Detective Conan: Shadow Legion Office

37: Chapter 37 Compromise! Lin Long’s AdviceThe morning mist had not yet dispersed, and a low-pressure atmosphere already permeated the reception room of the Lin Family Manor.

Butler Ochiai stepped out on tiptoe, leaving the space to the two men who were clashing once again.

Kudo Yusaku sat on the sofa, the dark circles under his eyes clearly visible, evidently having not slept all night.

His hair was somewhat messy, and his usual composure had been replaced by exhaustion and struggle; only his sharp eyes still retained a trace of unyielding light.

Lin Long leaned back on the opposite sofa, holding an unlit cigar between his fingertips, his red eyes watching him calmly, as if he had long anticipated his answer.

”It seems Mr. Kudo has thought it over?” Lin Long spoke first, breaking the silence.

Kudo Yusaku raised his head and stared straight at Lin Long. After a few seconds of silence, he spoke slowly, his voice raspy like sandpaper rubbing against wood:

”Yes. Our family has discussed it.”

His tone carried an indescribable heaviness, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

”Please convey to the person who threatened our family,”

”that tomorrow, the news will report: ’After being missing for many days, the body of the famous detective Kudo Shinichi has been found, and his death has been confirmed.’”

After saying this, Kudo Yusaku seemed to have all his strength drained away, slumping dejectedly against the back of the sofa, a deep sense of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

He never imagined that such a day would come—that to protect his son, he would have to personally ”bury” his identity.

But he had no choice.

The other party held their weakness, held Shinichi’s secret, just like holding a sword of Damocles over their heads.

Never mind that he was just a mystery novelist; even if a god came down, in the face of such absolute information asymmetry and threats, they wouldn’t be able to stir up any waves.

Lin Long nodded, his face devoid of much expression, as if this were just a minor matter that was expected:

”A wise choice.”

He knew that Kudo Yusaku’s compromise was not cowardice, but forbearance to protect his family.

A man like this would inevitably retaliate once he found an opportunity.

But Lin Long didn’t care; he had enough confidence to ensure the other party would never have a chance to turn things around.

Besides, Kudo Yusaku had said to have him pass the message to the person who threatened them.

”Well, it’s not like I’m the one threatening you anyway,” Lin Long thought shamelessly to himself. The ones threatening you are the Ghosts and the Shadow Guards; why are you coming to me to find them?

Miyano Akemi walked in carrying tea. Seeing Kudo Yusaku’s haggard appearance, a flash of pity crossed her eyes, but she still followed Lin Long’s signal and placed a cup of hot tea in front of him, saying softly:

”Mr. Kudo, have some tea to warm yourself up.”

”Thank you.”

Kudo Yusaku thanked her in a low voice but did not touch the tea.

He took a deep breath, as if having made a certain decision, and looked up at Lin Long, his eyes becoming firm once again:

”Mr. Lin Long, I heard that your agency accepts all kinds of commissions, regardless of size, as long as the payment can be met?”

Lin Long raised an eyebrow: ”You could say that. As long as it doesn’t violate my principles and the payment is sufficient, there’s nothing I can’t take.”

”Then I want to commission your agency to help me investigate that ’Black Organization’.”

Kudo Yusaku said, enunciating every word, his gaze locked tightly on Lin Long, ”I want to know their background, their core members, their bases, and their objectives.”

He couldn’t just let it go.

Lin Long’s side was temporarily stabilized (although Lin Long would never admit it), and their family was safe for the time being, but as long as the organization that caused Conan Edogawa to shrink was not eliminated, they would never have peace.

He had to understand the enemy to find a chance to strike back, preferably finding an antidote.

A flash of surprise crossed Lin Long’s eyes, followed by a playful smile: ”Oh? Investigating the Black Organization? You certainly dare to think big.”

That was a transnational criminal organization that even the police were helpless against; they operated secretly and used ruthless methods. Investigating them was like asking a tiger for its skin.

”What? Is President Lin Long afraid to take it?” Kudo Yusaku countered, his tone carrying a hint of provocation.

He was probing, testing the relationship between Lin Long and the Black Organization, testing his confidence.

”What’s there to be afraid of?” ”Mr. Kudo, provocation doesn’t work on me.”

