Chapter 7: Madam, Please Mind Your Conduct—The Greedy Xiu Xin (End of Month Vote Requested)

The Nohara family home was decorated in a purely Japanese style. After removing his shoes at the entrance, Ayane Nohara led Shunobu Aoyama into a tatami room near the rear garden, where a tea set was already arranged—this room was clearly reserved for entertaining guests.

“Please, Mr. Aoyama, have a seat,” said Ayane Nohara, raising her hand slightly in invitation. She knelt gracefully opposite him, her back straight as she began to prepare the tea with meticulous care.

Only then did Shunobu Aoyama sit down, surveying the room before sighing, “I expect Mr. Nohara often received guests here in his lifetime. His sudden passing is truly regrettable and heartbreaking. Please accept my condolences.”

As he finished speaking, he bowed his head slightly.

“My husband's death was definitely not an accident!” Ayane Nohara raised her voice in protest, but realizing her lapse in composure, she quickly subdued herself. She wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, biting her lip, and spoke with a choked voice, “Forgive me, I lost my manners. But he was certainly killed by someone with malicious intent. Mr. Aoyama, I beg you, please uncover the truth and restore justice for my late husband.”

With that, she set aside the tea utensils, pressed her palms to her thighs, bowed deeply, and wept softly. The slightly open collar revealed a hint of pale, delicate skin.

“Oh? You seem so certain, madam. There must be someone you suspect,” Shunobu Aoyama said, admiring the view before him, his expression unchanged.

So large, so white, so tender!

That single glance left him musing over Mrs. Nohara, despite his usual detachment.

Ayane Nohara looked up, her face streaked with tears, and sobbed, “It must be the Noguchi Association. My husband's company always entrusted debt collection to them. But as business grew these past two years, they became greedier, even scheming to take over our business. I personally heard the association’s president, Matsuo Noguchi, threatening my husband over the phone. Who else could it be?”

The Noguchi Association was a secondary organization under the Sumiyoshi-kai, one of Japan's largest crime syndicates. Matsuo Noguchi, the president, was a core member of Sumiyoshi-kai, known for his violent temper.

The structure of Japanese crime syndicates resembled a pyramid scheme: the main syndicate acted as the headquarters, with numerous secondary and tertiary branches—these subsidiary leaders often held posts at the headquarters.

“Matsuo Noguchi, I’ll remember that name.” Shunobu Aoyama nodded, indicating he would investigate, then asked, “Did Mr. Nohara meet anyone unusual before the incident, or show any abnormal emotions?”

“No,” Ayane Nohara shook her head, speaking softly. “He left for work in the morning as usual. Since he often had business dinners, I wasn’t concerned when he didn’t return that night. I never imagined…”

She covered her mouth, tears flowing before she could finish her sentence.

“Did Mr. Nohara know Detective Hiroshi Yamamoto from our Criminal Division?” Aoyama continued.

Yamamoto had shown signs of dishonesty, prompting Aoyama to suspect whether he might have killed Nohara Takeshi.

After all, investigation is a process of elimination—boldly speculating every possibility, then ruling them out one by one.

“Hiroshi Yamamoto?” Ayane Nohara was taken aback, her expression thoughtful as she slowly shook her head. “No, at least he never mentioned that name to me. Of course, he rarely told me about his external affairs, so it’s possible he knew him. It’s the nature of the lending business—survival in the margins, dealing with both sides of the law.”

“Heh, survival in the margins? You’re too modest, madam.” Aoyama picked up his teacup and took a sip, his words laced with meaning. “This villa can’t have been cheap. Mr. Nohara must have made a fortune.”

At this, Ayane Nohara became visibly nervous. She bit her lip, fidgeting in her seat as she stared at Aoyama for a moment. Then she turned, opened a nearby drawer, and took out a thick stack of yen notes, bowing her head and presenting them with both hands. Her voice faltered, “Mr. Aoyama, you’ve worked hard investigating my husband’s case. This is a small token—please, please accept it, I beg you!”

