Chapter 513
Thanks to the skillful hands of Usuha Saiki, Gin's muteness was finally cured.
Gin recounted Rum's messy affairs, especially the part about eliminating dissidents, because Gin's own people were often the ones who suffered losses, so Gin remembered it quite clearly.
Bo Yezhai commented: "You must have also targeted Rum's people, right? Don't play innocent."
Gin: "...Do you still want to listen?"
What do you mean by feigning innocence? He spends most of his time doing things under the boss's orders, okay?
However, he recently thought he had figured out Boss's bottom line and acted a bit too casually, which gave Potts the opportunity to smear him... This situation will not happen again in the future.
Usoppei sighed, "Alright, if you don't want to talk about it, then let's continue talking about rum."
Gin: "..."
Gin said coldly, "That's all."
Bo Yezaki's eyes widened: "What?! I just told the truth, and you're already throwing a tantrum! How can someone with this kind of personality be a leader?! Do you think you deserve the Boss's trust?!"
Gin: "???"
Potts has the nerve to say that?!
Why did the boss lose trust in him?
Seeing that the rare peaceful coexistence between his older brother and Botness was about to be broken, Vodka quickly stepped in to salvage the situation: "Speaking of Rum, there's something that happened to him recently."
Usoppai's attention shifted to the vodka: "What?"
“Someone is investigating the case Rum got into trouble in America seventeen years ago,” Vodka said. “And this person claims to be a ghost detective who can summon the spirits of the dead and tell everyone who the murderer is…”
Bo Yezaki's face was full of unspeakable expression: "You didn't believe it, did you? You need to be more scientific! Don't be so superstitious!"
Vodka: "...???"
Vodka stared incredulously at Usoppō Saiki, his gaze moving from the cross on his body to the Buddhist prayer beads and then to the yin-yang symbol...
He gritted his teeth and endured it for a few seconds, but he still couldn't hold back.
"I vaguely remember that you asked for a photo of Big Brother before a mission, just so that the target would have a clear cause of justice and that the deceased would go to Big Brother instead of you..."
Bo Yezhai nodded: "The living and the dead are separated. We can't see the souls, we can only communicate with them one-way, such as chatting when burning paper money or sweeping tombs... If the soul tries to communicate with the living, that's superstition!"
Vodka: "...Okay, I was wrong, I was wrong, alright? Let's get back to the point."
His mistake was that he actually wanted Potts to admit his error!
How could Potts be wrong? Even if the boss is wrong, Potts will never be wrong; this is the boss's decision!
The topic then returned to the case of Koji Haneda.
"Although he seems like just a clown trying to attract attention, the fact that he's made such a name for himself means he might actually have some skills. My brother and I came to Tokyo to observe this situation."
Vodka said, "In the end, it's all because Rum wasn't clean enough back then, leaving so many traces and obviously coded messages at the scene..."
Usoppei smiled brightly: "Yes, it's all Rum's fault."
Gin was somewhat dazed upon hearing this.
Having grown accustomed to hearing phrases like "It's all Gin's fault" and "Gin is an undercover agent," he found it hard to accept that Potts rarely spoke sensibly.
No wonder they say having a common enemy is a key element of cohesion... Hopefully, Rum can withstand Potts's antics and distract Potts from picking on him again.
Sure enough, Usakabe Saiki's focus is now all on Rum: "It's clearly Rum's own mess, why are you guys paying attention? Isn't Rum in Tokyo too? This guy is so lazy!"
Vodka chuckled dryly: "Well, it's not convenient for him to use his power right now... he's still in a period of reflection... and I think his focus might not be on that right now."
Isn't Rum currently preoccupied with figuring out how to get revenge on Potts?
If Rum knew that Vodka thought so little of him, he'd probably spit out a mouthful of blood.
In fact, although he was nominally stripped of most of his power and given a period of "cooling off," after operating the organization for so long, it was impossible for him to be completely unable to do anything.
Naturally, he had his own people who would inform him.
So Rum learned in time that a certain detective was going to reveal the "real culprit in the Haneda Koji case" on the show.
Rum was quite cautious because he knew that the scene was definitely a kind of code, and someone might actually decipher it.
Therefore, Rum couldn't sit still after hearing that the program team was planning to invite Kogoro Mouri.
It's Kogoro Mouri again! Kogoro Mouri has been involved with the organization far too many times!
And yet, he still hasn't even seen Kogoro Mouri... Is this guy really that unlucky? He hasn't won a single horse bet in all this time?!
He's been working here for nothing for so long, and he's suffered several days of mental torture at the hands of Potts!
Rum is even considering rigging the game to let Kogoro Mouri win this time... but that's too much trouble...
So Rum went to Bourbon to find out what was going on.
Bourbon replied in an email: "I practically forced myself to become his apprentice. Mr. Mori initially disagreed, but he agreed after I offered to pay him."
Rum: "..."
There was no other way, so he decided to give it a try. To be honest, he was really impatient. The fact that there was still no progress and the knife of Potts was hanging over him made him even more eager to finish the job quickly.
So Rum found an opportunity and had one of his subordinates act as a shill, finally managing to catch Kogoro Mouri when he returned to the detective agency.
