The Yoshinaga family home was decorated in pure Japanese style. After removing his shoes at the entrance, Yehua Yiren led Aoyama Xiu Xin into a tatami room facing the backyard, where tea utensils were already set up, evidently for hosting guests.
"Mr. Aoyama, please take a seat." Yehua Yiren gestured slightly with her hand and then knelt opposite him, sitting on her heels and began to carefully prepare the tea with a straight back.
It was then that Aoyama Xiu Xin took his seat and surveyed the room, sighing, "Mr. Nozawa must have often met guests here. His sudden death is truly regrettable and heartbreaking. I hope you'll find solace in your grief."
As he finished speaking, he bowed his head slightly in respect.
"My husband's death was no accident!" Yehua Yiren raised her voice in argument before quickly realizing her outburst and hastily quieted down, her eyes reddening as she dabbed at a tear, biting her red lips and speaking with a choked voice, "I apologize for my rudeness, but he was definitely murdered. Please, Mr. Aoyama, make sure to uncover the truth and bring justice for my late husband."
After she spoke, she abandoned the tea utensils, pressed her hands against her thighs, bowed her head, and burst into a low sob, a glimpse of creamy skin faintly visible from the slightly open neckline.
"Madam is so certain, there must be suspects in mind already," Aoyama Xiu Xin commented calmly.
Yehua Yiren lifted her head, her face tear-stained, and sobbed, "It's certainly the Noguchi Group's doing. My late husband's company always entrusted debt collection to the Noguchi Group, but as business grew over the past two years, the Noguchi Group became greedier and even attempted to usurp our business. I once overheard Nozaki Masao, the leader of the Noguchi Group, threatening my husband over the phone. If not him, then who else?"
The Noguchi Group was a secondary organization under the Daokuan Association, one of Japan's largest Violent Gangs, with Nozaki Masao, a core member of the Sumiyoshi Association, known for his violent temperament.
The structure of Violent Gangs in Japan is similar to pyramid schemes: major gangs are like the headquarters with numerous secondary and tertiary organizations underneath them, and the leaders of these sub-organizations also hold positions within the head office.
"Nozaki Masao, huh? I'll remember that," Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded slightly, indicating he would investigate, and then asked, "Did Mr. Nozawa meet anyone or show any abnormal behavior before the incident?"
"No," Yehua Yiren shook her head and whispered, "He left for work as usual in the morning. Since he often had social engagements, I didn't worry when he didn't come home late that night, but then..."
Yehua Yiren covered her mouth, tears flowing before words.
"Did Mr. Nozawa know Detective Yamamoto Hiroshi from our Criminal Division?" Aoyama Xiu Xin inquired further.
There were signs that Yamamoto Hiroshi was lying, which led him to boldly suspect that he might have killed Yeharadong.
After all, solving cases also involves the process of elimination, boldly hypothesizing each possibility and then eliminating them one by one.
"Yamamoto Hiroshi?" Yehua Yiren paused, her face contemplative as she slowly shook her head, "No, at least he never mentioned that name. Of course, he rarely discussed his business with me, but it's possible he knew him. After all, running a lending business means surviving in the cracks, dealing with people from both sides of the law."
"Hehe, 'surviving in the cracks'? Madam is far too modest," Aoyama Xiu Xin lifted the teacup in front of him, took a sip, and said meaningfully, "This mansion isn't cheap; Mr. Nozawa must have made a handsome profit!"
"This..." Yehua Yiren suddenly became nervous, fidgeting as she bit her red lip and stared at Aoyama Xiu Xin for a while before turning to open a drawer beside her. Pulling out a thick stack of yen, she lowered her head and held it out with both hands, stammering, "Mr. Aoyama, you've been running around for my late husband's case, here's a small token of appreciation... please, you must accept it and help us!"
Clearly, Yeharadong did not involve her in his business affairs while alive; otherwise, she wouldn't have been so awkward in attempting such a bribe, but her willingness to try meant she was looking to continue running the family business.
