Anokata theory: The boss may be...

[Chekhov MacGuffin]

Vermouth and Gin have a weird relationship...she tries to poison him, while knowing he would find the poison so maybe not poison him but just to tease him.  

Do you mean literal poisoning or metaphorical poisoning? If you mean literally, I never saw it confirmed she actually put something in Gin and Vodka's drinks during the jazz club scene (assuming this is what you are referring to). It is true that Gin dunking his cigarette in Vodka's drink makes it seem like Gin was preventing Vodka from drinking it, but Gin is jerk enough to do it purely out of spite. Gin and Vodka had just finished setting someone up to be killed in that scene, and it's possible they may have poisoned his drink with a slow acting poison. (Vodka: Did you see the happy look on that guy's face? Didn't even suspect that drink would be his last...) Vermouth delivering drinks to them may just be teasing them about their method or basically a teasing "one-up-ing" demonstration that Gin and Vodka can have one pulled over them right after they set up someone else.

[kirite]

Do you mean literal poisoning or metaphorical poisoning? If you mean literally, I never saw it confirmed she actually put something in Gin and Vodka's drinks during the jazz club scene (assuming this it what you are referring to). It is true that Gin dunking his cigarette in Vodka's drink makes it seem like Gin was preventing Vodka from drinking it, but Gin is jerk enough to do it purely out of spite. Gin and Vodka had just finished setting someone up to be killed in that scene, and it's possible they may have poisoned his drink with a slow acting poison. (Vodka: Did you see the happy look on that guy's face? Didn't even suspect that drink would be his last...) Vermouth delivering drinks to them may just be teasing them about their method or basically a teasing "one-up-ing" demonstration that Gin and Vodka can have one pulled over them right after they set up someone else.

I don't think she mean to poison him to kill them per say. I guess I mean she has a tendency to mess with Gin (serving him a drink) and he has a tendency not to trust her.  I always saw Gin action of stopping Vodka from drinking Vermouth's drink as a way to stop him from "messing up the mission".  Kind of like how Gin stopped Vodka from leaving his fingerprints.  From that scene I always got the impression that if Vermouth is involved then the mission becomes much more troublesome for Gin lol.

[Chekhov MacGuffin]

I don't think she mean to poison him to kill them per say. I guess I mean she has a tendency to mess with Gin (serving him a drink) and he has a tendency not to trust her.  I always saw Gin action of stopping Vodka from drinking Vermouth's drink as a way to stop him from "messing up the mission".  Kind of like how Gin stopped Vodka from leaving his fingerprints.  From that scene I always got the impression that if Vermouth is involved then the mission becomes much more troublesome for Gin lol.

I'm still confused on whether you think there is really poison in the drinks. My take on the scene with the location and Vermouth's personality factored in is that she wouldn't actually poison their drinks, but the threat is there because she was setting them up right after they set up someone else. Gin, whose sense of humor leaves something to be desired, returns her threat in kind by violently trying to stab her head with an icepick. Gin knew the waiter was Vermouth and anticipated her escaping because the alternative would be he was actually trying to kill her in the restaurant which would get him in trouble.

Tangent here, to me, these "frivolous tests" between the two of them are signs of a subtle dominance struggle. Vermouth's goal is to demonstrate to Gin she can outsmart him, but she is more insidiously probing his limits. Gin isn't her only target either; she probes Shinichi and Chianti too. Gin doesn't feel the same need to initiate any of these tests because he relies more on his good judgement and observation instead of tests to figure out peoples' abilities. This is why he hates secrets and secretive people; lack of information to draw conclusions from means he can't evaluate them or their threat completely and that makes him uncomfortable.
Gin knows the motives that underlie Vermouth's teases, so he attempts to "put her in her place" when he can. He does this by trying to stay above her games, and he asserts himself over her by threatening her with violence at questionable turns (ice pick, gun to head at Kogoro's). More recently he has begun denying her situations where she can hold sway over him - if I'm reading it right he turned down her "martini" offer, and he also is undermining her standing in the Organization by relaying his suspicions to the boss which eventually resulted in her freedom being restricted.
If you support the 'Gin and Sherry used to have a relationship' theory, Vermouth teasing Gin like she is now may be a response to her loss of emotional control over Gin - and worse, that power was lost to a hated Miyano. You could even hypothesize part of the reason Gin approached Shiho in the first place was to play politics and weaken Vermouth.

So going back to the jazz bar scene, if this is one of Vermouth's games, there is no reason for actual poison to be the glasses. Gin can't prove there is actually poison in his glass and wouldn't want to humble himself in front of her by trying to determine it. Vermouth doesn't win any extra "dominance points" for adding poison, and Gin will respond the same either way, so why bother putting actual poison in there?
That said, I think there would be situations where Vermouth would actually put poison in Gin's glass as part of the joke. If I were to make one up, a situation where Vermouth purposefully serves a victim and Gin from a bottle of wine that Gin knows is or will be poisoned might work. Gin is forced to sit there and not drink any, and the full glass means he will get no more drink service to boot.

