Detective Conan: Shadow Legion Office

73: Chapter 73 Three-Way MeleeIn the surveillance room of the Lin Family Manor, the giant screen was divided into dozens of frames, the central one displaying the figure of Akai Shuichi moving through an alley toward the Tokyo docks.

His pace was steady; even with an injury on his lower leg, every step remained precise, like a lone wolf prowling.

”Heh, he finally took the bait.”

Lin Long held a glass of red wine, watching Akai Shuichi on the screen, a calculating smile curling the corner of his lips.

The clues he had ”tailor-made” for Akai Shuichi had indeed worked—the information pointing to the ”Clown Organization” base at the docks was half-true and half-false; the true parts were enough to make Akai Shuichi believe it implicitly, while the false parts were just enough to lead him into the pre-set trap.

In the frame on the right side of the screen, Kazami Yuya was leading a team of Public Security Officers in police cars, following close on the trail of Akai Shuichi, like hounds that had caught the scent of blood, pursuing relentlessly.

The police lights on the roofs were flashing, but the sirens were deliberately turned off, clearly not wanting to alert the prey.

”The time is about right.” Lin Long put down his wine glass and snapped his fingers at the air.

”Swish—” The shadows surged like a living thing, and the figure of Ghost appeared silently, kneeling on one knee: ”BOSS.”

”Go and leak the news about Akai Shuichi to Gin and the others,” Lin Long’s voice was flat and waveless, yet carried an unquestionable command, ”Akai Shuichi is at the docks tonight, and I believe Gin will surely like this ’big gift’.”

Ghost looked up, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes, then bowed: ”Yes.”

Before the words had even faded, the figure merged back into the darkness, as if he had never appeared.

Lin Long looked back at the screen, switching the view to the secret bar of the Black Organization.

That punk Gin had been quiet for too long; it was time to make him ”active” again.

...

In the secret bar of the Black Organization, the lights were dim, and the air was filled with the mixed scent of alcohol and cigars.

At the bar, Gin sat alone in a corner, holding a whiskey glass between his fingers, the amber liquid gently sloshing in the glass, yet he had not taken a sip for a long time.

His expression was terrifyingly gloomy, his eyes bloodshot, and he radiated a hostile aura that warned others to keep their distance.

Recent days had been a disaster for Gin.

First, outside Lin Long’s office, he had been beaten helplessly by a group of shadow soldiers who had appeared out of nowhere, resulting in half his subordinates dead or injured; later, he tried to take the opportunity to recruit members of the ”Clown Organization”, but ran into a tough nut to crack, not only failing to gain any advantage but also losing several capable lieutenants.

The Tokyo branch had suffered heavy losses, and the reprimand from The Boss was like a cold whip lashing across his face.

Ordering him to ”behave” was effectively house arrest in disguise. For the always arrogant Gin, this was nothing short of a great humiliation.

”Damn it...” Gin cursed under his breath and downed the drink in his glass; the spicy liquid burned his throat, but it could not extinguish the rage in his heart.

Just then, a panicked figure rushed in—it was Vodka. With excitement and nervousness on his face, he ran up to Gin: ”Big Brother! There, there’s news!”

Gin looked up, his eyes cold: ”What is it?”

”The guys below saw Akai Shuichi near the docks!” Vodka lowered his voice, speaking rapidly, ”It’s definitely him! That traitor, Rye Whiskey!”

”Akai Shuichi?” Gin’s hand gripping the glass tightened abruptly, his knuckles turning white.

This name was like a poisonous thorn, instantly piercing through all his forbearance. That FBI undercover Agent lurking within the organization, that man who had escaped from his gun several times, that traitor who had brought him shame!

The glass was slammed heavily onto the bar counter, making a harsh, ear-piercing sound.

Gin stood up abruptly, his black trench coat fluttering without wind, and a terrifying killing intent erupted from his eyes: ”Where is he?!”

”Right near Warehouse 3 at the docks!” Vodka replied hastily, shrinking his neck in fear of Gin’s aura.

Gin sneered, the laughter full of violence and excitement: ”Rye Whiskey... I’ve finally caught you again. This time, let’s see how you run!”

