Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner
Chapter 66: Headline News

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Headline News

Fushimi Roku felt a sense of déjà vu from watching the movie "The Tomato Millionaire". As Yamaguchi Takashi was boasting in front of Minamoto Tamako, that iconic scene began playing in his head: "I originally planned to get along with you as an ordinary person, but it only led to alienation. Fine, I won’t pretend anymore, I’m a billionaire, and I’m coming clean!"

He could even imagine how Yamaguchi Takashi would be humiliated. Once Minamoto Tamako transformed from a meek little patrol police into the heiress of a financial tycoon, slapping Yamaguchi Takashi’s face with ten-thousand yen bills bearing Fukuzawa Yukichi’s portrait, she would softly utter that classic line: "But I still like your original rebellious self"...

Nowadays, the main source of income for local police departments in Japan comes from government allocations, bond issuances, and social donations. As for national tax allocation, it’s nothing more than an empty promise.

Government funding ensures they don’t starve, bond issuance is the top brass trying to make a reputation, but only social donations from financial conglomerates can truly let these officers benefit. Honestly speaking, conglomerates are like sugar daddies; as long as they’re willing to donate a few hundred million yen to the police department, the police chief would have to treat them with utmost respect.

However, unsurprisingly, the scene Fushimi Roku anticipated did not occur—Minamoto Tamako continued to apologize submissively, pleading for an investigation.

As Yamaguchi Takashi’s words became increasingly excessive, even hinting at office politics, Fushimi Roku could no longer tolerate it. He thought about employing some underhanded tactics, like stealthily taking away that guy’s police gun...

Just then, a police officer burst in animatedly, shouting ’The news hounds are here!’ Everyone’s expressions changed immediately; they put out their cigarettes, jumped up from their chairs, and began rapidly cleaning the ashtrays, soda cans, and instant noodle containers, categorizing the scattered documents and files. Yamaguchi Takashi even climbed onto a desk to clean the dirty ceiling fan.

Within just five minutes, the Criminal Investigation Division’s office was transformed from a lazy den into a law firm of elites. The sound of high heels clicking approached from outside, drawing closer and closer. The officers adjusted their appearances and continuously sprayed hair wax and deodorant.

Yamaguchi Takashi fumbled with his tie, gesturing for Fushimi Roku and Minamoto Tamako to leave quickly. The latter looked puzzled, asking Fushimi Roku what "news hound" meant.

Seeing the chance for some big news, Fushimi Roku ignored Yamaguchi Takashi’s gestures, quietly whispering an explanation to Minamoto Tamako.

The ecosystem of the Japanese press industry is quite distorted, stemming from the traditional journalist club system. Journalists need recommendations or applications from their media organizations, and after passing a club review, they become members and can then access firsthand news in political or police circles.

For instance, the Tokyo police department has its own journalist club, with press points set up at the Prime Minister’s Residence, provincial headquarters, police departments, and other locations to access the latest news at any time. It’s said to ensure media supervision, but in reality, it’s about monopolizing and being exclusive.

To control public opinion, the Police Department always appeases a bunch of senior journalists from these clubs. If something goes wrong, the senior journalists are asked to spin the narrative to calm the public. Over time, grassroots officers inevitably harbor some resentment and nickname these journalists "news hounds".

As for the so-called media supervision, it’s a sham; isn’t everyone involved in squandering taxpayers’ money together? The office of criminal journalists is the most luxurious, their copier is the latest model, and even their coffee machine offers unlimited coffee... Where does this money come from? Everyone knows without saying, a silent understanding remains unspoken.

These days, people still hold some reverence toward the media and believe it’s quite an honor to appear in the newspaper or on television. To secure funding, the Criminal News Club set up a police officer interview segment.

In addition to collecting explosive news such as celebrity violations, parliamentary corruption, gang murders, etc., they occasionally give a nod to the hard-working officers within confidentiality limits, somewhat burnishing their resumes.

After listening, Minamoto Tamako’s image of criminal police was half shattered. No wonder the public often scolds the criminal police as a bunch of freeloaders; she used to feel sympathy for the hard-working officers, but now realizes the public’s insights are astute.

Incredible!

She was about to argue with Yamaguchi Takashi when the footsteps suddenly stopped. The office door was pushed open, and a woman in a gray office skirt walked in.

Everyone’s gaze instinctively fell to her chest, not to scrutinize her press badge but to observe the taut shirt buttons and the exaggerated arc of the badge lanyard.

Yazaki Momo adjusted her frameless glasses; she was accustomed to the strange looks from men. Scanning the room, she unexpectedly found two ’familiar faces’ in the office—the handsome young man wasn’t looking at her chest, but at her head.

...Is there something on my head?

Yazaki Momo instinctively looked up, only to see the ceiling fan creaking.

The officers regained their senses and watched as Yamaguchi Takashi proactively approached to chat. He was like a diligent salesman, enthusiastically promoting recent solved cases to the newcomer criminal news reporter, such as the Little Pen River murder case, the Akiyamacho mass brawl case, and the Laughing Phantom thief case... checking which cases could serve as material for the reporter’s stories to publicize.

"Hmm, they all seem quite ordinary," Yazaki Momo noted down a line of case names with little interest on a sticky note: "Anything else?"

In these eight months, she rose through the ranks, leveraging her efforts and a bit of small capital, advancing from a three-rate local newspaper in Hokkaido to a mainstream media company in Tokyo, acquiring the journalist club’s qualification certificate.

Currently, she is still an intern, only able to cover leftover stories unwanted by her predecessors. As long as she can secure a headline during her internship, she could be immediately confirmed; otherwise, she would have to endure six months before signing a contract. Intern salaries are quite meager; she’s currently operating at a loss, essentially paying to work.

But finding a headline-worthy story is no easy task! Last time she managed to secure regular status was purely due to lucky finds; how could such dramatic "Heavenly Punishment" blood-letter cases fall into her lap every time...

"I have one!"

Minamoto Tamako suddenly raised her hand and said.

The officers present were shocked, fearing she was about to cause trouble. Yamaguchi Takashi gave a queasy smile, apologizing to the reporter, claiming negligent supervision of his subordinates. He quickly turned with a changed countenance, darkly ushering the two out: "Rush off, rush off, don’t cause chaos here—"

Yazaki Momo signaled Yamaguchi Takashi to be quiet; she first glanced at Fushimi Roku, then softly asked Minamoto Tamako if she had any cases worth reporting.

Minamoto Tamako seized the opportunity to recount the apartment ghost shadow incident in detail. The more Yazaki Momo listened, the brighter her eyes grew. Her pen shook wildly in her grip, and soon she had filled four or five pages with notes.

A fleeting and bizarre ghost shadow, terrifying legends within the apartment building, a genius patrol police oppressed, a madwoman protecting her child fearlessly... If this case could be successfully cracked, it would undoubtedly be headline news!

"This is evidently a missing person case."

Yazaki Momo gave Yamaguchi Takashi a sidelong glance, her glasses reflecting a cold light: "Can I ask, Mr. Yamaguchi, why you disagree with opening an investigation? I don’t quite understand the law, but isn’t protecting citizens the duty of the criminal police? Didn’t Mr. Yamaguchi want to provide material? I will follow up on this case, and I ask for everyone’s guidance."