Detective Conan: Shadow Legion Office

57: Chapter 57 Lin Long’s RevengeInside the study of the Lin Family Manor, the air seemed to have frozen into ice.

Lin Long stood by the window. He had just hung up an encrypted phone call, but the chill radiating from his body was more piercing than a Siberian gale.

Gin actually dared to directly move against James and the Shadow Mercenary Group?

This news was like a poisonous thorn, stabbing deep into Lin Long’s heart.

He wasn’t angry about the loss of mercenaries—to him, these members of the underworld were merely efficient tools—he was angry at the provocation.

In his plan, the Black Organization was supposed to be prey he slowly toyed with in the palm of his hand. Now they dared to bite back; it was a desecration of his absolute authority.

”I was careless...”

Lin Long muttered to himself, his fingertips lightly tapping the windowsill, producing a dull thud.

During this period, the Black Organization had indeed been unusually low-key. They hadn’t conducted any large-scale transactions, nor had they clashed with the FBI or the Public Security Bureau, as if they had gone into hibernation.

This calm had caused him to lower his guard, and he hadn’t ordered the Shadow Guards to keep a constant eye on their movements.

More importantly, he had overestimated the concealment capabilities of James and the Shadow Mercenary Group, and underestimated the Black Organization’s intelligence network.

He thought that with the mercenary group’s counter-reconnaissance skills, hiding in an abandoned factory would be a simple matter. He hadn’t expected the other side to lock onto their location within a few short days, and even dare to directly mobilize personnel to launch an attack.

”Gin...”

”Black Organization...”

A flash of crimson killing intent flickered in Lin Long’s eyes.

”I originally intended to let you live for a few more days. Since you’re so eager to find death, I’ll grant your wish.”

He turned and walked to his desk, picking up another satellite phone and dialing a number far away in Africa.

The phone rang twice before being picked up. A gruff male voice came through the receiver, carrying the characteristic heat of the African savanna: ”Boss!”

”It’s me.”

Lin Long’s voice was cold and emotionless.

”Deploy another two hundred elites from the Shadow Base. Depart immediately, destination Tokyo. I’ll have people meet you in international waters to arrange your entry.”

”Two hundred people?”

The person on the other end was stunned for a moment, then immediately responded,

”Yes! Mission guaranteed! I’ll go assemble the team right now. At the earliest, we can reach the designated waters by tomorrow!”

The Shadow Mercenary Group’s African Base was an ”arsenal” Lin Long had built in secret. It housed nearly a thousand elite mercenaries modified with Dark Energy, equipped with a full range of heavy equipment from armored vehicles to attack helicopters. It was one of his ultimate forces hidden behind the scenes.

He hadn’t originally planned to use so many people, but Gin’s attack had completely enraged him.

”Very good.” Lin Long hung up the phone, his fingers lightly tapping on the tabletop.

Two hundred elites, plus James’s original thirty men, were enough to stir up a bloodbath. He wanted the Black Organization to know that the price of provoking him was total destruction.

...

Two days later, at a hidden pier in Tokyo Bay.

The night was as dark as ink, and the sea breeze blew against the containers on the shore, carrying a salty, fishy scent.

An unmarked cargo ship docked silently at the pier. The gangplank was lowered, and two hundred mercenaries dressed in black combat gear filed down.

Each of them carried heavy equipment. Their steps were uniform, their gazes cold as ice, and the smell of blood and murderous aura emanating from them seemed to freeze the surrounding air.

James stood by the pier, watching this fresh force with a flash of fanaticism in his eyes.

The thirty mercenaries behind him also straightened their backs. The frustration and anger from being attacked earlier were now transformed into an erupting killing intent.

”Welcome, brothers.”

James stepped forward and shook hands with the mercenary captain leading the team.

”Chief.”

The captain’s voice was raspy and powerful.

”We received the Boss’s orders. When do we move?”

”Wait for the weapons to arrive.”

