Isn't it very scientific to use the Death Note to kill people?

Rum didn't take Judy seriously.

Although this woman might be useful in the future to restrain James Black... there's no need. His cooperation with James Black is very pleasant, especially in the not-too-distant future when he is about to completely take control of the organization. James, whose status will rise in the future due to the elixir of immortality, will still be important.

"Finish it as soon as possible, and don't forget to leave proof for James, then wait for my next instructions."

After Rum finished speaking, he cut off the communication.

Meanwhile, in the waters surrounding Hachijojima Island—

The speedboat, in automatic navigation mode, headed towards a pre-set deep-sea area far from its intended route.

Curaçao put away her phone, walked to Judy's side, and looked down at her unconscious body.

The sea breeze ruffled Judy's wet, golden hair, and her face was pale from unconsciousness and hypothermia.

Curaçao's eyes remained calm, but she slowly drew a gleaming dagger from the scabbard at her side.

The cold dagger gleamed in the moonlight, and Curaçao's arm was as steady as a rock. With just a slight push, he could end the life of the FBI agent before him.

However, her movements stopped a few centimeters from Judy's neck.

"Stop pretending to be asleep, Judy Stairing."

Curaçao's voice was as indifferent and undisturbed as the sea breeze at that moment.

Judy lay there motionless, only the slight rise and fall of her chest proved that she was still alive.

"Even if you want to launch a sneak attack, you have no chance of succeeding against me in your current state."

These words pierced Judy's feigned calm like a needle.

Her long eyelashes trembled, and finally, her angry eyes slowly opened, staring intently at Curaçao.

Despite her efforts to maintain her composure, her pale face and slightly trembling body betrayed her weakness—the aftereffects of the high-voltage electric shock and hypothermia had rendered her body almost unresponsive.

"Ah……"

Judy forced a cold smile, her voice hoarse with weakness, "You think... you've already won?"

Curaçao looked at her calmly: "You have indeed won."

"..."

Judy looked at her with a mocking expression.

After a brief silence, Curaçao spoke again: "It seems you have a backup plan."

Judy didn't answer, only responding with a cold look.

Curaçao ignored her silence and continued, her voice unusually clear in the howling sea breeze: "Actually, you have more backup plans than you know yourself."

"What do you mean?"

Judy paused slightly.

Curaçao, however, had no intention of explaining.

With a flick of her wrist, she withdrew the dagger, but with lightning speed, she covered Judy's mouth and nose with her other hand, while simultaneously pressing her knee against Judy's waist and abdomen, pinning her firmly to the cold deck of the speedboat.

"Well--!"

Judy struggled, but her weakened body was no match for Curaçao's rigorously trained strength.

"Next, I'm going to make you 'die'."

Curaçao's voice was flat and even somewhat cold. "Don't ask, just do as I say. Otherwise, it's easy to turn this fake act into a real one."

She didn't give Judy any time to process the information, question it, or bargain.

As soon as he finished speaking, Curaçao released his hand from her mouth and nose. As Judy instinctively gasped for air, the dagger in his hand flashed coldly!

Chapter 105: Good Morning, Judy

Struggling to break free from the icy, suffocating seawater and darkness, Judy Starling abruptly opened her eyes, breathing rapidly as if the salty, oppressive feeling of the seawater still lingered in her lungs.

However, the expected dampness and bumps did not occur.

Instead, you feel the soft touch of the mattress beneath you and the faint scent of air freshener in the air.

She quickly sat up and looked around warily.

This is an exquisitely decorated and high-end bedroom, where warm morning light streams in through the gaps in the heavy curtains.

She looked down to check herself and found that her wet clothes had been changed and replaced with a clean and comfortable set of pajamas. Apart from feeling a little weak and cold, there were no other obvious external injuries.

She slid silently off the bed, her bare feet touching the soft carpet. She first leaned close to the door, listening carefully to the sounds outside, then cautiously lifted a corner of the curtain—it was already daylight outside, revealing a neatly manicured private garden and lush green mountains in the distance.

Taking a deep breath, Judy gently opened the door and went out.

The villa was quiet and spacious inside. She walked along the corridor to the living room, and her eyes were immediately drawn to the figure on the spacious balcony outside the living room.

Lin Jiashu was sitting on a lounge chair on the balcony with his back to her. On the small round table in front of him was a pot of steaming black tea and some delicate tea snacks.

He seemed to hear a noise behind him and slowly turned around.

"You're awake? How are you feeling? But you might be a bit weak right now."

"Mr. Lin?"

Judy was initially surprised, but then, the image of the silver-haired woman's cold gaze on the speedboat the night before, and the words, "You have more backup plans than you think," came flooding back to her, and all the clues connected at that moment.

(So ​​that's how it is... that silver-haired woman was one of his.)

She truly understood the meaning of that sentence.

Lin Jiashu gestured for her to sit down on the balcony.

Judy sat down on the chair on the balcony as instructed. Although her mind was full of questions and anxiety, she forced herself to calm down, observe her surroundings, and sort out her chaotic thoughts.

"Don't drink tea right after you wake up. I've prepared breakfast for you."

Lin Jiashu picked up a paper bag and handed it to her.

McDonald's--

Judy didn't stand on ceremony. After last night's events, she needed to replenish her energy, so she quickly took a hamburger out of the oil paper bag.

