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"So what if I agree? And what if I don't?"
"Mr. Kudo, forgive me, but I can't give you a clear answer right now."
Steven frowned slightly, deliberately keeping his stance vague.
No special reason. He was just having fun.
Keeping Kudo Yusaku curious would make it easier to get closer to him and to Eri Kisaki later on.
He'd already sworn that sooner or later, he'd become Conan's godfather. To make that happen, he knew he had to create opportunities and strengthen their ties.
See each other often, and feelings naturally grow.
When the time was right, Yukiko would open up on her own.
Kudo Yusaku thought for a moment and was about to say something when Vermouth returned to the living room with Yukiko and Ran after finishing their tour of the villa.
"You bastard, don't you know basic manners? This tea is for honored guests. Who gave you the right to drink it?"
Never mess with women.
Steven shot Vermouth a discreet glare and stood up obediently.
Just wait, you little witch.
Once Kudo Yusaku and the others were gone, he'd make Vermouth experience the power of the old-school methods.
Couldn't even tell who was in charge. She really needed a lesson.
"Chris, don't misunderstand. This has nothing to do with him. I was bored and asked him to sit with me and chat for a while."
Kudo Yusaku, fully aware that the two were putting on a show, played dumb and tried to smooth things over.
"You don't know this maid. He's like a monkey. If you don't keep him in line, he'll think you're easy to bully and start acting like he's human."
Vermouth turned her head and shot Steven a vicious look.
"What are you standing there for? The water's already cold. Get to the kitchen and boil a fresh pot."
Watching Steven being scolded like a grandson, Ran looked a little uncomfortable.
Earlier, during the villa tour, she'd told Vermouth that "Guitan" was very likely Steven in disguise.
What she didn't realize was that among the five of them, her level was the lowest.
Vermouth and Yukiko both silently felt sorry for Ran for about three seconds, then exaggerated their shocked expressions to protect her confidence.
...
Half an hour later.
"Chris, thank you for your hospitality. We won't trouble you any longer."
"You're too polite. Come visit anytime. I'll have Guitan see you out."
"No need. Thank you for the offer."
After exchanging pleasantries, Yukiko and Vermouth watched as Kudo Yusaku and Ran left.
As they stepped outside, Ran inexplicably turned back and glanced at Steven. Vermouth caught the moment perfectly.
When a girl looks back, it's usually reluctance.
"Didn't expect you to be so charming. Even Ran's fallen under your spell," Vermouth teased as she closed the door.
"By the way, Kudo Yusaku came specifically to see you. What did he want?"
With Steven's rough disguise, even Ran could tell something was off. There was no way Kudo Yusaku and Yukiko hadn't noticed.
Vermouth wasn't stupid.
Yukiko and Ran had deliberately dragged her away under the excuse of touring the villa, leaving Kudo Yusaku and Steven alone. It was obvious something important was being discussed.
"What else? He figured out who I am and tried to persuade me to become an undercover agent inside the organization, using that to clean up my record and go legit."
Steven didn't hide anything and spoke frankly.
Whether Vermouth reported it or not was her choice.
If Gin came looking for trouble, he'd deal with it one club swing at a time.
"The organization has a lot of pointless rules, but there are three you absolutely must remember: exposing your identity, internal killing, and betraying the organization."
"Exposure can sometimes be dealt with. Break the other two, and death is guaranteed."
"Steven… no, I should call you Dukang now. I've said everything I need to say. Whether you join the witness protection program or not, you'd better think it through."
Vermouth's attitude made her stance clear.
No matter what Steven chose, she wouldn't report him.
"Whether I join or not depends on my mood," Steven said casually, looking her up and down.
"What do you mean?"
Sensing disaster, Vermouth hurriedly crossed her arms over herself.
"Don't chicken out. I liked how bossy you were just now. You had your turn playing the lady of the house. Now it's my turn to play the master."
"No. I'm not used to this during the daytime."
"Then you just need more daytime practice. You'll get used to it eventually."
"..."
Ignoring Vermouth's pleas, Steven began his so-called "practice" right on the spot.
He intended to pay back the humiliation he'd just suffered, with interest.
…
Meanwhile, in the parking lot.
"How did it go with Steven? Did he agree to your plan?" Yukiko asked after buckling her seatbelt, turning to Kudo Yusaku.
Become a government-planted mole inside the liquor factory, and all past crimes wiped clean.
In her view, Steven would be begging to accept.
Plenty of people with dirty records dreamed of a chance to go legit and never got one.
"Unknown," Kudo Yusaku replied, inserting the key into the ignition.
"Unknown?"
Yukiko echoed, confused.
"He neither agreed nor refused. If we push a bit more, there might still be hope."
"That man isn't simple. It's like he's wrapped in a layer of mystery. I can't see through his heart at all."
Kudo Yusaku adjusted his glasses, feeling an unfamiliar sense of frustration.
Since high school, his keen insight had never failed him. He'd never lost his footing in front of anyone until he met Steven today.
Not only did the man possess mysterious powers, his mind was sharp and clear.
"Is it really that exaggerated? No matter how mysterious Steven is, he's still a criminal. You even kindly tried to persuade him to turn to the light. I think he just doesn't know when he's being given a favor."
Yukiko snorted dismissively, though a question lingered in her mind.
Why was Vermouth so willing to be used by Steven? Did he really have something extraordinary about him?
An old clam stewing a young chicken. That had to be intense.
"You can't say it like that. Steven is no ordinary person. If he's allowed to remain in the Black Organization, sooner or later he'll become a super criminal threatening Japan, even the world."
"I need to find another chance to persuade him to become an undercover agent for Japanese public security."
Kudo Yusaku had personally witnessed Steven's almost magical strength. He understood better than Yukiko how dangerous the man truly was.
If Steven joined public security, he'd be a blade capable of destroying the Black Organization.
If not, he'd be a bomb that could explode and destroy Japan at any moment.
"Why go through all that trouble? Why not just call the police and have him arrested?" Yukiko said bluntly.
Her thinking was simple and direct.
In her mind, the island nation's police were the ultimate nemesis of crime. Catching Steven should be effortless.
"Don't inform the police about Steven's whereabouts for now. I want to talk to him again another day."
Kudo Yusaku quickly spoke up, afraid that Yukiko might act on impulse and make a mistake she could never undo.
He knew the true capabilities of the island police better than anyone.
If they were really able to catch Steven, he wouldn't still be roaming free to this day.
In the back seat, Ran Mouri stared out the window, completely ignoring the conversation between Yusaku and Yukiko. Her thoughts were filled with Steven.
She knew he was unforgivable, yet she couldn't forget him.
More and more, Ran found herself unable to tell whether she hated that man… or whether she'd fallen for that drifting, half-awake, half-dreamlike sensation that left her lightheaded and intoxicated.
"....."