Detective Conan: Shadow Legion Office

27: Chapter 27 Shy Miyano AkemiTokyo’s morning is always awakened by the whistle of the first train.

The roses at Lin Family Manor unfurled their petals in the morning dew. As Miyano Akemi pushed open the window, she happened to see Lin Long standing in the center of the courtyard, his long blood-red hair gently swaying in the breeze, his red eyes gazing at the rising sun, his entire being seemingly enveloped in a faint halo.

Miyano Akemi was stunned.

Ever since Lin Long returned to his room last night, he had changed.

His long blood-colored hair fell to his waist, and his red eyes were more intoxicating than the deepest red wine. Even his temperament had become completely different—the former Lin Long was steady and reserved, like a deep lake; the current him, however, was like a dormant volcano, seemingly calm, yet hiding flames in his eyes capable of incinerating everything, domineering and charming.

”Akemi, what’s wrong?” Lin Long’s voice came, carrying a hint of a smile, breaking the morning silence.

Miyano Akemi snapped back to reality, her cheeks slightly flushed, and she hurriedly nodded: ”Ah, oh, it’s nothing, Mr. Lin Long.”

She was wearing a pale blue dress today, with tiny white flowers embroidered on the hem, which Lin Long had asked Butler Ochiai to purchase a few days ago.

Standing beside Lin Long, who was dressed in black with red hair and red eyes, she formed a stark contrast, yet it was unexpectedly harmonious.

”Nothing much going on today, let’s go for a walk.” Lin Long walked over to her and naturally took the small handbag from her hand, ”Let’s see if we can encounter something ’interesting’.”

Miyano Akemi knew what he meant by ”interesting”—absorbing malice black qi.

Over the past six months, she had long grown accustomed to Lin Long’s special ability, and even faintly felt that those who committed evil deeds truly deserved such ”punishment.”

The two walked out of the manor side by side; Lin Long did not drive but chose to walk instead.

The morning streets were very quiet, the bakery exuded the aroma of freshly baked butter, and an old grandmother was taking a slow walk with her puppy.

Occasionally someone would notice Lin Long’s red hair and cast curious glances, but the moment they made contact with his red eyes, they would subconsciously look away—the pressure in those eyes made ordinary people instinctively feel awe.

”Mr. Lin Long, your hair and eyes...” Miyano Akemi hesitated for a long time before she couldn’t help but speak, her voice as thin as a mosquito’s hum, ”Won’t it be too conspicuous?”

”Isn’t being conspicuous a good thing?” Lin Long turned his head, his red eyes appearing exceptionally bright in the morning light. ”I was too low-key before, and there were always people who didn’t know better. Like this now, at least it can make those with ill intentions weigh themselves first.”

Miyano Akemi was amused by his straightforward words, her eyes curving like crescent moons: ”That’s true.”

The two walked and stopped along the way. Lin Long would occasionally pause for a moment—when he saw a thief pickpocketing an elderly person’s wallet, a red light flashed in his eyes, and the next second the thief was knocked down by an out-of-control bicycle, landing bruised and swollen; when he heard neighbors arguing over noise and trading insults, he brushed his fingertips across the shadows, and that pair of neighbors immediately had their power cut off due to an ”accident,” forcing them to calm down in the darkness.

[Malicious behavior detected, malice black qi + 50 points.] [Conflict emotion detected, malice black qi + 30 points.]

The system prompts sounded intermittently, but Lin Long didn’t pay much attention to them.

To him now, this bit of black qi was just the icing on the cake; he enjoyed this leisure of walking side by side with Miyano Akemi more—like an ordinary couple, feeling the hustle and bustle of this city.

Miyano Akemi also gradually relaxed and no longer deliberately focused on Lin Long’s hair and eyes.

She would point to a newly opened flower shop by the roadside and say, ”The roses of this color are very beautiful,” she would stop when she saw a cute cat, and she would show a childlike smile when Lin Long bought her ice cream.

The sun gradually rose higher, and the streets became lively.

Lin Long checked the time and said to Miyano Akemi, ”It’s noon, let’s find a place to eat.”

He chose a high-end French restaurant located in Ginza, with white tablecloths, swaying candlesticks, a violinist playing soothing music in the corner, and the air filled with the aroma of truffles and red wine.

When the waiter saw Lin Long’s red hair, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, but his good professional training kept him from asking more, and he respectfully led the two to a window seat.

”What would you like to eat?” Lin Long handed the menu to Miyano Akemi, his red eyes appearing exceptionally gentle under the candlelight.

”I, I don’t really understand these...” Miyano Akemi looked at the French on the menu, feeling a bit embarrassed.

She used to be in the Organization, either eating bento boxes from the laboratory or fast food; she had never been to such a high-end restaurant before.

”Then I’ll order.” Lin Long smiled and skillfully rattled off several dish names—pan-seared foie gras with fig jam, sous-vide steak, truffle pasta, and also ordered a bottle of 1982 Lafite.

”Won’t that be too expensive?” Miyano Akemi asked in a low voice.

”For you, it’s worth it.” Lin Long’s tone was very serious, his red eyes staring straight at her, making her heart skip a beat, and her cheeks instantly flushed.

During the serving process, Miyano Akemi couldn’t help but secretly peek at Lin Long.

