Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister

Police at the Shinjuku Police Station cordoned off the Zhongshan family's property upon arrival and commenced a scene investigation to gather evidence.

Asai Ayumi, Aoyama Xiu Xin, and Fujimoto Ryosuke were called back to the station for questioning. With all three corroborating each other's stories, their testimonies were ironclad.

Moreover, the one questioning them was Asai Youki.

Even if there had been any discrepancies in their stories, Asai Youki would have helped to cover them up.

After all, his beloved daughter was involved!

"I truly did not expect that Zhongshan Akiyu would be engaging in such dirty deeds behind everyone's back!" Asai Youki turned off the recorder in his hand, his face grim. He then sighed and said, "I also bear responsibility for not discovering his true nature sooner."

"Police Chief, you shouldn't be too hard on yourself," Aoyama Xiu Xin solemnly rebutted, speaking earnestly, "The saying goes 'You can know someone's face but not their heart.' Zhongshan Akiyu's facade fooled everyone, so it's not a failure on your part but rather his cunning! Moreover, the truth was uncovered all thanks to Asai Police Chief, and her excellence is a result of your guidance. From this perspective, not only are you without fault in this case, but your contributions are truly immense."

Fujimoto Ryosuke stood by, utterly dumbfounded; after all, Aoyama Xiu Xin's current sycophantic demeanor was in stark contrast to the tough persona he displayed in front of Asai Ayumi.

Licking boots by day, and sucking up by night.

Damn it! Playing both sides!

Feeling the peculiar gaze of Fujimoto Ryosuke, Aoyama Xiu Xin remained unfazed. So what if he was sucking up to Asai Youki? Soon enough, Asai Ayumi would be doing the same to him!

Always playing the game from top to bottom.

"Aoyama Criminal, you give me too much credit, though Zhongshan Akiyu indeed is quite sly," Asai Youki said with restrained pride, smiling as he placed the recorder back into the evidence bag. He added, "You need to file a shooting report and submit it."

"Yes, sir!" Aoyama Xiu Xin bowed in response.

Although nearly every Japan Police officer is armed, using a firearm can be quite troublesome; even drawing a gun requires a report.

Usually, the report is submitted to a superior.

And his direct superior was Asai Ayumi.

So there was no worry about the trouble with not using a gun. Even if there were a breach of regulations in using a gun, Asai Ayumi would still cover for him.

"There's one more thing," Asai Youki said as he casually picked up a document from the desk, "Your promotion to Patrol Chief has come through. Starting tomorrow, you are officially the Gunpowder Deputy Director. I hope Mr. Aoyama will continue to excel."

"Yes, sir! Thank you, Police Chief, for your care. I will certainly work with all my heart to repay this great kindness!" Aoyama Xiu Xin bowed slightly, taking the document with both hands, and spoke with excitement.

Fujimoto Ryosuke stood by, bewildered and frantic.

Wait, wasn't I the Gunpowder Deputy Director?

If he becomes the Deputy Director, what will I do?

Fortunately, Asai Youki did not completely disregard him. Turning his head to Fujimoto, he said, "As for Vice Director Fujimoto, the current search and investigation Deputy Director Yukawa Jinichi is about to be dismissed and investigated for his forced search. You'll be transferred there."

Yukawa Jinichi had obeyed orders from Zhongshan Akiyu, despite Zhongshan's suspension, and had conducted an unauthorized search of the Yoshinaga family's home without a warrant.

Now that Zhongshan Akiyu was finished, he naturally had to pay the price for his improper conduct.

"Yes, sir!" Fujimoto Ryosuke replied, relieved but with mixed emotions. Aoyama Xiu Xin received a promotion simply for the Sakura Formation drug trafficking case, while he hadn't moved up in several years. Although he had made contributions in the Yeharadong case, he probably still wouldn't be going anywhere.

Merely because of the difference between the professional and non-professional groups, he felt frustrated and dissatisfied.

It was the first time he felt disheartened.

Asai Youki didn't care how he felt, "Alright, you can all go back to work now."

"Yes, sir!" All three bowed and left in an orderly manner.

No sooner had they stepped out of the Police Chief's office than a Gunpowder Section officer who had been waiting outside hurriedly approached Asai Ayumi to report, "Police Chief, Yamamoto Hiroshi is going to recant his testimony."

Asai Ling glanced at Aoyama Xiu Xin, finding the situation just as he had described, which suddenly struck her as terribly dull—even the idea of questioning Yamamoto Hiroshi herself seemed unappealing.

