55: Chapter 55 Lin Long's Disregard and the Warning from the Upper Hands of the US

In the study of Lin Family Manor, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the blinds, casting mottled shadows on the floor.

Lin Long sat behind a wide mahogany desk, an encrypted electronic report held between his fingertips. The text on the screen clearly recorded the investigation progress of the FBI's Tokyo team—

From Akai Shuichi discovering suspicious points in military equipment, to their speculation that the Okinawa Island military base might be involved, to the investigation application James submitted to headquarters, every detail was listed in full, even including their internal disagreements.

"Ghost, well done."

Lin Long casually placed the tablet on the desk, his tone indifferent but carrying a hint of praise.

A slight ripple appeared in the air, and a nearly transparent dark shadow manifested behind him, kneeling on one knee:

"It is my honor to serve you, Boss. The FBI's encrypted network is more fragile than imagined; their internal communications hold almost no secrets."

Lin Long smiled and didn't respond.

Ghost was a hacker he had transformed using dark energy, a special existence with the ability to penetrate physical barriers and crack electronic devices—not to mention he was a top-tier hacker before the transformation—so monitoring the FBI's movements was a simple task.

Lin Long picked up the tablet again, his gaze falling on the line "Apply to investigate the Okinawa Island military base," a playful curve tugging at the corner of his mouth:

"As expected of Akai Shuichi; this sharpness and insight truly deserve the title of the FBI's ace. It's just a pity he's on the wrong side."

From identifying the model of the military equipment to pinpointing the Okinawa base and pushing headquarters for an investigation, every step Akai Shuichi took was precise and ruthless. If it were an ordinary opponent, they likely would have been torn open by him already.

But he was facing Lin Long—an existence who held dark power and could even influence the high-levels of the Eagle Nation.

"Want to investigate me? Still too naive."

Lin Long whispered to himself, a flash of mockery in his eyes.

"It's time to make them understand that some existences are not for them to touch."

He picked up a specially encrypted phone and dialed a number.

Once the call connected, he didn't waste words and gave a direct order:

"Notify that old geezer at the Department of Justice and those idiots at The Pentagon to handle the FBI's application.

Tell them not to let those Agents be an eyesore in Tokyo; otherwise, I wouldn't mind helping them take off their official hats."

A respectful response came from the other end, and then the call was hung up.

Lin Long put down the phone and leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the desk.

Akai Shuichi's investigation was like a pebble thrown into a lake; though it created ripples, it wasn't enough to stir up a storm.

But he didn't like the feeling of being watched; he had to use the most direct way to snuff out their curiosity.

This was high-dimensional suppression—while the opponent was still painstakingly following rules to find clues, he was already standing above the rules, able to easily rewrite the ending.

...

The atmosphere at the FBI's secret base in Tokyo was even more oppressive than before.

Akai Shuichi had just returned from Tokyo Bay, bringing back some fragmented clues about "military equipment circulating on the black market." Just as he was preparing to analyze them with Jodie and the others, the conference room phone rang.

James walked over quickly to answer. His expression shifted from initial anticipation to gravity, and finally turned deathly pale.

He nodded repeatedly to the person on the other end, his tone carrying an unmistakable submissiveness:

"Yes, I understand... Fine, I will convey it immediately... Please rest assured, we will definitely not interfere again... Yes, thank you for the reminder, Director."

Hanging up the phone, James stood in place for a long time, looking as if all his strength had been drained.

"James, what happened?"

Jodie was the first to notice something was wrong and stood up to ask, "Did headquarters approve the investigation?"

Akai Shuichi also stopped what he was doing, his red eyes fixed intently on James. From the man's grim face, he had already guessed a few things.

The other FBI Agents also put down their work, their gazes focusing on James as an ominous premonition filled the air.

James turned around slowly, his face devoid of color. He took a deep breath and said hoarsely:

"The application... has been rejected."

"What?!"

Jodie's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Why? We clearly have enough evidence to prove the Okinawa base might be involved. How could headquarters..."

"It's not a problem with headquarters."

James interrupted her, a hint of bitterness in his tone.

"It's an order from even higher up. The Director called personally. He said... we are not allowed to handle this matter anymore."

"On what grounds?!"

A young Agent couldn't help but shout, "That was a terrorist attack! And the killers used US military equipment, which might even involve a military cover-up. On what grounds are they not letting us investigate?!"

James gave a bitter smile and shook his head:

"The Director said this is a 'military secret operation' and is highly classified; we in the FBI have no jurisdiction to intervene. He also said...

Not just him, but even the Attorney General and several Chiefs of Staff at the White House have agreed to this decision."

"Secret operation?"

