Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister
Chapter 225 - 218: Pure Love, Restless Parties, Beating the Mandarin Ducks

Chapter 225: Chapter 218: Pure Love, Restless Parties, Beating the Mandarin Ducks

Returning to Police Headquarters, Xiu Xin Aoyama pushed the door to his office and immediately saw a document bag on his desk.

Taking off his coat and hanging it up, he rolled up the cuffs of his shirt and sat down on his office chair. As he picked up the document bag, he leaned his body back in relaxation.

After opening the document bag, he found it contained files on Iihara Nishi and a man named Sato Kenji.

Sato Kenji came from an average family, a typical working-class household. He was very diligent in his studies, always excelling academically from a young age. Through his own efforts, he was fortunate enough to attend the same university as Iihara Nishi, who got there through her family’s efforts.

In university, he continued to shine, ranking at the top of his class academically, holding a position in the student council, and being a star player on the basketball team. Along with his good looks, he successfully caught the attention of Iihara Nishi.

The two of them started dating in their second year of university and maintained a stable relationship through graduation and starting their jobs. According to the data, he did not know the specifics of the Asakai family’s background, only that they were quite wealthy.

After entering the workforce, all of Sato’s advantages from his school days were gone. Coupled with the oppressive and closed nature of Japan’s job market and his own inadequacies in ability and experience, his performance at work was quite average.

Despite this, he worked extremely hard and lived frugally, saving money to buy a house in Tokyo as soon as possible to be worthy of Iihara Nishi.

And Iihara Nishi also indirectly supported him financially. The two were still deeply in love.

"Tch, pure love, huh? A classic story where the daughter of a high-ranking official falls for an outstanding man from an ordinary family," muttered Xiu Xin Aoyama after finishing reading.

If this were a romance drama, they might overcome various obstacles to receive blessings and acceptance from their families and live a happily ever after.

But unfortunately, reality isn’t a television drama.

Neither the Iihara family nor the Asakai family would allow their relationship. Iihara Nishi could keep Sato Kenji in her heart, but she had to marry Asai Ze Xi.

The will of the families was more important than the desires of Asai Ze Xi or Iihara Nishi.

To ensure the wedding went smoothly without any hitches, Nishi and Kenji had to break up.

And right now, Xiu Xin Aoyama was about to play the villain who separates the lovers, the rich girl and the poor boy. The thought was somewhat... exciting to him!

"Just can’t stand to see others so happy," muttered Mr. Aoyama, his thoughts dark.

Moreover, the Asakai and Iihara families would grow stronger through this marriage, and he, as a son-in-law, would benefit from their alliance.

So even if it was just for his own benefit,

He had to make sure this marriage happened!

Afterward, he picked up the phone and called Yoshikai Yoshitsune.

"I want to meet Sato Kenji, arrange it."

"Yes, sir!"

At the same time, in a teahouse operated by the Daokuan Association, Inakawa Sei, a living fossil of Japan’s Violent Gangs, wearing a grayish brown kimono, was savoring tea in the tea room.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

The sound of knocking rose, followed by 52-year-old Inakawa Hong bowing as he pushed open the Changzi Gate, "Father, Xiu Xin Aoyama initiated a search for someone named Hasegawa Ze an hour ago through various Violent Gangs. Here’s his information."

As his words trailed off, he handed over a dossier with both hands.

"Catch him before anyone else and hand him over to Xiu Xin Aoyama," said Inakawa Sei, not reaching for the file placed in front of him, his voice dry and raspy.

Inakawa Hong promptly responded, "Yes, sir!"

Investing in Nozawa Financial Corporation meant more than just getting a share of the soon-to-be-restructured lending market; it meant securing a position in the new order of the underworld about to be reshuffled.

Currently, besides the Daokuan Association, Japan’s six largest Violent Gangs and one Chinese Violent Gang had already formed a de facto alliance due to investing in Nozawa Finance, inevitably banding together to encroach upon and take over other gangs.

In this process, their size would swell continuously, and once they’d taken care of the small fry, it was natural for them to set their sights on the unaffiliated Daokuan Association.

