Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister
Chapter 108 - 104: The Situation Takes a Drastic Turn, Shogo Mizutani is Stunned

Chapter 108: Chapter 104: The Situation Takes a Drastic Turn, Shogo Mizutani is Stunned

General Affairs Chief of Tokyo District Court, Shuiyuan Zhengjiu, was in a good mood the past couple of days, and it improved further when he learned that Yamada Yuuji hadn’t shown up for work that morning.

He knew that Yamada must be panicking by now. As long as he couldn’t produce the photos for Heize Xin, and with Heize Xin’s cruelty only increasing with time, there was no way he would let him live.

Once Yamada Yuuji was dead, he’d find an opportunity to hand over the photos to Heize Xin. By then, not to mention becoming the Chief of General Personnel Affairs, even becoming a deputy minister in the Special Investigation Department might not be impossible.

The most powerful department within the Tokyo District Court was the Special Investigation Department. In Japan, cases involving political figures were almost exclusively handled by this department.

The Special Investigation Department could compare with the Korea Prosecution Office.

"Dingling ling~ Dingling ling~"

The sudden ringing of the phone interrupted Shuiyuan Zhengjiu’s daydreams. He picked up the phone nonchalantly. "Moshi moshi?"

"Shuiyuan, this is Yamada Yuuji."

"Oh, Mr. Yamada, what can I do for you?" Shuiyuan Zhengjiu asked in a contrived manner.

At that moment, Yamada Yuuji was in the Henry Western Restaurant across from the local prosecution building, gazing at the district court’s building as though he could see Shuiyuan Zhengjiu. He spoke gravely, "I’m in the Henry Western Restaurant across from the District Court. I hope to invite you to lunch. Please grace me with your presence."

"With such a kind invitation from Mr. Yamada, I certainly cannot refuse," Shuiyuan Zhengjiu responded cheerfully.

"I’ll be waiting here for your esteemed arrival."

After hanging up, Shuiyuan Zhengjiu’s expression became gloomy. He couldn’t fathom why Yamada Yuuji suddenly invited him to lunch at this critical juncture. Did he know about the photos in his possession or was it something else?

Because he couldn’t grasp the other party’s intentions, he had agreed to the invitation, intending to find out the real reason.

Shuiyuan Zhengjiu arrived at the Henry Western Restaurant and after reporting Yamada Yuuji’s name, a waiter led him to a secluded corner window seat, where he saw Yamada Yuuji.

This spot was well hidden from other customers’ view, making it an ideal place for discussion.

"Mr. Shuiyuan has arrived, please have a seat," Yamada Yuuji stood up and bowed, making a gesturing invitation.

"Hi!" Shuiyuan Zhengjiu also politely bowed in return before sitting down and speaking, "Mr. Yamada, you shouldn’t have. I’ll treat you next time."

Despite their hostility towards each other, they couldn’t afford to be impolite in public; after all, propriety was paramount.

"Let’s just have a casual meal, no need to be so formal," Yamada Yuuji said as he passed the menu. "I’ve already ordered. Please take a look and see what you’d like."

"Hi!" Shuiyuan Zhengjiu took the menu with both hands, browsed through it briefly, then ordered a steak, a soup, and several entrees before handing the menu to the waiter, "Please start with these."

"Hi!" The waiter bowed and then left.

"I remember when I first joined the Tokyo District Court, I ate here. Just like that, several years have passed and this place hasn’t changed," Yamada Yuuji remarked nostalgically.

Shuiyuan Zhengjiu nodded, apparently slipping into his memories, "Yes, time flows, some things constantly change, but some remain the same."

"Hey, by the way, Mr. Shuiyuan, do you remember who joined with us..." Yamada Yuuji chatted casually with Shuiyuan Zhengjiu.

Although Shuiyuan Zhengjiu kept responding, he was already getting impatient, feeling that Yamada Yuuji was beating around the bush too much.

When the food was all served, Yamada Yuuji started eating earnestly, occasionally commenting on the taste of the dishes.

It seemed he really just wanted to have a meal.

