Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister
Chapter 522 - 451: Aoyama Xiu Xin: Surrendering is True Patriotism

Chapter 522: Chapter 451: Aoyama Xiu Xin: Surrendering is True Patriotism

Outside the investigation department’s headquarters, there was nothing but people, so Aoyama Xiu Xin could only enter through the back door, reserved for kitchen staff.

Compared to the spacious and bright front entrance, the back door was narrower and darker, but also more compact and had a distinctive flavor, which Aoyama Xiu Xin rather appreciated.

Because he had called Hirano Hidekazu beforehand, he was led to the latter’s room by an investigation team member who had been waiting upon his entry.

As he entered the room, Hirano Hidekazu and Mr. Gu Tian were inside. Having not seen them for merely a few days, both seemed to have aged several years, looking considerably haggard.

It was clear the past few days had been rough.

"Minister Hino, Minister Gu Tian, you both look too exhausted. Please, take care of your health!" Aoyama Xiu Xin stammered before bowing and then raising his head with a sincere tone.

"Mr. Aoyama," Hirano Hidekazu and Mr. Gu Tian rose to greet him, the latter shaking his head with a wry smile, "Sleeping has been impossible all night; it’s hard enough preserving our health, let alone our official hats."

"Whether the official hats can be preserved depends on whether you both wish to keep them," Aoyama Xiu Xin added smoothly.

Hirano Hidekazu and Mr. Gu Tian looked shocked, exchanging glances that hinted they grasped Aoyama Xiu Xin’s implication. The former’s face flushed red, and he said embarrassedly and indignantly, "Mr. Aoyama, if you expect me to bow and scrape to those vermin, forget it. I’m not some ironclad hero, but I also cannot be completely shameless."

"It’s precisely because of this that they, holding the upper hand, have sent me to negotiate with you, proposing a step back from each side," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a reluctant smile, gesturing towards himself.

Hirano Hidekazu and Mr. Gu Tian were stunned again.

They had thought Aoyama Xiu Xin’s earlier remarks meant they should actively bow and beg for mercy, never considering that the local officials, in their advantageous position, would initiate talks themselves and even involve Aoyama Xiu Xin.

Facing their astonished looks, Aoyama Xiu Xin self-mockingly laughed and spread his hands, "Perhaps they think I’m closer to you and you trust me more, so they’ve asked me to handle the negotiations."

This reason was sensible and justified.

"Mr. Aoyama, please take a seat first," Mr. Gu Tian suddenly remembered that Aoyama Xiu Xin was still standing and quickly invited him.

It then dawned on Hirano Hidekazu, slightly embarrassed, "Right, right, I’ve been quite absent-minded recently, lacking proper hospitality. Please sit, Mr. Aoyama, and Mr. Gu Tian, trouble you for a cup of water."

"Right!" Mr. Gu Tian hurried to get water.

"Right!" Aoyama Xiu Xin bowed and then took a seat on the couch. Shortly after he stood up slightly to accept the cup of water handed by Mr. Gu Tian, sipped it, then placed the cup down and said, "Fujimoto Takayoshi’s message is that they don’t want to push you all to the edge or make this trip futile for you. As long as you agree, they’ll hand over a few individuals for you to take back to Tokyo, to complete your duties and quell the current public opinion, erasing the various slanders against the investigation team, aiming for a win-win scenario for both sides."

Hirano Hidekazu and Mr. Gu Tian remained silent.

"If we agree," they would still have technically lost, but it wouldn’t be so mortifying. In the eyes of the unknowing public and factions in Tokyo, not only could they keep their positions, but they’d also be seen as great contributors who achieved anti-corruption results against the current, surely deserving significant reward.

Fleeing with their tails between their legs would turn into a triumphant return. Though this proposal made both of them feel ashamed, it also stirred their hearts; otherwise, their first reaction wouldn’t have been silence.

Instead, it would have been an emotionally charged outburst of curses.

After all, when it came down to it, they weren’t of impeccable integrity and would weigh the pros and cons, unable to commit to something they knew to be impossible.

