Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister

12:10 AM.

Fujimoto Ryosuke had been squatting in his car outside Yamamoto Hiroshi's house for several hours, his eyes bloodshot, chewing on bread and sipping from a bottle of mineral water, occasionally yawning.

He actually had no specific goal tonight; he was simply in a bad mood. Aoyama Xiu Xin might have Asai Ayumi to attend to, and he had nothing and no one.

He simply decided to stake out Yamamoto Hiroshi's house to distract himself. Otherwise, the thought of Asai Ayumi beneath Aoyama Xiu Xin, her enchanting demeanor as she indulged in pleasure, would excite him… cough, no, it would pain his heart.

He glanced at his watch; it was almost 12:30 AM. He figured there wouldn't be any gains tonight and prepared to go home, take a shower, and sleep. Tomorrow he would start a comprehensive investigation on Yamamoto Hiroshi.

But just then, the door of Yamamoto Hiroshi's house opened.

Yamamoto Hiroshi stepped out of his front door and first looked around cautiously. This behavior was highly suspicious. It seemed only after he confirmed that there were no irregularities did he open the garage and drive away.

Already exhausted, Fujimoto Ryosuke suddenly perked up. Seeing Yamamoto Hiroshi drive away, he quickly gulped down the bread in his mouth, threw away the bottle of water, and quietly started his car to follow.

Sneaking out in the dead of night.

Could this guy really be up to something?

Fujimoto Ryosuke was extremely excited internally. Although he had lost in love, his career was about to reap a harvest!

Despite the late hour, Tokyo at night was still bustling. Even with the economy on a downturn, there was never a lack of rich people or those resigned to their fate willing to spend.

Therefore, there was still significant traffic on the streets, and Fujimoto Ryosuke's following wasn't so easily detected. He tracked Yamamoto Hiroshi to a bar in Kabukicho.

The bar was crowded. Taking advantage of the crowd and dim lights for cover, he watched Yamamoto Hiroshi enter a private room, but he couldn't see inside.

It was clear that Yamamoto Hiroshi came here to meet someone. Who was worth him sneaking out in the middle of the night while on suspension to meet?

Fujimoto Ryosuke, not from a professional group, had become a Patrol Chief at the age of 30 by not only being daring but also intelligent. He approached the bar manager with his credentials, claiming there was a case that needed cooperation for an investigation and asked to see the surveillance footage.

Upon entering the surveillance room, he first sent all the staff out and began to slowly adjust the surveillance on his own.

When he rewound the time to half an hour ago, he saw a familiar figure in the blurry footage.

Chief Zhongshan Akiyu of the Shinjuku Police Station!

Fujimoto Ryosuke stared intently at the surveillance, watching Zhongshan Akiyu enter the same private room before Yamamoto Hiroshi.

Both of them were currently suspended and awaiting action due to a lost gun incident. They were old colleagues who had worked together for many years, in a superior-subordinate relationship, sharing their sorrows over drinks wasn't unheard of. But, if it were just that, Yamamoto Hiroshi would not have looked so cautious and sneaky before leaving his house.

It indicated that in Yamamoto Hiroshi's subconscious, meeting with Zhongshan Akiyu was supposed to be a secret. And even if it was just to drown their sorrows, there would be no need to do it in the dead of night.

Thinking further, although Zhongshan Akiyu was well-known for his protectionism, the fact that a Chief would risk his career to cover for a subordinate in something as serious as a lost gun seemed overly protective.

Something in his gut started itching, but further investigation was required to confirm his suspicions. Fujimoto Ryosuke just took the surveillance footage from the bar that evening and did not startle the snake.

Twenty minutes later, Zhongshan Akiyu, over thirty and of a mild demeanor, was the first to leave the private room. However, he didn't rush to leave but called over the bar manager.

"I am Chief Zhongshan Akiyu of Shinjuku Police Station's Detective Division. There is a case that requires your cooperation. I need to take tonight's surveillance video. Take me there."

"Ah? Chief Zhongshan, wasn't the surveillance video from tonight already taken by your colleague just now?"

......…

The next day at work, Asai Ayumi as usual convened the personnel involved in the gun case to assign today's tasks.

However, she had barely started when Fujimoto Ryosuke interrupted her, "Chief, I have something to say."

"Go ahead," Asai Ayumi nodded.

Fujimoto Ryosuke pulled out the hard drive of the surveillance and spoke solemnly, looking at everyone: "I think our investigation has been overlooking another person involved in the gun loss incident, that is Chief Zhongshan Akiyu."

