Chapter 74: Solving the Case Alone at Lightning Speed, Gaining Instant Fame

"Deputy Director caught the murderer!"

In the office of the First Homicide Investigation Division at the Metropolitan Police Department, Ryoji Sakai exclaimed after hanging up the phone.

Everyone in the office turned to look at him, their faces filled with confusion and curiosity.

Ryoji Sakai, visibly excited and incredulous, repeated, "The Deputy Director caught the murderer of Masako Mikami! He asked me to bring two people to escort him back!"

Instantly, the room erupted in commotion.

"Is that for real? The case from yesterday had no surveillance footage, no eyewitnesses, and Deputy Director Aoyama caught the killer today? Could there be a mistake?"

"There's no way Deputy Director Aoyama would say something he's not sure about. Even if I find it hard to believe, since he told us to bring the suspect back, it must be true, right?"

"Impressive! No wonder he's the man who fought his way back to the Metropolitan Police! Solving a case alone in just one day—it's just like something out of a manga!"

The Japanese, with their flair for the dramatic, were genuinely amazed, offering one comparison after another.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" A discordant voice suddenly broke out.

It reminded everyone that Heiji Kaneshiro was still there. The room quieted, and all eyes turned to him.

"No witnesses, no surveillance—how could that guy catch the killer so quickly? There must be something off! Maybe he's just trying to close the case quickly by framing someone!" Kaneshiro, breathing heavily, spoke with a vicious expression.

Well, one had to admit, he had a sharp eye for people.

Sakai couldn't bear it any longer. He mustered his courage and retorted, "Inspector Kaneshiro, the victim had traces of the killer’s skin tissue under her fingernails. After bringing the suspect in, there will definitely be a DNA comparison. Do you think you can just frame someone randomly for that?"

The others, though silent, privately agreed with Sakai.

Kaneshiro glared at Sakai.

"Enough. Let's go help the Deputy Director escort the suspect back," Sakai said, avoiding Kaneshiro's gaze.

Meanwhile, at 15-17 Harajuku 1-chome.

"I didn't kill anyone, I'm innocent! I really didn't kill her!" Kyoka Kitano sobbed uncontrollably, her voice hoarse. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she lifted her head abruptly, "I remember now! I was in a hurry when I left, I don't think I closed the door properly. On my way downstairs, I bumped into a guy wearing a black tracksuit. It was him, it must be him!"

"Kitano!" Hideyuki Aoyama cut him off sharply, his tone grave. "Do you have any evidence for what you're saying? The skin tissue under Masako Mikami's fingernails matches yours. Even if you don't confess, the prosecution can indict you, and the court will convict you. Prison is unavoidable."

Damn it. Letting you take the fall means the case is closed. Investigating the real culprit could take forever.

Are you going to pay me overtime?

"But... but I really didn't kill anyone! Waaaah..." Kitano’s face was filled with despair.

Aoyama regarded him coldly, leaning back on the sofa, legs crossed, his foot swinging lazily. "Let’s do this: let’s help each other. Watanabe is a friend of mine. Hand over all his photos and don’t mention him in your statement at the police headquarters. Then I’ll apply for a reduced sentence on your behalf, citing your cooperative attitude in confessing."

If you promised to help, do it thoroughly. Shuuzou Watanabe’s name must not be tied to this case.

"No! No! I didn’t kill anyone! I will never confess!" Kitano was agitated, even resorting to threatening Aoyama, his eyes bloodshot as he screamed, "If you don’t clear my name and catch the real culprit, I’ll expose the details of blackmailing Shuuzou Watanabe in court and make the photos public!"

"Oh? Threatening me?" Aoyama's smile was cold. He grabbed an ashtray and smashed it into Kitano’s face with a loud clang, knocking him to the floor. Two teeth, blood-soaked, flew out.

Hot blood splattered onto Ayaka Asou’s face. She shrieked, her complexion turning ghostly pale.

"Bastard! You don’t know what’s good for you!" Aoyama tossed aside the bloody ashtray and turned to Ayaka Asou. "Since he doesn’t want this opportunity, I’ll give it to you. Hand over the photos and testify that everything he said about Watanabe was fabricated. Then I’ll tell the prosecution you were the one who reported Kitano, making you the key informant. That’s a huge achievement!"

"As long as you say the murder was Kitano's alone and had nothing to do with you, that you were only forced to help him copy the key, you’ll be out in two or three years at most. How about this deal?"

Ayaka Asou’s expression flickered between hope and despair.

"If you refuse, well, I can make sure you serve ten years! Ten years! How many decades does a woman have? Besides, you’ve already done enough for Kitano. And are you really sure Masako Mikami wasn’t killed by Kitano? You weren’t there that night, were you?"

At Aoyama’s final words, Ayaka Asou’s expression changed drastically. She slowly turned to look at Kitano, her eyes dazed.

Yes, she hadn’t been there. Maybe Kitano really did kill Masako Mikami that night?

"No! No! Ayaka, don’t believe him! I didn’t kill Masako! I’m not lying to you..." Kitano, realizing that Ayaka was beginning to doubt him, cried out desperately.

Aoyama stomped on his mouth.

