Chapter 92: The Photograph in the File Folder, President of the Sumiyoshi-kai (Second Update)

Before finishing work, Hidenobu Aoyama took the hard drive to the technical department for inspection. Sure enough, they found footage of Miya Inoue appearing in the study, and even saw him take a gun from Nakayama’s valuable cabinet.

Well, that’s an upgrade in weaponry.

He’d leapt straight from cold steel to firearms.

Suddenly, he found himself curious—what method would Miya Inoue use next to kill Ryō Miyamoto and Hane Konoe? After all, those two must have taken precautions.

If Inoue wasn’t careful, he might not only fail to kill but could also be outwitted by them.

Hidenobu Aoyama packed up the hard drive and headed home.

When he arrived, his sister-in-law hadn’t returned yet.

He sat on the sofa, took out the folder he’d gotten from Nakayama’s precious home, and opened it. Inside were all indecent photos of the same old man, but the women were girls of various ages. The man appeared to be in his sixties, pot-bellied, with a lecherous expression.

Aoyama didn’t recognize the old man.

But since Nakayama had hidden these photos so carefully, it was clear he wasn’t an ordinary person.

He then placed all the photos in his bedroom—maybe they’d come in handy someday.

After putting the photos away, Aoyama went downstairs, entered the kitchen, and found plenty of ingredients in the fridge. He tied on his sister-in-law’s apron and began cooking.

When Haruko Aoyama returned home, the aroma hit her as soon as she opened the door. Just as she was puzzled, Hidenobu emerged from the kitchen.

“Sis… huh? Yuki?” Just as Hidenobu was about to greet his sister-in-law, he noticed Yuki Uchida was also there, which surprised him.

Yuki bowed slightly, carrying a bag in both hands, and said apologetically, “Sorry to intrude.”

“I invited Yuki over to try Hidenobu’s cooking,” Haruko said warmly, then pointed at Hidenobu and widened her beautiful eyes. “Hidenobu… are you cooking?”

“Yeah! Almost done. Today, sis and Yuki get to taste my cooking. I think it’s pretty good,” Hidenobu smiled slightly.

Haruko looked doubtful—she’d never known Hidenobu could cook—so she gently asked, “Do you need any help?”

“No, just wait. I’m making Chinese food. By the way, Yuki, welcome. Don’t be too formal,” Hidenobu said, then returned to the kitchen.

Haruko glanced at Yuki and smiled knowingly. “Looks like I’ll have to invite you over next time for my cooking. Today, let’s try Hidenobu’s—I’m trying it for the first time too.”

“It's my honor!” Yuki smiled softly, took off her small leather shoes, slipped into the slippers Haruko gave her, and moved into the living room.

Sitting on the sofa, she could see Hidenobu focused intently on cooking in the kitchen. Watching his skilled movements, she grew curious.

“Haruko, is Hidenobu a chef?” she asked.

In Japan, aside from professional chefs, few men cook; it was usually women in the kitchen.

“No, he’s a police officer. This is my first time seeing him cook too,” Haruko replied, a bit amazed. Proudly, she spoke of her brother-in-law’s work, her eyes shining. “Hidenobu is an excellent detective. He solved the previous cases…”

She recounted all the cases Hidenobu had cracked, eager to show off her little brother-in-law to an outsider.

Yuki listened attentively, occasionally exclaiming in surprise. She found Hidenobu even more handsome than before—a cool contrast between the rational, tough detective facing criminals and the devoted home cook at family meals.

Of course, all this was because Hidenobu was handsome—not the refined beauty of fashion models Yuki had seen—but a heroic, commanding presence that inspired safety and strength.

“Sis, what are you two talking about? You’re not badmouthing me, are you?” Hidenobu came out of the kitchen carrying two plates of stir-fried dishes, having caught his name in their conversation.

He glanced at Yuki again—white shirt paired with a black pleated skirt, fresh and simple yet sweetly girlish. Her long, flawless legs were bare, without stockings, and her feet wore white cotton socks.

“No, I was telling Yuki about your detective work,” Haruko replied, then rose to help him carry the dishes. “Let me help you set the table.”

“I’ll help too,” Yuki said, not wanting to sit idly, and stood to assist in the kitchen.

With their combined efforts, the dishes and tableware were soon arranged, and they sat down.

“Mmm, smells delicious. When did you get so good at cooking?” Haruko leaned forward, inhaling the aroma with a look of delight.

Hidenobu smiled calmly. As he served the rice, he said, “I just followed the recipes in cooking magazines. Maybe I’m a natural?”

In his previous life, his work often took him abroad. To enjoy authentic home-style food, he had to learn to cook well.

If he opened a Chinese restaurant in Japan, he’d surely be a culinary master.

“People really are different,” Haruko sighed, then eagerly said, “Well, I’m digging in.”

