After Vermouth said those words, Gojo woke up the next day to find she had vanished again.
Was that mission talk just a joke to tease me?
Well, it made sense. Disguise was her trademark skill; it was only natural if she were reluctant to teach it. He was easygoing about it and was back to playing games with Calvados in no time.
Gin watched Calvados's clumsy maneuvers with a cold eye, interjecting with feigned indifference before eventually succumbing to the urge to join in, forcibly taking over his spot.
Sigh. Even the "Workaholic of the Century" is slowly falling into decadence without even realizing it. Gojo was more than happy to see it happen. After all, the youth that withers under the setting sun can never be bought back!
As for Satoru Gojo, he spent his time either gaming with the boys or reading manga with Sake and critiquing the plots. In short, he couldn't stay still for a second. Comfortable air conditioning, engaging games, crunchy potato chips, fragrant desserts, and a glass of sweet-and-sour "Happy Water" (soda). What more could a man ask for in life?
Gojo sprawled on the sofa like a flat "cat-pancake."
Just as he was becoming fully immersed in this glorious, ambitionless lifestyle—nearly forgetting about Vermouth and her disguise techniques—she reappeared with good news.
They met in the villa's study.
"I've asked for That Gentleman's opinion. He believes that learning disguise will be very helpful for you in the future, especially when... executing the 'Caelum' plan."
Gojo was curious if Vermouth knew the details of that plan. Regardless, the important thing was the chance to learn a new skill.
Vermouth didn't disappoint. From those red lips came exactly what he wanted to hear: "I've recorded the details of the mission I need you to perform in this file. Take a look and think it over. If you're willing, we can complete the objective next Saturday. Of course... if you're not, it doesn't matter."
Is she kidding? Victory is right in front of me; how could I stop now?
As the bearer of the Six Eyes, Gojo had nothing to fear. Even without his techniques unlocked, he was confident he could complete any mission.
He took the file and scanned it. Inside was a photo of a man in his forties, followed by a lengthy text description. Gojo had an epiphany. No wonder Vermouth had been so cryptic. So... it's this kind of mission?
His expression turned a bit peculiar.
Ben Hermann. Originally from Germany, he was a former collaborator of the Organization and is currently a prominent businessman active in Italy. Due to the solicitation of a certain Mafia family in Sicily that is hostile to the Organization, he betrayed the group, began cooperating with the mob, and even leaked certain Organization secrets.
The Boss expressed deep loathing for his existence and intended for Vermouth—who happened to be in Italy—to assassinate him.
However, Ben Hermann was extremely cautious. Knowing the Organization would act, he wore a bulletproof vest at all times and was under strict protection by the Mafia. Even Vermouth, a master of disguise, couldn't find an opening to get close, let alone kill him.
The only breakthrough was Hermann's "special hobby."
He liked young girls—specifically, beautiful, fair-skinned girls with blue eyes. He had previously been involved in human trafficking and had laid hands on countless innocent girls.
Vermouth had initially thought about disguising herself as a young girl to attract Hermann's attention, but she was too tall, making the physical disguise difficult to pull off convincingly.
Just as she was having a headache over it, Satoru Gojo appeared.
Not only was his age appropriate, but he also possessed a pair of blue eyes that were perhaps the most unique in the entire world. Although his height was a bit above average for a girl, everything else was top-tier.
It was a total "gift from the gods."
"So, you want me to disguise myself as a girl to assassinate Hermann?"
Vermouth crossed her arms and leaned against the desk. "Precisely. Compared to me, you are much more likely to succeed. There is a banquet next Saturday that he is confirmed to attend. We'll find a way to slip in, you'll attract his attention, and once he lets his guard down, you finish him."
Yuck. Who wants to attract the attention of a disgusting, perverted old man?
"Huh? Sounds like a hassle~ Why not just plant a timed bomb at the banquet and send him on his way when the clock hits zero?"
"That won't work. If other factions are involved and things get too loud, it'll be hard to clean up."
The white-haired youth sighed. Vermouth didn't hold much hope to begin with and said somewhat regretfully, "Perhaps this is asking too much of you. Forget it, I'll think of something else—"
"Who said I wasn't going?" Gojo interrupted. "I'll take the mission."
"Eh?" Vermouth was stunned.
[Ding! Impression Points from story character Vermouth increased by 200.]
She had anticipated many scenarios. Given Satoru's personality, he might have walked away in annoyance or demanded a different mission... she never expected him to agree so readily.
Yes, if this mission fell on someone else—like Gin—he would probably do it as ordered, but he would radiate an aura of pure, murderous gloom the entire time.
However, Satoru Gojo was a man who essentially couldn't go "Out of Character," no matter what he did. (Except for the "2.5-Gojo" version written by Gege Akutami.)
This was a man who once shamelessly tried on Nobara Kugisaki's school uniform skirt. Cross-dressing? Zero pressure. Unlike ordinary people, he didn't care about the gaze of others, nor was he ever bound by "common sense."
"The guy sounds disgusting, but you said you'd teach me disguise if I finish the mission, right? Is that a promise?"
"Indeed. A charming woman... doesn't take back her word lightly." The interest in Vermouth's eyes deepened.
"Then it's a deal. No take-backs."
"Are you sure you don't want to switch to a different mission?"
Gojo put his hands in his pockets and suddenly leaned toward Vermouth. He stared at her intently, getting closer and closer until they were less than ten centimeters apart.
"Vermouth, do you think I'm good-looking?"
He tilted his face up, his snow-white eyelashes clearly visible. When he squinted his gem-like blue eyes, he looked like an aggressive, high-bred cat.
Having a face that perfectly hit her aesthetic preferences suddenly close in was even more powerful than him acting cute. Despite her years in the film industry seeing countless beauties, Vermouth was left speechless for a few seconds by the boy's singular magnetism.
Coming back to her senses, she whispered, "Of course. You... are very special."
She had a strange intuition: though this boy had to look up to meet her eyes now, in a few years, he would likely be so tall that she would have to look up at him.
"Then it's settled."
Satisfied with the answer, Gojo quickly backed away. He wasn't the type to be unaware of his own looks. On the contrary, he didn't mind utilizing that advantage to get what he wanted.
He grinned, and the faint sense of pressure that had surrounded Vermouth vanished.
"I am the super~ handsome Lord Gojo, after all. If I dress as a girl, I'll be the most eye-catching beauty of all."
"Well, you're not half-bad yourself."
Vermouth: ...What happened to that magnetic attraction from a second ago?
Then, her lips curved into a teasing smile. "Well then, Lord Gojo, I'll leave the mission to you."
Gojo snapped his fingers.
"A piece of cake."