The end of the sound was drawn out, as if she were acting spoiled.
The two people and the cat stared at each other.
After a long silence, Gin gave a light chuckle, the coldness in his green eyes receding slightly. She leaned back against the sofa and looked up at Sheila, seeing that she was indeed smiling as well.
Sheila's smile was clear and bright. Although she had clearly passed twenty, her face, which seemed like a gift from heaven, appeared to have frozen at its most beautiful age; even without makeup, she looked only in her early twenties. Even though she no longer had the appearance of a Girl, she was still someone who made it impossible to look away.
And when she smiled, there was a unique sense of innocence and clarity.
As if she had never been stained by blood.
Although she was amused by the White cat, Sheila clearly had not forgotten the business at hand; she tucked her hair back and handed a USB to Gin.
Gin leaned forward and reached out to take the USB. The cat resting on her lap curiously observed the two bipeds before it, its large, round eyes filled with curiosity.
Possessing typical feline aesthetics, it clearly had no idea how good-looking the two people before it were, its mind entirely focused on its dinner of small dried fish.
Based on the current clues, Brandy and B. W. are definitely related. He and the Mastermind of B. W. were both born in Russia, their methods of operation share many similarities. As it stands, although B. W. has significant influence, it is not an organization that operates frequently. So far, the known actions we have investigated are..
After handing over the USB, Sheila took the opportunity to sit on the Sofa to the left of Gin, slowly integrating the information they already knew.
Gin said nothing, organizing the intelligence he knew while cross-referencing it with Sheila's analysis.
The White cat [female] lying on the Silver-haired man's [male] lap seemed to be infected by this serious atmosphere as well, suddenly becoming quiet, with only those round, watery, large eyes occasionally observing the two people.
.. In conclusion, I believe that Brandy and the mastermind behind B. W. must have had contact.." She paused, raising her hand to prop up her head, gave two light coughs. "Those two might even be the same person!
Gin frowned slightly.
He paused for two seconds before speaking slowly; his pace was not particularly fast, but his Voice was very powerful.
I don't think so.
The White cat let out a soft meow.
..
Vermouth stepped in ten-centimeter silver high heels, walking with a rhythmic clatter through the corridor, moving with swift strides.
Her golden hair was tied up in a high bun, revealing a section of fair, smooth neck skin; her Western-style light gray jumpsuit was perfectly tailored, outlining her beautiful curves and showing off her stunning, slender figure; her blue eyes were slightly lowered, as if she were searching for something.
"What are you looking for?" Someone indeed asked her.
Hearing the voice, Vermouth looked over and saw Bourbon leaning against the wall of the corridor, his hands in his pockets, his greyish-purple eyes clear and bright.
The Blonde-haired woman raised an eyebrow. "Bourbon?"
Amuro Tooru gave a slight nod and greeted his by name: "Vermouth."
You're back from Hokkaido?" Vermouth remarked casually, his gaze sweeping over Bourbon before she covered his mouth with a light chuckle. "It seems you and Gin are quite in sync—
He just flew back from Italy, now you've returned from Hokkaido right on his heels.
Amuro Tooru did not pay any mind to Vermouth's teasing. "Gin is back too?"
That's right." Vermouth gave a light chuckle, his eyes filled with affection. "His efficiency has always been very high.
Bourbon frowned slightly, but then his brow relaxed. "I have something to discuss with him."
Vermouth slightly raised an eyebrow, a hint of playful mockery appearing in the blue eyes beneath his fine brows. He crossed his arms. "Then you'd better hurry."
After a pause, the Blonde-haired woman added, "In three days, he and I will be going to the USA."
"USA?" Bourbon repeated, "I see." He seemed to be thinking about something, drawing a long, scrutinizing look from Vermouth.
A few seconds later, he reined in his overly obvious confusion and then looked up at Vermouth. "What are you doing, pacing back and forth like this?"
Speaking of which, Vermouth was also quite helpless. She let out a soft sigh and gave an answer that was not very convincing:
“Looking for a cat!”
..
"I don't think so," he said.
Sheila hesitated as she lifted her gaze.
She had just opened her lips, intending to ask something, when an itch in her throat forced her to swallow the words that were about to escape. Sure enough, in the next second—
—"Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough."
Sheila covered her mouth and frowned.
"Is your cold still not better?" Thanks to his decent friendship with Heine, as well as the natural closeness created by their shared secrets—even though Heine was always worried he would harm her sister—Gin had heard a bit about Sheila's recent cold.
"Cough, cough.. cough.." Having finally stopped coughing, Sheila's cheeks were flushed. She took a light breath and cleared her throat.
Due to her previous coughing, the Black-haired girl's voice was a bit hoarse, but it did not affect the meaning she wanted to convey.
Yes, I do have a bit of a cold," Sheila nodded in admission. "But it's not a big deal; I'll probably be fine in a couple of days.
Gin nodded slightly, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately uttered a very common and frequently heard line: "Drink more hot water."
