Days flashed by, and the three-year mark arrived as scheduled.
Satoru Gojo had grown another head taller. With a tall, superior posture, he was the very picture of a high-spirited, beautiful youth.
During these years, Gojo and Kurosawa Jin had consistently held the top two spots in the training camp, and their coordination through team exercises had become increasingly seamless. After the annual elimination rounds, only eighteen of the original two hundred orphans remained on the island after three years.
To the victor go the spoils; the loser is but a memory.
The Boss kept no dead weight. These assassins, cultivated at great expense, needed to be not only fiercely loyal to the Organization but also possess one-in-a-million qualities. Therefore, those who remained were destined to be the future pillars of the Organization.
Tomorrow, the final battle for codenames would begin.
Gojo couldn't sleep. In the middle of the night, he wandered alone to the shore, watching the rolling waves and thinking about how to pull his punches against Jin tomorrow.
How do I make it look like a hard-fought struggle? If it ends in a draw, can we both get codenames? Ugh... this damn exam is so annoying.
"What are you thinking about?"
Footsteps sounded from behind. It was Kurosawa Jin. Though not as tall as Gojo, his physique was perfectly proportioned with lean muscle. His long hair now reached his waist; the only thing unchanged was his cold temperament and gaze.
Except when being teased by Gojo—then, he usually looked a bit more "lively."
Gojo kept his eyes on the waves. "Thinking about what to do tomorrow." He sighed, stating bluntly without a hint of humility, "Jin, you should know by now that you can't beat me, right?"
It was true. Over the years, Jin had challenged him countless times, and every single one ended in failure. After all, even if the instructor Tequila personally made a move, their actions would appear incredibly sluggish to his Six Eyes, which saw through everything.
Despite being in a different manga dimension and having yet to unlock the Limitless technique—meaning he wasn't technically the "Strongest" yet—he was more than capable of looking down on the rest of the world.
Jin had long grown accustomed to Gojo's "victory-is-assured" attitude and had internally accepted Gojo's strength, but his words were another matter. He said coldly, "It hasn't started yet. How do you know?"
Gojo shrugged.
In three years, it seemed they both had changed. The once-arrogant and dismissive Gojo had learned to laugh and play recklessly, while the once-killing-obsessed Jin, who belittled friendship, had gradually come to accept the word "friend."
Jin crouched beside him and picked up a seashell. It flashed brilliantly under the moonlight before he tossed it into the sea with a plop.
He said, "Law of the jungle, survival of the fittest. I still believe that even now. So, if I'm killed by someone stronger one day, it won't be strange at all."
Gojo "tched" and turned his head. "Always saying stupid things... do you value your life that little?"
"..."
The long-haired youth, usually a man of few words, spoke now as if trying to say everything he'd ever held back, revealing information he hadn't shared with anyone in three years. "When I was little, my parents abandoned me at the door of an orphanage. If the Organization hadn't taken me in and made me a trainee assassin, I would have died long ago." His eyes were calm. "To repay the Organization, I must obtain a codename. Even if my hands are stained with blood, I won't hesitate."
Gojo remained silent. Jin stood up and continued, "If I die... you be the one to throw me into this sea. Along with my gun."
Gojo knew he was referring to the Beretta Pico he had given him. With that, Jin turned and walked away.
[Is this brat giving me his final testament?]
Gojo thought fiercely: Who's going to throw you in the sea? If the Conan world doesn't have Gin, there's going to be a huge problem!
Having lived and brawled together for three years, Gojo couldn't bring himself to do it. No matter how he looked at it, he didn't believe Jin would die—at least, definitely not before the main plot started.
Whatever. Tomorrow he'd find a way to convince Tequila. If the codename had to go to him, he'd just transfer it to Jin. Anyway, there was no rule saying you couldn't transfer a codename, right?
However, much to Gojo's surprise, things turned out far better than he feared. The imagined scene of them killing each other never happened. Because...
"You mean, we all passed the exam?"
Gojo thought his ears were playing tricks on him. Given the Black Organization's dark style, shouldn't the final stage be exceptionally difficult and inhumane? He expected a bloodbath.
Tequila's wrinkled face wore a sycophantic grin. "It wasn't supposed to be this easy, but the Organization was attacked by the FBI recently. Many internal members were sacrificed, and we are short-handed... so I spoke with the Boss. You eighteen people don't need further testing; you can be promoted directly to official members."
Hearing this, the eyes of everyone present lit up. They looked at each other, feeling incredibly fortunate.
