Chapter 33
Amuro Tooru's heart skipped a beat.
He steadied his breathing, thankful that Usakata Saiki was walking ahead and couldn't see his expression.
Otherwise, this guy could spot the difference between identical vases at a glance, and even if he thought his acting was superb, it was hard to say whether he had revealed anything.
Amuro Tooru responded with a relaxed smile: "I'm an information broker, so in your words, isn't it normal to be curious? But I know you're joking, so I'm not really expecting anything."
These words perfectly demonstrate the skill of a professional undercover agent.
First, he explained that it was normal for him to be interested in police academy, and then he was slightly provocative, trying to see if he could get Bo Yezaki to reveal something. What if he wasn't joking and actually went to police academy?
Bo Yezhai glanced at the system backend.
The level of suspicion surrounding this Japanese public security undercover agent is going viral, clearly indicating that the person is experiencing significant emotional turmoil.
Almost there...
The system asked in confusion: [What's missing?]
Ignoring the system, Usoppei continued to talk to Amuro Tooru: "How do you know I was joking? Couldn't I have genuinely gone to find out about the police academy? After all, the police academy trains the next generation of police officers. Our organization's recruitment is so rudimentary, how can our talent supply compare to theirs? We should pay more attention to it!"
Amuro Tooru: "...Indeed."
While what this guy said makes some sense, it somehow feels like he's stepping on the organization, and the sense of contempt is practically overflowing...
"Okay, that's about it."
System: [What you've been saying since the beginning was "almost there"?]
[That vase costs one-tenth of the price in the system shop.] Bo Yezaki was melancholy. [I can let everything else go, but I'm really heartbroken that the cozy vase I finally managed to get is gone. But since it was a free draw from a lucky bag, it's not fair to charge it the original price. I was thinking that if I can earn enough points today to get one-tenth of the original price, I can let this go. I can't keep dwelling on this.]
The system was speechless: [Huh? Is this why you originally just wanted to use people as free labor to move boxes, but suddenly started to raise suspicion points?]
This Japanese police officer is so pitiful! He was already being used as a sex worker, and now he has to be used as a tool to farm points...
Bo Yezaki, of course, refused to admit it: "No, of course I'll try to raise suspicion points when I can, regardless of whether I noticed the vase was missing."
The system suddenly suggested: "Actually, if you can find the vase fragments, I can help you exchange them for half price..."
【…Wait, speaking of fragments.】Bo Ye Saiki suddenly realized something, 【Does breaking this vase add attributes?】
The system shut up.
Usoya Saiki opened the item description section and began searching for the explanation he wanted in the long manual.
Unaware that Usui Saiki was already distracted and doing something else, Amuro Tooru was still playing a battle of wits with thin air, trying to conceal his true feelings while probing: "So, you really did go to the police academy? Did you find anything useful in your investigation?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Usakabe Saiki, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped and raised his right hand.
Amuro Tooru felt a jolt of fear, instantly conjuring up several possible scenarios in his mind: that Usaku Saiki had already discovered his identity, that he was just amused by his performance, and that he was now revealing his true intentions and would use a gun to eliminate him. He was so nervous that he almost reflexively pulled out his gun and pointed it at the other person first.
Fortunately, the moment his muscles tensed, his keen eyesight made him realize that the other person had only picked up a phone.
Just then, Bo Yezaki, who had just turned off his phone, quickly turned it back on. Finding the boot-up time too slow, he turned to look at him and said, "Where's your phone? Can I borrow it for a bit? I need to call Vodka again. It's urgent."
Toru Amuro: "...???"
Is this what mental illness is? We were having a serious conversation, and suddenly you want to make a phone call? Can't you show some respect for an undercover agent who's fully focused?
But his phone was indeed still on, so Amuro Tooru dialed Vodka's number himself and then handed his own phone to Usui Saiki.
Vodka glanced at the caller ID and immediately said, "Amuro, Usui and you..."
Bo Yezaki interrupted him impatiently: "It's me."
Vodka fell silent instantly.
Honestly, his heart raced for a moment, just like watching a horror movie where the protagonist, in his most panicked moment, calls someone he trusts, expecting some helpful assistance, only to be met with the very ghost he was trying to avoid.
