96: Chapter 96 Lin Long's Blank Space, The Decision of Marriage

The Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled smoothly into the gates of Suzuki Manor, its wheels crunching softly over the fine gravel driveway.

Suzuki Tomoko sat in the back seat, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the grain of the leather upholstery. Her gaze drifted through the window to the century-old cherry blossom tree in the courtyard—its swaying shadows looked like an invisible web, tightening around her heart.

"Go and call the head of the intelligence department."

As soon as the car came to a halt, Suzuki Tomoko instructed the butler, her tone possessing an unquestionable sharpness.

Suzuki Shiro was taken aback for a moment. "Now? Shouldn't we rest first?"

"Rest?"

Suzuki Tomoko glanced at him, a hint of imperceptible anxiety in her eyes. "It won't be too late to rest once we've uncovered Lin Long's background."

She knew better than anyone that General White's words were not without merit.

A man who could make the highest commander of the US forces in Japan so wary, who was on brotherly terms with heavyweights in Washington, and who even had deep-seated connections with the US military, could never be just the "self-made owner of an information consulting firm" described in the files.

The Suzuki Family's intelligence department was established by Tomoko herself. Composed of retired public security police and former Interpol officers, they were ruthless and highly efficient.

Over the years, whether it was dirt on business rivals or the secret dealings of politicians, there was nothing they couldn't find if they wanted to.

But this time, they had failed.

Three hours later, the head of the intelligence department stood before Mr. and Mrs. Suzuki, sweating profusely and holding a thin stack of papers, his face pale.

"President, Madam... I'm sorry. We did our best, but we couldn't find a single piece of core information regarding Lin Long."

"You couldn't find anything?"

Suzuki Shiro slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "What are we paying you for? A living, breathing human being—did he just spring out of a crack in a rock?"

The department head gave a bitter smile and pushed the files toward them.

"All we could find is what Lin Long wanted us to find.

For instance, he registered the Lins Information Consulting Company in Tokyo three years ago; he has several properties and luxury cars under his name; he occasionally appears at business galas... but these are all public information and completely meaningless."

He paused, lowering his voice further. "As for his birthplace, family background, his rise to wealth, or even his life trajectory for the first twenty years—it's a total blank. It's as if... this man suddenly 'appeared' in Tokyo three years ago."

Suzuki Tomoko picked up the files and flipped through them page by page. Just as the department head said, the information was pitifully sparse and entirely trivial.

She had even ordered her subordinates to check Interpol's database and the US FBI's public records, but the results were the same—nothing.

"The strangest thing is this."

The department head pointed to one of the pages. "We tried to investigate through American channels, but we found that every informant who touched this task either suddenly lost contact or claimed they had 'insufficient clearance.'

One informant who was a clerk at The Pentagon even 'resigned for personal reasons' the day after we contacted him."

These words were like a thunderbolt striking the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Suzuki.

To have someone at The Pentagon resign just because of an 'investigation request'? The power behind this far exceeded their imagination.

"General White was telling the truth..."

Suzuki Shiro murmured to himself, his eyes filled with shock. "He really can influence the upper echelons of the US..."

Suzuki Tomoko said nothing, her fingers gripping the files so tightly her knuckles turned white.

She knew that this 'lack of information' was the most terrifying signal of all—it meant Lin Long's influence was powerful enough to easily erase his own traces and even manipulate the US intelligence system.

Just then, the butler hurried in, holding an encrypted envelope. "Madam, a letter from the Eldest Miss at the tomizawa family."

The Eldest Miss referred to Suzuki Ayako, Suzuki Tomoko's eldest daughter, who had now successfully taken over the entire Tomizawa Financial Group with Lin Long's help.

Ayako's initiative to contact Mr. and Mrs. Suzuki this time was also due to a hint she had received from Lin Long.

Suzuki Tomoko quickly tore open the envelope. Ayako's handwriting was elegant yet firm:

"Mom, Dad, regarding Lin Long, I have dealt with him and heard a bit about him.

His influence in the US is beyond imagination; he is on very close terms with several big shots in the Senate and can even directly contact high-ranking military officials. 'Do not attempt to probe into Lin's past; only know what he wants you to know.'

I believe that if a marriage alliance can be formed, the benefits to the Suzuki Family would outweigh the drawbacks. I hope you will consider this carefully."

The letter was short, but it acted like a reassuring pill and a push forward.

Seeing that even her eldest daughter was so wary of Lin Long and even subtly supported the marriage alliance, the scales in Suzuki Tomoko's heart began to tilt sharply.

"Tomoko..."

Suzuki Shiro looked at his wife, a glimmer of expectation in his eyes.

Suzuki Tomoko set the letter down and remained silent for a long time. Countless thoughts flashed through her mind—Lin Long's mystery, White's hint, Ayako's letter, and that within-reach position of Prime Minister... In the end, all hesitation was suppressed by ambition.

"Let's proceed with the marriage alliance."

She looked up, her tone calm yet resolute. "For the sake of the Suzuki Family, and for what you want to achieve."

"That's wonderful!"

Suzuki Shiro was so excited he nearly jumped up, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out.

"I knew you would agree! Once Sonoko marries Lin Long, with this connection, let alone Prime Minister, our Suzuki Family could even..."

"Don't get ahead of yourself."

Suzuki Tomoko interrupted him, her eyes remaining clear. "We are only 'considering' the alliance; it's not set in stone yet.

Lin Long is too mysterious. We must meet him in person to test his background and intentions."

She wasn't foolish enough to push her daughter out based solely on a few documents and words.

At the very least, she had to find out exactly what Lin Long saw in the Suzuki Family and why it had to be Sonoko.

"Then... what should we do?"

Suzuki Shiro asked. Amidst his excitement, he had also become a bit more cautious.

