11: Chapter 11 Recruiting Akemi Miyano

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting mottled shadows across the desk.

Lin Long leaned back in his executive chair, his fingertip mindlessly stroking the laptop's touchpad as the screen scrolled through the latest news from Beika Town—

Most of it was neighborhood disputes or traffic accidents, with the occasional burglary mixed in; it held no attraction for him.

[Current Malice Black Qi: 12,750 points.]

[Summonable Units: 12 Shadow Guards, 5 Shadow Sharpshooters.]

[Distance to unlocking 'Shadow Binder': 20,000 Malice Black Qi points required.]

He was still quite far from unlocking the new unit, but Lin Long wasn't in a hurry.

The commission from the Seba Conglomerate had been very fruitful. Not only was there a substantial sum of money in his account, but more importantly, by dealing with those corporate parasites, he had collected a large amount of high-purity Malice Black Qi—

The negative energy spawned by greed and the desire for power was far more 'mellow' than street brawls.

As Lin Long was boredly refreshing the page, a piece of breaking news suddenly popped up, the headline highlighted in bold red font:

[Urgent! Beika Town Central Bank armored truck hijacked, one billion yen stolen, identities of the robbers unknown!]

Lin Long's gaze froze instantly.

One billion yen? An armored truck robbery?

Almost instantly, he recalled the corresponding plot—Miyano Akemi, the woman who didn't hesitate to challenge the Black Organization for the sake of her sister Miyano Shiho's freedom.

His feelings toward this character were complicated.

He admired her courage.

Even though she knew it was standard for the Black Organization to go back on their word, and even though she knew this robbery mission might be a trap, she still held onto that slim hope and gambled her own life.

This kind of desperate determination for one's family, even in this sin-infested world, appeared exceptionally dazzling.

But at the same time, he felt she was too naive.

Negotiating terms with the Black Organization? It was like bargaining with a tiger for its skin. That was a terror machine that viewed human life as grass and was maintained by fear and profit; it never understood the meaning of the word 'promise.'

Her sacrifice was destined from the very beginning.

When he watched the show in his past life, he had lamented Miyano Akemi's ending.

Now that he had the chance to intervene, perhaps... he could change something?

"Shadow One."

Lin Long called out toward the shadows.

A dark figure slid out soundlessly and knelt on one knee:

"Master."

"Investigate someone."

Lin Long's voice was low and clear,

"Miyano Akemi, currently likely using the alias 'Hirota Masami.' I want her current specific address, as fast as possible."

"Yes."

Shadow One took the order, his form instantly merging into the shadow of the wall and disappearing.

Lin Long stood up and walked to the window.

The streets outside were bustling with traffic, seemingly peaceful, yet hiding surging undercurrents. Miyano Akemi should have already completed the robbery by now and be hiding somewhere, waiting for the organization's 'reply.'

She didn't know that Gin and Vodka were already on their way with murderous intent.

Time was running out.

He took out his phone and dialed Butler Ochiai's number:

"Prepare the car. We're going to the vicinity of Beika Town 3-chome. I'll send you the specific address later."

"Yes, sir."

Butler Ochiai's voice was as steady as ever.

In less than ten minutes, Shadow One sent word along with a detailed address—

An old apartment building on the edge of Beika Town. The location was remote and surveillance was scarce; it was indeed a good place for a temporary hideout.

Lin Long grabbed his coat and strode out of the office. Miss Sato was at the front desk organizing documents; seeing him in such a hurry, she looked up curiously:

"Mr. Lin Long, are you going out?"

"Yes, some private business."

Lin Long waved his hand without stopping.

Downstairs at the apartment, the black sedan was already waiting. Lin Long sat in the back seat and gave the address to the driver:

"Please hurry."

The vehicle smoothly merged into the traffic. Lin Long leaned against the backrest, closing his eyes in thought.

Saving Miyano Akemi wasn't difficult.

With his current power, even if Gin came, he was confident he could get her out safely.

But the problem was, what after saving her?

Once Miyano Akemi escaped the organization's control, she would inevitably face endless pursuit.

More importantly, Miyano Shiho was still in the organization's hands. As the core researcher developing APTX4869, her situation was much more dangerous than Akemi's.

Saving Akemi rashly might instead accelerate Shiho's death.

Therefore, simply saving Akemi didn't mean much.

If he was going to save them, he had to get both sisters out together.

But Miyano Shiho was at the core of the organization, protected by layers of security. Taking someone out from there was as difficult as reaching the heavens.

"Perhaps... there's another way."

Lin Long's fingertips lightly tapped his knee.

