Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister
Chapter 84 - 80: How Much Money Do You Plan to Pay Me to Leave Her?

Chapter 84: Chapter 80: How Much Money Do You Plan to Pay Me to Leave Her?

"Ding-ling-ling~ Ding-ling-ling~"

Early in the morning, Aoyama Xiu Xin, who had gone mushroom picking at the Yoshinaga family’s property until late the previous day, was woken up by the ringing telephone.

"Moshi moshi," he answered, groggy with sleep.

"Deputy Director, this is Yoshikai Youzai," Yoshikai first identified himself, then continued, "I heard that Chief Jin Cheng visited the crime scene of Mikami Yasuko’s murder yesterday, and he met with Kitano Jinghua before going there."

"Uh-huh," Xiu Xin responded, unconcerned.

Yoshikai Youzai, clearly anxious, unconsciously raised his voice, "Deputy Director, the trial for this case is about to start, and yet Chief Jin Cheng is still looking into it. By doing this, it’s clear he doesn’t accept your investigation results. He’s targeting you, trying to undermine you by overturning the case."

Police Chief Aoyama was too upright and naive to understand the dark and insidious ways of office politics. It was no wonder that he had been framed and demoted in the past; had his abilities not been exceptional, he would never have dreamed of returning to Police Headquarters.

Sigh, Yoshikai truly worried for the kind and just Police Chief Aoyama.

"Aoyama, although Chief Jin Cheng has some opinions about me, we are colleagues, and surely it’s not as bad as you think," Xiu Xin, now fully awake, composed his thoughts and said, "Besides, if he truly finds a result different from mine, it would mean I arrested the wrong person, which would be a good thing."

"But..." From a justice standpoint, Yoshikai felt Xiu Xin was right, but he knew Jin Cheng Heiji was far from a just man.

However, he obviously didn’t understand Xiu Xin.

Xiu Xin cut him off, "All right, don’t say anymore, thank you for your concern, but I am innocent and I fear no crooked shadows. I can withstand any test."

After hanging up, he got out of bed, dressed, and washed up, ready to meet Kitano Jinghua.

Jin Cheng Heiji was indeed quite sensitive.

Unfortunately for him, Xiu Xin would not give him the chance to continue his investigation, and he planned to launch a surprise counter-attack.

"Ah!" On the other end, listening to the busy signal from the phone while having breakfast with his family, Yoshikai Youzai sighed and looked up at his father and brother, who were staring at him, and lamented, "Deputy Director Aoyama is just too kind; he doesn’t see the evil in people, I’m really afraid he’ll make the same mistakes again."

Mr. Sakai and Sakai Dairo exchanged looks.

Were we talking about the same Xiu Xin?

"What? Father, brother, don’t you agree?" Yoshikai Youzai, sensing their thoughts from their reactions, grew somewhat displeased and reminded them, "Didn’t he even save our factory? Doesn’t that show his kindness?"

As a legendary figure who made a comeback to Police Headquarters with numerous credits to his name, and who also saved his family’s factory, Aoyama Xiu Xin was now his idol.

No one was allowed to question his character!

"Cough, Yoshikai, you’re right," Mr. Sakai nodded in agreement, and then swiftly changed the subject, "Good people receive good karma, Mr. Aoyama won’t be so easily outplayed by petty people."

"Yes, yes, Yoshikai, Mr. Aoyama is a man of great wisdom, worry about him less, just follow his orders and do your job," Sakai Dairo also chimed in.

"No, I can’t just sit by and do nothing!" Yoshikai Youzai put down his chopsticks and ran out, "One must return kindness for kindness; the Deputy Director’s heart is too full of faith in human nature, but I should do something for him."

"Hey... finish your breakfast before you go!" Mrs. Sakai helplessly called after him, but her only answer was the sound of the door opening and then slamming shut.

Sakai Dairo, with concern on his face, turned to Mr. Sakai and asked, "Father... Yoshikai seems to have some misconceptions about Mr. Aoyama’s character, right? It’s not a problem, is it?"

