Chapter 69: The New Official Arrives—A Clash of Authority

When Shunobu Aoyama arrived at the Metropolitan Police Department, he saw Aya Asai waiting for him at the entrance. She wore a gray business suit, her long black hair draped over her shoulders, her gaze lively and radiant.

He parked the car and walked toward her. “You got here first—why not just report directly to Inspector Hattori?”

“Hmph, what do you think?” Aya Asai walked beside him, saying, “Inspector Hattori has a terrible impression of you right now. If I don’t wait for you, and you report alone, he might skip personally escorting you to the office just to humiliate you, maybe even force you to find your way there yourself. That would ruin your authority in front of your subordinates on your very first day.”

“You’re actually being so nice to me?” Shunobu Aoyama halted, eyeing her suspiciously.

Could it be that this woman has fallen for him?

Though he’d fallen for her as well.

“What are you looking at?” Aya Asai shot him a fierce glare, avoided his gaze, held her neck stiffly, and explained, “Everyone already knows you’re associated with me. I’m just worried about disgracing the Asai family!”

“Well, whatever the reason, thank you for your kindness.” Shunobu Aoyama’s lips curled into a smile.

“That smile is downright indecent,” Aya Asai scoffed, quickening her pace to distance herself from him.

But after a few steps, she stopped and turned to him. “Hey, I need a favor.”

“I knew it—you wouldn’t be nice to me for no reason,” Shunobu Aoyama shrugged.

“For everything you’ve done to me, not running you over with my car is mercy enough,” Aya Asai stepped closer, lowered her voice, and gritted her teeth.

Then she immediately stepped back, widening the gap.

“What is it?” Shunobu Aoyama asked.

“At the end of the month, Jirou Ninpei—the youngest son of Inspector General Ninpei—is returning from abroad. My family wants to arrange a matchmaking meeting for us. I don’t want to marry him.” Aya Asai pursed her lips, spoke slowly, and then turned to glare at Shunobu Aoyama, threatening, “Inspector Aoyama, you wouldn’t want me to have another man besides you, would you?”

“Not necessarily. Imagine cuckolding the Inspector General’s son—sounds thrilling. When are you two getting married?” Shunobu Aoyama replied nonchalantly, countering her threat with a teasing smile.

“You…” Aya Asai fumed, but seeing the elevator arrive, she swallowed her anger for now—there were too many people present.

Once they exited the elevator and walked down the corridor toward Hattori's office, Aya Asai resumed the conversation. “I’m yours first. If I really marry Jirou Ninpei, then he’s the one wearing the green hat for you.”

Clear logic, irrefutable.

“Isn’t that even more exciting? You get to experience both sides—being betrayed and betraying.” Shunobu Aoyama’s mind always worked in strange ways. Seeing Aya Asai about to explode, he hurriedly amended, “Just kidding. I don’t have any cuckolding fetish.”

In his mind, Aya Asai was the ideal candidate for a future wife. How could he ever let her go?

“Hmph! Well, you’d better hurry and figure out a solution,” she said, tossing the problem to him and instantly relieving her anxiety.

By now, they’d reached their destination.

Shunobu Aoyama raised his hand and knocked on the door. “Inspector Hattori, Aya Asai and Shunobu Aoyama reporting.”

“Come in.” If it were only Shunobu Aoyama, Hattori might have left him hanging, but with Aya Asai present, he couldn’t.

“Hello!”

Shunobu Aoyama pushed open the door, entered with Aya Asai, and they bowed in unison at the desk.

“Inspector Hattori!”

“No need for formalities,” Hattori replied, his face alight with enthusiasm. Looking at Aya Asai, he said, “I’ve heard so much about Inspector Asai lately—my ears are practically calloused. The goddess sharpshooter, the heroine! Your arrival will double our department’s strength. I hope you’ll achieve even greater success in the Homicide Investigation Division!”

“Yes!” Aya Asai responded obediently, bowing.

In the past, praise like this would have made her feel embarrassed and ashamed. But now, after being pushed by Shunobu Aoyama into even more shameless situations, she was unfazed.

So she appeared calm and composed.

Hattori admired her dignified, unflappable demeanor and stood up. “Come, I’ll take you to the Homicide Division office.”

He ignored Shunobu Aoyama throughout.

Shunobu Aoyama betrayed no expression.

In truth, he felt nothing. If his direct superior disliked him, so be it—he didn’t need Hattori’s favor to get promoted or rich.

But come to think of it, did he always clash with whoever led the Investigation Division?

The Metropolitan Police Department was vast, each division with its own office area. Since it was the start of the workday, everyone was present when Hattori arrived with Aya Asai and Shunobu Aoyama.

There were only about a dozen people.

“Inspector!”

Everyone rose and saluted.

“Everyone, I believe you’re all familiar with Inspector Asai. She’ll be your superior from now on. Inspector Asai has distinguished herself countless times and is renowned as a detective goddess. I hope under her leadership you’ll all achieve even greater accomplishments,” Hattori praised Aya Asai highly; after all, she was the princess of the police world.

