Chapter 514
Although Gin did not participate in the discussion between Saiki Usui and Vodka, he was actually listening and would promptly compile a report and send it to the Boss.
The boss was actually quite satisfied with the report Gin sent.
Because Potts genuinely respected him, he told Potts not to go too far, and Potts really kept things within the range of "making Rum lose face while recording it for blackmail, but without actually harming Rum's life."
Although it's a bit naive, that's just Potnis's personality. The Middle East doesn't really need to be this complicated. People who offended Potnis in the past were probably blown to pieces. People who grow up on the battlefield and are used to being bold and decisive are easily unable to adapt when they return to civilized society.
Thinking about it carefully, since returning to Japan, when Potts encountered people who offended him, he would just complain and let his boss take action. Now that Potts is being asked to do it himself, he doesn't know anything and has limitations, so it's perfectly normal that he can only come up with this kind of plan that is more about bad taste than malice.
Moreover, according to Gin's report, Potts is clearly obsessed with making plans, and his enthusiasm for making plans far exceeds his enthusiasm for actually carrying them out. He probably gets a thrill from just imagining things...
After all, the plan was just a thought, and there were too many things to deal with when it was actually implemented. Pranking people also requires skill, especially since Rum is very vigilant and has probably already discovered Potts. It won't be easy for Potts to succeed.
Thinking this way, Boss felt a little regretful, but then thought it was good that Potts didn't understand these things, as long as he could only complain!
If all his subordinates were cunning and scheming, he wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully.
Having received trust from the Boss, Usakabe Saiki told the systems: "See, I knew the Boss would have Gin report to him."
Suspicion System: [Ah...]
Undercover System: [As expected of the host, you are truly remarkable!]
The skepticism system pondered for a moment: "But you've gone through all this trouble just to gain such a small amount of trust? There must be other benefits, right?"
This feels quite different from Usaku Saiki's previous style of low investment and high returns!
Bo Yezaki was impressed by the Suspicion Value System: [Your brain has actually gotten sharper! You've really become like those you associate with; you should learn more from the Undercover System from now on.]
Suspicion value system: [...]
Couldn't it just be that I'm naturally smart? Why is this also a contribution of the undercover system?!
"Next, we need to play the long game," Bo Ye Saiki pondered. "If things don't go smoothly, I'll probably have to buy some tools or something..."
The moment the props were mentioned, the Suspicion System snapped out of its drowsiness and quickly exclaimed, "It's my turn this time!"
Bo Yezaki also understood the principle of giving a slap on the wrist and then offering a treat, so he generously agreed: "As long as you don't try to do one-off business or take advantage of your existing relationships, I'll buy from you this time."
The doubt value system was overjoyed and wept tears of joy!
That's great! All those days of humbly enduring criticism and holding back so much negativity that it almost caused its data to become chaotic... It's finally a case of the clouds parting and the moon shining through!
Undercover System: [Don't open the champagne halfway through the event. Wait until it's actually sold before you're happy. Don't relax these days, keep it up.]
The doubt system wept: "I know, I know..."
Usoppei: […I meant if things don't go smoothly, we might need to buy items. Are you hoping I fail?]
Suspicion value system: [...]
"Ah, I heard some news from the TV station." Vodka suddenly picked up his phone to check his email. "They say that the ghost detective has been faking things all along. This time, after finding out that the missing bodyguard Asaka is a woman, he plans to pretend to be possessed by Haneda Koji on TV and shout things like 'The one who killed me was a woman'..."
Usoppei sighed, "That's it? How boring. I thought I'd see Rum get into trouble."
Vodka continued reading: "Uh, the Soul Detective was killed today, and Rum went with him... But the murderer was the brother of someone whose corpse the Soul Detective had desecrated, and he said he wanted revenge... This matter should be considered closed, just a farce, and has nothing to do with our organization."
In the original story, Gin would actually have Vodka report more information, focusing on the fact that "Kogoro Mouri got involved again."
But who can blame them when Usui Saiki is here? Gin is hiding in his room writing a report, and even when he heard the vodka's noise, he didn't bother to go out and ask a question.
Gin felt that since Rum had already offended Potnis, he didn't need to pay too much attention to Rum's affairs; Rum would suffer on his own.
Bo Ye Saiki and Vodka discussed for a long time how to deal with Rum, coming up with several plans before their excitement subsided.
"Hmm... never mind, I won't stay here. Vodka, drive me home."
Vodka breathed a sigh of relief.
Unlike Potts, who found great enjoyment in brainstorming ways to deal with Rum, Vodka couldn't help but project Rum onto the discussion. He felt no pleasure whatsoever during the entire conversation; on the contrary, the pressure was mounting, and his stomach was starting to ache. It was all the better that Potts was willing to stop now.
Vodka turned and shouted into the house, "Brother, I'll see Potts off!"
Although I doubt my older brother will specifically object, the car belongs to him after all... so I still have to say something politely.
As expected, Gin didn't react, which Vodka interpreted as tacit approval. Vodka walked out with heavy steps.
Sigh, he'll have to be alone with Potts in that confined space again...
"When are you planning to make your move?" Vodka asked casually as they walked. "With so many plans, which one should you choose?"
Usoppai seemed a little sleepy and yawned: "I haven't decided yet. Rum must be very wary right now. Let's wait and see."
Vodka thought that made sense.
Just two days later, while he was following his idol and reading the entertainment section of the newspaper, he saw a band's new album called "ASACA"—according to the romanization commonly used in Japan, it should be ASACA, so why is C used instead of K?!
