41: Chapter 41 Amuro Tooru's Attention

The night, like a thick piece of black velvet, shrouded all of Tokyo.

The lights of the Poirot Cafe appeared exceptionally warm in the night. Exquisite desserts were displayed in the glass windows, and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of mixed coffee and cream.

Amuro Tooru, wearing a white apron, was focused on wiping a coffee cup behind the bar.

His movements were elegant and practiced. His golden hair shone with a soft luster under the lights, and a perfectly measured smile played at the corners of his mouth. He looked just like an ordinary young shop assistant who loved desserts.

No one knew that this mild-mannered pastry chef's true identity was "Bourbon," a codenamed member of the Black Organization; even fewer knew that his real name was Rei Furuya, an undercover agent sent into the organization by the Japanese Public Security Police.

"Ding-a-ling—"

The phone in his pocket vibrated, breaking the silence in the shop.

Amuro Tooru paused in his cup-wiping, a flicker of imperceptible vigilance flashing in his eyes.

This number was Vermouth's dedicated encrypted line.

He calmly walked to the staff lounge at the back of the shop, closed the door, and then pressed the answer button, his tone restoring the coldness expected of a member of the organization:

"Vermouth."

"Bourbon, help me investigate someone."

Vermouth's lazy and alluring voice came from the other end of the line, carrying a hint of unquestionable command.

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

"Lin Long?"

Amuro Tooru's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He seemed to have heard this name somewhere before.

"What? Do you know him?"

Vermouth keenly captured the subtle change in his tone.

"I wouldn't say I know him, I've just heard some rumors."

Amuro Tooru said indifferently, trying hard to recall information about this name.

He remembered that a few months ago, some scattered rumors had circulated within the organization—Gin had led a team to carry out an assassination mission. The target was an agency president named Lin Long, but the mission had ended in failure.

It was said that the operation had suffered heavy losses. Except for Gin, who escaped unscathed, Vodka, Chianti, Korn, and the others had all sustained significant injuries.

However, Gin had strictly ordered this matter to be sealed, publicly claiming it was merely an "unexpected attack," so very few people knew the details.

Amuro Tooru had been busy with his undercover mission at the time, and since Gin's action team had always been at odds with him, he didn't pay it any mind, assuming it was just another cover-up by Gin after a failed operation.

He hadn't expected Vermouth to suddenly ask him to investigate this person.

"It seems you know quite a bit."

Vermouth chuckled.

"I want all his information, the more detailed, the better—his background, interpersonal relationships, sources of funding, and also... his relationship with the Black Organization."

Alarm bells rang in Amuro Tooru's mind.

Although vermouth's tone was casual, he could hear the gravity within it.

A person who could make "vermouth" take them so seriously was definitely no ordinary person.

Moreover, the fact that this person could make Gin suffer a setback was suspicious enough in itself.

"Does he have a grudge against the organization?" Amuro Tooru asked tentatively.

"Not clear."

Vermouth's voice carried a hint of playfulness.

"But he seems to know many things he shouldn't, including... my identity."

Amuro Tooru's pupils contracted sharply!

He even knew Vermouth's identity? Who exactly was this Lin Long?

"I understand." Amuro Tooru suppressed the shock in his heart and replied calmly, "I will give you an answer as soon as possible."

"You'd better be quick." Vermouth's voice turned colder. "This person is very interesting, but also very dangerous."

The phone was hung up, and the busy signal "beep-beep" came from the receiver.

Amuro Tooru held the phone, standing in place with his brows locked in a frown.

The usual gentleness faded from his golden eyes, leaving only the sharpness and vigilance belonging to an undercover agent.

Lin Long...

He chewed on the name repeatedly in his mind, connecting it with that failed assassination by Gin.

A person who could make Gin suffer, make Vermouth wary, and even know the identity of core organization members was definitely a huge variable.

Was this person friend or foe? Was he a potential threat to the organization, or a mysterious figure with another identity?

As a Public Security undercover agent, his first reaction was—did this person, Lin Long, have any utility?