He straightened his collar and turned to walk out: ”Call everyone, bring the gear, and head to the docks.”

”But Big Brother,” Vodka hesitated, cautiously reminding him, ”The Boss said for us to, during this time...”

”Shut up!” Gin spun around sharply, his cold gaze like a poisoned dagger, pinning Vodka to the spot, ”When did it become your turn to tell me what to do?”

Vodka shivered and hurriedly lowered his head: ”Yes! Big Brother! I’ll go prepare right now!” Having said that, he ran out without looking back, fearing that if he were a second late, he would be swallowed by Gin’s rage.

In the bar, Gin watched Vodka’s disappearing back, killing intent churning in his eyes.

The Boss’s order? In the face of the desire to kill Akai Shuichi, any order could be set aside for the moment. He would tear that traitor apart with his own hands and use his blood to wash away the frustration he had endured for days!

...

Tokyo Docks, Warehouse 3.

This had once been an abandoned cargo base, with rusted shipping containers piled randomly in the open space; the sea breeze blew through with a salty, fishy smell, kicking up dust and paper scraps from the ground.

Akai Shuichi lurked behind a shipping container, his sniper rifle aimed at the warehouse entrance. According to the clues he had found, this was a secret base of the ”Clown Organization” responsible for transporting weapons.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the pain from the wound on his lower leg, and suddenly rushed out from cover, rolling a few times to avoid potential surveillance, then kicked open the iron door of the warehouse.

”Don’t move!”

Inside the warehouse, several men wearing clown masks were gathered around a table counting weapons; hearing the commotion, they immediately grabbed the guns at their sides and turned to aim at the door.

But their movements were as slow as slow-motion in front of Akai Shuichi.

”Bang! Bang! Bang!” With a few gunshots, Akai Shuichi, barely looking through the scope, fired on instinct, precisely hitting the wrists of those few men. Screams rang out, and the guns fell to the ground.

He stepped forward quickly, kicked one of them to the ground, and pointed his gun at his head: ”Speak! Where is your boss? Where are the people you captured being held?”

The man who had been kicked winced in pain, took off his mask, and revealed a terrified face: ”I, I don’t know what you’re talking about! We are just... we are just impersonating the clowns!”

”Impersonating?” Akai Shuichi frowned.

”Ye-yes!” Another man shouted hurriedly, ”Aren’t the clowns quite popular lately? We just wanted to take the opportunity to grab some weapons to sell for money; we really have nothing to do with the Clown Organization!”

Akai Shuichi’s gaze turned cold; he could tell these people were not lying.

Just then, dense footsteps and shouts came from outside the warehouse.

”Listen, people inside! We are Public Security! Drop your weapons and surrender immediately!” It was the voice of Kazami Yuya.

Akai Shuichi’s expression changed abruptly; he hadn’t expected the Public Security to arrive so quickly! He immediately turned, intending to break out through the warehouse back door, but it was already too late.

”Bang bang bang!” Bullets rained into the warehouse like raindrops, hitting the metal shelves and sparking. Akai Shuichi had no choice but to quickly hide behind a load-bearing pillar and was forced to return fire.

”Akai Shuichi! You can’t escape!” Kazami Yuya, hiding behind a shipping container outside the warehouse, shouted inside, ”Give up the resistance!”

Akai Shuichi did not respond, only calmly observing the surrounding terrain.

He did not want to hurt anyone, but his own safety was now at risk, and more importantly, he had to leave this place and continue searching for the whereabouts of Akai Mary.

”Bang!” Seizing the opportunity, he fired a shot at a searchlight outside the warehouse; the light went out instantly, and the area outside the warehouse fell into momentary darkness.

Taking advantage of this gap, he rushed out of cover and ran toward the back door.

”Stop him!” Kazami Yuya shouted.

The Public Security Officers immediately turned their guns and fired in the direction of Akai Shuichi. Bullets whizzed past his ears, a close call.

Akai Shuichi’s eyes sharpened; he would hold back no longer.

He rolled behind a shipping container, set up his sniper rifle, and precisely hit the legs of those two Public Security Officers. Screams rang out, and the momentum of the charge was halted.

