Vermouth quietly listened to Toru's words before saying, "Your idea is good, but Boy, all of this has a prerequisite."
"What prerequisite?"
"You have to know Rum's identity in order to deal with him and take his place, but Rum's whereabouts have always been a mystery."
Vermouth paused, then continued, "…Rum is different from That Person. He used to show up occasionally in the past, but in recent years, he has rarely appeared in front of us executives."
"Even Gin doesn't know his exact location, and if you can't uncover Rum's identity, it will be very difficult to obtain the structural information he holds about the Organization."
Toru laughed loudly and directly told Vermouth Rum's true identity.
Vermouth fell silent on the other end of the phone, seemingly shocked by the news.
As the Organization's number two figure, even more mysterious than her, the Shapeshifting Witch, Rum, whom almost no one in the entire Organization could find, had actually been discovered and exposed by Toru just like that?
After a long while, Vermouth finally said, "Since you know Rum's identity, everything will be much easier."
"I'll secretly investigate him and extract all the information related to the Organization from him."
Vermouth did not doubt Toru's words. Since Toru said that chef was Rum, then he must be.
The hardest step, investigating Rum's identity, had already been completed.
Now the enemy was in the open while they were in the dark. With Vermouth's ability, it was only a matter of time before she obtained all the Organization's intelligence from Rum.
Toru also believed in Vermouth's ability and loyalty. He said, "Then I'll leave all of this to you, Vermouth."
"Leave it to me without worry. Actually, I should say… thank you."
Thank you?
Toru frowned and fell into thought, as if he understood the true meaning behind that "thank you."
Now, all that remained was to wait for Vermouth to complete her mission.
Before dealing with Rum, Toru still had two things to resolve.
One was to obtain the complete age-recognition system. He wanted to use that system to investigate Karasuma Renya.
At the same time, if he wanted to kill Spencer, that system would definitely play a major role.
Second, he needed to wait for Vermouth to obtain the necessary information from Rum, so that he could replace Rum and take control of all the Organization's resources and operational flow.
It could be said that within the entire Black Organization, the busiest and most important link was Rum.
The Black Organization could exist without Karasuma Renya. It could exist without Gin. But it absolutely could not exist without Rum.
Once this central hub that controlled the Black Organization's structure and finances was lost, if no one inherited the position, it would be very easy for the Organization to collapse completely.
Toru's goal was not to destroy the Black Organization, but to turn it into his own tool, so he absolutely could not allow it to collapse.
"Everything is on the right track, and I'm about to step into the true chessboard of this world."
Toru murmured.
In the past, he had merely been a CIA agent, and because of Spencer's suppression, he had been unable to receive the full support of the CIA's resources.
That version of Toru could at most be considered a powerful subordinate and was not qualified to step into world-class games.
But as long as he could control the Black Organization, he would gain that qualification. He would have his own resources and personnel to deploy.
Toru was in a good mood. He drank another half glass of wine and left the house he had rented.
He had rented this house immediately after returning to Japan from America so that he could monitor Rum at any time.
At the time, Toru had no intention of killing Rum and taking his place. He had simply made preparations in advance.
He had not expected all those preparations to actually serve a purpose in the end.
On a certain island nation in the Pacific Ocean, Vermouth, wearing sunglasses, lay beneath a beach umbrella.
She picked up a glass of juice and took a gentle sip, speaking softly, "Boy, I thought you were a devil who had fallen into darkness with me, but I didn't expect that you were actually the angel leading me toward the light."
Was Vermouth loyal to the Organization? In truth, her loyalty had never been enough from the very beginning.
It was only that, for various reasons, she had been forced to serve the Organization, because Vermouth knew very well what the consequences of betraying it would be, so she had never even considered it.
But ever since meeting Toru, in just these two years, everything had changed.
Vermouth had been saved. She had someone she loved and was no longer the cold, emotionless witch.
Although Vermouth had killed many people and done many evil things, deep in her heart there had always been a longing for the gentlest things, but the existence of the Organization had prevented her from being kind.
And now, if Toru could become the Organization's leader and completely control it, then everything would move in a good direction.
Vermouth would gain freedom and would no longer be controlled by the Organization. She could do whatever she wanted.
And she believed that under Toru's leadership, the Organization would not become more extreme, but would instead deal smoothly with various forces, making the Organization even stronger.
Vermouth did not want the Organization to be truly destroyed, because after all, it had been created by her relatives and was also her home.
"Boy, my beautiful angel, I will take your hand and let you lead me into heaven. I'm also willing to give everything for you."
