Chapter 162: Transformation

In the northern part of Machida City, located in the outskirts of Tokyo, stood a sprawling mansion covering over 400 tsubo (approximately 1,320 square meters). This grand residence was formerly a park before Suiyama Choji, the current president of the Japan Science and Technology Industry Association, used his connections to purchase the land and convert it into a luxurious estate.

This is the reality of society: in Tokyo, a city renowned worldwide for its astronomical land prices, some people toil tirelessly to afford a small house of only a few dozen square meters, while others live lavishly in mansions, indulging in opulence.

The Japan Science and Technology Industry Association was established in the early post-war period with the aim of uniting Japan’s business community to revitalize the country’s economic industries. Originally named the Japan Industrial Promotion Association, it was rebranded two decades ago to its current name. Although officially a private organization composed mostly of non-governmental members, it enjoys both overt and covert support from the government.

Its current president, Suiyama Choji, is a major shareholder of Yamato Real Estate Company and is reputedly a fervent nationalist.

Suiyama’s mansion was surrounded by a 450-centimeter-high wall topped with a barbed wire fence in a rather unsightly design. It seemed the owner valued security over aesthetics, as reflected in his oft-quoted statement: “It doesn’t matter if Japan’s Self-Defense Forces aren’t an army, as long as they have the discipline and weapons of one.”

At this moment, just past 1 AM, a shadowy figure appeared outside the mansion’s perimeter.

The figure tossed a small stone onto the barbed wire to check for high-voltage currents. Once certain there was no electricity, the dark silhouette began climbing the wall.

Perhaps Suiyama Choji wasn’t a fan of dogs, which suggested he wasn’t fond of his own kind either, the intruder mused when no guard dogs came running.

Even though there were no dogs, the figure didn’t immediately jump down after scaling the wall. Through infrared goggles, they could see a grid of crisscrossing infrared beams below.

Still, dealing with these sensors was far easier than handling guard dogs that couldn’t be harmed or silenced.

Inside the mansion, the owner, Suiyama Choji, was currently engaged in activities quite inappropriate for someone his age.

Despite being in his sixties and beginning to show age spots, his body was vigorously thrusting against that of a young woman.

Believing he could absorb the vitality of youth from their bodies, he had a particular fondness for young women. Tonight’s dinner was a female university student.

He prided himself on maintaining such energy well into his sixties.

However, time spares no one. After only a few minutes, he collapsed onto the young woman like a dying fish, gasping desperately for air.

“Suiyama-san, you’re amazing,” the university student panted deliberately.

Though he knew the reality was far from her words, the compliment still greatly satisfied him.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get a good position at Ota Trading Company,” he said.

“Thank you, Suiyama-san. I’ll never forget your kindness,” the student replied, feigning deep gratitude despite his patronizing tone.

Her expression fed Suiyama’s sense of superiority. What he enjoyed most was seeing others act deeply indebted to him.

“Turn off the lights. I want to sleep.” A wave of exhaustion quashed his earlier intention to go for another round.

“Okay, Mr. Suiyama,” the university student promptly turned off the bedside lamp.

Time passed, though how long wasn’t clear. Suiyama Choji suddenly awoke to a sharp, searing pain. Opening his eyes, he was startled to see a figure entirely clad in black, even with their face concealed by a cloth, gripping his jaw tightly and staring directly at him. The pain emanated from the grip on his jaw.

Shock turned into outright panic. Suiyama attempted to wrest himself free, but his body refused to obey. He wasn’t bound by ropes or restraints, yet he couldn’t so much as lift a finger. It was as if his body no longer belonged to him.

The unprecedented terror overwhelmed him, and he tried to scream, but with his jaw firmly held, all he could manage were muffled, guttural noises.

“If you don’t want to die, shut up,” the black-clad figure said coldly.

The fear of death eclipsed the strangeness of his immobility. Suiyama stared at the intruder, his face twisted in dread. With the light behind the figure, he couldn’t discern their facial features under the black cloth, but the voice suggested someone relatively young.

