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A mind bordering on the monstrous. Terrifying.
Steven benefited from having watched the series before transmigrating. He knew the major characters well.
Even so, Yusaku Kudo's intellect still exceeded his expectations.
"And what makes you say that?"If Yusaku could even see through his identity as a Black Organization member, Steven had to admit the man was impressive.
There were fewer than five people in the entire series with insight like this.
With the system backing him up, Steven remained calm.
High IQ or not, everyone fears a blade.
If things turned ugly, he'd just swing the spiked club and be done with it.
"Beheading Jo Murakami looked like an act of violent revenge," Yusaku explained, "but my investigation shows you had no prior connection to him. No grudge, no history."
"Furthermore, Jo Murakami sought protection from the FBI, offering Black Organization secrets in exchange for entry into the witness protection program."
"The Organization was threatened and needed him eliminated quickly. You were the one who carried out the assassination."
That didn't add up.
Steven clearly remembered Gin saying only that Jo Murakami stole Organization intel to blackmail them. There was no mention of witness protection.
Was the intel department incompetent, or did Gin hide it on purpose?
Either way, the mission was done. Steven wasn't about to waste brainpower on it now.
"You're completely right," he said. "I am a member of the Black Organization. Killing Jo Murakami was an order."
"Mr. Kudo, you're a smart man. You know what happens to people who know too many secrets."
Steven slowly raised his hand. A spiked club appeared from thin air, hovering above Yusaku's head.
He'd smashed enough watermelons. Now he was curious how a skull would feel.
Despite all the absurdly unscientific feats in this world, Yusaku was still stunned.
Summoning an object out of thin air wasn't a trick. It was magic.
"Whether I live or die doesn't matter," Yusaku said calmly, sipping his tea with the club inches above him."But you won't kill me."
At the same time, a bold theory formed in his mind.
The man in front of him wasn't ordinary. Perhaps he was the heir to some hidden sect, wielding mysterious powers. Otherwise, there was no way he could've evaded both Japanese police and the FBI.
This only strengthened Yusaku's resolve to recruit him.
"Heh. You're confident," Steven chuckled. "Killing you is a matter of a thought. Before that, tell me where that confidence comes from."
His hand dipped slightly. The spikes brushed Yusaku's forehead.
Taking his life would be effortless.
"You left witnesses at the scene. That tells me you're not someone who kills indiscriminately," Yusaku said evenly."I pose no threat to you. Killing an unarmed man doesn't seem like your style."
"Besides, I came here in a private capacity. Killing me brings you no benefit and would only provoke outrage among mystery fans worldwide."
"You're a smart man, Mr. Steven. You wouldn't do something so self-defeating."
Yusaku set down his teacup, analyzing the situation step by step.
He never begged for mercy, yet every word screamed a desire to live.
"You're alive today not because your reasoning makes sense," Steven said coldly,"but because I don't want you dead."
In truth, Yusaku was right. Steven didn't like killing innocents, even if he had no love for Japan.
If someone wants to condemn you, they'll always find an excuse.
If someone really wanted to, they could make up ten thousand excuses the moment they opened their mouth.
"Mr. Kudo, you didn't come here today just for the Jo Murakami case, did you?"
Steven put away the spiked club, clearly sensing that Kudo Yusaku had another purpose.
If this were purely about the case, there would definitely be officers from the Japanese police or the American FBI tagging along.
But Kudo Yusaku had come with only Yukiko and Ran Mouri. That alone was the reason Steven changed his mind at the last minute and decided to spare him.
After all, native people believe in returning courtesy with courtesy.
Since the man had shown enough sincerity, killing him on the spot would've felt a bit excessive.
"You're right. That's true."
Watching the spiked club vanish into thin air in Steven's hand, Kudo Yusaku felt a chill run down his spine. His shirt clung damply to his back, soaked with sweat.
Just now, he'd looked calm and logical, but in reality he'd been gambling with his life.
No one could predict what kind of insane move Steven might make next. After all, this was someone who dared to blow up the Metropolitan Police Department.
"Mr. Steven, with your abilities, if you used them the right way, you'd surely achieve something extraordinary. Why not join the witness protection program and become a public security mole inside the Black Organization?"
He actually dared to say it.
Being a double agent was a miserable fate no matter how you looked at it.
Steven found the suggestion amusing.
With his current strength, there was no reason for him to bow to any faction.
Besides, helping Japanese government agencies wipe out the Black Organization was basically selling out his own roots.
That kind of thing would stain his name forever.
"Give me a reason," Steven said, not in a hurry to answer, clearly entertained.
"Although the Japanese police and the FBI haven't issued a public warrant to avoid causing panic, you've already been secretly listed as an extremely dangerous criminal. The Japanese police and the FBI have reached an agreement and will begin hunting you down."
"Once you join the witness protection program, all your past crimes will be wiped clean. If you assist the government in destroying the Black Organization, that counts as major merit, and you'll receive additional rewards."
"Mr. Steven, I admit you're the most mysterious and powerful individual I've ever met. But no matter how strong a person is, they're still insignificant compared to a national machine."
"Live as an outlaw, and destruction is only a matter of time. Only under the protection of the state can you truly survive."
Kudo Yusaku looked straight at Steven, laying out the pros and cons with a serious expression.
"What exactly makes someone an outlaw?"
Steven chuckled, lifted his teacup, and took a sip.
"Let me put it another way. Is there really a clear line between justice and evil? In my eyes, the two exist together."
"Those who wave the banner of the state while looting, killing, and committing crimes without blood on their hands, then cover it all up through mutual protection. Aren't they the so-called 'just' side too?"
"And then there are small, ordinary people who sacrifice themselves for what's right and help the common folk. Just because they offend the interests of powerful figures, they end up with tragic fates. Are they really evil?"
Those who kill and burn live in luxury, while those who build bridges and fix roads die forgotten.
Steven didn't care whether he stood for justice or evil. In this world, the only constants were利益 and whether something aligned with the will of those in power.
As for whether Japan descended into chaos, he couldn't care less.
Living freely, that was the real pleasure.
"So you're saying you won't join the witness protection program?" Kudo Yusaku asked after a brief silence.
When it came to justice and evil, even he couldn't find a definitive answer.
"....."