Looking at the glistening daggers on the floor and then at Gin's cold, indifferent face, Yuu sighed inwardly. It seemed verbal agreement was worthless in this world. Killing these two strangers was both a test of utility and a "blood oath" of loyalty. Aside from mutual benefit, the Organization controlled people through leverage—blackmail.
Yuu scanned the room and quickly spotted several small devices with blinking red lights. Cameras.
As the first prisoner neared freedom, Gin appeared detached, but his hand remained inside his coat, undoubtedly gripping his pistol. If anything went sideways, Gin would execute Yuu and the prisoners instantly.
It seemed he had to surrender his "first time" here—his first time taking a life. Having accompanied Conan on countless cases and helped Hitomi and Seimi dispose of bodies, actually being the killer was a new threshold. Being scouted by Gin had its perks, but this was the cost of entry.
Yuu hoped these two weren't innocent. If they weren't, then even if he was exposed one day, the "Light" side might grant some modicum of forgiveness. Of course, it was better never to be exposed, but no one can calculate everything. Only a god could do that.
Though thoughts raced through his mind, only seconds had passed. Seeing the first man free his hands, Yuu no longer hesitated. He bent down and snatched one of the daggers.
Whether by Gin's design or mere coincidence, the two sacrifices were a man and a woman. The woman was still tightly bound, her features obscured. The man, now free, was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man. However, his face was now a mask of primal ferocity, charging at Yuu like a cornered beast.
The man had heard Gin's ultimatum. He knew the Organization's ways; he had expected death, but this was a window of survival. Even if he suspected Gin might kill him anyway, he wasn't about to abandon the only chance he had.
Seeing Yuu pick up a dagger, the man dove for the remaining one. His movements were sharp and professional—completely at odds with his mundane appearance. Yuu's eyes flickered; he wasn't surprised. No one Gin personally dragged in would be a mere civilian.
The man grabbed the dagger and rolled away, clearly fearing a sneak attack. When he looked back and saw Yuu standing still, he let out a breath of relief. Fresh meat, he thought. These two were clearly amateurs who hadn't tasted blood. They hadn't attacked while he was tied up, nor had they blocked him from the weapon. Especially the woman—she looked paralyzed with fear, not even reaching for a blade.
"Kid, don't blame me," the man growled. "Blame your own soft heart."
He didn't believe he could lose an even fight. Once he finished the boy, the weak woman would be easy prey.
Yuu felt a flicker of regret. He was inexperienced and had hesitated. His physical stats were far superior, but he lacked technical combat skill. If he wasn't careful, he could actually lose. We are all made of flesh; a knife in the wrong place would kill him just as easily. As for Gin helping... forget it. Even if Yuu were a full member, Gin wouldn't lift a finger to save a loser.
To Gin, the middle-aged man was a "weakling," barely above average. He had chosen him specifically to give the recruits a fair chance. If they were killed, they weren't worth the investment. Gin wanted disciples who could one day replace him, not garbage.
Yuu gripped the dagger. Why add risk? Arrogance was a death sentence. A lion uses full strength even when hunting a rabbit. He had been getting cocky lately due to his success. He took a breath and activated [Bullet Time].
Technique could be bridged by sheer physical dominance and perception. In [Bullet Time], the man's movements became a frozen slide show. To a stationary target, the task was simple: Advance, Aim, Thrust.
The three-second window hadn't even closed. Everyone, including Gin, saw only a blur. The middle-aged man was suddenly on the floor, clutching his throat as his life leaked out.
To ensure a kill, Yuu hadn't aimed for a slash; he drove the blade straight through the throat. It took more force, but Gin's daggers were razor-sharp.
Thump.
The sound of the body hitting the floor echoed, snapping everyone back to reality. After a brief flicker of surprise, Gin looked at Yuu with a satisfied nod. His instincts were correct. Yuu was a natural. No vomiting, no hesitation after the fact—just a slight increase in his breathing.
Whether Hitomi passed was now secondary to Gin; Yuu was the real prize.
Yuu felt a twinge of discomfort, but only a twinge. He had seen too many corpses with Conan. As the blade sank into the meat, his body instinctively rebelled against harming his own kind, but he suppressed it. Only a psycho enjoys it; to Gin, killing was a tool, not a hobby.
Hitomi covered her mouth, her eyes wide with shock but lacking true terror. She was the girl who had contemplated a beheading on a roller coaster; she was far more ruthless than she looked.
Vodka then untied the woman. She looked similar to the man—Yuu guessed they were siblings. He was right. They were undercover plants from the Nishimura-kai, a local syndicate that the Organization had bullied out of the arms trade. Gin had sniffed them out within days. He had planned to execute them, but Yuu and Hitomi provided a perfect opportunity for "waste utilization."
Seeing her brother's corpse, the woman—who was little more than a high-end madam for the syndicate—was terrified. But threatened with death, she scrambled toward the second dagger.
Yuu's blade was still buried in the man's neck. The woman didn't dare pull it out, opting for the one on the floor. But someone was faster. With the grace and coordination of a professional gymnast, Hitomi lunged forward and snatched the dagger first.