Chapter 67: So I Have Become an Obstacle in Someone Else’s Path

"Watanabe, what's really going on?" Aoyama Hidenobu glanced at his sister-in-law, then walked calmly into the courtyard to speak with Watanabe Osamu.

"Inspector Hattori of the First Investigation Division at the Metropolitan Police Department somehow found out about this case, and he's insisting I enforce the law strictly. Yamamoto Naoki's mother is causing a scene at the station. Do you have some old grudge with Inspector Hattori?"

Aoyama Hidenobu's brows furrowed deeply.

He had never had any dealings with Hattori, let alone any animosity. In fact, Hattori had only been able to rise to his current position as deputy chief of the First Investigation Division after Aoyama removed Sato from the post. Hattori should be grateful to him, not targeting him.

So why was Hattori coming after him now?

"What do you think, Watanabe?" Aoyama temporarily set aside his doubts, pretending not to know as he asked.

After all, if Watanabe Osamu truly intended to help Hattori undermine him, he wouldn't have called ahead and tipped him off.

"Ah, I'm really in a difficult position. Inspector Hattori is a newly appointed official, full of vigor and power. If I oppose him now, he'll certainly hold a grudge against me..." Watanabe Osamu sighed, voicing his predicament. But as he spoke, he suddenly changed his tone, "So, Aoyama, you'll have to pay more!"

Now that the situation had become more complicated, his compensation should increase accordingly.

"Hahaha!" Aoyama Hidenobu couldn't help but laugh aloud, his voice brimming with confidence. "I understand the pressure you're under, Watanabe. I'll pay more! Tonight, let's meet as planned—rest assured, you won't be disappointed!"

"It's mainly for the people below," Watanabe Osamu said with feigned righteousness. "I'm a loyal retainer of the Asai family, and I've always gotten along well with you, Aoyama. Even if I don't take a single yen, I would never join forces with Inspector Hattori to stab you in the back!"

Though Hattori outranked him, Watanabe was still the head of criminal investigations at Akasaka Police Station. Hattori, the newcomer, wanted to meddle in his territory—this irritated him greatly.

The crucial point was that Hattori wasn't offering any reward; he just brazenly ordered him to enforce the law impartially.

How shameless would Watanabe have to be to obey such commands?

"Watanabe, you're honorable! But even if you don't want it, I can't not give it—otherwise, what kind of man would I be? We'll talk tonight; I'll leave everything in your hands." Aoyama spoke earnestly.

See! That's the right attitude when asking for help. Even when faced with sudden demands for more money, he still spoke so graciously.

"Alright, Aoyama, don't worry," Watanabe Osamu promised solemnly. After hanging up, he summoned his trusted aide, instructing, "Immediately burn the knife that Aoyama Haruko used to stab Yamamoto Naoki, then dispose of it."

Since no case had been filed, the knife hadn't been logged as evidence; as long as Watanabe handled it, no one could prove its existence.

"Yes, sir!" The aide responded, then asked, "What about Yamamoto Naoki's mother? She's still causing trouble downstairs, making a scene, and can't be persuaded."

"Hmph! Idiot! Troublemaker!" Watanabe cursed, his eyes glinting as a malicious idea came to him. "Arrest her for obstructing justice and assaulting an officer. Reason with her, make it clear that nothing else will come of this, and warn her—if she causes trouble again, we'll investigate her son."

He'd reviewed Yamamoto Naoki's file—just a petty thug, surely with a dirty record.

Since Aoyama Hidenobu was paying more, Watanabe had to provide top-notch service; he couldn't let that money go to waste.

"Yes, sir!" The aide bowed and left.

In the station's lobby, Mrs. Yamamoto was throwing herself on the floor, pounding the ground and wailing loudly.

"There's no justice! My son is on his deathbed in the hospital, and you won't arrest the culprit. It's all collusion—so corrupt! Corrupt cops!"

"Everyone, look! This is our Japanese police! Spending our taxpayers'—what are you doing, let go of me, let go, help!"

Mrs. Yamamoto was in the midst of denouncing police corruption with her eyes closed when suddenly she felt herself lifted off the ground. Opening her eyes, she saw two officers forcefully dragging her toward the elevator.

She panicked immediately; this wasn't at all what she'd been told would happen. She struggled and shouted, kicking her legs frantically.

Soon, she was brought into an interrogation room, where Watanabe's aide was already waiting. Seeing Mrs. Yamamoto, he sneered and slapped her hard across the face.

"Ah!" Mrs. Yamamoto screamed, knocked to the floor, her graying hair flying wildly.

"Old hag, you really think we won't do anything to you?" The aide crouched down, grabbing her hair with a vicious smile. "You said we're corrupt, that there's no law? Then today, I'll show you just how corrupt and lawless we can be!"

"To tell you the truth, the knife that stabbed your son has already been taken care of. Without the weapon, how can you prove he was stabbed by someone else and not himself? False accusations are a crime!"

"And listen, if you keep causing trouble, don't blame us for being harsh. Your son has a dirty record, doesn't he? Should we investigate him thoroughly? Who knows, maybe we'll find drugs, rape, or worse!"

