Perhaps due to the fundamental differences between the Keishicho and the Keisatsucho, Morofushi Akihiko’s undercover rhythm was completely different from before.
Of course—given his current identity, it was unlikely to be the same as in the past.
First, following the Gong’an’s requirements, he spent a few days naturally living under the false identity created by the Gong’an. Then, relying on his own experience, he turned around and began probing members of the Soshiki.
Since hardly any familiar faces remained among his police academy classmates, Morofushi Akihiko didn’t hold out hope that the low-level Soshiki members he knew would still be the ones he had seen before.
But facing the Soshiki and studying at the police academy were two entirely different feelings for Morofushi Akihiko now.
Pressing down the brim of his hat, Morofushi Akihiko raised his hand to touch the thin layer of stubble that had recently grown on his cheeks.
Strangely, he felt more relaxed than he had been at the police academy.
He didn’t have to worry about exposing information due to a single word or phrase from a classmate or instructor, nor did he have to face undercover agents from the Soshiki watching him. Because of the unique nature of undercover work, he could even avoid contacting the Gong’an for a certain period.
No one would continue to call him “Morofushi,” making his heart skip a beat, always feeling as if Gin’s gun would press against his forehead the next second, sneering and shouting “rat.”
Morofushi Akihiko pressed his fist to his lips. Since no one around was paying attention to him, and because he wouldn’t feel nervous no matter how much he let his thoughts wander, a faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
“Midorikawa? Let’s go.” A man called out to Morofushi Akihiko, who was lost in thought with his head down.
Morofushi Akihiko immediately looked up, the smile on his face fading as he nodded. “Alright.”
The turnover of Soshiki members was rapid, but no matter how much the bases and industries he had already learned about changed, they wouldn’t leave him completely without clues.
So Morofushi Akihiko took the opportunity to join the industry next to the Soshiki’s operations, observing the people coming and going during his daily commute.
The aura of ordinary people and those involved in the underworld was entirely different. As a novice, he might have needed to work hard to distinguish and learn, but with his current wealth of experience, he could basically tell the difference between ordinary customers and others with just a glance.
The Gong’an had a general understanding of the Soshiki’s strength and danger, so no one expected him to infiltrate it from the start. Everyone was prepared for a long-term plan, which meant Morofushi Akihiko could do much more.
Who would believe that a newly released undercover agent of just two months could directly obtain information about a dangerous organization that had existed for half a century?
After spending two months confirming the current nearby industries and bases, low-level Soshiki members, and some members stationed in Tokyo, Morofushi Akihiko stroked his chin. The recently grown stubble was still a bit prickly, and the texture felt interesting.
He sifted through the information and handed over the most peripheral details to his contact.
With this information, it wouldn’t be a problem to avoid contacting them for another month or two.
“I believe I’ve found the right direction. I’ll continue trying to make contact with some people, so please don’t reach out to me until I contact you.”
After saying this to his Gong’an contact, Morofushi Akihiko turned around and found the Soshiki’s contact—this was a specific person he had confirmed after probing Kato.
“What does the Soshiki need me to do? Should I follow the Gong'an's instructions and go through the motions step by step, or should I return directly to the Soshiki?”
The Soshiki’s contact hesitated, unsure how to respond. After all, he was just an ordinary member—how could he possibly dictate what a Daigou Kaiin should do? Rather than asking him about the Soshiki’s intentions…
The Soshiki contact broke into a cold sweat. “You can contact that person directly.”
Morofushi Akihiko: ?
That person?
Which one?
Morofushi Akihiko didn’t get a clear answer, but he guessed that his status within the Soshiki might be higher than he had initially assumed.
Moreover, he likely had a direct “superior” he could contact within the Soshiki. It was probably similar to the relationships between Gin and Vodka, or Rum and Bourbon.
However, this “person” who could be contacted directly seemed to have forgotten about him after sending him undercover.
Not only during his time at the police academy, but also throughout his undercover training and the past two months of low-level work, “that person” had been completely absent, showing no intention of assigning him any tasks.
In fact, until now, Morofushi Akihiko hadn’t even been aware of this person’s existence.
The good news: he had a direct superior in the Soshiki, and he could use this person’s authority to refuse certain tasks.
The bad news: he had no idea who this superior was.
It couldn’t be Gin, could it? Hah.
Morofushi Akihiko thought expressionlessly.
No, it couldn’t be Gin. In fact, if it were Gin, things would be simpler.
Gin disliked complications and had no interest in secrecy. If he knew Morofushi Akihiko had returned to the Soshiki undercover, he would contact him directly whenever a task required it.
Morofushi Akihiko’s phone contained no additional contacts, and his memory held no traces of such a person. Unless someone reached out to him first, it would be difficult to determine their identity.
