Conan: I've been linked to the tech tree system.

I don't quite understand the boss's tone, so I'll keep my words brief to avoid giving myself away.

"Oh?"

Although the voice on the other end of the phone was quite electrifying, you could still hear the fluctuations in emotion.

"The target is capable of resistance, which contradicts the intelligence you provided."

"That's normal. It's impossible for me to fully understand the target."

"Although the mission was completed, several of my brothers were injured."

The implication was that more money was needed.

A soft chuckle came from the other end of the phone, sounding quite pleased: "I will pay your medical expenses to your satisfaction."

"Now, take her to the rooftop of the Shiodome Building, where we will hand her over."

"Ok."

Hang up the phone, find the K-car hidden in a corner outside the backyard, and drive away.

......

The Shiodome Building is located in the Shiodome area of ​​Minato-ku, Tokyo, which is one of the more famous commercial hubs.

It's peak shopping season now, and there are an unusually large number of people.

Tono Tono drove his K-car, crawling along in the traffic like a snail.

After a long and crowded journey, we finally arrived at our destination.

The Shiodome Building is forty stories high. The lower floors are commercial areas, while the upper floors are all office buildings. Many well-known large firms and small businesses have set up shop here.

One of the group's offices is also located here.

So how could you bring someone who was illegally kidnapped up to such a busy place?

Tohru Tono walked into the elevator by himself, hands in his pockets, without any hindrance.

Fortunately, he wasn't some kind of hitman forced to take on kidnapping jobs out of necessity; otherwise, he would have been killed sooner or later by clients who only cared about their own interests.

Take the elevator to the top floor, switch to the fire escape route, push open the heavy fire door, and you'll find yourself on the rooftop.

The wind on the rooftop is very strong; if you jump, you'll probably be slammed against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the floor below.

There were two figures standing next to the tarmac; they must be the clients.

Tohru Tono walked over, and the two of them looked at him at the same time.

One of them looked familiar; it was Misaki Ichijo, whom I had just met.

The other one was also a woman, wearing a black suit, black sunglasses, carrying a silver briefcase, her hair neatly tied up, looking ruthless and not talkative.

I guess they're bodyguards or something similar.

So what's the point of using a voice changer over the phone? Isn't it still the same as the person coming over to hand it over?

Seeing him arrive empty-handed, Misaki Ichijo frowned: "Where is he?"

Tohru Tohru gave her a wary look: "You are...?"

"The client is very busy and asked me to come and hand over the work," Misaki Ichijo explained impatiently, then repeated herself with emphasis, "Where is he?"

"...There are too many people down here, so it's not convenient for me to bring the 'goods' up."

Tohno Toru tried his best to appear as cautious as a seasoned veteran.

Although he didn't know what a so-called "veteran" should look like, he guessed the other party wouldn't understand either.

"I'll arrange for a direct employee elevator so your subordinates can bring it up."

Misaki Ichijo had no questions, seemingly anxious about the tight schedule and heavy workload. She gave a solution and then took out her phone to call her subordinates.

"Okay." Tohno Touya pretended to take out his phone, dialed a non-existent number, and casually gave a few instructions while holding the microphone to his mouth.

Then came a period of waiting. Misaki Ichijo, completely unlike her charming and sophisticated self at the party, turned her face towards the outside of the building.

It must be said that Tokyo's night view is truly stunning. From above, the colorful neon lights illuminate the bustling city as if it were daytime, and the towering skyscrapers exude a futuristic feel.

In the distance, you can vaguely see the Tokyo Tower piercing the clouds.

Tohru Tono moved a few steps closer to Misaki Ichijo, where the view was better.

As a result, he was reprimanded by the bodyguard standing nearby.

"Back off."

The woman kept staring at him, and when she saw him take two steps forward, she came over to stop him.

"I was just looking at the scenery," Toru Tono said innocently.

The woman looked him up and down but didn't say anything.

"Don't be so nervous."

Tohru Tohno thought for a moment, then took out a pack of Japanese cigarettes of unknown brand from his pocket, took one out, and handed it over.