Lin Long laughed, a trace of arrogance flashing in his red eyes, ”It’s just that their information is not cheap. Are you sure... you can afford it?”

Kudo Yusaku did not hesitate at all. He took out a blank check and a fountain pen from his briefcase, placed them on the table, and pushed them toward Lin Long: ”Whatever the payment is, you say it, and I’ll fill it in.”

His tone was decisive, without any hesitation.

For the safety of his family, and for his own rascal of a son, Kudo Yusaku was willing to spend any amount of money.

Lin Long looked at the check, then at Kudo Yusaku’s resolute eyes, and suddenly smiled: ”Straightforward. Since Mr. Kudo is so sincere, I’ll show my sincerity too.”

He held up five fingers: ”Five hundred thousand US dollars. It’s not much, but it’s enough to buy their basic information.”

This price was far lower than Kudo Yusaku’s expectations.

He was stunned for a moment, then immediately picked up the pen, quickly filled in the amount on the check, signed his name, and pushed it back to Lin Long.

”Deal.”

Lin Long picked up the check and flicked it with his fingertip, the paper making a crisp sound.

He nodded in satisfaction and handed the check to Butler Ochiai, who was standing nearby (he had appeared at just the right moment, as if he had been waiting outside the door the whole time), and then said to Kudo Yusaku:

”The Black Organization, originally named the ’Karasuma Group’, uses alcohol names as code names for its core members, such as Gin, Vodka, Vermouth, Bourbon...”

He began to narrate methodically, his voice calm, yet every word was shocking: ”Their founder is Renya Karasuma, an old monster who has lived for nearly a hundred years, relying on unknown means to sustain his life, attempting to control the world’s wealth and power...”

”The organization’s main businesses include developing prohibited drugs (such as the APTX4869 that caused Shinichi to shrink), assassinating politicians, arms trafficking, manipulating the stock market...”

”Their bases are spread across the globe, with the core area in Tokyo, but their specific locations are unknown, and their defenses are extremely tight...”

”Currently known high-level members include ’The Boss’ (i.e., Renya Karasuma), Rum (the second-in-command), Gin (the person in charge of the Japan region and the head of the operations division)...”

Lin Long did not conceal too much, but he also did not reveal core secrets (such as the bases of Gin and others, or their true identities in daily life, etc.).

What he said was enough for Kudo Yusaku to understand what a terrifying behemoth his son had provoked.

The more Kudo Yusaku listened, the graver his expression became, his hand gripping the teacup tighter and tighter, his knuckles turning white.

He knew the Black Organization was dangerous, but he hadn’t expected it to be to this extent—transnational crime, immortality, attempting to control the world... This was even crazier than any villain he had ever written!

It was a miracle that Shinichi had managed to survive at the hands of such an organization.

After finishing, Lin Long looked at his pale face and said calmly: ”This is the basic information. Is it worth five hundred thousand?”

Kudo Yusaku took a deep breath, trying to calm his surging emotions: ”It’s enough. Thank you for informing me, President Lin Long.”

He finally understood why Lin Long said that having Kudo Shinichi ”die” was actually saving him.

Facing such an organization, any resistance was like an egg striking a stone.

”President Lin Long, do you think Shinichi can ever change back?”

”Heh! Mr. Kudo, with your intelligence, you should be able to guess.” ”The Black Organization isn’t researching poison, but an immortality drug. Kudo Shinichi’s rejuvenation isn’t poisoning, so where would an antidote come from?”

Lin Long curled his lip and said.

Kudo Yusaku fell silent upon hearing this. In fact, from the moment he learned about this, he had already guessed that there was no such thing as an antidote.

It was just that he didn’t want to discourage his son, and he held a sliver of hope in his heart, but now that illusion had been shattered by Lin Long.

After a moment of silence, Kudo Yusaku raised his head again, his eyes filled with a desperate resolve: ”President Lin Long, I know it’s unrealistic to ask your agency to help us deal with the Black Organization.”

He understood that even if Lin Long had the ability, it was impossible for him to make an enemy of a behemoth like the Black Organization just for their family.

”But I will pay another one million US dollars.”

