Chapter 9

The system seemed quite shocked, and Usaku Saiki was also rather puzzled.

Don't you conduct background checks on people before binding them to your system?

The system, somewhat bewildered, replied: "We generally select souls from those on the verge of death who are unwilling to die and whose soul strength is sufficient to withstand traversing worlds… As for their backgrounds, that's private and cannot be investigated casually unless there are special circumstances."

Bo Yezhai was speechless: [Oh, so you guys are quite principled. I thought you knew what kind of person I was, which is why you initially assigned me to go undercover...]

No! I don't know!

Usoppei was even more speechless: "So, you were just planning to grab anyone off the street and send them to infiltrate a potentially deadly international criminal organization? Didn't you consider whether an ordinary person could handle it, or the psychological pressure they might feel?"

The system is in the wrong: [This is a mutually agreeable arrangement; if it fails, we'll simply return to where we started...]

It means that since we're already dead, why make a fuss about giving us a chance to live? At worst, we're just dead!

Now, looking back, the system finally realized, albeit belatedly, that something was wrong.

The system initially thought that Usaku Saiki's calm demeanor in the face of Gin and other organization members, and his ability to lie without flinching, was because he was desperate to survive, putting his life on the line and performing exceptionally well.

Now it understands, there's no such thing as going all out. Bo Yezaki didn't take it seriously at all. You can tell from how he was slacking off in the Middle East. He was just being himself all along...

The system couldn't hold back any longer: [Who exactly are you?]

Bo Yezhai said sternly, "Of course he's a good person!"

The system no longer believes his nonsense: [You're not someone you defined as a good person yourself, are you?]

"That's incorrect," said Bo Yezaki, trying to clear his name. "Do you know how I died?"

System: [I don't know how you died?]

[He died while trying to help someone.]

Usakabe Saiki's tone carried a strange smile.

[It's a death that no one can find fault with, right?]

【…………】

The system sensed something, but didn't dare ask any further and remained silent.

Without the system chattering in his mind, Usoya Saiki saved himself the energy of multitasking and devoted himself wholeheartedly to chatting with Matsuda Jinpei and Hagiwara Kenji.

—Where is your hometown? A remote village. The orphanage closed down a long time ago, and the director passed away.

—Where did you go to university? Fukuoka, Hakata.

—I heard there are a lot of assassins there? Yes, but I'm just going there to study, so I don't pay much attention to that.

After some investigation, it became clear that Kenji Hagiwara and Jinpei Matsuda's heart rates fluctuated wildly, much like the suspicions they had provided.

The closure of orphanages in remote rural areas means that paper records are basically gone, making it easy to forge household registration information.

Studying at university in Hakata meant having opportunities to come into contact with many gangs.

It was clearly suspicious no matter how you looked at it, but Han Chuan Shenliu didn't seem to think it was something that should be hidden. He asked about it frankly and told them. Does that mean that the other party has a clear conscience, while they are the ones with a petty mind?

But those suspicious points are too obvious to ignore!

Suspicion had been raised several times, and with Usui Saiki relentlessly exploiting them, Hagiwara Kenji and Matsuda Jinpei looked exhausted, as if they hadn't slept for ten days.

The main problem is mental exhaustion. Reason and emotion are constantly fighting, and my brain is being overwhelmed!

Kenji Hagiwara even changed his plans.

The family restaurant is already a popular spot for students to gather, do homework, and catch up on lessons. They should finish what they need to say here instead of continuing their conversation at a bar.

When he's sober, he keeps doubting his savior; he might accidentally say something he shouldn't when he's drunk!

So for the rest of the time, Kenji Hagiwara and Jinpei Matsuda didn't ask any more questions, but instead earnestly taught Saiki Usaba interview skills and how to best answer certain questions.

When the lecture was almost over and it was getting late, Kenji Hagiwara took the opportunity to end this agonizing tutoring session.

"Where do you live now? I'll drive you home."

Bo Yezaki did not refuse and gave them his address.

Matsuda Jinpei was very familiar with Tokyo, but he was still a little puzzled when he heard the street name: "Are there any residential areas nearby?"