Previously, Hirano Koji resisted admitting defeat because it meant sweeping away his dignity and severing his political future. But with the terms offered by Hokkaido, none of that would be a problem anymore. So, what was there to resist?

Yet though they were both tempted, facing Aoyama Xiu Xin, who had provided them with substantial help, both found it difficult to set aside their shame and dignity and decisively agree.

Aoyama Xiu Xin realized this and took the initiative to provide them with an out, "My opinion is that you can agree. Forced by the circumstances, why commit to what’s known to be fruitless? Preserve your strength for now, spared for utility, to prepare for a comeback!"

Preserve strength, swirl back like the wind, planning to overturn the past... Reminding him of a greater than great old friend.

"If you refuse to reconcile, you both are well aware of the consequences. The public outcry against the investigation team will grow fiercer, and with your lingering lack of progress, Tokyo will have no choice but to appease official anger and public grievance by sacrificing you."

"Is such a sacrifice worth it? If you’re sacrificed just like that, who will tackle the many corrupt officials in Japan later on? Thus, if you two refuse to reconcile just to maintain your own dignity and morale, that would be selfish! It would mean only thinking of yourselves and being irresponsible towards the nation and its people!"

"Sacrifice is but a moment’s act, a form of escape! But living with shame, waiting for the opportunity to vindicate past disgraces and eradicate those corrupt officials is real bravery! Hirano Koji, Mr. Gu Tian, if you choose to flee, I will look down upon you!"

Faced with Aoyama Xiu Xin’s blunt criticisms that distorted reason, Hirano Hidekazu and Gu Tian Chong were dumbfounded, feeling as if refusing to surrender would instead be shameful and a disservice to their country.

We must surrender for the sake of our nation!

Bow our heads to evil forces for the sake of our people!

With this step provided, they could now gracefully descend. Hirano Hidekazu took a deep breath and said with a face full of shame, "It’s truly embarrassing; despite being older and having more experience, my awareness and enlightenment are still inferior to Mr. Aoyama. I was solely fixated on dying for my country if it came to disgrace, without considering the citizens and nation, I am ashamed! Raised by my country, how could I abandon her in difficult times, to let her be ravaged?"

"Yes, with so many nobles and officials being corrupt, leaving the political field would mean abandoning the people, abandoning the nation, handing everything over to those verminous calamities! Thanks to Mr. Aoyama’s enlightening words, he has awakened us," nodded Gu Tian Chong, then with a determined look, he added, "Mr. Aoyama is right, preserving our strength to seize the future opportunity is what we should do, not hastily squander our potentially useful selves!"

They even managed to turn surrender into a sense of righteous sacrifice.

"Knowing you both think this way, I haven’t wasted my breath, fearing you’d be stubbornly fixated." Aoyama Xiu Xin smiled, appearing relieved.

Damn it, what a pretense, if I weren’t the same kind of person as you two, I might have even believed it.

"Shameful, shameful, all thanks to Mr. Aoyama for awakening us from a dream," Hirano Hidekazu said with a face of embarrassment, shaking his head. Then, he changed his tone, "Does Mr. Aoyama know how many people and who Hokkaido plans to hand over to us? If too few and with too low positions, I’m afraid it won’t be enough for us to settle matters."

"Uncertainty still prevails," Aoyama Xiu Xin shook his head, then added, "But as I see it, they mean that as long as your side agrees, all the details can be discussed to ensure mutual satisfaction."

Hirano Koji nodded slightly in agreement.

Mr. Gu Tian then said, "Should we first calm the public opinion? Otherwise, before our investigative team even steps out, announcing the capture of so much corruption will make it obvious to anyone that both sides are colluding, potentially leading to new troubles."

"That’s true," Hirano Koji concurred.

"Public opinion and the murder suspicions on the investigation team can be managed first, but you two must show sincerity and promise, ideally, during a dinner where we can discuss the details," Aoyama Xiu Xin stated.

Hirano Koji and Mr. Gu Tian immediately understood.

The process of dining would undoubtedly be recorded and photographed, preserving evidence of reconciliation, thus allowing Hokkaido to first deal with any existing issues of the investigation team without fear of their reneging later.

