Detective Conan: Shadow Legion Office

100: Chapter 100 The Suzuki Family’s Crushing Strike Against an AllyTokyo’s financial circles had never been as tense as they were at this moment.

Just three days after the Suzuki Family and Lin Long formed an alliance, detailed pieces of ”dirt” were dropped like precision-guided bombs onto the Ooka, Tanaka, Mitsui, and other Zaibatsu that were attempting to ”start their own ventures.”

The Tanaka Zaibatsu was the first to bear the brunt.

A recording of a secret conversation between Tanaka Masao and General White suddenly appeared in the editorial office of the island nation’s largest financial magazine.

In the recording, Tanaka Masao’s fawning voice was clearly audible: ”As long as the US military can support my run for Prime Minister, the Tanaka Family’s chip factory can be transferred to you at a low price at any time...”

As soon as the news broke, the entire country was in an uproar.

The public was already dissatisfied with the collusion between the Zaibatsu and the US military; at this moment, the Tanaka Family’s act of ”selling out national core technology for power” instantly ignited a wave of fury.

Protests against the Tanaka Zaibatsu appeared on the streets, and the opposition party in the Diet seized the opportunity to demand an immediate and thorough investigation into Tanaka Masao.

Tanaka Masao was overwhelmed; he tried to contact General White for help, but received only a cold response:

”Mr. Tanaka Masao, we, the US military, have always adhered to the principle of ’non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.’ The conversation between us was purely a private exchange and does not represent any official position.”

”Non-interference in internal affairs?”

Tanaka Masao roared into the phone, ”Who was it that beat their chest and said they would support me back then?!”

There was only a busy signal from the other end of the line.

What he didn’t know was that General White was currently sitting in Lin Long’s Bentley, reporting with a bow and a scrape:

”Mr. Lin, as per your instructions, I have drawn a clear line with all the Zaibatsu I’ve contacted. Regarding Tanaka... I’ve already hinted to him that the Suzuki Family has found a ’powerful backer,’ making him back down in the face of difficulties.”

Lin Long leaned back in his seat, playing with a jade pendant, his tone flat:

”Well done. Tell the other Zaibatsu with ties to the US military that whoever dares to compete with the Suzuki Family again will face the consequences.”

”Yes! Yes!”

General White quickly replied, secretly glad he had chosen the right side—Lin Long’s methods were truly a ’withdrawal of fuel from under the cauldron,’ even more terrifying than a US aircraft carrier fleet.

Before the Tanaka Family’s storm had settled, the Ooka Zaibatsu ”ran into trouble.”

Ooka Tadashi’s proud shipping empire suddenly suffered a series of ”accidents”:

Three cargo ships suffered ”sudden malfunctions” in the Pacific and were stranded in port; several important routes to Europe were maliciously cut off by ”unknown forces”; even the company’s core database suffered a ”hacker attack,” leaking a large amount of customer information.

In just one week, Ooka Shipping’s stock price plummeted by 30%, with losses exceeding ten billion yen.

Ooka Tadashi was so angry he spat blood; he had lived most of his life and had never suffered such a great loss. He vaguely guessed the Suzuki Family was behind it but was frustrated by the lack of evidence.

What shocked him even more was that when he tried to contact the shipping giants of Eagle Nation for help, they were vague and eventually hung up directly.

”Dad, I’ve asked around,”

Ooka Momiji’s father rushed over, his face pale,

”The people from Eagle Nation said... the Suzuki Family has found an ’unbeatable’ backer and told us not to go head-to-head anymore.”

”An unbeatable backer?” Ooka Tadashi slammed the table,

”Could it be... that Lin Long?!”

”Does that guy Lin Long really have such great influence with the high-level officials of Eagle Nation?”

He thought about it; the Suzuki Zaibatsu’s only major recent move was making Suzuki Sonoko Lin Long’s fiancée.

Ooka Tadashi recalled General White’s previous veiled hints and the Suzuki Family’s sudden confidence, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

That mysterious young man actually had such great power that even the giants of Eagle Nation were so wary?

At the same time, the Mitsui Zaibatsu’s energy projects were also halted on the grounds of ”environmental non-compliance”; the Mitsubishi Zaibatsu’s military orders were temporarily canceled and instead given to a subsidiary controlled by the Suzuki Family...

A series of ” coincide,” like an invisible net, firmly trapped all the Zaibatsu trying to challenge the Suzuki Family.

The leaders of these Zaibatsu finally realized that Suzuki Shiro, that seemingly simple-minded old fellow, had long ago latched onto a ”golden thigh” they couldn’t even imagine.

”Well played, Suzuki Shiro!”

The leader of the Mitsui Zaibatsu smashed a treasured antique vase in his office, gritting his teeth,

”On the surface, he’s all ’brotherly’ with us, but behind our backs, he’s hidden such a move! He can even persuade the high-level officials of Eagle Nation; he must have treated us as stepping stones long ago!”

”Pah! That bastard Suzuki Shiro looks so honest with those thick eyebrows and simple face, but I didn’t expect him to be so insidious!”

Ooka Tadashi cursed Tanaka Masao over the phone, ”If you hadn’t egged me on to start our own venture back then, how could we have fallen to this point?!”

Tanaka Masao had suffering he couldn’t voice; he was barely surviving himself, so how could he have the energy to argue with Ooka Tadashi? He could only hang up the phone in anger, looking at the protesting crowds outside the window with eyes full of despair.

Cursing aside, resentment aside, by now, they had no room left for resistance.