“I’ll stay at an internet cafe,” said Bo Yezaki. “Hotels are too expensive.”

Matsuda Jinpei: "…………"

Kenji Hagiwara quietly nudged Jinpei Matsuda with his knee, signaling him to shut up—they already felt enough guilt tonight! Any more and they wouldn't be able to sleep!

"Um, would you like to stay in my apartment? It's a studio apartment, but there's still room for a makeshift bed on the floor," Kenji Hagiwara suggested.

He and Matsuda Jinpei lived in single apartments allocated through police welfare programs, and they were neighbors, so the area was very safe.

As for whether Hanchuan Shenliu might do something bad... on the one hand, we can't suspect people without reason; on the other hand, those who are rich and powerful have already moved out. He and Matsuda Jinpei aren't the kind of people who frequently handle classified information like the Public Security Bureau or the Criminal Investigation Department. They're just bomb disposal experts, what secrets could they possibly have? It wouldn't be a problem to bring someone over to stay for a couple of days.

But Usoppei shook his head: "My luggage is still there, and I've already troubled you a lot."

Since Usui Saiki had said so, Hagiwara Kenji didn't insist anymore. What if she just didn't like living with other people?

After dropping him off at his destination and agreeing to meet again before the exam, Kenji Hagiwara drove Jinpei Matsuda back to his apartment.

"Will it be of any use?" Matsuda Jinpei finally managed to say after holding back all night. "Even if he gets a perfect score on the written test and all his answers in the interview are perfect, if the examiners are biased, he still won't pass the exam, right?"

Kenji Hagiwara sighed, "You heard his reasons for wanting to be a policeman. Am I supposed to just come up here and tell him not to be a policeman? I'll go find out who's in charge of the interviews this year."

"...What if he fails again? Should he take the exam again? Does he have enough money?"

"It's a good thing that he's determined to walk the right path. I'll help him find a job, and if that doesn't work, I'll try to support him financially. It's better than him actually ending up in that other world."

Usoba Saiki, who was both relieved and troubled by the two policemen and worried that he would go astray, let loose at the internet cafe.

Don't worry! The path has already gone astray!

"Hello, Vodka? It's me!" Usakata Saiki happily called Vodka.

Vodka asked with difficulty, "Oh, it's Bo Ye-kun. What's up?"

Bo Yezaki said with dissatisfaction, "Why do you sound so unwilling? Do you hate me?"

Vodka quickly adjusted his mindset: "No, it's nothing, I'm just a little tired from work..."

"That's good. I was worried about what to do if I didn't get along with my colleagues, and whether I should change jobs."

Vodka: "…………"

Gin, who overheard the leaky audio on the phone: "…………"

Vodka glanced at Gin's expression and sensed something was wrong, but the situation with Usui Saiki was even more dangerous, so he could only quickly reassure him: "How could it be that you don't get along with your colleagues! Tell me who gave you that attitude, and I'll go talk to them!"

"Thank you! Vodka, you're a really nice person!"

Vodka felt a chill run down his spine under Gin's gaze: "More importantly, I remember you just came back from the Middle East, right? What brings you to my attention all of a sudden?"

"How did you know I just came back from the Middle East? Have you been concerned about me?" Bo Yezai asked with delight. "You really are my friend. It was worth bringing you back souvenirs from the Middle East!"

Who are your friends?!

Vodka swallowed his inner grumbling and reluctantly asked, "What kind of souvenir?"

"Of course it's Middle Eastern rye. You've always taken good care of me, and I've been thinking about giving you a gift since I was in the Middle East."

"Hehehe, no need to thank me, it's all my fault... I should do it." Vodka felt bitter and was about to brush it off when he noticed Gin throw the documents in his hand onto his lap without turning around.

Vodka looked down blankly and saw the profiles of two newcomers that Gin was paying close attention to.

What does this mean?

As Gin's usual partner, Vodka suddenly understood Gin's meaning in a flash—that's right, the reason why Usakabe Saiki is giving him work now is because he's too idle. Why not just give him some work? Isn't he in charge of vetting newcomers?