Shuiyuan Zhengjiu cut a piece of steak, chewed it a few times, and swallowed, not being able to keep his patience any longer, "Mr. Yamada, did you invite me just for a meal?"

"Otherwise, what? Can’t I invite Mr. Shuiyuan to dinner?" Yamada Yuuji asked in surprise.

Shuiyuan Zhengjiu just stared blankly at him.

Yamada Yuuji looked back calmly.

At this point, Shuiyuan Zhengjiu was truly confused. Was Yamada Yuuji trying to show goodwill? It was too late for that.

"Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Yamada, I must leave now," realizing the other party might really just want to have a meal, Shuiyuan Zhengjiu, no longer in the mood to continue, put down his cutlery and left.

Watching the departing figure of Shuiyuan Zhengjiu, Yamada Yuuji slowly chewed the steak in his mouth, watching him disappear from view before looking at the bright cutlery Shuiyuan Zhengjiu had just used on the table.

Then he packed the Western-style knife Shuiyuan Zhengjiu had just used in an evidence bag wrapped with paper, and then placed his own used knife on the opposite side of the table.

After doing all this, he took out a pre-prepared new knife identical to the one used and started using it.

Unhurriedly finishing his steak, he wiped his mouth with a napkin, then called out, "Check, please."

After he settled the bill and left, the experienced waiter collected all the used utensils and dirty dishes and took them to the kitchen to be washed.

...

"Dingling ling~ Dingling ling~"

Less than half an hour after leaving the restaurant, just back in the office, Shuiyuan Zhengjiu’s cell phone rang again.

"Moshi moshi, I am Shuiyuan Zhengjiu."

"Prosecutor Shuiyuan, it’s me, Ito Hiroshi."

"Mr. Ito, why are you calling all of a sudden?" Shuiyuan Zhengjiu asked gravely.

"Water Source Prosecutor, is it convenient for you to come out and meet now? There are some matters that need to be discussed face-to-face."

Ito Hiroshi spoke with slightly hurried breaths.

"Where are you now?" Shuiyuan Shogo immediately pondered, sensing that Ito Hiroshi’s sudden hastiness to meet might be connected to the recent dinner with Yamada Yuuji, an attempt to mend their strained relationship.

"Hirakawa Minami Chiyozu Yongxin Slaughterhouse." Ito Hiroshi gave the location, then tremblingly advised, "Water Source Prosecutor, please come as soon as possible!"

"Alright! I’m on my way!" Shuiyuan Shogo hung up the phone, grabbed his car keys, and rushed out the door.

Meanwhile, in the slaughterhouse, Ito Hiroshi pleaded with a sorrowful face to Yamada Yuuji, saying, "I’ve done as you instructed, please don’t harm my wife and children, they are innocent!"

"Don’t worry, it’s not my habit to mistreat women and children. You’ve served me for many years; I won’t mistreat them," Yamada Yuuji sighed complexly.

Ito Hiroshi sniffled, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Thank you, thank you, Prosecutor Yamada. It was out of greed that I committed such betrayal; I personally deserve to die, but my children are still young..."

"Enough!" Yamada Yuuji roared angrily, interrupting him. Gritting his teeth, he questioned, "After all these years with me, do I really have no credibility in your eyes? I said I wouldn’t harm your wife and daughter, so I certainly won’t!"

Ito Hiroshi’s lips quivered, and he fell silent.

About twenty or thirty minutes later, Yamakawa Ichiro rushed in to report, "An Audi is heading this way; it must be the person you’ve asked to meet."

"Let’s go, it’s time to end this farce," Yamada Yuuji told Ito Hiroshi.

Ito Hiroshi followed him out of the room, meeting Shuiyuan Shogo who just entered the slaughterhouse.

"Yamada Yuuji!" Shuiyuan Shogo, seeing Ito Hiroshi and Yamada Yuuji together, immediately realized he had been trapped and instinctively turned to run, but the moment he looked back, he saw the slaughterhouse’s main gate being shut from the outside.

