Chapter 2490: Chapter 2491: Lin Yi Appears

“The first step?”

Morimoto Chunyi couldn’t think of what else Gerard might have in mind, so he tentatively asked:

“Do you intend to target his family?”

“No, no, that wouldn’t be worth it,” Gerard replied:

“Fighting to the death with a madman who has nothing to lose would put us at a disadvantage.”

“Then what do you have in mind?”

“As far as I know, he has a very close relationship with Caie Mitsui of the Mitsui Group. I believe her involvement is indispensable in this operation.”

“Caie Mitsui…”

This didn’t surprise Morimoto Chunyi.

He had some knowledge of the situation but hadn’t given it much thought.

With Gerard’s reminder, perhaps Caie Mitsui truly had lent a hand.

“I hope you can issue a warrant for her arrest as soon as possible, detain her for questioning, and give her no room to maneuver.”

“But…”

Morimoto Chunyi hesitated.

Gerard was an outsider; he could afford to act recklessly in situations like this without taking any loss personally.

But Caie Mitsui held unparalleled importance in Japan.

Arresting her wouldn’t be easy–it would set too many things in motion.

If handled poorly, it could even impact the economy.

These were all factors that had to be considered.

“Mr. Gerard, I admit your point has merit. There may indeed be a necessary connection between them, but Caie Mitsui’s influence cannot be underestimated,” Morimoto Chunyi said:

“Her position here is equivalent to that of Bill Gates or Cook. Someone of her stature cannot be casually apprehended.”

Gerard’s brow furrowed, his face tinged with mild displeasure.

“With losses this severe, with our reputation tarnished on the global stage, isn’t that reason enough?”

“This isn’t child’s play; we cannot act impulsively.”

Even in Gerard’s presence, Morimoto Chunyi maintained a respectful tone, but on matters of principle, he had his convictions and would not yield easily.

“But Caie Mitsui is definitely involved in shady dealings. Are you just going to let her be?”

Morimoto Chunyi remained silent.

He understood Gerard’s perspective and even agreed with his reasoning.

Caie Mitsui was indeed a critical entry point regarding the missing individual.

But detaining her outright would go too far, and the resulting consequences would be unimaginable.

“I disagree with arresting Caie Mitsui, but we could subject her to an investigation.”

“An investigation?”

“Yes, it’s a less aggressive approach and less disruptive. But I need to file an application.”

“Do it quickly; this matter cannot be delayed further.”

“Understood.”

…

Before they realized it, 24 hours had passed, and a new day had arrived.

Even though Jyoto Port remained under lockdown, there was still no sign of Lin Yi’s whereabouts.

At this moment, no one could remain calm about the situation.

The Central Guards Brigade was on edge, their frustration visible.

The Ocean Symphony had docked, yet Lin Yi’s trail had vanished, leaving everyone on edge.

“Maybe I should make a trip to Japan,” Ning Che suggested.

“Our people are already there, so even if you go, it won’t change anything,” Liu Hong replied:

“The entire city has his wanted posters up, and during this special period, they’re undoubtedly tightening border controls. Going now wouldn’t be ideal.”

Ning Che fell silent, his grim expression frozen like an impenetrable block of ice.

At this moment, everyone sitting in the conference room had the same question in mind: Where exactly had Lin Yi gone?

…

And so, three days passed, yet there was still no news about Lin Yi, as if he had disappeared into thin air.

It was late at night, and the coast of Chiba City was still brightly illuminated.

Though many people had already gone to bed, the fishermen living here were preparing to start their work.

“Look at what I’ve brought back,”

said a shirtless middle-aged man with a cigarette dangling from his lips, boots on his feet, and a handful of flyers in his hand as he walked in from outside.

“What’s that?”

asked a young, short-haired man who was mending a fishing net under the dim, yellow light.

Nearby, four more young men with muscular frames were hard at work, their physiques imposing.

“A wanted poster. It says catching this guy nets a reward of 20 million yen.”

“20 million yen? I’ve never seen a bounty that high before,” the young man said in surprise.

“This guy must have committed an unforgivable crime, or he wouldn’t be worth that much,” the middle-aged man replied:

“If I got that kind of money, I’d sell my boat immediately and never fish another day in my life.”

“Don’t even think about it. No sane person would come here,” the young man scoffed, lighting a cigarette to take a break after his work.

“Why do you say that?”

“Take a look around. Do you have any idea what kind of people live in this region?”

The young man flexed his biceps and gave them a pat.

“If he dares show up here, I can take him down with one hand. The reward money will all be mine, ha ha…”

“Ha ha…” everyone on the fishing boat laughed in agreement, clearly sharing the young man’s confidence.

The people here were no ordinary villagers.

A wanted fugitive showing up here would be walking straight into death.

“Hmm? Did you hear something strange?”

The middle-aged man glanced toward the boat’s exterior suspiciously.

“Something strange?” the young man repeated softly. “I didn’t hear anything. You sure you’re not imagining it?”

“Maybe.”

The middle-aged man dismissed his concerns and went back to assisting with the work.

Squeak–Squeak–Squeak–

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps came to their ears.

They were sharp, echoing off the wooden deck.

“Who’s coming here so late?” the young man asked, flicking ash from his cigarette.

“Probably someone from the other boats.”

The group wasn’t particularly concerned and continued their work, indifferent to who might approach.

The footsteps grew louder, drawing everyone’s eyes toward the entryway of the boat’s cabin, where a stranger in a wetsuit stepped in from the darkness.

Everyone froze, stopping their movements to stare at the intruder at the door.

Lin Yi removed his oxygen mask, revealing his pale, blood-drained face.

“I’ll be borrowing your boat,” he said.

Meanwhile, Morimoto Chunyi’s men had lost their earlier zeal.

The daily routine had dulled their focus, leaving them absent-minded.

It had been three days since the ship docked, and the suspect had likely fled long ago; there was no way he remained here.

This was an endless expanse of ocean, offering no place for anyone to hide.

At the same time, Gerard and Morimoto Chunyi were still racking their brains, trying to deduce Lin Yi’s possible hiding spot.