CHAPTER 723: CHAPTER 592: CAUGHT A WHALE, TAKASHITA KANJI (REQUEST FOR MONTHLY TICKET)

Tanaka Noriaki left the Nakajima Family and found a small inn to stay, buying meals but never leaving the room.

But now, there were too many people looking for him in Tokyo.

Thus, despite his caution, he was still targeted.

One evening, while watching TV and eating instant noodles, a sudden bang sounded—the door was violently kicked open.

Before he could react, a few burly men who looked as fierce as wolves burst in and pinned him down, barking, "Idiot, don’t move!"

"Who are you!"

Pinned with his hands behind his back and his neck pressed against the table, Tanaka Noriaki struggled a few times, then gave up upon realizing he couldn’t break free, and asked in fear and panic,

"Relax, we’re not Xiu Xin’s men, come with us," said the stout leader.

Tanaka Noriaki suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as they weren’t Xiu Xin’s men, it was okay.

Then he stopped resisting, obediently let them blindfold him and usher him into a car. After what felt like a long time, the car finally stopped.

Tanaka Noriaki was led out of the vehicle, still blindfolded, and was led by someone. They walked for about three to five minutes before stopping, and the blindfold over his eyes was suddenly removed. The abrupt light made him squint and instinctively raise his hand to shield his eyes.

He could only see a blurry figure in front of him.

Once he could see clearly, he saw an old man sitting on the sofa behind a coffee table.

"Mr... Mr. Hatanaka!"

He exclaimed in disbelief.

His face bore the expression of someone who had seen a ghost.

The person in front of him was none other than Hatanaka Zizi, a core former member of the Liberal Democratic Party, now the leader of the New Party, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister—a truly high-ranking official.

A person who could directly influence the fate of this country.

Tanaka Noriaki had thought that the false news he spread would attract someone important, considering that no ordinary person would dare to oppose Xiu Xin, but he never imagined attracting such a high-profile figure.

Damn! What qualifications does that bastard Xiu Xin have to offend such a presence!

For a moment, he felt panic-stricken, sweat soaking his back.

It was like a fisherman only capable of catching trout suddenly having a whale bite the bait. Not only was he sure not to catch it, but he might end up feeding the whale.

"I’m honored you recognize me. There’s no need to be nervous, Mr. Tanaka, please have a seat and wipe your sweat," Hatanaka Zizi said with a friendly and approachable smile.

"Hi!" Tanaka Noriaki stumbled over and sat down, but didn’t dare to settle comfortably into the seat, his back straight as if he were a primary school student during a lesson.

"Due to my sensitive position, the way we brought you here was rather impolite. I hope you don’t mind," Hatanaka Zizi apologized with a slight bow.

Tanaka Noriaki, frightened, instantly stood up and bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle, "Not at all, I understand."

For such an important figure to apologize to him, any grievances he might have had vanished—especially since he was already terrified.

"It’s good you understand, Mr. Tanaka," Hatanaka Zizi nodded with a smile and motioned for him to sit down, speaking calmly, "I think you know why we brought you here, so please hand over what you have to me. I assure you of your safety."

He wasn’t interested in dealing with Xiu Xin himself, but he was very interested in using Xiu Xin to strike at Yanchuan Shilang.

With the Xichuan Cabinet clearly not lasting much longer, anyone with some power and plans was making preparations, including him, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister, who naturally sought to officially advance in the next term.

The Liberal Democratic Party, the party he once belonged to, would be a formidable opponent in the upcoming term, and one of its main members, Yanchuan Shilang, was indeed a strong competitor, so he wanted to strike at him.

If the Liberal Democratic Party were to come to power again, all these former traitors like himself would be marginalized.

"This..." Tanaka Noriaki, driven anxious, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, stumbled through his words, "The thing... the thing is not on me."

"Where is it then?" Hatanaka Zizi immediately pressed.

Tanaka Noriaki sweated profusely, his lips moved but no words came out; originally, he thought he’d lure out a foe of Xiu Xin, gauge the situation, either negotiate with the non-existent proof he claimed to have or come clean, then express his willingness to serve against Xiu Xin in exchange for refuge.

But he never dreamed he would lure Hatanaka Zizi, the whale. He didn’t know what to do.

To lie to such a person with a poor lie?

He dared not.

He had only been a minor Patrol Chief in his former days.

Besides, would such a person dance around in circles with him?

Seeing his hesitant expression and hearing no response from him, Hatanaka Zizi’s smile gradually faded, his tone turning icy as he said, "Just don’t tell me that you don’t have any evidence at all."

The immense pressure made the guilt-ridden Tanaka Noriaki feel so overwhelmed that he nearly stumbled, then fell to his knees, weeping and kowtowing for mercy.

"Mr. Hatanaka, please spare my life, spare my life! I didn’t intend to deceive you, the evidence was destroyed, but I swear a deadly feud with him. You must also have a feud with him, don’t you? Please give me a chance, I’m willing to be your blade, your dog, to tear him apart for you."

"Damn it!" Hatanaka Zizi’s fury ignited after confirming his suspicions, he heavily slammed his palm on the table, his face darkened as he coldly said, "What the hell is Xiu Xin to have a feud with me? And what are you to offer to be my dog? You’ve wasted my time!"

He instantly saw through everything—the so-called evidence was just a lie fabricated by Tanaka Noriaki to deal with Xiu Xin’s pursuit, and he had been fooled, infuriated by being played by a lesser man.

