Black Organization members' ranks

[Mario2000]

Even though the BO has a boss, Gin covers the role of the primary antagonist for the most part for now, at least I get that impression. Vermouth is said to be the boss' favorite. But do you think one of the characters shown till now is actually the second-in-command of the organization, or are they just middle members, like the "capi decina" in the Italian mafia? I mean, apart from the boss, will there be also any revelations concerning his/her closest advisors, the "director's board" of the organization's structure or have we already seen the main "bad guys"?

[Chekhov MacGuffin]

Even though the BO has a boss, Gin covers the role of the primary antagonist for the most part for now, at least I get that impression. Vermouth is said to be the boss' favorite. But do you think one of the characters shown till now is actually the second-in-command of the organization, or are they just middle members, like the "capi decina" in the Italian mafia? I mean, apart from the boss, will there be also any revelations concerning his/her closest advisors, the "director's board" of the organization's structure or have we already seen the main "bad guys"?

I don't think there is an obvious second in command at this point. It seems the boss goes through primarily Vermouth and Gin. Gin seems to be the most trusted member with missions (not necessarily trusted most with secrets though) even if he isn't the boss's favorite like Vermouth. Perhaps there is a second in command/adviser in the shadows, but we haven't seen any hints about that yet.

Gosho said in an interview (DCW is down so I can't link it) that codenamed members were all supposed to be equal, but the manga does not seem accord with this statement based on the evidence so far. (Gin > Vodka/Tequila, Vermouth > Amuro) The Conan Drill contradicts the interview and suggests there are ranks within the codenamed members as well. I am inclined to side with what we see in the manga and that there are relative ranks that come with privileges lower members don't have, although the ranks may be partially fluid as certain members may take command based on their personal strengths and favoritism with the boss.

During Red vs. Black, the FBI had analyzed the Black Organization's structure to figure out who was close to the boss and thus who would be the target of Akai during the infiltration mission. Gin was called an "Executive Member" who they think could lead them to the boss and the FBI aimed to capture him because of this. Pisco seemed to be high ranking on par with Gin as well based on what he told Gin at the party where he was killed. Vermouth is probably also an executive member as the Boss's favorite and because she is shown managing other codenamed members like Bourbon. (See 824 convo where Bourbon has to ask Vermouth for access to the info on Akai's death.)

Here is a chart I made for the Organization's structure copied from the Organization structure chart given on page 237 the Conan Drill. (Note that I guessed at the rankings myself based on the information that we know at the moment.) There are three categories: Internal Division (内部活動部隊), External Division (外部活動部隊), and General Oversight (全体監視役). The external division is composed of agents who primarily deal with people outside the Organization. The known internal division agents are focused on in-house research and development. General oversight takes a managerial and coordinating role. The divisions are unrelated to relative ranking among members (eg. Vermouth ranks over Vodka.) Different members seem to have skills outside their various subdivisions they are called upon to use at times, eg. Kir helping in an assassination plot.



The Detective Conan World wiki has a section on the ranks and all, but it is down at the moment. Here is a copy of the text from the page. Edit: Back up now

Spoiler:

==Rank==
<!--This might be a good topic for a table but I am sick of wikitable markup and don't want to do it-->
Agents who excel at their work and make their way up the ranks are given alcohol codenames. Even within codenamed agents there are further rank divisions. One advantage that comes with being higher ranked is access to more informational files; lower rank agents have to request to see certain materials from higher ranking agents.<ref name=824p16>Manga Volume 78, File 7 (824), Page 16: "Mystery Train: Final Destination"</ref>

===Executive agents===
The "Executive"<ref>Manga [[Volume 58]], File 2 (599), pg 9: "Akai's past". "Executive" is a term used by the FBI to describe the agents who are high ranking like Gin and is not necessarily the term the Organization itself uses to refer to that top level.</ref> agents are the highest ranked codenamed agents within the Black Organization under the boss. They can command many other codenamed agents and have access to more information than lower ranked agents. Even for other executive agents, killing one without express orders from the boss would result in a loss of standing.<ref>Manga Volume 24, File 11, page 14: Pisco tells Gin this</ref><br>
*[[Gin]]
*[[Vermouth]]: Also the boss' favorite
*[[Pisco]]<ref name=CD239>[[:File:ConanDrill239.jpg|Conan Drill page 239]]</ref>

===Codenamed agents===
Agents who have excelled beyond the rank and file member enough earn recognition and an alcohol codename.

