Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister
Chapter 130 - 126: Ashida Shuichi’s Assistance, Startling the Snake in the Grass

Chapter 130: Chapter 126: Ashida Shuichi’s Assistance, Startling the Snake in the Grass

Kabukicho, outside a certain izakaya.

"How come you chose this place?" Xiu Xin Aoyama frowned as he got out of the car and looked at the izakaya in front of him.

This place clearly had girls entertaining guests with drinks.

"It was Senior Ashida who decided," Asai Ayumi replied as she followed him out of the car, and then asked, "Don’t you like it? Don’t all men like this sort of thing?"

"Don’t lump everyone together; I never come to places like this," Xiu Xin Aoyama responded with composure, and then stepped into the izakaya.

As soon as he entered, a group of flamboyantly dressed women started flashing smiles, competing to greet him.

"Mr. Aoyama, you’ve arrived."

"Good evening, Mr. Aoyama, please come this way."

Asai Ayumi: "..."

So this is what you mean by never coming to places like this?

They treat you as if they are welcoming a family member home.

Xiu Xin Aoyama cried inwardly that it was unfair; he genuinely never came here and instantly guessed that the establishment must be owned by the Yamakawa family, and that Yamakawa Ichiro had given instructions.

"We have an appointment with someone, Ashida Shuichi."

"Hi! Mr. Aoyama, right this way, please."

A waiter led Xiu Xin Aoyama and Asai Ayumi to a private room, knocked on the door, and said politely, "Sir, your guests have arrived."

"Hey, let them in."

"Yes!" The waiter slid open the Changzi door.

Afterward, Xiu Xin Aoyama saw a round, chubby-faced middle-aged man in his forties sitting inside, enjoying his meal.

He didn’t even have girls joining him for drinks.

Choosing this place without that is just wasteful, isn’t it?

"Senior Ashida," Asai Ayumi bowed deeply.

Xiu Xin Aoyama followed with a bow, "Senior."

"Ah, Ayumi, Mr. Aoyama, please have a seat," Ashida Shuichi pointed to the seats opposite him, waved his hand for the waiter to close the door, and smiled, "I was a bit hungry, so I started without you. You don’t mind, do you?"

"Of course not, this just shows that you don’t treat us as outsiders, Senior," Asai Ayumi said with a smile.

Ashida Shuichi laughed heartily and pointed at Asai Ayumi, "Ayumi, you still have such a sweet mouth."

Xiu Xin Aoyama agreed with that; Asai Ayumi did have a sweet way of speaking—probably because of the lipstick.

"Senior Ashida, I’ve asked to meet with you today to learn more details about the serial killings in 1990," Xiu Xin Aoyama said, raising his glass.

"I know, Ayumi already told me on the phone," Ashida Shuichi nodded, wiping his mouth with a napkin, "The case files have recorded quite detailed accounts, but indeed, I have some new insights and leads that might help you."

Saying this, he turned and took a thick file from his briefcase to hand to Xiu Xin Aoyama.

"Although this case is no longer under investigation, I have always been pondering it personally. These are some of my thoughts from the past two years. Now that you, Mr. Aoyama, are taking it on, I hope they can be of help to you."

"Hi! Thank you, Senior Ashida," Xiu Xin Aoyama took the file with both hands, without rushing to open it, and extended an invitation, "Since you, Senior, have always been preoccupied with this case, now that Police Headquarters has asked me to reopen the investigation, I dare to invite you to lead me in this case and strive to bring the perpetrator to justice."

"That won’t be necessary," Ashida Shuichi rejected it without hesitation, cheerfully saying, "The reopening of this case is drawing a lot of attention. Since I did not resolve it back then, I won’t steal your thunder now."

He wasn’t foolish; of course, he would not wade into these troubled waters again. If he accepted Xiu Xin Aoyama’s invitation, given his position, he would certainly take the lead, becoming the primary person in charge of the case once more.

If he failed to solve the case then, he would be taking the hit for Xiu Xin Aoyama—ah, he flat-out didn’t think Xiu Xin Aoyama could solve it; otherwise, of course, he wouldn’t have minded accepting the invitation to share in the glory.

He was obsessed with the case, but he was also not lacking in reason. He would just continue to investigate slowly after Xiu Xin Aoyama failed, and if he solved it, he would surprise everyone; if not, no one would know.

"It’s such a pity; I was really looking forward to fighting alongside you, Senior," Xiu Xin Aoyama sighed, clutching the file, "Since this is the case, I am willing to shoulder your expectations and fight this battle alone!"

"Well then, I wish you, Mr. Aoyama, success," Ashida Shuichi poured himself a drink and loudly proclaimed.

Xiu Xin Aoyama and Asai Ayumi joined him for that drink.

After three rounds, Xiu Xin Aoyama and Asai Ayumi took their leave first and took care of the bill.

Stepping out of the izakaya, Asai Ayumi brushed her hair that the wind had blown into disarray and said with a sigh, "I didn’t expect Senior Ashida to refuse to get involved. As it is, all the pressure is on you alone. I just hope what he gave you will help you solve the case."

"I’m already very grateful that Senior Ashida gave me some of his personal insights and leads on this case," Xiu Xin Aoyama stated.

You can’t be too greedy in life; if the case indeed gets solved, he wouldn’t mind mentioning the other person’s name.