What could the Daokuan Association use to fight at that point?

Thus, the Daokuan Association had to join in!

So, the Daokuan Association sporadically monitored every move of Xiu Xin Aoyama, never missing an opportunity to mend fences with the other side.

Previously, informing him of Takai Baoyu’s whereabouts had already made up for the rift caused by Heize Xin’s order to assassinate Xiu Xin Aoyama. If they caught Hasegawa Ze, they might be able to discuss with Xiu Xin Aoyama about the Daokuan Association’s desire to invest in Nozawa Finance.

After all, the command issued by Xiu Xin Aoyama to the seven Violent Gangs to search for Hasegawa Ze indicated the man’s importance and would make an excellent gift.

With such huge moves from the Violent Gangs, Yokoyama Ryohei — ever concerned about Hasegawa Ze — was naturally aware and became immediately anxious.

Why did Xiu Xin Aoyama suddenly want to catch Hasegawa Ze? Could it be because he had confirmed that Hasegawa Ze truly possessed the dark accounts of Takeda Fuji from over the years?

Yokoyama Ryohei became anxious, as Hasegawa Ze must not fall into Xiu Xin Aoyama’s hands at any cost.

But with the director of Public Security’s reach already severed, he couldn’t utilize effective forces to search for Hasegawa Ze in the short term.

He could only instruct someone to contact Du Bian Youli’s trusted contacts within Public Security while arranging people to tail Xiu Xin Aoyama and Yoshikai Yoshitsune.

After all, with Xiu Xin Aoyama activating so many gang members, they could virtually comb through Tokyo, and it was very likely they’d find Hasegawa Ze’s trace before him.

He had to be prepared to snatch Hasegawa Ze from Xiu Xin Aoyama’s hands or assassinate him in secret at any moment.

As for why they should watch Yoshikai Yoshitsune, it went without saying; he had the same thoughts as Xiu Xin Aoyama.

At the end of August, Tokyo was slightly sultry.

...

At a little past seven in the evening, when most seniors had already left, Sato Kenji finally left the company.

Just as I was leaving the office building, a figure blocked my way, "Mr. Sato, someone wants to see you. Please come with me, it concerns your girlfriend, Iihara Nishi. I suppose you wouldn’t refuse."

"Nishi? What happened to Nishi?" Sato Kenji became alarmed on hearing his girlfriend’s name.

"Please calm down, Miss Nishi hasn’t had an accident. It’s just that there’s something related to her that we need to discuss."

Sato Kenji then breathed a sigh of relief, and looked at the other person with a puzzled expression, "Who wants to see me?"

"It should be considered a member of Miss Nishi’s family."

After all, in the future, Iihara Nishi would become the wife of Mr. Aoyama’s older brother; hence, calling oneself a member of Iihara Nishi’s family shouldn’t be a problem.

Hearing that it was his girlfriend’s family, Sato Kenji instantly became tense, and silently pressed his lips together without speaking.

"Mr. Sato, please."

The man bowed slightly and opened the rear car door.

Sato Kenji took a deep breath and got into the car.

Ten minutes later, the car stopped in Ginza.

The driver led Sato Kenji into a high-end restaurant. The expensive design and decor dazzled him. He had not seen anyone yet but was already feeling intimidated as he came to a stop in front of a private room.

"Mr. Sato, please go in yourself."

The driver bowed and pointed to the door of the private room.

Sato Kenji took another deep breath, pushed open the door, and saw a handsome young man in a black suit elegantly eating, with a charming posture. A curvy waitress stood by his side, ready to serve him at any time.

"Police Chief... Police Chief Aoyama?"

Sato Kenji blurted out with a look of astonishment.

"You know me, Mr. Sato?" Aoyama Xiu Xin said while setting down his fork and knife and taking a napkin from the waitress to wipe his mouth before rinsing with a glass of water.

"Yes!" Sato Kenji stood at the doorway, bowing awkwardly, "I have seen your news."

"Relax, please take a seat," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a smile as winsome as a spring breeze, gesturing to the chair opposite him.

