Chapter 15: Promotion, Reasons, and the Truth

After the police from Shinjuku Station arrived at the Nakayama residence, they cordoned off the area and began their investigation and evidence collection. Ayako Asai, Hidenobu Aoyama, and Ryoichi Fujimoto were summoned back to the station for questioning. With all three providing consistent statements and corroborating each other, their testimonies were flawless.

Moreover, the person questioning them was Takehiko Asai himself.

Their accounts were already watertight, and even if there were gaps, Takehiko Asai would have filled them in for them. After all, his beloved daughter was involved!

“I truly never expected Akihiro Nakayama to be engaged in such filthy deeds behind the scenes!” Takehiko Asai snapped shut his recorder, his face darkening as he sighed, “I failed to uncover his true nature sooner—I must accept some responsibility for my oversight.”

“Chief, I must respectfully disagree,” Hidenobu Aoyama replied solemnly, his words earnest. “As the saying goes, ‘You can know a person’s face but not their heart.’ Akihiro Nakayama’s facade deceived everyone. It wasn’t your negligence, but his cunning! Besides, the truth was revealed entirely thanks to Inspector Asai, whose excellence is a testament to your guidance. In this case, you are not only blameless, but truly deserving of credit.”

Ryoichi Fujimoto, standing nearby, was utterly dumbfounded. The way Hidenobu Aoyama spoke now was a stark contrast to his usual assertive demeanor in front of Ayako Asai. A sycophant by day to the father, by night to the daughter. Damn! He’s courting both ends of the family!

Sensing Fujimoto’s odd gaze, Aoyama remained unfazed. So what if he curries favor with Takehiko Asai? Soon enough, Ayako Asai would return the favor.

It was the art of pleasing those above while dominating those below.

“You flatter me, Detective Aoyama, though Nakayama was indeed devious.” Takehiko Asai smiled modestly, tucking the recorder into the evidence bag. “Submit a report on the firearm discharge.”

“Yes, sir!” Aoyama bowed in response.

Although nearly all Japanese officers carry firearms, using them is troublesome; even drawing a weapon requires a report. Normally, such reports go to a superior officer.

And his immediate superior was Ayako Asai.

So he had no worries about firearm usage; even if he violated procedure, Asai would cover for him.

“There’s one more thing.” Takehiko Asai casually picked up a document from his desk. “Your promotion order has arrived. Starting tomorrow, you’ll officially serve as Deputy Chief of the Firearms Division. I expect you to continue your outstanding work.”

“Thank you, Chief! I will devote myself to repaying your generous support!” Aoyama accepted the document with both hands, bowing in excitement.

Fujimoto, meanwhile, was bewildered and anxious.

Wait, I’m supposed to be Deputy Chief of the Firearms Division!

If he takes the post, what about me?

But fortunately, Takehiko Asai did not completely ignore him. Turning, he said, “As for Deputy Chief Fujimoto, Deputy Chief Yanagawa of the Major Crimes Division is about to be dismissed and investigated. You’ll be transferred there.”

Yanagawa had continued to follow Nakayama’s orders even after Nakayama’s suspension, and conducted an unauthorized search of the Nohara residence without a warrant. Now that Nakayama was finished, he too would pay for his improper conduct.

“Yes, sir!” Fujimoto breathed a sigh of relief, though his feelings were mixed. Aoyama had been promoted for the Sakura Association drug case, while Fujimoto himself hadn’t moved up in years. Despite his achievements in the Nohara case, he still couldn’t advance.

Merely the difference between career and non-career tracks—he felt frustrated and resentful, for the first time almost disheartened.

Takehiko Asai paid no mind to his inner turmoil. “Alright, get back to work, all of you.”

“Yes, sir!” The three bowed and departed in order.

Just outside the Chief’s office, a Firearms Division officer, who had been waiting, hurried forward to report to Ayako Asai, “Inspector, Hiroshi Yamamoto wants to recant his testimony.”

