Chapter 96, Twentieth Round (15)
Bourbon was definitely a bit drunk, Scotland can confirm that.
Bourbon once deliberately chose a safe environment where only the two of them were present and drank heavily to get himself drunk, in order to test his current alcohol tolerance and how he would behave when drunk.
When he was slightly tipsy, Bourbon would joke with him.
When moderately drunk, he would become somewhat excited and out of control, displaying a cat-like expression and proudly sharing happy stories with him. Of course, this was probably only true in front of Scotland.
However, once he was completely drunk, he became quiet.
Even when you talk to him, he still answers fluently, though he's a bit slow to respond; he's also terrifyingly quiet.
Bourbon is a very reserved person. Even when drunk, he doesn't let loose. However, some past memories suddenly came flooding back and affected his mood, making it impossible for him to accurately portray a character. So he would just sit there quietly with a serious expression, lost in thought.
If Scotland were there, he would stare at Scotland blankly, his gaze following Scotland's every move, without saying a word.
Bourbon usually appears happy and carefree, as if nothing in the world can truly trouble him. He's like a carefree bad boy, yet at the same time, he's so composed and unfathomable that no one can see through him or reveal his true vulnerable side. Even Gin doesn't know what to threaten him with.
But when Bourbon was truly drunk, he completely lost his smile. Even a blind man standing in front of him at that moment would be overwhelmed by the unspoken heaviness and sorrow that pressed down on him.
Scotland almost thought he would cry, but he didn't.
He was like an endless mountain range or a bottomless sea, pressing heavily on tiny humankind. No one could shake his powerful and beautiful nature, yet he was so lonely and in pain. No one knew how many corpses were buried beneath the seabed and rock layers.
The loneliness is somewhat alleviated when looking towards Scotland.
But his gaze toward Scotland was unreal, as if Scotland were just a bubble that could burst at any moment, which made him even more distressed.
Loneliness when you have nothing is not true loneliness; true loneliness is when you have something but suddenly lose everything, which is enough to cause excruciating pain and sorrow.
Scotland's hands were trembling. At that moment, she completely forgot all her plans, rushed forward and hugged him tightly, and said a lot of things, wanting to immediately break through the suffocating loneliness and pain emanating from him.
But he failed.
Bourbon understood those principles better than anyone else; what bothered him was the truth.
Unless this fact is changed, he will never be able to escape those nightmares that could become reality at any moment.
Bourbon didn't cry, but Scotland did.
Bourbon was temporarily brought to his senses by his tears, and then tried to comfort him, wanting to end the plan.
Scotland gritted its teeth and refused. Such a plan to test one's limits of alcohol tolerance was already very harmful to the body, so how could it be done a second time?
According to the agreed plan, he continued to extract information by posing as a Scotsman, and even wore a prepared disguise to impersonate Gin and intimidate Bourbon.
Bourbon performed perfectly in all the experiments.
The only flaw was probably when Scotland was about to leave to disguise himself, his wrist was suddenly grabbed tightly by Bourbon, who wouldn't let him go.
Even so, he only lost control for two seconds, and even made up an excuse to explain his actions.
Bourbon was far more drunk back then than he is now. This time, Kiyoko Yamaguchi tested Amuro Toru's alcohol tolerance and found it to be less than 80% of Bourbon's. Logically speaking, Scotland shouldn't have to worry about Bourbon getting drunk.
To some extent, Bourbon never gets drunk, and even when he does, he's still playing other roles. The real person is invisible to everyone unless he chooses to be.
But Scotland followed suit.
Perhaps it was because his alcohol tolerance had increased, or perhaps Bourbon was controlling himself to maintain a relatively stable state while feigning drunkenness, so his condition this time was only slightly more serious than moderate drunkenness, not serious.
But Scotland is still not at ease.
Back on the second floor, Bourbon continued to pretend to be asleep. The manager was very lenient and doting on this cash cow who had earned the store 200 million on his first day of work. Under Scotland's guidance, he was allowed to take Bourbon home directly.
Scotland certainly wouldn't dare bring bourbon in this state back to the organization's safe house for whisky, even if Rye hadn't finished get off work yet.
He also believed that with Bourbon's abilities, let alone alcohol, even truth serum might not make him reveal anything, so it was better to be cautious just in case.
He did his best, like a real working man, to bring the blond youth back to the place he had told the club about.
It was a small house that I had just rented not long ago, and I had very few belongings.
Bourbon opened his eyes as soon as he entered the room and struggled to walk on his own.
Scotland released him hesitantly, watching the blond youth walk steadily into the room, sit down on the sofa with an extremely serious and solemn expression, and look at him with a smug smirk and chin raised, as if to say, "See, I told you I wasn't drunk."
But he didn't change his shoes.
Scotland couldn't help but laugh, but didn't call him out on it, changed his shoes, and went inside.
"Let me make you a hangover soup," he said, walking over to open the refrigerator to check the ingredients.
The blond youth's gaze followed him, and after a long while, he finally gave a belated "hmm".
"Are you feeling unwell? Why don't you go take a shower first? Are you okay by yourself?" Scotland walked around busily.
Bourbon's golden head on the sofa followed him around, his expression still serious and focused, as if he were thinking about something very important.