Bo Yezaki didn't care whether he spoke or not: "Do you still have the broken pieces of my vase? If you do, give them back to me."
Vodka was astonished. They wanted even the shards? Was that vase made of gold?
He just called his subordinate, who swore he bought the exact same brand and style, and he doesn't understand why everything was discovered...
Judging from Bo Yezaki's attitude, there seemed to be something wrong with the vase. Vodka cautiously replied, "I'll ask around for you, but I can't guarantee it."
"Then hurry up and ask. If the vase is found, I'll be out of contact for three days less."
Vodka: "What if we find them all?"
"Put everything back together so I can avoid being out of contact for half a month."
Vodka: "..."
That's fine, something is better than nothing.
After hanging up the phone, Vodka went to contact his subordinates who were handling the matter.
Although it was several days ago that they broke into the house of Usakata Saiki, it hasn't been long since they went in to clean up the debris and his subordinates bought new ones to match the originals and moved them in. The day they can dispose of these things is tomorrow, and today this pile of debris is still in his house and he hasn't had time to throw it away.
Vodka almost burst into tears. Usoya Saiki had been so tormenting; now he could finally get some answers.
But we can't just give the items to Usoppō Saiki like that.
Vodka decided to take the pile of fragments to the organization's research institute to see if there was anything wrong with the material, or something else that made Usakata Saiki so concerned.
He quietly contributed a wave of skepticism.
After hanging up the phone, Usoppei handed the phone back to Amuro Tooru, then seemed to remember something: "Where were we?"
Amuro Tooru was speechless after being ignored for a while, but still replied, "...Since you value the police academy so much, did you find anything useful during your investigation there?"
"Oh right, it seems we were talking about this." Usaku Saiki said with a look of realization.
Amuro Tooru silently clenched his fist.
As someone who has high standards for himself and is strict with his subordinates, he really couldn't stand this kind of irresponsible guy. Unfortunately, this guy was an officer in the organization, so there was nothing he could do but silently endure it.
Bo Yezhai pondered for a moment: "It's like this, I went to the police academy to investigate and found a problem."
Amuro Tooru suppressed his frustration and began arranging the groceries in the refrigerator, asking casually as he did so, "What's the problem?"
He pretended not to care, but in reality, he was practically listening intently. The one second that Bo Yezhaiji paused felt like an eternity.
Finally, Usakabe Saiki spoke.
"I've noticed that the background checks for police academies in Japan are really simple. It seems quite easy to falsify your background and sneak in. No wonder the organization has undercover agents in the Metropolitan Police Department and the National Police Agency..." As he spoke, Usui Saiki started to veer off-topic and ask, "Do you think I should try applying to a police academy?"
Amuro Tooru, who had been on tenterhooks for half the day, said: "...You can give it a try."
You should elaborate on the fact that your organization has undercover agents within the Metropolitan Police Department and the National Police Agency! Don't mention yourself!
It's decided that if Usakabe Saiki tries to infiltrate the police academy, he will report him directly.
Gin wouldn't suspect him; he'd only suspect that Usui Saiki was mentally ill, completely unsuitable to be an undercover agent, yet he insisted on doing it, so it's normal for him to fail.
"I think with my level, getting first place in the police academy entrance exam shouldn't be a problem," Bo Yezaki said arrogantly. "Generally, those with outstanding grades go on to do very well, right? Do you know where the top student from the police academy two years ago went after graduation?"
"The one before that..."
Amuro Tooru paused for a moment.
He was the top student in the police academy two years ago!!! Why ask about the year before that instead of the previous year?!
"...I'm not sure, I haven't investigated. But if you look at where the top student from the last police academy went, it should be about the same. Why are you specifically asking about the year before last?"
Bo Yezaki sighed, "Because there was a top student in the class two years ago who was sent back to the police academy as an assistant instructor by the explosives handling unit. Isn't that just a retirement job? It feels like there's no future in it. I just want to know if that class was particularly bad, so the so-called top students are nothing special, just the tallest among the short..."
The top student in the police academy class, considered particularly weak: "…………"
Who is it?! It's only been a year, how come he's been thrown from the front line to a retirement position?! Top student, explosives handling team... Did Matsuda Jinpei offend someone with his temper?
It can't be Kenji Hagiwara, can it?