In the original story, Miyano Shiho took APTX4869 to commit suicide because of her sister's death, but ended up shrinking by accident, becoming Ai Haibara and escaping the organization.

If Akemi didn't die, would Shiho still stay in the organization? That was hard to say.

But at the very least, he could give Akemi a choice—a choice to save her sister without needing to sacrifice herself.

The scenery outside the window gradually became familiar. Lin Long knew the destination was close.

...

The hallway of the old apartment building was filled with a damp, musty smell, and the walls were covered in mottled graffiti.

Following the address, Lin Long walked to the door at the very end of the third floor and stopped.

Information from the Shadow Guard showed that Miyano Akemi was inside, her emotions extremely unstable. Her Malice Black Qi was mixed with intense fear and determination—she must have already received the call from the organization and realized she had been deceived.

Lin Long straightened his collar, raised his hand, and knocked gently on the door.

"Who is it?"

A slightly hoarse female voice came from inside, carrying obvious vigilance.

Lin Long didn't answer, just knocked twice more.

After a few seconds of silence, there was the slight sound of a lock turning.

The door was pulled open a crack. A hand gripping the doorknob was exposed to view, knuckles white from the pressure.

Through the crack, one could see Miyano Akemi's pale face and her other hand hidden behind the door—holding a dark handgun.

Her eyes were like those of a startled deer, full of wariness and unease, but deep in her gaze, there was a trace of ashen despair.

"May I ask who you are?"

Miyano Akemi spoke, her voice carrying an imperceptible tremor.

She didn't recognize the man before her. He wore a well-tailored suit and had a steady temperament that was out of place in this dilapidated apartment; he seemed more like... someone sent by the organization.

Seeing this, Lin Long couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Still playing these games at a time like this? Ignoring Miyano Akemi's question, he turned sideways and squeezed through the door, walking in as if it were his own home.

"What are you doing!"

Miyano Akemi cried out, throwing the door open and raising the handgun to aim at Lin Long's back, her finger on the trigger,

"Don't move! Or I'll shoot!"

Lin Long didn't stop. He walked to the sofa in the center of the living room and sat down nonchalantly, even crossing his legs. His expression was so calm it was as if the muzzle before him were just a toy.

He looked around the small apartment. The room was very simple, with only a sofa, a coffee table, and an old television. A suitcase sat in the corner, clearly ready for a quick departure.

A few newspapers were scattered on the coffee table, featuring news about the armored truck robbery. Beside them was a half-finished cup of coffee that had already gone cold.

"Should I call you Hirota Masami?"

Lin Long slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on Miyano Akemi's tense face. His tone was flat and calm,

"Or should I call you... Miyano Akemi?"

"!!!"

Miyano Akemi's pupils suddenly constricted. Her hand holding the gun trembled violently, and the muzzle almost veered off course.

The color drained from her face instantly, leaving only unbelievable shock:

"You... how do you know?!"

Hirota Masami was the alias the organization had arranged for her, and almost no one knew her real name, 'Miyano Akemi,' except for core members of the organization! Who exactly was this man?!

"Who are you?!"

Miyano Akemi asked sharply, her voice cracking with emotion. She pointed the gun dead at Lin Long,

"Are you from the organization? Or the police?!"

Lin Long didn't answer her question. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, his eyes becoming sharp as he looked directly into hers:

"None of that is important."

He paused and dropped a name that was enough to shake Miyano Akemi to her core:

"I only came today to ask you one thing—do you want to rescue your sister, Miyano Shiho, from the organization?"

Boom!

The sentence was like a thunderclap exploding in Miyano Akemi's mind.

Miyano Shiho... her sister, the one codenamed 'Sherry' in the organization, responsible for developing that terrifying drug.

This was her greatest weakness and the person she wanted to protect at all costs!

This mysterious man not only knew her real name but even knew about Shiho's existence?

And even... said he would rescue Shiho from the organization?

How was that possible?!

She knew better than anyone how terrifying the organization's power was. It was a behemoth that spanned the globe and infiltrated every industry; countless people had tried to resist, only to turn into dust in the end.

Even she herself was only holding onto a sliver of hope, wanting to use one billion yen and her own freedom to trade for a chance at life for Shiho, only to be ruthlessly betrayed.

On what basis did this man say such things?

Miyano Akemi's heart pounded wildly, and her hand holding the gun began to shake uncontrollably. Was it a trap? Or... was there really a glimmer of hope?

"What... what nonsense are you talking about?"

She forced herself to remain calm, trying to read something from Lin Long's expression, but there was only calm on his face—a bottomless calm,

"Shiho is doing fine in the organization; she doesn't need anyone to rescue her!"

"Doing fine?"

