Chapter 11: Killing Each Other, Just Consider It Fighting the Invaders

A few minutes later, Ayasei Aya and her two companions entered the interrogation room to meet Yamamoto Hiroshi, who had come to turn himself in, armed with his service pistol.

“Inspector!”

The two officers tasked with questioning quickly rose to their feet and saluted, then moved to stand by the wall.

Yamamoto Hiroshi kept his head lowered, only lifting it when he heard the door open. His face was bloodshot and haggard, with stubble sprouting on his chin.

“You may leave,” Ayasei Aya waved her hand.

“Yes!” The two officers promptly exited.

“Deputy Fujimoto, you’ll take the record,” Ayasei Aya instructed the man behind her, Fujimoto Ryoichi.

Though Aoyama Hidenobu was technically the lowest in rank among the three, so he ought to handle this, Fujimoto Ryoichi dared not refuse Ayasei Aya. “Yes.”

“Yamamoto Hiroshi, since you claim to have killed Nohara To, why did you do it?” Ayasei Aya dragged a chair over, sat down with a cold expression, and asked.

Yamamoto Hiroshi moistened his dry lips and replied in a rough voice, “Because half a year ago I fell into the vice of gambling and borrowed money from Nohara Finance Corporation that I couldn't repay. That’s why I resorted to this. I frequented underground casinos all over Tokyo; you can look into that.”

“To avoid suspicion, I pretended my gun was lost two days before the act. Then, using my friendship with Section Chief Nakayama and his tendency to protect his subordinates, I asked him to persuade the armory to conceal the matter and give me another chance to retrieve the gun. He agreed.”

“So when Nohara To was found murdered, the fact that my gun had long been lost would come to light, and naturally no one would suspect me. That night, I lured Nohara To out under the pretext of repaying the loan, had him bring the contract, shot him, and destroyed the contract.”

Having finished, he slumped weakly into his chair, seeming greatly relieved.

“Full of holes!” Fujimoto Ryoichi, who was recording, couldn’t hold back. He slammed the table and demanded, “There’s an old Chinese saying: ‘There’s no silver buried here!’ If it was premeditated, why risk using your own gun?”

Gun control in Japan is strict, but police and the Yakuza have their ways.

“I… I don’t know, maybe I was out of my mind. If I hadn't lost my head, how could I have done something like murder?” Yamamoto Hiroshi gave a bitter smile and shook his head, swallowing hard. “The man was killed by my gun, my fingerprints are on it, I admit to the murder—just send it for forensic examination.”

“If you went to such lengths to clear yourself, why turn yourself in?” asked Aoyama Hidenobu, who hadn’t spoken until now.

“Conscience, I suppose. Turns out I’m not as bad as I thought.” Yamamoto Hiroshi smiled helplessly, sniffed, and raised his head again. “At dawn, Section Chief Nakayama called, saying he was feeling troubled and wanted to drink. He was suspended for helping me, which hit him hard.”

“We drank a lot, and he talked a lot, but he still comforted me, saying it’s a supervisor’s duty to protect subordinates, and not to feel guilty. That night, I couldn’t sleep, seeing what happened to Nakayama because of me… I simply couldn’t ignore it.”

“I didn’t sleep at all last night. This morning I brought the hidden gun and turned myself in. My life is ruined by gambling, but Nakayama still has a bright future ahead. He shouldn't be dragged down for helping me.”

“Idiot! Nonsense!” Fujimoto Ryoichi couldn’t contain himself, leapt to his feet, and grabbed Yamamoto Hiroshi’s collar. “You damned bastard, you’re covering for Nakayama Akihiro, aren’t you? He’s the real killer, right? Why are you doing this? Why?!”

He couldn’t let the case end here. He’d fought, suffered, flattered, and struggled to get to this point. If Nakayama Akihiro walked away unscathed, he’d be the one to suffer.

“Fu… Fujimoto Deputy, what are you saying?” Yamamoto Hiroshi looked stunned, incredulous. “Absurd! Why suspect Section Chief Nakayama? He has nothing to do with this.”

“Still stubborn!” Fujimoto Ryoichi prepared to strike.

These days, judicial agencies everywhere lack proper oversight; civilized law enforcement is a myth.

“Deputy Fujimoto!” Ayasei Aya couldn’t let him resort to violence under her watch.

Fujimoto Ryoichi reluctantly released Yamamoto Hiroshi.