Could this person be the key clue to breaking the Black Organization?

But as "Bourbon," he also had to report the investigation results to the organization, without arousing anyone's suspicion.

This was a dangerous balance; one wrong step, and it would be total ruin.

Amuro Tooru took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He walked to the window, gazing at the heavy night outside, and pulled out another encrypted phone—this phone connected to his secret line with Public Security.

He dialed a number. The call was answered quickly, and a respectful, low voice came through:

"Officer Furuya."

It was Kazami Yuya, his subordinate in Public Security, and one of the few people who knew his true identity.

"Kazami, help me investigate someone."

Amuro Tooru's voice returned to the crisp efficiency of a Public Security officer.

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

"Lin Long?"

Kazami Yuya paused.

"Is that the information consulting office that has been very famous in Beika Town recently? I've heard of them. The cases they take are very tricky, but their success rate is very high, and their background doesn't seem simple."

"I don't want 'seems like'." Amuro Tooru's tone grew heavier.

"I want all his information—date of birth, place of origin, past experience, sources of funding, social connections, and all the business records of his office, especially those 'special' commissions he's taken. The more detailed, the better. Send it to me within half an hour."

"Yes! I guarantee I will complete the mission!" Kazami Yuya dared not delay and responded immediately.

After hanging up, Amuro Tooru put away his phone and readjusted his expression.

When he walked out of the lounge, that gentle smile was back on his face, as if the sharp-eyed undercover agent from just a moment ago had been a hallucination.

"Mr. Amuro, what were you busy with just now? A customer ordered your signature soufflé." A colleague called out with a smile.

"Coming right up." Amuro Tooru responded with a smile, walking to the counter to begin preparing the ingredients.

The whisk began to spin, beating the egg whites into a fine foam. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting light on his focused profile. Everything looked so peaceful and serene.

But only he himself knew that his brain was working at high speed.

Lin Long was able to make Gin fail, which meant he possessed the strength to confront the organization—was it personal combat prowess, or did he have a faction supporting him from behind?

He could know Vermouth's identity, which meant his intelligence network was extremely vast, perhaps even penetrating into the organization—was he a member of another country's intelligence agency, or the heir to some hidden, influential family?

Vermouth asked him to investigate Lin Long—was it simple curiosity, or did she have another purpose? Could it be the will of "The Boss"?

Questions swirled in his mind like a tangled mess. But he knew that the key to unraveling this mess lay in the information Kazami Yuya was about to send.

...

Half an hour later, Amuro Tooru's phone vibrated. It was an encrypted email from Kazami Yuya.

He made an excuse to go to the restroom, returned to the lounge, closed the door, and quickly opened the email.

The information in the email was very detailed, covering almost all of Lin Long's public information:

Lin Long, male, age unknown (estimated to be between 25-30), suddenly appeared in Beika Town half a year ago and registered the Lins Information Consulting Office.

Place of origin unknown. Identity information showed he was an "orphan," with no record of any relatives in Japan.

Source of funding mysterious. The office's startup capital reached billions of yen, and subsequent cash flow was massive, with unknown destinations.

The scope of business was extremely wide, from ordinary missing persons cases and investigating extramarital affairs to stealing commercial secrets, cross-border debt collection, and even rumors of taking on "troublesome" gray-area commissions, with a 100% success rate.

Social relationships were simple. In public, he had only had a few contacts with Suzuki Ayako of the Suzuki Conglomerate. The rest of the time, he lived a reclusive life, with almost no private social life.

Most notably, the office's security was extremely tight. There had been thugs who attempted to break in, only to be beaten severely and dumped at the entrance of the police station. However, after police investigation, the matter was dropped due to "insufficient evidence."

"Suddenly appeared half a year ago... mysterious funds... wide range of business... tight security..."

Amuro Tooru muttered to himself, his fingers sliding across the screen, the confusion in his eyes deepening.

This information looked flawless, but it was precisely this "perfection" that made it seem exceptionally suspicious.

How could a person with no past and no background build such a vast information empire in just half a year?