"However, codenamed positions are limited... Satoru Gojo, Jin Kurosawa, Bruce, and Kasumi Shimizu—the four of you come here. As for the rest, an Organization helicopter will arrive shortly to take you where you need to go."
Gojo was happy that he didn't have to kill his brother-in-arms. But Jin, for some reason, looked terrible.
Well... anyone who thought they were about to die and blurted out long-buried secrets like "my bank pin is xxx," only to find out they weren't dying after all, would feel a bit awkward.
Jin's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. Gojo said meaningfully, "If I die, you be the one to throw me into—ouch!"
Before he could finish, Jin pinched him hard.
They walked toward Tequila together with "Bruce," a tall man with a buzz cut whom Gojo didn't know well. He had a pointed chin and plain features. Gojo felt the man had very little presence; he had almost failed to notice him.
"Wait for me, Gojo-sama!"
Kasumi Shimizu ran over from a distance, her face flushed with excitement.
Gojo had been too busy teasing the Workaholic to notice that the girl he had saved years ago had also earned the right to be a codenamed member. She had grown into a graceful and charming young woman, but anyone who mistook her for a harmless flower would be dead wrong. A careful look would reveal the faint killing intent between her brows; even when smiling, she was clearly not to be trifled with.
Supposedly, her skill with a Japanese katana was supernatural—one strike, one kill. It was hard to believe the girl who cried helplessly while being bullied years ago had grown to this extent.
"Yo, Shimizu."
The two weren't exactly strangers. Gojo raised a hand in greeting. He was actually quite puzzled. He hadn't expected the few random words of comfort he'd tossed her years ago to actually give her the drive to survive. It was incredible.
Do I have a talent for psychology?
Alas, if being smart is a sin, I am beyond redemption.
If I really retire in the Conan world later, maybe I should be a psychiatrist. I might save countless lost souls.
Seeing him spacing out so deeply, Jin sighed habitually. Tequila looked at the four youths with satisfaction, evaluating them from left to right in his mind.
1. Satoru Gojo:
He was taller than when he arrived, and his appearance was even more striking. Supposedly, he was the "biggest surprise" designated by "That Person," and facts proved it. Whether in close or long-range combat, his strength was unquestionable. His future was limitless... however, he was far too flashy and his personality was extremely arrogant and wild—a definite flaw.
2. Jin Kurosawa:
The cold, long-haired boy. His personal strength was brilliant; he was the only one who could trade blows with Gojo. He was meticulous, cautious, and loyal to the Organization—a rare talent. Though not as strong as Gojo, he already had the potential of a gold-medal assassin.
3. Bruce:
This young man from Europe excelled with shotguns and rifles. His strength was on par with Jin, but his personality was too dull, and his teamwork was lacking. He still needed polishing.
4. Kasumi Shimizu:
This girl had climbed from the bottom tier of bullying to the top four. The hardship of that journey didn't need words. Driven by an intense admiration for Gojo, she possessed incredibly strong willpower. While not as naturally gifted as the others, she had great potential.
Over the years, Tequila had witnessed their excellence. Thinking that these talents would finally be used by the Boss, he figured the FBI and CIA would have a massive headache. These people were the brilliant future of the Organization!
Tequila's passionate gaze made the three of them feel uneasy. Fortunately, he finished his appraisal and spoke: "Based on the training records of these past few years, the four of you are the most outstanding. I have reported everything to the Boss. Therefore, he has permitted you to hold liquor-themed codenames. As for what they will be, the Boss will decide." He let out a raspy chuckle. "Congratulations. You are now core members of the Organization. After you meet the Boss and receive your codenames, you won't need to call me 'Instructor' anymore. Just call me Tequila."
Core members? Does this mean I've successfully infiltrated the heart of the winery?
It made sense. After being raised from childhood and brainwashed constantly, the winery knew their backgrounds perfectly. Compared to members who joined halfway, there was theoretically zero chance they would betray the Boss.
Gojo: Even though... I'm already thinking about how to water down the wine.
Before long, these elites who survived the brutal struggle boarded an Organization helicopter, embarking on a journey toward an unknown destination.
Perhaps they were going to perform assassinations, or go undercover in a rival organization... but for Satoru Gojo, he was going to meet "That Person"—and it seemed that man knew exactly what his origin was.
Although the system said it had automatically arranged a logical identity for him in this world, up until now, he didn't know how he was born, who his parents were, or why he was sent to the training camp...
Everything was unknown.
No matter. Once he met that man—Renya Karasuma—he would have his answers.