Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister
Chapter 501 - 435: If You Want to See Acting, It Must Be an Official, Wiretapping the Situation

Chapter 501: Chapter 435: If You Want to See Acting, It Must Be an Official, Wiretapping the Situation

The welcome banquet was set in a very ordinary hotel.

After all, knowing that the joint investigation team was there to fight corruption, wouldn’t it be like walking into one’s own doom if they had chosen a high-end club for the first meal?

Leaders from both sides dined in one private room.

Their accompanying personnel were in two other private rooms.

Of course, when they said it was a very ordinary hotel, that was only in comparison to the places frequented by corrupt officials like Fujimoto Takayoshi; in reality, this hotel was quite decent for the ordinary people—a mid-range establishment.

The decor of the private room wasn’t luxurious but the space was vast, simple yet elegant, and had a unique charm.

"Our local conditions are humble, and funds are limited; we really couldn’t find a better place. I hope Minister Hino and all of you won’t look down on us," Fujimoto Takayoshi said in a joking tone once everyone was seated.

"Humble? What’s humble about this?" Hirano Hidekazu looked around and smiled, saying, "I think this place is quite good. It’s spacious enough, has privacy, it’s clean, and the service isn’t bad. Does it really need to be one of those high-end clubs where a meal costs thousands of US dollars and is accompanied by beauties for it not to be considered humble?"

Why do you know so much about it?

"Minister Hino really knows how to joke. We wouldn’t even think of going to such places, let alone have heard of them. That’s something for Tokyo, bustling with activity. We country folks don’t have such places," Fujimoto Takayoshi earnestly shook his head with amazement as if hearing about it for the first time.

Mr. Gu Tian laughed heartily, "Mr. Fujimoto is really joking. Sapporo is considered the countryside? Then Tokyo would just be a big village. I think it’s not that Sapporo doesn’t have such places, but because Mr. Fujimoto is so honest and upright, having never been, therefore he’s unaware."

"Maybe so, after all, I’m completely absorbed in my work all day, with no time or energy to pay attention to such matters," Fujimoto Takayoshi agreed with a normal expression.

Aoyama Xiu Xin wanted to laugh, they were all actors. He would bet with the Heavenly Locust’s own father that every person in this room had frequented those so-called high-end clubs.

Now they were all acting respectable, one criticizing such places in every other word, another pretending never to have heard of them.

An Oscar winner is just a movie actor, what do they know about acting? When it comes to real acting, you have to look to the official circles!

As the waiter began to serve dishes, the atmosphere in the private room also livened up, with joyful toasting and banter.

After everyone had their fill of food and drink, Fujimoto Takayoshi, his face flushed and looking slightly inebriated, said, "We’ve already arranged where you’ll stay. It’s been a long journey for everyone; I’ve arranged for someone to escort you to the hotel. Get a good rest today and we’ll talk about work tomorrow. We will fully cooperate!"

"Since Mr. Fujimoto has everything arranged, we won’t let down your kindness. We’ll rest up today and take a stroll in Sapporo," Hirano Hidekazu readily agreed, then continued, "Mr. Fujimoto, you should get back to work. Just leave two people to send us to the hotel, don’t delay your important tasks."

"It would be good if Mr. Aoyama could take us," Mr. Gu Tian looked at Aoyama Xiu Xin and said with a smile, "It’ll be a good time for you to tell me about the process of solving the shooting case, to satisfy my curiosity, otherwise I’ll feel uneasy."

Fujimoto Takayoshi turned his head to look at Aoyama Xiu Xin.

"Alright, consider it a work report to the senior officials from the Police Department," Aoyama Xiu Xin agreed.

Mr. Gu Tian waved his hands repeatedly, "What work report? I just want to hear the story."

"Then Mr. Aoyama, please take good care of the investigation team members. We’ll be leaving now. See you tomorrow, Mr. Hino, Mr. Gu Tian."

"Take care, Mr. Fujimoto. See you tomorrow."

