Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister
Chapter 173 - 169: Mr. Aoyama is Already a Qualified Bureaucrat

Chapter 173: Chapter 169: Mr. Aoyama is Already a Qualified Bureaucrat

"Take a look at mine, Police Chief Aoyama."

"Alright, let me see yours."

Aoyama Xiu Xin casually took a letter from the nearest reporter. On the back of the envelope was a printed label with Rujiang Yangming’s name, identity, address, and the word "deceased."

He opened the envelope and took out the letter, which was also printed, a method that was both quick and prevented handwriting identification.

In the letter, Rujiang Yangming confessed that since he started his job, he had started with small embezzlements, accumulating over a billion in total, deeply regretting his actions of betraying the public for personal gain and damaging the national interest, and appealed to other officials to definitely be honest and maintain their bottom lines...

"How did you receive this letter?" Aoyama Xiu Xin asked the reporters after reading.

"It was just posted on the front door of the newspaper office."

Despite the hubbub of voices, the reporters unanimously agreed.

"Set someone to check the surveillance at these newspaper offices," Aoyama Xiu Xin instructed Fujimoto Ryosuke.

Fujimoto Ryosuke nodded and turned to leave.

Aoyama Xiu Xin did not intend to return the letter to that reporter and told him, "Please ask your question."

"Hello!" The reporter slightly bowed with some excitement and nervousness before passing the microphone to Aoyama Xiu Xin, "How do you view the killer’s act of killing a corrupt official and publicizing it?"

His question had some level of insight.

But not much.

"You’ve also called him a killer. I, of course, see it from a police perspective," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a serious look, his tone modulated and emphatic, "Not to mention whether Rujiang Yangming’s confession was written under duress by the killer, doubting its authenticity! Even if he did embezzle, the killer should have reported it to the authorities! Not brutally kill him using vigilante justice, provoking the law!"

"If everyone did this, what would the need for our police be? What would the need for laws be?"

Laws made by officials that can’t even protect the officials—what’s the point in their existence!

"You guys are useless anyway! You never catch corrupt officials! Maybe you’re corrupt yourselves!" A young reporter with glasses shouted from the crowd.

In an instant, everyone turned to look at him.

My countrymen, such bravery.

Aoyama Xiu Xin also looked somewhat perplexed, turning his gaze left and right in confusion, wondering if he had always been this bold.

Having spoken out, the young reporter with glasses initially regretted it, but seeing everyone staring at him, he regained his confidence and said loudly, "Am I wrong? If the police were effective, why are there still so many corrupt officers walking free?"

"Very good! A journalist friend who can speak and dare to speak, truly a quality an excellent media person should have," Aoyama Xiu Xin praised, but then turned the conversation, "Regarding your question as to why there are still many corrupt officials at large, may I ask who the corrupt officers you speak of are, which official?"

"This..." The young reporter stuttered, unable to speak and said awkwardly, "Anyway, there are many."

"Can’t say, can you? That means there aren’t that many corrupt officials!" Aoyama Xiu Xin raised his voice, scanning the room, "If the country was truly filled with corrupt officials, would it have developed to its current state? It would have collapsed long ago! Most officials still intend to serve the country and its people! They might not be as good as everyone thinks, but definitely not as bad as everyone imagines, so I hope the public can love their country rationally and legally, without being emotional."

Legal patriotism means all actions conform to the law—killing corrupt officials privately like the killer is illegal patriotism, and must be sternly combated!

"Back to this case, the killer not only murdered Rujiang Yangming but also dismembered and cooked his body, clearly showing his mental abnormality. Does such a psychopath truly match everyone’s idea of a hero?"

With these words, the room immediately erupted.

Indeed, that’s too cruel and bloody.

No normal person can accept that.

"So the killer is essentially a pathological anti-corruption activist, using the excuse of eliminating corrupt officials to satisfy his own desires! At his core, he’s a criminal, a murderer, and the public must not be misled by him just because his targets might be corrupt officials!"

"Psychological abnormality is a disease. If he can control himself to only kill so-called corrupt officials today, what about tomorrow? Or the day after? Such a person already poses a serious threat to the safety of public lives. Please properly understand the dangers, instead of treating him as a hero!"

First, vilify the killer, or else if the public starts to see him as a righteous messenger, then what the hell would happen?

"I still have to investigate. That’s all for today’s interview," Aoyama Xiu Xin bowed and then turned to go inside.

"Police Chief Aoyama, just a few more words, please!"

"Police Chief Aoyama..."

The reporters continued to ask questions, but the police formed a human wall and firmly blocked them outside the cordon.

"Check which newspaper that four-eyes works for, make him lose his job, the bastard dared to talk back to me," Aoyama Xiu Xin said expressionlessly.

As everyone knows, Mr. Aoyama is petty.

Fujimoto Ryosuke tried to advise, "Considering his age, he’s just an inexperienced youth who hasn’t been socially battered..."

"Then let him experience it, and consider it helping him grow," Aoyama Xiu Xin interrupted him.

Cultivating youth, he’s trying so hard!

Fujimoto Ryosuke could only respond, "Yes!"

"Chief, there’s a discovery!" An extra police officer, who does not have a name, came over holding a small piece of plastic wrap with tweezers and said, "Found under the chair, there’s also some under the couch. There’s no blood at the scene, possibly the killer controlled the victim and laid down a layer of plastic wrap before killing and dismembering him."