After the meal, Haruko, worried it was getting dark, asked Hidenobu to drive Yuki home.

Yuki sat in the passenger seat, the seatbelt crossing over her shirt, accentuating her modest yet firm figure. Maybe from the warmth of the meal, her cheeks were flushed. The night breeze stirred strands of hair on her forehead, lending a messy beauty to her youthful face. With such a boyish charm, she was just one opportunity away from stardom.

“Haruko said you took a leave from school?” Hidenobu broke the silence, feigning curiosity.

“Yeah,” Yuki replied absentmindedly, then explained, “I want more time to pursue what I love.”

She was a determined person. Because of her passion for fencing, she practiced every day after school and won third place in last year’s Tokyo Fencing Tournament. She was an athlete with excellent physical condition.

“But it doesn’t seem to be going smoothly now. Are you confident in yourself?” Hidenobu asked.

Yuki exhaled. “It’s temporary. I believe there will be a day I succeed.”

Hidenobu knew of an opportunity that could launch her career—a new automatic loan system.

But he had no intention of pursuing it, since many didn’t understand the system when it first came out. To gain traction quickly, they needed a nationally recognized female celebrity to endorse it—and Yuki was clearly not that.

There were many ways to get close to her, but he wouldn’t waste time chasing a woman while neglecting his work—not worth it.

Though sometimes Hidenobu could be a bit immature, he never let that guide his decisions.

“Thanks for tonight’s hospitality, Hidenobu. Drive safely home,” Yuki said as she got out of the car, bowing politely.

Hidenobu nodded, watching her enter the apartment building before starting the car and leaving.

…

Perhaps because Ryō Miyamoto and Hane Konoe had strengthened their defenses, Miya Inoue hadn’t made a move in the following two days, as if vanished.

The deaths of Konoe and Nakayama had caused a huge stir in the media, but the public wasn’t panicked; they simply watched for the spectacle.

After all, ordinary citizens generally held negative views toward the children of officials and government figures, so expecting them to sympathize with the slain bureaucrats was impossible.

Who are you, to think you deserve to empathize with the offspring of officials or bureaucrats? Aren’t you pathetic?

Meanwhile, within the yakuza circles, a bounty on Miya Inoue was widely publicized. Many yakuza members did nothing but wander around with Inoue’s photo, hoping to cash in the 70 million yen reward.

Hidenobu had heard of this but didn’t care much. Whether Inoue lived or died was none of his concern. If the Black Shadow Society took him out, he’d just be unlucky.

Moreover, he didn’t think the Black Shadow Society could easily find Inoue. Inoue wasn’t involved in the underworld; he was just an ordinary person before. Unless the state machinery was used, finding him would be very difficult.

On Saturday, after breakfast, Hidenobu stepped outside to find Kazuki Yamakawa already waiting at the door. Seeing him come out, Kazuki hurriedly bent down and opened the rear door of a Mercedes.

Hidenobu sat down calmly.

Today was the day to meet Masao Hori.

The convoy, consisting of a Mercedes and three Toyota vans, headed toward Kanagawa Prefecture.

Eventually, they stopped in front of a mountain villa.

The welcoming party was already waiting at the gate.

“Detective Aoyama, please follow me. The president is waiting inside,” said a middle-aged man dressed in a gray kimono, bowing quickly.

He outright ignored Kazuki Yamakawa behind him.

Hidenobu nodded and followed the man inside.

After entering the villa, Kazuki was stopped at a door while Hidenobu alone followed the gray-kimonoed man through winding corridors to a shower room.

“Detective Aoyama, please bathe and change.”

The man clapped his hands.

“Clap, clap!”

Two women in pink kimonos entered, each carrying bathing supplies and a black kimono, walking with small steps and heads bowed. They knelt on the floor.

“I’ll wait outside,” the man said, bowing before closing the door behind him.

Without hesitation, Hidenobu stripped in front of the two women, took a quick shower, and, assisted by them, changed into the kimono before leaving the room.

Seeing him come out, the gray-kimonoed man bowed again and gestured, “This way, please.”

They walked down a long corridor and passed through a round archway, revealing a large hot spring surrounded by flowers and greenery, steam rising gently.

Inside lay a gaunt old man, estimated to be in his seventies or eighties. On either side, two young women, bare-chested above the waist, massaged him. His heavy conscience seemed to float on the water’s surface, gently rippling with their movements.

Around the hot spring stood a dozen or so beautiful women, their hair tied up, wearing only bandeau tops and panties, exposing large swaths of skin. They held various fine wines, pastries, and fruits.

Damn it, isn’t there supposed to be justice in the world?

Masao Hori, this old dog, had been soaked in blood directly or indirectly his entire life, and now, in old age, he was surrounded by a harem of beauties. Is this his reckoning?

If that’s what reckoning looks like, Hidenobu wanted some of that too!