After saying their goodbyes, Fujimoto Takayoshi left with the high-ranking officials from the department, and Aoyama Xiu Xin escorted Hirano Hidekazu and the others to the hotel. Besides Hirano Hidekazu and Gu Tian Chong, who had individual rooms, the others shared rooms, with no excessive arrangements.

"Minister Gu Tian, I’ve placed your suitcase here," Aoyama Xiu Xin put Gu Tian Chong’s suitcase beside the sofa and calmly said.

"Thank you, have a seat," Gu Tian Chong poured him a glass of water, "You must be tired, have a drink."

"Thank you, Minister Gu Tian, it’s not troublesome, just a small effort," Aoyama Xiu Xin took the glass with both hands, took a sip, then set it down.

Gu Tian Chong sat down next to him and said in a gentle tone, "The shooting case made such a stir, and the Hokkaido Police had not reported any new progress for a while. I thought the investigation had stalled, but I never imagined that you were quietly working on something big., Mr. Aoyama, and once again, you’ve made our police force look good in front of the citizens."

"I am also a member of the Police Department, solving cases and catching criminals is my duty," Aoyama Xiu Xin replied with humble demeanor, his expression unchanged.

Gu Tian Chong nodded slightly, smiling as he offered him a cigarette, "Then tell me about the process of solving the case."

"Minister Gu Tian, shall we go out to the balcony for some air?" Aoyama Xiu Xin, after taking the cigarette, did not rush to light it but helped Gu Tian Chong light his first.

Gu Tian Chong gave Aoyama Xiu Xin a meaningful look, "Sure, I just finished eating; my blood sugar is a bit high and I feel a bit drowsy. Some fresh air will help me wake up."

The two then went out to the balcony together.

"Minister Gu Tian, this achievement has me feeling quite stifled!" Aoyama Xiu Xin exhaled a heavy cloud of smoke.

Gu Tian Chong immediately raised his eyebrows, "Oh?"

He then assumed a listening pose.

"At the same time Jing Shang was caught, a dozen gunmen involved in the shooting incident died in their detention cells," Aoyama Xiu Xin said solemnly.

Hearing this news suddenly, Gu Tian Chong’s face changed, a mix of shock and anger, as after all, those were over a dozen lives, "Are you saying the truth of the case isn’t as reported, and Jing Shang is just a scapegoat?"

"No, according to my investigation, Jing Shang was indeed the direct instigator of the shooting incident and the inventor of Item 23," Aoyama Xiu Xin shook his head, then changed the topic slightly, "But how could Jing Shang alone have caused such a big disturbance? From the mass victimization of the gunmen, I can at least determine that there must be high-ranking officials in the department involved with Jing Shang."

"Do you have any suspects in mind?" Gu Tian Chong asked.

Aoyama Xiu Xin shook his head, "No, I just arrived not long ago, and I don’t know my colleagues well enough to speak recklessly. Besides, and this is a bit embarrassing to admit, I’ll be here for a long time and don’t want to offend the local snakes right off the bat. I can only offer you some information and rely on you to weed out the bad elements."

As he finished speaking, he puffed somberly on his cigarette.

"I understand, Mr. Aoyama, your intention alone is sufficient. At least it confirms our suspicion that there is indeed something seriously wrong within the Hokkaido Police Headquarters," Gu Tian Chong said with a gloomy expression.

Aoyama Xiu Xin flicked his ash and turned around, looking stern, "Minister Gu Tian must be cautious. The corrupt officials here not only hide well but are also ruthless, vicious, and cunning. Do not easily trust any local judicial bureaucrat!"

"Thank you for the warning Mr. Aoyama, don’t worry, evil will never prevail!" Gu Tian Chong said confidently.

Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded in agreement and continued, "If you have any needs, feel free to contact me. I’ll try to help as much as possible. I must take my leave now, Minister Gu Tian, please rest well."

With those words, he bowed and turned to leave.

"Mr. Aoyama, please take care," Gu Tian Chong saw Aoyama Xiu Xin out and watched him enter the elevator before closing the door and knocking on the neighboring door of Hirano Hidekazu, "Mr. Hino."

A moment later, an already changed Hirano Hidekazu opened the door, "Did Aoyama Xiu Xin leave?"

