Detective Conan: Shadow Legion Office

93: Chapter 93 Suzuki Tomoko’s Plan to Usurp the ThroneThe study of the Suzuki Family was filled with the faint fragrance of aged matcha, and cherry blossoms outside the window fell onto the blue stone path, laying a carpet of pink and white.

Suzuki Shiro sat on the tatami, holding a teacup with both hands, his fingertips slightly reddened from excitement—the words just spoken by his wife, Suzuki Tomoko, had been like a thunderbolt that tore through the fog in his heart and ignited an ambition he had never dared to imagine.

”Tomoko, are... are you serious? Can I... can I really become Prime Minister?”

His voice trembled as he stared intently at his wife sitting opposite him.

Suzuki Shiro had lived his whole life under the halo of being a ”Zaibatsu leader,” managing the family business with ease, but he had never stepped into the core of politics; the position of Prime Minister was, to him, like a star in the clouds.

Suzuki Tomoko picked up her teacup and took a light sip; the slight bitterness of the tea spread across her tongue, making her eyes even clearer.

”Why not?”

Her tone was indifferent, as if she were speaking of something perfectly ordinary. ”You and I both know what the current government leadership is like—indecisive, only knowing how to rely on the US military, and they have long since lost the hearts of the people. The public needs someone who can stand up, and our Suzuki Family has the capital to do that.”

She set down her teacup, her fingertips lightly tracing the low table as if outlining an invisible blueprint:

”Look, in order to curry favor with the US military, the government is increasing stationing fees and granting port usage rights, throwing the public’s tax money at outsiders by the handful. The people below have long been complaining.”

”If we step forward now, on one hand, we ’sponsor’ the US military to keep them neutral and prevent them from interfering; on the other hand, we use money for post-war reconstruction so the public sees tangible benefits. In the long run, who will win the hearts of the people more?”

Suzuki Shiro followed her line of thought, his breathing gradually quickening:

”You mean... we can avoid offending the US military while winning the hearts of the people?”

”Exactly.”

Suzuki Tomoko nodded. ”The US military only cares about money; if we provide more ’sponsorship’ than the government, they will naturally be happy to remain neutral. The public only cares about practical benefits; if we pay out of our own pockets to repair bridges, build roads, and restore production, they will naturally appreciate us. Once the government completely loses support, then...”

She didn’t finish, but the sharpness in her eyes said everything.

Suzuki Shiro slapped his thigh, nearly knocking over his teacup. ”Good! We’ll do exactly as you say! I’ll go contact General White right now—I’ve heard that old guy is very greedy; as long as the money is enough, it won’t be hard to get him to turn a blind eye for a while!”

”Not so fast.”

Suzuki Tomoko pressed her hand on his, her gaze calm. ”First, have the finance department calculate how much liquid capital we can pull out. The sponsorship for the US military cannot be too stingy, and post-war reconstruction is a bottomless pit. We must plan properly; don’t try to look richer than we are.”

”I understand.”

Suzuki Shiro nodded, the excitement on his face gradually settling into the shrewdness of a businessman. ”I’ll have them calculate it overnight and give you the results tomorrow.”

”And publicity.”

Suzuki Tomoko added, ”Every cent spent on reconstruction must be known by the public to have come from the ’Suzuki Zaibatsu.’ If we build a school, engrave it with our family crest; if we build a factory, hang our corporate flag. We could even hold a ’gratitude event,’ let the beneficiaries come to the Suzuki Family to ’give thanks,’ and have the media film it to spread across the country.”

She understood the power of public opinion too well—the same money spent in the shadows was meaningless, but spent in the light, it could become a bargaining chip for ”the hearts of the people.”

Suzuki Shiro nodded repeatedly as he listened, his gaze filled with admiration for his wife.

He had always known Tomoko was capable, but he hadn’t expected her planning to be so far-reaching—from the US military to the public, from funding to public opinion, everything was interlinked and watertight.

