Chapter 82: In a fit of anger, he got angry for a moment

It is said that life is a series of rises and falls.

But the truth is more like rises and falls and falls and falls...

Shinji Kaneshiro had only just run into trouble over a report that he had taken five hundred thousand dollars in bribes when the next storm arrived in quick succession: Kyoko Kitano had gone to the police and accused him of trying to coerce and bribe her into framing and persecuting Hideo Aoyama.

The news caused an uproar at the Metropolitan Police Department.

Yet everyone believed it. After all, Kaneshiro bore a grudge because Aoyama had taken his place.

He had every motive.

Once greed takes hold, anything becomes plausible.

And Kaneshiro, who had already been placed under control, knew nothing of this. In his rage and panic, in order to make Ichise Eguchi believe that Aoyama had motive to set him up, he repeated what Kitano had told him.

“Aoyama wanted to help Osamu Watanabe cover up the scandal of vote solicitation being photographed for blackmail, and he also wanted a quick solve to earn credit, so he coerced and bribed Kitano into pleading guilty. When I realized this and wanted to dig deeper into the truth, he must have set a trap to frame me for bribery, trying to cut down the threat I posed!”

Kaneshiro slammed the table and shouted with mounting agitation, “It was all Aoyama Hideo’s conspiracy!”

You fools have all been played by him!

“Finished?” Eguchi asked coolly, arms folded, his tone light as drifting clouds. Then, without waiting for an answer, he let a contemptuous smile appear. “If you’re done, I’ll tell you the latest news.”

Kaneshiro froze.

The other man’s reaction was utterly unlike what he had expected.

At once he realized that something must have changed without his knowing, and unease twisted in his gut.

“Half an hour ago, the very Kitano Kyoka you claim came to you pleading injustice reported that you tried to pressure and bribe her into helping you frame Inspector Aoyama,” Eguchi said, shaking his head. Both hands pressed on the tabletop, he leaned forward. “At first I didn’t really believe such a claim without evidence. But now, after hearing your words, it seems Kitano told the truth. Chief Inspector Kaneshiro, power has blinded your eyes. Embezzlement, colluding with criminals, framing a superior—what a disgrace to the Metropolitan Police Department!”

Boom.

Kaneshiro’s mind exploded at once.

As though struck by lightning, he sat there with his mouth open, unable to speak for a long moment. Then his eyes reddened all at once, and his heart filled with grievance and fury.

He had investigated the truth in depth, yes, to strike at Aoyama Hideo—but also to help Kitano clear his name and restore his innocence. Never in his wildest imagination had he thought that bastard would stab his benefactor in the back.

He had finally tried to be a good man and do one good deed, and this was the end of it?

“Bastard!”

Kaneshiro was furious for a moment and then furious again.

Just as he had tried to rise, the two men behind him pressed down on his shoulders, one on each side, forcing him back into his seat.

“I’ve been wronged! I’ve made contributions to the Metropolitan Police Department! I’ve spilled blood for the Metropolitan Police Department! I want to see the Commissioner! I want to see the Commissioner!” Kaneshiro struggled fiercely to get up, roaring at Eguchi.

Eguchi wiped the splatter of spittle from his face with some distaste, then stood and slapped Kaneshiro hard across the cheek. Grabbing him by the hair, he said, “Those criminals are your achievements. A man like you is my achievement. The way you dealt with those criminals is the way I’ll deal with you. So once I’ve got my eyes on you, don’t even think about struggling. Confess properly!”

Not to mention that the evidence for Kaneshiro’s bribery was already conclusive; even if there were no evidence, he would still make the case stick. After all, they had already offended the man—could they still let him go?

That was how they worked. Without absolute certainty, they would not make a move. But once they did, they would stop at nothing to turn the target into their own merit.

As for whether Kaneshiro had been deliberately set up, what did that matter to him? A piece of credit delivered right to his door—why would he refuse it? Besides, Kaneshiro had certainly taken bribes before; arresting him would be no injustice.

These officials who looked respectable on the outside—if you lined them all up and shot them, there would surely be some wrongly killed. But if you shot one and skipped one, then there would certainly be some who slipped through the net.

