Chapter 2501: Chapter 2502: Caie Mitsui’s Proposal

Under Caie Mitsui’s directions, the two successfully escaped Capital City and drove toward Osaka.

Watching the skyscrapers gradually recede in the rearview mirror, they both let out a breath of relief simultaneously.

Moments like this, during periods of intense mental strain, are often the most exhausting.

“If you’re tired, take a nap. The road ahead shouldn’t pose much of a problem.”

Caie Mitsui shook her head.

“Meeting you is so rare. Even under these conditions, I don’t want to sleep–I want to keep you company.”

Lin Yi smiled, “In China, we have a verse that goes, ‘If love is everlasting, why dwell on being together morning and night?’ It couldn’t describe you more perfectly.”

Caie Mitsui adjusted her posture, her gaze excitedly fixed on Lin Yi:

“I heard this poem during my time studying abroad and really liked it back then.”

“That’s why you shouldn’t get bogged down in petty thoughts. This isn’t life and death. If you wish, we can meet whenever we want.”

With Lin Yi’s words of reassurance, Caie Mitsui’s mood improved significantly. She looked at him earnestly:

“I heard President Ji is pregnant. How is her health?”

“She’s fine–eating and drinking well,” Lin Yi replied:

“A while back, I heard from people at the company that several Japanese partner firms sent over supplements. That must’ve been arranged by you, right?”

Caie Mitsui smiled warmly.

“You’re about to be a father. I’m happy for you, so I had them send some over. But I didn’t let them reveal my involvement.”

“If they revealed it, so be it. There’s no need to be overly cautious. You’re not beneath anyone.”

Hearing Lin Yi’s words, Caie Mitsui’s smile became radiant, like a child receiving a sweet reward.

And so, this journey of escape felt more like a honeymoon trip.

Lin Yi continued driving, his eyes vigilantly sweeping over his surroundings.

Even though they were temporarily safe, tension was still evident on his face.

He was like a taut string on a violin.

“Mr. Lin Yi, are you still worried?”

“I suspect they’ve already tracked down the car we’re driving. We’ll need to figure out a way to switch vehicles.”

Lin Yi’s concerns weren’t unfounded.

Although they took advantage of the cover of night, it also meant that vehicle movement near the hospital during that time was relatively sparse.

With surveillance and follow-up investigation, it would be easy to identify the car they were driving.

If they continued using it, the authorities would inevitably catch on.

The top priority now was to switch vehicles.

“That’s not hard. We’ll find a relatively secluded spot, lie in wait nearby, and seize a car.”

“But our goal isn’t simply to hijack a car,” Lin Yi said in a low voice:

“If the car owner reports to the police afterward, we’ll still get exposed, defeating the whole purpose.”

Caie Mitsui’s brow furrowed slightly. “Are you suggesting we deal with the driver?”

“Yes,” Lin Yi said quietly:

“But ordinary people are innocent. I don’t want to kill indiscriminately.”

In that instant, Caie Mitsui understood Lin Yi’s intentions.

And she finally realized what made her fall in love with him–not his attractive appearance, nor his broad shoulders.

But the kindness hidden deep within his soul.

No matter how battered or drowned in dust he was, his inner light shone brightly.

“What if we’re pushed to a dead end?”

“Then there’s no room for hesitation,” Lin Yi replied:

“I’m just an ordinary man, not a saint–when cremated, I won’t leave behind holy relics.”

“Mm-hmm, I knew it. The man I care for definitely isn’t some overly righteous savior,” Caie Mitsui said with a laugh:

“Let’s keep driving. Another thirty-plus kilometers and we’ll be in Shizuoka Prefecture. There’s an Ikegawa Association branch there. We might find opportunities.”

“Ikegawa Association?” Lin Yi muttered. “Kenji Nakada mentioned this group before. They seem to clash often with Yamaguchi-gumi.”

“After Mr. Mitsui’s death, Yamaguchi-gumi fell apart. Ikegawa Association seized the chance to claim quite a bit of territory and even has ambitions of replacing us,” Caie Mitsui explained:

“But after you came and helped me consolidate Yamaguchi-gumi, we suppressed their arrogance. Now’s the time to strike.”

“Sounds like a good plan.”

Following Caie Mitsui’s suggestion, Lin Yi increased the car’s speed, keen to save time.

Upon reaching Shizuoka Prefecture, Lin Yi avoided entering the city center and only dared to operate in the outskirts.

Lin Yi found the situation less optimistic than he had hoped.

There were police stationed on the main roads, inspecting passing vehicles.

However, since it was early morning, they were less diligent than one might expect.

A lone officer stood by the roadside, yawning while glancing at cars passing by, scarcely bothering to stop anyone.

“Mr. Lin Yi, let’s avoid this area,” Caie Mitsui advised:

“The Ikegawa Association has a large casino on the outskirts, catering exclusively to prominent figures. We can find opportunities there.”

Lin Yi nodded and drove in the direction Caie Mitsui had indicated.

A few minutes later, Lin Yi saw a four-story building.

The building had a stylish design, its exterior adorned with colorful lights that sparkled brightly in the night, illuminating the surroundings.

The entrance was crowded with cars, and despite the late hour, there were plenty of people coming and going.

Among them were scantily clad women, flocking around men like songbirds, seemingly tireless.

“This place is pretty lively,” Lin Yi said with a smile.

“In recent years, Capital City cracked down on these activities, so they moved their casino here. It’s conveniently situated to cater to patrons from both Capital City and Osaka, which is why business is thriving. It’s one of their major income sources.”

Caie Mitsui glanced around. “But we need to go to the back door. This area is too accessible–not ideal for making a move.”

“No problem. Tonight, we’ll strike hard and clear the obstacles for you!”

“Thank you, Mr. Lin Yi. This humble lady is eternally grateful.”

Caie Mitsui mimicked the gesture of a traditional Chinese noblewoman, bowing in gratitude, earning a chuckle from Lin Yi.

…

Fourth-floor casino office.

In the room sat a man in his fifties, dressed in a black dress shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, intensely focused on several photos laid out on the table.

The man’s name was Zaochuan Jitian, the Ikegawa Association’s top representative in Shizuoka Prefecture.

This casino fell under his jurisdiction, and he was the key decision-maker here.

“To go as far as attacking Caie Mitsui–what’s happening?”

Zaochuan Jitian frowned at the photos, seemingly deep in thought.

The photos included images of Caie Mitsui and Lin Yi, though Lin Yi’s were somewhat blurry.

Other pictures featured the car Lin Yi was driving.

“Boss, I think this is an opportunity,” one of Zaochuan Jitian’s subordinates suggested.

“You mean, to move against Yamaguchi-gumi?”