Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister

"Good morning, Your Excellency."

Xiu Xin walked into the police headquarters building. Along the way, everyone paused to bow, keeping their heads down until he passed by before they resumed walking.

"Good morning, Your Excellency, after you."

The crowd gathered at the elevator entrance also lowered their eyes to make way. After the elevator arrived, Xiu Xin entered alone, while the others remained waiting for the next one. Everyone must yield to power.

Entering the office, it was spotless with all documents categorized and placed. A steaming cup of tea was on the desk, all prepared by his secretary, Haruno Takayoshi, before his arrival.

Only his secretary could clean his office. As for the janitors, without his order, they were not allowed to enter.

While cleaning, Haruno Takayoshi also had to check for any eavesdropping devices in the office.

His car also underwent regular comprehensive inspections.

Emphasizing caution.

After entering, he took off his coat and hung it up. Wearing a white shirt, he sat down in the chair, took a sip of the still warm tea, and then grabbed the internal phone to call the secretary's office, "Mr. Chunye, come over."

"Yes!"

Haruno Takayoshi's office was right next door.

Not even a minute after hanging up, he pushed the door open directly, saying, "Your Excellency, you called for me."

"Arrange for someone to keep an eye on Defense Minister Ozawa Hideomi and his family 24 hours a day. I want to know where they go, who they meet, and even what they talk about every day." Xiu Xin instructed calmly.

"Yes!" Haruno Takayoshi responded, respectfully saying, "I will have someone do it immediately."

At noon, Xiu Xin was eating a simple working meal in the office—six dishes and a soup, four meat, three vegetarian.

As always, thrifty and frugal.

"Ring ring! Ring ring!"

The phone on the desk suddenly rang.

This was a newly released model this year, touted as the smallest phone in the world, a flip phone launched by Motorola, portable, can fit in your pocket.

The biggest drawback is that it can't be used as a weapon like previous handheld phones, to hit someone.

Xiu Xin liked communication tools from this era because they didn't have a camera function, which benefited bureaucrats.

"James, what's up." He glanced at the caller ID showing it was Colonel James and answered casually.

In just two or three years, James was promoted from major to lieutenant colonel, and was promoted again to colonel last month. All this surely had to do with his family background, but it was also related to the money Xiu Xin invested in him.

"Good morning, sir, I hope I'm not interrupting your pleasant morning. General William would like to meet you."

William was the one who took over as the US Army Commander in Japan after Lawrence was transferred back to the country last year.

"Oh? Why does he suddenly want to see me? Is there something I don't know?" Xiu Xin raised an eyebrow.

Because James said he was not one of them, he had never interacted with this Army Major General.

James explained, "General William already knows about our close relationship with you. Although he disagrees, his reaction isn't intense, he just expressed a desire to talk to you face to face."

Although they didn't flaunt it, as more officers took Xiu Xin's money, this unusual phenomenon was still noticed by their superior, William.

"Interesting. What do you think he wants to talk to me about?" Xiu Xin asked with great interest.

He still remembered James' evaluation of this new boss: it's impossible for him to collude with them.

Given his strong principles, it's unlikely he would become complicit with them. Yet, after discovering this, he didn't react angrily or seek accountability but instead proposed a private meeting, which was intriguing.

James pondered for a moment before speaking in a somewhat peculiar tone, "William is a mild-mannered person with a scholarly disposition. I think he might want to persuade you not to interfere with the US Army's internal affairs, and if he can't persuade you, he might take some action."

"Alright, you set the place, tell me the time and address, and I'll go meet this scholar-general." Xiu Xin replied with a light smile.

"Yes, sir, I won't disturb you further then."

The time quickly advanced to the afternoon, and Ozawa Hideomi found Xiao Quanyi, "Mr. Xiao Quan, something's not right."

"What's the matter, Mr. Ozawa?" Xiao Quanyi, who was looking at some documents, lifted his head and asked puzzled.

Ozawa Hideomi, frowning and unable to figure it out, said, "Even until now, the Prime Minister hasn't given new instructions concerning Xiu Xin, the Sea Guard, or the Maritime Security Bureau's smuggling issue. Could it be that Xiu Xin hasn't admitted to his involvement in this matter, and the Prime Minister believed him, which is why no new orders have been issued?"

He had been waiting all day for Yanchuan Shilang to call him in.

But it never happened.

"What?" Xiao Quanyi was taken aback, also frowning, "If that's the case, perhaps Xiu Xin really hasn't come clean. What is he up to? This would have been his best chance to confess."

"I don't know what he's thinking. The key is what should I do now?" Ozawa Hideomi said with a troubled look, "Should I just go through the motions or should I really investigate? A real investigation will inevitably lead to a conflict with Xiu Xin."

Xiu Xin only needs to confess to Yanchuan Shilang to extricate himself smoothly. But for some reason, he hasn't come clean, making things difficult for him now.

Xiao Quanyi also felt stuck. Although he wasn't afraid of Xiu Xin and planned to deal with him first once he rose to power, he didn't want a direct conflict with Xiu Xin right now, as it could cause unnecessary complications.

After all, he was only a strong candidate for the next Prime Minister, not the Prime Minister yet, whereas Xiu Xin was the legitimate godson of the Prime Minister, with considerable influence himself. Once conflict intensified, even if he won, he might drift further away from the position of Prime Minister.

"An investigation must be conducted, official smuggling must be severely punished! It will also help you establish sufficient prestige in your new position." Xiao Quanyi first set a tone, then shifted, "But Xiu Xin has to be excluded. Arrange a candid chat with him, probe his thoughts, and also make it clear you don't intend to target him."

"Given the situation, that's all I can do." Ozawa Hideomi sighed in frustration, "It's infuriating that it's so troublesome to legally prosecute a bunch of smugglers, and to have to find ways to exonerate one of them in particular."

"Precisely because the world is in such a state, we need people like us to patch things up," Xiao Quanyi reassured, "Once I become Prime Minister, everything will get better, just endure a bit longer, Mr. Ozawa."

"Yes! I am fully convinced of that!" Ozawa Ichiro solemnly said, bowing seriously.

Xiao Quanyi returned a gentle smile.