Tokyo, Shinagawa Ward, a certain bar.
"A glass of rye whisky."
A cold-faced man with long blond hair, dressed in black and wearing a black hat, spoke indifferently to the bartender.
Hearing the order, the bartender began preparing the drink while remarking calmly:
"It's been a while, Gin."
The bartender was familiar with Gin – both were long-time members of the organisation, though one handled intelligence while the other specialised in operations.
Gin didn't respond, merely stating flatly:
"Any jobs available?"
This bar was under the organisation's control and typically offered side jobs for extra income.
Having recently infiltrated the Hidden Management Department of the SDS, Gin hadn't taken any side jobs for some time and was feeling slightly strapped for cash.
"Nothing suitable for you at the moment."
The bartender mixed the drink while replying calmly:
"After yesterday's strange ice disaster, Tokyo's underworld is in chaos. Most operations have had to pause temporarily."
"Though there are no assassination contracts, there are plenty of investigation jobs."
"Investigation jobs? Boring." Gin raised an eyebrow, instantly losing interest.
He preferred assassination contracts – high reward, low cost. Just a bullet or a pill to get the job done.
Long-term investigation work didn't suit a born killer like him.
The bartender slid a glass of rye whisky towards Gin, adding:
"Don't refuse so quickly. Vermouth said this investigation mission suits you perfectly."
"That woman..." Gin's expression darkened instantly.
Vermouth, a high-ranking member deeply favoured by the organisation's boss. Every time he got involved with this woman, his missions became exceptionally troublesome.
"What's the mission?"
The bartender lowered his voice and said gravely:
"Investigate an organisation called the Hidden Management Department. Any intelligence will do. Minimum payment of five hundred thousand US dollars, maximum unlimited."
Hearing this, Gin's brow furrowed. The fact that he was currently an outer member of the Hidden Management Department should only be known to the boss. How did Vermouth find out?
Did the boss tell her? Or... Vodka?
Thinking about Vodka's identity as a Russian agent, Gin suddenly felt an itch in his hands.
He really shouldn't have spared Vodka just because he was too useful. He should have killed him.
Before Gin could suppress his murderous intent, the sound of a door opening rang out - Vodka had entered.
Instinctively, Gin reached for the gun inside his coat. At that moment, Vodka quickly approached and whispered:
"Big Brother, there are new orders from above."
Hearing this, Gin immediately suppressed his killing intent and said solemnly:
"Let's go!"
Without touching the prepared drink, Gin directly led Vodka to the car park and entered his black Porsche 356A.
After sitting down, Gin took out a cigarette pack and asked:
"Which 'above'?"
In the past, Gin wouldn't have asked anything, because Vodka's 'above' would definitely mean the organisation's boss. But now, that wasn't necessarily the case.
"It's from the Hidden Management Department."
Unaware that he'd just narrowly escaped death, Vodka lowered his voice and took out a high-tech wristwatch from his pocket - a communication device issued by the Hidden Management Department:
"They've issued orders. Due to outstanding performance, we've both been assigned under an inner member."
Performance... Gin's expression turned particularly grim at these words.
He wasn't aware of having accomplished anything noteworthy for the Hidden Management Department recently.
In an instant, Gin felt a chill - his hard-earned danger sense kicking in:
"We're under suspicion."
"Are we?" Vodka blinked in confusion. "The underground money investigation in Shinjuku's Kabukicho, the temple controller research in Itabashi and Arakawa wards, the excavation of ruins in Setagaya - didn't we do all those perfectly? We even got A ratings."
Gin fell silent.
He hadn't done any of the things Vodka mentioned, though he'd heard about them. Having no interest in such tasks, he'd left them all to Vodka.
So his subordinate had been getting A ratings on recent missions, and their superiors believed both of them had completed them?
That made the promotion and transfer seem perfectly reasonable.
Though Gin's feelings about this were rather complicated.
Vodka hadn't been this capable before. Now that he'd stopped pretending and revealed his double-agent identity, he'd actually become more productive.
This...
Suddenly, Gin didn't want to kill Vodka anymore.
After all, judging by the current situation, his promotion within the Hidden Management Department seemed to depend on this junior colleague.