A waitress standing by the wall immediately stepped forward and pulled out a chair for Sato Kenji. He walked over with tense nerves, sat down gingerly, hardly daring to settle firmly in the seat, sitting straight as a rod, eyes fixed forward.

After the waitress had laid a napkin for him, poured a glass of water and red wine, she bowed slightly and stepped aside.

Sato Kenji was out of sorts the whole time, with his body rigid and his fingers continuously picking at the fabric over his thigh.

Feeling that his performance was abysmal, he finally mustered the courage to initiate a conversation, "I don’t seem to have ever heard Nishi mention Police Chief Aoyama."

"There are many things she hasn’t told you," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a smile, "For instance, her father isn’t a businessman; he’s the Minister of the Ministry of Finance."

"What... What!" Sato Kenji’s face registered disbelief as he stared wide-eyed at Aoyama Xiu Xin.

He wasn’t an ordinary person; he was a university graduate and was well aware of what it meant to be the Minister of the Ministry of Finance, which is why he was all the more shocked.

What followed was a strong sense of panic and bewilderment, feelings of inferiority surged in him.

If Iihara Nishi was just a merchant’s daughter, he would still have confidence and the drive to strive for her family’s approval, but now...

Men generally have a good sense of self-awareness.

Aoyama Xiu Xin let out a breath, "Don’t be hasty to be surprised, do you know what my relation is to her?"

Sato Kenji shook his head.

"She is my sister-in-law," Aoyama Xiu Xin said.

"She’s married?" Sato Kenji sprang to his feet, followed by vehement headshaking, "No! You’re speaking nonsense, how could she possibly be married already!"

"She isn’t married yet, but she soon will be. Her father has arranged a marriage for her. The groom is a County Councilor from Kanagawa Prefecture, also the brother of my fiancée, my future brother-in-law," said Aoyama Xiu Xin in a calm tone.

Sato Kenji felt very desperate; both titles, Chief of Cabinet of the Ministry of Finance and County Councilor from Kanagawa Prefecture, stripped him of any will to resist.

Still, he didn’t want to give up on this relationship and asked stubbornly, "Does Nishi like him?"

"Just graduated, still green... do you think that matters?" Aoyama Xiu Xin shook his head with a laugh.

Sato Kenji pursed his lips and said nothing.

Aoyama Xiu Xin spoke earnestly, "I have had someone look into your relationship history, it’s clear that you love Iihara Nishi very much, but love is not about selfish possession; it’s about wanting the other to be happy."

"Think about it, if Nishi was really determined to be with you, she would be at odds with her family. Would she be happy in such a scenario? Or do you think you could make her happier than a councilor could? She is young now and may cast everything aside for love, but when the mundanity of life bears down, will there be a smile on her face?"

"She might be naïve, but you cannot be. If you part ways now, in her heart, you’ll always be that first love who once stirred her heartstrings, not the image of an inept husband who makes her endure hardship."

"Mr. Sato, I advise you to let things stay at their sweetest moment. If you really love her, for her sake, and for your own, let her go."

As Aoyama Xiu Xin’s words ended, he took out a bank card and placed it on the table, "It’s not a lot, two hundred thousand dollars, to fund your studies abroad. Nishi will have a happy marriage, and you will have your own remarkable life."

He felt he had done everything that could be done.

Stating facts, reasoning, and even offering money.

If he still wouldn’t agree, then he couldn’t blame Aoyama Xiu Xin for being heartless.

"What would you do if I disagreed?" Sato Kenji asked through clenched teeth.

Aoyama Xiu Xin sighed, "I don’t wish for you to make an unwise decision that will ruin not only your life but also the lives of your parents. It wasn’t easy for them to raise you. They don’t expect repayment, but you also can’t bring them harm because of personal selfishness."

"A few years of romance surely can’t outweigh the kindness of parents raising you for over twenty years. If Mr. Sato was truly such a person, he wouldn’t have caught Nishi’s eye."

What started as persuasion was now a threat, a combination of soft and hard tactics applying pressure with status and morality.