Kudo Yusaku’s voice had a hint of tremor, but it was exceptionally firm, ”I only hope President Lin Long can point out a way for our family to survive. You don’t need to take action; just give us a hint or a little protection at critical moments...”

One million US dollars, plus the previous five million and five hundred thousand, was already the limit of what he could currently produce; everything else was tied up in assets and investments in various places.

He was gambling, gambling that Lin Long still had a shred of a bottom line, gambling that he wouldn’t push them into a dead end.

Lin Long raised an eyebrow with some surprise.

He hadn’t expected Kudo Yusaku to have such courage, sparing no expense for his family.

This fatherly love actually moved him a little—of course, only a little.

”Mr. Kudo is certainly generous.”

Lin Long smiled, stood up, walked over to Kudo Yusaku, placed his hands on the table, and looked down at him, a strange light flickering in his red eyes.

”Since you have such courage, I do have a suggestion, though I don’t know if you’re willing to accept it.”

Kudo Yusaku’s heart skipped a beat, and he watched him vigilantly: ”What suggestion?”

Lin Long spoke slowly, his tone carrying a sense of temptation and a dangerous aura: ”Since Mr. Kudo wants to protect the safety of your family, I think... you could join the Black Organization.”

”What did you say?!” Kudo Yusaku stood up abruptly, the chair sliding far back as he bumped into it, making a harsh sound, ”You want me to join that criminal organization that harmed Shinichi?!”

He couldn’t believe his ears! What kind of absurd suggestion was this? Join the enemy’s camp and collude with them?

”Calm down, Mr. Kudo.” Lin Long maintained his leaning posture, looking at him with calm eyes, ”This is just a suggestion I’m making; you can accept it, or you can choose not to.”

Lin Long continued: ”With your talent—deductive ability, strategic planning, insight into human nature—the Black Organization would be desperate to have you.”

”As long as you are willing to join, given your status, it wouldn’t be a problem to become a codenamed member in a short time.”

”Once you become a core member of the organization, who would dare to touch your family? Who would dare to touch Kudo Shinichi? Protecting them would be nothing more than a matter of saying a word.”

Lin Long’s voice was like a devil’s whisper, carrying a strange persuasiveness: ”This is called ’fighting fire with fire’.”

”Instead of living in fear outside, it’s better to go deep into the tiger’s den and take the initiative. What do you think?”

Kudo Yusaku stared fixedly at Lin Long, his chest heaving violently.

His first reaction was anger, and refusal—that was an international criminal organization; he had spent half his life as a detective fighting against crime, so how could he possibly join a criminal organization now?

But calming down and thinking about it, although Lin Long’s words were absurd, they happened to strike his weakness—this was indeed the most direct and effective way to protect his family.

As long as he entered the organization, he could grasp first-hand information, protect his family before danger arrived, and look for clues about the drug.

Or even... find an opportunity to destroy the organization.

This was a road leading to the abyss, but it was also a road that might lead to seeing the light.

”And,” Lin Long, as if seeing through his struggle, added, ”as it happens, I know the true identity of a codenamed member of the organization.”

”You are even quite familiar with this person. If you want to join, this might be a good entry point.”

He threw out a huge bait.

Kudo Yusaku’s breathing became rapid, and his eyes struggled intensely.

On one side was dignity and hatred, and on the other was his family’s safety and a faint hope.

How should he choose?

Lin Long did not urge him, just watched him quietly, a hint of playfulness in his red eyes.

He just wanted to see what kind of choice this man, hailed as the ”God of Deduction”, would make in the face of a desperate situation.

The reception room fell into dead silence once again, with only the sound of the two men’s heavy breathing and the ticking of the antique clock on the wall, as if counting down for Kudo Yusaku’s decision.

For a long, long time...

Kudo Yusaku slowly, very slowly, sat back down in the chair, the color drained completely from his face, leaving only a deathly calm.

He raised his head and looked at Lin Long, his voice raspy as if it had crawled out from hell: ”That codenamed member... who is it?”

He had made his choice.

For his family, he was willing to step into the abyss.

Lin Long watched the determination and pain in his eyes, a meaningful smile curling the corners of his lips.

”Her name is... Vermouth.”