48: Chapter 48 Shadow Mercenary Group

In the study of the Lin Family Manor, the sunset's afterglow filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows across the floor.

Lin Long stood by the window, toying with a black coin in his hand. Engraved on the coin was a vivid, blood-red lotus—the emblem of the Shadow Mercenary Group.

His phone vibrated, and a message popped up on the screen from Suzuki Ayako: [The wedding is set for ten o'clock the day after tomorrow. The Fuzawa Family Head will attend in person.]

A cold smile curled the corners of Lin Long's lips. It was finally time.

He replied: [Rest assured, everything is proceeding according to plan.]

After sending the message, Lin Long put away his phone, walked to his desk, and picked up a specially encrypted phone.

This phone utilized the highest level of anti-eavesdropping technology and could only dial one number—that of the Shadow Mercenary Group headquarters far away in the Middle East.

The phone rang three times before it was answered.

A hoarse, deep male voice came through the receiver, carrying a thick British accent yet exuding the iron-blooded aura of one long accustomed to the battlefield: "Boss."

"James."

Lin Long's voice was calm and waveless, yet carried an unquestionable authority. "It's me."

James Walker, formerly an ace sniper for the British Special Air Service, had been abandoned after a failed mission. When he was on the verge of death in the Middle East desert, he was discovered by Lin Long's Shadow Guards and brought back to the manor.

Lin Long, impressed by his ruthlessness and loyalty, forcibly converted him into a dark member using dark energy.

Unlike Vermouth, James was filled with absolute awe and loyalty toward Lin Long—it was Lin Long who had given him a second life, and even more so, granted him power far beyond that of an ordinary person.

"Shadow Mercenary Group, awaiting your orders."

James's voice remained hoarse, yet it carried a determination to die at any moment.

Since being converted by Lin Long, James had followed his instructions to establish the Shadow Mercenary Group in the Middle East.

At first, this mercenary group consisted of only a few people, all elite soldiers from various countries whom Lin Long had secretly "disposed of." After being modified by his dark energy, they became absolutely loyal death squads.

However, Lin Long gave James even greater assistance—he handed over the contact information of several arms dealers and high-level American congressmen whom he had forcibly converted.

Those arms dealers provided the Shadow Mercenary Group with a constant stream of advanced weaponry; those congressmen, controlled by dark energy, used the power in their hands to clear various obstacles for the mercenary group, even tacitly allowing them to take on dirty work that was "inconvenient for official channels to handle."

In just half a year, the Shadow Mercenary Group transformed from an obscure little group into an existence that made the entire dark world tremble in fear.

Their methods were ruthless, they never left survivors, and their mission success rate was as high as 100%, even making the American Blackwater company wary of them.

"I need you to lead an elite squad to Tokyo, Japan, within two days."

Lin Long got straight to the point, his tone carrying a hint of unquestionable command. "You don't need to bring weapons or equipment; I will have them prepared here."

"Yes." James did not hesitate in the slightest. "How many people do you need?"

"Thirty people." Lin Long mused. "I need the very best, skilled in infiltration, raids, and... cleaning up traces."

"Understood." James immediately replied. "We will arrive at the designated location at dawn the day after tomorrow."

"Very good." Lin Long nodded with satisfaction. "Upon arrival, someone will meet you. I will give you the specific operational plan then."

"Yes, Boss."

Hanging up the phone, Lin Long tossed the encrypted device onto the table and walked over to the world map on the wall, his gaze landing on the invitation sent by the Tomizawa Financial Group.

The elite squad of the Shadow Mercenary Group... combined with the Shadow Guards, would be enough to stir up a bloodbath.

His plan was simple—launch a surprise attack at the wedding of Suzuki Ayako and Tomizawa Yuzo.

The core members of the Tomizawa Financial Group, including the Fuzawa Family Head, the three useless heirs, and that hidden illegitimate son, Fuzawa Seiji, would all attend the wedding.

This was the perfect opportunity to wipe out the tomizawa family in one fell swoop.

And once the main core members of the Tomizawa Financial Group were dead, wouldn't Suzuki Ayako, as the daughter-in-law who had just married into the tomizawa family, be able to take over the Tomizawa Financial Group in a logical and orderly fashion?