At the same time, Aoyama Xiu Xin walked out from an office with Fujimoto Yoshi and Nakamura Shinichi.

Only the six of them remained in the vast slaughterhouse.

The quiet was such that only the sound of wind could be heard.

Shuiyuan Shogo abandoned the idea of escape; his intense unease made him sweat profusely, but trying to appear calm, he asked, "Mr. Yamada, what are you planning to do?"

"Shuiyuan Shogo, hand over Mr. Heize’s photo," said Yamada Yuuji bluntly.

"Idiot!" Shuiyuan Shogo couldn’t hold back and cursed, glaring furiously at Ito Hiroshi, "You really are accustomed to betrayal, aren’t you? First betraying Yamada Yuuji, and now in a blink of an eye, betraying me!"

Ito Hiroshi had no inclination to defend himself, because he had listened entirely to Aoyama Xiu Xin’s plan the night before, knowing he had reached the end of his life.

And he was forced to accept this fate.

Because he still had to consider his young child.

They say that men live for themselves before turning thirty and completely live for their children afterwards.

Oh, what’s that? Somebody is still single at thirty? Well... more power to them.

"It seems, Shuiyuan, you don’t want to hand it over," Yamada Yuuji’s eyes turned fierce as he coldly spoke.

Shuiyuan Shogo swallowed, his teeth clenched tightly as he said, "I don’t believe you would dare to kill me!"

He thought his opponent wouldn’t do such a thing.

"Of course I wouldn’t dare to kill you," Yamada Yuuji shook his head and then expressionlessly took out a dinner knife, wrapped in an evidence bag, from his waistcoat, holding the handle wrapped in the bag and violently stabbed it into Ito Hiroshi’s neck.

"Ergh—ha—ah—"

Ito Hiroshi’s throat was pierced instantly; he instinctively reached to cover the wound, but his hands were covered in rushing crimson blood. As Yamada Yuuji released his grip on the knife handle, Ito Hiroshi’s body thunderously collapsed backward, his legs convulsing, blood gushing from his neck.

Shuiyuan Shogo was completely stunned, his face in disbelief as he watched the scene unfold, "Are you insane? You actually killed him! He’s also a prosecutor!"

"No, you killed him!" Yamada Yuuji sneered, pointing at the dining knife still stuck in Ito Hiroshi’s neck, "The murder weapon has only your fingerprints."

"Police! Shuiyuan Shogo, raise your hands and lie down on the ground! You are now suspected of murder; please come with us for the investigation!" Aoyama Xiu Xin drew his gun and fiercely commanded, full of righteousness.

Fujimoto Yoshi and Nakamura Shinichi immediately rushed up and tackled the bewildered Shuiyuan Shogo to the ground, pinning him from either side, rendering him immobile.

Only then did Shuiyuan Shogo come to his senses, struggling violently while glaring, bursting with rage at Yamada Yuuji, "Idiot! You bastard plotted against me!"

He finally understood why his opponent had suddenly invited him for a meal, and it was a Western meal at that, just to acquire a dinner knife with his fingerprints to use as the murder weapon.

"It wasn’t me; it was Police Chief Aoyama," Yamada Yuuji turned his head, pointing at Aoyama Xiu Xin, somewhat relieved as he exclaimed, "Luckily, he was also implicated in this case, or indeed, you would have outwitted me."

Shuiyuan Shogo fiercely turned to look at Aoyama Xiu Xin.

In his eyes, his opponent had always been Yamada Yuuji.

He had never taken Aoyama Xiu Xin seriously, seeing him only as an unfortunate soul, doomed to be sacrificed in his scheme against Yamada Yuuji.

He never expected to fall into his hands.

Aoyama Xiu Xin stepped forward, raising his foot to step on his head, bringing his face in close contact with the ground, "You only have two choices now."

"One, hand over the photo, and we immediately dispose of Ito Hiroshi’s body, along with the murder weapon."

"Two, if you don’t hand over the photo, I’ll take you straight to Police Headquarters. With person and evidence both present, not only will your career be utterly ruined, but you’ll also spend the rest of your life in prison."