'''Work(ed) under Gin'''
*[[Vodka]]: Tequila and Vodka are approximately the same rank<ref name=CD239>Conan Drill page 239</ref>
*[[Tequila]]: Vodka and Tequila are approximately the same rank<ref name=CD239>Conan Drill page 239</ref>
*[[Chianti]]
*[[Korn]]
*[[Rye]]

'''Work(ed) under Vermouth'''
*[[Calvados]]

'''General'''
*[[Sherry]]: Known to be highly ranked but it has not been stated if she was an executive agent.
*[[Kir]]
*[[Tooru Amuro|Bourbon]]
*[[Irish]] (movie only)

===Non codenamed agents===
*[[Akemi Miyano]]
*[[Ki'ichiro Numabuchi]]
*[[Ethan Hondou]]
*[[Rikumichi Kusuda]]
*[[Yoshiaki Hara]] (movie only)

===Unknown if codenamed===
*[[Atsushi Miyano]]
*[[Elena Miyano]]

[kkuuddoo]

As for episode 340-341 ( I think )
Elena had a code name - Hell Angel
Atsushi had a code name - mad scientist

[User 4869]

Are they not nickname? Codenames are always alchohol. or else you can say Bourbon has another codename. Zero.

[Chekhov MacGuffin]

As for episode 340-341 ( I think )
Elena had a code name - Hell Angel
Atsushi had a code name - mad scientist

Those weren't stated to be official codenames though.

[kkuuddoo]

but why did bourbon call sherry , hell angel daughter, you look very much alike,
he basically called elena miyano by her code name , or else what can it be ?
I don't really think its a nick name

[Mario2000]

Chekhov MacGuffin, thanks for the information!
But if Pisco is a high-ranking member, why does he do the hits himself? I mean, Gin does this too, but I thought it was more for pleasure, him being a character who enjoys violence, as it seems. Pisco doesn't seem the same type, I thought he may be experienced, due to his age, but not one of those members who make any decisions.

[Chekhov MacGuffin]

Chekhov MacGuffin, thanks for the information!
But if Pisco is a high-ranking member, why does he do the hits himself? I mean, Gin does this too, but I thought it was more for pleasure, him being a character who enjoys violence, as it seems. Pisco doesn't seem the same type, I thought he may be experienced, due to his age, but not one of those members who make any decisions.

It seems that all members can be called on by the boss to assassinate a target when needed (see Kir and Vermouth who are both more recon types), and I think Pisco was the best situated to take out Nomiguchi Shigehiko because Pisco was unlikely to be suspected and was going to be at the same party. Pisco did seem well trained with his handgun; he managed to shoot a chain in the dark in one shot. He must have done regular practice which means he expected that he would need it.

[Incomplete-tantei]

But there was fluorescent paint on the chain to help him, wasn't there?

Well, I guess you can call this experience, though.

[Chekhov MacGuffin]

But there was fluorescent paint on the chain to help him, wasn't there?

Well, I guess you can call this experience, though.

It is really hard to aim in the dark, even with a light to guide you. Try making your room completely dark and throwing a ball at something which glows, like a clock. You won't be as accurate as you are in a lit room without practice. (Also don't throw so hard you accidentally knock your clock off like I did. )

[Incomplete-tantei]

Don't know if I'll try but yeah, looks more difficult. xD