"Agreed," Hirano Koji accepted, having already decided to fool the nation and superiors by colluding with the local bureaucrats for the sake of their official caps. Leaving audio evidence wasn’t a concern to him as he slightly hesitated, looking at Aoyama Xiu Xin, "Minister Yanchuan..."

Aoyama Xiu Xin was, indeed, the godson of Yanchuan Shilang.

Would he disclose the truth to Yanchuan Shilang?

"Haha, I was hoping Mr. Hirano and Mr. Gu Tian could speak well of me in front of my godfather after your triumphant return, mentioning how the investigation team resurrected from adversity thanks to my assistance," Aoyama Xiu Xin, noticing his concerns, replied with a reserved smile.

Hirano Koji was initially startled then burst into laughter, "That’s easy to say, after all, Mr. Aoyama is indeed the hero behind our case solving. Without you, we would have achieved nothing."

"Embarrassed, embarrassed. Just say this in front of my godfather and not publicly. I still have to stay in Hokkaido and don’t want to offend those bureaucrats in the dark," Aoyama Xiu Xin waved his hand.

Many lower-level bureaucrats were unaware of the role he played in this matter. If Hirano Koji and Mr. Gu Tian publicly expressed their huge help from him, it would certainly create aversion and repulsion towards him.

Hirano Koji nodded, "Understandable."

"There’s no time to delay. How about we set the dinner time for tonight?" Aoyama Xiu Xin asked further.

Hirano Koji and Mr. Gu Tian exchanged glances, both wary of subsequent changes, "Fine, tonight then."

"Then, I shall return and report back," Aoyama Xiu Xin exhaling, stood up and bowed deeply.

Mr. Gu Tian and Hirano Koji quickly rose to see him off.

As the bedroom door shut, they exchanged a glance and both sighed deeply, sitting back down on the sofa.

Both were deep in thought, remaining silent.

A long silence enveloped the room.

"Aoyama Xiu Xin... not simple," Hirano Koji suddenly said after a while, meeting Mr. Gu Tian’s puzzled gaze and continued to explain, "Once this matter concludes, we both owe him a big favor. Besides, he’s pleased Yanchuan Shilang and hasn’t offended the local bureaucratic circle. On the contrary, as the mediator who negotiated this settlement with us, the local bureaucracy might even owe him a favor. Quite shrewd indeed."

But since Aoyama Xiu Xin also benefitted greatly from this situation, there was no need to worry about him revealing the truth to Yanchuan Shilang and causing unnecessary complications.

"Without being shrewd, he wouldn’t have achieved what he has at such a young age," Mr. Gu Tian remarked bluntly.

Even though they knew Aoyama Xiu Xin definitely had his own schemes, they could not generate strong dislike towards him.

Of course, this was under the assumption that they were unaware that Aoyama Xiu Xin was actually the mastermind behind the whole scenario; otherwise, they would have detested him fiercely.

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

Upon returning to the police headquarters, Aoyama Xiu Xin headed straight to Fujimoto Takayoshi’s office and knocked vigorously.

"Thump, thump, thump!"

"Come in."

Aoyama Xiu Xin pushed open the door and marched in, saluting assertively, proudly declaring, "Minister, I have, as entrusted, successfully convinced Hirano Koji and Mr. Gu Tian. They’ve agreed to have dinner tonight to discuss the details."

"Hahaha! Good! Good! Good!" Upon hearing this, Fujimoto Takayoshi behind the desk, instantly sprang up from his paperwork, continuously praising, his hands on Aoyama Xiu Xin’s shoulders, beaming, "I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me!"

This matter was finally drawing to a close.

Sapporo would soon return to its usual tranquility and harmony.

"It’s all thanks to the Minister’s support," Aoyama Xiu Xin modestly bowed, expressing his humility.

Fujimoto Takayoshi pulled him towards the door, "Enough of the modesty. Let’s go now and meet the governor to report this wonderful news."

"Hai!"

Together, they drove towards the Governor’s Hall.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.