Conan: Rice Flower Spring

Chapter 447, Section 441: Helping a Brother Out of the Organization's Sake.

What should we do? How can we fix this?
Given the current reputation of the Tokyo City Hotel, even if the prosecutors in the lobby and at the entrance leave immediately, they will have to put in a lot of effort to salvage their reputation.

Moreover, the cars opposite the main entrance and the people in the lobby seemed to have no intention of leaving at all; they were determined to fight them.

If Mizunashi Rena had any powerful backers, things wouldn't have gotten so awkward. Even Gin, a high-ranking official who only knows how to "kill, kill, kill," has his own connections.

The resources that members of the organization can mobilize are worlds apart; the difference between people is even greater than that between people and dogs.

As a subordinate whom Gin was wary of, it was impossible for Rena Mizunashi to rely on the resources and connections of the Executive Department. If she were to actually submit a request to the Executive Department, Gin might very well dismiss Kir from her current position and replace her with one of his own.

As for Kiel himself, he can simply find a place to remain idle.

This is Gin's habit and way of doing things. In his eyes, if there is even the slightest suspicion, doubt, or flaw about someone, and it hasn't been clearly explained, then he will not tolerate it.

Then this person will remain on Gin's watch list forever.

When Gin has time, he will test him again and again, either revealing his true colors during one of the tests or completely clearing himself of suspicion.

In short, we can't count on the execution department.

Suddenly, one of Rena Mizunashi's most astute subordinates suggested, "Lord Kir, I've heard that Rum has considerable connections within the government."

Why don't we just defect to the Intelligence Support Department?

“That’s right, Lord Gil! This stronghold has gone from a three-way to a two-way operation. Anyway, the Executive Department doesn’t like us, so why don’t we just surrender to Rum!”

Maybe I'll get some attention then. At least I won't be living such a miserable life like this now!

As a member of the organization, Kiel never suffered as much as his subordinates. He just watched as a large base and a platform for assassins was about to be transformed into a legitimate, compliant five-star hotel.

Although this group of "old, weak, sick, and disabled" executives weren't good at using their brains, it didn't mean they were all fools. Once this base truly became a legitimate five-star hotel...

Kiel, as the head of the outpost, might not change his position and would continue to live a life of luxury. But it's a different story for his subordinates.

Their skills were basically all trained by the executive department; they were adept at murder, arson, robbery, and extortion.

Of course, sometimes he wasn't very efficient at his work, otherwise he wouldn't have been assigned to Kiel's command.

They're good at these crooked and shady things, but when it comes to doing something legitimate, like running a hotel, even if you killed them, they wouldn't know how.

At this point, the sense of urgency about unemployment arises.

They knew very well that if they were kicked out of this base and returned to the Executive Department, they would immediately face a rigorous screening.

Then there will be an evaluation.

Organizations never need waste, and those who have been kicked out twice will not have a third chance.

In other words, if they cannot establish themselves at the Tokyo City Hotel, then what awaits them is a one-way ticket to becoming various consumables in the laboratory.

Their strong will to survive led them to consider defecting to the enemy.

There are many options for defecting to the enemy.

Organizations like the FBI, CIA, MI6, and Japanese Public Security are all options for defecting to the enemy, but there are differences between the options.

For example, these intelligence agencies—Kier's men dared not speak of them easily. If they dared to, Kiel would kill them immediately to prove his innocence.

There was no other way; although Kiel was a CIA spy, she still had to remain undercover within the organization. Her subordinates were quick to suggest "defecting" or "revolting."
What will happen to her job then? Her father's death wasn't for nothing!
These intelligence agencies are obviously not an option, which limits the choices available to Kiel's subordinates. For example, they can only screen within the organization.

The organization's three core departments are: the Executive Department, the Intelligence Support Department, and the Research Department.

Those people in the research department won't get in. Even if they did, they wouldn't be as scientists, but rather as consumables for scientists' experiments.

They themselves came from the Executive Department. That left it seemed like only the Intelligence Support Department was an option. Coincidentally, Rum and Gin in the Intelligence Support Department didn't get along very well.

In a situation like this, Rum probably wouldn't refuse a member from the Executive Department who came to "defect," right? It's like spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones!

