In Toru's memory, it seemed that in Conan's world, Vermouth and Gin had a physical relationship.
But now, Toru could confirm that was false. At least in the world he had transmigrated into, that setting didn't hold up.
Vermouth suddenly tossed aside the small, custom-made pistol in her hand.
Wearing only her underwear, she sat at the edge of the bed, one hand holding a lady's cigarette, exhaling smoke as she showed Toru her completely defenseless posture.
"Giving up?"
Sitting on the sofa, Toru kept his gun steady. He raised an eyebrow and asked.
"I don't think I can deal with a top-level agent who single-handedly wiped out a drug cartel using a low-caliber pistol at this distance."
Vermouth lifted her delicate chin and blew out a puff of smoke. In this regard, she had self-awareness.
On the Organization's threat list, Toru was ranked alongside the FBI's Akai Shuichi.
While Akai Shuichi specialized in firearms, especially sniping, and was better than Toru in that area, Toru's overall ability far surpassed the FBI agent.
However, Toru's threat level within the Organization was considered lower than Akai Shuichi's, mainly because Akai Shuichi had been actively investigating them, while Toru had shown no interest in their affairs.
Because of that, the Organization had no intention of killing Toru. Vermouth was simply ordered to approach and see if he could be recruited.
Even if he refused, there was no need to provoke a rising star within the CIA.
Unlike politicians who could be easily disposed of regardless of their status, someone with Toru's combat capabilities would be a nightmare to eliminate. A failed assassination would only bring disaster.
The Organization was already dealing with enough internal chaos. They didn't want more.
Vermouth's mind drifted back to a year ago.
Under the Organization's orders, she had approached Toru as Chris Vineyard at a celebrity charity gala.
As the adopted son of CIA Director Spencer, Toru's public identity had nothing to do with the CIA. He was just an outstanding high school student on the surface.
After that first meeting, they'd interacted many times. During a serial killer case, Toru saved her life. Since then, Vermouth's feelings toward him began to shift.
She no longer approached him with ulterior motives, but with sincere interest. She wanted to get closer to the boy she had begun to see as an "angel."
Unlike most who rushed headlong into passionate love, Vermouth was extremely cautious.
It was only after several months of getting to know him that she realized her emotions were changing. Gradually, she fell deeply in love.
It wasn't until yesterday that she invited Toru to this hotel and boldly gave herself to him.
Yet the man and woman who had embraced each other the night before were now facing one another with guns in the early morning light.
This contrast left Vermouth feeling tired and bitter.
So, he'd known her identity all along.
Perhaps someone like her really didn't deserve to be blessed by an angel.
She knew that forming emotional ties with a top CIA agent, who was also a master of deception, was dangerous. But she had still rushed toward him like a moth to flame.
Except for a few who were truly cold-blooded, most people carried a bit of light within, even if they lived in the dark.
Reflecting on everything, Vermouth realized clearly that she was, at her core, a sentimental woman.
Sometimes, she even envied Gin. That cold, ruthless man didn't have these kinds of troubles.
Such is the burden of being a woman.
"Boy, what are you going to do? Kill me?"
Vermouth's voice was calm. Though a trace of fear lingered in her eyes, it was merely instinct.
She knew better than anyone how much blood was on her hands. She had taken many lives. If Toru killed her here, it would be a deserved end.
In fact, she even wondered, if she had to die, wouldn't dying at the hands of the angel in her heart be a kind of redemption?
Toru didn't respond. He took this opportunity to use the rewards from his golden finger.
He added 1 point to his physical fitness, raising his stat to 11.
At this moment, Toru was gradually breaking through the limits of ordinary human capability.
However, according to his years of experience, physical fitness points did not take immediate effect. They only raised the ceiling of what he could achieve.
To reach that ceiling, he still needed relentless training.
Along with the physical stat point, he had also received an S-rank skill point.
Toru opened the sports skill category and located "Karate."
If you're living in Conan's world, there's no need to think twice. Karate is the clear choice. It's practically a cheat skill.
Just look at Kyogoku Makoto. That guy is a walking Super Saiyan.
On Toru's panel, his Karate had already reached A-rank, the limit of what he could achieve before, since he had never received an S-rank skill point.
But after Vermouth developed real feelings for him, he finally got his first S-rank point.
After regaining all his past-life memories, he had immediately gone to train in Karate. The style he chose was Uechi-ryu.
In the past, he had used all his skill points to raise it to A-rank. Combined with his physical fitness, even if the founder of Uechi-ryu rose from the grave, Toru was confident he could beat him.
Even so, after watching Kyogoku Makoto's fight videos, Toru realized he still couldn't win.
That guy's Karate had clearly reached S-rank, bordering on mastery. His destructive power also indicated that his physical stats weren't any lower than Toru's.
It was a wall that ordinary people could never cross in their lifetimes.
Fortunately, Toru had his golden finger.
Now that his Karate had reached S-rank, and his body was on its way to transcending human limits, with enough training, he was sure he could surpass Kyogoku Makoto.
Maybe even become the strongest person in the Conan world.
Snapping back to the present, Toru's finger still rested on the trigger.
Vermouth's face was calm, but he had no intention of shooting.
He had no conflict with the Black Organization. There was no reason to kill Vermouth and start a war with them.
And more importantly, he had no reason to kill a woman who had developed true feelings for him and even offered herself to him.
Why was he so sure of Vermouth's feelings?
Because he had received an S-rank skill point from her.
And most importantly, she had never shown any intention of harming him.
She had never tried to kill him. Not even once.
🎶Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone.🎶
🎶I love you, and that's all I really know.🎶
Taylor Swift's "Love Story" ringtone rang from Toru's phone.
At the same time, Vermouth's phone also rang, playing an eerie tune with Japanese nursery rhyme elements.
They glanced at each other, picked up their phones at the same time, and spoke in unison.
"Boss."
Toru's call was from his adoptive father, the current CIA Director, Spencer.
And hearing Vermouth say the same, Toru was slightly surprised.
Her call was from the mysterious Boss of the Black Organization.
(To be continued.)
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