35: Chapter 35 Lin Long's Threat

The yellow Beetle drove along the coastal road of Tokyo Bay. The salty, humid morning sea breeze poured in through the half-open window, ruffling the bangs on Conan Edogawa's forehead.

The atmosphere inside the car was as oppressive as the calm before a storm. No one spoke; there was only the faint sound of tires rubbing against the asphalt.

Kudo Yukiko gripped Conan Edogawa's hand tightly, her palm burning hot.

She looked at her husband beside her several times, wanting to say something, but was stopped by the heavy, contemplative look in Kudo Yusaku's eyes.

Conan Edogawa kept his head down, his fingertips unconsciously picking at the hem of his clothes.

He could feel his parents' worry and could guess what they wanted to ask next, but he didn't know where to start—from when he was forced to take the poison? Or from when he was knocked unconscious?

Just then, the phone in Kudo Yusaku's pocket suddenly rang, breaking the deathly silence inside the car.

"Ring, ring—" The ringtone was sharp and urgent, sounding particularly jarring in the quiet car.

Kudo Yusaku frowned and took out his phone.

When he saw "Unknown Number" displayed on the screen, his eyes instantly became sharp, and his fingertip paused on the screen for half a second.

He did not recognize this number. Furthermore, only a very small number of close friends and family knew this private number of his.

"Dr. Agasa," Kudo Yusaku's voice was low, "find a quiet place to pull over."

Dr. Agasa was stunned for a moment, then immediately nodded: "Okay."

He turned on his signal, turned the car into a quiet scenic path nearby, and parked in an empty parking space.

This place was near the sea; except for the occasional morning jogger passing by, there was almost no one else around.

After parking the car, Kudo Yusaku took a deep breath, pressed the answer button, and said in a calm, flat tone: "Hello."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, followed by a processed, metallic, raspy voice, like sandpaper rubbing against an iron plate, which was very uncomfortable: "Mr. Kudo Yusaku, I've heard so much about you."

It was him, indeed!

Kudo Yusaku's eyes grew colder, and his fingertips tightened slightly: "Who are you?"

"That's not important." The raspy voice carried a hint of mockery, "What's important is that I have received your 'sincerity.' Five million US dollars, truly a generous sum. It seems Mr. Kudo is indeed very devoted to his son."

Kudo Yukiko's body tensed instantly, and she subconsciously hugged him closer.

Conan Edogawa also raised his head, his eyes flashing with anger and vigilance—this voice was exactly the same as the one that threatened him in that email just now!

"I have already followed your demands." Kudo Yusaku's voice remained calm but carried an unquestionable sense of pressure, "You didn't call just to say thank you, did you?"

"Of course not." The raspy voice laughed, the laugh sounding particularly eerie after being processed, "I mainly wanted to 'remind' a certain brat who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth—don't think that just because you have a little cleverness, you can stir up trouble in this world."

This was clearly aimed at Conan Edogawa!

Conan Edogawa's fists clenched instantly, his teeth grinding together.

"Who on earth are you? What do you want? And I am not a brat."

"I think I'm much more noble than a rat hiding its head and showing its tail like you!" Conan Edogawa couldn't help but retort.

"Heh!" "Naive! Truly too naive." "The world is not just about fighting and killing; it's about human relationships and worldly wisdom."

The raspy voice continued, with the tone of someone who has "seen it all," "This world is not black and white, but a delicate shade of gray."

"Mr. Kudo Yusaku, haven't you taught him these survival rules of the world?"

"What exactly do you want?" Kudo Yusaku's patience had run out, his voice as cold as ice, "If you have any demands, just state them directly."

"Straightforward." The raspy voice paused, then issued the final ultimatum, "I want Kudo Shinichi to 'leave' the island country. On the surface, I want to see news of his 'death'—it could be an accident, it could be an illness, in short, make everyone believe that Kudo Shinichi is dead."

"What did you say?!" Kudo Yukiko screamed, her face turning pale, "You've gone too far!"

"No! I can't leave!" Conan Edogawa also couldn't help but shout into the phone, his voice trembling with anger, "I still have cases to solve and people to protect! I will never back down because of your threats!"

How could he leave? The Black Organization had not yet been defeated, and Ran was still in danger; how could he be a deserter?

"Heh." The raspy voice chuckled with a hint of disdain, "I don't care what you think; this is my demand. I'll give you 72 hours. After 72 hours, I want to see the 'news of death' of Kudo Shinichi in the news."

"And if not?" Kudo Yusaku asked in a deep voice, a flash of anger in his eyes.

"Otherwise..." The raspy voice drew out the tone, filled with threats, "Consequences will be yours to bear. Your whole family, along with your friends and relatives, better prepare to be hunted by major organizations."

"You!" Conan Edogawa was trembling with rage but couldn't say a word. The other party had grabbed his weak spot!

"72 hours, don't let me down." Having said that, the call was hung up directly, leaving only the "beep-beep" busy tone.

Kudo Yusaku slowly lowered the phone, his face so gloomy that water could drip from it. The car fell into a deathly silence again, even more oppressive than before.