The barrage of analyses from his subordinates almost made Rena Mizunashi laugh—or rather, they already made her laugh.

Seeing Rena Mizunashi's smile, the subordinate was greatly encouraged: "Lord Kir, you also think what I said makes sense, don't you?!"

“That makes sense, that makes perfect sense,” Rena Mizunashi clapped lightly and then said to her subordinates, “You can speak so eloquently, I bet you’ve already secretly contacted the intelligence support department.”

"If you want to persuade me, you need to use something real. Tell me, what's the other person's attitude?"

Rena Mizunashi's subordinates, who had been laughing along with her, stopped laughing abruptly upon hearing her words.

No way, how the hell did Kiel find out about this?!
"What do you take me for? Do you think I'm the boss you used to be able to fool around with in the execution department?" Rena Mizunashi's face was full of sarcasm.

"You didn't even manage to fool your former boss, otherwise you wouldn't have been assigned to my subordinate position."

Is it useful to have absolutely no intelligence, but a ton of clever tricks?

At some point, a Heckler & Koch USP Compact Tactical Pistol with a silencer appeared in Rena Mizunashi's hands.

Gin has a habit of pulling out a gun at the drop of a hat, but when a handgun suddenly appears, everyone who sees him becomes much easier to talk to.

At least that's how it is in this room right now.

USP pointed his gun at the subordinate who was organizing the surrender intelligence support department: "Tell me, you should have already contacted them, what are their demands?"

If you meet their requirements, you definitely won't be seen at today's meeting. So, what other requirements does the Intelligence Support Department have?

Perhaps fearing that Kir might suddenly go off the rails, the others who were originally standing with the "surrendered subordinates" quietly distanced themselves, creating a situation where he could face Rena Mizunashi in a 1v1 fight.

The surrendered subordinates never expected their comrades to be so disloyal—they had clearly agreed to persuade Lord Gil to surrender together, but now it had become a 1v1 situation.

If he could handle Kiel, would he still be just an ordinary frontline member?!
"If you're heartless, don't blame me for being unjust," the surrendered subordinate said, gritting his teeth and telling Gil the truth.

"They didn't ask for anything; they never intended to take us in!" The surrendered subordinate was furious; even wanting to be their lackey was deemed beneath him.
What an insult! Yet he couldn't retaliate; he had to keep trying to fool higher-ups into becoming his lackeys.

"We all think it's because we're not high enough in rank. Perhaps if you, Lord Kiel, led us to surrender, the Intelligence Support Department wouldn't be so indifferent!"

"Ha, you guys are definitely not high enough in rank. You have no idea what's really going on in the organization." Kiel looked speechlessly at his presumptuous subordinate.

If she had a choice, do you think she would prefer to stay in this base? Would she prefer to obediently serve as Gin's subordinate?

Who doesn't know that Rum is the organization's second-in-command, even higher than Gin? Who doesn't know that getting close to Rum means getting closer to the organization's secrets?
"You all know that Gin launched a major purge of the Execution Department, right?" Rena Mizunashi glanced at her ragtag subordinates.

The subordinates nodded in agreement. Of course they knew, otherwise they wouldn't have been so eager to leave the Executive Department and join the Intelligence Support Department.

They were just terrified of Gin!
While working in Rum's intelligence support department wasn't easy either, as it required certain specialized skills, they could learn them!
At least the Intelligence Support Department isn't like the Execution Department, where the leader just starts killing people whenever he's unhappy!

"Since you know that, you should also know who Gin killed—those were all executive members bribed by the intelligence support department. Now you're not afraid anymore?"

Rena Mizunashi looked at her subordinates, and at this moment she was finally unable to understand their thought processes.

"Wasn't it those guys who betrayed the Executive Department that led to Lord Gin purging them? We didn't betray any information about the Executive Department."
"I just couldn't make it in the Execution Department, so I wanted to work in the Intelligence Support Department. Do you think Gin-sama will hunt us down just because we're changing departments?"

Seeing that Mizunashi Rena didn't seem to intend to fire, the surrendered subordinates started whispering amongst themselves, treating the organization as a normal company.

Dude, you're really here to work?

Hearing this, Rena Mizunashi was truly stunned. She never imagined that such a filthy place as the organization could produce such a pure member.

