Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner
Chapter 199 - 120 Scapegoat Doll

Chapter 199: Chapter 120 Scapegoat Doll

In the 1990s, the intensity of interrogations by the Japanese police was unimaginable to later generations, and the severity displayed to the outside world was just the tip of the iceberg.

In order to maximize the destruction of the yakuza, the criminal police used every possible means— the current cases of forced confessions we see are mostly misjudgments against lawful citizens, while cases of coerced confessions against the yakuza were virtually never made public.

To be honest, there wasn’t even a single case reported in the newspapers.

One can imagine how fierce the interrogation battles were between the police and the yakuza in such a scenario.

Zhao Chunshu climbed from the lowest ranks of thugs to become a cadre, having entered prison several times. If he had confessed even once, it would have been impossible for him to become a high-ranking officer in the Inakawa Association. His track record shows that he had extensive experience being interrogated and was a tough nut to crack.

In response to the intense interrogations by the police, the Inakawa Association naturally had its methods: they fostered a group of "dolls," specifically for senior cadres to ’betray.’

Such people were also called scapegoat dolls within the industry, ostensibly having legitimate jobs while secretly engaging in petty business with the yakuza— once such a doll was caught by the police, they could help ease the interrogation pressure on the cadres.

Moreover, the capture of different dolls could convey different messages. If more than three dolls were caught, it would signal that the cadre was close to breaking down, and the yakuza would need to quickly find a way to hire a lawyer to get them out.

"There is a ’scapegoat doll’ at the Nakagawara Station front patrol house, openly a patrol officer, secretly an informant, occasionally earning some extra money. I can’t disclose who exactly it is."

Sazaki Gen paused and then continued, "The client list is Ashu’s lifeline; he wouldn’t easily betray you... Rest assured, he’s always reliable."

"What if he really can’t withstand the interrogation?" Fushimi Roku adjusted his position, feeling some back pain from sitting in the wheelchair for too long.

"Then you’re just out of luck, what else can you do?" Sazaki Gen rapped his teacup on the table.

Fushimi Roku realized in his heart, no wonder the recording was sent to the station front patrol house instead of to the Feng Island Police Station, the sender still hadn’t figured out who exactly "Heavenly Punishment" was.

"Alright then," he asked, "What are your plans next?"

"Stay put. Everyone’s in the dark, whoever makes a move first loses," Sazaki Gen took out his phone from his pocket and checked his messages, "The scapegoat doll is on our side; I’ll have him start reporting proactively from today... When the letter sender contacts him again, they’re bound to slip up."

Speaking of which, he suddenly recalled something important and couldn’t help asking, "By the way, didn’t the tape mention where to meet?"

"No," Fushimi Roku said.

"Really?" Sazaki Gen suspected he was hiding something. "They said ’I want to meet the founder,’ but didn’t say how to meet; does that make sense? At least there should be contact information, right?"

"Really no," Fushimi Roku added, "No code, no note, no invisible text, nothing."

"Then how do they meet?" Sazaki Gen asked.

"How would I know? I’m not Heavenly Punishment," Fushimi Roku shrugged, "But I can roughly guess where the letter sender plans to arrange the meeting."

"Where to meet?" Sazaki Gen took off his glasses and wiped them with a cloth. "I can have the scapegoat doll check it out, maybe we can bait the letter sender."

"At Sugamo Apartment," Fushimi Roku said, "The location of the massacre, it should be there."

"What time?" Sazaki Gen didn’t ask for a reason.

"Probably after midnight. I guess all the haunted units on that floor have already been rented out— if not, then I’m wrong."

Fushimi Roku set down his teacup, feeling that they’ve talked about almost everything they needed to.

What follows is not his part to play; the scapegoat doll is Sazaki Gen’s subordinate, so how to operate specifically can only be handled by Sazaki Gen— he merely needs to go home and wait for information.

If the plan fails, or if Zhao Chunshu really spills the beans, then they’ll discuss how to proceed next.

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while, uttering some inconsequential small talk before parting ways.

On the way home, Fushimi Roku mentally reviewed the dealings, concluding it was neither a loss nor gain: afterwards, he still needed to deliver "payment," helping Sazaki Gen kill someone, likely a cadre or leader of a rival gang; he planned to decide based on his mood whether to renege on the agreement— after all, he held leverage over Sazaki Gen, the secret about the police undercover that he could live off for a lifetime!

After reaching home, the living room was cold and empty.

Fushimi Roku habitually called out ’I’m back,’ Minamoto Tamako cracked the door open, glanced at him, confirmed that he was unharmed, and then slammed the door shut.

Hmm, good, seems she’s still mad.

Supported by his crutch, Fushimi Roku returned to his room to rest. He had always maintained a good routine, believing that staying up late amounted to slow suicide— tonight he stayed up out of necessity, and he’d better go to sleep quickly, to replenish his overdrawn life vigor.

On the other side, Minamoto Tamako leaned against the door, eavesdropping on the movements in the living room. She waited for some time, but Fushimi Roku didn’t come to apologize, feeling both angry and sad, her mouth pouting high, and couldn’t help but again pry open her room door, peering outside.

She saw the living room was empty, a wheelchair arrogantly placed in the center, Fushimi Roku had probably returned to his room for a bath and sleep.

He didn’t say a word to her.

Minamoto Tamako consoled herself, thinking he didn’t entirely not say a word— didn’t Mr. Fushimi say ’I’m back’? Surely that was him actively greeting her, wanting to apologize but too embarrassed... Yes, that must be it!

Getting a stubborn person to apologize willingly was harder than reaching the heavens!

Maybe Mr. Fushimi had already realized his mistake, pondering over and over on how to open a conversation with her on the way back, thinking long and hard that ’I’m back’ was the most natural and least awkward...

Minamoto Tamako stood at her door, her shadow falling onto the living room floor under the light. Before her parents got divorced, the atmosphere was like this too, both refusing to admit fault, just staying silent in stalemate.

If this cold war continues, eventually they would become strangers... just thinking about it nearly brought Minamoto Tamako to tears.

They were such good partners, how could they part ways so easily?

Minamoto Tamako had sincerely reflected, and she realized she was also at fault, she shouldn’t have poked at Mr. Fushimi’s wounds, and she planned to apologize earnestly, making amends to Mr. Fushimi, hoping he would forgive her— in turn, Mr. Fushimi should also apologize, threatening to cut ties was really hurtful, was their friendship so fragile?

With this in mind, Minamoto Tamako gathered her courage, clenched her fists, trotting to Fushimi Roku’s room door in furry slippers. She wanted to knock, but withdrew her hand, hurried back to her own room, grabbed the bunny officer, took a deep breath, and then reached out her small hand to gently knock on the door.

No response.

Guessing Mr. Fushimi hadn’t heard, she knocked harder, only to hear an impatient voice from behind the door: "I’m going to sleep, if there’s something, say it tomorrow!"