”By the way,”

Suzuki Shiro suddenly remembered something. ”What about Ayako and Sonoko... should we tell them?”

Their daughter, Suzuki Sonoko, had a flighty personality and had never paid much attention to family affairs, but she was, after all, one of the heirs to the Suzuki Family.

Suzuki Tomoko pondered for a moment. ”Not for now. She is simple-minded and can’t keep secrets; if she finds out, it’ll only lead to complications. Let’s wait until things are on the right track.”

”As for Ayako, let’s not tell her either, since she has already married into the Tomizawa Financial Group.”

”That’s also fine.”

The couple discussed in low voices for a long time, from the specific amount to sponsor the US military, to the priority of reconstruction projects, and how to win over other Zaibatsus to join them...

The lights in the study stayed on until late into the night, casting long shadows of two ambitious people.

...

In the monitoring room of the Lin Family Manor, a huge screen clearly broadcast the scene in the Suzuki Family study.

Lin Long leaned back in his leather chair, toying with a jade ring in his hand. Watching Suzuki Tomoko’s calm planning on the screen, a playful smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

”Tsk tsk, my cheap mother-in-law really has quite the ambition.”

He said to the Ghost beside him, ”She actually wants to push my father-in-law to the position of Prime Minister; she intends to hold the entire island nation in her hands.”

The Ghost handed over a file. ”According to our investigation, the Suzuki Family has recently been secretly contacting other Zaibatsus. Both the Tanaka Family and the Ooka Family have responded; it seems they want to expand the scale of the Zaibatsu Alliance to pave the way for Suzuki Shiro.”

”As expected.”

Lin Long took the file and flipped through it casually. He didn’t mind if the current Prime Minister of the island nation was replaced.

To Lin Long, it made no difference who became Prime Minister; he wasn’t interested in that position anyway. If it were the emperor of some great ancient nation, Lin Long might have been interested in being one. After all, being the supreme ruler—who didn’t have a dream of being an emperor when they were a child?

As for being the Prime Minister of this tiny island nation, forget it.

”If there are benefits to share, naturally there will be people willing to go along with it. However...”

Lin Long changed the subject. ”Wanting to keep the US military neutral? That old fox White isn’t so easy to deal with.”

General White was the supreme commander of the US military stationed in Japan, famous for his greed and cunning. Even if the government gave him 500 million USD, he would still think it was too little. If the Suzuki Family wanted to rely on ”sponsorship” to make him neutral, they would probably have to pay a heavy price.

”The Suzuki Family’s financial statements show that they have about 8 billion USD in liquid capital available,” the Ghost reported. ”That’s enough to tempt White.”

”8 billion...”

Lin Long raised an eyebrow. ”This old couple is really generous.”

”For the position of Prime Minister, they probably think it’s worth it.”

Lin Long put down the file, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, his gaze falling back onto the screen.

Suzuki Tomoko was pointing at Tokyo Bay on the map, talking to Suzuki Shiro with a focused and determined expression.

He suddenly thought of Suzuki Sonoko—that loud, boisterous young lady who was always thinking about ”catching Kaitou Kid.” He wondered what kind of expression she would have if she knew her parents were planning something so big.

”Ghost,” Lin Long suddenly said, ”help me check Suzuki Sonoko’s recent movements.”

”Yes.”

The Ghost responded and quickly pulled up the information. ”She has recently been running around with Mouri Kogoro and his group, saying they are investigating cases; she even went to Osaka yesterday.”

”Investigating cases?”

Lin Long laughed. ”With her little bit of skill, it’ll be good if she doesn’t end up being investigated by the cases herself.”

He looked at Suzuki Tomoko’s profile on the screen and then thought of the always energetic Suzuki Sonoko. He suddenly felt that this mother and daughter were really interesting—one far-sighted, one carefree, yet they were family, connected by blood.

”Tell me, if Suzuki Sonoko knew her mother wanted her father to be Prime Minister, would she faint from shock?” Lin Long joked.

