Vermouth brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, looking at the group with effortless charm. "That Gentleman actually asked me to take the juniors on vacation... how unexpected."
She must have been nearby to arrive so quickly.
"Ara, congratulations to everyone on receiving your codenames. With this, the Organization has been injected with excellent fresh blood~ I'm truly happy for That Person."
She walked toward them, appraising each one.
"Little Satoru—no, Kaiser. It's been three years. How have you been?"
Vermouth's eyes locked onto the white-haired, blue-eyed Satoru Gojo immediately. Time had flown; the boy who had stunned her years ago was now even more strikingly handsome. Even as a world-class connoisseur of beauty, she found it hard to look away.
[Impression Points from Vermouth increased by 500... Analysis: Appreciation.]
"As you can see, not bad," Gojo replied with a shrug.
"Jin-kun, should I call you Gin now? You haven't changed much either~ still so aloof, like a little adult." Gin's face darkened, and he ignored her.
"I am Sake. It is an honor to meet you, Ms. Vermouth," Kasumi Shimizu introduced herself shyly.
"Oh... I've heard of you. A cute girl, I see." Vermouth smiled and gave her a friendly nod.
She greeted everyone in turn, finally giving the boy who had always admired her a seductive wink. "Your codename is Calvados, right? I'll be in your care for the next month."
Calvados, who had been silent and stoic in front of Gojo and the others, instantly turned bright red. His eyes turned into dizzying swirls as he stammered, "Y-Yes... okay..."
Watching this, Gojo sighed internally. Poor Tom... I mean, Calvados. He's being played like a fiddle.
Two hours later.
Tequila had already departed. Vermouth drove them to a private villa. During the trip, the group realized they were currently in Sicily.
Though it was a spacious Western-style house, it was nowhere near the size of the Boss's manor; it was likely one of Vermouth's personal properties. Located in the suburbs, the architectural style was exotic, surrounded by lush trees, a meticulously designed garden, and a swimming pool typical of high-end celebrity homes.
Natural stone steps led to the front door, flanked by pots of blooming flowers that added a splash of life. The air was incredibly fresh.
Not bad at all~ a great place for a getaway.
Stepping inside, they were met by a large open-concept living room, stylishly and elegantly decorated. High ceilings and massive floor-to-ceiling windows provided a powerful visual impact. The room was furnished with comfortable sofas and exquisite ornaments, with artistic paintings on the walls reflecting the owner's refined taste.
Fashion magazines and books were scattered everywhere. In the center sat a long dining table capable of seating many people, set with luxury tableware and crystal glasses of various heights. Nearby stood a pricey piano, though the dust on it suggested the owner hadn't visited in a long time.
The villa had over ten bedrooms, each bright and well-equipped, some even featuring private balconies overlooking the scenery.
Vermouth explained, "This is a safe house I use often. You can stay here and rest for a month. I have missions, so I'll be out frequently. Keep the keys. If you want anything to eat or drink, just call this number and a chef will deliver it. Of course, you can cook for yourselves. If you need clothes, there are various styles in the closets—help yourselves."
...It felt like she was raising four little pets. I feel like I'm being kept. Is that allowed? Gojo wondered.
"There aren't many restricted areas, but be careful; there are traps all over this house."
Naturally, this was no issue for Gojo.
"In one month, someone will pick you up to take you to your respective destinations."
This meant the four of them would be living together in this house for a month. It was good; while Gojo didn't like unnecessary noise, a larger group was definitely more interesting.
He glanced at the others. Calvados and Sake both had faces so red they seemed to be emitting steam. Are they really this excited just to rest? Poor kids.
In reality, the inner thoughts of Calvados and Sake were:
[I actually get to live in the same house as my goddess/idol! Uuu, I'm so moved...!]
Gin saw right through them. As a lifelong bachelor and a total "straight man," he was dismissive. He didn't understand Vermouth's appeal, nor did he get why people liked a brat like Gojo. Hmph, a couple of idiots.
After finishing the briefing, Vermouth changed into a sharp black trench coat and vanished like the wind. Calvados stared blankly at her retreating figure, his mouth slightly open in a daze.
Are the Boss's members always this busy? It's like the missions never end, Gojo complained internally.
But... whatever! The dream life of slacking off was about to begin!
Shortly after, the four members chose their rooms and unpacked their meager luggage. Then, they seemed to hit a wall. They didn't know what to do. Their stomachs were full, it wasn't mealtime, they had no urgent missions, and there was no one to fight or kill.
For the past three years—excluding Gojo—the others had spent every waking moment fighting for their lives to earn a codename. Now that they had reached the goal and were given a luxury vacation, they literally didn't know how to "rest."
Gojo wandered around with a sense of novelty. Calvados was staring like an idiot at a movie poster of Sharon Vineyard (Vermouth). Sake was hovering indecisively in the kitchen. Gin sat on the sofa for a bit, then stood back up.
"I'm going to the underground range to practice," he said.
Indeed, Vermouth's villa had a secret training ground. Gojo marveled at how thorough it was. But...
"What is wrong with you people?!" Gojo was shocked. He looked at them with disappointment. "You don't even know how to have fun?! Who practices shooting right now? You're wasting your lives!"
The others looked at each other and shook their heads, signaling they didn't know what else to do.
"Gin, if you go to the range, I'm unfriending you!"
"Whatever."
"Are you trying to make me cry?" Gojo's tone began to take on a dangerous edge.
"Heh." Gin ignored him and kept walking toward the training area.
"..."
Five minutes later, under Gojo's forceful physical threat, everyone was forced to sit obediently on the sofa, unmoving.
"Come, come~ let this Young Master teach you... how... to... play." The white-haired, blue-eyed youth grinned like a villainous overlord.