Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister
Chapter 50 - 46: Treating to Drinks, Treat Like a Dog (Request for Monthly Tickets! Request for Follow-up Reads!)

Chapter 50: Chapter 46: Treating to Drinks, Treat Like a Dog (Request for Monthly Tickets! Request for Follow-up Reads!)

After being snubbed by the Yoshinaga family, Aoyama Xiu Xin finally made it to the police station just before lunch break ended.

He just happened to bump into Asai Ayumi in the corridor.

"Why didn’t you wait until after work?" Asai Ayumi, already in a bad mood, glared at him. It was only in front of others that she could pull rank like this, "Come to my office."

"Hi!" Aoyama Xiu Xin, annoyed by her haughty attitude, had no choice but to respectfully admit his mistake in the public eye and obediently followed her to her office.

Once inside, the roles reversed; Aoyama Xiu Xin plopped down in Asai Ayumi’s chair, picked up her coffee cup and took a sip, then frowned in disdain, "Less sugar next time, it’s too sweet."

His life was already sweet enough.

Now he just wanted something bitter.

"Hi!" Asai Ayumi, barely suppressing the urge to strangle him, nodded obediently.

Aoyama Xiu Xin put down the coffee, crossed his legs, and lazily asked, "So, what’s up?"

"Mr. Aoyama, do you remember Yamamoto Ken mentioning that someone bought a batch of guns from him?" Asai Ayumi lifted her head and continued, "The buyer is still untraceable, like a ticking time bomb. I think we should root them out before we’re reassigned from Shinjuku Police Station!"

"Police Chief Asai, do you know how many people are in Tokyo? Without any leads, this is like finding a needle in a haystack." Aoyama Xiu Xin, lacking the time and inclination, casually said, "Since they bought guns, they must be planning something. They’ll expose themselves sooner or later; we don’t need to go looking for them."

"But waiting for them to commit a crime could cause untold economic damage to the country and even endanger citizens’ lives!" Asai Ayumi became somewhat agitated upon hearing this.

Aoyama Xiu Xin blinked, then nodded in agreement, "Hmm, you’re right."

So what?

What does it have to do with me?

Aoyama Xiu Xin had no lofty aspirations of serving Japan or the Emperor; he just wanted to climb the ranks and make money.

If those gun buyers didn’t commit a crime,

How would he make a name for himself?

So, he needed to give them a chance to commit a crime!

Catching them now would at most charge them with illegal possession of firearms—a minor achievement.

But if they commit a crime with those guns and then get caught, the nature and merit of the case would be completely different.

Furthermore, with no leads now, he could have solved several cases in the time it would take to find these guys, and it might all be in vain in the end. The cost-benefit ratio is just too low.

Of course, that’s what he could think.

But he couldn’t quite say it like that.

"Police Chief Asai," Aoyama Xiu Xin organized his thoughts, then solemnly said, "Your thinking is limited!"

"What?" Asai Ayumi looked puzzled and somewhat defiantly questioned, "Where is my thinking limited? I’d like to hear your grand theory."

"Heh, still arguing." Aoyama Xiu Xin shook his head, speaking clearly, "We currently have no leads. Finding these people would take a lot of time, and we might end up with nothing! So, why not use this time to investigate cases where we do have leads? We might solve several!"

"Do you know how many cases are piling up waiting to be investigated? How many people are desperately waiting for the truth? What, are minor cases not cases? Minor offenders not criminals? Should we let them roam free without punishment?"

"No..." Facing Aoyama Xiu Xin’s accusations and questioning, Asai Ayumi instinctively tried to defend herself.

"Slap!" Aoyama Xiu Xin slapped the table, cutting her off with righteous indignation, "The duty of a police officer is to fight criminals and uphold justice for the citizens! We can’t just focus on big cases and ignore smaller ones that are closely related to the citizens! What was your original intention when you became a police officer? Was it to achieve promotions? Or to uphold justice?"

"Instead of wasting time on something uncertain, why not do what’s right in front of you? If all police officers thought like you, the citizens would surely be disappointed in us, Police Chief Asai."

"I..." Asai Ayumi’s mind buzzed.

Could it be that she was truly mistaken?

Moreover, Mr. Aoyama’s sense of duty was unexpectedly high!

"I know my words have touched your soul; reflect on it." Aoyama Xiu Xin composed himself and stood up to leave.

Just as Aoyama Xiu Xin was about to open the door, Asai Ayumi suddenly turned around and bowed deeply to him, "Mr. Aoyama’s words are enlightening, like a sudden epiphany. You are right, I should not ignore the cases piled up in front of me and chase after something with no leads."

"Mr. Aoyama, thank you for the guidance!"

Aoyama Xiu Xin paused for a moment, a smile slowly spreading across his face, and left without looking back.

Still a master of deception.

Asai Ayumi, you foolish woman.

"Where’s Xingzi?" Aoyama Xiu Xin returned to the office area and found someone else at Xingzi’s desk.

Jing Shang stood up and bowed, "She resigned."

Xingzi had resigned the day after Aoyama Xiu Xin went to the investigative department, only saying farewell to Jing Shang.

"She resigned?" Aoyama Xiu Xin was taken aback, then shook his head, "Young people are too impulsive. It’s not easy for her to find a job in this economy."

Although Xingzi was mediocre and did not flatter him, he rather liked the honest young lady. In a society full of worldly people like himself, Xingzi’s innocence was truly valuable.