The attitude of the high-level officials of Eagle Nation was very clear—the Prime Minister for this term could only be Suzuki Shiro. Anyone else who dared to jump around would be crossing Eagle Nation.

And the power Lin Long displayed chilled them even more. Even chip factories, shipping routes, and energy projects could be easily manipulated; if they truly provoked him, the entire Zaibatsu might be uprooted.

A few days later, a group of grim-faced Zaibatsu leaders gathered at Jinghu Manor once again—the place that had once witnessed the formation of the ”Zaibatsu Alliance” had now become the site of their ”submission” to the Suzuki Family.

In the meeting room, the atmosphere was so oppressive it could practically drip water.

Tanaka Masao, Ooka Tadashi, and others sat below, looking at a radiant Suzuki Shiro and a calm Suzuki Tomoko in the main seats with complex expressions—there was anger, there was reluctance, but mostly there was helplessness.

”Everyone, I’ve invited you here today to have a good talk about the Prime Minister election.”

Suzuki Tomoko was the first to speak, her tone peaceful yet carrying an unquestionable authority. ”There may have been some misunderstandings previously that created a rift; I apologize to everyone here.”

She kept her posture low, but no one dared to take it lightly.

Ooka Tadashi snorted:

”Mrs. Suzuki, don’t beat around the bush. We all know that Eagle Nation has spoken and supports Chairman Suzuki’s run for Prime Minister. What more can we say?”

”You can’t say it like that.”

Suzuki Shiro chuckled, his face still maintaining that simple-minded expression,

”The Zaibatsu Alliance is our common home; the position of Prime Minister, naturally, must be recommended by everyone together. For me, Suzuki Shiro, to have today, I couldn’t have done it without everyone’s support.”

Then Suzuki Shiro began to make empty promises and divide the spoils with the Zaibatsu heads, which finally stabilized the group.

Although these words sounded like a huge irony to the others, when one is under another’s roof, one must bow one’s head.

Tanaka Masao took a deep breath and was the first to state his position: ”Chairman Suzuki, I was foolish before and shouldn’t have listened to outsiders’ instigation to oppose you. From today on, the Tanaka Zaibatsu fully supports your run for Prime Minister! Whatever people or money you need, we will provide!”

With the first one, there came a second.

”The Ooka Zaibatsu also supports Chairman Suzuki!”

”The Mitsui family has no problem!”

”Mitsubishi is willing to cooperate!”

Watching everyone declare their support, Suzuki Shiro and Suzuki Tomoko looked at each other, both seeing the smile in the other’s eyes.

They had won this war without smoke.

Suzuki Tomoko stood up and bowed slightly to the crowd:

”Thank you all for your support. Please rest assured, as long as my husband is elected Prime Minister, the benefits will not be lacking for anyone. The previous unpleasantness will be treated as a misunderstanding and is now in the past.”

She paused, her tone becoming solemn: ”From today on, the Zaibatsu Alliance must be twisted into a single rope. If anyone dares to try any more little tricks, don’t blame the Suzuki Family or the entire Alliance for being unkind!”

These words were both a warning and a promise.

Everyone nodded, but in their hearts, they understood that from now on, the power of discourse in the Zaibatsu Alliance would be completely in the hands of the Suzuki Family. People like them could only become subordinates.

After the meeting ended, the Zaibatsu leaders left one by one with solemn expressions.

When walking out the door, Tanaka Masao couldn’t help but look back at the meeting room and whispered to Ooka Tadashi beside him: ”Tell me... what exactly is that Lin Long’s background?”

Ooka Tadashi shook his head, his eyes complex: ”I don’t know.

”But I’m certain the Suzuki Family is inviting a wolf into their home.

In the future, whether this island nation belongs to the Suzuki Family or that Lin Long is still uncertain...”

The two looked at each other, both seeing deep concern in the other’s eyes.

In the study of Jinghu Manor, Suzuki Shiro was excitedly calling Lin Long:

”Mr. Lin Long! It’s done! They’ve all agreed to support me! It’s all thanks to you!”

On the other end of the phone, Lin Long’s voice remained calm:

”Uncle Suzuki, you’re too kind. This is what you deserve. Next is the Diet vote; if you need my help, just ask at any time.”

”Good, good, good!” Suzuki Shiro grinned from ear to ear. ”With those words from you, I can rest easy!”

Hanging up the phone, Suzuki Tomoko walked to her husband’s side, looked at the sunlight outside the window, and said softly, ”We are getting closer and closer to our goal.”

Suzuki Shiro nodded, his eyes flashing with a desire for power: ”Once I become Prime Minister, the first thing I’ll do is...”

”Is to first stabilize your position.”

Suzuki Tomoko interrupted him, her eyes clear, ”Don’t forget, we owe everything we have today to Lin Long. This is a man we cannot afford to provoke or offend.”

Suzuki Shiro was stunned for a moment, then nodded: ”I know. Once I’ve gained a firm footing, I’ll marry Sonoko off to him with great fanfare, and then...”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but the longing in his eyes said it all.

And the initiator of all this, Lin Long, was currently sitting on the terrace of the Lin Family Manor, looking at the distant horizon.

Ghost walked up behind him and reported: ”BOSS, all the Zaibatsu have declared their support for Suzuki Shiro. The chances of winning the Diet vote are over 90%.”

Lin Long picked up his glass, gently swirling the red wine inside:

”Understood. Have White keep a close eye on things; don’t let anything go wrong.”

”Yes.”

After Ghost withdrew, Lin Long looked at the swaying liquid in the glass, raised it toward the moon, and then drained it in one gulp.

”To the darkness!”