Lin Long’s blood-colored long hair was loosely tied behind his head, with a few strands falling beside his cheeks, making his skin appear even fairer.

His red eyes flowed under the candlelight, focused when looking at the menu, elegant when tasting wine, and occasionally he would look up at her, his eyes carrying a deep meaning she couldn’t understand.

”What are you looking at?” Lin Long suddenly looked up, meeting her gaze exactly.

Miyano Akemi, like a thief caught in the act, hurriedly lowered her head, her heart pounding, even her earlobes turning bright red: ”N-nothing...”

Lin Long chuckled, not exposing her. He could feel her nervousness, and he could also feel the curiosity and... a hint of imperceptible affection in her eyes.

The former him might have deliberately avoided it, but now, he just wanted to follow his own heart.

After finishing the steak, Lin Long picked up his napkin and elegantly wiped the corners of his mouth, then put the napkin down, leaned forward slightly, and looked straight at Miyano Akemi, his tone carrying a touch of playfulness: ”Akemi, you keep secretly peeking at me today, you have something to say, right?”

Being called out on the spot, Miyano Akemi’s cheeks were as red as a ripe apple. She gripped the tablecloth tightly, hesitated for a long time, then gathered the courage to look up and asked in a low voice: ”Mr. Lin Long, why is it that after not seeing you for a day, your hair and eyes... have become like this?”

Her voice was filled with worry, fearing that this change might be harmful to his body.

Lin Long had long expected her to ask, and a calm smile appeared on his face: ”You know, I can summon shadow soldiers.”

Miyano Akemi nodded.

”Last night, my ability leveled up.” Lin Long explained nonchalantly, as if he were talking about the most ordinary thing, ”The changes in my hair and eyes are just side effects of the ability upgrade, nothing to make a fuss about.”

He did not say that he had become a dark creature, nor did he say that he had gained the power of immortality—these were too shocking, and he did not want to make Miyano Akemi worry.

”Side effects?” Miyano Akemi was still a bit worried, ”Will it be bad for your body? Should we let Shiho take a look?”

”It’s really fine.” Lin Long looked at her nervous appearance, feeling a warmth in his heart. He suddenly leaned closer, a hint of mischief flashing in his red eyes, his tone teasing, ”What, Akemi, do you think I look... bad like this?”

Lin Long was very close to Miyano Akemi, and the faint scent of cedar on his body, mixed with the smell of red wine, lingered at the tip of Miyano Akemi’s nose.

His blood-colored long hair fell onto the back of her hand with a cool touch, and his red eyes were right in front of her, like an abyss containing stars, causing her to lose her focus instantly.

Miyano Akemi looked at his face, which was inches away—a high-bridged nose, thin and sexy lips, and especially those red eyes, which were currently looking at her with focus, as if they could suck away a person’s soul.

Her cheeks instantly exploded in red, her heartbeat fast enough to burst out of her chest. She hurriedly picked up the red wine glass on the table and took a big gulp, but because she drank too fast, she choked and started coughing.

”Cough, cough...”

”Drink slowly.” Lin Long reached out and gently patted her back, his movements gentle.

Miyano Akemi coughed for a good while before recovering. Meeting Lin Long’s amused gaze, she became even more embarrassed and stammered: ”N-no, it’s not that you look bad... it’s, it’s very good-looking... I feel like you’re more, more domineering than before, and even more charming...”

Once the words were out, she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

She had never said such straightforward compliments before.

Lin Long looked at her cheeks, which were almost dripping with red, and listened to her stammering praise, feeling great, and couldn’t help but chuckle.

Laughter flowed in his red eyes, carrying a touch of doting: ”Is that so? Then I’m relieved.”

He sat back in his seat and continued to drink his red wine leisurely, but his gaze never left Miyano Akemi.

Watching her with her head down, fingers unconsciously tracing the tablecloth, her earlobes red and cute, the flame named ”desire” in Lin Long’s heart burned even brighter.

”Akemi.”

”Ah?” Miyano Akemi looked up suddenly, like a startled little deer.

Lin Long put down his wine glass, leaned forward slightly, his red eyes filled with seriousness: ”After we finish eating, let’s go watch a movie.”

”Watch a movie?” Miyano Akemi was stunned, a bit dazed.

She had never thought that Lin Long would take the initiative to invite her to watch a movie—this sounded too much like a date between a couple.

Miyano Akemi looked blankly at Lin Long; his red eyes appeared exceptionally sincere under the candlelight, making her unable to refuse.

”Ah... oh... o-okay.”

Watching her silly look, Lin Long couldn’t help but laugh again.

He picked up his napkin, wiped the corners of his mouth, and was already starting to calculate in his heart—after the movie, go to the night market, and then when he walked her home, perhaps he could...

The sunlight from outside the window shone through the glass, falling on Lin Long’s blood-colored long hair, refracting a bewitching and warm light.

Miyano Akemi looked at his profile; such a domineering yet gentle Lin Long was exactly the existence she had always longed to be close to, deep in her heart.

As for what the future would be like, she didn’t know, and she didn’t want to know.

She only knew that sitting across from him at this moment, listening to his laughter, and feeling his gaze, her heart was filled with unprecedented palpitations and anticipation.

This lunch, in a subtle and sweet atmosphere, slowly came to an end.

And the story belonging to them had just turned a new page.