Chapter 121: Framing and False Accusations, the Helplessness of Genichi Aoi

Aoi Haraichi had been drinking, but he considered his mind clear enough to drive himself home. For someone of his social status and influence, drunk driving was essentially a non-issue. After all, the internet was not as highly developed as it would be decades later, where any incident could be instantly exposed; in this day and age, a single phone call was usually enough to resolve any trouble with traffic police.

He arrived at his car, and just as he took out his keys to open the door, two men suddenly lunged from the shadows, pinning him against the vehicle from both sides, rendering him unable to move.

"What are you doing? Let me go! Let go!"

"Baka! Don't move! We are the police!"

Upon hearing they were police, Aoi stopped struggling instantly. He began to wonder which of his misdeeds had come to light, asking, "Which precinct and department are you from? Why are you arresting me?"

He was not afraid of the police. After all, he was a close friend of the eldest son of the Superintendent General of the Metropolitan Police Department. If one phone call couldn't solve a problem, he would simply make two. Not to mention, his connections extended far beyond Ninpei Taro to include numerous high-ranking officials and politicians; as the editor-in-chief of the political department at the Asahi Shimbun, his influence was significant.

"We are from the Organized Crime Control Division, Firearms and Drugs Section of the Shinjuku Precinct. I am Section Chief Takizawa Mapu. Aoi Haraichi, you have been reported for drug trafficking," Takizawa said, pulling out his badge and tapping it against Aoi's face.

"Drug trafficking?" Aoi’s first reaction was that this was a prank, as it was something he had never done. He was so incensed he laughed, shouting, "Baka! Are you losers incapable of conducting an investigation? You arrest someone just because of a report? What evidence do you have that I’m trafficking drugs? I’m telling you bastards, you are in big trouble!"

He was furious, and he intended for there to be serious consequences.

"It is you, Editor-in-Chief Aoi, who is in trouble." Takizawa gave him a sympathetic look. Why would a media figure risk offending Aoyama Shushin instead of just doing his job? He pulled the car door open, picked up a handbag from the driver's seat, and opened it. "Explain what this is."

Aoi looked down and saw bags filled with white powder. Cold sweat began to pour down his back.

"This isn't mine! It's not! Someone must be framing me! Someone is definitely trying to set me up!" Aoi panicked, offering desperate excuses.

*No kidding, I know it’s not yours; I’m the one who opened your door and put it there,* Takizawa thought to himself, though he said aloud, "It was found in your car. If you say it isn't yours, then what are we police for?"

"Fingerprints! That's it, fingerprints! This bag isn't mine; I’ve never touched it. There are no fingerprints of mine on it!" Aoi said anxiously, believing he had found a way to prove his innocence.

As soon as he finished speaking, Takizawa grabbed his hand and pressed it against the handbag several times, smiling faintly. "Good, there are your fingerprints now."

Aoi stood frozen, staring blankly at Takizawa. By now, he knew exactly who was behind his framing.

"Baka! You dare to frame me? Do you know I am friends with Superintendent General Ninpei's eldest son?"

Takizawa’s expression shifted slightly. *Damn, he really didn't know that.* But it was too late now. The bridge was burned, and he had to see this through to the end to ensure the man had no chance of retaliation. Besides, Aoyama Shushin certainly knew about Aoi’s connection to the Ninpei family; if he dared to proceed regardless, it meant he wasn't afraid. If so, why should he, a mere errand runner, be afraid?

"Frame you? The goods were found in your car, and your fingerprints are on them. The informant who reported you claims to have received goods from you. With both witness testimony and physical evidence, our procedure is reasonable and legal! Save your excuses for the courtroom," Takizawa said with a stern, righteous face before ordering, "Secure the evidence."

"Hai!" A police officer with a camera around his neck took several photos of the scene. Aoi instinctively tried to cover his face in a panic, looking utterly disheveled. Takizawa pulled his hands down.

Aoi stared at Takizawa with venomous resentment. "I want to make a phone call." He naturally wanted to call Ninpei Taro for help.

"Don't be a fool, old man," Takizawa said with a mocking smile. "Do you think the person behind me doesn't know about your connection to the Superintendent General's family? If he knew and still decided to target you, do you think the Superintendent General’s son applying pressure will have any effect?"

Aoi’s expression stiffened, his face turning pale. Listening to the man's tone, it was clear that whoever was behind this didn't care about his relationship with the Ninpei family. With both human and physical evidence planted, if they were determined to ruin him, he wouldn't be able to wash his name clean even if he jumped into Mount Fuji.

He had started as the son of a farmer and worked so hard to reach this position—would it all come to nothing? He refused to accept this result!

*No! Wait! This isn't right!* Perhaps the target wasn't him after all. Could this be an internal power struggle within the Metropolitan Police Department?

"Who is behind you? What do they want? I want to speak to him," Aoi said, grabbing onto this thought like a final straw.

Takizawa waved his hand, signaling his three subordinates to step away, then pushed Aoi into his own car and took out a mobile phone to call Aoyama Shushin. Although he had initially requested to transfer out of the Metropolitan Police Department, that was only out of fear of Aoyama’s retaliation—it didn't mean he actually wanted to leave! So when Fujimoto Ryoichi approached him two days ago, he agreed to cooperate without hesitation. As long as he worked for Aoyama, he would be one of his men, and even if he didn't return to the Metropolitan Police Department, he would have better prospects at the Shinjuku Precinct.