As everyone knows, he's not a smoker, so this must have been taken from the "boss's" pocket.

The female bodyguard pushed his hand away.

Having failed to get close to him, he sheepishly put away his cigarette and turned away as if to obediently back down.

The woman relaxed her guard slightly.

The next instant, a worn-out baseball bat, seemingly pulled from nowhere, came hurtling towards her with a sharp gust of wind.

There was no time to dodge, so I instinctively crossed my arms to protect my face as I met the attack.

How powerful can a baseball bat be?

This was the last thought before the world turned dark.

With a surprise attack, Tohru Tono took down the bodyguard, put away his baseball bat, and changed out of his "gang leader" disguise.

Misaki Ichijo heard a strange sound of something heavy falling behind her and slowly turned her head back.

The result was that they were facing "Starlight's" smiling face.

"!!!"

Misaki was startled, and her body visibly trembled.

He glanced at the female bodyguard lying on the ground, immediately realized what had happened, and his eyes instantly turned cold.

"I underestimated you; you were actually able to impersonate someone you just met."

"Oh? You're not pretending anymore?" The girl smiled as she looked at her cold expression. "Aren't you supposed to be a friendly young lady? Don't keep a cold face, a smile will make you look better."

Misaki Ichijo's gaze was filled with coldness.

"Speak up, why are you targeting me if you have nothing better to do?"

Toru Tono genuinely couldn't understand this.

Furthermore, how exactly did she connect "Starlight" with Tohru Tono's public identity?

Regarding this, we'll have to ask indirectly.

“…” Misaki Ichijo did not answer, but looked at him silently.

"I said, you don't think of me as someone with a good temper, do you?"

The girl pulled out a silver-white pistol, gripped it and played with it, tilting her head to look at her.

Misaki Ichijo recognized the gun; it was a new energy firearm that had recently become very popular within the organization.

It seems to be called a "plasma gun"?

Misaki's expression turned gloomy.

"So, that's the reason."

She finally spoke.

Chapter 96 Kid, you're a bit humorous.

"Why? What's the reason?" the girl guessed curiously. "Is he jealous of my youth and charm? Or is he better at inventing things than you?"

Misaki Ichijo glanced at her and curled her lip in disdain.

"If we hadn't spoken up, Tokyo might have had one more woman freefalling from the forty-story building today."

Although "Starlight" still had a smiling face, her words were cold and carried an unquestionable tone that sent chills down one's spine.

"...If you dare to touch me, that organization will not let you off the hook."

"An organization?" Toru Tohno confirmed his previous thought. It seemed that this Ichijo Group was indeed intricately connected with the organization.

That's quite normal, though; large companies like this are inherently more susceptible to organizational corruption.

Is it because they feel they have an organization backing them up that they are so fearless?

If that's the case, then it might not be as simple as just "having a connection"...

"Oh, I get it!"

Thinking of the group's main business, Toru Tono suddenly realized.

If that's the case, then Misaki's inexplicable and malicious attention to "starlight" becomes entirely justified.

"So that's how it is. Your Yitiao Group, like that biotechnology company that was burned down, is a puppet company controlled by the Black Organization?"

"...Why do you think that?" Misaki Ichijo maintained her cold expression, but a fleeting look of surprise in her eyes completely betrayed her true emotions.

“That’s interesting.” Tono smiled knowingly. “Ugly business competition among industry professionals? Isn’t this just jealousy that my invention is better than yours?”

"Is it because you, as the current actual manager of the company, completely lack the knowledge of invention?"

"Enough!" Misaki Ichijo's gaze grew even colder. "Don't think you can be complacent just because you've reached a cooperation agreement with the organization—since my father's generation, the Ichijo family has been a member of the organization. You simply cannot imagine how important the Ichijo Group is to the organization."

"Starlight" chuckled to himself.

"In recent years, hasn't Kenichi Ichijo produced any inventions that would warrant the Black Organization's attention? His standing within the organization has plummeted."

"That's why you're so eager to exploit my non-existence to bring me under your control."