After he went undercover, he no longer had the energy to keep track of his old classmates' movements, naturally assuming that they were all shining brightly in their respective positions, so why did he suddenly feel a bit uneasy...
The good news is that it seems Usuoya Saiki didn't actually do anything at the police academy. He was probably just unfamiliar with Japan and wanted to learn about Japanese law enforcement agencies, so he did a simple investigation.
After all, Usoppon Saiki doesn't seem like someone with strong initiative who's willing to work selflessly for the organization. It's possible that all of this is just a preparation for when Gin questions him. When Gin questions him about his disappearance and what he's been doing, he can say that he investigated the police academy for the organization.
Since Gin wasn't there, Usaku Saiki couldn't bring himself to say these words. He was so frustrated that he decided to talk to him about it...
However, we can't rule out the possibility that he does know something, after all, the fact that he was the top student in the police academy two years ago is really too...
But if they really found out, wouldn't that be like reminding him? Or does the organization also know something, but are just keeping him around to catch a bigger fish in the long run?
Although he didn't think Bo Yezaki would be foolish enough to personally loiter around the police academy, just in case, he still had someone investigate the current situation at the police academy to see if any suspicious individuals had been seen there.
Usoba Saiki unpacked the cookware, held up the spatula, and asked with a smile, "How about it? This information is quite useful, isn't it?"
Amuro Tooru paused for a moment: "From an information broker's perspective, this information is of very low value..."
The truly useful part is about the organization having an undercover agent within the police force, but Usaku Saiki glosses over it. Could it be intentional?
“I didn’t say that,” said Bo Yezai. “I was asking if what I’ve said was useful to you.”
Amuro Tooru's tension flared up once again.
If this is the case, could the worst-case scenario actually be true, and that Usoppō Saiki already knew his identity?
"—I'll teach you. Go back and find Vodka, and tell him you know what I've been doing while I was out of contact. Ask him to reimburse you for what you bought today." Bo Yezhaiji patiently guided him. "See, how useful is that?"
Toru Amuro: "…………"
Life is full of ups and downs, and Amuro Tooru felt like he had ridden a roller coaster.
So, does it refer to its usefulness in terms of reimbursement? I remember now, it seems that Usakabe Saiki did say something similar at the very beginning…
You should explain yourself clearly! And why are you so insistent on making vodka pay for everything?! Can't you just find someone else to take the fall?!
"Isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Amuro Tooru said tactfully. "After Vodka gets the information, won't he feel cheated? After all, the only valuable part is your idea of getting into the police academy, and even that's not certain..."
Bo Yezhaiji's expression instantly changed, and he said expressionlessly, "That's exactly what I'm doing, making him find someone to steal my things. Don't be afraid, let him reimburse you first, and then tell him to come to me if he has any complaints... Don't be stupid, why spend your own money when you can spend other people's money?"
He patted Rei Furuya on the shoulder: "Reimburse what you should, don't try to save money for the organization. All the information about me is very valuable. Even if you don't trust Vodka, you should trust me!"
Toru Amuro: "………………"
This shows a disapproving attitude towards the organization, and the claim that "information about me is very valuable"...
When we first met, was what Usakata Saiki mentioned about being forced to join the organization not an act, but something real?
Amuro Tooru thought about it for a moment and decided to give it a try.
When he was alone in the kitchen, he took the opportunity to email Vodka and ask him directly.
[It seems like Potts has a problem with the organization. Was he really not forced to join?]
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I'm going out for dinner tonight, so there might not be an extra update. We'll see. Please leave a comment! You can also check the featured comments section often; I'll feature some interesting ones.
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By the way, would you like to ask everyone if you prefer 6000 words per chapter, or split it into two chapters a day...?
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At this point, less than 15 minutes had passed since Amuro Tooru entered the Usui family home, and it felt as if Amuro Tooru's heart had undergone a truly powerful workout.
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Usoba was like that, holding a pair of threes while pretending he had a pair of twos, making Amuro Tooru suspicious and think he really had some terrible information...
This is how you inflate suspicion levels.
He was really heartbroken about that vase; it was like the gold card you won in the lottery had been broken...
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Vodka: None of my family members understand. I thought I was getting a safe call, but it turned out to be Usoppai!
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