Xiu Xin Aoyama weighed the file in his hand and said, "Let’s go; it’s getting late, I’ll take you home."

After dropping off Asai Ayumi at her place, Xiu Xin Aoyama also prepared to head home, when his phone rang unexpectedly.

"Moshi moshi, this is Xiu Xin Aoyama."

"Mr. Aoyama, this is Matsubara Zizhi. I’m so sorry to disturb you this late, but... but I’m really a bit scared. Can you come over and keep me company right now?"

Matsubara Zizhi spoke in a delicate and tender voice, accompanied by faint gasps. She had made up her mind, realizing that it was only safe to firmly tie herself to Aoyama Xiu Xin.

That’s why in the middle of the night, she invited Aoyama Xiu Xiu to her home as a guest, hoping to welcome him warmly, making him feel at ease—as if paying insurance with her body.

"Reporter Matsuboto, let me give you an address, you can come and find me instead." Aoyama Xiu Xin was not about to go there. After all, how could he know whether Matsubara Zizhi’s home was safe or not?

Although Matsubara Zizhi felt that it was shameful and humiliating to willingly throw herself at him, under the threat of death, she hesitated for only a moment before agreeing, "Yes!"

Half an hour later, inside the executive suite of a five-star hotel, Aoyama Xiu Xin had already changed into a bathrobe.

"Knock, knock, knock!" came the sounds of knocking at the door.

Aoyama Xiu Xin went to open it.

"Mr. Aoyama." Matsubara Zizhi, who had taken great pains with her appearance, bowed deeply. From her heaving bosom, one could tell that her heart was not at peace.

Instead of inviting her in immediately, Aoyama Xiu Xin just let her stand at the door while he carefully inspected her body.

Her hair draped over her shoulders, she wore a light pink spaghetti-strap maxi dress with a plunging neckline that almost revealed her perfectly shaped décolleté, and the long hem only exposed her ankles wrapped in flesh-toned stockings, perched atop a pair of high heels.

"Mr... Mr. Aoyama, can you, could you let me in first?" Matsubara Zizhi asked timidly.

She was afraid of being seen like this.

The corners of Aoyama Xiu Xin’s mouth curved up in a mischievous smile, "Well, Reporter Matsuboto, could you let me come in first?"

Matsubara Zizhi’s face flushed crimson in humiliation, her grasp tightening on her purse.

In the end, she bowed deeply again: "Yes!"

She felt she had no dignity left at that moment.

"Hahaha, Reporter Matsuboto, I have the utmost respect for you journalists. Come on in, please."

Aoyama Xiu Xin pulled her into the room and closed the door.

The details of what transpired that night remained secret.

............

While Aoyama Xiu Xin was losing his virginity, Nakamura Shinichi arrived at the home of Kimura Yakuo.

"Ding-dong, ding-dong~"

He pressed the villa’s doorbell.

"Moshi moshi?"

"Mr. Kimura, I’m Nakamura Shinichi from the Police Headquarters’ Investigation Division. We’ve met before. I’d like to have a word with you," Nakamura Shinichi spoke into the intercom.

Kimura Yakuo did not respond, but the door to the villa opened. Before Nakamura Shinichi even stepped in, Kimura Yakuo, dressed only in a shirt, came out with a stern face.

"Kimura..."

Nakamura Shinichi had barely spoken two words when Kimura Yakuo suddenly grabbed his collar and shoved him against the villa’s wall, hissing through clenched teeth, "I’ve already told you, I didn’t kill Ayase Mihiko! If you have evidence, arrest me—call me for investigation during my working hours. Now is my rest time. What are you doing at my house?!"

Kimura Yakuo, a man of elegant appearance and just over forty, held a high executive position at the Agricultural and Forestry Bank—an achievement for someone his age.

"Mr. Kimura, are you afraid your wife will find out you’ve been keeping a mistress behind her back?" Nakamura Shinichi revealed an ironic smile, saying, "Could it be that Ayase Mihiko demanded that you divorce and marry her, and you killed her because you feared your wife would find out about it?"

He had already investigated and found out that Kimura Yakuo had climbed the ladder quickly because he married the daughter of a board member of the Agricultural and Forestry Bank. All his current success was with the help of his father-in-law.

His wife was not attractive, which made her extremely jealous and defensive over Kimura Yakuo, leading a man in his position to carry on an affair in secret.

After all, in Japan—no, to be precise, in any country—it’s quite common for people in high positions to have mistresses, even an open secret.

"What nonsense are you spouting! You better not trouble me again!" Kimura Yakuo snarled.

Nakamura Shinichi gave a small smile, forcibly prying the other’s hands away, "Kimura, I’ll be watching you."

With those words, he turned, got into his car, and drove off.

He had come tonight specifically to provoke and unsettle.

As long as Kimura Yakuo panicked and was in a rush, he might make a wrong choice and expose more flaws.

"Damn it all!"

Watching Nakamura Shinichi’s retreating figure, Kimura Yakuo panted rapidly and swore bitterly.

Why was this madman always after him?

He began to doubt again whether he had covered his tracks well enough, whether he had truly left no clues.

At the same time, he worried that Nakamura Shinichi might tell his wife about the whole affair, which would cause utter chaos.

"Why does it have to be this way?"