“Yes!” Everyone responded, bowing to Aya Asai in unison. “Inspector Asai!”

“Inspector Hattori overstates it,” Aya Asai replied modestly, bowing back and gesturing toward Shunobu Aoyama. “Most of those cases I solved were thanks to Inspector Aoyama’s help. I couldn’t have done it alone.”

“Oh, right, there’s also Inspector Aoyama,” Hattori said, as if only just recalling him, his tone cold. “He’s an excellent officer, too. He’ll serve as Deputy Chief of the Homicide Division. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to get to know him, so I won’t bother with an introduction.”

He then turned to Aya Asai, smiling warmly. “Let me show you to your office.”

“Yes!” Aya Asai bowed, glanced at Shunobu Aoyama, and followed Hattori out.

Shunobu Aoyama smiled gently at everyone and asked, “Could someone show me where my seat is?”

No one answered; silence reigned.

Some looked down on him, some mocked, some were indifferent, some resigned—none responded.

Shunobu Aoyama noted everyone’s reactions, then turned his gaze toward a young man by the floor-to-ceiling window, about thirty, with a center-parted hairstyle.

He strode over.

Everyone’s expressions changed.

“Knock, knock!” Shunobu Aoyama reached Kinjo Heiji’s desk and tapped it. “Move your things—this will be my seat from now on.”

Kinjo Heiji was momentarily stunned, surprised by Shunobu Aoyama’s boldness. He then smiled dismissively and replied slowly, “Deputy Chief Aoyama, why? Even if you’re our superior…”

“Idiot!” Shunobu Aoyama interrupted him with a furious curse, pointing at his nose. “You know I’m your superior, yet you question my orders? Would you defy commands during an arrest? Are you capable or not? If not, get out—I’ll help you with your resignation!”

Kinjo Heiji’s face flushed, turning from pale to livid, both embarrassed and furious. He glared at Shunobu Aoyama, fists clenched, breathing heavily.

He had expected this twenty-something newcomer to be conciliatory, hoping to win hearts, and to back down when faced with a challenge.

He never imagined such domineering behavior.

He wasn’t alone; the other bystanders were startled as well, unconsciously standing up straighter, their expressions sobering.

Smack!

Shunobu Aoyama grabbed a folder and threw it at Kinjo Heiji’s face, shouting, “Don’t you understand? Or are you just used to defying orders? Move your things! Now! Immediately! Right this minute! OK?”

Kinjo Heiji’s face twitched, his bloodshot eyes locked on Shunobu Aoyama, but he finally bent low, forced out a grudging, “Yes!”

He began to pack up, expressionless.

With such strict adherence to protocol, he didn’t dare openly defy orders—the workplace hierarchy was ironclad.

Takizawa Mahora wanted to help Kinjo Heiji, so that the packing would go faster and his friend wouldn’t be so humiliated in front of everyone.

“Did I ask for your help?” Shunobu Aoyama shot him a cold look. “Since you like moving so much, maybe you’d prefer your things relocated outside the door for your office?”

Takizawa Mahora froze mid-reach, withdrew his hand, bowed to Shunobu Aoyama, and returned to his desk.

Everyone remained at their stations, watching Kinjo Heiji pack. The office was quiet except for the sounds of his packing.

At that moment, Kinjo Heiji’s sense of humiliation peaked, his hatred for Shunobu Aoyama reaching its zenith, teetering on the brink of collapse.

Once the desk was cleared, Shunobu Aoyama dropped into the chair that had belonged to Kinjo Heiji, swept his gaze over the room, and said blandly, “Let’s introduce ourselves, one by one.”

If he’d backed down to earn favor, everyone would see him as amiable, but they’d also look down on him.

He’d never be able to establish authority in the division.

Better they fear and even dislike him, but at least obey.

“Yes! Deputy Chief, my name is Sakai Ryota.”

“My name is…”

“I’m Takizawa Mahora.”

Kinjo Heiji was last. He whispered, “Kinjo Heiji.”

“Very well. I hope we’ll all get along.” Shunobu Aoyama nodded, clapped his hands, and declared, “All right, get to work.”

“Yes!” Everyone bowed briskly.

Ring ring~ ring ring~

Suddenly, the phone rang.

Sakai Ryota hurriedly answered, then reported to Shunobu Aoyama, “Deputy Chief, there’s been a murder in an apartment on Iwamotocho Third Street. Nearby patrol units have already begun the preliminary investigation.”

“Two of you, come with me.” Shunobu Aoyama had just started and had no cases on hand. He picked up his phone and headed out.

Ring ring~ ring ring~

He’d barely taken a few steps when his phone rang.

“Hello, this is Shunobu Aoyama.”

“Shunobu, this time it’s your turn to help me.” Watanabe Shuzai’s urgent voice came through.