CHAPTER 356: CHAPTER 356: WHAT YOU HAVE NOW IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE CHIPS GIVEN

"I don’t know... I didn’t see the face of the person who kidnapped me clearly." "He attacked me from behind with a stun gun and knocked me u

"I don’t know... I didn’t see the face of the person who kidnapped me clearly."

"He attacked me from behind with a stun gun and knocked me unconscious. When I woke up, I was tied up in a cabin."

While Hayashi Yoshiki was finishing his statement, Matsumoto Kiyonaga was also recounting his own harrowing experience.

Having his hands and feet bound, mouth sealed, and being trapped alone in that cabin for two or three days — it was pure torture.

Fortunately, Ireland had planned to frame Matsumoto Kiyonaga only after the mission was completed. Otherwise, he might never have seen the sun again.

"From the traces left at the scene, it seems that the suspect who impersonated Prosecutor Matsumoto obtained the memory card... but was then killed by his own companions."

No one present questioned the conclusion drawn by Inspector Megure Juzo.

The suspect had been wiped from the police database, his trail buried.

The involvement of a ruthless accomplice piloting an armed helicopter, coupled with a complete lack of clues, forced the Metropolitan Police Department to declare the case closed.

As for how Public Security would handle it — that was their problem.

"Advisor."

After the meeting, Matsumoto Kiyonaga had intended to thank Hayashi Yoshiki for staying in contact, but a single look from Odagiri Toshiro held him back.

Once the others had left, Yoshiki smiled and offered a courteous greeting:

"Long time no see, Minister Odagiri."

The other man nodded.

After a pause, he looked into Yoshiki’s eyes and asked,

"What do you think of the current task force?"

"...I have no particular thoughts. After all, no matter how much manpower and how many resources were thrown at it, we couldn’t even catch the killer. I think the name of the task force still holds some value — and Minister Odagiri, you have also made great efforts, haven’t you?"

The task force that once pursued the accidental murderer was now, in truth, nothing more than a name.

Once it was confirmed that the homicides were linked to artificial intelligence

, the top brass made the call to shut everything down.

So much effort — and absolutely no return.

In the end, only a skeleton crew remained, gathering data for a file rather than justice.

"Orders from above. Nothing I can do."

Odagiri sighed.

"But the shooting at the third traffic light in front of Beika Station, nearly a week ago... it bears the marks of the same killer.

Only this time, all surveillance records were erased — we’re relying solely on eyewitness testimony."

The day they killed Shuichi Akai, Gin and Vodka hacked every surveillance feed at that intersection.

Afterward, Vodka scrubbed the evidence clean under Gin’s orders.

The purpose?

To cripple the FBI — to obscure Cointreau’s true capabilities.

Until the rest were dealt with, the less the FBI knew, the better.

"The killer never cared about witnesses before — his actions were always brazen, public. But this time, he’s hiding.

Perhaps the target was special.

Or perhaps... the killer has changed."

Yoshiki’s words made Odagiri fall silent in deep thought.

"Have the victims been identified? And that motorcyclist — if we could only catch him..."

"We’re still investigating the identities... though one body was unusual."

Despite Shuichi Akai’s body being burnt beyond recognition, multiple eyewitnesses saw him draw a gun before the explosion. A charred firearm was indeed recovered next to his body.

The FBI documents? Completely incinerated.

Public Security likely identified the body — but they would never be so generous as to inform the FBI.

After all, Jodie and her team had entered Japan illegally, without permits or notice.

"I’ll keep you informed of any progress."

"Okay."

In a dark room, James Blake sat alone in front of a glowing screen.

He opened his mailbox and clicked on a secret email.

Inside was a video file.

Surveillance footage from the third traffic light in front of Beika Station, six days prior —

From the moment Shuichi Akai appeared, to when he was ambushed, to the explosion that killed him...

Everything was recorded.

Watching in silence, James pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

It was... a headache.

Shuichi Akai was actually... dead.

Just then, his phone buzzed.

Another message from the anonymous sender of the video:

[So what are you going to do?]

James Blake: [Akai Shuichi’s death did catch me off guard — but it’s also... an opportunity.]

[So confident.]

James Blake: [Who planned this accident?]

*[To know that — what you have now is not enough for the chips given.]

The reply made James’ expression darken.

A shadow passed over his eyes as he quickly typed:

James Blake: [Don’t forget — you only regained all this because of me.]

*[Of course. That’s why I gave you the video. Even the police couldn’t get it.]

*[We’re simply... taking what we each need.]

"..."

James lost interest in continuing the conversation.

As FBI Chief in Japan, James Blake had far more power than he let on.

In the original story, all confrontations with the Black Organization were waged by Akai and Jodie.

But should the Organization fall, it would be James Blake who would control the spoils of victory.

This included — but was not limited to — the secrets of APTX4869, and the true identities of Edogawa Conan and Haibara Ai.

The death of Shuichi Akai meant the loss of a powerful pawn...

But it also meant no one would be there to distrust or oppose him.

James was well aware that Akai had never trusted him — the reason he always worked alone.

Even worse, many FBI agents looked up to Akai more than to James himself.

"An accident that could kill Akai..."

Recalling both the unbelievable video he had just seen and the strange bus hijacking incident that Akai and Jodie had recently reported,

James Blake narrowed his eyes.

He would start there.