Mrs. Yamamoto's face turned pale; she was shocked, furious, and frightened. Her son indeed had messed around with many women—he couldn't withstand scrutiny.

"Think it over. Well? Are you still going to make trouble?"

"No... I won't, I won't. I won't cause trouble anymore," she stammered.

"Idiot, you should've done this from the start. Get out!"

"Alright, alright, I'm leaving, I'm leaving now."

…………………………

Aoyama Hidenobu was utterly baffled.

Why was Hattori targeting him?

Unable to figure it out, he sought help from outside his circle.

He called Asai Aya, skipping the details and saying bluntly, "The new head of the First Investigation Division, Inspector Hattori, seems hostile toward me. Can you find out what's going on?"

He had no connections in the Metropolitan Police Department.

But the Asai family did.

Although Asai Aya's grandfather's death had left Asai Takehiko as the family's highest authority—a somewhat transitional period—the Asai family still had many retainers in the police department, like Watanabe Osamu.

Several high-ranking officials, including Superintendent Nihei Kunio, had once served under Asai Aya's grandfather.

Throughout the Police Agency, the Metropolitan Police Department, and stations nationwide, countless mid- and high-level officials were related to the Asai family.

So even though Asai Takehiko was currently only a Superintendent, with these forces behind him, he was almost certain to become the next Director-General of the Police Agency, just like his father and grandfather before him.

Barring unforeseen events, Asai Aya would eventually follow suit.

Others might occasionally occupy the Director-General's position, but it always returned to the Asai family. The title "police dynasty" was well-earned.

Soon, Asai Aya called back.

"Inspector Hattori isn't targeting you specifically, only those who obstruct justice, cover for relatives, or commit crimes—corrupt cops," she said sarcastically.

Clearly, she already knew the whole story.

Aoyama Hidenobu didn't argue, but raised a new question. "Even so, someone must be using him to get at me. Otherwise, how would he know about this case? Someone told him, and that person has been watching me for some time."

Otherwise, Hattori wouldn't have found out so quickly.

"You're right about that," Asai Aya said. "The one who informed Inspector Hattori is Kaneshiro Heiji, a Police Inspector, detective in the First Investigation Division's homicide unit. If we hadn't parachuted someone in, he might have become section chief, but now he's lost even the deputy position. He doesn't dare resent me, so he can only take it out on you."

Rank is rank, position is position. There's a rank requirement for each post, but a promotion in rank doesn't guarantee a promotion in position—after all, every slot is already filled.

In the Police Agency and Metropolitan Police Department, it's common for an inspector to be just a regular member.

"Why do I detect a hint of schadenfreude in your tone?" Aoyama Hidenobu said with a dark expression.

So he'd blocked someone's career advancement—no wonder he was being sabotaged.

Of course, understanding didn't equal forgiveness.

He would have to retaliate fiercely!

"Do I? Haha," Asai Aya admitted, then continued, "Inspector Hattori is a very principled man. After this incident, his opinion of you will be ruined. If you ever work under him, you'd better pray for luck."

"But isn't there still you? My trouble is your trouble too!" Aoyama Hidenobu replied with a smile.

Asai Aya immediately stopped laughing, cursed him as an idiot, and hung up.

Elsewhere, Kaneshiro Heiji had just learned the latest developments from Mrs. Yamamoto at the hospital.

He stormed over to Inspector Hattori to report.

"Inspector, Aoyama Hidenobu, in order to cover up his sister-in-law's stabbing incident, colluded with Watanabe Osamu to destroy evidence and threatened the victim. This isn't policing—it's outright criminal behavior! He's disgracing our force, bringing shame on us all!"

He hadn't expected Inspector Hattori to personally intervene, nor for Watanabe Osamu to refuse to cooperate.

Now, with the evidence destroyed, his plans had stalled; his hope of bringing Aoyama Hidenobu down had vanished.

"Idiot!" Hattori was furious, grabbing the phone and calling Watanabe Osamu, barking, "Inspector Watanabe, what did you promise me? You said you'd enforce the law fairly and strictly! Destroying evidence, threatening victims—is this your idea of justice? Is this your so-called strict enforcement?"

"Inspector Hattori, I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you're talking about. You're my superior, but you can't just slander me," Watanabe replied coolly, then hung up without a second thought.

Beeep... beeep... beeep...

Hearing the busy tone in his receiver, Hattori was so angry he wanted to smash the phone. After a long pause, he took a deep breath and muttered, "I was careless, too trusting of Watanabe. That shameless scoundrel!"

"It's not your fault, sir—those rotten officers in the Police Agency are just too cunning!" Kaneshiro Heiji quickly defended his superior, though privately he blamed Hattori's inattention for his own failed scheme.

Hattori looked up at the deferential Kaneshiro and said, "Since Aoyama Hidenobu could do such a thing, he's clearly no good. He'll definitely break the law again. From now on, keep a close watch on him for me. We can't allow a corrupt cop like him in our ranks—I must get rid of him!"

He couldn't control the higher-ups, but he would not tolerate lawbreaking officers under his command.

"Yes, sir!" Kaneshiro Heiji bowed with excitement. With Hattori's support, he believed he would surely topple Aoyama Hidenobu and reclaim his rightful position.