The Ghost replied seriously, ”Based on an analysis of her personality, it is highly likely she would first cheer, ’Dad is so amazing,’ and then ask, ’Can I buy whatever jewelry I want if you become Prime Minister?’”

Lin Long was amused. ”That makes some sense.”

After laughing, his gaze became deep again.

The Suzuki Family’s plan was indeed feasible—the government had lost its virtue, the public was disappointed, and they were taking the opportunity to pave the way with money, buy hearts with favors, and unite with other Zaibatsus to build momentum. Pushing Suzuki Shiro to the position of Prime Minister was not a fantasy.

But within this, there was a huge hidden danger.

”Are those Zaibatsus they are winning over really reliable?”

Lin Long asked. ”The Tanaka Family and the Ooka Family, which one of them isn’t ambitious? Would they be willing to be stepping stones for the Suzuki Family?”

”Currently, they value immediate interests more.”

The Ghost analyzed, ”Following the Suzuki Family allows them to share in the dividends of the reconstruction projects and expand their industries while taking advantage of the US military’s neutrality. Why wouldn’t they do it? As for the future... I’m afraid it will depend on whose fist is harder.”

”Well said.”

Lin Long nodded. ”So, the Suzuki Family’s trouble is still ahead.”

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the city lights in the distance.

Suzuki Tomoko’s plan was perfect, but she had miscalculated the greed of human nature.

Those Zaibatsus that were currently following along to drink the soup, once they saw the temptation of the Prime Minister’s position, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t stab them in the back.

”This matter... is interesting.”

Lin Long rubbed his chin, a hint of calculation flashing in his eyes. ”Perhaps, I can give them a ’push’.”

The Ghost was puzzled. ”What does BOSS mean?”

”Since my cheap mother-in-law wants my father-in-law to be Prime Minister, as his ’son-in-law,’ I have to show some support.”

Lin Long smiled like a fox. ”Help them clean out those ’dishonest’ Zaibatsus first; that will save them trouble later.”

More importantly, he thought of a good way to make the Suzuki Family ”owe him a favor.”

”Tell me, if I ’accidentally’ send the evidence of the Tanaka Family secretly colluding with the US military and planning to swallow the port project alone to Suzuki Tomoko...”

Lin Long said slowly. ”Would she be very ’grateful’ to me?”

The Tanaka Family was the second most powerful in the Zaibatsu Alliance after the Suzuki Family, and they were the most likely to ”turn traitor.”

If he could use Suzuki Tomoko’s hand to get rid of Tanaka, it would both help the Suzuki Family clear obstacles and make them owe him a favor—truly killing two birds with one stone.

As for how to use the favor... Lin Long’s gaze fell on the corner of the screen, where a photo of Suzuki Sonoko flashed by—it was an image from the Ghost’s investigation data, and in the photo, the young lady was holding a gem and smiling brightly.

”Having Suzuki Sonoko marry me... it doesn’t seem impossible.”

Lin Long muttered to himself, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening.

Having the daughter of the Prime Minister of a tiny island nation as a wife didn’t sound very attractive, but if he could use this to pull the Suzuki Family to his side, the benefits would be numerous.

At the very least, in this chaotic island nation, having one more powerful ”ally” was better than having one more enemy.

On the surveillance screen, Suzuki Tomoko had finished her conversation with Suzuki Shiro and was standing up to organize the documents.

Her movements were calm and unhurried, as if victory was already in her grasp.

Lin Long looked at her back and whistled softly.

”Cheap mother-in-law, keep it up,” he said in a low voice. ”Don’t disappoint me.”

This secret war for the position of Prime Minister had just begun. And he was very happy to be the one adding fuel to the fire behind the scenes.

The night grew deeper, and the lights of the Lin Family Manor shone in harmony with the thousands of lights in Tokyo in the distance, outlining a world of surging undercurrents.

No one knew where this storm, stirred up by the Zaibatsus, would ultimately lead this island nation.