Was this a robbery, or had someone from his enemies sent an assassin? He swore to himself that if he survived, he’d replace all the guards in the mansion. Someone had infiltrated the house without them noticing—a total failure on their part.

“Are you Suiyama Choji?” the intruder asked, releasing his jaw slightly.

“I-I am Suiyama Choji. Whatever you want, I can give it to you. Please don’t kill me!” The president of the Japan Technology Industry Association dared not call for help, fully aware the intruder would kill him on the spot if he tried.

“Anything?” the intruder replied. “Then take a good look at me. Do you recognize me now?”

Suiyama instinctively looked up, trying to identify the figure.

After a moment, the black-clad individual pressed further, “Do you know who I am now?”

“I don’t,” Suiyama replied, his panicked expression shifting to one of vacant stupor.

“Did Anzan Fukutoshi inform you about a woman named Ayano Eiko investigating a man called Hozan?”

“Yes,” Suiyama answered without hesitation.

“Did you send people to capture Ayano Eiko?”

“No.”

Cursing inwardly, the black-clad figure concluded that Suiyama was another pawn in a larger game.

“Who else did you tell about this?”

“I told Ikeyama Toshi.”

“And who is that?” the intruder asked, recognizing the name vaguely.

“He’s the Governor of Tokyo.”

Now it clicked. The last time Lei Yin attended a party at the Keio Plaza Hotel on Seimura Haruko’s invitation, it had been to celebrate the birthday of this very Ikeyama Toshi. Clearly, this matter involved high-ranking government officials, emboldening them to detain Ayano Eiko, a police inspector.

After a thorough interrogation, Lei Yin realized there was nothing more to gain from Suiyama Choji. Concluding the session, he erased all memories of the encounter from Suiyama’s mind through hypnotic suggestion and let the man return to bed as if nothing had happened.

Scaling the mansion’s walls to exit, Lei Yin found a secluded spot nearby where he changed back into his regular clothes.

On the way back, Lei Yin mulled things over.

The Governor of Tokyo? He hoped that this target would finally be a big fish. He was growing tired of chasing after small fry.

To locate the mysterious laboratory, Lei Yin had been employing the most straightforward yet labor-intensive method: following leads and interrogating one insider at a time. Over the past few nights, starting with Inspector Muramasa Watanabe’s uncle, he’d systematically tracked down and questioned every individual connected to the case.

This approach, while simple, required his unique ability to forcibly hypnotize others using his mental powers. Hypnosis wasn’t as miraculous as many believed; under normal circumstances, if the subject actively resisted, even the most skilled hypnotists would fail. But with his enhanced psychic abilities, Lei Yin could override any resistance, achieving results far more potent than ordinary hypnosis.

Not only did he need to extract the information he sought, but he also had to ensure no trace of his presence remained. Otherwise, his targets might become alarmed. This precaution stemmed from a prior incident: after the Nepali boy Kitaba and others escaped, the original laboratory had been completely evacuated, leaving no trace—not even a scrap of paper.

***

Kazumi shifted her gaze from her textbook and looked up at her brother, who was sprawled on the couch, fast asleep.

She shook her head. What’s he been up to at night? He’s looked sleep-deprived these past few days.

Feeling thirsty, she got up to pour herself a glass of water and then walked toward him.

But just as she was a few steps away, he suddenly opened his eyes and quickly sat up, looking directly at her.

“Are you a cat or something?” Kazumi asked, baffled by how he always seemed to sense her approaching.

“No choice—it’s a habit now. What time is it?” His heightened vigilance had become second nature.

“It’s past 2 PM. Aren’t you going to class?”

“Don’t feel like it. How’s your foot?”

“If I can walk, it means I’m fine. I plan to go back to class tomorrow.”

“Are you sure? Don’t push yourself.”

“Of course I’m sure. You’re so annoying.” Kazumi couldn’t help but laugh.

“Wow, someone’s getting tired of me,” Lei Yin replied with an exaggeratedly offended expression.

“Come on, stop pretending—it’s so fake. The weather’s amazing today; let’s go for a walk. I’ve been cooped up in this apartment so long I feel like I’m growing mold.”