At the same time, in the office of the Murder Suspect Investigation Division—

“No wonder Kaneshiro went straight to the crime scene after meeting Kitano Kyoka the other day. He must have wanted to tamper with something there and use it as a wedge to scheme against you, Chief Deputy.” Sakamoto Ryosai said indignantly.

“He really is the type you can’t judge by appearance. Just now the Chief Deputy was even defending him, but who would have thought he had already been secretly preparing to frame the Chief Deputy.”

“The evil in people’s hearts is simply beyond imagining. I really never saw that he was this sort of man...”

The others quickly joined in. Now that Kaneshiro was completely finished, they naturally had no need to hold back. And Aoyama Hideo’s earlier defense of Kaneshiro had won them over as well, so they seized the chance to denounce him fiercely and prove their loyalty.

Only Takizawa Amura remained unmoved. Looking at the refined, courteous Aoyama Hideo surrounded by the others, he felt a chill in his hands and feet despite the summer heat.

Because he understood Kaneshiro well, he believed that the man had fallen into Aoyama Hideo’s trap.

What was terrifying was that Aoyama Hideo, though seeming quiet and unassuming, had in fact struck with bloodletting precision. He had not only schemed against Kaneshiro, but had also won himself an excellent reputation in the process.

Such a man was far too sinister, far too despicable.

“Enough, enough. No more of him. The law will deal with him. Defending him was merely what a superior ought to do.” Aoyama Hideo raised a hand to cut off the others, then said, “Back to your work.”

“Yes, sir!”

The others dispersed at once—some to their paperwork, others out to the field.

Aoyama Hideo also returned to his seat.

Just then, Takizawa Amura came over.

“Takizawa, is it? What is it?” Aoyama Hideo looked up with a smile as warm as spring sunshine.

Takizawa Amura, however, felt his scalp prickle. He swallowed, forcing down his anxiety, drew a deep breath, and bowed. “Chief Deputy, I don’t think I’m very suited to work on the murder suspect investigation. I’d like to transfer to another department. I wonder if you might have any suggestions?”

In his eyes, Aoyama Hideo was the sort of dog that did not bark, yet bit painfully hard. He did not think he, as Kaneshiro’s close friend, would be spared.

So it was better to be sensible and get out on his own.

“What about Shinjuku Police Station? I worked there before, and the atmosphere was quite good. It should suit you well.” Aoyama Hideo offered the suggestion warmly.

Takizawa Amura pressed his lips together. “Yes, sir! I’ll write up my request and submit it to Inspector Hattori right away.”

With that, he bowed and left.

Aoyama Hideo smiled faintly. If everyone were that sensible, why would a good man like him ever be driven to use such schemes and stratagems to harm people?

So those he had dealt with ought to reflect carefully on themselves, rather than only blaming and cursing him.

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

“Was all that some scheme of yours?”

After work, Asai Aya deliberately stayed behind. Once the office was empty save for Aoyama Hideo, she stepped forward and asked.

“That’s a word for villains.” Aoyama Hideo corrected her. “More accurately, I anticipated the enemy’s move, and with wisdom I thwarted and shattered the enemy’s plot, preserving myself so I could serve the people.”

“Heh.” Asai Aya answered with an eye-roll.

Was there ever a righteous man who coerced his superior into offering himself up?

She had only ever seen that sort of plot in smut films.

Aoyama Hideo changed the subject. “Kaneshiro is finished already, and Takizawa Amura is preparing to apply for a transfer on his own. That makes two vacancies. Move quickly and get Ryoichi Fujimoto and Shinichi Nakamura transferred into the Metropolitan Police Department.”

Without his own claws and teeth to act as a tiger’s accomplices, doing things was always a little constrained. If Fujimoto Ryoichi and Nakamura Shinichi were here, Kaneshiro would have been dealt with long ago.

“Got it.” Asai Aya, as a superior, had already grown used to being commanded by her subordinate. After answering, she turned and headed out. “I’m off for today. See you tomorrow.”

“Approved. See you tomorrow.”