Moreover, the data completely failed to mention his intersection with the Black Organization, let alone the record of Gin's failed assassination—this meant that Lin Long had either deliberately erased his tracks, or his power was so great that even the Public Security database could not reach it.

"Not simple." Amuro Tooru closed the email, his brows furrowing tighter.

This Lin Long was like a shadow shrouded in fog, impossible to see clearly or grasp.

He picked up his phone, preparing to reply to Vermouth, telling her that he hadn't found any useful information yet. But his finger hovered over the dial button and then stopped.

As a Public Security undercover agent, he could not let go of anyone who might threaten the organization; but as "Bourbon," he also had to report to the organization.

But if Lin Long really had the ability to confront the organization, would reporting rashly alert the enemy? Or even bring about fatal disaster?

More importantly, he vaguely felt that this Lin Long might be related to some secret of the organization—Gin's failed assassination was definitely not an accident.

Amuro Tooru took a deep breath and made a decision. He didn't call Vermouth but instead dialed Kazami Yuya's number again.

"Kazami,"

His voice was low and serious.

"Help me investigate all abnormal incidents in Beika Town from half a year ago—especially records involving gunfights, explosions, or unidentified casualties. Also, check all network traces of the Lins Office. I want to know where their technical support comes from."

This time, what he wanted to investigate was the unknown "other side" of Lin Long.

"But Officer, this might alert the other party..." Kazami Yuya hesitated.

"I know." Amuro Tooru's tone was firm.

"But this person is worth the risk."

He had a hunch that this Lin Long might become the key link to breaking the Black Organization. Regardless of whether he was friend or foe, he had to be investigated thoroughly.

After hanging up, Amuro Tooru walked out of the lounge and saw that there were not many customers left in the shop. He took off his apron and smiled at his colleague: "I'm off, see you tomorrow."

"Goodbye, Mr. Amuro! Be careful on the way!"

Walking out of the cafe, the cool night wind rushed over him, making him a bit more clear-headed. He didn't go home, but instead walked in the direction of the Lins Information Consulting Office.

He wanted to go see for himself what kind of place this man, who could make both Gin and Vermouth pay such special "attention," was hiding in.

In the night, Amuro Tooru's figure soon blended into the shadows, like a vigilant leopard, approaching his target silently.

And what he didn't know was that at the moment he left the cafe, a black shadow also emerged from the darkness of the street corner, following him from afar—it was one of Lin Long's Shadow Guards, ordered by Lin Long to "take care" of everyone who was interested in him.

Amuro Tooru stood at the corner of the street below the Lins Office, looking up at the nondescript building. Compared to the surrounding skyscrapers, this three-story building appeared exceptionally low-key, but the two bodyguards in black suits with sharp eyes at the entrance silently signaled the extraordinary nature of their master.

"As expected, there's a problem." Amuro Tooru muttered to himself, a hint of gravity flashing in his eyes.

How could an ordinary information consulting office possibly require such tight security?

He did not approach rashly, but merely observed from nearby for a moment, noting the layout of the office and the shift patterns of the bodyguards, then left quietly. He knew that investigating Lin Long could not be rushed.

Returning to his apartment, Amuro Tooru opened his computer, organized the information sent by Kazami Yuya and his own observation records together, trying to find a breakthrough. But the more he looked, the more he felt that Lin Long was like a riddle.

No past, no weaknesses, no clear stance... Such a person was the most terrifying.

"Lin Long..." Amuro Tooru looked at the photo of Lin Long on the computer screen—the man in the photo wore a black shirt, his blood-red long hair draped casually over his shoulders, and his red eyes held a hint of careless amusement, yet it made one dare not look directly at him.

Who exactly was this man? Could he use him to deal with the Black Organization?

In Amuro Tooru's heart, for the first time, he felt such strong curiosity and vigilance toward a target.

The night outside the window grew thicker. In Amuro Tooru's apartment, only the light of the computer screen flickered, reflecting his firm yet complex face.

What he didn't know was that his investigation was already under Lin Long's control.