Vodka and Chianti led them past the lab hall into a lounge that looked like a dimly lit bar. The sudden shift in light was jarring. Except for Vodka (who wore his sunglasses) and Yuu (who adapted in less than a second), the others took a moment to adjust.
Gin was sitting in a corner booth, a cold smirk playing on his lips as he watched them enter.
"Boss, I brought them," Vodka said, bowing deeply. Chianti headed to the bar to order a drink, her eyes never leaving Gin. She wanted to see how the legendary executioner handled a "recruitment."
Hitomi was still in a daze until she saw Gin's face clearly. The long, flowing silver hair triggered a memory. "Ah! You're the man from the roller coaster!" she blurted out.
The room went silent. Even Gin paused with his glass halfway to his lips. Yuu quickly grabbed Hitomi's hand and gave it a firm squeeze, silencing her before she could dig a deeper grave.
Gin scanned the two of them. The reports said they stayed in touch; now it was clear they were quite intimate. He didn't care. Men and women being attracted to each other was natural.
Just as Chianti was getting impatient, Gin finally spoke. "From now on, the two of you are my direct subordinates."
"Huh?!" three voices echoed at once. Two from Yuu and Hitomi, and one from Chianti.
"Gin, is that really how you—" Chianti started to protest, but Gin's icy glare shut her down. She shrugged and finished her drink. Whatever. He's the executioner. Hope the handsome kid doesn't piss him off. She gave Yuu a look of pity and left.
Gin didn't explain himself. He didn't offer threats or bribes. He knew those didn't guarantee loyalty. He would judge their worth with his own eyes in the coming days. He signaled Vodka to give them the briefing and stood up to leave.
Yuu was internally reeling. This was much earlier than he expected to join the Black Organization, but it fit his long-term goals. Being "invited" by Gin was far safer than trying to infiltrate on his own—it removed a massive layer of suspicion. As long as he didn't show signs of betrayal until the FBI and CIA showed up, he was in the most secure spot in Japan.
Besides, the "rewards" were already piling up. His interactions with Chianti, Gin, and Vodka had already granted him three new talent draws. And Shiho was just a few rooms away, practically waiting for him to "mine" her for more.
"Our organization has no name," Vodka began his monotone explanation. "We are a multinational entity... Core members are given codenames based on alcohol... You two are currently 'unranked'..."
Vodka's explanation gave Hitomi a clear, if terrifying, picture of the world she had just entered. They were being fast-tracked because Gin saw potential. If they performed well, the "Great Leader" would personally grant them codenames.
After the "carrot" of benefits, Vodka didn't forget the "stick." "Refusal," he added, "results in immediate disposal."
Yuu feigned deep thought before nodding in agreement. Hitomi, seeing him agree, followed suit. She was still in a dreamlike state, but Yuu's presence kept her from doing something stupid—like thinking this was a prank show.
Vodka stood up. "Follow me."
He led them down to an even deeper level. This floor was a massive, empty combat hall with strange equipment scattered around. In the center stood Gin, a cigarette dangling from his lips. At his feet were two figures, bound and gagged.
Gin pulled two combat knives from his belt and tossed them onto the floor between Yuu and Hitomi. He nodded to Vodka, who began unfastening the bindings of the two prisoners.
"Pick them up," Gin commanded, his voice devoid of emotion. "And kill those two. If you don't, they will kill you. Because the only way they walk out of here alive is over your corpses."
The prisoners, sensing a chance for survival, began thrashing wildly as their bonds loosened, their eyes filled with desperate, murderous intent.