Detective Conan: Shadow Legion Office

42: Chapter 42 Manipulating Ayako SuzukiIn the study of the Lin Family Manor, Lin Long held a cigar between his fingers, the smoke curling before his eyes, blurring the playfulness in his gaze.

The laptop screen on the desk was lit, and the message just sent by Ghost was clearly visible:

[Unconventional query of your identity information detected from the Japanese Public Security system. Operator: Kazami Yuya.]

”Kazami Yuya...” Lin Long chuckled, exhaling a puff of smoke. ”It seems Amuro Tooru couldn’t help himself after all.”

Lin Long had long anticipated that if Vermouth discovered at the Kudo Family that it was he who exposed her identity, she would definitely investigate him.

And as the only intelligence operative in Tokyo, Vermouth would certainly contact Amuro Tooru to have him investigate.

As a Public Security undercover agent, Amuro Tooru would inevitably remain highly vigilant against anyone who might threaten the Black Organization (or rather, threaten his undercover mission).

”Ghost, add some fuel to the fire for Kazami Yuya,” Lin Long said to the air, his tone tinged with mockery.

”Give them some ’special’ ingredients, like an attack by the Black Organization...”

Lin Long believed that once Amuro Tooru knew, he would definitely pay special attention to him, and might even personally infiltrate the Lin Family Manor to make contact.

[Understood.] Ghost’s reply was concise.

Lin Long closed the chat window and turned his gaze toward the window. Amuro Tooru’s investigation was merely a minor interlude.

What interested him more now was someone else—Suzuki Ayako.

Watching the synchronized footage from the Shadow Guards, he saw the change in Mr. and Mrs. Suzuki’s expressions after Suzuki Ayako returned home, as well as their argument over whether to proceed with the marriage alliance with the Tomizawa Financial Group.

He watched Suzuki Ayako’s expression turn somber and her hands clench after hearing her father insist on marrying her off to Tomizawa Yuzo for the sake of the Zaibatsu’s reputation.

”Not content with being treated as a pawn?” A meaningful smile curled the corners of Lin Long’s mouth. ”Then you must seize the opportunity to take control of your own destiny.”

He picked up his phone and sent a message to Suzuki Ayako: Want to take the initiative? Come to the Lin Family Manor tomorrow, and I will give you a chance.

Sent successfully. Lin Long put down his phone and leaned back into his chair.

How do you know? Are you monitoring my house? On the other side, after receiving the message, Suzuki Ayako was shocked, looked around, and then replied to Lin Long.

Lin Long looked at the message from Suzuki Ayako, chuckled, didn’t reply, and set the phone aside.

The next morning, Suzuki Ayako stood before the gate of the Lin Family Manor, her palms slightly sweaty. She hadn’t slept all night.

Lin Long’s message was like a pebble, stirring up a thousand ripples in her heart.

She knew Lin Long was not a benevolent person, and his ”opportunity” was likely accompanied by great risk, but thinking of her father’s argument with her mother over so-called reputation, and remembering how she had been pushed into a transaction called ”marriage alliance,” she made up her mind.

Rather than waiting for death, it was better to grasp this last straw—even if this straw might be a venomous snake.

”Miss Suzuki, please come in.” Butler Ochiai respectfully opened the gate and led her toward the reception room.

Walking into the familiar reception room, Lin Long was sitting on the sofa, holding a financial newspaper, his blood-red hair shimmering with a strange luster in the morning light.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up, his red eyes carrying a trace of playful amusement.

”Miss Suzuki, you’re here.” He put down the newspaper and stood up. ”It seems you are more courageous than I imagined.”

”President Lin Long.” Suzuki Ayako took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound calm. ”What exactly is this ’opportunity’ you spoke of?”

”Also, monitoring others without their permission is against the law.” She was in no mood to play games with him; she just wanted the answer.

Lin Long smiled and didn’t answer directly, instead gesturing for her to sit. Miyano Akemi arrived at the perfect moment with tea, then quietly withdrew.

”I’m not monitoring you; I’m just well-informed,” Lin Long said shamelessly.

”Miss Suzuki, your current situation is quite awkward, isn’t it?”

Lin Long picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and said in a nonchalant tone, ”Your parents are arguing endlessly over whether you should enter this marriage alliance, and you are unwilling to be a pawn, so you came to find me, didn’t you?”

Suzuki Ayako’s face turned slightly pale. Lin Long’s words accurately struck her sore spot.

”The reason your father is so insistent is simply that he fears calling off the engagement would make the outside world think the Suzuki Family is going back on their word, damaging the image of the conglomerate, right?”

Lin Long continued, his gaze locked onto her. ”Before, they thought that as long as you married into the family, you could sideline Tomizawa Yuzo and take control of the Tomizawa Financial Group.”

”But now... the appearance of Fuzawa Seiji has made their plan a pipe dream.”

Suzuki Ayako nodded silently. This was exactly what she found most helpless—her marriage was never her own affair, but a bargaining chip for family interests.

Lin Long put down the teacup, leaned forward slightly, and a dangerous glint flashed in his red eyes.

Suzuki Ayako’s heart skipped a beat, vaguely guessing what he was about to say.

Lin Long walked slowly behind her. He was tall, and as he stood behind Suzuki Ayako, the shadow he cast almost completely enveloped her, bringing an invisible sense of oppression.

He didn’t speak, but leaned down slightly, his warm breath brushing against Suzuki Ayako’s ear, making her shiver uncontrollably.