No wonder someone would send him to an international agency; his thought process is simply extraordinary.

"Hey, you think this purge only targeted the Executive Department? Gin almost went to the Intelligence Support Department and killed Rum. Do you think Gin is some kind of nice guy?"

Rena Mizunashi said with a cold laugh, "If the boss hadn't stopped Gin's actions, the intelligence support department would probably have been wiped out by Gin."

You're saying you want to switch to the Intelligence Support Department at this point?

"Are you trying to get yourself noticed by Gin? Do you really enjoy courting death?"

If it weren't for the severe shortage of manpower, Rena Mizunashi would have loved to send this guy to join Rum. That way, she could see how Gin dealt with his "internal traitor."

If I sell him off later, maybe I can improve my situation in the execution department.

"Lord Kiel, what should we do now?!" Before the surrendered subordinate could speak, the others became anxious.

How could I not be anxious? If I didn't hurry, I'd be dead!
"What should we do? We should focus on keeping the base running. As for other things, let's not think about them."

This matter can be serious in some ways, but it's not so serious in others.

They wanted to surrender, but no one wanted them. In the end, it didn't cause any serious harm, and the consequences are even less significant. It's hard to say whether Gin even knows about this.

In short, the problem wasn't solved at all; all that was done was dealing with a self-righteous fool.

"Pfft-pfft!"

The sound of the gun, fitted with a silencer, instantly silenced the office, and everyone's eyes turned to the only person in the room holding a gun, Rena Mizunashi.

"What, don't you think there are consequences for doing something wrong? Do you really think Gin is some kind of magnanimous person who won't hold it against you?"

The only thing Gin doesn't care about is the dead; you can only live if he dies.

This was both a gesture of goodwill from Lord Kiel and a warning from him. She cleaned up the mess for these naive, overconfident individuals.

She was also using this method to tell this group of people that she, Kir, was also a member of the organization. Members of the organization were all capable of killing, and Kir was no exception.

You're all terrified of Gin, but aren't you afraid of me, Gil?
After truly separating from the international intermediary company, Kiel effectively held the power of life and death over these people. The defector who died was one who had lost his way.

Surrender is something that only the boss can decide. Why should you, as a subordinate, be so proactive in this regard?
And there it is, dead.

After those two shots, all of his men were completely clear-headed, and their eyes became clear.

Two of his men worked together to carry the body out.

"Lord Gil, what should we do? If the base continues like this, it might displease our superiors." Their solution was blocked by Rena Mizunashi.

The only thing we can do now is to beg Lord Gil to save us.

Now that you've established your authority and killed people, shouldn't you show some mercy?

“This can’t go on. When I left the company, I assured the organization that I would set up a new base. I’ve received plenty of resources. If I mess this up, I’ll be in big trouble, and you won’t be able to escape either.”

So the most important thing now is to figure out why the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office is targeting us.

Kiel had some suspicions in his mind. The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's visit focused on Robert—it was possible that something was wrong with Robert.

His death is a minor matter; the real issue is how much information the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office knows about the bases through Robert's death.

Seeing that Lord Gil was about to elaborate, his subordinates simply played the straight man: "You're right, but who should we ask about this?"

"The intelligence support department is ignoring us; we can't exactly go to the company to find Bourbon, can we?"

The relationship between Tokyo City Hotel and the international agency is like that of two brothers who have separated. If both brothers are doing well after separating, it's not unreasonable for them to ask one of them for help when they encounter difficulties in the future.

But you're already trying to take what you want right after the family splits up? What's the point of splitting up then? Just go home and listen to your older brother, and that'll be the end of it.
"I'm asking you, where did Bourbon's men come from?" Rena Mizunashi asked a pointless question.

"Of course, it was the Yixin Society that came to support us!" the subordinate replied matter-of-factly. The people from the Yixin Society were not like this group of scoundrels who were neither loved nor supported by their own families.

They have elite troops and strong, well-equipped soldiers. Who in the entire organization wouldn't envy the members of the Yixin Society?
Kiel's men did want to join the One Heart Society, but the One Heart Society doesn't accept just anyone—they might be able to make some money by joining, but they were far from qualified to join.

"Then go find the Yixin Society and tell them to help us out of respect for the organization!"

(End of this chapter)