“I’m exhausted and just want to sleep. Besides, your foot just healed. You should rest more.” Lei Yin really didn’t want to move—he’d been returning home near dawn every night lately.

“If you don’t want to go, I’ll go by myself then.”

“Fine, you win. Give me a second; I’ll go wash my face.” Lei Yin finally got up and headed to the bathroom.

Knowing he would definitely accompany her, Kazumi grinned triumphantly at his retreating back.

As they walked down a sunlit street that Kazumi found bright and cheerful—but Lei Yin found harsh and glaring—her spirits lifted.

“I just realized how wonderful it is to be alive. At least I can enjoy this beautiful sunshine.”

“You’re way too young to sound like you’ve just been released from prison,” Lei Yin said, yawning.

“Hey! I’m trying to share my feelings here. Don’t ruin the mood,” Kazumi said, slightly annoyed.

Lei Yin didn’t reply. Instead, he glanced at a girl walking nearby, then turned to scrutinize Kazumi from head to toe. After a moment, he said, “Kazumi, I think you need a makeover.”

“Why?”

“You’re a university student now, and you’re a young woman. While I’m not the most fashion-forward person, I think you should wear clothes that suit your age better. At the very least, you could start by changing those glasses of yours.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Kazumi replied flatly, rejecting the idea outright.

“Objection overruled.” Knowing further persuasion wouldn’t work, Lei Yin grabbed her hand and led her toward a department store ahead.

“Brother, I don’t want to go,” Kazumi whispered, struggling against him.

“Kazumi, I don’t think you should keep shutting yourself off like this. Please, just listen to me this time and make some changes for yourself, alright?” Lei Yin understood the deep psychological scars left by their monstrous father, Hirota Katsutoshi. The trauma had caused Kazumi to struggle with interacting with men, except for him. Ever since high school, Lei Yin had been trying to help her act more like a normal girl, but his efforts had seen little success.

Seeing the genuine concern in her brother’s eyes, Kazumi didn’t want to let him down. After a moment, she finally nodded.

Relieved and pleased, Lei Yin patted her head affectionately.

As the first step of her makeover, Lei Yin brought her to the eyewear section of the store to pick out a pair of thin-framed glasses.

Initially, he’d wanted her to switch to contact lenses, but since she found them uncomfortable, he settled for the next best option.

While waiting for the lenses to be prepared, Lei Yin took her to a nearby hair salon to get a haircut.

Spotting a young hairstylist with bleached blond hair and earrings, Lei Yin didn’t hesitate to turn to the salon manager and say, “I want a different stylist. Find me someone more normal.”

“What did you say?” the young stylist snapped, furious.

Ignoring him, Lei Yin continued speaking to the manager. “I’m not letting someone like him experiment on my sister. If you want my business, replace him now.”

The manager had no choice but to pull away the enraged stylist and bring over a more refined-looking man.

“This is our best stylist,” the manager assured him.

Lei Yin scrutinized the man for a moment before saying, “I don’t want anything trendy. Just give my sister a haircut that suits her.”

“Understood. My skills are as impeccable as your judgment,” the stylist said with a smile.

Once the haircut was done, Lei Yin selected a white silk dress for her from the clothing section and handed it to her.

“Go try this on and let me see.”

“Do I really have to?” Kazumi hesitated for a moment.

“Don’t like it?”

“It’s not that. Alright, I’ll try it.” Kazumi took the dress and walked into the fitting room.

Five minutes later, she emerged, head lowered.

Lei Yin examined her from head to toe and couldn’t help marveling again at the incredible transformation a woman could undergo.

“Does it look weird?” Kazumi asked softly, her face flushed.

Lei Yin didn’t reply. Instead, he stepped forward, removed her old thick-framed glasses, replaced them with the new thin-framed ones, and gently brushed her freshly cut hair into place.

He then led her to the full-length mirror and smiled. “I just realized—I have a really beautiful sister. Take a good look at the real you.”

Kazumi slowly lifted her head.

“How does it feel to go from an ugly duckling to a swan?” Lei Yin teased from behind her.

Kazumi didn’t respond. She simply stared in awe at the girl in the mirror, as though meeting her for the first time.