A global grey industry, with proxies and assassin networks under its command. Takeuchi Akemi was assassinated. Their lackeys in China dared to target Lin Wan. The teams transporting evidence, except for Lin Wan and Hong Liang, were entirely wiped out. Against Lin Wan’s group, they deployed remote-controlled bombs, gunmen, machine-gun drones, and an assassin ambushing from a van. They even had the audacity to strike outside the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, in the heart of Tokyo. When Haneda Mahiro became unsalvageable and risked exposing them, they sent an assassin to kill him, and out of spite, dispatched killers to eliminate Lin Wan and Hong Liang for revenge. Considering the Matsushima family and Matsushima Kawa’s prominent public status, from reputation to credentials to connections, this was undeniably a real-world titan. In theory, toppling or killing him would require immense effort, time, and an unknown cost to counter his retaliation.
Yet here was this big boss, sleeping soundly before Lu Zheng, completely unaware, utterly vulnerable. Tch! Lu Zheng shook his head, marvelling at how something so theoretically difficult had become so simple. The answer? He was just too strong. *I’m a genius!* Smirking, Lu Zheng looked at the big shot with no desire to show off. With a scoff, he unleashed a single *Golden Palace Heart Sword* technique, killing him instantly.
He searched the man’s soul again and found the assassin organisation’s contact details. “So that’s how it is,” Lu Zheng nodded, understanding. “This makes it easy.” He’d expected some global shared assassin platform, requiring him to cancel orders as Matsushima Kawa. *Isn’t that how novels write it?* But this was just a small assassin group propped up by the Matsushima family for their exclusive use. “In that case, take out the organisation’s leader, and the rest are just headless flies, no threat.”
As for the task to kill Lin Wan? The one who issued it was dead, the organisation’s leader was dead, the executing assassin was dead. Task? What task? Lu Zheng glanced at Matsushima Kawa’s companion, then cast an invisibility spell and quietly left the estate.
Wiping out the Matsushima family or gathering evidence of Matsushima Kawa’s crimes? Ha, no way. First, Lu Zheng wasn’t bloodthirsty enough to annihilate an entire family, and he wanted to enjoy a leisurely modern life. *Cough, last time was an accident. I don’t want exposure.* Second, collecting evidence would link the Matsushima family to the case and raise questions about Matsushima Kawa’s death. Since Lin Wan was involved, it could draw attention to her, maybe even connect to that massacre in Italy. Lu Zheng wasn’t about to do that. He’d taken out the mastermind, avenged the attack, and kept himself and Lin Wan clear. Why should he clean up Japan’s mess? *Let people like that rule those living the good life here. Suits them.*
Following Matsushima Kawa’s memories, Lu Zheng arrived at a luxury flat in central Tokyo. A composed middle-aged man was diligently working at a computer. Without a word, Lu Zheng sent a surge of true qi, bursting the man’s brain vessels. A brain haemorrhage, straight to the skull. With a “thud,” the man collapsed onto the desk without a sound.
Lu Zheng dusted his hands. Done! A top-tier family head, old and frail, passed away in his sleep. An assassin organisation’s leader, struck by a sudden brain haemorrhage, died at home. Two men, vastly superior in wealth and power, had no resistance against Lu Zheng. They didn’t even know how they died. “Easier than that time with Tony,” Lu Zheng muttered. “Have I gotten stronger, or were they just too weak?” Problem solved. Tomorrow, he could happily explore Akihabara.
“How’d it go?” Lin Wan rushed to Lu Zheng as he entered the hotel room.
“Uh…” Lu Zheng started, then froze.
“What’s wrong!” Lin Wan’s heart skipped, alarmed by his pause. With his strength, there shouldn’t be any accidents. “Did you get exposed?” she asked nervously. “Were you seen, or caught on camera?”
“No, no, neither…” Lu Zheng blinked, suddenly recalling Lin Wan’s insistence on joining him if he acted. Everything had gone so smoothly, he’d resolved it all without planning.
“Then what is it?” Lin Wan asked, worried.
“Well… it’s like this…” Lu Zheng sat her down. “Haneda Mahiro’s dead, not by me. Matsushima Kawa sent an assassin.”
“Matsushima Kawa?” Lin Wan clearly knew the name, her eyes narrowing. “He was behind Haneda Mahiro?”
“Yeah,” Lu Zheng nodded. “They exposed that, so I paid the Matsushima estate a visit… and then…” He recounted the events briefly.
Lin Wan: !!!
When he finished, she was silent. Lu Zheng held her hand. “It went so smoothly, I forgot what you said. I’ll be careful next time.”
Lin Wan was speechless. “So, Interpol and the Tokyo police spent a year and lost several officers, and you figured out the mastermind in one night and took him out?”
“He was old, in his seventies or eighties, still sleeping with models, so he just… passed away,” Lu Zheng emphasised.
Lin Wan rolled her eyes. “So it’s over? No more assassins coming for me?”
“Yep, and with Haneda Mahiro dead, the case is closed,” Lin Wan said. “It’s a cold case now.”
Lu Zheng shrugged. “That’s the police’s problem, not ours.”
Lin Wan thought about it. She had no right or standing to present evidence against Matsushima Kawa or the assassin organisation. If Matsushima hadn’t foolishly targeted her for revenge and only killed Haneda, he might’ve stayed untouchable. Too bad.
“Fine, let it be,” Lin Wan said crisply. “But…”
“But what?”
Lin Wan bit her lip, her voice turning coy. “But… you ignored my words, didn’t take them to heart. So… I’m going to punish you! Harshly!”
“Hiss—”