Even Kato Akio’s existence only came to light because the other party had proactively sent him a threatening text message…
Morofushi Akihiko lowered his head, took out his phone, and sent an email to Kato Akio: [Has that person contacted you?]
Kato Akio: [?]
Morofushi Akihiko: [Since things didn’t go according to plan, is that person angry?]
Kato Akio: [.]
Kato Akio remained silent for five minutes before Morofushi Akihiko received a reply.
[That person would never be angry with you.]
Morofushi Akihiko: .
The question marks in Morofushi Akihiko’s mind grew even larger.
The black-haired, blue-eyed young man silently tucked his phone into his chest pocket, his blue eyes once again reflecting the fresh vegetables in the supermarket’s produce section.
“For beef stew… I should buy some more potatoes,” he decided.
After returning to the safe house with a bag full of vegetables and meat, Morofushi Akihiko skillfully washed the meat and chopped the vegetables. Once he started cooking, the small space was soon filled with the rich aroma of food.
Morofushi Akihiko wasn’t in a hurry. No matter how anxious he felt, rushing without concrete clues would only lead to confusion and frustration.
Rather than living in constant tension day after day, he needed to make the most of his alone time to rest.
At the very least, his mind couldn’t remain in a state of high alert 24 hours a day.
He divided the beef stew into two portions, packaging one and storing it in the refrigerator. The rest he plated and placed on the dining table.
“I’ll eat now,” Morofushi Akihiko said, clasping his hands together. After uttering these words, he picked up a piece of tender, stewed potato and placed it in his mouth.
"Another ten minutes of simmering should help the flavors meld better." Morofushi Akihiko tasted the dish while murmuring to himself, adjusting the new recipe he had learned from television according to his own preferences.
For Zero's taste, perhaps a bit more celery could be added? Morofushi Akihiko pondered for a moment, deciding that adding a little for extra flavor would be a good choice.
If it were for his brother, he would prefer something lighter, so using less seasoning would be better… but for beef stew, a richer flavor would pair better with rice, wouldn't it?
Come to think of it, next time he could recreate that side dish he had tried before. It had been a long time since he last made it.
Being an undercover agent was a rather unique job—dangerous and typically involving single-line communication.
Therefore, as long as "that" superior and the Soshiki contact hadn't given him new instructions, Morofushi Akihiko simply followed the Gong'an's requirements and let things take their course.
Even so, Morofushi Akihiko managed to get involved in one of the Soshiki's recent missions in a shorter time than before.
He wasn't participating as a Daigou Kaiin but rather as a support staff member, cleaning up the aftermath once the mission was over.
Disposing of bodies and retrieving weapons. Morofushi Akihiko took cleaning supplies from his backpack; after the bodies were dealt with, the bloodstains at the scene also needed to be cleaned.
Morofushi Akihiko was accustomed to operating in a more cautious manner. Most of the time, he moved quietly, wearing a hooded jacket and keeping his head down to conceal his face with the hood. When he minimized his presence, almost no one could immediately notice his existence.
"Tsk."
Morofushi Akihiko paused his movements.
"Wasn't it agreed that I'd test the effects first this time? The bombs haven't even been planted yet, and the scene is already cleaned up?" A particularly unrestrained voice rang out from not far away, carrying a hint of superficial dissatisfaction.
"Hey, you over there, who told you to come?"
Morofushi Akihiko kept his eyes lowered, motionless like a corpse. The oversized hood concealed his brows and eyes, while the mask on his face completely hid his current expression.
The young man standing in the shadows was like a silent ghost. Even after hearing the call, he merely raised his head slightly, causing the hood to shift.
"Why aren't you answering? Are you mute?" The owner of the voice was clearly even more displeased now, stepping toward Morofushi Akihiko.
"Do I have to say it ag—wait?"
As the distance between them closed, the complaining man's voice suddenly and eerily stopped.
Morofushi Akihiko remained with his eyes lowered. In his downward field of vision, the first thing that appeared was a pair of polished black leather boots, the black pant legs ceasing to sway as the man halted his steps.
Then, a suddenly enlarged face replaced the floating dust on the ground, reflected upside down in those upturned blue eyes from a low angle.
"Ah—it really is you."
The man who had been bending over and speaking raised his hand, unconcerned about his odd posture, and stared at those highly distinctive upturned eyes.
His fingertips pressed slightly against the frame of his sunglasses, fully revealing the eyes that had been hidden behind them. The dark eyes, nearly blending into the shadows, regained their original bluish hue as he looked up.
Curly hair fell across his forehead, sunglasses removed from his face, casually twirled between his fingertips. The man's tone carried a hint of nonchalance.
"When did you start taking on this kind of side job? Scotch."
Jinpei Matsuda asked Morofushi Akihiko this way.