On the rooftop of the Daikoku Building in 9-chome, Beika Town, stood Gin's current favorite bar.
After Ritsu drove Akemi there, he carefully confirmed that her disguise was flawless before taking her up the elevator to the top floor. Familiar with the place, he led her straight to a booth tucked away in the corner.
Vodka was nursing an orange-colored cocktail and had been keeping an eye on the entrance. The moment the two appeared, he clicked his tongue and quietly reported to the man beside him.
"Aniki, they're here... and she's disguised."
Gin didn't think much of it at first. But the moment the disguised Akemi, now appearing as Hertz, entered his line of sight, one of his brows lifted involuntarily.
She really did resemble that woman.
Only, she was younger. She lacked the sharp facial structure and pronounced features common to Westerners. There was none of that icy aura, hers was a much gentler presence.
Gin suspected Ritsu had done it on purpose. He pulled out his cigarette case, lit one, and found himself in an unexpectedly good mood.
"Gin, Vodka, I brought her."
Ritsu gestured for Akemi to sit farther inside, deliberately giving her the seat directly across from Gin.
He also hoped this would help Akemi quickly get used to interacting with Organization code members.
'As long as they recognize her value, it'll be much easier for me to keep her alive.'
Akemi had never imagined she'd one day be sitting at the same table as Gin and Vodka. For her, this was nothing short of torture.
But remembering that her younger sister had already escaped the Organization, she had to find a way to survive as well, and avoid causing trouble for anyone else.
"Mr. Gin, Mr. Vodka, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Vodka nearly dropped his glass.
Back then, every time Akemi saw the two of them, she'd wear a look of absolute terror.
But now, after changing her face... she was speaking so naturally?
What happened to her fear of the two of them?
Why was the difference so huge?
Gin was equally surprised.
With interest, he sized up the smiling "Augier" before him, while another thought crossed his mind.
'Augier really is good at taming people. Just like that hunting dog Chianti that even I can't fully control.
Heh... interesting.'
"You've assigned her to Teitan Elementary School. Isn't that a waste?"
Gin asked, looking at Ritsu. He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he beckoned over a waiter and ordered a White Russian.
Once stirred, the cocktail had a latte-like taste. Although it contained vodka, its alcohol content was relatively low, making it perfect for women who were new to cocktails.
After the waiter left, he smiled.
"You don't mind if she drinks in my place, right? I rode my motorcycle here today, so I can't drink and drive."
"Answer my question."
"The art teacher can take leave pretty easily. Besides, elementary schools dismiss classes in the afternoon. Aside from occasional duty shifts, it's a fairly flexible job that fits well with my undercover work in the MPD."
Ritsu smoothly recited the explanation he had prepared. Turning toward Akemi, he smiled,
"And if she's kept in a place like that, she won't dare run around recklessly. If she refuses to behave... I wouldn't mind kidnapping a few cute elementary school kids."
Akemi's expression hardly changed.
Following the script they had already prepared, she calmly continued the performance.
"I won't be like my sister. She shouldn't have left me behind."
Gin stared at the Gin Fizz before him, his tone unreadable.
"I'm not interested in empty words. I prefer people who act."
Vodka, knowing Gin's likeness for efficiency, immediately pulled out a photograph, slapped it onto the table, and pushed it toward the center.
"This is your assassination target."
Akemi froze for a split second.
What surprised her wasn't that the Organization wanted her to kill someone. It was that Ritsu had already predicted they'd assign her an assassination mission.
More importantly, he had even guessed the target correctly.
"Shigehiko Nomiguchi. Fifty-six years old. Politician. We were the ones who backed him into office as our puppet."
"But now the bastard thinks he can free himself from the Organization."
Gin let out a cold laugh.
He pressed the burning tip of his cigarette onto Nomiguchi's photograph, grinding it down hard before lazily lifting his eyes toward Akemi.
"We don't like puppets that can think for themselves. So... show us your value."
Those indifferent dark green eyes resembled a venomous viper.
Akemi forced herself to meet his gaze. Even though a chill ran down her spine, she maintained a flawless smile.
"I will, Mr. Gin."
Ritsu leaned forward, resting his chin on one hand with his elbow on the table.
"Hey, Gin. If she succeeds this time, how about asking That Person to give her a codename?"
"It's only one mission."
"A mere operative without a codename following me around makes me look cheap."
Gin pursed his thin lips.
After several seconds of silence, he finally replied,
"Fine. But the premise is—"
"The premise is that she completes the mission perfectly."
Ritsu cut him off before he could finish. Then he gently patted Akemi's head twice and flashed an innocent, harmless smile.
"Be a good girl, okay~"
Watching that expression, Vodka felt goosebumps all over his body.
At this point, he honestly felt Augier was terrifying, possibly even more terrifying than Gin himself.
Gin pulled another cigarette from the pack and placed it between his lips without lighting it.
He wasn't irritated that Augier had interrupted him again.
Instead, he kept his eyes fixed on Akemi, judging whether she had truly fallen under Augier's control after believing her sister had abandoned her.
If she ever dared do anything against Augier...
If she damaged something that belonged to That Person...
Then death would be the least of her worries.
"I'm a little tired today. I'll be heading out first."
"You're injured."
Hearing Gin's words, Ritsu paused halfway through standing.
He hadn't expected the wound he'd carefully concealed to be seen through. Or rather, was Gin simply unusually sensitive to the smell of blood?
He reached up and peeled away the disguise covering the wound on his forehead, revealing the blood-soaked bandage beneath.
"It's just a scratch. Nothing worth mentioning."
"...Go have Taylors treat it."
"No thanks. I don't like that woman."
"Hmph. Suit yourself."
After watching the two leave, Vodka finally turned toward Gin.
"Aniki, do you think that woman might turn against Augier? Her change is too drastic. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around it."
Gin hadn't expected Vodka's wooden head to actually bother thinking about something for once.
His gaze remained fixed on the two figures disappearing through the bar's entrance as he replied coldly,
"If she becomes a traitor like Sherry, I wouldn't mind arranging a little game for the two sisters to enjoy together."
Images of interrogation rooms immediately surfaced in Vodka's mind. He had a feeling the game Gin mentioned was anything but simple.
"Send Augier the target's recent movements and upcoming schedule. Have him help that woman plan the assassination."
"Understood."
Vodka pulled out his phone, then suddenly remembered something.
"Aniki, should we warn Augier to be more careful around that woman? Or maybe assign someone to keep an eye on her?"
"Heh. No one likes the feeling of being watched. And if Augier finds out, he'll think we don't trust him."
"I don't want him becoming disappointed in the Organization because of something like that."
"But..."
Gin shot Vodka a calm glance, cutting him off.
"That guy is as cunning as a fox. He won't be fooled."
Vodka adjusted his sunglasses and suddenly felt that his aniki had a point.
At worst, that woman might be the one getting deceived. There was no way Augier would ever be the one fooled.