Chapter 7 The First Player

Asahina Kazuma was stunned for a moment, but this time she reacted quickly and looked at Saikai Haruto with bright eyes: "You mean those weapons?"

Xi Haiqingdou nodded: "I heard about you from Gin... Although you have only joined the organization for two years, your strength is very good. It is said that your sniping level is comparable to Gin, and your physical skills and reconnaissance levels are also first-class.

I have Vodka and Scotch here, that's enough. Miki's taijutsu is just average, it would be better if you follow him."

"I heard about you when I was in Europe. Some time ago, I heard someone say that you were like the second Gin... Canada, you won't let me down on this little mission, right?"

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, as if there was a deeper meaning, but also as if it was just pure trust, making it hard to understand.

However, Asahina Kazuma didn't feel anything was wrong, and looked a little embarrassed as she spoke: "Haha, the second gin or something... I'm still far behind gin. But this is Cointreau, just leave it to me, I promise there won't be any problems."

Cointreau meant that his plan to replace Gin was just around the corner. I didn't expect that he and Gin were so close. Asahina Kazuma was almost in tears. Was the second stage of his plan about to be accomplished?

He glanced at Asahina Kazuma, who had a naturally bright smile, and then looked around at the other people who seemed to be accustomed to the situation and didn't think anything was wrong. Saikai Haruto continued to communicate with him without showing any emotion, but his mood was quite heavy.

[System, please check whether the buff this player has is a buff that reduces intelligence...]

With Canada's expression on his face, doesn't anyone suspect that there is something wrong with his daily behavior?

Saikai Haruto has been wearing an alias in this world for twenty years, so he can still tell whether Asahina Kazuma is acting or not.

System: [I have detected that it is not a buff that reduces intelligence, but a friendly aura.]

This time, before he could even think about it, the system automatically explained: [The effect of this halo is that when other people have a higher level of favorability towards the player, they will be more likely to believe what he says and does, and will spontaneously and reasonably interpret his behavior. If the favorability is not that high, they will find him more approachable and friendly.]

"Players" from other worlds who enter this world will automatically gain a special buff or halo, which will not disappear until they leave this world - of course, Xi Hai Qing Dou is an exception.

[…That’s great.] No wonder no one else noticed anything was wrong.

Xi Haiqing Dou said in a gloomy tone, [System, I also want this kind of buff aura. ]

This way, his mission won't be so hard.

【……】

The system, which has no such function, decisively chooses to play dead.

Xi Hai Qing Dou didn't talk more about this topic. After all, he had been living without buffs for the past twenty years and had gotten used to it.

He put off his so-called “after lunch” until 3 p.m., then headed out with his vodka and bourbon.

As for Scotland... just as he had said before, he changed into inconspicuous casual clothes and quietly followed them.

The place they made an appointment with Pasetto was a bar that opened in the afternoon. In Yokohama, where the mafia was everywhere, the three of them dressed in black didn't look that inconspicuous.

Although the bar was open, there were not many people there, and the bartender at the front desk was still leisurely wiping the glasses.

Xi Haiqingdou went up and knocked on the table three times: "Please give me three glasses of Amarone, three glasses of Regioto, and one glass of Metropolitan and Classico cocktail."

The bartender glanced at him and asked, "Is the customer in a hurry?"

Xi Hai Qing Dou: "No hurry, but it would be better if we can do it before night falls."

The bartender nodded: "Wait a moment."

After finding a secluded spot with a wide view and sitting down, Fūya Rei asked softly, "Secret code?"

"It's a one-time thing." Saikai Haruto said succinctly, "In the organization, Passetto basically contacts Gin or Rum. He can disguise himself and change his voice, so few people have seen his true face. The contact code changes every time, there is no fixed code."

Furuya Rei remained silent. How cautious of you.

The waiting time was also boring. He casually found a topic: "I heard that you were also in the action team before, but later transferred to the equipment team?"

He looked curious: "Some people say these are just rumors, I wonder if they are true?"

Saikai Haruto looked at him and said, "Is this also one of the curiosity of an intelligence officer?"

Furuya Rei said calmly: "I think many members of the organization who have never met you probably have the same doubts in their hearts."

"It's not really a rumor... I think Ireland told you?"

Xi Haiqingdou looked at him for a moment, and then suddenly laughed: "Irland has been in the organization for a long time. I think if there is anyone here who knows, it seems to be him."

Fūya Rei's heart tensed, but he remained calm and didn't deny it. "It was just a small guess from his words."

Vodka next to him didn't say anything, but he was actually curious.

He had heard the name of Cointreau more than once since he first started following Gin, especially in the past few years. It wasn't often, but he always felt that his brother had complicated feelings about Cointreau.

However, although he was curious, Vodka did not dare to take the initiative to inquire secretly. Even if someone asked him openly or secretly, he would just play dumb and pretend to know nothing.

He never asks too much about his eldest brother's private affairs, and never reveals much. There is a reason why Vodka has been with Gin for so many years.