Akai Shuichi sneered, the cigarette between his fingers glowing with sparks.

"Massacring civilians in a civilian hotel is called a secret operation?"

"I don't know."

James's tone was full of helplessness.

"The Director didn't explain; he just repeatedly emphasized that this isn't something we can question. He also warned us that if we dare to continue the investigation, we will face the consequences."

He paused and said something even more chilling:

"The Director said that if he hadn't stopped them, someone on the military side had already proposed... 'cleaning up' those of us who are in the way."

"Cleaning up?!"

Jodie's face instantly turned pale.

"Are they crazy? We're the FBI! They actually dare to use this kind of method..."

"In the eyes of those high-levels, we might really just be annoying bugs."

James's voice carried a hint of fatigue and despair.

"The survival of the tomizawa family isn't important; the military's face and secrets are. We've touched something we shouldn't have."

He looked at Akai Shuichi with a complex gaze: "Shuichi, I'm sorry. This matter... ends here."

Akai Shuichi didn't speak, just silently smoked his cigarette, his red eyes appearing exceptionally deep amidst the smoke.

He had long known that the high-levels of the Eagle Nation were filthy and would use any means for profit and power, but he hadn't expected them to be shameless to this extent—

To cover up a potential military scandal, they could actually turn a blind eye to a vicious terrorist attack and even go so far as to threaten the safety of their own people.

"For everyone's safety,"

James continued, his tone carrying a hint of pleading.

"Let's put our energy back on the Black Organization. That is the real reason we came to Tokyo."

After speaking, he didn't look at the crowd again, turning and dragging his heavy steps out of the conference room.

He knew this decision was cowardly and a disservice to those who died, but he had no choice—he couldn't gamble with the lives of the entire Tokyo team.

There was a dead silence in the conference room, save for the sizzling sound of the cigarette burning.

Jodie clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white, her face filled with anger and indignation:

"This is ridiculous! How can they do this? The killers are still at large, yet they want us to stop?! What on earth is the military covering up?!"

No one could answer her question.

Akai Shuichi stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray and stood up, his face expressionless as if the news just now hadn't affected him at all.

But Jodie, who knew him well, knew this was just the calm before the storm.

"Shuichi..." Jodie looked at him, hesitating to speak.

Akai Shuichi straightened his coat and said coldly, "The character of the high-levels hasn't changed in ten thousand years."

A simple sentence, yet it contained endless mockery and disappointment.

He walked to the door, stopped, and without turning back, said to everyone:

"James is right; the overt investigation ends here."

Jodie's eyes lit up: "You mean..."

"But that doesn't mean we can't do anything."

Akai Shuichi's voice came through the crack in the door, carrying a cold determination.

"The military wants to cover it up, which means there must be a problem. Since we can't investigate openly, we'll change our method."

He paused and added:

"Jodie, help me check the recent material transfer records of the Okinawa base, especially those related to Tokyo.

Also, check the background and interpersonal network of the base commander, General White, as detailed as possible."

"But... headquarters..."

"What they don't know doesn't count as violating orders."

Akai Shuichi's tone carried an unquestionable firmness.

"I want to see what the military is actually protecting, and what the relationship is between that guy in the clown mask and them."

With that, he pushed the door open and left, his figure disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Jodie stared at the closed door for a few seconds, then a look of resolve flashed in her eyes.

She picked up the documents on the table and said to the other Agents:

"Did you hear that? Get moving. Be discreet; use offline devices for all investigations, and don't leave any traces."

"Yes!" The Agents, who had been dejected just a moment ago, instantly reignited their fighting spirit.

They joined the FBI not to obey the orders of filthy high-levels, but to pursue truth and justice.

The atmosphere in the conference room became tense and orderly again, only this time, their investigation had moved from the light into the shadows, with every step fraught with danger.

Meanwhile, at the Lin Family Manor, Lin Long saw everything happening in the secret base through the Shadow Guards.

"Still haven't given up?"

Lin Long said, looking at the surveillance footage.

"Fine, I'll let you jump around for a few more days. When I'm tired of playing, I'll personally snuff out your hope."

He picked up the tablet and pulled up Akai Shuichi's files, his gaze lingering on that cold face for a few seconds.

"Akai Shuichi... the FBI's ace?"

Lin Long murmured to himself, a hint of playfulness in his eyes.

"I hope you can bring me some fun."

"Otherwise... the Joker might just appear before the people you care about most."

Lin Long put down the tablet and stood up to look out the window. On the tablet, photos of a blonde woman and a girl with a cute snaggletooth flashed.

The data displayed on them was none other than: Akai Mary and Masumi Sera.