Aoyama Hideo did not go home. Instead, he arranged to meet Ichijo Yamakawa. The automatic loan machines were already beginning preparations for mass production, and after the Upper House election ended in July, they were expected to be officially deployed throughout Tokyo.

At present, the largest players in the consumer lending market were Takefuji and the Yamaguchi family. Once the automatic loan machines appeared, the first impact would fall on those two interests.

The industry had been born with blood and violence at its side. There would certainly be many bloody clashes when the time came. Even with the backing of Kenyu Hikawa, that would only give him the courage to face Takefuji and the Yamaguchi family directly; it did not mean the other side could be subdued without a fight.

After all, although Hikawa Kenyu was the grandson of the chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, that did not mean Takefuji and the Yamaguchi family had no one shielding them.

And once violent competition began, the Yamakawa family alone could not withstand it. That was why Aoyama Hideo wanted Yamakawa Ichijo to arrange a meeting with Masao Hori, the president of the Sumiyoshi Alliance.

Although Yamanishi Hideo had assumed the chairmanship of the Sumiyoshi Alliance in February of the previous year, on some important matters the retired emperor Hori Masao still made the decisions.

Sigh. One could only say that for the sake of bringing welfare to the Japanese people, this Aoyama fellow was working himself to the bone.

The meeting took place at an upscale restaurant.

By the time Yamakawa Ichijo arrived, Aoyama Hideo was already eating. At the private room door, he bowed toward Aoyama Hideo, who was dining heartily within. “Mr. Aoyama.”

“Congratulations, Chairman Yamakawa.” Aoyama Hideo swallowed the food in his mouth and smiled faintly at him.

He had not paid close attention, but he had learned from Fujimoto Ryoichi of Yamakawa Ichijo’s coup.

Yamakawa Ichijo said, “It was all thanks to your care.”

“Help me arrange it. I want to meet the president of the Sumiyoshi Alliance, Masao Hori, as soon as possible,” Aoyama Hideo said. He had already eaten nearly enough, so he set down his chopsticks, took up his napkin, and wiped his mouth. Then he added, “If he tries to brush me off, tell him I am meeting him on behalf of the Hikawa family.”

Hori Masao became the fifth head of the Sumiyoshi Alliance in 1967, when the organization was still called the Sumiyoshi Family. He renamed it the Sumiyoshi Federation, and under his leadership the group steadily expanded. By 1988 it had overtaken the Inagawa family to become the largest yakuza organization in eastern Japan.

As a legendary figure in the Japanese underworld—just like those women who adore black men, always surrounded by only the elite—he would never place a mere inspector like Aoyama Hideo in his eyes. Aoyama did not even have the资格 to request an audience with Hori Masao, so he had to invoke the banner of the Hikawa family.

“Yes, sir!” Yamakawa Ichijo had originally found the request troublesome, but upon hearing the words Hikawa family, he readily agreed. Then he said, “Mr. Aoyama, although the Yamakawa family is weak, we are willing to bleed our last drop for you!”

He feared that if Aoyama Hideo could cooperate directly with a big shot like Hori Masao, the Yamakawa family would be abandoned.

“I know your loyalty, Ichijo,” Aoyama Hideo said with a calm smile. He beckoned him over. When the man leaned forward, he patted his shoulder and said, “It’s just that this matter is beyond what you can handle, but there will be a chance for you to spill blood. I’m looking forward to your performance.”

Hori Masao would not give him face, only the Hikawa family. But the Yamakawa family was truly obedient to him. He would not let himself float so high just because he could speak to Hori Masao by borrowing the tiger’s skin of the Hikawa family, only to abandon the Yamakawa family he had personally cultivated.

“Yes, sir!” Yamakawa Ichijo answered. The yakuza were not afraid of bloodshed, because bloodshed often meant profit.

“If there’s news, let me know.” Aoyama Hideo picked up his glass of water, rinsed his mouth, then stood and left with his coat in hand.

Yamakawa Ichijo bowed deeply. “Please take care on your way!”

Only then did he straighten up and call the waiter over to settle the bill.