As for the Suzuki Family... The reason Suzuki Shiro and Suzuki Tomoko wanted Suzuki Ayako to marry into the tomizawa family was, fundamentally, because they saw that the heirs to the Tomizawa Financial Group were all useless.

To put it bluntly, they believed Suzuki Ayako would easily control the Tomizawa Financial Group, thereby securing a fortune for her.

After all, the Suzuki Conglomerate, as the number one Zaibatsu in Tokyo, really didn't care for the meager scraps of the Tomizawa Financial Group.

"Knock, knock, knock—" A knock sounded at the door.

"Enter."

Butler Ochiai pushed open the door and bowed, saying, "Boss, Miss Vermouth is here to see you."

"Let her in."

Soon, Vermouth walked in. She had changed back into her own clothes—a black, tight-fitting leather suit that accentuated her hot figure.

Her long golden hair draped casually over her shoulders, and the red lotus mark on her forehead was faintly visible, giving her an aura that was both bewitching and dangerous.

After a few days of adaptation, she was able to skillfully control the dark energy within her and had even developed some new abilities—for instance, she could turn invisible in darkness, and her speed was several times faster than before.

"Boss, I have good news for you." Vermouth walked to Lin Long's side, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness. "The application for Kudo Yusaku and his wife has been approved by 'The Boss.'"

"Oh?" Lin Long raised an eyebrow. "So soon?"

"After all, I was the one who recommended them."

Vermouth smiled. "Moreover, Kudo Yusaku has a great reputation in the world of deduction, and 'The Boss' feels he might be able to help—for example, by cracking police codes or analyzing the psychology of opponents."

Lin Long sneered. The Boss was indeed an old fox; on the surface, he was accepting them, but in reality, he intended to use Kudo Yusaku as a tool.

"When can they join?"

"I don't know. It's Gin's action team in charge of testing them; I can't interfere."

Vermouth said, "However, from what I know, the organization will make them complete a 'pledge of allegiance' first."

A flash of understanding crossed Lin Long's eyes, and then he smiled.

That was right; a criminal organization like this wasn't something you could just join on a whim. To join, you definitely had to pay a 'pledge of allegiance.' He figured the so-called pledge was likely nothing more than murder, arson, or completing a mission assigned by the organization.

In short, it was meant to ensure that once you entered the organization, there was no turning back, cutting off any retreat to being a good person.

"Heh, it seems Kudo Yusaku, that great detective of justice, will also have to get his hands stained with blood," Lin Long said.

"Vermouth, disguise yourself as me and attend the Tomizawa Financial Group's wedding the day after tomorrow in my place."

"I have some business to handle that day," Lin Long instructed.

"As you wish, Boss."

Vermouth bowed with a smile, a peculiar glint in her eyes. "The wedding the day after tomorrow?"

She could sense that something major was bound to happen that day.

"By the way, there might be a small accident at the wedding the day after tomorrow; you don't need to worry about it."

"Oh~ I understand."

Vermouth blinked, the wisp of black fire in her blue eyes flickering gently. "I will attend the wedding the day after tomorrow in your place, Boss."

With that, she turned and left the study, her gait carrying an indescribable allure and danger.

Lin Long watched her retreating figure, his eyes devoid of any ripples.

He walked to his desk, picked up a pen, and wrote several names on a piece of paper: Tetsuji Tomizawa, Tomizawa Yuzo, Daji Tomizawa, Fuzawa Taichi, Fuzawa Seiji...

These names would all meet their end at the wedding the day after tomorrow.

After writing them, he crumpled the paper into a ball and tossed it into the nearby fireplace.

The flames licked at the paper, quickly turning it to ash, as if foreshadowing the fate of those people.

The sky outside had completely darkened, and the neon lights of Tokyo lit up one by one, reflecting the city like a massive, iridescent cage.

Lin Long stood by the window, gazing toward the direction of the Tomizawa Financial Group headquarters, cold killing intent flashing in his red eyes.

The day after tomorrow would be the death anniversary of the tomizawa family.

And this storm, which he had personally orchestrated, had only just begun.

He felt as if he could already hear the gunshots, screams, and wails at the wedding, and smell the scent of blood permeating the air.

That sound, that scent, filled Lin Long with a sick, morbid excitement.

After all, he was no longer human.

The power of darkness had not only transformed his body but had also devoured his last shred of mercy.

Now, he only wanted to see this world completely overturned by his own hands.