I didn't think of calling him Usoppon Saiki before because I thought he would stay in the Middle East for a few more months. I didn't expect that things were handled quite quickly there. Since that's the case, there's no need to let Usoppon Saiki be idle. Let him get up and work!

What working person doesn't work?!

Vodka understood immediately and said to the person on the other end of the phone, "When are you coming to deliver this gift to me? I happen to have some work to do for you."

Usoppei's interest was piqued: "What kind of job?"

"These are two new recruits, currently under observation. Since you don't have a place to stay yet, why don't you stay with them in their dorm for a while and observe them?"

"sure."

After agreeing on a time and place to meet with Vodka, Bo Yezaiji hung up the phone.

The next day, he dragged his suitcase to his destination and waited for Gin's car to pick him up.

From afar, Usoppei saw Gin's car parked on the side of the road. For some reason, the car hesitated, driving forward a bit, then stopping, then driving a bit more, then stopping again...

Then Usakabe Saiki's phone rang.

Bo Yezaki answered the phone: "Vodka, is your car out of gas?"

Sitting in the driver's seat, Vodka held the steering wheel with one hand and made a phone call with the other. Looking at Usui Saiki, who was answering the call not far away, he said in a complicated tone, "It really is you..."

It's no wonder he hesitated; today, Bo Yezhai was dressed very simply in a gray down jacket, wrapped up like a ball, with little reflection in the light. He probably hadn't taken off his messy hair accessories and earrings either. He was so different from the person he remembered that he didn't recognize him at first.

So you can actually dress like a normal person after all?!

Filled with resentment, Vodka drove the car a little further, and as soon as Bo Ye Saiki got in, he couldn't help but ask, as if watching a spectacle, "Where are all your jewelry and stuff? Why aren't you wearing them?"

Last time, when winter just started, you were dressed in all sorts of flashy clothes. Now that spring is almost here, you know to be careful of catching a cold, right?

Bo Yezaki glanced at the vodka with a puzzled expression.

"Because I have professional ethics, I agreed to pretend to be an ordinary person who was forced into joining the organization, so I have to pay attention to the details... My persona is that my family was killed, I was penniless, and the organization promised to help me take revenge, so I reluctantly joined as an information broker. Is it appropriate for me to dress in such a flashy way?"

Vodka: "…………"

Aren't you adding a bit too much drama to this?!

Usoya Saiki, still not entirely at ease, added, "You all seem rather careless. Remember not to let anything slip and give me away!"

Vodka: "???"

How dare you give me and my brother these instructions! Even if you slip up, it's definitely because you couldn't control your own sense of aesthetics that you revealed it!

"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. Where's the new recruit's information? Let me see it."

Vodka said irritably, "It's in that bag in the back seat. One is named Amuro Tooru, and the other is Midorikawa Yui. Amuro Tooru is an information broker. I suggest you change your persona and stop pretending in front of professionals."

Usoya Saiki opened the file bag, took out the documents, and looked at them: "I know what I'm doing."

—Gin and Vodka really know how to be generous, sending him two undercover agents to investigate him right after he joined the company.

[P.S.: Midorikawa Yui = Morofushi Kagemitsu. What was Kagemitsu called before the official story revealed him as an undercover agent? I know many people write Midorikawa Hikaru, but that's the voice actor's name, and it's also my favorite character. It feels weird to write it like that. What comes to mind is the voice actor's face. Let's use something more similar.]

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After giving Gin a bank card, Kenji Hagiwara is now considering growing thin-leaved shrubs too, lol.

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In the previous chapter, a reader commented that Bo Ye is an "atmosphere-type" actor; in the drama, he can make fans who prefer serious actors swoon and applaud, even banging their heads against the wall in admiration. But after watching the drama, they'll wonder if their eyesight is bad, wondering why they've become a fan of such a expressionless actor. It's hilarious!

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Having a meal with Usuiba would wake Hagiwara and Matsuda in the middle of the night, making them feel like they deserved to die.

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P.S.: I made some minor changes to the timeline earlier, just minor ones, don't worry about them.