But there were too many Public Security Officers; soon others filled the gaps, and the firepower became increasingly dense.

Akai Shuichi was trapped in the narrow area between the warehouse and the shipping containers, stuck in a dilemma.

Just then—”Bang bang bang! Rat-tat-tat!” Even more intense gunfire suddenly erupted outside the warehouse, mixed with the deafening sound of grenade explosions.

A Public Security Officer scrambled over to Kazami Yuya, his face pale: ”Sir! It’s bad! We’ve been attacked! It’s a group of unidentified armed men with heavy firepower! We’ve been flanked!”

”What?!” Kazami Yuya was shocked.

In the command vehicle outside the warehouse, Amuro Tooru saw the figures of the attackers through the monitor—black trench coats, clean marksmanship, and that iconic Porsche 356A... It was Gin! How could people from the Black Organization be here?!

Amuro Tooru’s heart sank abruptly. Public Security, Akai Shuichi, the Black Organization... the three factions were intertwined; it seemed like a tough battle was ahead today.

But now was not the time to think about that. The Public Security were already under attack from both sides, and without reinforcements, they would likely be wiped out!

Amuro Tooru immediately picked up the walkie-talkie and ordered Kazami Yuya: ”Request support from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department immediately! Have the nearby armed forces rush over at once!”

”Yes!” Kazami Yuya dared not delay and immediately had someone send out a distress signal.

Amuro Tooru watched the chaotic exchange of fire on the monitor, his brows furrowed. He was currently undercover and absolutely could not be exposed, so he could only stay in the command vehicle, watching helplessly as the situation spiraled out of control.

On the other side, at the temporary base of the FBI, Jodie looked at the alert popping up on the computer screen—an intense shootout had broken out in the dock area, and the signal source matched Akai Shuichi’s tracker.

”Shuichi...” Jodie’s heart tightened instantly.

”Jodie, we can’t go!” James stopped her, his expression grave, ”The situation at the docks is unclear right now, and Akai’s situation is very sensitive. If we intervene rashly, it will cause even bigger trouble!”

”I don’t care!” Jodie pushed him away abruptly, her eyes firm, ”He is our man! I cannot watch him get into trouble!”

Having said that, she took advantage of James not paying attention, stepped forward, and knocked him unconscious with a chop to the neck.

She quickly operated the computer, forged an order from James, and shouted into the walkie-talkie: ”All members, assemble immediately, target the docks! Support Akai!”

Having said that, she grabbed her pistol and rushed out first. Several FBI Agents loyal to Akai Shuichi followed immediately, leaving James alone, lying on the ground, wondering if he would catch a cold after waking up.

At the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, after receiving Kazami Yuya’s request for support, Chief of Police Hakuba immediately ordered the nearby armed forces that had not yet withdrawn to mobilize urgently. Armored vehicles roared as they left the base and drove toward the docks in a massive procession.

For a time, the entire Tokyo docks seemed to become a huge vortex; Public Security, the Black Organization, the FBI, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department armed forces... multiple factions poured in from all directions, and the sounds of gunfire, explosions, and shouting intertwined, deafening.

Inside the warehouse, Akai Shuichi listened to the increasingly chaotic gunfire outside, his gaze becoming even more grave.

He could distinguish that, in addition to the gunfire from the Public Security, there was another, sharper, and more familiar shooting sound—it was Gin! The Black Organization had come too!

He leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. With Public Security in front, the Black Organization behind, and unknown forces continuously arriving outside... this was the most dangerous situation he had ever been in.

But there was no fear in his eyes, only a kind of near-maniacal calmness.

He touched a special micro-explosive in his pocket; it was his last trump card. No matter what, he had to survive.

And in the surveillance room of the Lin Family Manor, Lin Long watched the docks, which had turned into a chaotic mess on the screen, raised his wine glass, and gave a distant toast to the screen.

”What a grand ’banquet’ this is.” He chuckled, his eyes flashing with excitement, ”Gin, Akai Shuichi, Amuro Tooru... enjoy yourselves. This is just the appetizer.”