"The SDS?"
Gin frowned at this unfamiliar term.
Just then, his subordinate Vodka quietly explained in a low voice:
"Stands for Special Defence Section, though it could also be called the Mysterious Data Management Office. The meaning's similar."
Gin shot Vodka an icy sidelong glance.
Cowed by this, the nervous Vodka immediately shut up.
Meanwhile, Vermouth smiled:
"Just as Vodka said, the SDS does indeed stand for Special Defence Section. It's an organisation registered with the Union. Of course, obsessing over names is meaningless."
Vermouth paused here, gazing deeply at Gin as she continued:
"What matters is that within this organisation lies a treasure our boss desires."
"I'm not skilled at theft," Gin stated flatly, speaking the truth.
Within their organisation, his role was that of a cleaner - specialised in killing.
Tasking him with retrieving a treasure from a mystic organisation wasn't his job. They should contact those world-famous phantom thieves instead.
"Same as always, such an unamusing man."
Vermouth gave Gin a coquettish sidelong glance before explaining:
"The treasure is called the Water of Life."
"Of course, that's what the SDS members call it. Very little information exists outside."
Her expression turned playful as she added:
"A single dose can rapidly heal bodily damage - regenerate limbs, rebuild hearts... it can accomplish all these things."
"However, the raw materials seem extremely rare. Even within the SDS, its use is strictly rationed."
"Still, thanks to the Supreme Chairwoman's benevolence, many low-ranking SDS members injured in service have seen this treasure, which led to the information leaking to the Hell Sect and eventually reaching the boss."
Gin's expression sharpened: "Does that person require the Water of Life's production method?"
"That's someone else's responsibility." Vermouth showed no interest in pursuing that topic. "You and Vodka simply need to act as intermediaries between the Hell Sect and the SDS, join their organisation, and obtain the Water of Life."
Gin's face remained impassive: "Does this require theft?"
Yet his current crew-cut hairstyle robbed his cold features of their usual intimidation. To Vermouth at least, his face looked particularly comical now:
"Theft?"
"Attempting to steal such life-saving resources from a group of mystic-side elites, including individuals rated as Heroes - do you want the boss to witness your stupidity?"
Gin responded indifferently: "I only know how to kill."
At this point, Vodka interjected quietly:
"The SDS has excellent internal benefits. If we establish merit, we might be able to request that Water of Life stuff."
Gin shot him a murderous sidelong glance: "Remember your position, Vodka."
Vodka sighed and fell silent.
Vermouth, however, cheerfully intervened:
"Don't be so harsh, Gin. The boss has always known about Vodka's identity."
Gin frowned at this, though his attitude towards Vodka softened slightly.
If the boss was aware and still assigned Vodka to him, then there was no major issue.
It meant Vodka remained usable - no need to dispose of him later.
"But as Vodka mentioned, the SDS's reward system is quite good. If you establish merit within their ranks - even as intermediaries - you could obtain the Water of Life."
"According to the SDS's past behaviour, if the production of the Water of Life were sufficient, they wouldn't even mind selling it publicly."
"Unfortunately, mass production still seems unlikely, and the boss isn't willing to wait much longer."
Hearing Vermouth say this, Gin immediately spoke up:
"So you need me to join the SDS's Hidden Management Department, earn merits, and exchange them for the Water of Life?"
"No other missions?"
"None for now." Vermouth smiled faintly before adding, "Though the Boss does seem somewhat curious about the artefact that produces Water of Life."
"Understood."
At these words, Gin glanced at Vodka before turning to leave without another word.
Seeing this, Vodka quickly followed, trailing behind Gin as they departed the prison - this place of bitter memories.
...
Vermouth watched Gin's retreating figure, her smile gradually turning icy.
"I never wanted to break you, my blade... but who told you to threaten Cool Guy?"
The boss, named Renya Karasuma, knew full well that obtaining the raw materials for the Water of Life was fundamentally impossible.
Even if acquired, it would mean facing the SDS's relentless pursuit. In such circumstances, not even the Hell Sect could guarantee his safety.
Therefore, Karasuma had actually emphasised to Vermouth that Gin shouldn't concern himself with the materials.
But how could Vermouth ignore it when arriving in Tokyo and discovering Gin had personally reported feeding Shinichi Kudo the APTX-4869?
Remembering the boy and girl who saved her life in America years ago, with one possibly already dead... well, she couldn't be blamed for making things difficult for Gin.
Though she couldn't directly act against Gin due to the boss's influence, setting some traps was perfectly feasible.
Even if these traps might implicate The Distillery itself.
After lingering outside the prison to smoke, Vermouth glanced at the Japanese officials and American investigators surveilling nearby. Blowing them a kiss, she turned and entered her car.
The red sports car roared to life and sped away.
...
Tokyo, near Akihabara, Hidden Management Department Headquarters.
Luo Shu, having just returned, raised an eyebrow at the documents Yukino Yukinoshita handed him:
"New member applications for the department?"
"We're still accepting recruits at this stage?"
Hearing this, the smartly dressed Yukinoshita in her professional business suit replied with mild exasperation:
"Wasn't this your own arrangement, Director?"
"Oh? My arrangement?"
Surprised, Luo Shu opened the file and examined it, then fell into deep thought upon seeing the application forms.
"Suzuka Dairenji and Maya Natsume are understandable - I did agree to those."
"But what the hell are 'Kurosawa Jin' and 'Taro Okada' doing here?"
Staring at the photographs of Gin and Vodka - the very people he and Daichi Fujiwara had recently impersonated - Luo Shu was plunged into profound suspicion.
Disaster!
The Distillery is planting moles in my department!!