Detective Conan: Shadow Legion Office

44: Chapter 44 Model Worker VermouthIn the pantry of Lins Office, ”Akagi Yuko” (Vermouth) was wearing a pink apron, clumsily wiping down the coffee machine.

Sunlight spilled in through the blinds, casting mottled light and shadows on her, making her slightly loose work uniform look a bit more grounded in reality.

”Damn it...”

Vermouth cursed under her breath as her fingertip was scalded by the boiling steam, turning slightly red. She frowned, looking at the complex machine in front of her, a trace of impatience flashing in her eyes.

To think that she, the dignified ”vermouth” of the Black Organization, was skilled in assassination, disguise, and makeup, yet she had to do such menial tasks as serving tea and pouring water.

For the past few days, she had been run ragged by Butler Ochiai and Miyano Akemi, organizing files, cleaning up, and even having to learn how to make French desserts—they were basically treating her like a real part-time employee!

What made her even more frustrated was that ever since she met Lin Long that day, she hadn’t had a single chance to get close to his office.

The security of the entire office seemed loose, but it was actually airtight. No matter how she probed, she couldn’t find any flaws.

”Ding-a-ling—”

The phone in her pocket suddenly rang, breaking the silence of the pantry.

Vermouth’s brow furrowed even tighter when she saw the caller ID—it was Kudo Yusaku.

She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the irritability in her heart, and answered the phone, though her tone still carried a hint of annoyance:

”Hello?”

”Chris, it’s me.”

Kudo Yusaku’s calm voice came from the other end of the line,

”Is there any news about us joining the organization?”

Vermouth slapped her forehead suddenly; she had almost forgotten about this!

She had been so overwhelmed by the miscellaneous tasks arranged by Lin Long these past few days that she had completely pushed the matter entrusted to her by the Kudo couple to the back of her mind.

The application to the organization hadn’t even been submitted, let alone the review results.

”Ah... that, it’s coming soon, it’s coming soon.”

Vermouth was vague, stalling while vigilantly glancing at the door, afraid of being overheard,

”You know the organization’s review process is quite strict. Just wait a little longer; it should be within these few days.”

”Alright, we’re not in a hurry. Please put in some effort.”

Kudo Yusaku’s tone was calm, showing no suspicion.

”Don’t worry, leave it to me.”

Vermouth brushed him off,

”I have something else to do here, I’m hanging up now.”

Without waiting for Kudo Yusaku to say anything else, she hung up the phone with a ”snap” and let out a long sigh of relief.

”What a hassle.”

Vermouth rubbed her temples, feeling a splitting headache.

On one hand, she had to pretend to be a part-time worker under Lin Long’s nose, on the other, she had to deal with the Kudo couple, and she also had to be on guard against Conan Edogawa being discovered by people in the organization... This life was simply not meant for humans.

She walked to the window, looking at the busy street below, a flash of doubt in her eyes.

Although she hadn’t had the chance to get close to Lin Long these past few days, she hadn’t come away empty-handed.

She had figured out the basic layout of the office, observed the work status of the employees, and even ”accidentally” overheard some gossip about their business—

The commissions Lins Office took were far more complex than she had imagined, covering fields ranging from trade secrets to cross-border debt collection, and even some ”special services” that sounded quite dangerous.

And what concerned her most was Miyano Akemi.

When she arrived on the first day, she ran into Miyano Akemi in the hallway.

Seeing that face which resembled Elena Miyano, Vermouth recognized her almost instantly—

That woman who should have been executed by Gin long ago was still alive, and she was working in Lin Long’s office!

At that moment, the murderous intent in her heart was almost uncontrollable. The Miyano family, especially Sherry (Miyano Shiho) who developed the APTX4869, was the existence she hated most in her life.

If it weren’t for the fact that this was Lin Long’s turf, she probably would have pulled her gun on the spot.

But in the end, Vermouth suppressed her murderous intent, put on an innocent and harmless smile, and took the initiative to say hello:

”Hello there, I’m the new hire, Akagi Yuko. Please take care of me!”

Miyano Akemi clearly recognized her too, maintaining a gentle smile on her face as she nodded:

”Hello, I am Miyano Akemi, in charge of logistics for the office. If you don’t understand anything, you can ask me.”

From that day on, the two began a tacit ”acting competition.”

Vermouth pretended to be a newcomer who knew nothing, occasionally asking Miyano Akemi questions, trying to pry information about Lin Long and Miyano Shiho out of her;

While Miyano Akemi played the role of a patient and meticulous senior, seemingly answering every question, but actually dodging every point, never revealing any key information.

Just like yesterday, Vermouth deliberately mentioned in the pantry:

”Sister Akemi, I see that the boss seems to trust you a lot, even handing over the warehouse keys to you for safekeeping.”

Miyano Akemi’s hand, which was brewing coffee, paused, then she smiled and said:

”The boss is very good to everyone. As long as you work hard, you will be trusted. By the way, Yuko, you mentioned wanting to learn how to make macarons last time. I brought the materials today. Shall I teach you after work?”

She brushed off the topic lightly.

Vermouth looked at her gentle profile and sneered in her heart. This Miyano Akemi was much more composed than her sister, and even harder to deal with.

”Akagi, is the coffee ready? The guests in the third-floor conference room are waiting.”