Although he was thankful to Aoyama Xiu Xin, he also knew very well that the man was nothing like the ’kind and naive’ character his brother described... damn, how could those words ever describe Mr. Aoyama, it was ridiculous!

"No worries, this is actually good. Maybe Mr. Aoyama will come to value him for this," Mr. Sakai said with a smile, giving his take, "After all, there aren’t many as naive and easily persuaded as our Yoshikai."

At the beginning, he had no idea that his youngest son was actually an underling of Aoyama Xiu Xin, but he believed that Aoyama Xiu Xin would surely treat Yoshikai Youzai fairly.

Kitano Jinghua had initially thought the person he would meet today would be Jin Cheng Heiji and even hoped that he might have found evidence that could help clear his name.

But the moment he was led into the interrogation room by two officers and saw Aoyama Xiu Xin, his heart sank.

"Mr. Kitano, it’s been a while," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a faint smile, gesturing for the two officers to leave.

"Thump!"

Kitano Jinghua immediately knelt down, crawling to Aoyama Xiu Xin’s feet, looking up at him with trembling voice, "I didn’t say anything to Jin Cheng Heiji! Really, I swear, I swear!"

"Look at you, there’s no need to be afraid; I’m not a savage beast," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a gentle face, helping him up to sit on a chair, speaking with a smile, "But to prevent you from harboring unrealistic hopes and making choices that may harm you, there’s something I have to tell you. Don’t count on Jin Cheng Heiji; his end is near, and he might even end up being your cellmate."

Kitano Jinghua’s face turned deathly pale upon hearing this.

"Do me a favor, and I can disregard whatever you may have told him," Aoyama Xiu Xin’s smile faded.

Kitano Jinghua nodded repeatedly, "Yes! Yes!"

"So..." After sharing his plan with Kitano, Aoyama Xiu Xin added, "If you do this, it will count as a merit, and you might even get your sentence reduced."

Kitano Jinghua’s expression flickered between hope and agony, and he was obviously conflicted, but in the end, he closed his eyes and nodded in agreement.

Aoyama Xiu Xin patted his shoulder with a smile.

"All right, a wise man adapts to circumstances."

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

Early in the morning, Jin Cheng Heiji once again arrived at the crime scene and started examining every corner with a flashlight.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps.

Coming out of the bedroom, he happened to see Yoshikai Youzai, who was wearing shoe covers and gloves coming in, which made him frown and ask, "Yoshikai, what brings you here?"

"Deputy Director Aoyama asked me to come check the site again," Yoshikai Youzai replied, mustering his courage to look him in the eye.

Jin Cheng Heiji eyed him suspiciously, "Did Aoyama Xiu Xin send you here? Hasn’t the case already been turned over for inspection?"

"Yeah, and aren’t you here, Chief Jin Cheng?" Yoshikai Youzai retorted with confidence.

Jin Cheng Heiji snorted coldly, no longer paying attention to Yoshikai Youzai, and resumed his solitary search for clues.

However, he soon lost his patience as wherever he searched, Yoshikai Youzai would also be there searching.

Moreover, he just wouldn’t stop chattering.

"Chief, found anything?"

"Chief, why don’t you get up and let me take a look?"

"Chief, your butt looks so round when you’re squatting..."

"Idiot! What the hell do you want?" Jin Cheng Heiji cursed, glaring furiously at Yoshikai Youzai. "Is Aoyama Xiu Xin that guy sending you to mess with me? Ha! Is he getting nervous?"

"What are you talking about, Chief? I can’t understand a word you’re saying," Yoshikai Youzai feigned ignorance.

Jin Cheng Heiji was so angry that his face turned ashen, and pointing towards the door, he commanded, "Get the hell out of here, now!"

"Sorry, Chief, but I have to follow Deputy Chief Aoyama’s orders!" Yoshikai Youzai retorted emphatically.

Breathing heavily, Jin Cheng Heiji pointed at him, nodded, then stalked off gritting his teeth in fury.

"Fine! If you won’t go, I will!"

