Chapter Eighty: How Much Are You Willing to Pay to Make Me Leave Her?

At dawn, Aoyama Shushin, who had returned late the night before after picking mushrooms at the Yono residence, was jolted awake by a ringing telephone.

"Hello?" he answered groggily.

"Deputy Director, this is Sakai Ryosai," the caller said, first identifying himself before continuing, "I heard that Inspector Kinjou went yesterday to the scene where Mikami Masako was murdered, and that before he went he met with Kitano Keika."

"Mm." Aoyama Shushin did not seem troubled.

Sakai Ryosai grew anxious and, without thinking, raised his voice. "Deputy Director, this case is about to go to trial, and yet Inspector Kinjou is still investigating it. He's clearly refusing to accept your findings. He's coming for you, trying to attack you by overturning the case."

Inspector Aoyama was far too upright and innocent to understand the darkness and savagery of official life. No wonder he had once been framed and sent away; if not for his formidable abilities, he would never have made it back to the Metropolitan Police Department in this lifetime.

Sigh. He truly feared that the kind and righteous Inspector Aoyama would be taken advantage of. Sakai Ryosai felt he was worrying himself to death.

"Ryosai, Inspector Kinjou does have some opinions about me, but we're colleagues. It can't be as bad as you imagine," Aoyama Shushin said, fully awake now, arranging his thoughts as he spoke. "Besides, if he really can uncover a result different from mine, that only means I arrested the wrong person. That would be a good thing."

"But..." From the standpoint of justice, Sakai Ryosai felt Aoyama Shushin was right. But he knew Kinjou Heiji was absolutely not a righteous man.

He clearly did not understand Aoyama Shushin.

Aoyama Shushin cut him off. "All right, no more of this. Thank you for your concern, but I stand straight and fear no shadow. I can withstand any test."

With that, he hung up, got out of bed, dressed, washed, and prepared to meet Kitano Keika.

Kinjou Heiji was indeed rather sharp.

Unfortunately, Aoyama Shushin would not give him the chance to keep investigating. He would also use this to strike him from the shadows.

On the other end, hearing the dial tone through the handset while he ate breakfast with his family, Sakai Ryosai sighed and looked up at his father and elder brother, who were staring at him.

"Deputy Director Aoyama is just too kind. He doesn't understand the evil in human nature at all. I'm really afraid he'll end up making the same mistake again."

President Sakai and Sakai Dairo exchanged a glance.

Are we talking about the same Aoyama Shushin?

"Well now, Father, Brother, you don't think so?" Sakai Ryosai caught their thoughts from their reactions and immediately bristled, reminding them, "He even saved our factory. Isn't that proof enough of his goodness?"

As a legendary figure who had repeatedly distinguished himself and fought his way back into the Metropolitan Police Department, and who had also saved his family's factory, Aoyama Shushin was now his idol.

No one was allowed to question his character!

"Ahem, you're right, Ryosai," President Sakai said with a nod. Then he changed tone. "Good people are rewarded. Mr. Aoyama won't be so easily outmaneuvered by a few petty schemers."

"Exactly, exactly. Ryosai, Mr. Aoyama is a man of great wisdom. Worry less about him and just do as he says," Sakai Dairo added.

"No. I can't just sit still and do nothing!" Sakai Ryosai set down his bowl and chopsticks and hurried outside. "A man must repay kindness. The Deputy Director is too good-hearted and gives human nature too much credit, but I have to do something for him."

"Hey... at least finish eating before you go!" Mrs. Sakai called after him helplessly, but the only answer was the slam of the front door opening and then shutting hard.

Sakai Dairo looked at President Sakai with concern. "Father... Ryosai seems to have a misunderstanding about Mr. Aoyama's character. Is that all right?"

Though he was grateful to Aoyama Shushin himself, he also knew very well that the man was absolutely not the sort of kind, naive soul his younger brother imagined. Damn it, how on earth could those two words be used to describe Mr. Aoyama? It was absurd.

"It's fine. This is actually rather good. Maybe Mr. Aoyama will think more highly of him because of it," President Sakai said with a smile, adding, "After all, there aren't many as simple and easy to fool as our Ryosai."

At first, he had not expected that his youngest son would turn out to be Aoyama Shushin's subordinate, but he trusted that Aoyama Shushin would never treat Sakai Ryosai unfairly.

Kitano Keika had originally thought that the one coming to see him today would still be Kinjou Heiji, and had even hoped he had truly found a clue that could help clear his name.

But the moment he was brought into the interrogation room by two policemen and saw Aoyama Shushin, his heart turned cold.

"Kitano-kun, long time no see," Aoyama Shushin said with a faint smile, waving the two policemen away.

With a soft thud, Kitano Keika dropped to his knees. He crawled on all fours to Aoyama Shushin's feet, clutched his leg, looked up, and tremblingly said, "I didn't tell Kinjou Heiji anything! Really, I swear, I swear!"

"Look at you, what's there to be afraid of? I'm not some man-eating monster," Aoyama Shushin said kindly as he helped him up and seated him in a chair. Smiling, he went on, "But to keep you from indulging in foolish fantasies and making choices that hurt you, there is something I should tell you: don't pin your hopes on Kinjou Heiji. He's almost finished too. By the time this is over, he may well end up sharing a bunk with you."

Kitano Keika's face went deathly pale.

"Help me out with something, and I won't hold what you told him against you," Aoyama Shushin said, his smile fading.

Kitano Keika nodded rapidly. "Hai! Hai!"

"This is what I want you to do..." Aoyama Shushin laid out his plan. When he finished, he added, "If you do this, it counts as a contribution. You might even get your sentence reduced."

Kitano Keika's expression shifted uneasily, his eyes clouded with pain as he wrestled with the decision. In the end, he closed his eyes and nodded in agreement.

