"Listen to me… don't overthink… forget… you… are a star… the end of the trailblazing journey… choose…"
...The night was dark and windy. In a secluded warehouse, far from any human habitation, a place rarely trodden upon, the long silence was broken by a series of arrivals.
With only moonlight as a light source, three figures could be seen standing in the shadows, cautiously observing their surroundings.
At first, the three simply waited in silence, no one speaking.
But after waiting for a while, until the appointed time, and still hearing no signs of anyone else arriving, Rye, Bourbon, and Scotch, who had suddenly been summoned there by Gin, all felt a little surprised.
After all, with Gin's usual punctuality, he would only arrive early, never late. How could he not be here yet at the appointed time today!
The three instinctively became a little more vigilant, wondering if this might be some kind of trap.
Yes, that's right. The three waiting in the warehouse were indeed Moroboshi Dai, Amuro Tooru, and Midorikawa Hikaru, who had only recently received their code names in the Black Organization: Rye, Bourbon, and Scotch.
And these three were also undercover agents. Their real names were Akai Shuichi, Furuya Rei, and Morofushi Hiromitsu. Akai Shuichi was an ace FBI agent, Furuya Rei came from the Japanese National Police Agency, and Morofushi Hiromitsu worked for the Public Security Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and was also Furuya Rei's childhood friend.
It must be said that the boss of the Black Organization was quite lucky to have brought these three undercover agents, who joined the organization around the same time, together.
Bourbon, feeling suspicious, prepared to gather information. Of the other two present, one was his trusted childhood friend, and the other was Rye, whom he disliked on sight. His primary target for questioning was naturally Rye.
"Rye, Gin called us here, but he hasn't shown up himself yet. Do you know why?"
Rye, equally tense but outwardly calm, replied, "We arrived around the same time. How would I know something that you, an intelligence officer, don't?"
"Oh~ is that so?" Bourbon sneered. "I thought you, being treated as the second Gin, might know more."
"Then I'm afraid I'll disappoint you." Rye's tone was flat, seemingly unconcerned by Bourbon's subtle jab. "I'm just completing my mission. I haven't heard anything about being treated as the second Gin."
Sensing the subtle tension between them, Scotch didn't want them to actually argue and directly changed the subject, "Um… Gin still hasn't arrived. Should we call and ask?"
Hearing his childhood friend's words, Bourbon calmed down. There was no point in waiting any longer. After a moment of thought, he pulled out his phone, preparing to contact Gin.
Before he could press the dial button, footsteps were heard from the warehouse entrance.
Bourbon put down his phone and focused his gaze on the doorway.
Sure enough, a moment later, Gin's figure appeared at the warehouse entrance.
Although it was a bit strange that Vodka, who usually appeared with Gin, wasn't with him this time, they didn't think much of it.
It was Bourbon who spoke first, asking, "Gin, you suddenly called us here. Is there a mission?"
To the trio's surprise, Gin did not immediately answer Bourbon's question.
Under their questioning gazes, he scanned the three individuals he had summoned, who had recently joined the organization, shown some effort, but still didn't fully understand the organization.
He paused, then asked, "Which of you… can cook?"