"Just give me the transcript," she waved her hand to dismiss the officer before looking at Aoyama Xiu Xin again, "Come to my office, I have questions for you."

"Yes, sir!" Aoyama Xiu Xin responded respectfully.

The two of them left, one following the other, leaving Fujimoto Ryosuke standing there feeling rather despondent.

After entering the office, Asai Ling immediately turned around to face Aoyama Xiu Xin and said, "You should finally tell me why you absolutely had to kill Zhongshan Akiyu."

At this moment, she was torn, struggling with the internal conflict of being in cahoots with Aoyama Xiu Xin and trampling the law, which tormented her, yet the prospect of being commended for their achievements was intoxicating.

"Embezzlement is never the work of just one person; it takes a group!" Aoyama Xiu Xin noticed her emotional instability and gently embraced her to calm her down, closing his eyes to savor the warm fragrance and softness in his arms as he continued, "There are people above Zhongshan Akiyu, and that's why he said that even with that recording, I couldn't convict him because someone would protect him."

"If we had arrested him then, we would have had to contend with those backing him, and things would have gotten more complex and troublesome, veering towards unpredictability! That's why I killed him. With his death, we could close the case swiftly and receive commendation without worrying about his backers fearing he'd recklessly bite back once caught. Only with this step could the matter be completely resolved."

In a way, by killing Zhongshan Akiyu, he was also helping those behind Zhongshan Akiyu.

"Knowing there were people behind Zhongshan Akiyu, why couldn't you keep him alive to track down and unearth these culprits?" Asai Ling, with limited societal experience, blurted out after hearing this.

Aoyama Xiu Xin laughed, teaching her as if she were his daughter, "Because we simply don't have the strength to do so right now. Zhongshan Akiyu has been a cop for nearly ten years. You think he only took money from Nozawa Financial Corporation? Could he alone pocket all that money? Do you know how many others passed money through him?"

"Remember, before you have the strength to tackle a big problem, don't make it worse; otherwise, you won't be able to handle the consequences."

Asai Ling looked at him with a strange expression.

"What's wrong?" Aoyama Xiu Xin was puzzled.

Asai Ling pursed her red lips, "Your tone of voice just now sounded exactly like my dad."

"Then call me daddy and let me hear it." Aoyama Xiu Xin gave a cheeky grin as he pinched her cheek.

Asai Ling's face blushed with embarrassment and she warned indignantly, "Bastard, don't go too far!"

"Call me!" Aoyama demanded like a stern father.

Asai Ling, helpless and filled with shame, could only whisper as softly as a mosquito, "Daddy."

"Knock knock knock!" The sound of knocking interrupted them.

With flushed cheeks, Asai Ling pushed away Aoyama Xiu Xin who had been embracing her, regaining a serious and professional demeanor as she called out in an artificially calm voice, "Come in."

"Chief," an officer came in and handed over a folder, "The new statements from Yamamoto Hiroshi."

Asai Ling took the folder and began to read, her expression fluctuating, before passing it on to Aoyama Xiu Xin.

Aoyama Xiu Xin, after reading, also understood the process of the murder of Yeharadong, although with Zhongshan Akiyu implicated, the truth behind Yeharadong's death was no longer significant.

According to Yamamoto Hiroshi, on the day of the incident, Zhongshan Akiyu had excused him from returning his gun after work, claiming there was an operation that evening. Around seven o'clock, he went as instructed by Zhongshan Akiyu to meet at a bar.

It was only then that Zhongshan Akiyu revealed there was no operation planned for that night; instead, he wanted Yamamoto to kill Yeharadong. Naturally, Yamamoto refused, but Zhongshan Akiyu produced evidence of his gambling activities, along with several loan contracts signed because of his gambling, threatening and tempting him.

He said that if Yamamoto didn't comply, those loan companies would come to the police station and his hometown to collect debts, which would not only require repayment but also cost him his job and reputation.

However, if he killed Yeharadong, not only would Zhongshan Akiyu help him cover it up, but he would also repay all his loans, which is why Yamamoto finally agreed.

Even his turning himself in later on was under the coercion and temptation of the loan contracts by Zhongshan Akiyu.

The story probably contained truths and lies, but certainly wasn't as Yamamoto described it—he wasn't completely coerced.

"Gambling addicts deserve no mercy," Aoyama Xiu Xin commented as he closed the folder, passing it back to Asai Ling.

In his life, he had an absolute enmity with gambling and drugs!