Lin Long sneered, his tone carrying a hint of mockery,

"In that place that treats people as tools to be sacrificed at any time? In that laboratory where she's forced to develop lethal drugs? You say she's doing fine?"

He stood up and approached Miyano Akemi step by step, completely ignoring the handgun pointed at him:

"Do you think the organization will really let her go? Even if you completed the mission, even if you handed over the billion yen, they would only eliminate you, the 'unstable factor,' and then keep Miyano Shiho trapped in the lab until she has no more utility!"

"No... they wouldn't..."

Miyano Akemi's voice grew smaller, and her eyes began to lose focus. Lin Long's words had struck her deepest fear—the fear she had never dared to think about deeply.

"They would."

Lin Long stopped, only a step away from her, almost able to feel her rapid breathing,

"Because that's the Black Organization's style. You trying to negotiate terms with them was a mistake in itself."

He looked at Miyano Akemi's pale face, his tone softening slightly:

"I know you received their call, telling you to take the money to another location. I think you've already realized they intend to kill you."

"!!!"

Miyano Akemi looked up sharply, her eyes filled with terror. He even knew about that?!

"Now, you can choose to believe me, or continue holding your gun and wait for Gin to come and send you on your way."

Lin Long's voice carried a strange magic,

"If you choose to believe me, I can not only save your life but also give you a chance—a real chance to rescue Shiho."

Miyano Akemi stared intently at Lin Long, her mind in total chaos.

She didn't know what this man's goal was, nor how much of his word was believable.

But she knew she had no way out left.

Resisting might offer a sliver of hope.

Not resisting meant being disposed of like trash, and along with her, Shiho would never have the possibility of freedom.

She remembered when they were little, Shiho hugging her neck and saying in a childish voice,

"Sister, I want to research medicine that can cure all diseases in the future."

She remembered the exhaustion and fear in Shiho's voice when she secretly called after entering the organization.

She remembered promising Shiho that she would definitely take her away from that hell...

A surge of desperate courage rose from her heart.

Miyano Akemi took a deep breath and slowly lowered the gun, tears finally unable to be held back as they streamed down her face:

"Can you... can you really help me?"

Seeing her lower the gun, an imperceptible curve formed at the corner of Lin Long's mouth.

It was done.

"I never do things I'm not certain of."

He took a step back and sat back down on the sofa,

"Now, tell me, where did you hide that billion yen? And do you know Shiho's specific location within the organization?"

Miyano Akemi wiped her tears, her gaze becoming firm again.

She knew that from the moment she lowered the gun, she had handed her and Shiho's fates over to this mysterious man.

"The money... I hid it in a locker at Beika Park. The key is..."

She pulled a small key from her pocket and placed it on the coffee table,

"As for Shiho, she should be in a secret laboratory the organization has on the outskirts of Tokyo. I don't know the exact location, but I know she has a habit of calling me once every Wednesday night using an encrypted line..."

Lin Long listened intently, nodding from time to time. Although this information was fragmented, it was enough for him.

"Very well."

He picked up the key and stood up,

"Now, pack your things and come with me. You can't stay here anymore."

Miyano Akemi didn't hesitate; she immediately walked to the suitcase and began packing quickly.

...

In the car, Miyano Akemi clutched the edge of her clothes tightly, her heart still pounding.

She looked back at the receding apartment building, her eyes filled with complex emotions—fear, relief, and a trace of uncertainty about the future.

"Where... are we going now?"

She asked softly.

"First to get your money, then to find a safe place to hide you."

Lin Long looked out the window,

"As for Miyano Shiho, I'll find a way. But you must be prepared; it will take time."

Miyano Akemi nodded and didn't speak again.

She didn't know what method Lin Long would use to save Shiho, but at least she was still alive now, and there was hope. That was enough.

Lin Long leaned against the backrest and closed his eyes. Saving Miyano Akemi was only the first step.

Next, he needed to use this billion yen to further strengthen his power, while simultaneously gathering more intelligence on the Black Organization and that secret laboratory.

Rescuing Miyano Shiho was extremely difficult, but once successful, the benefits would be enormous—

Not only would he gain a top-tier biologist, but he could also deal a heavy blow to the Black Organization and might even obtain the research data for APTX4869.

"shadow two, go to the Beika Park locker, retrieve the money, and deliver it to the safe house."

Lin Long issued the command in his mind.

[shadow two received.]

He opened his eyes and looked at the passing streetscape. The silhouette of Beika Park had already appeared in view.

The sun was still bright, but Lin Long knew he had officially reached his hand toward that massive and terrifying Black Organization.

A more dangerous and exciting game was about to begin.

And this time, he had one more bargaining chip.