"Yusaku..." Kudo Yukiko's voice had a crying tone as she held Conan Edogawa tightly, "What should we do? Do we really have to..."

"He is serious." Kudo Yusaku interrupted her, his voice grave, "He knows the secret of Kudo Shinichi shrinking. If we don't do as he says, he really might expose Kudo Shinichi's secret."

This was exactly what Kudo Yusaku feared the most. The other party held the secret of Kudo Shinichi shrinking, and it could even be said that there was conclusive evidence. Once this secret became known to various countries, Kudo Shinichi would spend the rest of his life on an experimental table.

"But how can Kudo Shinichi 'die'?" Kudo Yukiko was somewhat at a loss, "He is still so young, he still has his own life..."

Conan Edogawa gritted his teeth, his heart filled with unwillingness and anger. He knew his father was right; the other party's threat was real. But to admit "death," to flee his hometown, to flee the people he wanted to protect—he couldn't do it!

"I can't do that." Conan Edogawa raised his head, his eyes flashing with stubborn light, "If Ran sees the news of my death online, then how will I..." "In any case, no, I can't do that, I will never bow to such a person!"

"Do you think this is the time to be stubborn?" Kudo Yusaku looked at him, his tone severe, "Do you know what time it is now? Do you know how much of a stir it would cause if the secret of your shrinking was exposed? The whole world, various organizations will set their sights on you, along with those powerful people..."

"Do you know about lab mice? No! If they find out, Kudo Shinichi, you won't even be as good as a lab mouse. At that time, not only you, but our whole family will be finished."

"But..." "No buts!" Kudo Yusaku interrupted him, "This matter must be considered in the long term."

He leaned back against the chair, closed his eyes, and his brain raced. The other party's goal was very clear—to force Kudo Shinichi away. Why? Was it because Kudo Shinichi investigated him? Or was it for other reasons?

"Um..." Conan Edogawa suddenly spoke, "I actually have a suspect in mind, but when I think about it, it feels very unreasonable."

"Who?" Kudo Yusaku asked.

"Lin Long, the president of Lins Information Consulting Office."

"Lin Long?" Kudo Yusaku opened his eyes, catching the name, "Is that the mysterious man you mentioned before?"

"Yes!" Conan Edogawa nodded, speaking quickly, "I suspect he is related to the Black Organization. I investigated his identity a few days ago, and as a result, I was knocked unconscious and had blood drawn that very day..."

"However, the timeline doesn't seem to fit. From the time I finished investigating his information and left Dr. Agasa's house, to the time I was knocked unconscious and taken away, it was only half an hour."

"It's impossible for Lin Long to have received the information about me investigating him, arranged for someone to knock me out, and taken me away within half an hour; that would all take time."

Kudo Yusaku fell silent for a moment and said, "Let's try it. Regardless of whether this Lin Long is the person threatening us, I will go to see him."

Kudo Yusaku's eyes became deep and thoughtful. "72 hours... We still have time."

He looked at Dr. Agasa. "Doctor, drive back to your house first. We need a safe place to properly discuss our countermeasures."

"Alright." Dr. Agasa immediately started the car. The yellow Beetle drove back onto the road, heading in the direction of Beika Town.

Inside the car, Yukiko Kudo looked at Kudo Yusaku with worry. Conan Edogawa clenched his fists tightly, while Kudo Yusaku gazed out the window, his expression grave.

The 72-hour ultimatum was like a sword hanging over their heads, pressing down on everyone until they couldn't breathe.

Meanwhile, at the Lin Family Manor.

Lin Long tossed his phone onto the sofa and stretched luxuriously, his joints making a series of crisp cracking sounds.

That phone call just now had an effect even better than he had expected—Kudo Yusaku's calmness, Yukiko Kudo's panic, and Conan Edogawa's angry yet helpless screams... Just thinking about it was amusing.

"72 hours..." A playful smile curled the corners of Lin Long's mouth. "I hope you won't disappoint me, Kudo Family."

What he wanted wasn't Conan Edogawa's life, but the disappearance of his public identity, Kudo Shinichi.

As long as the public identity of Conan Edogawa, Kudo Shinichi, was dead, he could focus on pursuing Mouri Ran with peace of mind, even though Mouri Ran might be sad for a while. But wouldn't that just make it easier for him to step in?

Lin Long declared: Love! It's all about using any means necessary!

As for whether Kudo Yusaku would trace it back to him? Lin Long didn't care at all.

With "Ghosts" escorting him on the internet and Shadow Guards protecting him from the shadows, even if Kudo Yusaku was the world's top master detective, he would never be able to find any substantial evidence.

Furthermore, he was now a dark creature, and physical threats were almost ineffective against him.

"Alright, it's time to go see my 'little darling'."

Lin Long stretched, humming an off-key tune with a smile, and walked toward the laboratory deep within the manor.

Miyano Shiho was still there.

Ever since Miyano Akemi had signed the contract, he had put more of his energy into this "Sherry."

Not only did he provide her with the most advanced experimental equipment, but he also "thoughtfully" satisfied her various needs, just to make her lower her guard—after all, the thought of sisters was exciting.

