"Why did she do that?" Akben Hero furrowed his brow after hearing the news, "What’s her motive?"
"I don’t know, but I’ve arranged for someone to keep an eye on that woman," Akben Jiancheng shook his head wearily, then looked toward his daughter-in-law, who was holding a child and waiting for news, and sighed, "It’s all my fault for raising such a bastard son. I’m really sorry for putting you through this."
Akimoto Hidekazu’s wife said nothing, bowed deeply while holding the child, and then went upstairs without looking back.
Akben Jiancheng watched her retreating figure and wanted to say something, but ultimately he just sighed and sat down on the sofa, lifting the teapot and drinking directly from it.
After quenching his thirst, he exhaled, wiped the water stains from the corner of his mouth, and said, "Leave Aoyama Xiu Xin alone for now. The priority is to maintain a good relationship with Panasonic Youkang. Let’s not complicate things further."
As one of Hokkaido’s largest firms with construction as its main business, Akabon Construction was also dissatisfied with Aoyama Xiu Xin monopolizing the Sapporo construction project, but dared not show it openly, so they covertly incited Asano Kamisaku to stir trouble for Aoyama Xiu Xin, though Akben Hero was mainly responsible for this and he did not inquire further.
"Dad, but now there’s a good opportunity!" Akben Hero recounted last night’s fire in Sapporo and this morning’s questioning of Aoyama Xiu Xin by Uesugi Yuusaku, summarizing, "I think the reporter’s suspicion is very likely. Both fires and the eight lives lost must be related to the demolition. Aoyama Xiu Xin said it was an accident just to cover up the truth. If we find evidence and make it public, it will be enough to trouble him. I’ve already sent someone to contact that reporter. It’s an opportunity we can’t miss, Dad!"
"If it still doesn’t succeed this time, let’s drop it," Akben Jiancheng said after pondering for a moment.
"I’m sure it will succeed!" Akben Hero responded.
Meanwhile, Uesugi Yuusaku, who had just finished his shift, dragged his exhausted body back home.
Calling it home was a bit generous—it was just a less than twenty square meters rental room, a cramped space functioning as a bedroom, kitchen, toilet, and dining area.
Thus, it appeared even more cramped and messy. His career wasn’t successful, so naturally, his life wasn’t prosperous either.
Although physically tired, his spirit was still full of fight and excitement because this afternoon he had painfully splurged a large sum of money to buy important information from a few neighbors of Yagyu Tao.
Including the changes in Yagyu Tao’s attitude toward the demolition and how Yamada Shinryu had rushed to Yagyu Tao’s house to argue after the fire at the Yamada residence, only to be violently beaten, and later Yagyu Tao’s family was killed in a fire; the door had been sealed from the outside during the fire. Connecting all these pieces, the truth was rather clear.
Yagyu Tao first incited neighbors to demand more compensation from the developer, then betrayed them, taking money from the demolition company and forcing the neighbors to sign the contract with the original amount. Because Yamada Shinryu disagreed, he was set on fire by them, and later Yamada Shinryu retaliated against Yagyu Tao in the same manner.
The twists and turns aside, at least it proved that the fire at Yagyu Tao’s wasn’t an accident at all!
But the police said it was an accident. Was it the incompetence of the police? Or had they taken bribes from the developer?
Thinking of how Aoyama Xiu Xin condescendingly accused him of ulterior motives, Uesugi Yuusaku clenched his teeth in hatred, his heart filled with excitement.
As long as he found more evidence, he could not only become famous but also vent his grievance and kick Aoyama Xiu Xin off his so-called pedestal!
"Knock, knock, knock!"
A series of knocks interrupted his reverie.
"Who is it?" Uesugi Yuusaku startled.
A friendly voice came from outside, "Uesugi reporter, I am here to offer you help."
Uesugi Yuusaku frowned and opened the door, looking at the middle-aged man in a black trench coat outside and asked, "What do you mean by what you just said?"
"Aren’t you going to invite me in?" the middle-aged man asked.
Uesugi Yuusaku stepped aside, "Please come in."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, a reporter like Uesugi, full of justice and bravery, has to live in such a simple place, while those who act as the mouthpiece of the officials and deceive the public drive luxury cars and live in mansions. This really is the tragedy of our society!" The man in the trench coat looked around after entering and sighed, shaking his head.
Uesugi Yuusaku’s expression soured a bit, "What do you mean by your words just now, please clarify."
"I appreciate the questions you raised regarding Aoyama Xiu Xin this morning, Uesugi reporter, and I share similar sentiments. However, I am too busy to investigate and expose the truth myself. If you are willing to do so, I can provide some financial assistance," the man in the trench coat turned back and said.
"Do you have a grudge against Aoyama Xiu Xin?" Uesugi Yuusaku guessed, then scoffed, "I investigate the truth to let the public know it, not because I want to be used by someone. You better—"
"Five hundred thousand US dollars," the man in the trench coat interrupted Uesugi Yuusaku, smiling, "I can give you five hundred thousand US dollars as support. The two don’t conflict, do they? Anyway, you would do it even without my money, and with this sum, it would be easier for you to investigate. Plus, it would be profitable. When can you give it to me?"
Yes, the man was right—even without this money, he would continue the investigation, and with this money, it would indeed be easier.