"He just left," Gu Tian Chong nodded. He then pointed to the balcony, and Hirano Hidekazu understood instantly and walked towards the balcony.

After all, there could very well be listening devices inside the apartment.

What neither of them knew was that the balcony also had listening devices. Aoyama Xiu Xin had pulled Gu Tian Chong onto the balcony to mislead him into feeling safe there.

"Aoyama Xiu Xin just told me something shocking. Last night, the gunmen involved in the shooting incident all died in their holding cells."

"What?" Hirano Hidekazu was also startled, staring at Gu Tian Chong, wondering if he had heard wrong.

Gu Tian Chong shook his head, indicating he had not misheard.

Hirano Hidekazu took a deep breath, "What else did he say?"

"He said Jing Shang was indeed the instigator of the shooting incident and the developer of the 23rd, but there is definitely a backer behind him, someone from the top brass of the headquarters. He instructed us to be very careful."

"These reckless bastards! They kill a dozen people just like that!" Hirano Hidekazu cursed through clenched teeth, then exhaled, "However, the help that Aoyama Xiu Xin is willing to offer is more than I expected. I thought he’d remain aloof. It seems there’s something fishy about this case, but he only has the responsibility to solve the case; everything else doesn’t involve him."

"After all, the man leading this investigation is his god-grandfather, so it’s both familial and logical," Gu Tian Chong said with a smile, before adding, "But he also said, it mainly relies on us, he can only offer some feasible help from the side."

"It’s better than I expected," Hirano Hidekazu nodded, knowing how to be content, "About Jing Shang’s backer, does he have any suspects?"

"No, he said he’s new here and doesn’t know enough about the people here to make a hasty judgment lest he misleads us," Gu Tian Chong shook his head.

Hirano Hidekazu sincerely remarked, "Chief of Police Aoyama is really meticulous. No wonder he has solved major cases before. If it weren’t for him being in charge this time, I doubt we would even catch Jing Shang’s scapegoat."

Unbeknownst to them, Aoyama Xiu Xin had long colluded with the corrupt faction within the local police.

Though it is said that evil will never prevail,

It’s known that for every step the law takes, crime takes two.

"Oh right," Hirano Hidekazu suddenly remembered something, "Tell Mitsui and Ishishou to keep hiding well and not to meet us. If anything comes up, they should contact us by phone. We’re in the light, but those two are in the shadows, who knows, it might produce an unexpected effect."

Mitsui and Ishishou are two members of the investigative team who have been pre-deployed in Sapporo. They are both seasoned criminal police officers with excellent skills and sharp instincts.

"Right!" Gu Tian Chong replied emphatically.

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

Hokkaido Police Headquarters, Technical Department.

"Go report to the Director immediately," an officer responsible for monitoring Hirano Hidekazu told his colleague.

The Technical Department now specifically had a team of officers assigned to monitor the investigative team around the clock.

The colleague immediately went to report the information they had just intercepted to Fujimoto Takayoshi. Fujimoto Takayoshi then learned that the investigative team had two hidden pieces out of his sight, which made him break out in a cold sweat.

Hidden pieces don’t need to be many; as long as they can make a significant impact at a critical moment, they can catch them off guard when they are least vigilant.

Unfortunately, the current known information was too scarce to locate those two hidden pieces.

"Keep monitoring, report back to me immediately if there’s any relevant information," Fujimoto Takayoshi instructed, then called Aoyama Xiu Xin to his office.

Minutes later, Aoyama Xiu Xin, just back at the headquarters, entered the door, "Director, you wanted to see me?"

"I just received news that the investigative team has placed two hidden pieces ahead in Sapporo, currently their whereabouts unknown. See if you can use the trust the investigative team has in you to discreetly find out the identities and whereabouts of these two hidden pieces," Fujimoto Takayoshi said seriously.

Aoyama Xiu Xin, upon hearing this, also intensified his gaze; he too was aware of how unpreventable such hidden enemies could be.

"Director, rest assured, I will do everything in my power to root out these sneaky rats!"