"Who have the higher-ups assigned us to?"
Vodka shook his head in response, pointing at the communication watch on his wrist:
"Not sure, but probably someone within the garrison."
"Miss Kato mentioned our new superior would contact us later. Should we wait, boss?"
"Wait," Gin said coldly.
However, Gin didn't have to wait long. About 15 minutes later, just as he lit his fourth cigarette, the watch on Vodka's steering-wheel hand began beeping.
At the sound, Gin's eyes flicked upwards. Vodka immediately understood and answered the call.
"This is Vodka." He promptly gave his organisation codename without hesitation.
This codename had been recorded by the Hell Sect and forwarded to the Hidden Management Department.
Though the details were unclear, the Hell Sect seemed to have numerous collaborations with the SDS - not allies, but a subtle relationship.
But Vodka had no need to understand these power struggles between major organisations. Knowing too much meant death.
After the connection was established, a cold yet somewhat familiar female voice came through.
"It's Sherry."
Vodka's eyelid twitched as he turned to see Gin's utterly distorted expression, as if he'd seen a ghost.
At that moment, Vodka remembered Sherry - the organisation member who'd been imprisoned by the boss for refusing assignments half a month ago, yet mysteriously escaped.
Could this Sherry be that Sherry?
A woman who'd secretly fled the organisation had now become their higher up in the Hidden Management Department?
This wasn't some fictional story - how could something so absurd happen?
Before Vodka could shake off this awkward sense of theatricality, the woman presumed to be Sherry spoke coldly:
"From now on, you are E-rank personnel under my command."
"I have only one requirement of you."
"Obedience."
Vodka didn't dare look at Gin's expression now, but from his peripheral vision, he seemed to see Gin pulling a gun from his pocket and aiming it at the communication watch.
'Boss, calm down! Please calm down!'
Just then, Sherry said coolly:
"Your first assignment: Go to the Akasaka Pharmaceutical Research Institute in Meguro Ward to collect research materials submitted by the Distillery, then deliver them to the Akihabara garrison and hand them to Secretary Kato."
"I expect results before dawn."
The call ended.
In the end, Gin didn't fire. Instead, he silently put the gun away and frowned:
"The Distillery?"
Vodka looked equally surprised: "Isn't Akasaka Pharmaceutical Research Institute the facility we're responsible for protecting within the organisation?"
"What's going on with this Sherry woman? Suddenly becoming a high-ranking member of the Hidden Management Department is one thing, but now she's ordering us to collect the organisation's research materials?"
"Didn't she defect from the organisation?"
Gin's eyes flashed as he gradually regained his composure. He sneered:
"It seems that woman has found herself a powerful backer."
Gin now strongly suspected he'd been played.
Sherry's earlier escape must have been an inside job within the organisation.
Moreover, this was likely that person's intention.
Had that person handed over the uncooperative Sherry to the Hidden Management Department?
Was this that person's gift to the Hidden Management Department?
"Hmph, making use of trash?" Gin sneered before immediately saying:
"Let's go to Akasaka Research Institute."
"Ye,s sir!"
Vodka quickly responded, shifting gears and stepping on the accelerator.
...
Meanwhile, after ending the call, Ai Haibara calmly looked at her wristwatch.
Just then, Luo Shu's voice rang out: "How does it feel to turn the tables?"
Ai Haibara turned her head, glanced at Luo Shu, then said coolly:
"Remember to contact me for any dangerous missions in the future, preferably the particularly difficult ones that won't directly kill people."
Hearing this, Akemi Miyano helplessly and dotingly ruffled her younger sister's hair.
Luo Shu chuckled at these words:
"You're quite merciful!"
Luo Shu didn't particularly care how Ai Haibara might torment the Distillery's two figureheads—they were just minor characters after all.
What he truly cared about now was his own promotion.
Luo Shu led Ai Haibara and Akemi Miyano, bringing along the drowsy Touka Kirishima to the Star Gate at the lowest level of Kamijo Hospital.
After passing through the Star Gate, Luo Shu stood in a long corridor, the glass windows on either side reflecting the endless darkness of space.
Standing in the cosmos, he said to the stunned Ai Haibara:
"Welcome to Copernicus!"