In the evening, Yanchuan Xianyou arrived home and noticed that the same white Corolla from the morning was still following him. He also spotted a Volkswagen trailing behind the Corolla.
He knew for sure that Aoyama Xiu Xin’s men were in that Volkswagen, and for a moment, he felt completely secure.
Meanwhile, at the same time, Nakamura Tatsuyuki from the Supreme Public Prosecutors’ Office stood up, stretching lazily, ready to end a day’s work.
"Ding-ling-ling! Ding-ling-ling!"
Suddenly, the telephone on his desk started ringing.
He casually picked up the phone and answered, "Mosi Mosi, this is Nakamura Tatsuyuki from the Supreme Public Prosecutors’ Office."
"Minister Nakamura, I’m a rank-and-file police officer at the Police Headquarters... I have evidence of bribery involving a bureaucrat that I wish to hand over to you. Is it convenient for you to meet now?" A voice, slightly heavy with breath and clearly tense, came through the phone.
"Of course!" Nakamura Tatsuyuki replied without hesitation, his tone firm, instilling the mystery caller with enough confidence. He then asked, "Where shall we meet?"
His reputation was well-known, so it was not unusual for him to receive secret reports from people too afraid of retaliation to come forward themselves.
"In half an hour, I’ll be waiting for you in Shitagaya Park. Please make sure you come, otherwise I really don’t know who else to turn to. Please, Minister Nakamura!"
"Hey! Rest assured, Your Excellency, I will definitely be there on time!" Nakamura Tatsuyuki promised solemnly.
After hanging up the phone, he immediately grabbed his briefcase and headed out the door, rushing to Shitagaya Park for the appointment.
About half an hour later, he arrived at the destination. A man dressed in a black tracksuit approached him proactively, "Minister Nakamura, you’ve arrived."
"Was it you who called me?" Nakamura Tatsuyuki glanced around before addressing the man.
"Hey!" the man in the black tracksuit handed over a file folder tucked under his arm, "Everything is in here, I’ll leave it with you, farewell."
As soon as the words fell, he bowed solemnly and, before Nakamura could say anything, he turned and hastily left.
Nakamura Tatsuyuki hadn’t expected the mystery caller to be so timorous. Shaking his head, he opened the file folder he held and was instantly speechless.
Inside was evidence of a district councilor’s secretary accepting bribes. The man had been so cautious; Nakamura had thought it was going to be some big fish, but it turned out to be a mere "shrimp," leaving him feeling rather flat.
However, he thought again that while a district councilor’s secretary might be trivial to him, to an ordinary rank-and-file police officer, it must surely seem like a significant figure, so the caller’s caution and anxiety were somewhat understandable.
Another half-hour passed, and Aoyama Xiu Xin once again arrived at Yanchuan Xianyou’s house. After entering, he bowed and greeted both parties, "Brother Xianyou, sister-in-law."
"Sit," Asakawa Xia invited with a pursed smile.
Yanchuan Xianyou asked, "Is there a result?"
"Mm." Aoyama Xiu Xin sat down and, with a serious expression, nodded and handed over several photos to Yanchuan Xianyou, saying in a deep tone, "My men found the guy who was following you—he went straight to Nakamura Tatsuyuki after you got home and handed him something."
"Nakamura Tatsuyuki?" Yanchuan Xianyou immediately furrowed his brows, taking the photos and recognizing Nakamura Tatsuyuki in one of them, along with the man who had been tailing him during the day. From the photos, it was clear that the man following him had handed a file folder to Nakamura Tatsuyuki.
His face turned extremely grim.
Clearly, Nakamura Tatsuyuki was secretly investigating him.
Aoyama Xiu Xin sat upright, observing his reaction and secretly chuckling, but he seriously added, "Brother Xianyou, since Nakamura Tatsuyuki has begun his investigation, he must have found some opening; otherwise, he wouldn’t do so. Perhaps there’s something you’ve exposed without knowing it."
Yanchuan Xianyou clenched the photos tightly, his face so dark as if it could drip water, uncertain if he had indeed been compromised anywhere.
But what Aoyama Xiu Xin said made sense. Nakamura Tatsuyuki knew his identity and wouldn’t rashly investigate him unless he already had a concrete lead. Otherwise, he would be the one at a disadvantage.
"Brother Xianyou, for safety’s sake, I think we should strike first. We can’t leave this old thing be any longer," Aoyama Xiu Xin said seriously.
Yanchuan Xianyou slowly exhaled and tossed the photos on the table, saying, "I hadn’t planned on how to deal with him, but he took it upon himself to target me first. If that’s the case, then he cannot be spared. Take care of this, but remember, no lives must be lost."
"Hey! Brother Xianyou, rest assured, I will handle it cleanly," Aoyama Xiu Xin responded.
Yanchuan Xianyou nodded, "Thanks for the trouble."
"Brother Xianyou is too polite. This is what I should do." Aoyama Xiu Xin expressed humbly.
He was eager to get back and celebrate his birthday with his sister-in-law, so not wanting to linger, he stood up and said, "It’s getting late, I won’t disturb Brother Xianyou and the sister-in-law any further. I shall take my leave now."
"Xia, see Xiu Xin out for me," Yanchuan Xianyou directed, remaining seated on the couch.
"Mm." Asakawa Xia smiled gently, stood up, and extended her hand, saying, "Xiu Xin, let me see you out."
"Thank you, sister-in-law," Aoyama Xiu Xin bowed scrupulously and walked behind her.
When they reached the entryway, Asakawa Xia suddenly stopped and turned around. Aoyama Xiu Xin, not expecting her move, couldn’t stop in time and bumped into her.
"Ah!" Asakawa Xia exclaimed in surprise, almost knocked over, but fortunately, Aoyama Xiu Xin, quick with his reflexes, caught her in his arms, "Sister-in-law, are you alright?"