CHAPTER 798: CHAPTER 657: PLANS CAN’T KEEP UP WITH CHANGES; EVERYONE SHOWS GREAT RESOLVE

When Aoyama Xiu Xin arrived at the headquarters, many journalists had already gathered outside. Upon seeing his car, they swarmed around, making it impenetrable, eagerly asking questions.

"Chief Aoyama, we received information from an insider that the gunman who attacked you turned himself in. Is this true? What are your thoughts on this?"

"What does the Police Director think was the reason for the gunman’s attack? Could it be retaliation from the remnants of Aum Shinrikyo? Please share your speculations."

"Superintendent General Aoyama, say something..."

Despite the journalists shouting until their voices were hoarse, Aoyama Xiu Xin inside the car remained indifferent, showing no intention of responding.

"Move aside! Don’t block the way! Clear out!"

Soon, a team of police officers ran out from the headquarters, dispersing the journalists, and escorting Aoyama Xiu Xin’s car through the crowd into the main gates.

After getting out of the car, Aoyama Xiu Xin headed straight to the interrogation room.

"Chief!"

The officer guarding the interrogation room stood at attention and saluted, then bent down and opened the door of the interrogation room.

"Chief!"

The two officers responsible for the interrogation got up to greet him.

Aoyama Xiu Xin glanced over them and directly looked at the man with cuffed hands behind the interrogation table.

About twenty-four or five years old, his physique closely resembled the gunman’s that night. With a helmet on, Aoyama Xiu Xin wouldn’t be able to distinguish if the gunman wasn’t arranged by him; he might believe this person was the culprit.

"Chief, this man’s name is Yamamoto Sora, a local of Sapporo, with prior convictions for theft and gun dealing. According to him, he attacked you because your strong crackdown on crime after taking office left him without a livelihood. In a fit of anger, he intended to teach you a lesson and scare you. Frightened by the ensuing chaos, he voluntarily turned himself in."

An officer conducting the interrogation explained the situation.

"Are you saying you’re the gunman who attacked me?" Aoyama Xiu Xin asked, leaning over the table and staring at Yamamoto Sora.

Instinctively, Yamamoto Sora flinched, his gaze scattered, nodded, and said, "It was me."

"Evidence?" Aoyama Xiu Xin asked.

Having been caught by the police several times, it was the first time he had to offer evidence himself to prove his own guilt. It took Yamamoto Sora a moment to respond, "The motorcycle and the clothes I wore that night are still at my house, but I threw the gun into the sea."

Their preparations were quite reasonable; items like the motorcycle and clothes could be found in similar models, but the actual gun used that night could never be exactly duplicated.

"Search his house, destroy the clothes and motorcycle," Aoyama Xiu Xin ordered directly.

As long as Yamamoto Sora couldn’t produce evidence proving he was the gunman, the police would release him without charge.

After all, they were law-abiding, adhering strictly to procedures and enforcing the law without bias.

The two officers behind him responded, "Yes!"

"No! What do you mean?" Yamamoto Sora was stunned and anxious upon hearing this, shouting, "You’re police! You’re covering for me! This is a crime! You can’t destroy my evidence! Come back! Stop! I want to report you for covering for me!"

"Pa!" Aoyama Xiu Xin raised his hand and delivered a sharp slap, harshly pinching his cheek and said, "Don’t think I don’t know you’ve been bought to confess. I have no intention of troubling someone who can’t control their own destiny, but don’t take me for a fool either. Now shut your mouth, got it?"

"Mmm mmm mmm mmm." Frightened by Aoyama Xiu Xin’s gaze, Yamamoto Sora nodded like a pecking chicken.

Aoyama Xiu Xin released him, disdainfully wiping his fingers on his chest, and turned to leave the interrogation room.

He didn’t attempt to make Yamamoto Sora confess to reporters about being bought, as Heng Lu Guangnan, having taken such actions, must be confident he could control Yamamoto Sora.

Returning to his office not long after, he received a report call, "Chief, when we arrived at Yamamoto Sora’s house, it was already seized by journalists, completely no chance to destroy the motorcycle. Please punish me."

"It’s not your fault." Aoyama Xiu Xin hung up the phone, his face dark and grim. Heng Lu Guangnan arranged everything so well that tomorrow, there would definitely be reports about the police finding the crime tools at the culprit’s home.

With the crime tools present and the owner admitting to being the culprit, the case would be settled, and there would be no need for an investigation team.

If the investigation team proceeded as usual, Heng Lu Guangnan would definitely manipulate local news media to spread rumors about the team’s purpose, creating political panic.

Unless the investigation team explicitly stated they were coming to investigate Heng Lu Guangnan, what would the investigation reason be?

Aoyama Xiu Xin paused for a moment before calling Miyashita Hidekatsu, "Mayor Miyashita, there’s been a bit of a change in circumstances. I wanted to ask if you have any good suggestions..."

"Heng Lu Guangnan is indeed as conniving and scheming as ever." Miyashita Hidekatsu sighed after listening, then fell silent for a moment. After twenty or thirty seconds, he exhaled and said, "We can’t give him the opportunity to calmly organize a counterattack. Otherwise, he will gain absolute advantage in Hokkaido. How about directly targeting him personally for an attack? I will hold a press conference to publicly accuse Heng Lu Guangnan of corruption and bribery, and transferring interests with businessmen. You go and arrest him directly."