"Mr. Hatanaka, calm down, calm down! I really didn’t mean to deceive you! Aoyama Xiu Xin went too far; I just wanted to stay alive. Even a blade of grass, a tree, a piece of paper, they all have their uses, I’m useful, I’m definitely useful, please give me a chance."

The powerful man’s anger was like thunder; Tanaka Noriaki shivered violently, bowing repeatedly and desperately as if pounding garlic, with snot and tears streaming down his face, looking very wretched.

Hatanaka Zizi’s angry expression slowly subsided and returned to its previous calm, staring at Tanaka Noriaki for a while before saying, "You’re right, you are still of use."

"Yes! Useful! Useful! I’m willing to go through fire and water for you!" Finally seeing a ray of hope for life, Tanaka Noriaki was almost overwhelmed with joy, nodding continuously like a pecking chicken.

Hatanaka Zizi’s face was expressionless, his gaze was cold, looking down from above at the minor figure kneeling on the ground.

............

It was after 11 PM at the Yanchuan family’s residence.

Aoyama Xiu Xin took his leave; Asakawa Xia saw him out.

Asakawa Xia had taken a bath after dinner and was wearing a nightgown. The champagne-colored silk slip clung to her graceful body, outlining her voluptuous curves, with a lace trim adorning the front, her soft and heavy bosom partially visible, veins clearly seen.

"Big sister, please, no need to see me out."

Standing at the door, Aoyama Xiu Xin bowed to the flirtatious Asakawa Xia, then turned and left.

"Wait." Asakawa Xia suddenly called out to him.

Aoyama Xiu Xin stopped and turned, looking puzzled at Asakawa Xia, "Is there anything else, big sister?"

Asakawa Xia pursed her lips and smiled, walking towards him with a fragrant breeze, her ample breasts heaving with each step as if about to burst forth. She approached Aoyama Xiu Xin and stuffed a pair of balled-up socks into his hand, "You got them dirty, I won’t wear them."

"Big sister, you..." Aoyama Xiu Xin realized what he was holding and his face turned embarrassingly red and pale, unsure of what to do with the socks.

Asakawa Xia watched his flustered and embarrassed demeanor with inward glee, smiling as she waved her hand and swayed her hips back into the house.

"I won’t see you out, Xiu Xin, take care, have sweet dreams tonight. I might come to Hokkaido to see the snow this year, you’ll have to treat me well then."

She waved without turning her head.

"Not only is there saké in Japan, but also grilled chicken."

Aoyama Xiu Xin recovered his composure, staring at her retreating figure and murmured softly, before turning away with the socks and carelessly throwing them into a trash can.

He was picky; if it wasn’t stockings, he didn’t want them.

"Let’s go home." After getting into the car, Aoyama Xiu Xin instructed Jin Yucheng, then closed his eyes to rest.

"Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling!"

He was just dozing off when the phone woke him.

"Aoyama Xiu Xin, speak," Aoyama Xiu Xin opened his eyes annoyed, exhaled, and answered.

A young, respectful voice came through the phone, "Good evening, Minister Aoyama, I hope I’m not disturbing you, but I have Tanaka Noriaki in my possession."

Aoyama Xiu Xin’s sleepiness instantly vanished and he sat upright, "Alive or dead?"

His concern for his old subordinate was limited to this.

"Dead, he resisted too fiercely when we caught him, my men accidentally went too far."

"Who are you, and how did you get my contact information?" Aoyama Xiu Xin pressed further.

"I am Takashita Kanji, chairman of the Takashita Group. Your contact information—I just got it from Yamakawa Ichiro chairman by claiming to have Tanaka Noriaki with me."

"What do you want?" Aoyama Xiu Xin asked.

"An opportunity," Takashita Kanji’s tone urgent, "An opportunity to serve you!"

"You are quite greedy," Aoyama Xiu Xin chuckled.

Takashita Kanji didn’t deny it, "Hi!"

"I appreciate greedy people; those who aren’t greedy lack ambition, and those without ambition are not worth nurturing. I’ll have Yamakawa Ichiro confirm Tanaka Noriaki’s status and then wait for my call."

Aoyama Xiu Xin hung up after finishing his statement, then called Yamakawa Ichiro to have him meet Takashita Kanji to confirm whether Tanaka Noriaki was truly dead.

Soon, Yamakawa Ichiro replied, "Mr. Aoyama, I have personally seen Tanaka’s corpse."

"What’s the situation with the Takashita family and Takashita Kanji himself?" Aoyama Xiu Xin asked leisurely.

While it was natural to reward Takashita Kanji for killing Tanaka Noriaki, he wouldn’t use someone of unclear background and details carelessly.

Yamakawa Ichiro answered respectfully, "The Takashita family belongs to an old Violent Gang, that has been around for three generations. They shone briefly in the past but have long since declined, controlling only two streets in the Shinbashi District and a few nightclubs. Takashita Kanji succeeded as the head three years ago, is very ambitious, and wants to restore the former glory of the Takashita Group, but he hasn’t made much progress."

He paused, then added in a flattering tone, "But now, it seems this fortunate family might achieve their dream, because they caught your eye, and your appreciation is worth far more than his three years of effort."

Yamakawa Ichiro was not concerned that Takashita Kanji might threaten his position in Aoyama Xiu Xin’s eyes.

He had been closely following Mr. Aoyama since the beginning; he wasn’t easily replaceable.

"Check them out; I want detailed information on the Takashita Group and details on how they captured Tanaka Noriaki." Aoyama Xiu Xin instructed before hanging up.

As someone naturally suspicious, he investigated anyone who approached him thoroughly.