Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister
Chapter 75 - 71: Friendship is Friendship, but It Shouldn’t Spoil the Market

Chapter 75: Chapter 71: Friendship is Friendship, but It Shouldn’t Spoil the Market

"This morning! The first thing I did was contact you," Du Bian Xiuze replied.

Aoyama Xiu Xin looked down at the photo again.

Du Bian Xiuze, feeling embarrassed, snatched the photo back, "A glance is enough."

No man likes to be stared at in the nude by another man, well, except for gay men, of course.

"I just came from a crime scene," Aoyama Xiu Xin raised his head and looked at Du Bian Xiuze, speaking in a somber tone, "And the victim is the woman in that photo. She died about 24 hours ago."

"This... she... she’s dead?" Du Bian Xiuze was startled at first, then his face grew uglier as he grasped Aoyama Xiu Xin’s arm, "You’re in charge of this case, Mr. Aoyama? Please don’t get me involved; I don’t want to become a laughing stock!"

According to the investigation process, police would certainly summon everyone who had contact with the victim during this time, and Du Bian Xiuze had been intimate with her.

If it’s found out that the woman had secretly photographed them in bed, then Du Bian would also become a suspect with a motive, and would be investigated as a prime suspect.

Even if he’s found innocent in the end, the uproar would harm his reputation.

"Mr. Du Bian," Aoyama Xiu Xin removed his hand from his arm with a sigh, his face troubled, "I just started today and have no clout to speak of, and there’s someone in the department who opposes me. If they see your obvious suspect status and I don’t investigate, they probably won’t stand for it!"

"Mr. Aoyama, please think of something, you must think of something!" Du Bian Xiuze was so anxious that he was on the verge of sweating, his face filled with despair, "My wife has quite a temper, the consequences are unpredictable if she finds out!"

Japanese may be patriarchal, but that also depends on the wife’s character and family background. Unfortunately for Du Bian, his wife is very domineering, and her family background is much better than his.

It was precisely because he felt oppressed at home that he indulged himself in private, needing to relieve stress.

"Alas, Mr. Du Bian, you must understand, I just returned to Police Headquarters and haven’t even settled in. Covering up your trail will be very difficult," Aoyama Xiu Xin expressed with a heavy heart and a sigh. Then, he abruptly changed his tone and said, "So, Mr. Du Bian, that means extra payment!"

Blood is thicker than water, but accounts must be clear.

Friendship is friendship, but it can’t spoil the business.

"Huh?" Du Bian Xiuze was bewildered; these words sounded so familiar. Damn, it was just what he had said a few days ago. He gritted his teeth and forced a smile, "Actually, I’ve felt really awkward about accepting your money last time, I’ve been wanting to return it but never had the chance. Heaven has given me an opportunity now. So, Mr. Aoyama, you get me through this disaster and that one billion will be your reward."

Damn, if I’d known, I should have never taken the money.

At least that way, our relationship could have deepened.

"Mr. Du Bian, oh Mr. Du Bian! You spoke wrongly there," Aoyama Xiu Xin shook his head, a mix of disappointment and irritation in his voice as he sternly questioned, "What do you mean, payment to me? Did I ask for it? It’s your money, your problem! By saying that, it sounds like I’m also taking a brother’s money, who do you think I am?"

"Yes, yes, yes, Mr. Aoyama is correct. It was careless of me to speak, I misspoke," Du Bian Xiuze quickly apologized and acknowledged his mistake. He didn’t have an aversion to giving money per se; it was similar to him wanting to get on good terms with Aoyama Xiu Xin, but he would still charge for his help.

It’s all about mutual understanding. We’re both in modest positions; it’s not easy to skim a bit of money on the side, so compensation should be given where it’s due.

"Don’t worry, we’re brothers after all. I won’t just stand by," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with great pride, patting his shoulder as he contemplated, "The person who sent the photo, extorting you, is most likely the killer. Agree to the trade and lure him out to capture him. Once he’s in the interrogation room, I have ways to extract and destroy the negatives from his hands, and preserve your innocence."

In helping Du Bian Xiuze, he was also helping himself.

Mikami Yasuko took these pictures, indicating she planned to use them for blackmailing Du Bian Xiuze from the beginning.

And since the killer also knew Du Bian Xiuze’s identity, it suggests he or she must have known Mikami Yasuko, learning of it from her.

The motive for the murder might be to monopolize the photos Mikami Yasuko took for blackmail.

"Okay!" Du Bian Xiuze nodded repeatedly, and then something else occurred to him, "Right, the other party left me a number and told me to call. I just did, and he demanded two hundred million yen, giving me a day to prepare. He will inform me of the transaction method tomorrow."

"Male or female?" Aoyama Xiu Xin asked.

"A man. His voice sounded young, probably between 20 and 30 years old," Du Bian Xiuze replied.

"Give me the number to copy down..."

"No need to check the number; he used Mikami Yasuko’s phone," Du Bian Xiuze guessed Aoyama Xiu Xin’s thoughts in an instant and cut him off. He continued, "Not only did the killer take the photos, but he also took her phone."

"Alright, then Mr. Du Bian, I’ll take my leave for now. I’ll inform you if there’s any news, and if the other party contacts you again, let me know," Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded, ending the conversation and readying himself to leave.

Du Bian rose to see him off, deeply bowing to Aoyama Xiu Xin, "Everything is in your hands, Mr. Aoyama."

"Rest assured, you’ve helped me, so naturally, I’ll do my best to help you," Aoyama Xiu Xin said as he turned and left.

"Bang!"

Hearing the door close, Du Bian Xiuze lifted his head and let out a breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Indeed, beauties have always been a source of trouble!

Then he turned and sat down at his desk.