"Have Sonoko call Lin Long."

Suzuki Tomoko said, "Say that we're having a small party at home and would like to invite him over as a guest."

"Have Sonoko call?"

Suzuki Shiro was stunned. "She doesn't know about this yet..."

"Then let her stay in the dark."

A glint of calculation flashed in Suzuki Tomoko's eyes.

"With Sonoko's personality, being so carefree, she won't arouse Lin Long's suspicion. We can use the 'family dinner' as a pretext to observe Lin Long's reaction.

If he really is interested in Sonoko, he will definitely come; if he's just trying to use us, his attitude will eventually reveal a flaw."

This was a risky move, but also the most secure one. Using Sonoko as a 'scout' would neither expose their true intentions nor prevent them from testing Lin Long's depth.

Suzuki Shiro thought about it and nodded. "Alright, we'll do as you say. I'll go call Sonoko right now..."

"Wait."

Suzuki Tomoko stopped him, her tone solemn. "Don't tell Sonoko anything. Just say... it's a regular business social, and you want her to help host."

She didn't dare imagine how Sonoko would react if she knew her parents wanted to trade her marriage for power.

That seemingly lighthearted daughter was actually prouder than anyone else deep down.

Suzuki Shiro sighed. "I understand."

...

Meanwhile, Suzuki Sonoko was sitting on the sofa at the Mouri Detective Agency, clutching a bag of potato chips and enthusiastically watching a jewelry exhibition on TV.

"Look, Ran! This sapphire necklace is so beautiful! It's even better than the one Kid-sama stole last time!" She pointed at the screen, her eyes sparkling.

Mouri Ran smiled and shook her head. "You and your jewels. By the way, Sonoko, your parents seem very busy lately. We didn't even make it to that dinner we planned last time."

"Who knows what they're up to."

Sonoko curled her lip, a hint of imperceptible disappointment in her voice. "Meetings, meetings every day. They even forgot my birthday..."

Although she didn't say it, she wasn't oblivious to her parents' unusual behavior. She was just used to masking it with her carefree attitude, not wanting others to see how much she cared.

Just then, her phone rang. It was her father, Suzuki Shiro.

"Hello, Dad?" Sonoko picked up the phone, still munching on a potato chip.

"Sonoko, are you busy?"

Suzuki Shiro's voice sounded exceptionally gentle, even carrying a hint of fawning.

"Not busy, I'm just hanging out at Ran's place."

Sonoko said curiously, "Dad, why are you being so polite today? Did something happen at home?"

"No, no."

Suzuki Shiro quickly denied it. "It's like this: we're having a small party at home tomorrow night with some business friends. Could you come back and help host?"

"A party?"

Sonoko frowned; she disliked these kinds of occasions the most. "Can I skip it? I already promised Ran we'd go see a movie tomorrow."

"No!"

Suzuki Shiro's tone was uncharacteristically firm for a moment before softening again.

"It's just a few friends, not many. Your mother said that as the heir to our Suzuki Family, you must come back to hold down the fort. And... there's a very important guest this time. You absolutely must be there."

"What important guest?" Sonoko asked inquisitively.

"You'll find out when the time comes."

Suzuki Shiro kept her in suspense. "Anyway, you must come back. Consider it a favor to your dad, okay?"

Hearing her father put it that way, Sonoko couldn't really refuse anymore, so she grumbled her agreement.

"Alright, alright, I'll come back tomorrow, okay? Honestly, why so mysterious..."

After hanging up, Sonoko tossed her phone aside and continued eating chips, completely unaware that she had become the most crucial pawn in this power struggle.

Conan Edogawa sat nearby, taking it all in. The suspicion in his mind grew. A Suzuki Family party? An important guest? Combined with the Suzuki Conglomerate's recent unusual behavior, there was definitely something going on.

"Sonoko, who's invited to your family's party tomorrow?" Conan Edogawa asked, pretending to be casual.

"No idea."

Sonoko shrugged, sounding indifferent. "Probably just some boring old uncles again. But my dad said there's a 'very important guest.' Who knows what big shot it is."

Conan Edogawa didn't press further, but he had already made up his mind—tomorrow, he would definitely find a way to follow Sonoko to the Suzuki residence and see for himself.

...

In the study of Suzuki Manor, Suzuki Tomoko hung up the phone with the butler, instructing him to prepare for the family dinner tomorrow.

"Is everything arranged?" Suzuki Shiro asked.

"Yes."

Suzuki Tomoko nodded. "Sonoko will be back tomorrow. I also had the butler check; Lin Long has no public schedule tomorrow. As long as Sonoko asks, there's a high probability he'll come."

"Then we..."

"We don't need to do anything."

Suzuki Tomoko interrupted him. "Treat it like a normal family dinner—talk about business, talk about recent events. I want to see exactly what kind of person this Lin Long is and whether his 'interest' in Sonoko is genuine or a facade."

She walked to the window, looking out at the Tokyo cityscape in the night, her eyes shimmering with a complex light.

This marriage alliance could be a ladder to the heavens for the Suzuki Family, or it could be an abyss of no return.

But she no longer had a way out.

For the future of the Suzuki Family and for her husband's dream of becoming Prime Minister, she had to take this gamble.

Gambling that Lin Long was sincere about the alliance, gambling that he wouldn't act against the Suzuki Family, and gambling that this seemingly absurd trade could bring them the power they desired.

As the night deepened, the lights of Suzuki Manor went out one by one, leaving only the light in the study burning, illuminating two figures, each with their own hidden thoughts.

What they didn't know was that this carefully planned 'family dinner' would not only change Suzuki Sonoko's fate but would also push the entire situation in Tokyo toward an even more unpredictable direction.