Vermouth finished the juice in her glass, and behind her sunglasses, a cold smile flashed through her eyes. "…Rum, you've finally shown your true face. Actually, I've been looking for you for many years too."
...
Tokyo, Kita Ward, Western-style house.
A few days later, Toru returned here once again.
Haibara was rarely not working, instead sitting on the sofa watching TV.
"You're back?"
Haibara glanced expressionlessly at Toru as he walked through the door, then turned her attention back to the soap opera on the screen.
Toru smiled. "It's been a few days, Haibara. Did you miss me?"
Haibara snorted and curled her lips in mockery.
"Stop with that fake smile and tsundere act. Tell me the truth."
Haibara's smile faded. She said coldly, "…I did miss you a little."
"Let me tell you some good news."
"What good news?"
"We're colleagues now."
"Colleagues?"
Haibara looked puzzled as she watched Toru sit down beside her.
"That's right, colleagues. From today on, please call me Martini, Sherry!"
Toru said coldly, imitating Gin.
Haibara was stunned for a moment.
Martini? Wasn't that the fake codename she and Toru had used when they were tricking people?
But in the next moment, she suddenly thought of something. Her expression turned horrified, and the remote control in her hand slipped and fell to the floor.
Haibara said in disbelief, "No, did you come into contact with the Organization and even join them?"
Toru gave a cruel smile. "That's right, Sherry. Do you know what I used to pledge my loyalty to the Organization? Your information!"
"Wait here, Gin will be here for you soon."
Haibara looked at Toru as if he were an idiot.
"What's wrong? You don't believe it?"
"Heh, don't make jokes like that next time…"
Haibara looked displeased.
Toru burst out laughing. "As expected, I can't fool you like that, Haibara."
Hearing him say that, Haibara let out a sigh of relief. So it had just been a joke.
But then Toru said, "It's false that I sold you out, but it's true that I joined the Organization and got the codename Martini."
Haibara froze for a moment. She urgently grabbed Toru's sleeve and said loudly, "How could you join the Organization? Do you know how terrifying that Organization is?"
"Once you fall into it, it's like sinking into a swamp. You won't be able to climb back out."
At this moment, Haibara was not afraid of the Black Organization itself, but worried that Toru would be controlled by it, just like she once was.
Seeing Haibara's concern, Toru said gently, "Haibara, even though you've stayed by my side, your fear of that Organization has never diminished."
"So, I came up with a way to solve it once and for all, a way that will make you never fear that Organization again."
"This so-called method is for you to join the Organization?" Haibara's voice rose involuntarily.
"Joining the Organization is just one step of the plan. My goal is to completely take control of the Organization."
Toru gave her a general explanation of his idea.
Haibara was dumbfounded as she listened. Such a terrifying Organization, something others either tried desperately to avoid or tried desperately to join, becoming its dogs and letting it help them.
Toru's idea was too bizarre. From the very beginning, he had actually been planning to seize the Organization and make it his own.
And from Toru's plan, this matter actually had a chance of succeeding, and the probability of success was very high.
Who would have thought that he actually knew Rum's identity?
Haibara was completely stunned.
The Organization she feared so deeply was, in Toru's eyes, actually just a tool that could help her?
"I, I don't know how I can help you. I just hope you'll be careful. That Organization is not that simple."
Haibara said haltingly.
"When I control the Organization, you'll be able to help me. At that time, I'll let you return to the Organization and continue researching drugs."
"This time, I won't make you research poisons you dislike. Instead, I'll let you research the part of APTX4869 that causes people to shrink, the part you're interested in, and let you freely develop the drugs you want to research."
"Personally, I can't provide you with better research facilities or more personnel, but if I can control the Organization, all of that will be easily solved."
A warmth rose in Haibara's heart. For her sake, Toru was willing to choose such a difficult path, stepping into danger alone to control the Organization so that she could completely cast aside her fear. How could Haibara not be moved?
If that day truly came, then she would not mind using the name Sherry again.
The education Haibara had received since childhood meant that she did not feel much aversion to the Organization killing people.
The reason she feared and hated the Organization was because it forced her to research poisons and killed her sister.
But aside from those things, Haibara actually missed her past life in the Organization. It had simply been a dream research environment for a science student.
With funding and personnel, and even the freedom to conduct human experiments without legal or moral restrictions, what scientist or researcher would not want that?
Just then, the doorbell of Toru's house rang.
Toru looked outside through the camera and frowned, because he did not recognize the visitor.
Who is this person, and why is he looking for me?
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)