Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister
Chapter 530 - 457: Power is only responsible to its source, none are willing

Chapter 530: Chapter 457: Power is only responsible to its source, none are willing

"Mr. Miyashita, to be brothers with you, heart to heart, yet you play mind games with me, it’s truly disappointing."

After leaving Mr. Heng Lu Guangnan’s home, Aoyama Xiu Xin called Miyashita Naoyuki and accused him of being heartless.

"Mr. Aoyama, as you saw, it’s not that I didn’t want to keep my promise, but the governor has spoken, and you can’t get the projects in other cities of Hokkaido. Since that’s the case, how could I possibly help you connect any dots or build any bridges? You can’t blame me for this!"

Miyashita Naoyuki chuckled, feeling smug about having gained an advantage over Aoyama Xiu Xin, knowing that though he might lose a potential profit, the difficulty of helping him secure construction projects in other cities was even greater compared to the share Xiu Xin had promised him.

He wasn’t greedy. After Aoyama Xiu Xin secured the construction project in Sapporo City, he could simply make 35 to 50 million US dollars, not counting past savings and future income. That was already enough for him to live a life of luxury.

"Alright, alright, this isn’t your fault, but you need to do me a favor," Aoyama Xiu Xin quickly changed his tone.

Miyashita Naoyuki didn’t agree right away but cautiously asked, "What favor? If it’s within my power, I will definitely lend a hand."

Damn, these second-generation officials, each one of them ungrateful, turning their backs faster than flipping a book.

Aoyama Xiu Xin vaguely remembered how when he had just solved the problem with Abe Ye Cheng for Miyashita Naoyuki, he was tearfully grateful, proclaiming that from then on, he was his brother.

How long ago was that?

And now his attitude had already changed.

He deserves to adopt sons for Abe Ye Cheng!

Thankfully, Aoyama Xiu Xin never overestimated the character of these privileged scions, nor did he ever really expect Miyashita Naoyuki to be grateful to him for life. Achieving a temporary mutual benefit was good enough.

After all, these second-generation elites are born without a grateful heart, having had others solve all their problems since childhood, already accustomed to it; they take the help of others for granted, and if you don’t help, they’ll hold a grudge.

"Rest assured, it will definitely be within my power," Aoyama Xiu Xin kept up his usual friendly and gentle facade and softly said, "I hope Mr. Miyashita can help me gather detailed information about all the corporations in Hokkaido that mainly deal with construction."

Miyashita Naoyuki was the boss in Hokkaido.

This task would be straightforward and convenient, and given his status, he could access some rumor-level information that even the police couldn’t reach.

Previously, it was Aoyama Xiu Xin who was cautious about the local Construction Corporation competing with him for projects, but now he was the one actively taking projects from these people. Knowing yourself and your enemy will let you win every battle; understanding the enemy thoroughly is the first step.

When Miyashita Naoyuki heard that this was the task, he immediately relaxed and grandly responded, "Is that all? Don’t worry, Mr. Aoyama, with my connections, I can surely find out even what color underwear these corporation presidents’ wives prefer!"

For him, this was no trouble at all.

Waving a hand could repay a big favor to Aoyama Xiu Xin, and he didn’t mind spending some time on it.

"Hehe, there’s actually no need to be that detailed; just knowing whether they like to wear underwear is enough," Aoyama Xiu Xin joked.

"There are actually a few who don’t, hehe," Miyashita Naoyuki snickered smuttyly, obviously having special relations with some society ladies. Then, he curiously asked, "But what do you need this information for?"

"Since I have to make my living in Hokkaido on construction projects, I ought to learn more about my fellow contractors in the same pot," Aoyama Xiu Xin replied.

A perfectly reasonable excuse, to which Miyashita Naoyuki did not suspect, "Alright, leave it all to me."

After hanging up the phone, Aoyama Xiu Xin went to his office to work. Saying it was working, he was actually just sitting in his office reading newspapers and drinking tea, waiting for the workday to end.

Because the workload at the Hokkaido Police Headquarters wasn’t heavy, with most cases not even being filed by the lower police stations in order to decrease the crime rate, and those filed could be handled by the local stations, whatever means they used, once resolved, it was done.

Only exceptionally major cases, which the lower stations dared not handle rashly, would be escalated to the headquarters.

Of course, some people would directly approach the headquarters to report incidents.

But generally, the headquarters wouldn’t accept them, and would ask the complainants to go to their local stations first. Don’t fuck overstep the reporting procedure, adding workload for the bigwigs.

But from time to time, there would still be incidents like this.

For instance, today, at noon, while Aoyama Xiu Xin and his lunch companion, Yamashita Kogoro, were headed to the cafeteria, they ran into such an incident just as they reached the entrance hall of the office building.

An old man in plain clothes, with white-haired and a deeply lined face, was being dragged outside by two policemen.

"My son has been missing for two months, why aren’t you doing anything! Why! Why!?"

The old man struggled continually, kicking and crying out.

He seemed as helpless as a child.

"Shut it! If you keep yelling, believe it or not, I’ll accuse you of obstructing public service, just get lost! We already told you to go to your local police station to report this, what are you causing a scene here for!" A police chief waved his hand impatiently, "Just get him out of here and tell the security guard not to let him in again!"

Aoyama Xiu Xin didn’t say a word. Regarding this kind of situation where Japanese bully other Japanese, unless it was something too inhumane for him to bear, he generally didn’t bother to intervene.

After all, the internal conflicts of little ghosts, it wasn’t his place to meddle as a foreigner.

"Stop it!" Yamashita Kogoro shouted with a frown and then quickly walked over, asking sternly, "What’s going on here?"

