Chapter 401: Mrs. Kuroba
Gin nodded, confirming Cointreau's statement. "Cointreau has a point. From the looks of it, it is very likely that Kaitou Kid faked his death back then."
Speaking of which, Gin looked at Vermouth, who had been sitting in total silence. He narrowed his eyes, his gaze piercing through the dim lighting of the room. "Vermouth, what is your take on this? Your teacher is likely not dead. Are you happy?"
Vermouth let out a low, breathy chuckle. She leaned back against her seat, her posture entirely relaxed despite the heavy scrutiny settling over her. "If my teacher is fine, of course I am happy. After all, he taught me a great deal of useful skills. Knowing he survived his supposed demise... am I not allowed to feel a little joy?"
Gin let out a harsh sneer. The silver hair framing his face cast long shadows over his sharp features. "Is that so? Just happy? Are you absolutely certain you did not plan to hide anything on your beloved teacher's behalf?" He leaned forward, resting his hands heavily on the table. "If my memory serves me right, Kuroba Toichi has a son. Seventeen years old this year. That puts him at roughly the exact same age as this Second-generation Kid. So tell me, Vermouth. Could that boy be the new phantom thief?"
"Gin, you really should not make wild guesses without a shred of evidence," Vermouth replied. Her expression remained a perfectly blank mask, betraying none of the rapid calculations firing off in her mind. "As for your suspicion, it is certainly a possibility. But as far as I know, after my teacher passed away, his wife left Japan to work in the United States. She has rarely returned to the country since that day."
She examined her manicured nails, projecting utter disinterest. "That child was left entirely in the care of his neighbors. Logically speaking, it is highly unlikely he would know a single thing about the Kaitou Kid persona. Therefore, I am far more inclined to believe this Second-generation Kid is simply another one of Kuroba Toichi's hidden disciples."
Vermouth had indeed harbored her own suspicions regarding Kuroba Toichi's true identity for quite some time. However, the man had never interfered with the Organization's affairs. Considering how wholeheartedly he had instructed her in the art of disguise, she truly did not mind offering a sliver of protection to her mentor's child. As long as it did not cross the Organization's bottom line, keeping the boy off Gin's radar was a simple courtesy.
Of course, that courtesy only extended as far as her own safety allowed.
Before Gin could formulate a response, Glenlivet cut into the conversation with a smooth, mocking tone. "What Vermouth actually means is that she completely failed to discover Kaitou Kid's true identity. Not just the original thief, mind you. She does not even have a single suspicious candidate for the Second-generation Kid either." Glenlivet turned his gaze toward Vermouth, his eyes brimming with exaggerated disappointment. He shook his head slowly, letting out a dramatic sigh. "All in all, it seems Vermouth's observational skills are severely lacking these days."
The relaxed smile vanished from Vermouth's lips in an instant. She turned her head, fixing Glenlivet with a glacial glare. "Shut up. No one will mistake you for a mute if you keep your mouth closed."
Cointreau adjusted his position, his voice calm and analytical. "I actually think Glenlivet is right on this matter, Vermouth. This level of ignorance does not align with your usual capabilities. Could it be that you are genuinely unable to provide any further intelligence?"
"Of course not." Vermouth shot Cointreau a deeply annoyed look. Beneath her composed exterior, she offered a silent apology to Kuroba Toichi. 'Sorry, Teacher.' She absolutely refused to let Gin turn his paranoid crosshairs onto her over a phantom thief. To divert their attention, she would just have to sell out her mentor and his wife a little bit.
"Fine," she conceded, letting out a sharp breath. "I admit that during my time studying under Kuroba Toichi, I did notice something was slightly off about his behavior. But he passed away in a stage accident shortly after my training concluded. Since the man never had any contact with the Organization, I simply never found a reason to bring it up."
Catching the subtle shift in Cointreau's posture that signaled another question, she immediately pressed on. "Naturally, I possess other intelligence. During my studies, I observed that his wife was also quite strange. She possessed an incredibly high level of skill. Considering Kuroba Toichi's secret life as Kaitou Kid, I strongly suspect Mrs. Kuroba was either his direct assistant or harbored a dangerous hidden identity of her own."
Glenlivet clapped his hands together, his face twisting into a mask of feigned shock. "Well, I certainly did not expect this. To think that a revered veteran of the Organization possesses such a fragile level of loyalty. Deliberately hiding crucial information from us..." He clicked his tongue in loud disapproval. "Tsk. Vermouth, you have really set a terrible example for a junior like me."
"Speaking of terrible examples..." Glenlivet pivoted smoothly, directing his malicious intent straight toward Bourbon. "As a fellow secretive individual, Bourbon, you would not happen to have your own little secrets hidden from the Organization, would you? Your whereabouts are frequently uncertain. You always claim it is for a mission, but the real truth is likely known only to you."
Vermouth drew in a slow, measured breath. She forced her hands to remain loosely folded in her lap, constantly reminding herself that engaging in a petty shouting match with Glenlivet would only spike her blood pressure further.
"Fine, I will admit I acted with a bit of selfishness regarding my teacher," Vermouth stated, her tone turning icy. "But rest assured, I know exactly where my priorities lie. My past relationship with Kuroba Toichi and his family is nowhere near significant enough for me to ever betray the Organization's interests."
Bourbon, having been abruptly dragged into the line of fire, narrowed his eyes. "Indeed," he said, his voice dropping to a frigid register. "Vermouth has always known her limits. Besides, she simply is not like a certain someone who can so easily disown all their friends and family without a second thought."
The mocking amusement vanished from Glenlivet's face. He narrowed his eyes, zeroing in on Bourbon's weak point. "Bourbon, you seem to be implying something rather specific just now. What is the matter? Are you feeling emotionally unstable today? Did you suddenly remember how Shuichi Akai, entirely for the sake of his own undercover success, gladly used a fellow rat like Scotch as a bloody stepping stone?"
"Glenlivet!" Bourbon snapped. His composure shattered instantly, a raw flicker of genuine fury flashing across his face as his hands clenched into tight fists.
"Enough!" Gin roared. Thick veins popped along his forehead, making it abundantly clear he had been enduring their bickering for far too long. "I called you all here to exchange intelligence, not to argue like children!"
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