"Take care, Chief!" Yoshikai Youzai bowed loudly from behind him, and only after the footsteps faded did he let out a breath, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and walked out to tell the police officers guarding the scene, "You guys must be tired, too. Take a break. I’ll watch over the place tonight. The case is almost closed anyway, nothing will happen."

At one in the morning, Jin Cheng Heiji returned to the crime scene under the cover of darkness. The fact that Aoyama Xiu Xin had arranged Yoshikai Youzai to create a disturbance only proved his nervousness, indicating even more that he was on the right track. Therefore, he would not give up.

Just stepping out of the elevator, a flashlight beam hit his face, causing him to instinctively shut his eyes and raise a hand to block the light, as he demanded, "Who’s there?"

"Chief, why have you come back?" Yoshikai Youzai, holding the flashlight, walked over to Jin Cheng Heiji.

Seeing that Yoshikai Youzai was still there, a stampede of ten-thousand imaginary alpacas ran wild in the depths of Jin Cheng Heiji’s heart.

His face dark with anger, he turned on his heel without a word and left.

"Chief, are you leaving just like that?"

"Please take care, Chief!"

---

Monday.

The first thing Aoyama Xiu Xin did after getting up in the morning was to draw back the curtains for some fresh air, then he went downstairs after getting ready.

His sister-in-law was like an NPC, punctually and consistently arranging breakfast at the dining table with an apron on.

"Good morning, sister-in-law."

"Good morning, Xiu Xin." Aoyama Haruko heard the footsteps, turned around with a smile, and said crisply, "Today’s meal is also plentiful. I guarantee that Xiu Xin will have a full day of energy after eating and be able to work even better."

"Then thank you, sister-in-law, for getting up so early every day to prepare breakfast." Aoyama Xiu Xin replied with a smile. Today, her skirt seemed a bit short; the apron concealed the hem, showing only a pair of legs adorned with flesh-colored stockings, giving off a subtly risqué vibe as though there was nothing underneath the apron.

Such beauty could be a meal in itself—who needs to eat anything else!

After breakfast, gazing at his sister-in-law, Aoyama Xiu Xin drove to the Police Headquarters to work. Although it was Children’s Day, he obviously had no holiday—after all, he was of the age to make children, not be one.

"Police Chief Aoyama, let’s have a chat."

As soon as Aoyama Xiu Xin got out of the car, a voice reached him from behind. He turned and saw a young man with good looks and a calm demeanor standing beside a black Lexus, looking at him.

"You are..." Aoyama Xiu Xin approached.

The young man answered, "Asai Zexi, brother of Asai Ayumi. Is it convenient to talk now?"

"Hi!" Aoyama Xiu Xin bowed in response.

"Please, get in the car," said Asai Zexi.

Once they were both in the car, Asai Zexi’s secretary drove them out of the Police Headquarters’ parking lot.

"Police Chief Aoyama, I won’t beat around the bush. I hope you will stay away from Ayumi—it’s for the best for both of you," Asai Zexi said without asking about his relationship with Asai Ayumi, but rather stated his request directly, clearly already aware of their illicit affair.

His tone was still somewhat gentle, but the condescending command in his voice was unmistakable.

Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded, "Okay, but how much are you willing to pay to have me leave her?"

"Huh?" Asai Zexi was caught off guard and turned to look at him with a face full of confusion and disbelief.

Aoyama Xiu Xin’s expression remained calm, "I said I can leave her, but I want one hundred million yen as compensation."

"Police Chief Aoyama really knows the score, money is no issue," Asai Zexi regained his composure and agreed on the spot, looking at him with even more disdain and contemptuously added, "It seems I overestimated you."

Although his goal was to get Aoyama Xiu Xin away from Asai Ayumi, realizing his sister had fallen for such a man still infuriated him.

"Then please stop the car here; I have to work," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a faint smile, unfazed by the sarcasm.

Watching Aoyama Xiu Xin’s retreating figure through the car window for a while, Asai Zexi shook his head, then took out a recording pen from his pocket before picking up the phone and calling Asai Ayumi, "Ayumi, your judgement of people is really not that great. Let me play you something."