"Deputy Director!" The police officer quickly bowed to him and then said, "Rest assured, this will never happen again. I’ll notify the local police station where he lives to keep a close eye on this old man and prevent him from coming our way..."

"Slap!" Before he could finish his sentence, Yamashita Kogoro slapped him and angrily exclaimed, "Idiot! I am asking about his son’s disappearance! Can’t you understand?"

"Yes! Yes!" The police officer bowed repeatedly, looking disheveled, and said, "This is already the second time he has come to the headquarters causing trouble, claiming his son mysteriously disappeared two months ago. I told him to go report it in his local station..."

"They don’t even open a case! They don’t open a case at all! Those bastards also asked me to produce evidence that my son has disappeared!" The old man cried heartbreakingly, interrupting the police officer. Summoning unknown strength, he broke free from the two officers holding him, rushed to Yamashita Kogoro, and knelt down before him, "Sir, please have mercy on me. He is my only son; I need to know whether he is dead or alive!"

By this time, more and more onlookers, officers, had gathered.

"Old man, please get up." Yamashita Kogoro helped the old man up and looked toward Aoyama Xiu Xin who was walking over.

"This is outrageous!" Aoyama Xiu Xin scolded pretentiously, seeming to pursue accountability, yet he asked neither which police station nor which officer had troubled the old man. Changing his tone to a righteous one, he said, "Old man, rest assured, our headquarters will take over your case. We promise you, if your son is alive, you’ll see him; if not, his body. We’ll certainly give you an answer."

As his words ended, he looked towards the officer who had been driving the old man away, "Take him to give a statement, and once it’s done, bring it directly to my office for me to review."

The subordinates might trouble this old man, but their superiors couldn’t behave this way.

If the old man hadn’t brought his case to their attention, perhaps they could have ignored it; but now that he had, regardless of his influence and luck, and how much they wanted to avoid it, they had to handle it.

After all, it’s necessary to let the citizens know that though the people at the bottom might be corrupt, those at the top are still good. Little do they know that those at the bottom act strictly by the directives of those at the top.

"Yes!" said the officer, who seemed to be in his thirties, with a middle part in his hair and slightly overweight, bowing in reply.

The old man, tearfully grateful, sobbed and choked, "Thank you, thank you, sirs. I knew it, sobs, I knew the authorities were good; I knew it was worth seeking justice through them, sobs, my poor son!"

"Old man, follow him for now," Aoyama Xiu Xin said in a pleasant tone, then he asked the officer, "What’s your name?"

"Hattori, Criminal Department Investigation Unit Two, Chief," the officer answered respectfully.

Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded without further comment.

The old man was delighted, thinking that Aoyama Xiu Xin asking for the name meant that he was going to deal with Hattori.

However, Aoyama Xiu Xin was actually planning to make good use of Hattori, recognizing the need to reappoint such individuals who rigorously implement superior orders and strive to keep problems away from the leadership.

Subordinates must understand their roles.

Is their duty to serve the citizens or the leaders? Power is granted by the leaders, not by the citizens.

Power only answers to where it comes from.

The old man followed Hattori, while Aoyama Xiu Xin and Yamashita Kogoro continued to head to the cafeteria for a meal.

"If this continues, the country will face issues," Yamashita Kogoro said, shaking his head with a sigh.

Aoyama Xiu Xin grinned dismissively, "Let the Cabinet Ministers worry about that; we should worry about what’s on the cafeteria menu today."

Creating problems is good!

How else can I fish in troubled waters?

At this, Yamashita Kogoro just smiled helplessly, no longer delving into this topic about the concern for the nation and its people.

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

As Aoyama Xiu Xin expected, just like he was unwilling to simply hand over other Hokkaido cities construction projects, others were also discontented about Aoyama Xiu Xin monopolizing the construction project in Sapporo City.

While he was dining, those who were discontent with him were also gathered together enjoying their lunch.

"Billions of US dollars in projects, monopolized by some green-behind-the-ears kid, this guy from Tokyo truly acts like he’s the boss here; we aren’t even fit to carry his shoes!"

"On the surface, he might seem like a rookie, but maybe behind the money flows into someone’s pocket in the Cabinet, it’s a Cabinet Minister after all, can Governor Henglu afford not to give face?"

"This Cabinet Minister didn’t give him any face either. The investigation team was sent by him. The left cheek just got slapped and now the right cheek has to be offered up in appeasement."

"Alright, alright, even with just a few of us here, we still speak so cryptically," scoffed the youngest middle-aged man disdainfully, slapping his chopsticks down on the table angrily, "I just can’t stand Aoyama Xiu Xin! Over the years, think about the huge contributions we’ve made to the development of Hokkaido. Wherever Heng Lu Guangnan said achievements were needed, we funneled money there, but when it came time to share the spoils, this newcomer bags the biggest piece."

As he spoke, he completely forgot how much he himself had earned over the years through Heng Lu Guangnan.

"What can you do if you’re unhappy? As soon as the governor issues a decree, any undermining of it is like slapping his face," an old man said, shaking his head.

The youngest middle-aged man smiled maliciously, stroking the purposefully kept goatee on his chin, "You’re right, we can’t trip him up, but we can let those who don’t know the details do it! Not every firm knows that those shell companies that suddenly popped up are owned by Aoyama Xiu Xin. Various companies in their developmental phase are waiting to have a sip of the broth only to find out the pot has been taken away. Wouldn’t they be furious?"

"To everyone here, we’ve all been through this phase. The further we are from becoming established, the bolder we are in doing anything for development, unlike us now, who have grown big and have shoes on our bare feet, worrying about this and that," he said.

Hearing this, everyone at the table exchanged glances and then burst out laughing in unison.

"Alright, let’s drop it. Let’s drink."