Ayako glanced at Hidenobu Aoyama; just as he predicted. Suddenly, she felt uninterested—even the urge to personally interrogate Yamamoto faded.

“Just give me a copy of the statement.” She waved the officer off, then looked at Aoyama. “Come to my office. I have questions for you.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Aoyama replied with respectful diligence.

The two left together, leaving Ryoichi Fujimoto standing behind, lost in thought.

………………………

Once inside her office, Ayako Asai turned to face Aoyama directly. “You should at least tell me why you insisted on killing Akihiro Nakayama, shouldn’t you?”

She was conflicted: colluding with Aoyama to flout the law tormented her conscience, but the honors and rewards that followed were intoxicating.

“Corruption is never the work of just one person—it’s always a group!” Aoyama, noticing her unsettled state, gently pulled her into his arms to comfort her, closing his eyes to savor her warmth. “Nakayama had people above him. That’s why he said I couldn’t convict him with just that recording—someone would protect him.”

“If we’d arrested him then, we’d have to battle those protecting him next. Things would get more complicated, more troublesome, spiraling out of control. So I killed him. With his death, we could swiftly close the case and claim credit. Those behind him wouldn’t worry about him making wild accusations under arrest. Only by reaching this point is the matter truly resolved.”

In some ways, killing Nakayama was also a favor to those behind him.

“If you knew Nakayama had powerful backers, why not keep him alive and follow the trail to uncover the others?” Ayako, inexperienced in such matters, blurted out.

Aoyama chuckled, instructing her like a father teaching his daughter. “Because we don’t have the power to tackle such a big problem yet. Nakayama has been a cop for nearly ten years—do you think he only took money from Nohara Finance? Could he eat all that money alone? Do you even know how many people have taken bribes through his hands?”

“Remember this: unless you have the ability to solve a major problem, don’t let it grow bigger. Otherwise, you won’t be able to bear the consequences.”

Ayako looked at him strangely.

“What is it?” Aoyama was confused.

Ayako bit her lip. “Your tone just now sounded exactly like my father’s.”

“Then call me ‘Dad’ so I can hear it.” Aoyama grinned mischievously, pinching her cheek.

Ayako’s pretty face flushed red, and she warned him, embarrassed and annoyed, “You scoundrel, don’t go too far!”

“Say it!” Aoyama insisted, channeling paternal authority.

Ayako, helpless, could only choke down her shame and whisper, “Dad.”

Knock knock knock!

Ayako, her face burning, quickly pushed Aoyama away, restoring her serious expression and composed tone. “Come in.”

“Inspector,” a police officer entered, handing her a folder. “Yamamoto’s revised statement.”

Ayako opened it, her expression shifting as she read, then handed it to Aoyama.

After reading, Aoyama finally understood how Nohara Tōki was murdered, though now that Nakayama’s involvement had been revealed, the truth behind Nohara’s death mattered little.

According to Yamamoto, on the day of the incident, Nakayama told him there was an operation that night, so he didn’t need to turn in his firearm after work. Around seven in the evening, Yamamoto met Nakayama at a bar with his gun as instructed.

Only then did Nakayama confess there was no operation, but instead ordered him to kill Nohara Tōki. Yamamoto refused, but Nakayama produced evidence of Yamamoto’s gambling and several loan agreements signed as a result, threatening and enticing him.

Nakayama said if Yamamoto didn’t comply, the loan companies would come after him at the station and at home. Then he’d not only have to pay his debts, but lose his job and reputation. If he did as told, Nakayama would cover up for him and pay off all his debts. That was why Yamamoto agreed.

Even his later confession was forced by Nakayama’s threats with the loan contracts.

This account was likely partly true, and partly false. Certainly, Yamamoto was not as wholly innocent as he claimed.

“Gamblers meet a bad end,” Aoyama commented, closing the folder and handing it back to Ayako.

He would never share his life with gambling or drugs!