Tldr: Vermouth doesn't get anything extra out of it for poisoning the glasses, so she probably wouldn't bother. These teases are Gin and Vermouth fighting each other for dominance. The boss must think very hard about how to arrange his subordinates to minimize the risk of them playing possibly lethal jokes on one another.

[Fennec]

If that's Vermouth's idea of a "joke" on a normal day, I'd love to see how the Black Organization celebrates April Fool's Day.

The boss really has to command everyone's respect given all the distrustful and unlikely relationships. Some of these people would probably kill each other normally (Gin and Vermouth, for one), but somehow they refrain.

[Chekhov MacGuffin]

The boss really has to command everyone's respect given all the distrustful and unlikely relationships. Some of these people would probably kill each other normally (Gin and Vermouth, for one), but somehow they refrain.

I imagine he probably outplays them all at their games and knows what pleases them (see giving Bourbon an okay on his mission). It is likely he organizes his subordinates to maintain balances of power, yet it is hard to imagine how he could do this without being around to observe all the drama.
The boss somehow has Gin's near absolute loyalty which gives him a reliable and intelligent info source. Vermouth's main weakness is that she isn't as analytically swift and flexible as Gin or Shinichi. As long as the boss keeps on top of Vermouth's teases so she thinks she can't win against him, he should feel secure. It's pretty clear that Vermouth's Silver Bullets are her answer to the challenge presented by the boss. (Vermouth really likes challenges. Despite having no real reason to, she happily bound herself to Conan and Yukiko's rules anyway. I wonder if this is Kuroba Toichi's influence because her behavior reminds me strongly of Kaitou Kid's?)

The boss clearly isn't perfect though because Vermouth's loyalty is not as secure as it should be. He also royally screwed up keeping Shiho loyal and dealing with Akemi, which is partially Akai's doing. I feel like these should say something important about the boss and his weaknesses, but I am not sure what. Ideas, anyone?

If I were to guess at the boss's personality, I would say he believes in subtly testing others to evaluate them rather than just relying on observation and instinct to provide character and threat analysis, but he is not nearly as overt about it as Vermouth. I would also guess the boss prefers keeping secrets, but the face he shows others is sharply analytical and goal focused more like Gin. (Which explains why Gin doesn't hate his boss) The boss's plans come filtered through the various antagonists so it is hard to extract the boss's personality through them beyond the obvious "he is cautious", "he tries to destroy potential threats before they can develop", and "he knows his enemies well". In Red vs Black, I think using a pot of columbines for the bomb sent to James was the boss's idea - a challenge from one boss to another.

[kirite]

(Note: sorry for the typos, I don't have time to spell check >n not that close?-> If Gin knew that would be bad...?

Bourbon: Competent and subtle, doesn't seem to know about APTX either but closer to figuring it out then Gin.  However like Vermouth there seems to be something more about this character then he's letting on (oh dear).


Kir:  IS A FREAKIN CIA agent

Sherry: /flee and was never dedicated to him in the first place

Vodka: ...doesn't think as much as he should

Chianti: Loves to shoot things and feels annoyed if she doesn't get to do so (...she's like a little kid)

Korn: "....." (can't say much)


I'm sure there is a master plan somewhere, or maybe he doesn't really care about the org (he cares about immortality over BO success maybe?).  And maybe there are more "Gins" in the BO.  Just don't see it.

[Nix]

This is a copy paste from GD:

Well, I was thinking, just say this boss is the modern-day Moriarty.
Moriarty was the head of a secret criminal organisation. Holmes describes him as:

 "Is he not the celebrated author of The Dynamics of an Asteroid, a book which ascends to such rarefied heights of pure mathematics that it is said that there was no man in the scientific press capable of criticizing it? Is this a man to traduce? Foulmouthed doctor and slandered professor — such would be your respective roles! That’s genius, Watson."

So maybe that's why Haibara will be shocked, because Anokata is someone who is unlikely to a boss of an organisation such as:

[quote]Quote from: from Chekhov
2.2) The boss’s front job or status is unexpected like a policeman or a school teacher rather than a scientist, company boss, or political figure. It would have to be an unusually benign front to really shock Ai. This person would probably not trigger Ai’s “black org senseâ€

[kei]

I don't know who might be, but this part still sounds odd to me:

Spoiler: File 327

[Conan-chandesune]

The boss clearly isn't perfect though because Vermouth's loyalty is not as secure as it should be. He also royally screwed up keeping Shiho loyal and dealing with Akemi, which is partially Akai's doing. I feel like these should say something important about the boss and his weaknesses, but I am not sure what. Ideas, anyone?

I think that these imply that the boss is a man, or is incapable of predicting the emotions of women, which is a common factor here.

