Chapter 126: Shuichi Asou's Assistance and Raising False Alarms

Outside a certain izakaya in Kabukicho.

"Why did you choose this place?" Aoyama Hidenobu asked, frowning at the izakaya in front of him after getting out of the car.

At a single glance, this place was clearly an establishment with hostesses.

"Senior Aso chose it," Asai Aya replied, stepping out right after him. She asked, "Don't you like it? Don't all you men love places like this?"

"Don't generalize; I never come to places like this," Aoyama Hidenobu said with complete composure, then strode into the izakaya.

As soon as he stepped inside, a bevy of brightly dressed women beamed with smiles, rushing to greet him one after another.

"Welcome, Aoyama-san."

"Good evening, Aoyama-san, please come this way."

Asai Aya: ".........."

Is this what you call someone who never comes to places like this?

They look at you just like a family member returning home.

Aoyama Hidenobu mentally cried injustice. He truly never frequented such places, but he instantly guessed that this restaurant must be a property of the Yamakawa family, and that Ichijo Yamakawa must have given instructions beforehand.

"We have an appointment. With Shuichi Aso."

"Hai! Aoyama-san, please follow me."

A waiter led Aoyama Hidenobu and Asai Aya to a private dining room, knocked on the door, and said politely, "Sir, your guests have arrived."

"Yosh! Let them in."

"Hai!" The waiter slid open the paper shoji door.

Inside, Aoyama Hidenobu saw a chubby middle-aged man around forty years old with a round face, currently tucking into a hearty meal.

He hadn't even ordered any hostesses.

Wasn't choosing this place a waste then?

"Senior Aso," Asai Aya bowed deeply.

Aoyama Hidenobu bowed along with her. "Senior."

"Ah, Aya, Aoyama-kun, please sit." Shuichi Aso pointed to the seats opposite him, waved his hand to signal the waiter to close the door, and said with a smile, "I was a bit hungry, so I didn't wait for you. You don't mind, do you?"

"Of course not. It just shows that Senior doesn't treat us like outsiders," Asai Aya smiled.

Shuichi Aso laughed heartily, pointed at Asai Aya, and said, "Aya, your tongue is still as sweet as ever."

Aoyama Hidenobu agreed with that sentiment. Asai Aya's mouth was indeed sweet—probably due to her lipstick.

"Senior Aso, the reason I asked to meet you today is that I want to learn some details about the 1990 serial murder case from you," Aoyama Hidenobu said, raising his glass.

"I know, Aya already mentioned it on the phone." Shuichi Aso nodded, picked up a tissue to wipe his mouth, and said, "Actually, the case files record everything in great detail, but I do have some new thoughts and clues I can share with you."

With that, he turned, took a thick document envelope out of his briefcase, and handed it to Aoyama Hidenobu.

"Although this case is no longer under active investigation, I've personally kept pondering over it. These are some of my thoughts from the past two years. Now that you've taken it over, Aoyama-kun, I hope it can be of some help to you."

"Hai! Thank you very much, Senior Aso." Aoyama Hidenobu accepted the document envelope with both hands. Instead of opening it immediately, he extended an invitation, "Since Senior has also been haunted by this case, and now the Metropolitan Police Department has asked me to reopen the investigation, I boldly invite Senior to guide me in solving this case and bring the murderer to justice."

"There's no need for that." Shuichi Aso refused without hesitation, saying with a chuckle, "Reopening the investigation into this case has attracted a lot of attention. Since I couldn't get results back then, I won't steal your thunder now."

He wasn't a fool; naturally, he wouldn't step back into this muddy water. If he accepted Aoyama Hidenobu's invitation, given his rank, he would undoubtedly take the leadership position and become the primary person in charge of the case once again.

If they failed to solve the case, he would essentially be taking the blame for Aoyama Hidenobu—well, he didn't believe for a second that Aoyama Hidenobu could crack the case. Otherwise, of course he wouldn't mind accepting the invitation to share in the credit.

He had an obsession with the case, but he wasn't lacking in reason. Once Aoyama Hidenobu's investigation failed, he could just quietly continue poking around on his own. If he solved it, he would make a sensational debut; if he didn't, no one would ever know.

"What a pity. I was really looking forward to fighting side by side with you, Senior." Aoyama Hidenobu sighed, clutching the document envelope, and said, "In that case, I am willing to bear Senior's expectations and fight alone!"

"Then I, a failed man, wish Aoyama-kun a swift and decisive victory." Shuichi Aso poured himself a glass of sake, raised it, and said loudly.

Aoyama Hidenobu and Asai Aya joined him for this toast.

After three rounds of drinks, Aoyama Hidenobu and Asai Aya took their leave ahead of time, settling the bill on their way out.

Walking out of the izakaya, Asai Aya brushed back a stray lock of hair blown by the wind and sighed, "I didn't expect Senior Aso to be unwilling to get involved. Since that's the case, the pressure will rest entirely on your shoulders. I just hope the materials he gave you can help you crack the case."

"I am already deeply grateful that Senior Aso was willing to share his personal insights and clues from investigating the case privately," Aoyama Hidenobu said.

One shouldn't be greedy. If he actually solved the case, he wouldn't mind mentioning the other man's name.

Aoyama Hidenobu weighed the document envelope in his hand and said, "Let's go, it's getting late. I'll drive you home."

After dropping Asai Aya off at her residence, Aoyama Hidenobu prepared to head home as well, but unexpectedly, his phone rang.