He took out a diary and began to write, reflecting for the Nth time and warning himself, swearing to abstain from lust next time, ending with the sentence, "Lust is the beginning of self-degradation; beware and guard against it!"

...

Yamamoto Naohiro couldn’t wait to be discharged from the hospital today.

As a lecher, how could he endure the loneliness of the hospital? He left without even removing the bandages.

Of course, it was also because his injuries weren’t severe.

"Naohiro, maybe you should stay in the hospital for a few more days," Mrs. Yamamoto said with a worried look.

Yamamoto Naohiro found it irritating, "I know my own body. Instead of talking nonsense, you’d better hurry back and reopen the flower shop, hire a good-looking woman, that would make me happier."

Having suffered at the hands of Aoyama Haruko, he felt a burning anger inside, desperately needing someone to vent on.

Moreover, he only enjoyed violating respectable families; that sense of forcing others into submission was irresistible to him.

"I’ve already posted the job advertisement; someone will come soon," Mrs. Yamamoto said.

"Fine, stop helping me." After leaving the hospital, Yamamoto Naohiro shook off his mother’s hand and left on his own, muttering, "You walk even slower than me."

Mrs. Yamamoto was not annoyed at all; she stood still and watched her son walk further and further away with a smile on her face.

But the next second, her smile froze.

A car hit Yamamoto Naohiro as he was jaywalking at a red light, and although the car wasn’t going very fast and didn’t cause serious harm, Yamamoto Naohiro lay on the ground, refusing to get up, cursing, "Idiot! What kind of driving is that? Are you blind? Didn’t you see there’s a person here? Pay up! If you’re not paying, either drive over me or don’t even think about leaving today!"

Initially panicked, Mrs. Yamamoto breathed a sigh of relief upon witnessing this scene; knowing her son, she understood he wasn’t hurt and was just seizing the opportunity to extort money.

She was proud of her son’s cleverness and quick thinking.

Mrs. Yamamoto hastily prepared to go forward and assist.

However, just at that moment, the cold chain truck that had knocked down Yamamoto Naohiro started up again and, with a flooring of the accelerator pedal, the driver ran over Yamamoto Naohiro’s lower body and drove off.

The abrupt incident stupefied the passersby.

"Ah! My legs! My legs!"

Yamamoto Naohiro’s legs were crushed into pieces by the cold chain truck, his trouser legs soaked in blood, and they lay limply on the ground as he contorted his face and screamed in agony.

"Ah! Naohiro! My son! Ah!"

Mrs. Yamamoto, who had been ready to work with her son on the scamming attempt, was agonized at the sight and ran to her son, throwing herself on him, crying uncontrollably.

"Somebody help! Please, save my son!"

The cries of mother and son were heart-wrenching.

Fortunately, the hospital was nearby, so medical staff arrived quickly and carried the recently discharged Yamamoto Naohiro back into the operating room for emergency surgery.

Aoyama Xiu Xin, on the other hand, was naturally unaware of this episode, as he had already returned to the office.

"I’m telling you, the victim’s head was nearly chopped off, just like something out of a horror movie..."

Yoshikai Youzai, who had returned earlier, was vividly describing the crime scene to several colleagues.

"Deputy Director!"

In the next second, everyone stood up and saluted.

"Right," Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded calmly in acknowledgment and said to Yoshikai, "I can handle this case myself, Yoshikai, you just help me out, while everyone else can go about their own business."

He didn’t want the issues involving Dubian Xiuze to surface, so the case couldn’t have too many hands on it.

"Yes, sir!" Everyone responded in unison.

Jin Cheng Heiji curled his lip, thinking that Aoyama Xiu Xin didn’t want their help because he intended to solve the case alone and make a name for himself right after joining, but from what he had learned through Yoshikai’s account, there were no eyewitnesses or surveillance footage, and solving this case would not be so simple.

Aoyama Xiu Xin wanted to show off.

He just waited to see him make a fool of himself.

"Deputy Director, it might be difficult with just the two of us!" Yoshikai approached Aoyama Xiu Xin’s desk, speaking in a low and anxious tone.

Aoyama Xiu Xin gave him a cool glance.

If Fujimoto and Nakamura were here, it would be different.

They would never say such nonsense.

Unfortunately, each department had its personnel limit, and to bring the two of them in, two others would have to go.

Aoyama Xiu Xin’s gaze shifted toward Jin Cheng Heiji and Takizawa Mapu, deciding he needed to get rid of them as soon as possible.

Seeing Aoyama Xiu Xin nonresponsive, Yoshikai Youzai decided to make him realize the difficulty, "The apartment’s surveillance was broken a week ago and hasn’t been fixed since. The security guard also claimed he didn’t see any unfamiliar faces coming in or out."

"Are you done?" Aoyama Xiu Xin asked.

Yoshikai Youzai didn’t dare to continue.

Aoyama Xiu Xin said, "These are issues for me to consider. You just need to follow my orders."

"Yes, sir!" Yoshikai Youzai immediately bowed and apologized.

Aoyama Xiu Xin waved his hand, "You make a call to see if the person who reported the crime has woken up yet."

"Oh, I’ve already called. The reporter woke up a long time ago," Yoshikai Youzai suddenly remembered.

Aoyama Xiu Xin thought this guy wasn’t completely incompetent and, without even getting his seat warm, stood up and headed out, saying, "Come with me to take a look."

Although all he needed to do was wait for Dubian Xiuze to lure out the murderer, it would certainly be better if he could understand and master more information about the case.

The reporter was Mikami Yasuko, a friend of the victim. Perhaps she could provide some clues about the murderer from her account.

They had just left,

When right afterward, Jin Cheng Heiji also left the office.