Gin had come suddenly and left just as suddenly.
Not fully understanding the cryptic exchange between the two, Ritsu felt puzzled, but he still managed to grasp one key piece of information.
Vermouth had some kind of relationship with "that person." Within the organization, "that person" was how codename members referred to the boss behind the scenes.
What kind of relationship could she possibly have with the boss that even Gin couldn't do anything about her? Although Gin had said earlier that if she caused trouble she could be dealt with, it was obvious that was more of a joke than anything serious.
"Vermouth, what exactly is today's mission about?"
Since he couldn't figure it out for now, he decided to focus on understanding the mission instead.
"This time, we're attending a private cocktail party. It's hosted every December by a major Hollywood director, Sakemaki Akira."
Even though Ritsu wasn't very familiar with the entertainment industry, hearing the word "Hollywood" made him realize this director was quite famous. He asked, "So our target is Sakemaki Akira?"
"No. Our target is a certain producer who's using this party to conduct gray-market deals."
The doorbell rang again, clearly not an uninvited guest like Gin this time, but room service. Vermouth walked over in her slippers and opened the door, letting the staff push in the dining cart.
The moment Ritsu saw a stranger enter, he quickly hid behind the couch. He didn't want to be mistaken as having any connection with a famous actress.
Sure enough, the server excitedly pulled out a pen and paper, asking Vermouth for an autograph.
After closing the door, Vermouth saw Ritsu standing up from behind the couch and smiled. "Let's talk while we eat."
"Thanks for the meal."
Having an authentic English breakfast in a luxury American hotel was quite an experience. As they ate, Vermouth explained the mission details.
Their task was to gather evidence that a well-known producer, Jeff Messina, was using Director Sakemaki's private party to traffic drugs and then use that evidence for blackmail.
Ritsu's role was to observe Jeff's movements once inside the party. If he left the main hall, Ritsu needed to follow immediately. After all, Vermouth, as a celebrity, would attract attention if she moved around, while as an outsider, he would go unnoticed.
"Do you have some misunderstanding about your own appearance?" Vermouth asked with a smile as she set down her utensils. As a professional actress, she strictly controlled her calorie intake, never exceeding her limits.
"What do you mean?"
"Even outside the industry, a face like yours will attract attention. Plenty of women in the industry like your type… and who knows, maybe some men too."
Vermouth stood up and walked toward the bedroom, pushing the door open and beckoning him with a finger. "Come in. I'll show you a little magic."
"…."
The first half of what she said was bad enough but when he heard the latter half, Ritsu couldn't help but feel goosebumps on his arms. The entertainment industry really was chaotic.
He stood and walked into the bedroom, asking, "So you're going to do my makeup? Make me look uglier?"
Vermouth didn't answer directly. Instead, she had him sit at the vanity. Leaning down slightly, she said, "Not makeup, magic."
Ritsu didn't bother arguing and sat obediently. Vermouth began applying various substances to his face… and soon, he understood why she called it "magic" instead of "makeup."
Half an hour later, a completely different man appeared in the mirror.
He had a wheat-colored complexion, short brown hair with a slight natural curl, and reddish-brown phoenix-shaped eyes. If his skin were lighter, he might look somewhat delicate but with his current darker tone, it oddly gave him a more rugged feel.
He was still somewhat handsome but in the entertainment industry, this kind of face wouldn't stand out, it was at least two levels below his original appearance.
"Well? Can you still recognize yourself?" Vermouth asked.
Ritsu touched his smooth cheek. He could even feel warmth, though if he pulled hard enough, the layer of artificial skin would come off.
"Did you learn this while filming?"
"I once learned from a very skilled magician. What, do you want to learn?" she asked.
Judging by her tone, Ritsu knew better than to press further. Even if he wanted to learn, she wouldn't teach him. This level of disguise was clearly her personal specialty within the organization, there was no way she'd pass it on to someone she'd only known for a few days.
"No."
"Is that so? What a shame, I was hoping to find a handsome apprentice."
"I have a question. The person who called me last night… that was you, wasn't it?"
Since she had mastered disguise, it was likely she could mimic voices as well. During the meal, Ritsu had gone through all the emails on his phone. The earliest ones were from Gin asking about his whereabouts… which meant that last night's call hadn't actually been from Gin.
Earlier, his thinking had been influenced by assumptions about their relationship, leading him in the wrong direction. Now that he had calmed down, he could piece together why Gin had come all the way to New York.
Most likely, Vermouth had impersonated Gin's voice, altered the caller ID using the organization's tech, and issued a fake order to trick him into coming to New York.
Gin's anger was probably because she had forged his authority.
"My, you figured it out?" Vermouth said lightly.
"Why not just tell Gin directly? Why go through all that trouble?"
"Because it's fun." She flicked her short curled hair and smiled. "I enjoy seeing expressions on your face other than that blank look, especially when you were so eager to explain your relationship with me. It was adorable."
"…."
A dangerous woman.
Ritsu hadn't expected her to have such a twisted sense of humor. Even that Blood and Sand cocktail had been meant to mislead his thinking.
He had been completely played.
Frowning, he said, "So you can mimic voices? That didn't sound like software."
"Bingo!" Vermouth snapped her fingers. She turned to the wardrobe, pulled out a prepared outfit, and handed it to him. "Go change. The party location is a bit far, we need to leave now if we're driving."
"Got it."
Carrying the clothes, Ritsu headed into the bathroom. After closing the door and removing his clothes, he looked at the unfamiliar face in the mirror, it still felt strange.
Click.
"!!"
Half-undressed, with his shirt off and his pants halfway down, Ritsu froze. Vermouth had opened the door, covering her mouth with a laugh.
"Oh my~ I just wanted to remind you that the blue shirt doesn't suit you. Try the white one instead, I'll leave it here."
"…."
His handsome face darkened. Ritsu forcefully shut the door and locked it.
'This woman, she had definitely done that on purpose.'