Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister
Chapter 365 - 330: A Good Strategy, Ito Sei’s Shock and Joy (Requesting Monthly Tickets!)

Chapter 365: Chapter 330: A Good Strategy, Ito Sei’s Shock and Joy (Requesting Monthly Tickets!)

"Police Chief, here is the ledger you requested."

Takeshita Jun brought the ledger directly to Police Headquarters and presented it to Aoyama Xiu Xin.

Aoyama Xiu Xin didn’t bother to reply and started flipping through the ledger, his smile growing wider.

"Very good, Mr. Takeshita, you have done a great service!" Aoyama Xiu Xin laughed heartily, put down the ledger, and said, "From now on, you don’t have to deal insincerely with that old man Nakamura Tatsuyuki anymore. When you go back to the local prosecution, meet with the Special Investigation Department’s Supervisor Yamada Yuuji. I will speak to him, and he will look after you there."

"Hi! Thank you, Police Chief!" Takeshita Jun, ecstatic, bowed deeply, expressing his loyalty, "If the Police Chief has any tasks in the future, I will plunge into fire and water without hesitation!"

After sending Takeshita Jun away, the first thing Aoyama Xiu Xin did was to photograph each page of the ledger.

The original would be a gift for Ito Sei tonight.

After all, once the ledger went through his hands, the staff of the Land Guard would suspect he had made copies.

In that case, he indeed had to make copies.

Only when both parties knew he had copies would their friendship be unbreakably solid.

While Aoyama Xiu Xin was busy photographing each page of the ledger, elsewhere, Edogawa Ren Shu and Nakamura Tatsuyuki met in the small park where they had met before.

"What’s the rush, what’s going on?" Edogawa Ren Shu called out from a distance and only realized Nakamura Tatsuyuki looked upset as he approached. He immediately dropped his casual demeanor and asked seriously, "What happened?"

"That bastard Takeshita Jun is actually Aoyama Xiu Xin’s man!" Nakamura Tatsuyuki said through clenched teeth.

Edogawa Ren Shu’s expression changed, "What about me?"

"You might have been exposed," Nakamura Tatsuyuki said grimly, nodding, "To reassure him, I had told him that I had planted an undercover agent close to Aoyama Xiu Xin, although I didn’t reveal any specific information about you. But Aoyama Xiu Xin, being on guard, could very likely suspect you."

"That said, I don’t think I’ve been exposed yet," Edogawa Ren Shu’s tense expression gradually relaxed as he explained, "After all, Aoyama Xiu Xin personally moved me to Police Headquarters, and he even entrusted me with the matter concerning the Dongye family."

"Plus, since Takeshita Jun doesn’t know my identity, the worst-case scenario is just that Aoyama Xiu Xin has become suspicious of me but can’t be sure."

"So, I think you can deliberately plant another person close to Aoyama Xiu Xin to divert his suspicion from me. As long as Aoyama Xiu Xin believes this person is your undercover, then naturally, I will be safe."

It was a genuinely good strategy.

After hearing this, Nakamura Tatsuyuki exhaled, patted Edogawa Ren Shu on the shoulder, "That’s a good idea, let’s do that. After all, it wasn’t easy for you to get close to Aoyama Xiu Xin, and I don’t want to pull you out before you’ve had a chance to be useful."

"I’m reluctant to do this, but now that I have started, I don’t have a habit of backing out midway," Edogawa Ren Shu replied with a smile.

Then, he curiously asked, "How did you find out that Takeshita Jun was Aoyama Xiu Xin’s undercover?"

"He exposed himself," Nakamura Tatsuyuki said through gritted teeth, took a deep breath to calm his anger, and explained the situation with the dark accounts of the Land Guard.

"Such corruption!" Edogawa Ren Shu was astounded, he thought the military, being a relatively closed group, would be purer, but it turned out to be even more rotten.

Nakamura Tatsuyuki sighed, "Indeed."

"At this point, we are helpless about this matter, let’s take care of Nozawa Financial Corporation first," Edogawa Ren Shu consoled him.

Nakamura Tatsuyuki could only nod helplessly.

Then he changed the subject on his own, "For the person you want to plant beside Aoyama Xiu Xin to divert suspicion from you, any suggestions?"

"It has to be at least a police inspector," Nakamura Tatsuyuki first set a precondition, then continued, "I have a sworn friend working at Meguro Police Station, I can persuade him. Besides, it’s also an opportunity to be transferred to Police Headquarters, he certainly won’t refuse."

"Once Aoyama Xiu Xin sees through his undercover identity, with his cunning nature, he’ll probably pretend not to know to turn the tables. Then, our two undercover agents, one overt and one covert, can work together much more effectively."

"Okay," Nakamura Tatsuyuki nodded, then said, "You go and talk to him, I’ll make the arrangements."

With his status, arranging a police officer to be transferred to Police Headquarters was not difficult, and Aoyama Xiu Xin would be able to find out immediately that the person was his placement.

Poor Mr. Aoyama, loyal and patriotic, wholeheartedly planning for the welfare of the Japanese people, and these two deceitful villains were plotting to harm him—what chilling treachery!

.........

That evening, although the rain had stopped, the streets were still damp, and a black Mercedes, looking like new, stopped in front of a high-end restaurant in the Chiyoda District.

Waiting at the entrance, Ito Shanmu recognized it as Aoyama Xiu Xin’s car and stepped forward to open the door.

"Mr. Ito, how could you trouble yourself with this matter," Aoyama Xiu Xin said as he got out of the car, looking helpless.

Ito Shanmu laughed, "After all, I’m asking for a favor, it’s only right, and this way, Mr. Aoyama might feel embarrassed to refuse my father later."