Isn't this the same code left at the scene of the Haneda Koji case?!
Moreover, upon closer inspection, Vodka discovered that it was a single conceived seventeen years ago, which they now intend to re-release...
Seventeen years ago! Even the timing matches up!
Vodka, unusually alarmed, made a rare, proactive phone call to Potts: "Potts! Did you do it?!"
Usoya Saiki sounded confused: "What do you mean, 'take action'?"
"Rum!"
"I said in a while," said Bo Ye Saiki, puzzled. "What happened?"
Vodka quickly read the news aloud, then asked uncertainly, "Really not you?"
"...Even if I did it, what would I gain from it?"
Vodka: "Makes Rum suspicious and live in anxiety."
Suspicion System: [Sounds really... uh, I didn't say anything.]
But it does sound like something Usaku Saiki would do! It's a pity, it's still waiting to sell props, so it has to behave itself for now and can't just complain.
Bo Yezaki rolled his eyes, whether at the system or at the vodka, it was hard to tell: "Look carefully, they themselves said it was a song they had conceived seventeen years ago, they just perfected it this year! What does it have to do with me?"
Vodka: "This kind of publicity isn't very credible; it might just be marketing..."
"...Your idol is all marketing hype, and he might be a complete scoundrel in private. How can you be a fan with such a mindset?"
Vodka almost screamed in despair. Can we please stick to the facts and stop suddenly attacking his idol?!
"Alright, anyway, this has nothing to do with me. You're overthinking it," said Bo Yezaki irritably. "But since you've noticed it, Rum probably has too. Let's wait for his investigation results. Don't try to pin everything on me."
Vodka hung up the phone sheepishly.
What happened?
Even though Potts only engaged in verbal and psychological torture at most, aside from accusing and warning the undercover agent, and wouldn't actually do anything, why did his first reaction upon seeing this incident be that Potts was responsible?
If it's related to the entertainment industry, reporters are everywhere, and the chances of them getting involved and exposing the truth are too high. Plus, you have to match their stories, which is too much trouble for Potts to do...
Besides, Potts is clearly not good at such complex calculations! He's very direct with people! What's with his first reaction?!
But Potts is right, Rum is the one who's most worried right now. Regardless of whether it's related to Potts or not, it's none of his business. He can just watch Rum's misfortune unfold.
Rum, of course, wouldn't investigate himself; he sent Bourbon instead.
Bourbon took a look.
Hmm... The last case involving Rum was some kind of "soul detective" case related to a TV station, and this time it's a band's album. Both are in the entertainment industry, and both happened after Saiki Usaba discovered that Rum was working at a sushi restaurant...
The Koji Haneda case has been going on for seventeen years. It only caused a stir back then, and then things calmed down. But Rum has only been working at the sushi restaurant for a short time, and he's already been brought up twice...
Bourbon thought for a moment, then called Bo Yezaki: "Did you do these things to Rum lately?"
Bo Yezaki: "…………No."
Bourbon was a little skeptical: "Really not? Didn't you and Vodka discuss how to make Rum suffer? I think you could target Rum himself. It's impossible for Rum to investigate these things on his own every time; I'm probably the one who's busy..."
Bo Yezaki sighed, "If I said it wasn't true, then it wasn't. I don't lie much."
Bourbon thought about it and realized it seemed to be true! This kid, Usakabe Saiki, liked to play word games, and he hadn't seen him use such low-level tactics as lying much.
"I'm sorry, I misunderstood you," Bourbon apologized sincerely.
Usoba Saiki complained: "Vodka just asked me, what's going on with you guys?"
Bourbon thought to himself, "Why did you misunderstand? Why don't you reflect on your own actions?"
After hanging up the phone, Bo Yezaki did reflect on things, but not on whether he had any problems; instead, he reviewed his plan.
Sure enough, Vodka had been in contact with him too much and subconsciously sensed something... But it doesn't matter, as long as we can fool the Boss.
So Bo Yezaki directly emailed the Boss to complain: "[Vodka and Bourbon, knowing I wanted to get revenge on Rum, both came to ask me if I did it after seeing this news today… I haven't even had a chance to do anything yet! These two are going too far! I can't expose the organization's intelligence, but I still want to get revenge on Rum. Why would I bother with something as complicated as the entertainment industry?! Do these people even have brains?! And they're supposed to be executives! Boss, I think our organization needs to recruit some smarter people! My previous slacking off was wrong; I'll pay more attention lately and see if there are any good candidates I can recommend.]"
After reading the email, the boss asked Rum and learned that Bourbon was investigating. Looking at Potts's aggrieved expression, he felt a little sorry for him.
Wanting to take revenge and making it public knowledge, it's no wonder he's misunderstood... Potts is clearly 24 years old, but his life has been too smooth sailing, and he doesn't understand human relationships. He still acts like a child, relying entirely on intuition and his powerful connections to act recklessly.
However, although the reason is a bit strange, it is a good thing that it can make Potts worry about the organization's intelligence and be willing to do some work. The more work he does, the greater his sense of belonging to the organization will be.
While Potts does have personality flaws, Boss believes that as long as Potts is willing to work, he will be more useful than many others.
Hmm... let's wait for Bourbon's investigation results. If it really has nothing to do with Potts, then he'll consider promoting Potts to the organization's core.
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Boss: Wanting revenge and making it public knowledge, Potts has only grown older but not more sensible.
Thin Leaf: Yes, that's it! Keep it up!
Akai:?
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