James pointed to several trucks nearby. ”The ’gifts’ the Boss arranged will be here soon.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a dozen trucks covered in canvas slowly drove up and stopped by the pier. The canvas was pulled back, revealing the ”gifts” inside—

Rows of brand-new weaponry: M41P7 submachine guns, Barrett sniper rifles, M203 grenade launchers, M2 Browning heavy machine guns, hand grenades, flashbangs... there were even dozens of Javelin anti-tank missile launchers.

These weapons were all ”requisitioned” directly from the US military’s arsenal by Lin Long through special channels. They were a level more advanced than the equipment James had used before.

”Distribute the equipment! Depart in ten minutes!” James ordered.

The two hundred and thirty mercenaries immediately sprang into action, skillfully collecting weapons, checking gear, and putting on communication devices. The entire process was smooth as flowing water, without a single redundant movement, demonstrating extremely high tactical proficiency.

Just then, James’s encrypted phone rang. It was a video call request from Lin Long.

He immediately connected and propped the phone up on a container. Lin Long’s figure appeared on the screen, still as calm as ever, but the chill in his eyes made James subconsciously tense up.

”Boss! Shadow Mercenary Group, reporting for duty!”

James stood at attention and saluted. The mercenaries behind him also stood at attention simultaneously, their momentum like a surging tide.

Lin Long nodded, his gaze sweeping over the team on the screen. He asked calmly, ”Is everyone integrated?”

”Yes, Boss!”

James replied in a deep voice, ”Personnel and equipment are in place. We can move at any time!”

”Very good.” Lin Long nodded with satisfaction. ”Is the weaponry sufficient?”

”More than enough, Boss!”

The captain stepped forward, his voice loud and clear.

”These ’toys’ are enough for us to fight a small-scale war!”

A cold smile curled at the corner of Lin Long’s mouth.

”I don’t care how you use those things, as long as my objectives are met.”

He paused, his tone suddenly becoming sharp.

”Two days ago, the Black Organization attacked you and injured our people. Since they dared to touch my people, they must be prepared to pay the price.”

”Now, I’m giving you a mission.”

Lin Long tapped on the screen, and an address was sent to James’s phone.

”This place is a large research base for the Black Organization in Tokyo. It contains not only their arsenal but also many core members.”

James opened the address, and his pupils shrank slightly—it was a biological pharmaceutical company located in central Tokyo. In reality, the Black Organization had secretly established a large underground research base there.

”Your mission,”

Lin Long’s voice carried an unquestionable command, ”is blood for blood.”

”Go in and kill everyone inside. Leave no one alive.”

”The arsenal, the archives—blow it all up. I want this base to completely vanish from the face of the Earth.”

”Remember, I don’t want to see a single survivor.”

The final sentence, like a verdict from hell, sent a chill through all the mercenaries before the screen.

”Yes! Mission guaranteed!” James and the captain responded in unison, bloodlust flickering in their eyes.

”The action route and extraction plan have been sent to you.”

Lin Long continued,

”Leave thirty men outside for support, responsible for cleaning up traces and covering the retreat. After completing the mission, don’t stay in Tokyo. Take a boat directly from the eastern port and return to the African Base.”

”Understood!”

”Go.” Lin Long waved his hand. ”Let them know the consequences of provoking the Shadow Mercenary Group.”

The video call was disconnected.

James put away his phone, turned to face the two hundred and thirty mercenaries, and raised his M416 assault rifle.

”Brothers, did you hear the Boss’s orders?”

”We heard!” Two hundred and thirty people shouted in unison. The sound was deafening, startling the seabirds on the water into flight.

”Target: a large biological base in central Tokyo!”

James’s voice was like a clap of thunder. ”Mission: Kill everyone inside!”

”Kill them all!”

”Kill them all!”

Killing intent surged toward the sky, as if to tear apart the heavy night.

”Move out!”

With James’s command, the two hundred and thirty mercenaries split into five squads, boarded the pre-arranged off-road vehicles and armored cars, and sped off toward the outskirts of Tokyo.