With the death of Kudou and the loss of the ledger, he felt much less pressure and could joke around.

He noticed that Aoyama Xiu Xin was holding a beautifully wrapped gift box. Although curious, he didn’t ask anything further, assuming it was a gift for his father.

"Well, Mr. Ito, you really are very cunning!" Aoyama Xiu Xin smiled and pointed at him.

Ito Shanmu raised his hand, "Mr. Aoyama, after you."

"Please," Aoyama Xiu Xin also lifted his hand.

When they arrived in front of a private room, Ito Shanmu knocked on the door and said, "Father, Police Chief Aoyama has arrived."

"Please come in," a deep male voice came from inside.

Ito Shanmu pushed open the Changzi Gate, and Aoyama Xiu Xin saw inside Ito Sei with graying short hair, dressed in a black kimono, looking stern and sitting upright.

"The junior, Aoyama Xiu Xin, pays his respects to General Ito."

Aoyama Xiu Xin bowed deeply with great respect.

"Police Chief Aoyama, there’s no need for formalities. Shanmu says you are his close friend, so if you don’t mind, just call me ’Uncle,’" Ito Sei was very approachable.

Aoyama Xiu Xin readily complied, "Uncle."

"Please have a seat," Ito Sei indicated a seat.

Aoyama Xiu Xin, holding a gift box, walked over and sat down.

After Ito Shanmu closed the door, he entered, poured tea and water for both of them, and then took his own seat.

"I am very sorry that I could not be of much help in the search for Kudou," Aoyama Xiu Xin slightly bowed his head in apology, then held out the gift box with both hands, "therefore, I have prepared a modest gift as an apology."

Ito Shanmu slightly bowed his head in thanks, then took the gift box and handed it to his father.

"In urgent situations, I remember your desire to help, Mr. Aoyama," the voice of Ito Sei fell as he grabbed the gift box, "Thank you for the greeting gift, Mr. Aoyama."

"Uncle, you might want to open it and take a look," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a smile when he saw him putting it aside.

Ito Sei slightly raised an eyebrow, realizing there might not be something simple inside the box. He then nodded, untied the ribbon, and opened the gift box.

Seeing the ledger lying quietly inside, his expression changed drastically, and he suddenly stood up to stare at Aoyama Xiu Xin.

Ito Shanmu was baffled, unaware of what gift from Aoyama Xiu Xin could have shocked his father so much.

Although he wanted to lean in to see, that move would be too impolite, so he stayed quietly seated.

"Is Uncle satisfied with this gift?" Aoyama Xiu Xin asked lightly with a slight smile.

"Satisfied! Very satisfied! Extremely satisfied!" Ito Sei said ’satisfied’ three times; he couldn’t hide his excitement despite having lived for so long. He seriously bowed, "Mr. Aoyama, the entire Land Guard will remember this favor!"

He had never dreamt that the lost ledger would appear before him so easily.

Ito Shanmu, watching his father’s exaggerated reaction, guessed something and was startled too. He turned his head looking incredulously at Aoyama Xiu Xin.

How formidable was Aoyama Xiu Xin to have quietly gotten hold of the ledger?

"Ha ha ha ha, with those words from you, Uncle, all I have done is worthwhile," Aoyama Xiu Xin laughed several times, then raised the teacup in front of him and drained it in one gulp.

Ito Sei took a deep breath, "Mr. Aoyama, you have recreated the Land Guard, no thanks can be enough."

"I have always admired the military, how could I sit idly by while some petty individuals harm the military out of personal grievances? Matters of national defense are concerned, it is only right for me to contribute a bit," Aoyama Xiu Xin spoke righteously.

Ito Sei, hearing this, felt somewhat ashamed; after all, ultimately, they were just parasites of the state.

However, there was no room for dignity in front of Aoyama Xiu Xin anymore, he completely let his guard down, sat down, and said, "There’s another matter I need your help with, Police Chief Aoyama—about Kudou’s death..."

"You provide the money, I’ll arrange for someone to take the blame," Aoyama Xiu Xin interrupted, speaking clearly and decisively.

Ito Sei didn’t feel offended or disrespected and nodded in acknowledgment, "Thank you, Mr. Aoyama."

Then he added with emotion: "Inviting you to dinner tonight, besides wanting to express my gratitude, was also to ask for your help with these two matters."

"I did not expect that you had already resolved them before I even spoke; immense favors need no thanks. Should there be any need to make use of the Land Guard in the future, please do not hesitate."

Although he said this, he knew that Aoyama Xiu Xin probably wouldn’t need their help.

After all, Aoyama Xiu Xin wasn’t short of money, and the military couldn’t affect the external situation without resorting to violence, so what help could they provide to Aoyama Xiu Xin?

"Of course." Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded his head, then put down his teacup and said, "The matter of Kudou unfolded so much trouble; except for the Staff Chief having an unavoidable responsibility, ultimately everything is caused by money. It’s hard on the Land Guard, it’s even hard for an outsider like me to watch."

Ito Sei caught the subtext of Aoyama Xiu Xin wanting to lead the Land Guard to prosperity and quickly caught on, "Indeed, if there were another way to make money, we wouldn’t need to dip into the military funds."

He heard that the Maritime Security Bureau was now making a killing and was looking for a way out for his brothers.

After all, he was about to be promoted to Staff Chief.

"I do have some small business ventures; if General Ito and other officers of the Land Guard trust me and have some spare cash, they might consider investing," said Aoyama Xiu Xin.

As long as the officers of the Land Guard all invested their money with him, their interests would become increasingly intertwined; and if he ever fell, they naturally wouldn’t stand by and see him fail without recovering their investment.

Over time, perhaps one day he could call upon them to honor the emperor and punish traitors.