This time, the mission was to find a way to seize a "bottom-of-the-box" treasure at the Gashard Auction in New York in three days—the "Crimson Ember." As a peerless ruby, its history dated back to 17th-century England, making it perfectly suited to the tastes of many collectors.
Obtaining a few invitation letters for the auction was, of course, no difficult task for the Boss. In fact... Gojo felt that even entering the venue wasn't strictly necessary. With his Six Eyes, he could locate the gem's exact position before the auction even began. However, joining the crowd to see the auction items in person sounded like fun.
Having long grown tired of Mexico, Gojo rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
[New York desserts~ Your Emperor has arrived!]
This trip would likely last three or four days. However, without him, the branch wouldn't face any major storms for the time being. Gojo quickly arranged the necessary affairs for his absence. When it was time to board, Tequila, Sake, and Sarelo came to see him off, creating an atmosphere so solemn it felt like a hero departing for a final battle.
"Boss, go in peace. We'll handle everything here," Sarelo said earnestly.
Gojo: ...I'm not dead yet!
Sake's words were much more pleasant: "Kaiser-sama, I wish you a pleasant journey."
"With us here, no major problems will arise." Tequila stroked his beard and said meaningfully, "Remember to pay attention to a healthy diet in New York."
Gojo: ...I haven't even started eating and I've already been seen through.
"I know, I know~ I'll be back soon."
Accepting all the reminders, Gojo boarded a lavish first-class cabin. He sat with his legs crossed, gazing at the blue sky outside the window, feeling quite cheerful.
A few hours later, the plane slowly descended at the airport. New York's primary international hub, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), is one of the busiest in the world, handling over 55 million passengers annually.
Gin sat on a waiting chair in the terminal. His murderous black trench coat and light gold hair that reached past his waist caused many passersby to stop and stare. However, within moments, they would be startled by his cold, moss-green eyes and quickly scurry away.
Despite this, he didn't draw too much attention. After all, in free and equal New York, no kind of person was surprising.
Gin truly couldn't understand the Boss's decree. There were plenty of missions piling up in Japan, yet he was suddenly sent to New York for a mediocre assassination task. Wouldn't it be better to give this to Rum's subordinates or Vermouth, who was already in the US? Pisco, who never got along with him, had even gloated over this, thinking Gin had made a mistake and was being exiled from the Tokyo action group.
Furthermore, there was supposedly a partner acting with him... but strangely, their tasks were different; they were to split up. So, what was the necessity of him wasting time in this miserable airport, waiting idly for the other person?
[A "partner"? Who knows what kind of tactless, annoying fellow it'll be.]
Seeing his displeasure, Vodka—who was standing nearby—quickly handed him a drink with practiced insight: "Big Brother, are you thirsty after waiting so long?"
"No need," Gin said coldly.
This kid was originally an organization member sent from above to partner with him once. After that mission, Gin found him sensible, obedient, and a good driver, so he actively requested the Boss to transfer him as a subordinate. After a year of missions, the kid successfully earned the codename "Vodka" and was now utterly loyal. His only flaw was that his mind sometimes failed to turn corners.
Gin soon noticed a landing plane and spoke: "That should be the one."
He pulled his black fedora down and led Vodka toward that direction. He still didn't know who his so-called "partner" was, what their codename was, or even their contact information. He wanted to see how the other party planned to recognize him in the crowd.
Meanwhile, Gojo—who had accidentally slept the whole way—strode out of the cabin, stretched his limbs, and scanned the bustling crowd. This time he only wore sunglasses, and his hair was down, giving him a very relaxed vibe. He wore a casual grey jacket over a simple white T-shirt, and his suit trousers outlined his superior long legs; he looked like he could step onto a fashion cover with ease.
"OMG, who is that?"
"His figure is amazing... and his face is so beautiful."
"Is he a star? Or a model?"
"I don't recognize him..."
"Does he have a girlfriend or boyfriend? Do I have a chance?"
Gojo had long been used to the stares. Before any bold individuals could approach him, his eyes lit up as he spotted his target. At the pick-up area, Gin stood with his hands in his pockets, impatient, while Vodka didn't dare make a sound.
Just as Vodka was sweating bullets, he suddenly heard a refreshing male voice.
"Gin-chan! Found you~"
Then, a blur of white pounced toward Gin. Vodka was startled. Is this... non-human speed actually real?
"Watch out, Big Brother—"
He nearly screamed in panic, but after seeing the scene clearly, his pupils shook, and he froze in place. This white-haired kid in sunglasses had actually run over and hugged Gin?!
A... a hug??
No matter how you looked at it, that word had absolutely nothing to do with his cold, overbearing, ruthless, suspicious, and sharp (2000 words omitted) Big Brother! If it were a woman, he could understand a little... but the other party was a guy!
[It's over, Big Brother might actually kill him on the spot!!]