“Inspector Nakayama, you can’t go in—”

“Idiot! Out of my way!”

With a burst of shouting, the interrogation room door was violently kicked open. Nakayama Akihiro stormed in, face dark, and immediately threw a punch at Yamamoto Hiroshi.

“Ah!” Yamamoto Hiroshi, caught off guard, stumbled and crashed from his chair.

Nakayama Akihiro bent over, grabbed his collar, and hauled him up, eyes blazing in rage. “You bastard! How dare you trick me! How dare you use me!”

“I’m sorry…”

“Damn you!” Before Yamamoto Hiroshi could finish, Nakayama Akihiro punched him again, breathing heavily as he snarled, “What enrages me more is—how could you do something like this? How could you kill, you bastard!”

Ayasei, Aoyama, and Fujimoto watched coldly. By now, they were all certain Nakayama Akihiro was probably the real killer.

But there was no evidence—Yamamoto Hiroshi was willing to take the fall, with all the proof in place.

Nakayama Akihiro released Yamamoto Hiroshi harshly, turned to Ayasei Aya and her companions, and bowed. “It was my negligence that let such a disgrace happen among my subordinates. I apologize for causing trouble for the ballistics department.”

“Section Chief Nakayama, no need to be so formal. In the end, you were used,” Ayasei Aya said, expressionless.

Nakayama Akihiro looked embarrassed, as if wanting to say more but feeling awkward. In the end, he bowed again and said, “Please send the evidence for examination and close the case as soon as possible.”

With that, he hurriedly left.

“Let’s go,” Ayasei Aya glanced at Yamamoto Hiroshi, then left with Aoyama and Fujimoto, leaving the interrogation to others. If Yamamoto Hiroshi wouldn’t tell the truth, continuing was pointless.

Outside, Fujimoto Ryoichi said, “Are we just letting this go? Are we really closing the case like this?”

“Of course not. The real killer must not go unpunished!” Ayasei Aya declared righteously, then looked at Aoyama Hidenobu, as if to say, You play the role, you do the job.

Aoyama Hidenobu said, “If we want Yamamoto Hiroshi to stop covering for Nakayama Akihiro, we need to figure out his motives and target them. Let’s split up: I’ll investigate Nakayama Akihiro, Deputy Fujimoto will look into Yamamoto Hiroshi.”

This incident made it clear Nakayama Akihiro was a hypocrite, ruthless and cunning.

He had supported investigating the other party at the meeting. If they didn’t use this case to bring him down completely, he would surely seek revenge in the future.

Whether for greater merit or to avoid retaliation, even if Nakayama Akihiro wasn’t the mastermind, Aoyama Hidenobu would make him out to be! Taking him down was as good as fighting the enemy.

“Agreed!” Fujimoto Ryoichi thought the same, so for once, he didn’t object.

Ayasei Aya asked, “What about me?”

“Go see the Chief Inspector,” Aoyama Hidenobu and Fujimoto Ryoichi said almost in unison. They glanced at each other, privately cursing.

Fujimoto Ryoichi said, “Nakayama Akihiro will try to rush us into sending the evidence for examination, so we need the Chief Inspector to help delay things.”

…………………………

To prove Nakayama Akihiro was the killer, they first needed to establish his motive for killing Nohara To.

Aoyama Hidenobu made his way again to the Nohara residence.

At the entrance, he saw a police car.

The plate showed it belonged to the Shinjuku Police Department.

He frowned and hurried inside. The mourning hall was already arranged; entering the villa’s living room, he saw Mrs. Nohara, still in mourning attire, sitting nervously on the sofa, her legs together, troubled.

Opposite her sat a middle-aged man.

“Mr. Aoyama.” Hearing footsteps, Nohara Irene looked up instinctively. Seeing Aoyama Hidenobu, she seemed as if she’d seen a savior. “Why are you here?”

The middle-aged man on the sofa also rose.

“Mrs. Nohara, I saw a police car outside…” Aoyama Hidenobu looked puzzled.

Nohara Irene glanced at the middle-aged man.

He looked somewhat uneasy but stepped calmly up to Aoyama Hidenobu, produced his credentials, and politely introduced himself and his purpose. “Detective Aoyama, it’s an honor. I am Yanagawa Imaichi, Deputy Head of the Violent Crimes Investigation Division. Nohara To was suspected of criminal activities before his death, and we’re here for a routine investigation.”