"Inspector Aoyama, this is Takizawa Mapu." Once the call connected, Takizawa spoke with great respect.

Upon hearing the title "Inspector Aoyama," Aoi’s eyes widened in utter disbelief.

"Oh, it's Takizawa-kun. What is the reason for this call?" On the other end, Aoyama Shushin, who was on his way back to Tokyo, paused for a moment before remembering who he was.

Takizawa reported truthfully, "Following Detective Fujimoto's instructions, Aoi Haraichi of the Asahi Shimbun's political department has been arrested for drug trafficking. He wants to speak with you."

"Oh?" Aoyama understood the arrangement immediately. He chuckled softly and said, "Please pass the phone to Editor-in-Chief Aoi."

"Hai!" Takizawa handed the phone to Aoi. "Inspector Aoyama wants to speak with you."

"Aoyama Shushin, what is the meaning of this? We have no grievances between us, why target me!" Aoi grabbed the phone and demanded angrily.

"That's right, no grievances," Aoyama muttered to himself, before his voice suddenly rose in a shout. "You know we have no grievances, so why did you target me? You old bastard, Aoi Haraichi! If you show me no kindness, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Aoi’s face changed. He had only been suspicious before, but now he was certain that Aoyama knew about his collusion with Ninpei Taro. He immediately realized who had leaked the information: Matsumoto Chiko!

"Speak up? Why are you silent? Wasn't Editor-in-Chief Aoi just very angry? Why stop questioning me?" Aoyama mocked.

Aoi was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "This was not my intention. Ninpei Taro has done me favors, and I had no choice. I have fulfilled my debt to him; as long as Inspector Aoyama lets me go, I will never oppose you again."

"Ha, so I should thank you?" Aoyama sneered, his tone dripping with disdain.

Aoi took a deep breath, suppressing his agitation and anger. "Then what exactly do you want?"

"My terms are simple: help me teach Ninpei Taro a lesson," Aoyama said leisurely.

"Impossible!" Aoi refused without hesitation. "Not only are Ninpei Taro and I friends, he has done me favors. Even if I disregarded that and helped you, he would surely retaliate against me afterward."

"I will help you. If I didn't have the means, would I dare to strike at him? With the two of us allied, what is there to fear from his retaliation?" Aoyama said calmly.

Aoi fell silent.

Aoyama snorted coldly. "It seems Editor-in-Chief Aoi would rather sacrifice himself than betray Ninpei Taro. What a loyal soul. In that case, I will grant your wish. Go ahead and wait for your prison sentence."

"Wait!" Sensing that Aoyama was about to hang up, Aoi hurriedly called out, sighing helplessly. "What is your plan? Tell me."

He truly did not want to betray Ninpei Taro, but he was being held by the throat. If it really went to court, the outcome would be disastrous for him regardless.

"It's simple. Arrange a meeting with him, talk about the plot against me, and record the conversation. Then, write an exposé yourself. You will become famous for it," Aoyama said cheerfully.

"No!" Aoi grew anxious at this. "If I record him, who will ever trust me again? What powerful figure would dare to tell me the truth? Is there no other way?"

He was a journalist; if he secretly recorded his conversations, everyone would have to be on guard against him.

"Editor-in-Chief Aoi, regardless of the method, you are going to betray Ninpei Taro. Since you have already betrayed the man who did you favors, do you really expect anyone to trust you? Does recording him or not really make a difference?" Aoyama asked pointedly.

Aoi was speechless. It was true; if he betrayed Ninpei Taro, who would trust him? Did the recording matter? The only consolation was that the common people might see him as a hero of justice. He could just adopt a populist path, build up public support, and eventually enter politics. Anything was better than being ruined by a drug scandal.

"I expect to see the news tomorrow. Please hurry, Editor-in-Chief Aoi. Otherwise, if Ninpei Taro doesn't make the headlines for framing a loyal official, you will make the headlines for drug trafficking," Aoyama said and hung up.

*Beep... beep... beep...*

Listening to the busy tone, Aoi felt exhausted. He handed the phone to Takizawa, attempting one last effort. "Officer Takizawa, a wise man submits to circumstances. If you let me go, I will recommend you to Superintendent General Ninpei. I guarantee it will be more promising than following that man, Aoyama Shushin."

If Takizawa destroyed the photos and the bag of drugs, his crisis would be averted.

"Editor-in-Chief Aoi, I will be sure to tell Inspector Aoyama about this," Takizawa said with a cold, mirthless smile. He didn't believe a word of it. He knew Aoi must hate him to the core. Besides, he was a small fry; Aoyama Shushin was the son-in-law of the Asai family. What good would come of betraying him? The worst thing a person could do was be two-faced and indecisive.

Seeing that Takizawa was unmoved and indifferent, Aoi ran out of options.

"Fine. Take me to see Ninpei Taro."

"You can go yourself. I have to take the evidence back to the precinct," Takizawa refused with a smile; he wasn't that stupid.

Aoi’s last shred of hope was shattered.

"Editor-in-Chief Aoi, you must be obedient. Otherwise, you’ll just be adding a charge of fleeing custody to your list."