"Moshi moshi, this is Aoyama Hidenobu."

"Aoyama-san, I am Shizuko Matsumoto. I'm so sorry to disturb you so late, but... but I'm really quite scared. Can you come and keep me company tonight?"

Shizuko Matsumoto said in a coquettish voice, accompanied by slight, trembling breaths. She had already thought it through: to be safe, she had to bind herself completely to Aoyama Hidenobu.

That was why she was inviting Aoyama Hidenobu to her home as a guest in the dead of night, hoping to greet him with open arms and make him feel right at home—essentially using her body to pay for insurance.

"Matsumoto-记者, I'll give you an address, you come and find me." Aoyama Hidenobu wasn't going to go over there; after all, how could he know if Shizuko Matsumoto's house was safe?

Although Shizuko Matsumoto felt deeply humiliated and ashamed about proactively throwing herself at him, under the threat of death, she hesitated for a moment before having no choice but to agree, "Hai!"

Half an hour later, inside an executive suite at a five-star hotel, Aoyama Hidenobu had already changed into a bathrobe.

"Knock, knock, knock!" The sound of knocking echoed.

Aoyama Hidenobu walked up and opened the door.

"Aoyama-san." Shizuko Matsumoto, who had meticulously dressed up, bowed deeply. The heaving of her chest showed that her heart was far from calm.

Aoyama Hidenobu didn't rush to let her in; instead, he left her standing at the doorway and carefully looked her up and down.

Her lustrous hair draped over her shoulders, and she wore a light pink slip dress with a low neckline that revealed her perfectly shaped assets. The long hem of the dress parted just enough to reveal flesh-toned stockings wrapping around her ankles, set off by a pair of high heels.

"Ao... Aoyama-san, can—can you let me in first?" Shizuko Matsumoto said weakly.

She was terrified that someone might witness this scene.

The corners of Aoyama Hidenobu's lips curled into a wicked smile. "Then can Matsumoto-san let me in?"

Shizuko Matsumoto's face instantly flushed crimson, a mix of shame and anger churning inside her as she gripped her handbag tighter and tighter.

Finally, she bowed deeply once more. "Hai!"

She felt as though she had not a shred of dignity left at this moment.

"Hahahaha, Matsumoto-san, I respect you news reporters the most. Come on in and make yourself at home."

Aoyama Hidenobu pulled her into the room and shut the door.

***

"Aoyama-san, please, slow down... I... I'm begging you, this is my first time."

"I'm still a virgin today too."

If Aoyama Hidenobu wanted to go further, he needed a reliable reporter to speak on his behalf. As his mouthpiece, tonight was the perfect opportunity to test whether the mouthpiece he had found was any good.

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

Just as Aoyama Hidenobu was parting ways with his virginity, Shinichi Nakamura arrived at the Kimuraya residence.

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

He raised a hand and pressed the villa's doorbell.

"Moshi moshi?"

"Kimura-san, I am Shinichi Nakamura from the First Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Department. We've met before. I'd like to talk with you," Nakamura Shinichi spoke into the intercom.

Kazukazu Kimura didn't reply, but the villa gate unlocked. Before Nakamura Shinichi could even step inside, Kazukazu Kimura walked out with a dark, grim expression, wearing only a shirt.

"Kimura..."

Before Nakamura Shinichi could say another word, Kazukazu Kimura grabbed him by the collar, shoved him violently against the villa's exterior wall, and said through gritted teeth, "I already told you, I didn't kill Michiko Ayase! If you have evidence, arrest me. If you need my cooperation for the investigation, make an appointment during my working hours. Right now is my personal time, what are you doing at my house!"

Kazukazu Kimura had a refined appearance and was just over forty years old. Reaching an executive position at a major bank like the Agricultural and Forestry Bank at this age could be considered young and promising.

"Is Kimura-san afraid that your wife will find out you've been keeping a woman behind her back?" Nakamura Shinichi wore a mocking smile as he said, "Could it be that Michiko Ayase demanded you divorce your wife and marry her, and you were afraid the affair would be exposed and your wife would find out, so you killed her?"

He had already investigated thoroughly: the reason Kazukazu Kimura had climbed the corporate ladder so quickly was because he had married the daughter of a board member at the Agricultural and Forestry Bank. Everything he had now was obtained with the help of his father-in-law.

His wife was plain-looking, but precisely because of her appearance, she was extremely jealous and guarded Kazukazu Kimura fiercely. That was why someone of his status had to sneak around just to keep a mistress.

After all, in Japan—or rather, in any country—it was quite normal for people of status and influence to keep mistresses; one could even say it was an open secret.

"What are you talking nonsense about! You'd better stop bothering me!" Kazukazu Kimura snarled viciously.

Nakamura Shinichi smiled faintly and forcefully pried the other man's hands away. "Kimura, I'll be keeping my eyes on you."

With those words, he turned, got into his car, and drove away.

He had intentionally come tonight to flush the bird out of the bush.

As long as Kazukazu Kimura panicked and grew desperate, he might make a wrong move and reveal even more flaws.

"Baka yaro!"

Staring at the retreating form of Nakamura Shinichi's car, Kazukazu Kimura breathed heavily and cursed viciously.

Why was this lunatic keeping his eyes on him?

Once again, he began to doubt whether he had been thorough enough, whether he had truly left no traces behind.

At the same time, he was deeply worried that Nakamura Shinichi might go straight to his wife and tell her everything, which would throw his household into utter chaos.

"Why do you have to be so persistent..."