in a mission... If Scotland was innocent, that would be one thing, but if Scotland was an undercover agent, that difference was enough for him to realize something was wrong.

Damn it! If it were anything else, Vodka would actually be able to react, but because it involved Potnis, his mind suddenly seemed to stop thinking for some reason!

Luckily, my older brother was quick-witted and realized something was wrong so soon!

If Scotland is indeed an undercover agent and has managed to escape, then Vodka will definitely be the one held responsible! The only remedy now is to quickly mobilize members of the organization near Scotland's residence to monitor his movements!

So the question is, where to live in Scotland?

Their organization isn't some kind of corporation; they register employee addresses and can directly visit employees who are absent without reason and can't be reached by phone to ask why they're absent.

At the level of codename members, many are shrouded in mystery. They might not even show their faces, let alone their addresses. He wasn't close enough with Scotland to know where the other lived... What should he do?

Gin coldly pointed out a clear path for vodka: "Go ask Potnis."

Vodka: "…………"

Indeed, he had heard from Potts that he had even eaten at the Scottish family's house before...

Vodka was very reluctant, but the situation was what it was, and he had no choice but to dial Usakabe Saiki's number with difficulty... and then the call was hung up.

He dialed several more times, even planning how to report to his boss that something had gone wrong and that he needed Potts to provide his Scottish address in hopes that his boss could lend a hand, before the call finally went through.

Vodka breathed a sigh of relief: "Potnis, do you know where Scotland lives?"

Usoya Saiki asked impatiently, "What?"

Vodka felt this was the least stressful topic to discuss with Usakata Saiki: "He's going to be investigated again."

Bo Yezhai suddenly perked up: "Oh, so that's it! My report really worked!"

Vodka: "...??? What did he do to offend you this time? Isn't he supposed to clean your house tomorrow?"

“Yeah, but the boss told me to find someone else tomorrow, and I’m still wondering what to do… Oh, right, he lives at this address now.” Bo Yezhai recited a string of words, then sighed, “Why didn’t you listen to me sooner? I told you he was an undercover agent!”

Although Vodka was a little nervous after being hit by Gin's combination punches, he didn't really sentence Scotland to death. He still thought Scotland was a good friend who was willing to support him: "Not necessarily... It's not like we haven't investigated before."

If Scotland really is an undercover agent... then what about the older brother who always speaks well of him...?

No, they can't be brought in! Scotland is absolutely innocent!

--------------------

I'll probably update more tonight!

.

This chapter shows the traces of the torment everyone suffered at the hands of the thin leaves...

Bo Ye received the email from her boss in the evening, shortly after the elementary school students got out of school. Now it's the middle of the night, and Scotland hasn't run away yet. She's looking for an opportunity to shift the blame...

Let's say, thank you, vodka!