[Nix]

Okay, here's what I gathered about Anokata from this thread:

1) [url=http://"http://forums.dctp.ws/viewtopic.php?p=601051#p601051"]The boss may have been at the place or event of the Pisco incident[/url]
2) The boss' name has appeared in someway (before File 551)
3) Haibara would have never guessed
4) The true name of the BO would be a giveaway to who the boss is
5) The boss is extremely cautious who is the type to ruin a plan by overthinking it
6) And two posts with the same idea O.o (should have checked the earlier posts) [url=http://"http://forums.dctp.ws/viewtopic.php?p=694225#p694225"]here[/url] and [url=http://"http://forums.dctp.ws/viewtopic.php?p=751148#p751148"]here.[/url]
Suggesting that Anokata excels exceptionally in their field (just like Moriarty) and that he does not have an acquaintance with Shinichi and co.
7) Is probably old, minimum 30, if he didn't have an age wonkiness
8) He subtly tests others to evaluate them
9) He may be a man, because he may not understand women's feelings (eg failing to keep Sherry loyal and dealing with Akemi)

Hmm...

[ShadowGuy]

I don't know who might be, but this part still sounds odd to me:

Spoiler: File 327

I've always interpreted this as Goshos way of making Akai looking more suspicious. Remember, at the end of that file James Black was seen talking with Akai, who at that time was supposed to be a BO member suspect.

[random noob]

3) Haibara would have never guessed

Just an idea that I had, and I'm not sure if it's been brought up yet or not (sorry if it has).  But, a possible reason that Haibara specifically would be surprised about the boss' identity could be that the boss doesn't give off the same aura that frightens her like the other BO members do. 

Just a thought. 

[Chekhov MacGuffin]

Okay, here's what I gathered about Anokata from this thread:

1) The boss may have been at the place or event of the Pisco incident

I feel like singling out this case is too strong.
Given the situation, I think it is more likely the boss called/texted Gin and ordered Pisco's immediate termination rather than was at the party him/herself. I assume the trigger for the order was Pisco's picture showing up in the newspaper. Gin wouldn't exactly have time to stop and check newspapers, especially the celebrity gossip page, while trying to sort out the problem of Pisco and Vermouth being held by the police. I think the boss told Gin about the picture when explaining why Pisco had to be offed for successfully completing the mission. Few, or no, people at the party would have had internet connections (Volume published in 1999, no internet phones) unless they had a physical wired computer in front of them. Pisco's setup was awfully clunky (probably was cool at the time though) and required a phone -- it isn't clear if Pisco could even connect to the internet versus just the BO's network. I feel like it is more likely the boss was somewhere with internet access, probably wherever he hangs out normally, and he called Gin after checking out the news to see how things are going. It's possible the boss was checked into the hotel, and Gin made a stop at his room, but I see no reason why especially.

[Pmofmalasia]

3) Haibara would have never guessed

Just an idea that I had, and I'm not sure if it's been brought up yet or not (sorry if it has).  But, a possible reason that Haibara specifically would be surprised about the boss' identity could be that the boss doesn't give off the same aura that frightens her like the other BO members do. 

Just a thought. 

That would be a bit absurd (on Gosho's part, it's still a valid thought), since her senses have never been wrong that I can remember.  So to go back on that with no clue about why they would fail would be unfair to the readers.  I suppose it's possible if we're ever given hints that she can be wrong in the future though.  Ah, and I don't count Akai as being "wrong" since he was technically in the BO at some point, to clarify.

@Chek:  I agree, since all of the boss' orders have been sent via text that we've so far, it would be odd to assume otherwise here.  Still possible, of course, just less likely.  Plus, Gin had been somewhere else before the hotel, so even if the orders were in person then they probably would have been given at whatever other place Gin had been.  Also, I think in the anime it's "directly from that person," which I know isn't cannon but I suppose it's another possible translation.

[Conan-chandesune]

Okay, here's what I gathered about Anokata from this thread:

1) The boss may have been at the place or event of the Pisco incident

I feel like singling out this case is too strong.
Given the situation, I think it is more likely the boss called/texted Gin and ordered Pisco's immediate termination rather than was at the party him/herself. I assume the trigger for the order was Pisco's picture showing up in the newspaper. Gin wouldn't exactly have time to stop and check newspapers, especially the celebrity gossip page, while trying to sort out the problem of Pisco and Vermouth being held by the police. I think the boss told Gin about the picture when explaining why Pisco had to be offed for successfully completing the mission. Few, or no, people at the party would have had internet connections (Volume published in 1999, no internet phones) unless they had a physical wired computer in front of them. Pisco's setup was awfully clunky (probably was cool at the time though) and required a phone -- it isn't clear if Pisco could even connect to the internet versus just the BO's network. I feel like it is more likely the boss was somewhere with internet access, probably wherever he hangs out normally, and he called Gin after checking out the news to see how things are going. It's possible the boss was checked into the hotel, and Gin made a stop at his room, but I see no reason why especially.

I think Anokata might have been drawn into the volume as at that time Gosho possibly couldnt have imagined the manga to have been publishing 14 years later.