The headlights cut through the darkness like the scythes of the Grim Reaper, closing in on the target.

...

In central Tokyo, at the Black Organization’s large biopharmaceutical company.

This was indeed one of the Black Organization’s important strongholds, just as Lin Long had said.

Within the three-story underground structure, not only were large quantities of weapons, ammunition, and experimental materials stored, but over thirty core members also worked here—including intelligence analysis, code-breaking, and new poison research and development.

Gin was currently in the command room on the first basement level, his brow furrowed as he watched the surveillance footage on the screen.

After the failed attack on the Shadow Mercenary Group two days ago, he had strengthened the defenses of all strongholds.

Intuition told him that those lunatics would never let matters rest and would definitely retaliate.

”Big Brother, all sentry posts have been reinforced with extra men, and hidden sentries have been deployed within a three-kilometer radius. We’ll be able to detect any movement immediately.”

Vodka reported.

Gin nodded, the cigarette between his fingertips burning to its end.

He picked up a report from the desk; it contained the latest investigation results on the Shadow Mercenary Group—still a complete blank.

Aside from knowing they came from the Middle East and that their leader was James, all other information was unknown, as if they were ghosts that had appeared out of thin air.

”Still can’t find anything on these people’s backgrounds?”

Gin asked, his tone tinged with irritation.

”Can’t find anything, Big Brother.”

Vodka said with a grimace, ”All their information has been manually erased, like... like there’s a giant hand manipulating things behind the scenes, preventing us from finding out.”

Gin’s gaze grew even more solemn. A force capable of doing this was definitely not as simple as an ordinary mercenary group.

”For the next few days, mobilize 200 outer members of the organization to guard the company and this underground base.”

”I have a feeling those people won’t let this go.”

Just then, a piercing alarm suddenly blared!

”Alarm! Alarm! A large number of unidentified armed personnel detected on the perimeter! They are approaching at high speed!”

The personnel in the surveillance room shouted in panic.

Gin stood up abruptly and strode to the screen. The surveillance footage showed dozens of off-road vehicles and several armored vehicles smashing through the perimeter’s wire fence, charging toward the Research Institute’s main building!

Machine guns were mounted on the roofs of the vehicles, their muzzles spitting tongues of fire, instantly mowing down several hidden sentries who hadn’t had time to react!

”It’s them! It’s the Shadow Mercenary Group!” Vodka cried out.

Gin’s face instantly turned ashen. He hadn’t expected the enemy to arrive so quickly, and with so many people!

”Fire! Stop them!”

Gin roared into the walkie-talkie,

”Activate the defense system! Seal all entrances!”

The Research Institute’s defensive fire was instantly activated—heavy machine guns on the roof began to fire, and countless muzzles poked out from behind windows, spraying bullets like raindrops toward the charging vehicles!

”Rat-tat-tat!” ”Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Intense gunfire echoed through the night sky. Bullets struck the armor of the vehicles with a crisp ”cling-clang” sound but failed to stop their advance.

The mercenaries of the Shadow Mercenary Group showed no fear; they leaned out of the vehicle windows to shoot, precisely suppressing the Research Institute’s firing points.

A mercenary shouldered a Javelin missile launcher, aimed at the heavy machine gun nest on the roof, and pulled the trigger!

”Whoosh—Boom!”

The missile whistled away, trailing a plume of flame, and hit the target with precision. A massive explosion rang out, and the heavy machine gun on the roof instantly went silent!

”Charge in!” James’s voice came through the communicator.

The off-road vehicles smashed directly through the Research Institute’s glass doors. Mercenaries poured in like a tide, engaging in a fierce firefight with the Black Organization members guarding the entrance!

The rapid fire of M41P7s, the explosions of grenades, and the screams of the dying... intertwined into a symphony of death.

The Shadow Mercenary Group’s mercenaries coordinated perfectly with a clear division of labor—assault troops led the frontal attack, snipers picked off targets with precision, and demolitionists were responsible for clearing obstacles.