”Now, aren’t your parents afraid that calling off the engagement will affect their image?” Lin Long’s voice was very low, like a devil’s whisper, clearly reaching her ears. ”Then what if, after you marry over there... all the heirs of the Tomizawa Financial Group and that illegitimate child were to disappear?”

”!!!” Suzuki Ayako’s pupils contracted sharply, and the blood in her body seemed to freeze instantly!

She turned her head abruptly, looking at Lin Long in disbelief: ”You, what did you say?!”

Make all the heirs of the Tomizawa Financial Group disappear? What does this mean? Murder?

She had never imagined that Lin Long would propose such a ruthless suggestion! If this kind of thing were exposed, it would invite hostility from all the Zaibatsu.

Besides, although Tomizawa Yuzo and the others were incompetent, they were living people; how could they just disappear?

”President Lin Long, are you crazy?” Suzuki Ayako’s voice trembled. ”That’s against the law! And...”

”And what?” Lin Long interrupted her, his mouth still hooked in that playful smile. ”Compared to being treated as a pawn and at the mercy of others, what is this little risk?”

”As long as the current person in power and the heirs of the Tomizawa Financial Group all meet with accidents, then you, as the daughter-in-law of the Tomizawa Financial Group...”

Lin Long’s hand gently wrapped around Suzuki Ayako’s waist, his fingertips feeling her body’s stiffness and trembling through the thin fabric.

”Think about it,” Lin Long’s voice sounded again, carrying a fatal seduction. ”If the heirs of the tomizawa family are all gone, the Tomizawa Financial Group will inevitably fall into chaos. At that time, although other Zaibatsu will covet this piece of fat meat, with the support of myself and the Suzuki Conglomerate, it is not impossible for you to take control of the Tomizawa Financial Group.”

”And you,” Lin Long lowered his head, his nose almost touching her earlobe, his voice ambiguous and dangerous, ”will not only be able to escape the fate of a pawn but will also become a player just like your parents. After all, controlling the fate of others is also a wonderful thing, isn’t it?”

Suzuki Ayako’s mind went blank. Lin Long’s words echoed in her ears like a curse, crazy, yet carrying a strange ”feasibility.”

She knew this was wrong, illegal, and immoral... but when she thought of the taste of freedom, thinking that she would no longer be a pawn, thinking that she could become a player and control the fate of others, her heart wavered.

Just then, Lin Long tilted his head slightly, stuck out the tip of his tongue, and gently licked her earlobe.

”Ugh!” Suzuki Ayako trembled violently, as if scalded. The moist sensation on her earlobe made her body go limp, and her cheeks instantly flushed bright red, like a ripe apple.

”You, what are you doing!” She panicked and broke free from Lin Long’s embrace, retreating a few steps, her eyes full of vigilance and shame.

This man was too presumptuous!

Lin Long watched her flustered appearance, the amusement in his eyes deepening. He liked to see these so-called distinguished ladies lose their composure, just like watching a carefully wrapped gift being unwrapped, revealing the truest desires and fears inside.

”Miss Suzuki, don’t be nervous.” Lin Long approached slowly, his tone tinged with mockery. ”I just want you to understand that to get something, you have to pay the corresponding price.”

He stopped, maintaining a one-step distance from her, his red eyes flashing with a look of certainty: ”If we become ’our own people,’ I can help you easily solve this trouble. Those idiots in the tomizawa family, and that illegitimate child who suddenly appeared—dealing with them is easy for me.”

His words were full of naked implications and threats, yet they carried an irresistible temptation.

Suzuki Ayako’s heart was beating fast, and her breathing became rapid. She looked at Lin Long’s face so close at hand, looked at the unfathomable light in his red eyes, and a battle raged in her heart.

Agree to him? Cooperate with this dangerous man and trade freedom for bloody means? Refuse him? Return to that cold home, continue to be her parents’ pawn, unable to even control her own destiny?

”You have no other choice, do you?” Lin Long seemed to see through her struggle and spoke again, his voice gentle but with unquestionable power. ”Either be controlled by your family for the rest of your life and become a sacrifice for interests; or cooperate with me and rewrite your own destiny with your own hands.”

He reached out, his fingertips gently stroking her cheek, his movements ambiguous and dangerous: ”Choose, Miss Suzuki.”

Suzuki Ayako’s body stiffened, her fingertips digging deep into her palms, leaving several clear red marks.

Sunlight shone in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a long shadow between the two, half in light, half in darkness.

Her gaze lingered on Lin Long’s face for a long time, looking at the smile of certainty in his eyes, feeling the urge deep in her heart to not be bound.

After a long, long time... Suzuki Ayako slowly, slowly raised her head, the panic and hesitation in her eyes gradually fading, replaced by a kind of desperate resolution.

She took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly, but exceptionally clear: ”If... I agree to you, what price will I have to pay?”

Lin Long smiled. He knew he had won.

”My dear Miss Ayako, congratulations on making the right decision.” Lin Long reached out and took her hand; her hand was cold, yet soft. ”You will gain a vast wealth conglomerate and unparalleled power.”

Suzuki Ayako’s hand trembled slightly, but she did not pull it back.

The moment her fingertips were enveloped by Lin Long, she knew she had stepped onto a path of no return.

”You will be a queen envied by all women in the world.”

”And you, my Queen!” Lin Long withdrew his hand to stroke Suzuki Ayako’s hair, slightly pressing Suzuki Ayako’s head down.

”You only need to submit to one person’s will, and that is me.”

The sunshine outside the window was still bright, but in Suzuki Ayako’s world, half of it had completely fallen into darkness.

And Lin Long looked at her bowing her head and working earnestly, the smile on his lips becoming even more brilliant.

Handled!