"Slap!" Aoyama Xiu Xin swatted the money away.
The scattered bills flew everywhere.
Yehua Yiren looked up confused, her expression a mix of bewilderment and fear, standing frozen.
"Idiot!" Aoyama Xiu Xin cursed loudly and slammed the table, rising with a face full of anger, "What are you doing? I only spoke to you out of sympathy because a woman like you just lost her husband and is struggling to cope! And you try to bribe me?"
"Do you think I am? This is not just an insult to me! It's an insult to the laws of Japan! And it tramples on my dignity as a Japanese policeman! Please forgive my rudeness, but I must take my leave."
As he spoke, he turned to leave.
"Mr. Aoyama!" In a panic, Yehua Yiren instinctively rose and grabbed his hand.
Aoyama Xiu Xin paused, turned to look at her hand, and said emotionlessly, "Madam, please conduct yourself with dignity."
"I'm... I'm sorry," Nozawa Yiren hastily released her hand as if burned, stepped back, and bowed deeply with a face full of shame and embarrassment. "I sincerely didn't mean to insult you, I... I..."
She couldn't formulate a complete sentence for a long time and was nearly bursting into tears, her eyes shimmering as she suddenly knelt down, her head bowed and her hands on the floor, her buttocks raised high, "Please forgive me."
This pose made her voluptuous curves push against her kimono, accentuating her body more attractively.
"Your apology seems insincere, Mrs. Nozawa," Aoyama Xiu Xin said from above, his voice light. "Didn't you know you should show some skin when apologizing?"
"Huh?" Nozawa Yiren looked up bewildered and shocked, her face as red as a cooked shrimp.
Perhaps it's a difference in cultural customs.
In her hometown, apologies didn't involve showing skin!
"Just kidding, please relax, Mrs. Nozawa. I don't know how many other police officers take bribes, but I am not like them! Even without taking money, I will diligently pursue the truth behind your husband's death," Aoyama Xiu Xin said sternly, his voice resounding. As his words finished, he took out a business card, placed it on the table, and bowed solemnly, "I'll take my leave now. Please contact me anytime if you face any difficulties, and don't hesitate to ask for help. Please try not to encourage any wrongdoing."
With that, he left without looking back.
Nozawa Yiren stared blankly as Aoyama Xiu Xin's figure disappeared from her view, feeling deeply moved. Ever since her husband started the lending company, they had encountered countless police officers and officials seeking favors from the Nozawa family home.
He was the most upright police officer she had ever met. Just now, with so much money before him, he was untempted and truly different from the others.
Aoyama Xiu Xin, of course, was different from the others.
What's the point in being slightly corrupt?
If one was to be corrupt, they should go big.
While others were content to take mere eggs from Nozawa Finance, he desired to own the whole chicken—the meat and the eggs.
Affairs involving the lending company were complex. With Yeharadong gone, groups like the Noguchi Group who had eyed Nozawa Finance wouldn't stand idle.
Considering Nozawa Yiren's reactions just now, though she intended to continue running the company and protect her husband's legacy, her experience was clearly insufficient to handle the looming troubles.
When she was cornered and saw the evil in people, she would naturally think to seek help from today's noble, just, and ungreedy officer, Aoyama Xiu Xin.
Of course, even if she didn't ask for help, Aoyama Xiu Xin would make his presence known and offer his assistance.
And then, it would be his time to show his fangs.
Stepping out of the Yoshinaga household, Aoyama Xiu Xin looked back at the mansion and smiled, his teeth neat and white.
"Beep beep beep~ beep beep beep~"
His pager suddenly went off at his waist.
He took it out and saw that it was Asai Ayumi calling.
Aoyama Xiu Xin found a nearby phone booth to call her back. "Asai Police Chief, this is Aoyama."
"Mr. Aoyama, I've got the surveillance footage from Paradise Karaoke from three days ago. There's a discovery. Are you done on your end?" Asai Ayumi sounded slightly excited.
"I'm done. Let's meet at the police station."