Substitute Toyokawa Shoko, you can become stronger by breathing

Otherwise, if he really kidnapped Mu without caring about anything, he would have to use some power and resources that he shouldn't use in order to save him. The commotion he caused would definitely attract the attention of certain people or forces lurking in the dark, whom he was currently trying hard to avoid.

By then, the trouble will be really big.

The Toyokawa Shoko in my mind surprisingly didn't immediately react with sarcasm or excitement. Her voice sounded much calmer than usual, with a hint of analysis in it:

"Someone who can mobilize the yakuza, and whose target is clearly Wakaba Mutsu... Considering the information we've gathered so far, Toyokawa Hidehiko is the most likely. He wants to control Mutsu to contain the Wakaba family, or... to get revenge on you."

"Well, most likely him."

Kujo Renji agreed

"I just didn't expect him to choose that mad dog, Shiraishi. But that's all good. Although Shiraishi is reckless, he's quite loyal to me. This 'accident' has made him one of our own, so for now, I don't have to worry about him harming Mu again."

"temporary?"

Xiangzi keenly caught the word

"You mean, Toyokawa Hidehiko won't give up?"

"With his vindictive and self-righteous personality, a failure will only make him more cautious and look for the next opportunity."

Kujo Renji's eyes turned cold.

He was already murderous.

"So what should we do next?" asked Shoko Toyokawa.

"Leave it to me."

After ending his brief conversation with Xiangzi, Kujo Renji's attention returned to reality.

He looked at Ruo Ye Mu who was sitting quietly beside him. The thrilling experience just now did not seem to leave much trace on her. She began to study the patterns on the sofa pillow again.

Kujo Renji found it a little funny.

It's good to be heartless.

He reached out and gently ruffled Mu's soft light green hair, just like he had done before in the afternoon sun.

"Mu."

He spoke, his voice much gentler.

Mu raised his head and looked at him with golden eyes.

"Just now... when that 'personality that looks like me' came out?"

Jiujo Renji carefully considered his words, trying to ask in a more natural way:

"How...do you feel? Are you scared?"

Mu seemed to think about this question seriously, then shook his head.

"Not afraid."

She answered simply.

"why?"

"Because it's Lian Si."

Mu's answer was simple and direct, as if it was a matter that was beyond doubt.

In her opinion, neither the real Lian Si nor the "Lian Si-like personality" would hurt her.

This almost instinctive trust is so pure that it is touching.

Kujo Renji paused for a moment while rubbing her hair, then continued gently.

He smiled, with a teasing tone:

"Really? Wasn't Mu afraid of me before?"

Upon hearing this, Mu raised her little hand and gently grabbed the wrist of Jiujo Renji who was rubbing her hair, stopping him.

Then, she raised her little face, moved closer, and looked carefully at Jiujo Renji's face, as if confirming something.

After a moment, she came to a conclusion and shook her head again:

"Lian Si, you're not fierce, you're very good."

Looking at her clear golden eyes that reflected his own figure, and her complete trust without any impurities, Kujo Renji felt that a corner of his heart was gently touched.

He withdrew his hand and smiled helplessly:

"Okay, you're right."

.........

This "kidnapping" blunder that happened without any danger was like a stone thrown into a calm lake. Although it did not cause huge waves in the end, it made Jiujo Liansi more clearly aware that the crisis lurking in the dark has not been resolved.

In comparison, the upcoming Ave Mujica performance has become the most controllable and the thing that requires the most focus at the moment.

The lighting, music, and script on the stage were at least still within his control.

Buzz-buzz-

The sudden vibration of his cell phone interrupted his thoughts.

It is the exclusive ringtone for encrypted lines.

Jiujo Liansi frowned slightly, picked up the phone and looked at the caller ID.

——Shunya Ishikawa.

A call at this time usually means something important is happening.

He swiped the answer button, put the phone to his ear, and said calmly, "It's me."

On the other end of the phone, Ishikawa Shunya's voice was as calm and capable as ever, but this time there was a subtle hint of solemnity:

"Ms. Toyokawa, I just received the message."

Ishikawa paused, as if choosing the most direct words.

"Hidehiko Toyokawa is dead."

"Toyokawa Hidehiko was found this evening in his office... committed suicide."

"A suicide note was found at the scene and the initial diagnosis was a drug overdose. The police have launched an investigation."

.....

PS: This chapter is only 5,000 words. Sorry, I went back to my hometown recently and was a bit busy.

Why do people think that Mutou's Lian Si personality has self-awareness? I definitely wouldn't do that kind of shit.

Chapter 99: Light, you should go open EVA (Formatting has been modified)

Obviously, things have become unpredictable.

This also happened to confirm Kujo Renji's previous guess.

——Bai Shihu is such a jerk. He must really think of Ruoye Mu as himself.

This also brought new troubles.

Hidehiko Toyokawa, or the Star Entertainment he represents, is actually not that "important" in the truly huge "conglomerate" chess game.

The resources he controls and the size of Star Entertainment are, after all, just the tip of the iceberg in the complex network of interests of the Toyokawa family and even the entire upper-class Japanese chaebols. They are pawns that can be sacrificed or replaced at any time.

So, why was the previous "Kujo Renji" willing to patiently play this "game" with Toyokawa Hidehiko, which seemed evenly matched but was actually unequal, instead of turning the table early and completely eliminating this trouble in a more direct and thorough way?

A large part of the reason lies in the meaning represented by the surname "Fengchuan" itself, as well as the unspoken rules that keep this huge system running.