The laboratory door was a specially made alloy door that required both Lin Long's iris and fingerprint verification to open.

"Beep—Verification successful."

The door slid open slowly, and a faint smell of disinfectant mixed with the scent of chemical reagents rushed toward him.

Miyano Shiho was wearing a white lab coat, standing in front of precise instruments, focused on the data on the screen, not even noticing when Lin Long entered.

Her hair was a bit longer than before, draped casually over her shoulders. The lines of her profile were cold and exquisite. Sunlight shone on her through the observation window, casting a soft halo over her.

"Ah, Sherry!" Lin Long walked behind her and said, mimicking Gin's voice.

Miyano Shiho was startled, and the test tube in her hand almost fell to the ground.

She turned around abruptly and saw it was Lin Long. A flash of annoyed embarrassment crossed her eyes: "Are you bored or what?"

"Also, don't you know how to knock before coming in?"

"This is my laboratory; I enter whenever I want."

Lin Long shrugged and smiled, his gaze landing on the screen in front of her. "Any progress in your research?"

The screen displayed the molecular structure of APTX4869, with some complex calculation formulas next to it.

Miyano Shiho subconsciously blocked the screen and said coldly, "It has nothing to do with you."

"Don't be so cold." Lin Long leaned in closer, his long blood-red hair falling onto her lab coat with a cool touch. "Akemi is already one of us; I thought our relationship could be a little closer."

Mentioning Miyano Akemi, Miyano Shiho's eyes flickered, and her tone softened, though it remained cold. "I am very grateful for your help to us sisters, but my sister is my sister, and I am me."

"Sooner or later, it will be the same." Lin Long chuckled softly, a glint of determination flashing in his red eyes. "I have plenty of time to wait."

He turned and walked to the nearby workbench, picked up a bottle of freshly purified reagent, and sniffed it. "Is this the reagent you're researching? How is the effect?"

Miyano Shiho's expression changed slightly. "You peeked at my experimental records?"

"No need to peek." Lin Long shook the reagent in his hand. "The entire laboratory's surveillance is in my hands."

Miyano Shiho was trembling with anger, yet she was helpless.

She had long known that Lin Long had installed surveillance in the laboratory, but she couldn't find any evidence, let alone remove it—the other party's technology was far beyond her imagination.

"What exactly do you want?" Miyano Shiho looked at him, her eyes full of confusion. "Don't worry, if there is a breakthrough in the research, I will notify you."

"Sigh~ Can we only talk about business between us?" Lin Long smiled and winked at Miyano Shiho.

"Eww~~" Miyano Shiho was "electrified" by Lin Long's look, her face flushing slightly as she rubbed her arms.

"Big brother, I beg you, just tell me what your purpose is."

Watching Lin Long darting around her in the laboratory, Miyano Shiho felt a bit overwhelmed.

"It's simple. I want you, and I also want your research results." Lin Long spoke straightforwardly and domineeringly, without any concealment.

Miyano Shiho's cheeks flushed crimson instantly, both ashamed and angry. "You are shameless!"

"Shameless?" Lin Long shrugged indifferently. "Compared to those hypocrites, at least I'm honest enough."

Lin Long walked up to Miyano Shiho, leaned over slightly, and locked eyes with her gray-blue eyes. "Shiho, stop struggling. Stay by my side, you can continue your research, and I can protect you and Akemi, allowing you to escape the shadow of the Black Organization forever. Isn't this the best choice for you?"

"And you've already seen the changes in your sister, right? Immortality! Eternal youth! Aren't you tempted?" Lin Long tempted her.

Miyano Shiho looked at his face so close to hers, looking at the unabashed possessiveness in his red eyes, and her heart began to beat uncontrollably fast.

She had to admit that Lin Long's proposal was very tempting—a safe environment, advanced equipment, the promise to protect her sister, as well as that desirable power... These were all things she had dreamed of.

However, Miyano Shiho also knew clearly that this man was too dangerous and too domineering. Once she agreed, it would mean losing her freedom forever and becoming his possession.

"I won't agree." Miyano Shiho looked away, her voice trembling slightly.

"That's fine." Lin Long straightened up, smiling like a cat that had stolen some cream. "I can wait. I'll wait for the day you 'come around'."

He turned and walked toward the door. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, turned back to look at Miyano Shiho, and said with a playful tone, "By the way, a reminder: Beika Town might not be peaceful lately. If you encounter any trouble, you can come to me anytime. After all... we are 'friends', aren't we?"

After saying that, he left the laboratory with a smile, leaving Miyano Shiho standing there alone, her expression changing uncertainly.

Lin Long walked down the manor's corridor, a gleam of pleasure flickering in his red eyes.

The Kudo Family's trouble, Miyano Shiho's wavering, the Black Organization's restlessness... This chess game was getting more and more interesting.

He raised his hand to check his watch; there was still a long time left before the 72-hour deadline.

It was enough for him to do many things.

For example, paying a "visit" to the Mouri Detective Agency to see that lovely Mouri Ran, and by the way... adding more fuel to the "death" of Kudo Shinichi.