"Um... Deputy Chief, Xingzi has gone to work at her family’s company," Jing Shang said with a strange expression.

He didn’t know this girl was a rich beauty until Xingzi said goodbye to him. Originally, he joined the police force fueled by a sense of justice, but his idealistic view of the police shattered. Unwilling to fawn over superiors like Nakamura Shinichi, he resigned and returned home to help out.

Aoyama Xiu Xin paused, "A rich second generation, huh? Well, that’s settled, resignation it is." He waved his hand, signaling Jing Shang to continue working while he himself went back to his desk to slack off.

Wages are earned through labor results.

Only by slacking off and still drawing wages could he make a real profit.

He intended to reclaim the reparations Old Buddha had once given to Japan in this manner!

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

At 10 p.m., Tokyo glowed brilliantly with neon lights.

After dining with his sister-in-law, Aoyama Xiu Xin drove to a pub. Upon finding the private room Fujimoto Ryosuke had mentioned, he pushed open the door where two individuals sat.

One was naturally Fujimoto Ryosuke.

The other was a man in his thirties, wearing a gray kimono, chubby and harmless.

"Mr. Aoyama!"

Both stood up and bowed in greeting.

"Uh-huh." Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded slightly, entered, and took the seat of honor. "No need for formalities, please sit."

They then took their seats.

"Mr. Yamakawa, this is the Aoyama Criminal I told you about, currently Deputy Chief of the firearms section at Shinjuku Police Station, and soon he will return to Police Headquarters." Fujimoto Ryosuke introduced cheerfully.

"Hi!" Yamakawa Ichiro bowed deeply to Aoyama Xiu Xin, then looked up to compliment, "I’ve long admired your name. The image of Deputy Chief Aoyama stepping over Takeda Ichiro is vividly etched in my mind. To meet you in person today is indeed a great fortune for Yamakawa."

"Mr. Yamakawa flatters me. I haven’t thanked you for last time," Aoyama Xiu Xin raised his glass as a gesture.

Yamakawa Ichiro anxiously lifted his glass in return, nodding and bowing, "It’s my privilege to be of service to Aoyama Criminal."

"Different matters, different treatments. I never undervalue those who work for me." Aoyama Xiu Xin drank his glass in one gulp, then set it down and slowly said, "I have a loan company. Previously, Nozaki Masao of the Noguchi Group was in charge of debt collection, but he was unruly and paid the price for it. Now, this business urgently needs someone to take over. I wonder, Mr. Yamakawa..."

"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Aoyama!" Not waiting for Aoyama Xiu Xin to finish, Yamakawa Ichiro excitedly crawled back two steps, kowtowed deeply with his hands on the ground, his chubby face trembling visibly with joy.

It wasn’t surprising he reacted so eagerly; Aoyama Xiu Xin not only provided him a lucrative dignified job but also an opportunity to establish a foothold in Tokyo!

For a core member of a third-tier violent gang from the countryside, it was like having a rebirth.

Aoyama Xiu Xin frowned slightly and said blandly, "Don’t interrupt me while I’m speaking."

"Hi! Mr. Yamakawa acknowledges his mistake!" Yamakawa Ichiro straightened, and without hesitation, slapped himself twice heavily. The slaps were so hard that blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. Then he knelt down again, maintaining the bowing position.

Aoyama Xiu Xin continued, "You can discuss the specifics with your company’s President. As long as you don’t make the same mistakes as Nozaki Masao, this job will be yours forever."

"Mr. Aoyama, rest assured. Yamakawa is not short-sighted and ungrateful." Yamakawa Ichiro spoke earnestly, emphasizing every word.

Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded lightly, unbothered by the proceedings.

"Alright, enough about business, it’s time to drink." Fujimoto Ryosuke lightened the mood, rising to slide open the Changzi Gate, "Let the girls come in."

"Hi!"

Soon, three young women dressed in colorful kimonos entered and bowed to the three men.

Although Aoyama Xiu Xin had little regard for these banal characters, he still chose one to embrace.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Besides, if he didn’t choose, how could Fujimoto Ryosuke and Yamakawa Ichiro feel comfortable choosing?

"Whoa!"

Suddenly, the Changzi Gate was pulled open.

Aoyama Xiu Xin and the others all turned to look.

There stood a young man at the door, dressed in sportswear, of average appearance, with shoulder-length hair.

"I’m really sorry. I’ve got the wrong room," Noda apologized after glancing at the room name and then closed the door.

The incident was of little interest to Aoyama Xiu Xin and his companions; after all, walking into the wrong room was a common mistake.

Noda opened the door to the next room, and this time, indeed, he saw his friend, "Mr. Xiaolin."

"Mr. Noda, haha, at last, I see you again!" Xiaolin, who was pouring drinks, quickly set the glass down and rushed forward to embrace Noda tightly.

They hugged for a while before sitting down.

Noda spoke pensively, "When did you get out? Why didn’t you call me in advance?"

"I originally wanted to make a name for myself before I contacted you, Mr. Noda." Xiaolin handed a glass of wine to Noda and shook his head with a bitter smile, "But nowadays, everything requires manpower. I’ve been in for so many years, and those who were with me have either died, been arrested, or retreated."

He then perked up, "However, fortunately, I still have some connections. See, I now have a golden opportunity that’s foolproof!"

"There’s no such thing as a foolproof opportunity that brings great wealth," Noda skeptically replied.

Xiaolin smiled cryptically, patted his shoulder, and said, "Just listen to what I’m about to tell you."