Guns and Coffee in the World of Science

A few days passed uneventfully, and Chen Shuo's café continued to operate as normal. The tranquility seemed to mask any underlying turmoil. Occasionally, a regular customer would pop in, order a cup of freshly ground coffee, and flip through a book or newspaper in the soft afternoon sun. This small café, tucked away in a corner of Beika Town, felt like a tranquil haven amidst the bustling city.

That afternoon, sunlight filtered through the shadows of the trees lining the street, dappling the glass windows of the café, casting a warm golden glow throughout the space. Chen Shuo sat behind the counter, casually flipping through a book, occasionally sipping his coffee. Though seemingly calm, he was perpetually and acutely aware of his surroundings. Even the smallest details escaped his gaze.

Wind chimes tinkled softly as a slender man pushed open the door and entered. Chen Shuo's gaze was instantly drawn to him. He saw that the man was about twenty years old, with short, crisp, light-blond hair that shone softly in the sunlight, and his slightly tanned skin that looked healthy and full of sunshine. His features were deep and angular, and his brows radiated a sharp, cold look.

He wore a white shirt and a black vest, his figure tall and graceful. Every gesture exuded a unique aura, one that was both calm and possessed a dangerous edge. His cold, piercing eyes were particularly striking, as if they could penetrate a person's heart, seeing right through them.

The man walked up to the counter, with a polite and appropriate smile, and said in a low and magnetic voice: "Hello, my name is Amuro Toru, and I'm here to apply for a job today."

Chen Shuo looked at him, his expression calm and composed, but a sense of alarm welled up inside him. Although this cafe was located in Beika Town, its customers were mostly neighbors, rarely strangers. Especially for someone with Amuro Toru's striking appearance and unique temperament, his presence here was undeniably awkward.

However, Chen Shuo didn't rush to express his doubts. Instead, he smiled faintly and said, "Welcome. Mr. Amuro, is there any special reason why you want to work in this cafe?"

Amuro Toru smiled slightly, his expression calm. "I've always been interested in coffee and have worked in the restaurant industry in the past. I heard your cafe is well-known around here, and I hope to learn more about coffee making here."

Chen Shuo nodded, his eyes casually scanning Amuro Toru's form and movements. For someone with years of experience in the restaurant industry, this man seemed quite unusual. His posture was too upright, his steps too forceful, and even his seemingly casual stance betrayed an undisguised wariness. This wasn't the temperament of an ordinary person.

"Which store did you work in before?" Chen Shuo put down the book in his hand and asked thoughtfully.

"The cafe at the Beika Hotel." Amuro Toru answered naturally and steadily, "I work as the assistant manager there."

"Rice Flower Hotel?" Chen Shuo raised his eyebrows slightly, looking at him with a half-smile. "It's a nice place, with a steady customer base and a great working environment. Since you have a good job there, why did you suddenly want to come to our little shop? Is there something special about this shop that attracts you?"

Amuro Toru was slightly startled, but soon regained his composure and smiled: "I've heard of your shop. I'm curious and want to come here to learn more."

"Curious?" Chen Shuo's eyes swept over Amuro Toru, as if he was sizing him up. After a moment, he said calmly, "Or are you interested in something that happened in my store?"

Amuro Toru was slightly startled, then smiled as calmly as ever: "Mr. Chen, maybe your shop does attract a lot of interesting people, but I came here simply to work."

"Oh, really?" Chen Shuo still smiled, but his eyes became sharp. "Your temperament is quite different from that of ordinary people. Since you are so 'curious' about my shop, I might as well ask you a few more questions. Mr. Amuro Toru, who are you?"

Amuro Toru's smile froze for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure, a hint of vigilance flashing across his eyes: "Mr. Chen, are you doubting me?"

Chen Shuo leaned in slightly, his eyes locked on every subtle expression on Amuro Toru's face, as if he wanted to see through him. "Suspicious? No, I'm just guessing your true identity. Let me guess... Are you from the FBI?"

Amuro Toru still had a faint smile on his face, his eyes calm: "You think too much, I just simply think..."

"CIA?" Chen Shuo didn't wait for him to finish, his eyes fixed on Amuro Toru's reaction. "MI6? Or...KGB?"

The smile on Amuro Toru's face faded slightly, and he seemed to feel a little helpless: "Mr. Chen, you really love to joke."

"Swimming pool?" Chen Shuo ignored his reaction and continued to speculate, his tone relaxed but with a hint of sharpness, "Or... the police?"

When Amuro Toru heard the word "Public Security," his originally calm expression flashed with an almost imperceptible peculiarity. This subtle emotional fluctuation, though fleeting, did not escape Chen Shuo's eyes.

"Hmm..." Chen Shuo narrowed his eyes slightly, a faint smile on his lips, "It seems that my guess is right. You should be - a Japanese public security officer, right?"

Amuro Toru's pupils shrank slightly, and the smile on his face froze. Although he had tried his best to conceal his emotions, facing Chen Shuo's sharp gaze, he suddenly felt that everything about him was seen through.

Amuro Toru was shocked. Although he knew his cover-up was excellent, Chen Shuo's reasoning and insight left him with almost no chance of escaping. After a moment's silence, he sighed softly and whispered, "You truly amaze me, Mr. Chen."