Upon uttering these words, everyone was stunned.

"I monitored Yamamoto Hiroshi last night and discovered that he sneaked out to meet someone. That person was Chief Zhongshan, and I have the video as evidence." Fujimoto Ryosuke stood tall, casting a glance at Aoyama Xiu Xin.

"While you're engrossed with women, I'll stealthily strike you down!"

He disclosed the intelligence not because he wanted to solve the case alone but because it was tough to crack it by himself, and he risked making a mess of the whole situation.

He wasn't like Aoyama Xiu Xin, who came from a professional background with mentors and seniors to shield him, where even making significant mistakes only resulted in a demotion rather than termination.

As a Patrol Chief with no education, no family background, and no connections, conducting a covert investigation of a professional group Chief without results would be disastrous.

Moreover, Aoyama Xiu Xin's direction to investigate Hiroshi Yamamoto was correct—it's inevitable that, as the investigation deepened, others would trace it back to Zhongshan Akiyu.

Therefore, it was better to disclose the information and let the entire firearms department share the risk. If Zhongshan Akiyu indeed turned out to be problematic, he would also get credit for being the first to recognize it.

This sent the conference room into a complete uproar.

"Are you saying that Chief Zhongshan might be compromised?"

"No way, Chief Zhongshan is a very decent person, without any pretentiousness, who cares for his subordinates and often helps new colleagues out of his own pocket financially."

"They might just have been chatting..."

Zhongshan Akiyu was known for his amiability and enjoyed strong support in the station; everyone subconsciously defended him.

"Do you suspect Chief Zhongshan? Do you realize what you're saying?" Asai Ayumi asked sternly.

Fujimoto Ryosuke certainly knew, and despite the immense pressure, he firmly responded, "Yes, I suspect him! Chief Zhongshan may be protective of his subordinates, but as a police chief, shouldn't he comprehend the severity? Doesn't he understand what losing a police firearm implies? Would he really risk his career to cover for Hiroshi Yamamoto?"

"Moreover, Hiroshi Yamamoto was acting very cautiously and sneakily before he left home last night. It indicates that subconsciously, he didn't want anyone to know he was meeting Chief Zhongshan. Whatever the case, we should prioritize this investigation, also to clear Chief Zhongshan of any suspicions, right?"

He reused the rationale Aoyama Xiu Xin had insisted on for investigating Hiroshi Yamamoto—truly learning on the go.

The conference room fell into a brief silence.

Nobody dared respond.

"I agree with Deputy Director Fujimoto," Aoyama Xiu Xin was the first to raise his hand, following Fujimoto Ryosuke's logic, it was indeed necessary to investigate Zhongshan Akiyu.

Additionally, the suspicion of an ordinary detective in a murder versus a police chief involved in a murder held very different weights; solving the latter would bring much more recognition and legacy.

Fujimoto Ryosuke was taken aback that Aoyama Xiu Xin was the first to support him; he had expected unconditional opposition or mockery, he gave him a surprised look, then slightly contemptuously curled his lip.

He continued, "Moreover, confirming whether Chief Zhongshan is a suspect is simple; we just need to investigate if he knows Yeharadong and has had dealings with him..."

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Just then, a knock interrupted him.

Without turning her head, Asai Ayumi shouted, "Come in."

"Chief, Detective Yamamoto... Detective Yamamoto has turned himself in; he confesses to killing Yeharadong with his service weapon!" a police officer reported as he pushed the door open.

Everyone in the conference room stood up.

Fujimoto Ryosuke, particularly agitated, quickly rushed up and grabbed the police officer by the collar, "What did you say?"

He was almost going mad; he had just voiced his suspicions about Zhongshan Akiyu, and now Hiroshi Yamamoto had turned himself in.

If the case ended like this, how could he continue under Zhongshan Akiyu's potential revenge and sabotage?

Aoyama Xiu Xin watched with a critical eye; Hiroshi Yamamoto's confession made him even more suspicious of Zhongshan Akiyu.

"Enough, Fujimoto!" Asai Ayumi exclaimed.

Fujimoto Ryosuke then released the officer.

"Aoyama, Fujimoto, come with me to see," Asai Ayumi said, looking at them both.

Aoyama Xiu Xin stood up and responded, "Sure."

Fujimoto Ryosuke followed them, looking distraught.

After the three left the conference room, the others in the room instantly started discussing animatedly.