Their marksmanship was terrifyingly accurate, with almost every bullet claiming a life. Coupled with their bodies modified by Dark Energy, they could continue fighting even if shot, forcefully tearing a hole into the Research Institute!

Gin watched the organization members falling one after another on the surveillance screen, his face as cold as iron.

He knew they were in big trouble this time.

”Everyone, fall back to the second basement level!”

Gin ordered into the walkie-talkie,

”Initiate the self-destruct sequence and prepare to destroy all data!”

He couldn’t let the secrets within the Research Institute fall into the enemy’s hands.

”Go gather those outer members and have them all come to support us,” Gin suddenly turned and said to Vodka.

However, it was already too late.

James led a team of mercenaries, breaking through the building’s defenses like cutting through melons and vegetables, charging toward the elevator shaft leading underground.

A mercenary took out some plastic explosives, stuck them to the edge of the elevator door, and pressed the detonator.

”Boom!”

The elevator door was blown open, revealing a pitch-black passage.

James threw in a flashbang and was the first to charge down, with the mercenaries behind him following closely.

The Black Organization members on the first basement level were blinded by the flashbang; before they could react, they were riddled with bullets.

”Be quick!”

James shouted while firing, ”Within five minutes, control the entire underground area!”

The mercenaries were like tigers among a flock of sheep, frantically harvesting lives.

Although the Black Organization members were also fierce, they were no match for the well-equipped and fearless Shadow Mercenary Group, quickly collapsing into a disorganized rout.

Gin watched the shrinking defensive perimeter on the screen and knew the situation was hopeless.

He grabbed the encrypted hard drive from the desk and said to Vodka, ”Go! Retreat through the secret passage!”

The two had just reached the entrance of the secret passage when they heard rapid footsteps behind them.

James caught up with several mercenaries, their dark muzzles pointed at them.

”Gin, we meet again.”

James’s voice was cold, carrying a hint of vengeful satisfaction,

”Didn’t expect it, did you? That we would find this place so quickly.”

Gin stopped, turned around slowly, his face showing not a trace of panic.

He looked at James, a flicker of complexity in his eyes. ”Who exactly is behind you?”

James smiled and didn’t answer, simply raising his gun:

”The Boss said, send you on your way.”

”Bang!”

A gunshot rang out.

But it wasn’t Gin who fell, but one of the mercenaries beside him—at the moment James fired, Gin lunged to the side, simultaneously drawing the Beretta at his waist and precisely shooting the mercenary in the forehead!

”Withdraw!”

Gin seized this opening, pulling Vodka into the secret passage as the stone door slowly closed behind them.

James fired several shots at the stone door, but could not penetrate it.

”Boss, should we chase them?”

A mercenary asked.

James looked at the closed stone door and shook his head:

”No need. The Boss’s order is to destroy the base and kill everyone inside. They won’t get far.”

He ordered into the communicator:

”Everyone, clear out the remaining targets! Then plant the explosives. Detonate in ten minutes!”

”Yes!”

Ten minutes later, the gunfire inside the Research Institute gradually subsided. The last member of the Black Organization was killed, and the entire base became a city of death.

The mercenaries finished planting explosives in every corner and then quickly evacuated.

As the last mercenary boarded the extraction vehicle, James pressed the detonator.

”Boom—!!!”

A massive explosion rang out, and the abandoned Research Institute, along with its three-story underground structure, was instantly leveled. Flames soared into the sky, lighting up half the night.

James stood in the distance, watching the sea of fire, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

”Gin, this is just the beginning.”

Bang~...

Bang bang bang~

Suddenly, intense gunfire broke out on the perimeter again. James frowned and inquired via the walkie-talkie.

”What’s going on outside? Why has the gunfire started again?”

”Boss, another group of armed personnel suddenly arrived outside and attacked us without a word.”

An anxious voice of a mercenary came through the walkie-talkie.