"It’s premeditated, this killer must be caught as soon as possible," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a grave expression.

Fujimoto Ryosuke voiced a doubt, "But how did the killer confirm that Rujiang Yangming was a corrupt official?"

"Perhaps he had investigated for a long time, for from the fact that he laid plastic film at the crime scene, one could tell he was a very patient person," Aoyama Xiu Xin replied.

This case was dreadful, but also difficult to investigate.

After all, a murderer who paid such attention to detail was unlikely to leave many clues unless he committed multiple offenses.

On his way back to Police Headquarters, Aoyama Xiu Xin saw several stray dogs wandering on the road.

He sighed about the increasing number of stray dogs in Tokyo.

Even bustling urban areas were seeing packs of them.

After returning to Police Headquarters, he reported to Asai Ayumi, who then reported to Renping Kuniaki.

Renping Kuniaki urged that the case be solved quickly.

After all, the victim was a high-ranking official and had died so brutally that failing to catch the perpetrator soon might lead to other officials panicking.

But solving the case was difficult. Surveillance footage obtained from various newspapers only captured an early morning figure who wore a hat and mask, wrapped tightly, pasting letters on the front gate, completely obscuring the face.

The figure was analyzed to likely be male.

Then, nearby security cameras where Rujiang Yangming lived captured too many people, requiring screening each individual, but Aoyama Xiu Xin held little hope. The murderer had undoubtedly considered this.

In the afternoon, Fujimoto Ryosuke came to Aoyama Xiu Xin with some news, "Rujiang Yangming’s wife admitted to his corruption and led us to the house where the money was hidden, but the money had vanished."

"It’s obvious the murderer took it, committing both theft and murder," Aoyama Xiu Xin said, tapping his pen on the desk from behind.

Fujimoto Ryosuke continued, "I suspect there isn’t just one murderer, at least two, since preparing the scene, the dismemberment, and transferring the stolen money all require time and effort. One person might barely manage these tasks, but not without leaving a trace."

"Was there a camera in the house where Rujiang Yangming hid the money?" Aoyama Xiu Xin inquired tentatively.

Places hiding money were not frequently visited by the corrupt officials.

Therefore, cameras were installed in hidden corners.

Fujimoto Ryosuke gave a resigned smile, "The memory card was taken by the murderer, who obviously found the camera."

"They knew too much about corrupt officials," Aoyama Xiu Xin muttered to himself, exhaling, "Difficult, difficult."

...

The evening news reported on the murder case.

The public opinion was divided.

Some felt it was instant karma.

Some thought the killer was too brutal.

Aoyama Xiu Xin had a significant reputation and standing among the public, and many agreed with him that the murderer was extreme and a severe threat to social stability.

More crucially, what right did the murderer have to assume Rujiang Yangming was corrupt? Was there any evidence? Perhaps Rujiang Yangming’s confession letter was written under duress.

"This is too cruel, killing and dismembering and then cooking," Aoyama Haruko said with a pale face.

To scare her, Aoyama Xiu Xin said, "His head was boiled in a pot, when his wife lifted the lid, she came face-to-face with Rujiang Yangming, his eyeballs falling out..."

"Ah!" Aoyama Haruko screamed in fright, stammering, "Stop... stop talking about it, I’m scared, I’m going to rest now, goodnight."

She ran off without turning back.

"Goodnight, sister-in-law," Aoyama Xiu Xin said, smiling as he watched Aoyama Haruko flee in haste.

Meanwhile, Police Chief Hattori met with a friend from the Public Security, Dubian Xiang.

"Mr. Hattori, long time no see."

"You’ve been too busy, Mr. Dubian. You’ve missed several gatherings, so I had to meet you privately."

Dubian Xiang, around forty, was lean, wore black-framed glasses, and his attire was somewhat outdated.

After a few drinks and reminiscing about old times, the atmosphere warmed up, but Police Chief Hattori suddenly sighed.

"What’s wrong? Mr. Hattori, why the sigh?" Dubian Xiang put down his drink, puzzled.

"I’m about to be unemployed," Police Chief Hattori drank a sip of his drink and wiped his mouth, "Actually, I called Mr. Dubian out today because I need your help; otherwise, my only option left is to resign, which I really dread!"

"Please, tell me more, Mr. Hattori."

"Aoyama Xiu Xin; you might have heard of him..." Police Chief Hattori shared how Aoyama Xiu Xin was manipulating his way to a promotion while he was being forced to resign.

Dubian Xiang was immediately outraged, "How can there be such a thing? And Aoyama Xiu Xin is too impatient, too young, and already he wants to be a police chief?"

"Yes, he completely ignores the principle that ’the tallest tree in the forest will be toppled by the wind,’" Police Chief Hattori nodded in agreement, then added bitterly, "I refuse to make way for him, and he is not a good person either, so I hope Mr. Dubian can help me investigate any evidence of his crimes to help me weather this storm."

"This..." Dubian appeared troubled.

Hattori clasped his hand, earnestly and passionately, "I know it’s difficult to ask you to use your authority for non-duty tasks, but for the public, it’s to eliminate a detrimental force from the police force, and personally, it’s to help this old classmate. Once this is over, whatever Mr. Dubian asks of me, I will do my utmost!"

"If Mr. Hattori puts it this way, it would be rude of me to refuse, old classmate,"

"Then, I leave everything in your hands, Mr. Dubian!"