Tokyo: From Lawless Madpolice to Minister
Chapter 632 - 518: What is the truth about the past? Kudou Tatsuo takes action

Chapter 632: Chapter 518: What is the truth about the past? Kudou Tatsuo takes action

Hokkaido Police Headquarters.

Mikuriya Shouta held an envelope, pacing circles in front of Aoyama Xiu Xin’s office door, rhythmically tapping the envelope against his leg.

"Minister,"

Seeing Aoyama Xiu Xin approaching, he immediately bowed and helped open the office door.

Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded slightly in acknowledgment and continued into the office to sit behind his desk.

"Any findings? Speak."

"After asking around the psychiatric hospital, a doctor mentioned that nine years ago, Ishida Koyun admitted a mentally challenged girl named Sakurai Riri, and he has been covering her hospital bills ever since. He visits her every holiday and volunteers at the hospital," Mikuriya Shouta said respectfully.

Aoyama Xiu Xin raised an eyebrow and asked, "Who is Sakurai Riri? What is her relationship with Ishida Koyun?"

"Sakurai Riri’s older brother, Sakurai Ze, was once a partner of Ishida Koyun. Nine years ago, Sakurai Ze was suspected of accepting a bribe from a suspect to destroy evidence, but when Ishida Koyun discovered this, Sakurai Ze attempted to kill him to silence him but was instead killed by Ishida," Mikuriya Shouta said, slightly bending forward to hand over a folder, "This contains Sakurai Riri’s personal information and details of that incident."

Aoyama Xiu Xin took it and started to read.

At the time of Sakurai Ze’s death, Sakurai Riri was only sixteen years old, born with a mental disorder, and now, at twenty-three, she still couldn’t remember past events, with the intelligence of a five-year-old child as per the hospital.

Nine years ago, in 1984, both Sakurai Ze and Ishida Koyun were ordinary police officers from the Fengping District’s criminal division, partners who had been through numerous battles and near-death experiences, sharing very close bonds.

On the night of June 21 that year, the Fengping District Police Station received a report of a murder in a villa, and Sakurai Ze and Ishida Koyun were the first to arrive at the scene, where they found a woman’s body, the murderer having fled.

After initial investigations, the victim was identified as the female owner of the villa. The first suspect was her husband—Nakai Feiniao, a councilman from Fengping District, prompting a thorough investigation.

Facing police suspicion, Nakai Feiniao claimed he wasn’t home the night of the murder and had no alibi.

His secretary testified on his behalf, and at a time when surveillance wasn’t as prevalent, the police, despite suspecting he was lying, had no evidence to prove it.

However, during further investigations, the police discovered a neighbor’s child had inadvertently captured footage of him returning home the night of the crime, leading to further interrogation.

Confronted with the evidence, Nakai still asserted his innocence, arguing he had concealed the truth fearing being a suspect. He claimed he had quickly left the house again to keep appointments, and when he left, his wife had been fine.

Given his social standing and the fact that the video only confirmed his return home but not his involvement in the murder, the officers in charge reluctantly released him.

It was then Ishida Koyun’s testimony followed. He said that the next day he sensed something was off with Sakurai Ze and, knowing him well, felt he was hiding something, so he discreetly monitored his actions.

Discovering that Sakurai Ze was attempting to steal the video proving Nakai was home that night from the evidence room, Ishida Koyun confronted and rebuked him for his motives.

Sakurai Ze claimed Nakai promised him a substantial amount of money to destroy the video, which he needed for his sister’s treatment, pleading with Ishida Koyun to let him do it. However, Ishida firmly refused.

In a standoff, Sakurai Ze drew his gun first, pointing it at Ishida Koyun and ordering him to move aside. Ishida, not believing he would shoot, not only refused but also went forward to wrestle the video from him. In desperation, Sakurai Ze shot him, thinking that since the gun had been fired, he had no choice but to kill him and frame him for destroying the video.

Feeling desolate, Ishida Koyun seized his chance while the other was violently destroying the video, drew his gun first, and fatally shot Sakurai Ze. Then, officers, alerted by the gunfire, arrived.

After reviewing internal surveillance, it was confirmed that Sakurai Ze was the first to enter the evidence room with Ishida Koyun following stealthily, thus, validating Ishida’s account. However, the video was destroyed beyond repair, and the investigation regarding Nakai ceased.

"Judging from this material, Ishida Koyun seems to be a man of deep loyalty and emotions, doesn’t he? He has taken care of Sakurai Ze’s sister for so many years." Aoyama Xiu Xin put down the files, took out a cigarette, and put it in his mouth.

Mikuriya Shouta quickly pulled out a lighter, bent over, and lit it for him, saying, "Based on my observations these past few days and what I’ve heard, Ishida Koyun isn’t a man lured by beauty or wealth, but he is definitely not a just man either, or he wouldn’t have reached the position of chief. So I don’t believe he would kill a sworn brother for justice."

"His consistent care for Sakurai Riri over the years more likely signifies his guilt and desire for redemption, and thus, I speculate the true story is the opposite of what he claims— that he was the one bribed by Nakai to destroy the video, and when discovered by Sakurai Ze, he killed him to silence him and framed him."

Hokkaido Police, known for corrupt officers, shows Ishida Koyun as one of the more clean and honorable among them, but it is unlikely that he is truly just, making Mikuriya Shouta suspect there is a significant problem.

"But the surveillance from that time proved he followed Sakurai Ze into the evidence room," Aoyama Xiu Xin noted.