Scotland immediately hallucinated some large golden cat whose head followed its owner's movements. Unable to resist, he went over and ruffled the cat's hair, coaxing it with a smile, "Go take a bath before going to sleep."
Bourbon blinked, took out his phone from his pocket, and checked Gin and the Boss's replies in front of Scotland.
After reading it, Bourbon grabbed his hand and shook his head seriously: "No, the work isn't finished yet. Where's Ray? Is he coming back soon?"
“Ray hasn’t finished get off work yet, and he won’t come here. This is your safe house all to yourself,” Scotland said helplessly. “Besides, your mission is over, Bourbon.”
Bourbon relaxed slightly upon hearing that Ray wouldn't be coming: "No, it's not time to sleep and rest yet. I still have mission reports to write, and Kiel is also..."
As he spoke, he tapped Morse code on the Scottish man's hand: "The danger hasn't been eliminated yet on Matsuda's side."
They can't use signal jammers during missions now, in case something strange is discovered.
“Those things can be done tomorrow,” Scotland interrupted him. “Bourbon, you’re drunk and need to rest.”
[Matsuda has contacted Hagiwara; he's safer than you for now.] Scotland replied in the same way.
“I’m not drunk,” Bourbon said, giving him a somewhat disgruntled glare.
“That’s what all drunk people say,” Scotland laughed.
“But everyone who isn’t drunk would say that, unless they’re faking it,” Bourbon said. “Look, I’ve logically refuted you, and I know you’re Scottish, so of course I’m not drunk.”
“Okay, you’re not drunk, but you’re very tired today, so please rest first, okay?” Scotland said gently.
Bourbon tilted his head and thought for a few seconds, his face serious and conflicted.
“The mission is complete. You can leave the finishing touches to me. You can go to sleep now.” Scotland looked him straight in the eye, squeezed his hand, and spoke softly but firmly.
He said, "Trust me, okay?"
Bourbon stared blankly at him for two seconds under his concerned gaze, then stared intently at him for almost half a minute as if confirming something, before slowly nodding and saying, "Okay."
He stood up to go to the bedroom to get his clothes and take a shower, but when he reached the door, he turned back and said, "You should get some rest too, Scotland. Don't stay up late."
Scotland glanced at the clock, which showed four o'clock: "Well, I'll go back to sleep after you've finished your shower and drunk your hangover soup."
Bourbon: "..."
Bourbon looked a little disappointed and a little aggrieved: "You're going back?"
Scotland:"……"
Scotland immediately replied, "No, I'll stay here."
Bourbon's droopy lips immediately curled up again, and he happily went to take a shower.
Scotland stood still for two seconds, deeply reflecting on himself... No need, isn't this just in line with his and Bourbon's personas?
Scotland naturally let Rye go, then turned around with a smile to cook some hangover soup.
*
When he received the email again, Lei initially thought it was intelligence from Bourbon, but it turned out to be from Scotland.
Bourbon drank too much and wasn't feeling well, so I'm here taking care of him.
Leave the contact with Kiel to me, and the club's follow-up work to you.
--Scotland】
Lai: "?"
Aren't these two going too far?
*
Bourbon's face turned even redder after he came out of the shower, and his tone of voice became limp again.
Scotland coaxed Bourbon, who was still dizzy but trying to maintain a serious expression to prove he wasn't drunk, to drink the hangover soup, dried his hair, and then forcefully shoved him into the blankets.
Bourbon struggled to open his eyes wide: "Aren't you going to sleep? I can still work."
Scotland smiled and said, "No, you can't work anymore. I'll sleep after you do."
Bourbon believed him, obediently closed his eyes, and said, "Goodnight, Scotland."
“Goodnight, Bourbon,” Scotland whispered.
Once he was sure the person was really asleep and not suddenly sitting up to work secretly, Scotland quietly went outside, sat on the sofa, and started working.
Of course he wouldn't sleep; there was still a lot of work to be done.
We need to communicate with the squad leader about their actions and also handle the follow-up work on the organization's side.
Bourbon has gathered a lot of information, and it is quite important. It needs to be organized before it is sent to Gin's action team so that Gin can decide how to deal with the Yamaguchi-gumi.
We also need to exchange intelligence and mission information with Kiel, and of course, we can't just leave Ray's side unattended.
At 5 a.m., Lai finished his shift and made a safe retreat.
Scotland breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to put away her phone and go to bed, otherwise Bourbon would definitely be angry when he woke up.
But Gin, who seems to work 24/7, ruthlessly sent an email telling them to keep working.
Your mission continues.
Let Bourbon sober up early so he can go to work at Pradise that night. Two days later, he can go to the 100th anniversary celebration of the Yamaguchi-gumi with Kiyoko Yamaguchi.
—Gin
Scotland frowned.
However, Bourbon caught the eye of Kiyoko Yamaguchi, who wanted to cultivate him as a male courtesan in Kabukicho and a spokesperson for the Yamaguchi-gumi. Kiyoko Yamaguchi would push him into the public eye and make him famous online.
Bourbon would be angry, and is it really a good thing to make the organization's members famous and in the public eye like this?
--Scotland】
Vermouth will come and teach him how to be a public figure.
—Gin
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