"Mr. Lin, are you already aware of what happened at the Pacific buoy last night?"

"Yes, I know." Lin Jiashu picked up his black tea, took a sip, and spoke calmly.

“James Black, that guy really is a traitor! He colluded with that organization and used Naomi's system. I must expose him immediately!”

After taking a few bites of the hamburger, Judy finally couldn't sit still any longer. Her voice trembled with excitement, and she wished she could return to FBI headquarters immediately to expose James's crimes.

Lin Jiashu looked at her and gently shook his head: "Take it easy, Ms. Judy. There's no rush."

"How can we not be anxious?!" Judy almost stood up. "If we don't expose him quickly, he might—"

"—His goal has been achieved, there is no need to cause any more trouble."

Lin Jiashu interrupted her, even finding it amusing, "Shortly after you were taken away last night, he sounded the alarm, indicating that Coordinator Shimizu had suddenly attacked, knocked out Ms. Naomi, injured him, and stolen system data. You arrived later to pursue her, but your whereabouts are currently unknown."

"..."

Judy was stunned.

After calming down, she realized this was a good opportunity: "If I show myself now, I can completely expose his lies and his true colors as a traitor without even having to confront him!"

"That's absolutely true. As soon as you show up, he can't keep up his act."

Lin Jiashu laughed.

"But then what? Professor Judy, even after hearing his confident remarks last night, do you still insist that he should be handed over to the FBI higher-ups and dealt with through proper procedures?"

Judy fell silent.

She wasn't unaware of the possibility James was referring to.

Faced with the temptation of rejuvenation, which could overturn the existing power structure, so-called justice and order may really be worthless in the eyes of some high-ranking people.

In order to obtain this miracle, the higher-ups may very well choose to protect James, and even treat him as an honored guest.

But... this shouldn't be happening!

She raised her head, her eyes burning with a resolute light, though a barely perceptible worry lurked beneath: "This world shouldn't be filled only with such darkness... I believe that the upper echelons of the FBI cannot all be driven by self-interest; there must also be those who are devoted to justice and uphold their principles!"

"Of course there are people like that."

Lin Jiashu confirmed her statement.

He picked up a new cup, heated it, and poured a cup of black tea for the woman in front of him before saying...

"But unfortunately, those corrupt individuals who have long been corrupted by power and desire, and who know better how to scheme and unite, are often more numerous and more likely to occupy key positions."

"Those in power who are high above are never the same kind of people as you agents who bleed and risk your lives on the front lines. They can never truly understand your sacrifices and beliefs."

"When they possess wealth and power that are unimaginable to ordinary people, the only thing that can make them feel fear and desire is the passage of time and the withering of youth."

"So, faced with the temptation of immortality, how many people do you think can uphold so-called justice?"

Judy fell silent again. The reality depicted by Hayashi Yoshiki was cold and heavy, making it hard for her to breathe.

Seeing that she remained silent, Lin Jiashu slowly added:

"Besides, Ms. Judy, if you jump out now to testify against James, then Shimizu Rei will be in trouble."

"What do you mean?" Judy looked up abruptly.

"The message she reported to Rum was that you had been killed and your body had been sunk in Tokyo Bay."

"But if you suddenly appeared alive and kicking in front of your companions, accusing James... what do you think Rum would do? He would be the first to suspect and deal with Shimizu Rei, who is incompetent and may even have betrayed them."

Judy froze completely.

She could risk her own safety to expose James, but she couldn't let it implicate Shimizu Rei, who had saved her life and was clearly an important ally of Hayashi Yoshiki.

Seeing the struggle, resentment, and helplessness on Judy's face, Lin Jiashu knew she understood her current situation. He smiled slightly, his tone softening again:

"So let's finish our breakfast first, Ms. Judy."

"..."

She could only remain silent.

After finishing the hamburger in her hand and drinking half a cup of hot tea, the warmth from the food gradually dispelled her weakness and chills, and also calmed her brain, which had been feverish from excitement.

So, what can I do now?

Realizing that she was in such a passive position, she began to ponder this question.

But when her thoughts were pulled away from the urgent action, she couldn't help but focus her questions on the man in front of her.

(That silver-haired woman is his...)

(Does this mean he already knew James's target was the cross-age tracking system? That's why he was able to arrange for Shimizu Rei to infiltrate in advance, and...)

A clear question arose in her mind. Judy raised her head, her gaze sharp as she looked at Lin Jiashu, who was still leisurely sipping his tea, and asked directly:

"Mr. Lin, you... you knew all along what James was planning, didn't you?"

"Hmm." Lin Jiashu put down his teacup and nodded frankly, without any intention of hiding anything.

His quick admission made Judy's heart sink. She pressed on, her voice unconsciously becoming tense: "So, how much do you know about his specific actions?"

"Almost everyone knows."

Lin Jiashu did not shy away from the question, “After he led you to rescue Naomi Algent, I roughly guessed what he wanted to do, including his purpose of using the cross-age tracking system.”

"Then... what about all those agents he sacrificed for his conspiracy?"

"I guessed it all."

"..."

Judy felt her breath catch slightly.

(Almost everyone knew... I guessed it from the very beginning...)

In order to make proper use of this cross-age tracking system and confirm its value firsthand, James sacrificed so many excellent agents, those lost lives, those shed blood...

And all of this, the man in front of him had actually anticipated.

But he chose to... sit idly by.