"I was in the action group at first, but Bourbon, you should have noticed that I was not in good health. The action group was too tiring, and there was no shortage of people. I happened to have some talent in mechanics, so I moved to the equipment group a few years ago."

The wine ordered earlier was placed on the table. Xi Haiqingdou picked up a glass casually and swirled it around, answering his question lightly: "Not many people know me, and it just so happens that I have been in the European branch for the past few years. It is also probably because I don't look like the people in the current action team? So some people in the organization who don't know me well now think that my time in the action team was just a rumor."

Vodka: It turns out that the rumors in the organization are true.

Fūya Ling was slightly startled and pursed his lips: "Is that so?"

Why does he think that it makes no difference whether Cointreau said this or not? With this data, anyone who asks a few more people in the organization will come to this conclusion.

Xi Haiqingdou narrowed his eyes and said, "Because the truth is so simple. So, does this answer solve your doubts and satisfy your curiosity?"

Blinking, Furiya Rei showed the same smile as him: "Of course."

——No, there must be more to it than that... Cointreau must be hiding something. For example, his relationship with Gin, it seems that he is definitely more than just an ordinary colleague.

It's a pity that Jundu's words were so flawless that he couldn't find any loopholes. It seems that he still needs to find other people as a breakthrough in this regard.

Saikai Haruto patted his shoulder in a friendly manner: "If you have any questions about me, you can always come and ask me directly, Bourbon. There's no need to be so roundabout... In fact, I like you quite a bit."

Saikai Haruto's tone was extremely sincere. After all, he had read the original novel and all the major theatrical versions in his previous life, and he knew his true identity very well.

However, Fūya Rei seemed to have no faith at all, and the smile on his face looked fake in the eyes of Saikai Haruto.

"I understand." Furuya Rei smiled brightly.

Although neither of them mentioned it, he knew in his heart that Cointreau was warning him that he had planted a bug on him before.

Matsuda, Kazuma, Hiro, and him... There are coincidences, but he doesn't really believe that it can be this much.

He didn't know whether Cointreau had guessed their identities, but he wouldn't dare bet on it.

***

A tall man with red hair, blue eyes, a decadent face and an unshaven beard, wearing an ordinary black suit, pushed open the door of the bar tiredly like every ordinary customer.

He scanned the store several times with his tired-looking eyes, and quickly moved his gaze to a seemingly inconspicuous corner.

There were three men sitting there, two of them were wearing black clothes and had their backs to him. One of them was fat and the other was thin, one had short hair and the other had long hair. Next to the two men was a man with dark skin, blond hair and short hair.

The man lowered his head, took off his hat, walked over slowly, put it on the table, and spoke to another long-haired man.

"Gin, why are you coming here in person this time--" Here it comes.

Before he could finish his words, the long-haired man turned his head, revealing a pale and beautiful face, and looked at him silently.

"Ahaha, it's Cointreau." The red-haired man laughed awkwardly and moved his hand away. His voice was full of Osaka accent: "Sorry, I was dazzled just now and accidentally mistook you for gin."

Saikai Haruto didn't say anything, but Furuya Rei, who was sitting next to him, couldn't help but look him up and down and asked uncertainly, "Is this Passetto?"

The person he was staring at found a random seat and sat down, nodded in response, and then looked at him in confusion: "I am. You are... Bourbon, right?"

Fūya Rei nodded and looked him over, "Disguise?"

Apart from Vermode, this was the first time he had seen a man with such superb disguise skills... Even before Passetto just walked over, he thought he was just an ordinary tired office worker.

Xi Haiqing Dou glanced at him, "What's the matter with you dressed like this?" He didn't know why, but it always gave him an inexplicable sense of déjà vu... But he thought about it for a long time and couldn't figure out what it was.

"I just got off work and borrowed some from a kid I know." Passetto picked up a glass of Amarone on the table and drank it in one gulp, then sighed: "I really like the taste of Amarone."

Xi Haiqing Dou was speechless: "Now your eyesight has suddenly improved."

"It's all because the light was too bright and there aren't many people with long hair in the organization."

Passetto smiled awkwardly, but couldn't help but refute himself, "Besides, even Vodka is here, and you are dressed in black like Gin, so it's understandable that I admit my mistake."

Vodka looked at him puzzledly: What does it have to do with him being here if he recognized the wrong person?

Well said, but has he forgotten that the members of the organization are all dressed in black?

Saikai Haruto was too lazy to discuss this topic any further, so he turned his gaze to Furuya Rei and said, "From now on, if you have any information about Yokohama, just ask Pasetto directly."

"Wait." Passetto put down the empty glass in his hand, his expression a little subtle: "Cointreau, aren't you looking for me this time because the organization wants me to go back?"

Xi Haiqing Dou looked puzzled: "When did I say that?"

"..." Passetto slammed his hand on the table and lowered his voice. His tone and expression became extremely sad and angry: "Then what do you mean by contacting me? Cointreau, not to mention Yokohama, I have been infiltrating the port mafia for almost three years? Three years! Do you know how I have been living these three years!?

When can I leave this damn place? I really can’t stand it anymore!”