Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister

The next day, April 28th, a Tuesday.

Aoyama Xiu Xin woke up early in the morning. After getting washed and dressed, he went downstairs and saw his sister-in-law setting up breakfast.

Today, she wasn't wearing a kimono but a black dress that hugged her figure. As she bent over, her full bust almost touched the tabletop. Her hips were pert and voluptuous, her legs clad in thin flesh-colored stockings, slender and straight below the hem of her skirt, and she wore a pair of black lace-up high heels.

Hearing footsteps, she turned, saw Aoyama Xiu Xin, and smiled, "You're up just in time, Xiu Xin."

"Sis, are you going out today?" Aoyama Xiu Xin asked curiously, walking over to help her set the table.

Aoyama Haruko had been a full-time housewife since marrying, usually clad in a kimono at home.

"Yes, I found a flower shop where I will work part-time for a week." Aoyama Haruko smiled, then winked. "Don't tell your brother, okay?"

Aoyama Sosuke possessed the typical Japanese male chauvinism, disliking the idea of his wife working and being in the public eye, considering it a disgrace.

But the Aoyama family's current situation was like the Eight Banner Descendants in the late Qing Dynasty, left with nothing but the name of the Imperial Family and an estate, which barely maintained their dignified appearance.

In Japan, only National Members of Parliament are true big shots. In prefectures and counties, it's the governor who has real clout, even able to dissolve the Congress at will, leaving grassroots members with little power.

Without enough power, naturally, there wouldn't be sufficient income, and after Aoyama Xiu Xin was demoted, his salary took a significant hit. Hence, Aoyama Haruko often worked part-time behind her husband's back to earn some extra money to help with the household expenses.

It was also a way to pass some tedious time.

"You're working hard, big sis." Aoyama Xiu Xin bowed.

Looks like I need to earn money quickly.

Aoyama Haruko spoke in a soft, gentle voice, "Okay, hurry up and eat, or you'll be late for work."

"Yes!" Aoyama Xiu Xin replied, pulling out a chair to sit, "Then, I'll get started."

He couldn't help but admit his sister-in-law's cooking was quite good.

"Take your time and have a smooth journey," Aoyama Haruko said after the meal, seeing Aoyama Xiu Xin out. With Aoyama Sosuke rarely at home, the two of them looked more like a couple.

Besides trusting that he would soon become a National Member of Parliament and return to Tokyo, Aoyama Sosuke left his wife in Tokyo to keep an eye on his brother, whom he saw as unruly and likely to cause trouble for the family.

Aoyama Xiu Xin stood in the yard, bowed to Aoyama Haruko on the stairs, then turned and left.

On his way to work, he thought of a way to quickly resolve the family's financial predicament.

Upon arriving at the police station, he headed straight for Asai Ayumi's office.

"Aoyama Criminal, good morning."

"Senior, good morning."

Many colleagues greeted him proactively; after the previous day's success, he had shed the label of demoted failure at the Shinjuku Police Station and proved his worth.

Japanese always respect strength.

In response to greetings from peers and juniors, Aoyama Xiu Xin always reciprocated. When encountering seniors and superiors, he would stop and give a courteous bow, waiting for them to pass before lifting his head to continue forward.

There was no helping it; the Japanese sense of hierarchy was ingrained deep in their marrow, even to the point of being somewhat twisted.

Fortunately, he was quite twisted himself.

Otherwise, he feared he wouldn't be able to integrate into this country.

He knocked on Asai Ayumi's office door, but there was no response, so he pushed the door open and entered. Finding that she hadn't arrived yet, he sat in her office chair and began to read the morning's paper while he waited.

The newspaper featured a story about the Sakura Formation's den being raided, portraying Asai Ayumi as a shrewd and capable heroine. Although Aoyama Xiu Xin was only mentioned briefly, it was already quite an accolade.

"Ah!" Asai Ayumi opened the door to find Aoyama Xiu Xin sitting at her desk, which startled her. She quickly shut the door, then scolded, somewhat annoyed, "Who let you into my office!"

This was an impolite and offensive act.

"Ah, our heroic lady police officer has finally arrived," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a smile, tossing the newspaper onto the desk.

The Criminal Division staff didn't have to wear a uniform, and Asai Ayumi was wearing a silver-gray suit dress that day.

Her hair draped over her shoulders, and the small suit and dress perfectly accentuated her tall figure. She didn't have the often-seen bowed legs of many Japanese women, but rather a pair of black silk legs that were long and straight, her expression full of vigor.

Looking at the photo in the newspaper where she appeared full of spirit facing the camera, Asai Ayumi felt a mix of embarrassment and guilt as she lowered her head, gripping her handbag tightly.