Within Japan's upper echelons, especially among the long-established and deeply rooted zaibatsu families, there exists an unspoken consensus and order. Using extreme measures, especially those involving violence or underground forces, to "kill" a prominent figure like Toyokawa Hidehiko within the system is tantamount to disrupting this balance and challenging the rules.

This wasn't just an internal matter within the Toyokawa Group; it would also touch the nerves of the entire upper echelon. Once this precedent was set, everyone would be in danger, order would collapse, and the chain reaction and endless troubles it would trigger would far outweigh the "benefits" of dealing with Toyokawa Hidehiko.

This kind of "turning the table over" game is tacitly prohibited. Maintaining superficial stability and decency, even if there are turbulent waves in secret, is a deep-rooted consensus.

Kujo Renji was well aware of this, so he chose a more roundabout and "rule-based" way to deal with Toyokawa Hidehiko's provocation, avoiding getting himself involved in bigger troubles too early.

And now, Hidehiko Toyokawa is dead.

The good news is that according to Mu's description just now and Ishikawa's preliminary information, since it was Shiraishi Huye who did it and he himself had never even had any contact with him, even if the matter was eventually thoroughly investigated, it would be difficult to directly implicate "Toyokawa Shoko" in the first place.

Bai Shihuye's action logic is relatively clear, and he can temporarily divert the fire to the Soryukai or his "personal grudge" with Toyokawa Hidehiko.

But the bad news is that Hidehiko Toyokawa's death, no matter what the cause, is bound to cause an uproar.

The Toyokawa family, the police, and even other forces that are paying attention to the movements of the Toyokawa Group will turn their attention to everyone and everything related to this matter. They will pay much more attention to "Toyokawa Shoko" who had previously had conflicts with Toyokawa Hidehiko, and even to Ave Mujica than before.

Ave mujica will inevitably be placed under a brighter spotlight, and any slight disturbance may be magnified infinitely.

Kujo Renji quickly analyzed the current pros and cons in his mind, his brows furrowed.

"Hidehiko Toyokawa is dead..."

Toyokawa Shoko's voice sounded, with some confusion in her tone.

"It's sudden, but isn't this a good thing?"

When Jiujo Liansi heard this, the first thing he thought of was:

Xiaoxiang, you are becoming more and more like me.

The second thought is:

Unfortunately, I’m still not smart enough.

He did not refute directly, but patiently explained:

"At the moment, having one less clear enemy is indeed a good thing."

"But you overlooked one thing... If, I mean if, Bai Shihu was also caught for this incident, what would happen next?"

"Caught?"

Xiangzi didn't seem to understand the connection.

"He's a gangster. Isn't it normal for him to get caught for doing something like this? What does this have to do with us?"

"It matters a lot."

Jiujo Renji patiently explained:

"Why would Shiraishi Toraya attack Toyokawa Hidehiko? According to Mu, he mistook Mu for me and believed that Toyokawa Hidehiko had offended me. If he were arrested, he would mention Kujo Renji and the person he was related to - Wakaba Mutsu."

He paused, letting Xiangzi digest this information:

"Although investigators may not immediately connect 'Kujo Renji' and 'Toyokawa Shoko', after all, it's too unbelievable. But if Ye Mu's relationship with you is public, then Ave Mujica is also public. Once the police or other interested parties conduct an in-depth investigation and discover that Mu and you are closely related, combined with the respectful attitude that my former subordinates like Kimura Seiichiro and Ishikawa Shunya now show to you, 'Toyokawa Shoko'... what conclusion do you think they will draw?"

Xiangzi's breathing paused slightly. She seemed to understand the danger.

“This is just the surface.”

Jiujo Renji's voice turned cold.

"More deeply, they'll begin to doubt Toyokawa Shoko herself. Why is she connected to the leader of the Soryukai? Why does she command the loyalty of his loyal followers? What lies behind this? When that happens, everything we do now will be scrutinized, and any flaw could spell disaster. The days ahead will be filled with unrest."

Toyokawa Shoko was silent for a moment, as if weighing the risks. She was still a little unsure:

"Didn't you say before that Bai Shihu was one of the most loyal to you? Why do you now assume he would betray you?"

She added, with a hint of doubt in her tone:

"Also, how can you be so sure he will be caught?"

Kujo Renji sighed and began to explain.

"He will definitely be caught. Because Toyokawa Hidehiko's death is no longer just a matter within the Toyokawa family or the underworld."

He patiently explained:

"This has touched the bottom line for the entire upper echelon. The very words 'gangsters' and 'violent gangs' make them nervous. For years, they've been working alongside the government to suppress underground forces, attempting to reintroduce these out-of-control forces. Twenty or thirty years ago, the mafia took advantage of social unrest to rapidly expand, but now that the situation has stabilized, these financial groups and powerful individuals will absolutely not tolerate any new violent incidents that disrupt the existing order, especially those involving people within their own circles."

"So, regardless of his motives, Bai Shihu's actions this time have effectively walked into a trap. He will undoubtedly be singled out and used as an example to deter any restless underground forces, thus maintaining the 'stability' they need. This is the unstoppable trend of the times, and it's not something his own bravery or the Canglong Society can prevent."

After explaining why Bai Shihu would inevitably be caught, Kujo Renji briefly talked about the issue of "betrayal".

"As for whether he will say...Xiangzi, this is not doubt, it is certainty."

His tone became somewhat helpless:

"Loyalty is indeed valuable, but willpower has its limits when faced with certain tactics. Do you think those in charge of interrogation really only know how to ask questions?"