Chen Shuo smiled, as if everything was under control: "Just some little tricks."

"Since you've seen through me, I don't need to hide it anymore." Amuro Toru gently put down his hand, his expression gradually becoming serious. "Yes, I am indeed a Japanese public security officer. However, I have no ill intentions, I just..."

"Just what?" Chen Shuo interrupted him calmly, "Your purpose in coming to my store is related to someone, right?"

A hint of hesitation flashed across Amuro Toru's face, and then he nodded: "Yes. Actually, I didn't come here for you. I came here because... Gin and Vodka have been to this store before."

Chen Shuo's expression shifted slightly upon hearing these two names. Gin and vodka—these two names were familiar to him. The Black Organization, this mysterious group hidden in the shadows, even the intelligence agencies of various countries had no way of getting a handle on them. Their presence was indeed unsettling.

"So, you came here to track them?" Chen Shuo spoke slowly, his voice calm and without any waves.

Amuro Toru shook his head, his eyes showing a hint of complexity. "I'm not tracking them. In fact, I'm an undercover agent of the Japanese Public Security Bureau, lurking within the Black Organization for many years. I came here this time not only because Gin and Vodka came, but also because the organization has expressly forbidden its members from disturbing you. I'm very curious about this, so I wanted to come and find out what's going on."

Chen Shuo chuckled, his voice somewhat indifferent: "Since you said so, you should know who I am. You should know why they came here."

When Amuro Toru heard this, a hint of embarrassment appeared in his eyes: "I'm sorry, Mr. Chen, if my investigation has offended you, I am willing to bear all the consequences..."

"I don't care about your identity," Chen Shuo said calmly, a hint of oppression in his tone. "As long as you don't interfere with the normal operation of my cafe, I don't care whether you are a Japanese public security officer or a black organization."

Amuro Toru was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting Chen Shuo to be so frank. He took a deep breath and said respectfully, "Mr. Chen, you are a wise man. Please keep my true identity a secret. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?" Chen Shuo took over the conversation slowly, a hint of amusement in his eyes, "Are you threatening me?"

Amuro Toru's expression changed slightly, and he quickly waved his hands: "No, no, no, I absolutely do not mean that. I'm just worried that if my identity is exposed, it will affect my work. I just want you to help me keep this secret."

Chen Shuo looked at him, and after a moment, he slowly nodded: "Okay, I promise you. However, there is one thing I want to remind you."

"What's the matter?" Amuro Toru raised his head slightly, with a look of doubt on his face.

"You can continue your investigation, but if you cause unnecessary trouble here or interfere with my life, then... you will bear the consequences at your own risk." Chen Shuo's voice was low and powerful, and there was a deterrent force in his words that could not be ignored.

When Toru Amuro heard this, a flash of fear flashed in his eyes. He knew that Chen Shuo was so confident because he was sure of his own strength and background. Toru Amuro took a deep breath and whispered, "I understand, Mr. Chen, I won't interfere with your life."

Chen Shuo nodded with satisfaction, his tone returning to calm. "Then it's settled. Since you're interested in applying, I don't want you to make a wasted trip. From today on, you can officially become a member of Jingxin, but remember, my rules are simple—do your job well and don't cause any unnecessary trouble."

Amuro Toru looked at Chen Shuo gratefully and said softly, "Thank you, Mr. Chen. I will work hard and will not let you down."

"I hope so." Chen Shuo nodded slightly, then smiled faintly. "Okay, now we can discuss the specific content of your work."

---

Over the next few days, Toru Amuro began his work at Chen Shuo's cafe. His skills and experience were immediately apparent, and Chen Shuo felt that this "new employee" truly possessed exceptional talent for coffee making and service. Whether grinding coffee beans with meticulous precision or frothing milk with pinpoint accuracy, he seemed to handle the process with ease. Customers were full of praise for his handsome appearance and professional service.

As night fell and the cafe closed, Chen Shuo sat in the empty shop. He looked at Amuro Toru standing straight in front of him and smiled softly, "Amuro, don't be so reserved. I'm not some devil. As long as you work hard and don't cause me any trouble, you'll be my employee in my eyes. Be more casual. You performed very well today."

Hearing Chen Shuo's words of comfort, Amuro Toru gradually relaxed. Although he was not used to working with a killer of this level, he was in a good mood. After all, Chen Shuo was not the kind of boss who would be harsh and demanding.

"Thank you for the compliment, boss! I will definitely keep working hard!" Amuro Toru bowed with a smile, his tone a little relaxed.

Chen Shuo nodded and waved to him. Amuro Toru bowed politely again and walked out of the cafe. In the night, the neon lights of the cafe flickered faintly behind him, and the lights from the street intertwined with his figure, as if shrouded in a mysterious halo.

Watching Toru Amuro's departing back, Chen Shuo was lost in thought. The arrival of this new employee was like dropping a pebble into a tranquil lake, stirring up ripples. He knew Toru Amuro's arrival meant something was quietly happening.

In the stillness of the night, the wind whispered softly outside the café. Chen Shuo gazed at the distant night sky, a sense of alarm building within him. Perhaps his peaceful life would soon be shattered, but he wasn't afraid. For this seemingly laid-back café owner, he was well prepared for the undercurrents and storms.