"I will complete Night Mulberry's matter even if it costs me my life!"
Upon hearing Chen Fan's words, Matsushita replied with a hearty laugh and stepped forward to give Chen Fan a warm embrace.
After taking their seats, Matsushita downed his drink and said, "Night Mulberry, it's been four or five years. I never thought I'd see you again."
"Your habits haven't changed either. You still like to come to this izakaya for drinks," Chen Fan remarked.
"Yes, some habits are hard to break. I thought I would never see Night Mulberry again. Someone like you is like a bird in the sky, coming and going without a trace," Matsushita said. "If you hadn't saved me back then, Matsushita might have turned to dust by now."
Chen Fan smiled and said, "Let's not talk about the past. I need your help now."
Matsushita stood up and bowed, "Night Mulberry's affairs are Matsushita's affairs. Please instruct me."
Chen Fan took out a few photographs and handed them to Matsushita, saying, "I need Matsushita's help to inquire about the whereabouts of these three people."
The photos were naturally of Xiang Jingzhu and her colleagues, with their names written on them.
However, these were not their real names but aliases.
Given Xiang Jingzhu's identity, she would undoubtedly use an alias when coming to another country, never her real name.
"Them?" Matsushita asked, confused.
"They've disappeared, no news," Chen Fan said. "Matsushita, you have extensive connections. Help me inquire. You can put out a bounty. For any confirmed information, I'll offer ten million Japanese Yen."
Matsushita was taken aback and said, "Are these people very important to Night Mulberry?"
"Of course," Chen Fan nodded and said, "If you can provide their whereabouts, I'm willing to offer a bounty of one hundred million."
Matsushita nodded, "Rest assured, Night Mulberry, I will do my utmost to inquire and will ask my friends in the underworld."
"Thank you, then," Chen Fan said, adding, "As long as the people are found, your reward will not be small."
"Thank you, Night Mulberry," Matsushita said with a delighted expression. "The bounty isn't important; it's my honor to be able to help Night Mulberry..."
The two then chatted casually until an hour later, when Chen Fan left his contact information, paid the bill, and departed.
Back in the car, Kawano Shinnoichi said, "Wang, this Matsushita seems to have some connections in the underworld?"
"Yes," Chen Fan nodded. "He has a wide network of connections and knows many people in the underworld. One of his brothers is the chairman of the Gin-eikai clan, and he himself does some unsavory work for the police."
"So, can he find them?" Kawano Shinnoichi asked as he drove.
"Most likely not, but as long as there's a clue, it's enough to draw some people out," Chen Fan replied.
Without further ado, Chen Fan and the other returned to their residence. As soon as Chen Fan opened the door, he saw Meiji and another black-haired woman.
"My dear Wang, we meet again. Meiji has missed you terribly," Meiji said, opening her arms for an embrace.
Chen Fan reached out, placed a hand on her forehead, and pushed her away.
"Wang, you're still so unromantic!" Meiji exclaimed.
Chen Fan nodded and looked at the black-haired woman. Codenamed Black Rose, she was an Asian residing in North Union State, skilled in assassination.
"Laura, long time no see," Chen Fan said.
"My King, I thought you had forgotten about me," Laura said.
"How could I," Chen Fan replied. "I remember every one of you. Where is Knight? Did he not come with you?"
"Knight is dead," Laura said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, a flicker of sadness in her eyes. "During a solo operation with him, we encountered people from an organization called the Rebirth Society. Knight was killed protecting me."
Chen Fan frowned. Such incidents were not unheard of, but they were rare. Members of the Dark Night organization were certainly capable of operating independently. However, as core members, both Laura and Knight were exceptional individuals with outstanding abilities, and it was unexpected that something would happen. In such situations, members could seek help from the organization, but the organization wasn't always obligated to avenge them. After all, it was a personal operation by the member, not a unified action by the Dark Night organization, which had no obligation to seek revenge for its members. In the world, there were many hidden and powerful secret organizations, and the Dark Night organization was not invincible, especially after Chen Fan's retirement. However, for the sake of organizational cohesion, if seeking revenge wasn't too troublesome, they would generally provide support to members.
"Sit down and tell me," Chen Fan said. "What kind of organization is the Rebirth Society? I haven't heard of it!"
"It's an organization that has only appeared in the last two years. Its specific origins and the identities of its main members are not very clear," Meiji said. "This organization primarily operates in the Southern Union State, involved in wars between drug cartels. It's rumored they seem to be searching for something."
Chen Fan nodded and said to the Prophet, "Expedite the intelligence gathering on this organization. After things in Sakura Country are settled, I might have to go to North Union State and see if I can resolve it then."
"We are already collecting information, but this organization's core structure is very tight, and it's not easy to obtain related intelligence," the Prophet said. "There isn't much news about this organization either. Some people say its power is very formidable, placing it ahead of our Dark Night."
Chen Fan said indifferently, "Then issue a bounty. Someone will eventually know more about this organization." A bounty was undoubtedly the simplest and most effective way to achieve the objective, but it also involved too many uncertainties.
"Right, give me the intelligence on the Mitsui Zaibatsu," Chen Fan added.
"Understood!" The Prophet produced a tablet, opened a file, and handed it to Chen Fan. Chen Fan picked it up and began to read it carefully. His visit to Sakura Country was not solely for Xiang Jingzhu, but also for the fragment of the Dragon Pattern Compass held by the Mitsui Zaibatsu. This information was largely confirmed, so he now needed a more precise understanding of the Mitsui Zaibatsu. The material was extensive, and Chen Fan read it slowly. Although he had some expectations, he was still astonished by the Mitsui Zaibatsu's powerful influence. This conglomerate not only controlled Sakura Country's economy but also permeated all aspects of people's lives. It could be said that from birth to death, every person in Sakura Country was constantly under the influence of the Mitsui Zaibatsu. From heavy industrial products like cars and airplanes to a single pack of toilet paper, it might all be a product of the Mitsui Zaibatsu. Of course, the Mitsui Zaibatsu did not operate so directly; instead, through holding companies and the control of subsidiaries or sub-subsidiaries, they had infiltrated too many sectors. The asset scale of this conglomerate exceeded ten trillion a decade ago. Even Sakura Country's elections could not escape the shadow of the Mitsui Zaibatsu; the selection of Sakura Country's Prime Minister was reportedly pre-determined by the Mitsui Zaibatsu. The controller of the Mitsui Zaibatsu was Mitsui Kenji, and this man was the true ruler of Sakura Country.