Butler Ochiai’s voice came from outside the door, interrupting Vermouth’s thoughts.

”Coming!” She replied, quickly picking up the freshly brewed coffee and walking out of the pantry.

Passing through the hallway, she met Miyano Akemi again.

”Yuko, are you going to deliver the coffee?” Miyano Akemi asked with a smile, holding a stack of documents.

”Yes, to the guests in the third-floor conference room.”

Vermouth also returned the smile, but her eyes quickly swept over the documents in her hand—the words ”Tomizawa Financial Group” seemed to be written on them.

Miyano Akemi seemed not to notice her gaze and said casually:

”Those guests are here to discuss a partnership. They have bad tempers, so be careful.”

”Okay, thank you for the reminder, Sister Akemi.”

The moment they brushed past each other, Vermouth could almost feel the invisible tension between them.

Carrying the coffee, she walked quickly toward the stairs, her mind racing.

Tomizawa Financial Group? Lin Long and the tomizawa family have a partnership? Is it a business partnership, or... something else?

These past few days, she heard employees chatting, saying that the boss had been paying attention to the movements of the Tomizawa Financial Group recently. Could it be that Lin Long also wanted to intervene in the marriage between the tomizawa family and the Suzuki Family?

The more Vermouth thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong.

Lin Long, this person, seemed to be just the president of an information consulting firm, but in reality, his reach was extremely broad. Not only did he have dealings with the Suzuki Conglomerate, but he was also paying attention to the Tomizawa Financial Group, and even dared to openly protect a traitor of the organization... What exactly did he want to do?

”Akagi Yuko! What are you daydreaming about?”

A stern voice rang in her ear. Vermouth snapped back to reality, realizing she had reached the door of the third-floor conference room, and Butler Ochiai was looking at her with a frown.

”Sorry, sorry!”

She quickly lowered her head, pretending to be flustered, ”I’ll deliver it right away.”

Butler Ochiai said nothing more, just gave her a deep look, his eyes so sharp it felt like he could see through her disguise.

Vermouth’s heart tightened, and she quickly pushed the door open and walked into the conference room.

Several men in suits sat in the conference room, looking like executives from the Tomizawa Financial Group, with impatience on their faces.

”Why is the coffee only here now?” The man in the lead frowned, his tone unkind.

”Sorry, I was delayed on the way.”

Vermouth put down the coffee, lowered her head, trying to minimize her presence, while her ears carefully listened to their conversation.

”...What exactly does President Lin Long mean? Is he going to accept our commission or not? I heard that as long as they can afford the fee, this office accepts any commission.”

”Who knows? I heard that this President Lin Long has a very strong background, even the Suzuki Family has to give him some respect...”

”Hmph, he’s just a wild card who popped up halfway. Does he really think he can compete with our tomizawa family?”

”Keep your voice down! Don’t forget the purpose of our visit today...”

The subsequent words became lower and lower, and Vermouth couldn’t hear clearly. But she had already captured key information—it seemed someone from the Tomizawa Financial Group was commissioning Lins Office to do something?

After putting down the coffee, Vermouth hurried out of the conference room, thinking as she walked.

Lin Long, Tomizawa Financial Group, Suzuki Family... What kind of connection existed between these three?

She vaguely felt that she seemed to have touched upon a huge secret, and the core of this secret was Lin Long.

Returning to the pantry, Vermouth slumped in the chair, feeling physically and mentally exhausted.

The camouflage and probing of the past few days were more tiring than executing ten assassination missions. She even had the illusion that she had really become a part-time worker struggling for a living, being bossed around by her boss and superiors every day.

”A model worker, I suppose...”

Vermouth smiled self-deprecatingly, took out her phone, and sent a message to Gin: [Hmm, do you have time recently? I have a friend who wants to join the organization, and it needs you to evaluate them. I will send you the specific information.]

After sending the message, she leaned back in the chair, staring at the ceiling.

If this continued, let alone finding out Lin Long’s background, she would probably have a mental breakdown first.

No, she had to find a way to get close to Lin Long as soon as possible and find a breakthrough.

A flash of brilliance crossed Vermouth’s eyes. Perhaps she could approach him through Lin Long’s hobbies...

Vermouth had often seen Lin Long and Miyano Akemi hugging and cuddling these past few days.

Looking at it this way, Lin Long was probably a lecherous person. Vermouth didn’t believe that her own figure and appearance couldn’t attract a Lin Long.

She picked up the apron, tied it again, put on that innocent and harmless smile, and walked out of the pantry.

No matter what, the act had to go on.

And what she didn’t know was that after she left, at the ventilation duct in the pantry, a micro-camera turned quietly, transmitting her every move back to Lin Long’s office.

Lin Long leaned back in his chair, watching Vermouth’s ”exhausted like a dog” but still pretending to be calm appearance on the screen, a playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

”vermouth as a part-time worker, this scenario is quite fresh.”

He picked up the red wine on the table and poured himself a glass.

”Keep watching, see what tricks she wants to play next.”

[Yes, Boss.] The phantom’s voice sounded in the office.

Lin Long sipped the red wine, his gaze falling on the back of ”Akagi Yuko” on the screen.

Vermouth, how much longer can your patience last?

He was looking forward to seeing what kind of expression she would have when she found out that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t find any useful information.

This cat-and-mouse game had only just begun.