Aoyama Xiu Xin said, "Come here."

Asai Ayumi walked over with her lips pursed.

"Sit here," Aoyama pointed to his lap.

Asai Ayumi, a mix of shame and anger, lifted her head and glared at him, her face red with fury, and cursed, "Bastard! Don't go too far."

"Do you really want me to reveal the truth to the media right now?" Aoyama Xiu Xin asked, crossing his arms and looking at her with a smirk that wasn't quite a smile.

Asai Ayumi clenched her fists tightly, then released them, gathering the courage to say, "You have no evidence, and if you reveal the truth, you will be implicated in intentional murder."

"Ha!" Aoyama Xiu Xin laughed, shaking his head with a tsk-tsk sound, "Look, this is Asai Police Chief who righteously accused me of murder yesterday, yet today she begins to threaten me with the same."

Asai Ayumi's complexion turned a sickly mix of green and white, her inner shame so intense she almost bit through her lip.

At that moment, Aoyama Xiu Xin suddenly stood up.

Asai Ayumi trembled, genuinely frightened, as the man before her was a cold-blooded killer.

"Guess why Chongtian wanted me to kill Mitsuo in the basement," Aoyama Xiu Xin whispered in her ear from behind, not waiting for her answer before providing his own, "Of course, there were hidden cameras in the basement. He could control me with a murder video."

Asai Ayumi jerked her head up, her expression panicked, because the surveillance cameras weren't found during the evidence collection the day before.

"And guess, who now has the hard drive with the recording of the event?" Aoyama Xiu Xin's smile broadened, his soft voice enveloping her as he hugged her.

Asai Ayumi stiffened, her pale face expressing nothing but fear, and she trembled, "You won't release it, right? You can't escape from this either."

"Heh, that depends on your performance," Aoyama Xiu Xin said indifferently, with an air of resignation, "I'm just a demoted and sidelined loser. You, on the other hand, are a promising hero Police Chief, carrying the honor of the Asakai family. To die alongside you would be worth it."

In reality, he didn't have the video at all. He had thought there had been one and had even looked for it quietly when others weren't paying attention but found no sign of surveillance.

"Don't!" Asai Ayumi exclaimed, closing her eyes, pleading tearfully, "Please, please don't do this, I... I'll do whatever you say."

The honor of the Asakai family was paramount; she could not allow her family's reputation to be tarnished because of her.

Ultimately, she was like a flower in a greenhouse; she'd never been tested by the elements, was naive about the world, and knew nothing of human wickedness.

"Yoishi, I like obedient women," Aoyama Xiu Xin let her sit on the chair and pulled her into his arms, "Don't worry, unless it's necessary, I don't want to take us both down. Just be obedient, and you can continue to be the hero everybody admires, just like you saw with my abilities yesterday. I can make you the object of everyone's respect and adoration."

"How about it? Isn't that feeling great?" Aoyama Xiu Xin pointed to the newspaper and smiled.

It wasn't enough to just threaten; he had to entice her with promises, to make her feel being under his control wasn't all bad.

Upon hearing this, although Asai Ayumi felt ashamed, she nodded earnestly in agreement.

She always wanted to be the star in everyone's eyes, to be respected by others, recognized and praised by her colleagues.

"I'm having some financial difficulties right now, you've got to help me, Chief," Aoyama Xiu Xin suddenly changed the subject.

Asai Ayumi was taken aback, not expecting Aoyama to suddenly ask her for money, a stark contrast from the previous conversation.

Aoyama Xiu Xin, perceiving what she was thinking, said nonchalantly, "I don't have the time, nor the mood to waste time on making money the hard way. The only way for someone like me to get rich quickly is to use some extreme methods."

"Yes!" Asai Ayumi responded, coming from a police family, she didn't lack money, "How much do you need? I'll have it ready for you tonight."

"Up to you," Aoyama Xiu Xin said generously.

Asai Ayumi responded again, "Yes!"

Aoyama Xiu Xin released her, got up, straightened the hem of his suit, and turned to bow respectfully before his desk, "Then, I'll take my leave first."

He then lifted his head, gave a slight smile, and turned to walk away.

As soon as the door closed, Asai Ayumi slumped into her chair, exhausted as if all her strength had been drained.

Really, what a... despicable and rude fellow!

Then she felt helplessness washing over her; at this point, all she could do was play along, one step at a time.

"Mr. Aoyama, what are you still doing here?" As soon as Aoyama Xiu Xin stepped out of Asai Ayumi's office, someone came up to him and said, "The Director is looking for you."

"Yes! I'm on my way now," Aoyama Xiu Xin thanked the man with a bow and then hurried to the Director's office curious about what the Director wanted from him.