Aoyama Shushin smiled and patted his shoulder.

"Good. A wise man knows when to yield to circumstances."

Early that morning, Kinjou Heiji once again came to the scene of the crime, searching every corner carefully with a flashlight.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps.

When he came out of the bedroom, he saw Sakai Ryosai enter wearing shoe covers and gloves. He frowned at once. "Sakai, what are you doing here?"

"Deputy Director Aoyama asked me to come and inspect the scene again," Sakai Ryosai said, summoning his courage and looking him straight in the eye.

Kinjou Heiji looked skeptical. "Aoyama Shushin sent you? The case has already been submitted for review."

"Yes, and aren't you here too, Inspector Kinjou?" Sakai Ryosai replied matter-of-factly.

Kinjou Heiji snorted and ignored him, going back to his own search for clues.

But soon he could not bear it any longer, because wherever he went, Sakai Ryosai went too.

And he never stopped chattering.

"Inspector, found anything?"

"Inspector, why don't you stand up and let me take a look?"

"Inspector, your butt looks so round when you're squatting..."

"Idiot! What exactly are you trying to do?" Kinjou Heiji roared, glaring at Sakai Ryosai. "Did that Aoyama Shushin send you here to cause trouble? Hah! He's getting nervous, isn't he?"

"Inspector, what are you talking about? I don't understand a word you're saying," Sakai Ryosai said, pretending to be foolish.

Kinjou Heiji's face darkened with fury. He pointed at the doorway and barked, "Get out right now!"

"I'm sorry, Inspector. I have to carry out Deputy Director Aoyama's orders!" Sakai Ryosai declared loudly.

Breathing hard, Kinjou Heiji pointed at him, then gritted his teeth and stormed off.

"Fine! If you won't leave, I will!"

"Safe journey, Inspector!" Sakai Ryosai called after him with a deep bow. Only when he could no longer hear the footsteps did he let out a breath, wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, and step outside to say to the officers guarding the scene, "You've all been at it long enough. Take a break. I'll stand watch for you tonight. The case is almost wrapped up anyway, so nothing will happen."

At one in the morning, Kinjou Heiji returned to the crime scene under cover of darkness. Aoyama Shushin's arrangement for Sakai Ryosai to interfere only proved he was guilty of something, and that only further confirmed he had been searching in the right direction. He would not give up.

The moment he stepped out of the elevator, a beam from a flashlight struck his face, forcing him to close his eyes and raise a hand to shield them.

"Who goes there?" he demanded.

"Inspector, you're here again?" Sakai Ryosai called, walking toward him with the flashlight.

Seeing that Sakai Ryosai was still there, Kinjou Heiji felt as though ten thousand wild horses were galloping through his chest.

His face darkened. Without saying a word, he turned and left.

"Inspector, Inspector Kinjou, you're leaving already?"

"Safe journey, Inspector!"

Monday.

The first thing Aoyama Shushin did after getting up was draw back the curtains to let in the morning air, then wash up and head downstairs.

His sister-in-law was, as always, already at the dining table in her apron, arranging breakfast like a perfectly timed nonplayer character.

"Good morning, sis," he said.

"Good morning, Shushin," Aoyama Shunko replied with a bright smile, her voice clear and pleasant. "Today's meal is lavish as well. I promise that once you've finished, you'll feel full of energy and able to work even better."

"Then thank you, sis. You rise every day so early just to prepare breakfast for me." Aoyama Shushin returned her smile. Her dress seemed a little short today; beneath the apron the hem was hidden from view, leaving only a pair of beautiful legs shaped by flesh-colored stockings, giving the impression that there was nothing at all beneath the apron. So alluring it made one feel full just looking at it. Why eat breakfast at all?

After enjoying the sight of his sister-in-law with his meal, Aoyama Shushin drove to the Metropolitan Police Department for work. It was Children's Day today, but he clearly had no holiday, since he was already old enough to make children.

"Aoyama Inspector, let's talk."

Just after he got out of the car, a voice came from behind him. He turned and saw a young man of handsome features and steady bearing standing beside a black Lexus sedan, watching him.

"You are..." Aoyama Shushin walked over.

The young man answered, "Asai Takeyoshi. I'm Asai Aya's elder brother. Are you free to talk now?"

"Yes." Aoyama Shushin bowed in acknowledgment.

Asai Takeyoshi said, "Please get in."

After the two of them got into the car, Asai Takeyoshi's secretary drove out of the Metropolitan Police Department parking lot.

"Aoyama Inspector, I won't beat around the bush. I hope you'll leave Aya. It'll be better for both of you," Asai Takeyoshi said. He did not ask about the relationship between Aoyama Shushin and Asai Aya, but went straight to his demand, which showed he already knew about their affair.

His tone was still fairly courteous, but the condescension of command could not be concealed.

Aoyama Shushin nodded. "All right. How much are you planning to pay me to leave her?"

"Ah?" Asai Takeyoshi froze, then suddenly turned to stare at him in astonishment and disbelief.

Aoyama Shushin remained calm. "I said I can leave her, but I want one hundred million yen as compensation."

"Aoyama Inspector really is a man who knows when to yield. Money won't be a problem," Asai Takeyoshi said as soon as he recovered. The look in his eyes grew even more contemptuous as he added dismissively, "Looks like I overestimated you."

Though his purpose was to make Aoyama Shushin stay away from Asai Aya, seeing his sister fall for someone like this still left him irritated.

"Then please pull over here. I still have to work," Aoyama Shushin said with a faint smile, showing no trace of anger at the mockery.

As he watched Aoyama Shushin's departing figure through the window for a while, Asai Takeyoshi shook his head, took a recording pen from his pocket, and called Asai Aya on his handset.

"Aya, your judgment of people really isn't very good. Let me play you something."