Clearly, Nohara Takeshi had kept her out of business affairs while alive; otherwise, she wouldn’t be so awkward in her attempt at bribery. Yet her action indicated she was trying to continue managing the family business.

“Smack!” Aoyama struck the money aside in one swift motion.

The scattered banknotes fluttered across the floor.

Ayane Nohara looked up in shock, her eyes wide with confusion and fear, frozen in place.

“Fool!” Aoyama shouted angrily, slamming the table as he rose. His face was full of fury. “What are you doing? I only spoke with you out of sympathy for your situation—your husband dead, you alone and struggling. Yet you try to bribe me?”

“What kind of person do you take me for? You insult not only me, but the laws of Japan! You trample on my dignity as a police officer! Forgive my rudeness, but I must take my leave.”

With that, he turned to go.

“Mr. Aoyama!” Ayane Nohara panicked, instinctively rising and grabbing his hand.

Aoyama stopped, glanced at her hand, his expression cold. “Madam, please behave yourself.”

“S-sorry.” Ayane Nohara released his hand as if burned, stepped back and bowed, her face flushed with shame and embarrassment. “Forgive me, I meant no insult. I…I…”

She struggled to finish a sentence, on the verge of tears. Tears shimmered in her eyes, and she knelt suddenly, bowing deeply with her hands on the floor, her hips raised high. “Sumimasen! Please forgive me.”

The posture made her shapely figure strain against her kimono, accentuating her curves.

“Madam, your apology lacks sincerity,” Aoyama said, looking down at her. “Don’t you know an apology requires showing your bust?”

“Huh?” Ayane Nohara looked up in bewilderment and shock, her face as red as a boiled shrimp.

Perhaps it was a difference in customs.

In her hometown, apologies didn’t require exposing one’s chest!

“I’m joking. Rest assured, madam, I don’t know how many police accept bribes, but I am not like them! Even without taking your money, I will do my utmost to uncover the truth behind your husband’s death,” Aoyama said, his expression righteous and resolute. He took out a business card, placed it on the table, and bowed respectfully. “I’ll take my leave. If you face any difficulties, contact me anytime. Don’t hesitate, and please don’t encourage any further wrongdoing.”

With that, he left without looking back.

Ayane Nohara stared blankly at Aoyama’s departing figure, deeply shaken. Since her husband started the lending company, countless police and officials had come and gone, all eager for handouts.

This was the most upright police officer she had ever met. So much money had been placed before him, and he was utterly unmoved—truly different from the others.

Shunobu Aoyama was indeed different. What was the point in being greedy for such a paltry sum?

If he were to take, he would take everything!

Others sought only eggs from the Nohara Finance Corporation, but he desired the entire chicken—both meat and eggs.

The lending company entangled many complicated figures. With Nohara Takeshi dead, organizations like the Noguchi Association, which had long coveted Nohara Finance, surely wouldn’t sit idly by.

From Ayane Nohara’s reactions, it was clear that although she wished to continue running the company and safeguard her husband’s legacy, her experience was insufficient to face the troubles that would soon arise.

When she was cornered, confronted by the evil of human nature, she would surely recall the righteous, virtuous, and incorruptible Officer Aoyama from today.

And even if she didn’t seek help, Aoyama would take the initiative to reappear and offer his assistance.

Then, it would be his turn to bare his fangs.

Leaving the Nohara home, Aoyama glanced back at the villa and smiled, revealing two rows of neat, white teeth.

“Beep beep~ Beep beep~”

His pager suddenly rang at his waist.

He took it out—Ayaka Asai was paging him.

Aoyama found a nearby phone booth and called her back. “Chief Asai, it’s Aoyama.”

“Aoyama-kun, I’ve got the security footage from Paradise Karaoke three days ago. There’s something—are you finished on your end?” Asai’s voice was tinged with excitement.

“All done. Let’s meet at the station.”

“Right!”