Kitano’s eyes bulged in agony, but with his mouth pinned underfoot, he couldn’t even scream.

"You talk too much." Aoyama ground his heel into Kitano’s lips, continuing to persuade Ayaka Asou, "Judging by your reaction at the hospital yesterday, I believe your feelings for Masako were genuine. You only wanted money, never murder. But now, your boyfriend killed her, and you’re going to serve extra time for the real killer?"

"Fine. I agree." Ayaka nodded slowly, whether for revenge or to serve less time herself, it was hard to say.

Aoyama smiled. "You made the right choice. Where are the photos?"

"In the cabinet behind you," Ayaka said, glancing toward the TV stand behind Aoyama.

Aoyama released Kitano, turned, and opened the cabinet, finding a thick envelope inside.

He opened it—inside were all of Shuuzou Watanabe’s compromising photos.

"You traitorous bitch! How dare you betray me!" Kitano screamed at Ayaka, his face twisted with rage.

Aoyama kicked him in the stomach.

Kitano doubled over in pain, curling into a ball.

Aoyama squatted, grabbed Kitano by the hair, and yanked his head up. "Still want to threaten me?"

"No... no, I don’t dare!" Kitano, fear in his eyes, shook his head frantically, stammering, "I swear, I’ll never mention Shuuzou Watanabe!"

Now that Aoyama had the photos and Ayaka’s allegiance had changed, even if Kitano named Watanabe in court, it would be useless.

"Will you confess now?" Aoyama pressed.

Kitano’s face twitched; blood was still flowing from the wound caused by the ashtray, mixing with his tears. Despair and helplessness filled his eyes as he choked out, "Yes, I confess."

Then he broke down, wailing in utter anguish.

Only the wrongfully accused know just how deeply they have been wronged. But he had no evidence to prove his innocence, while the police had evidence to prove his guilt.

He knew that resisting further would only make the police and prosecutors see him as uncooperative and likely result in a harsher sentence.

"You should have done this from the start. Look at you, being so stubborn. You almost made me believe you were truly innocent," Aoyama said with a hearty laugh.

Kitano wept like a child, his hysterical sobbing mingling with the sound of police sirens outside.

"Deputy Director!"

Ryoji Sakai entered with two officers.

"Take them away!" Aoyama commanded with a wave of his hand.

"Yes, sir!"

…………………………

Back at police headquarters, Hideyuki Aoyama personally conducted the interrogations of Ayaka Asou and Kyoka Kitano, accompanied by Ryoji Sakai.

He collected Kitano’s DNA sample and sent it to the forensic lab for comparison with the skin tissue found under Masako Mikami’s fingernails. Once the result came back, the case would be ready for submission, bringing it to a close.

Throughout the interrogation, Kitano was unable to answer many questions—details on the murder, the location of the weapon. Fortunately, Aoyama was enthusiastic in guiding his memory, helping him recall the entire process in detail.

After leaving the interrogation room, Aoyama had Sakai deliver the statements to Aya Asai’s office, while he returned to the First Homicide Division’s shared office.

"Deputy Director!"

Those remaining in the office stood up and bowed.

Aoyama could clearly sense the change in their demeanor: there was now a distinct aura of respect.

After all, yesterday he had put Kaneshiro in his place, showing his authority, and today he single-handedly cracked a major case, demonstrating his abilities. With Aya Asai as an ally, no one could afford to challenge him.

"Hmm." Aoyama nodded calmly, walked to his desk, and called Shuuzou Watanabe. "It’s done. Destroyed."

"Phew—" Watanabe, who had been anxiously awaiting news, finally relaxed. "Thank you, Aoyama."

As for the hundred million, he didn’t even mention it.

It was meant for Aoyama anyway.

Nor did he dwell on whether Aoyama had truly destroyed the photos or not.

Just as Aoyama hadn’t asked whether the knife Haruko Aoyama used to stab Naoto Yamamoto had really been destroyed or not. Both understood: whether truth or lie, neither would believe the other.

But both had their own measure in mind, and in such cases, mutual trust only deepened.

Three days later, the DNA comparison results arrived.

The skin tissue found under Masako Mikami’s fingernails was indeed a match for Kyoka Kitano’s DNA.

And with Kitano’s own confession, the case was officially submitted for prosecution.

Aoyama’s first case as Deputy Director was a resounding success, winning him fame throughout the Metropolitan Police Department.

Word spread quickly, and soon many colleagues knew that Aoyama had solved a major case single-handedly within two days of taking office. The story grew more extravagant with each telling.

Aoyama became a household name, his reputation glowing.

Due to the gruesome nature of the crime, many media outlets covered the case extensively, and the police’s announcement of the case closure was broadcast on the news that very evening.

"Today, the murder case at XX Apartments on the 25th has been submitted for prosecution… After the crime, Inspector Hideyuki Aoyama, acting alone, apprehended the suspect within forty-eight hours…"

In a dimly lit room, a pale, unkempt man in a black tracksuit watched the news, a mocking smile on his face.

His once-anxious heart was at last at ease.

So this is the extent of the police’s abilities.

He, the true culprit, had left not a trace for them to find.

"Heh, what a bunch of incompetents."