"Wouldn’t this affect Mayor Miyashita as well?" Aoyama Xiu Xin sensed Miyashita Hidekatsu’s concern and apprehension towards Heng Lu Guangnan. Because the investigation team’s arrival was about to be obstructed, he was ready to sacrifice himself to send Heng Lu Guangnan off, completely unwilling to drag it out and give Heng Lu Guangnan a chance for a prolonged battle.

Miyashita Hidekatsu chuckled lightly. Since they had worked together in the field last night, the relationship between the two had become much closer, and he spoke directly, "I will apologize and resign at the press conference, but I will also explain that I myself am not a corrupt official. I just went along with Heng Lu Guangnan to infiltrate and gather evidence of his crimes, willing to hand over all the illicit money. After Heng Lu Guangnan’s downfall, I will announce my candidacy for governor."

A mayor who enters the game, even resigning just to expose the true face of his superior, runs for governor. Most people in Hokkaido would surely choose to support him.

"Mayor Miyashita truly has great courage." Aoyama Xiu Xin expressed admiration and then said, "But this way, many colleagues might be especially wary of you!"

Doing this would indeed successfully disembark from Heng Lu Guangnan’s ship and lead him to his downfall, as well as gain the support and recognition of many citizens. But this act of backstabbing a superior to climb up would displease many officials.

"The situation forces us; there is no other choice." Miyashita Hidekatsu couldn’t avoid it either. Originally, he wanted to use more gentle methods, but time waits for no one. He laughed heartily and said, "Moreover, only mediocre folk would be wary of me because of this. I disdain befriending such people. Having friends like Mr. Aoyama by my side is enough. How could a fierce tiger mingle with wild dogs?"

"Alright! Then I will convey Mayor Miyashita’s thoughts to Grandpa right now." Aoyama Xiu Xin said.

After hanging up, he called Yanchuan Shilang, "Grandpa, there’s been a change. The investigation team might not come. I plan to first pretend to conclude the assault case to deceive Heng Lu Guangnan. Mayor Miyashita will sort out the evidence and hold a press conference..."

"Plans cannot keep up with changes, indeed!" After listening to Aoyama Xiu Xin, Yanchuan Shilang exhaled deeply, "Then make sure to do it cleanly."

"Yes!" Aoyama Xiu Xin responded heavily.

Ten minutes later, Yamashita Kogoro announced in front of numerous reporters blocking the entrance to the police headquarters that the assailant who attacked Aoyama Xiu Xin had been caught, with full evidence.

Meanwhile, Aoyama Xiu Xin had Nakamura Shinichi select about ten trusted people in the Criminal Department for a meeting in the conference room.

The actual arrest of Heng Lu Guangnan was essentially a murder plot against him. Aoyama Xiu Xin must ensure the participants of the operation are mentally prepared.

After all, this is the governor. If communication isn’t good beforehand, things might go wrong at the crucial moment.

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

"Knock knock knock!"

"Come in."

Imamura Masafumi entered with joy on his face and reported, "Governor, the police headquarters just announced they’ve identified the attacker of Aoyama Xiu Xin as Yamamoto Sora, who surrendered. The investigation team definitely won’t be coming."

"Oh?" Heng Lu Guangnan raised his eyebrows, a smile unfolding on his face, but gradually the smile vanished, turning his eyebrows serious, "There’s something wrong."

"What’s wrong, Governor?" Imamura Masafumi asked puzzled, seeing Heng Lu Guangnan’s empty cup, he carried the kettle forward to add water.

"If I were Aoyama Xiu Xin, knowing full well the surrendered was arranged by me, even if unable to prove his innocence, I would find ways to drag it out. How could the case be closed so quickly?" Heng Lu Guangnan murmured, "Unless they’ve abandoned their original plan and come up with a new strategy."

"Governor, aren’t you being too sensitive?" Imamura Masafumi disagreed, cautiously reminded.

"Better safe than sorry! Being sensitive is a good thing." Heng Lu Guangnan shook his head, said gravely, "This is very likely meant to lull me into a sense of security. Must guard against it, otherwise, it’s very dangerous."

"Then, Governor, what do you think we should do now?" Imamura Masafumi put down the kettle and asked.

Heng Lu Guangnan pondered silently, stood up, paced with hands behind his back. He now had a strong premonition of unease, yet couldn’t figure out what Aoyama Xiu Xin or the cabinet would do next. But he was certain if closing the case was indeed to deceive him, they would quickly undertake new actions.

Suddenly, he stopped, his expression shifting unpredictably, turned his piercing gaze towards his secretary and said, "Let all the police officers in Sapporo that we can control carry guns and be on standby, pay them a month’s salary every day until things calm down."

Though Aoyama Xiu Xin is the chief, he’s only been in Hokkaido for a short time. Even though Fujimoto Takayoshi is down, there still remain many loyal police forces beneath him.

Yet Aoyama Xiu Xin has been in Hokkaido for so long. And with no prior conflict with Heng Lu Guangnan, he couldn’t identify them, much less clean them out.

"Governor, if we really reach that point there would be no turning back!" Imamura Masafumi persuaded worriedly.

Heng Lu Guangnan snorted coldly, "If we truly reach that point and I’m doomed, then nobody should expect to survive. We’ll all perish together, let’s see if the cabinet dares!"

"Yes!" Imamura Masafumi sighed.

Although he didn’t agree with Heng Lu Guangnan’s extremes.

But, having come from humble beginnings, he owed the other for recognizing his talent, so even knowing reaching this point meant a dead end for himself, he could only go down this road without turning back.