"Ah, you must be the famous detective Kogoro Mouri! I've heard so much about you!"
Rum laughed heartily and said, "I'm your fan!"
He knew that Kogoro Mouri was most susceptible to this kind of thing.
As expected, Kogoro Mouri's impatient expression changed, and he smiled smugly, "You work at this sushi restaurant? I've never seen you before."
"Haha, I'm a new waiter... well, I've actually been here for a while now." Rum feigned ignorance. "But you haven't been here these past few days, so you probably didn't notice... Since we've met by chance, may I have the honor of treating you to sushi? I'm also a mystery enthusiast and would like to hear your story... Are you heading home now? I'll bring it up to you in a bit?"
When Kogoro Mouri heard that someone was going to treat him to sushi, he readily agreed: "Sure!"
Rum was finally making some progress and his mood improved a lot. After watching Kogoro Mouri go upstairs, he turned around and went into the sushi restaurant.
The waiter who disliked him overheard the whole thing in the store and couldn't help but say sarcastically, "So that's why some people are so absent-minded all the time. Turns out they're not focused on their work."
Rum ignored him and went directly to Morofushi Hiromitsu to order food, paying for the sushi himself.
Morofushi Kagemitsu: "…………"
Rum's approach of getting close to people... isn't it a bit too eager for quick success...?
Planning a quick victory? Is Usaku Saiki's presence really that intimidating? Usaku Saiki hasn't even come these past few days!
Rum never took the ordinary people in the sushi restaurant seriously. He felt that this place was just a place for him to use his methods to achieve his goals, and the people inside were not important. As for those who didn't like him, so be it. He was often resented in the organization, and he was used to it.
In any case, Rum finally managed to get in touch with Kogoro Mouri, and according to Bourbon's plan, he shamelessly begged and even offered to pay money to become Kogoro Mouri's apprentice.
Kogoro Mori agreed, thinking about the money and the fact that he would often be treated to sushi in the future.
Conan Edogawa: "…………"
He silently sent an email to Usui Saiki: "Usui-kun, that one-eyed guy at the sushi restaurant has become Uncle Mori's apprentice."
This time, Usakabe Saiki didn't ignore the message; he quickly replied: "I asked. He inquired with Mr. Amuro about the apprenticeship method, so he's definitely a member of the organization. Be careful. In his presence, don't do anything yourself. Bring along smart people like Hattori Heiji or Sera Masumi to act as your mouthpieces. Keep quiet and don't explain anything yourself."
Conan Edogawa's lips twitched as he read the reply.
Managing dependency paths! You can do that too!
But is Uncle Mori really so suspicious that three members of the organization have come to investigate him?!
The situation is becoming dangerous!
His parents said they're going back to Japan, when will they be back...? He doesn't want to rely on others, but there are some things he really can only discuss with his parents...
While Rum was busy working over there, Usoppai was still freeloading off Gin and Vodka.
Gin had originally planned to subtly drive away Saiki Usuoba by offering him fast food like hamburgers and convenience store rice balls, but Vodka was horrified to discover that Bourbon was actually delivering food regularly...
"Bourbon," Vodka said with a complicated expression, "what exactly have they got on you?"
Bourbon sneered: "Ask again? You don't think I've forgotten that it was you and Potts who suggested that you fabricate something to hold me hostage, even if you don't have any, right?"
Vodka: "..."
It's amazing how sharp the intelligence team is!
"Alright, Bourbon, you can leave after you've delivered the food," Bo Ye Saiki kindly offered to help Vodka out of the predicament.
Before Vodka could even be moved for three seconds, he heard Usoya Saiki continue.
“We’re going to continue badmouthing Rum, so it’s not good for you, Rum’s subordinate, to stay here.”
Vodka: "..."
Bourbon: "..."
Gin: "Heh."
Bourbon left, speechless.
Usakabe Saiki opened the delicious-looking lunchbox and said to the two people holding the cold, hard rice balls, "Come on, let's continue our discussion."
Gin went into the room without looking back, showing no interest in the topic at hand.
Vodka didn't dare leave, and could only weakly say, "I know you don't like Rum, but you really didn't have to make things so complicated..."
"It has to be complicated. I need to teach him a lesson so he won't mess with me, but I also need to make sure he doesn't get too badly injured and it affects his ability to work for the organization. It's hard to strike the right balance, but since it's the Boss's request, I can't do anything about it... I'm not good at scheming. If Bourbon weren't Rum's man, I would have asked Bourbon for help."
Vodka sensed something was off: "I'm not good at scheming either, my brother is better at... uh, that's not what I meant..."
Suspicion System: [You've really made things a bit complicated. When did you become so concerned about the Boss's opinion?]
Bo Yezhai pondered: [After all, the Boss wants me to be aware of things, so of course I should act like I am aware of things... Now is not the time to let the Boss become wary of me.]
What exactly are you trying to do...?
Bo Yezhai: [Guess.]
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Boss: I really don't like Rum, but Rum can't die. Let Potts vent his anger.
.
Rum's image in the eyes of the sushi restaurant staff: a lazy bum with a scheming mind.
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