.." Sheila couldn't help but laugh, her eyes curving into crescents. "You're saying the same thing as Heine.
Of course, the context and weight of the two were entirely different. Gin's words were a complete surprise—after all, given her personality, showing any concern at all was already a sign of him caring for Sheila, Heine had said the same..
One could only say that he was likely at a loss for words at the time.
But Sheila was long past being a girl who needed others to care for her. After a quick retort, she returned to the main topic: "You say it's not Brandy? What is your basis for that?"
There is some.. but none of it is direct evidence." Gin didn't pay any mind to the previous little interlude and continued, "However, they are all based on speculation from one person, there is no conclusive evidence to prove it.. Comparing the two—
Gin paused, but spoke nonetheless, "I am more inclined toward the former."
“Is that so..” Sheila mused. He did not ask Gin the reason behind it, because even in a partnership, both of them held their own secrets. Of course, Sheila did not go so far as to doubt the truth of Gin's words; she believed that, at the very least, what he was saying now was true.
Without a minimum level of trust—whether it be trust in one's character or trust in one's abilities—they would never be able to reach a cooperation.
Sheila did not dwell on this speculation; she simply nodded. Since Gin was more familiar with Brandy than she was, Sheila chose to start from Gin's speculation first.
“But no matter what..” The Black-haired girl raised her eyes, her blue eyes flashing with a cold light. “No matter what, there is definitely a connection between them.”
This inference was clearly obvious, so Gin nodded in agreement.
,
Although the answer given was not very convincing, Bourbon still believed it.
It was simply because he felt there was no need for Vermouth to lie with such a ridiculous excuse.
Even so, Bourbon had no good ideas to help find the cat—he didn't even know what the cat looked like; at most, he could only offer moral support.
Of course, he didn't know, but someone else did.
Perhaps Vermouth was having some good luck today; she had only said the three words, "Looking for a cat," before someone passing by responded.
“A cat?” Curacao tilted her head slightly. With her heterochromatic eyes, silver-white hair, her silent movements, she looked very much like a cat herself.
Having worked under Rum for many years, Curacao was not familiar with Vermouth or Bourbon; she only had a vivid memory of what had just occurred.
So Curacao asked without any emotion, "Are you referring to a white little kitten?"
Vermouth's blue eyes lit up. "Yes. You saw it?"
The possibility of an unowned White cat appearing within the Black Organization is very low—if it weren't for Vermouth's whim and the fact that this cat was indeed useful, she wouldn't have brought it along—and the possibility of two appearing at the same time is even smaller.
So, most likely, the White cat Curacao mentioned was the one she had lost.
Seeing Vermouth nod, Curacao was also very straightforward: "That cat followed Gin."
Vermouth: "Ha??"
Bourbon: "??"
..
Having finished discussing the general details of the matter, Sheila was in no hurry to leave. She leaned lazily against the sofa, blinking her eyes as she observed Gin, the cat lying on her lap.
As if noticing Sheila's gaze, the little white kitten lightly raised its head, looking at Sheila with an "Oh, who are you?" expression.
Sheila couldn't help but laugh.
"What a cute cat." The black-haired girl complimented, turning her gaze back toward Gin.
The latter was looking down at the little white animal, absentmindedly stroking the Little kitten's fur.
It looks like it would feel quite good to touch, Sheila thought.
Should I buy a cat too? This was her second thought.
"Is this cat yours?" the Black-haired girl asked curiously.
“Vermouth's,” Gin said without concealment, taking the opportunity to reach out and stroke Little kitten's head. The soft, white little fellow made a purring sound, then tilted her head with a soft "meow" and rubbed against Gin's Finger.
Gin tapped Little kitten's head with her finger.
He continued, stating, "Vermouth's mission requires a cat, since she thought this one was cute, she just went ahead and bought it."
"Did she ask you to take care of it?" Even Sheila herself didn't believe what she just said.
No." Gin shook her head in denial. "This cat seems to have gotten lost; it followed me for quite a distance when I was passing by.
Since he had nothing to do today, he simply brought it along to pass the time.
But then again, raising cats and raising birds.. they really are quite different.
Thinking this, Gin casually raised her head and said lazily, "She's here."
Sheila looked over at the sound.
In the next second, the tall and beautiful figure of the Blonde-haired woman came into view.
And behind his stood a handsome youth with slightly dark skin.
The moment they saw each other's faces clearly, Sheila and Bourbon frowned simultaneously.
The Blonde-haired woman looked at the scene before her with a half-smile, lifting her finger to tap her own lips, leisurely fanning the flames.
I didn't expect you to have guests, Gin.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Thank you to the Little Angels who voted for me with Overlord Tickets or provided Nutrient solution~
Thanks to the Little Angel who threw a [Grenade]: Ichimi 1;
Thanks to the Little Angels who threw [Landmines]: Yedi Diya, Riri Yeye, 1 each;