After returning to the police headquarters, Nakamura Shinichi imdiately found Aoyama Xiu Xin and reported to him the strong likelihood of Hokkaido University Hospital’s involvent in organ trafficking.
"No wonder Panasonic Toyoshige could commit such an act of parricide; besides his psychologically disturbed serial killer of a son, he himself was covered in blood. Truly a family of double excellence," Aoyama Xiu Xin took a deep breath, then added, "Given his sensitive status and extensive connections, it’s unwise to act against him without solid evidence. Put him under surveillance first to prevent him from slipping away, and start an investigation at the sa ti."
Though it was not yet confird that the last warning call before the food factory’s President Fujii was captured was made to Panasonic Toyoshige, Aoyama Xiu Xin was certain that Toyoshige was fully aware of and involved in the organ trade.
He could very well be the mastermind behind it all.
Given his position, he could access plenty of advanced dical equipnt and first-rate doctors, but most importantly, all harvested organs were taken to Hokkaido University Hospital for transplantation. As the director, could he really be oblivious to the origins of these organs?
"Sir!" Nakamura Shinichi bowed deeply.
Aoyama Xiu Xin thought for a mont and then said, "Protect the family of the food factory’s president, for if Panasonic Toyoshige doesn’t flee, he might attempt to silence Fujii."
The food factory, as the kidnapper of victims and a hub for organ harvesting and preservation, held a significant position in the entire profit chain. And Fujii, as the head of this hub, knew all about it.
He might even have evidence that could implicate Panasonic Toyoshige, making it highly likely that he’d be targeted for silence.
"Sir!" Nakamura Shinichi responded again before turning and leaving to personally interrogate Fujii.
Aoyama Xiu Xin went to report to Fujimoto Takayoshi.
"It’s astonishing how you can’t judge a book by its cover! When Panasonic Toyoshige personally reported his son, I knew he was a ruthless man, but I never would have imagined he could be so heartless," Fujimoto Takayoshi gasped after listening, clearly deeply shocked.
After expressing his sentints, he looked at Aoyama Xiu Xin and said, "Arresting Panasonic Toyoshige isn’t the problem; the issue lies with those dignitaries who have had organ transplants at Hokkaido University Hospital. Toyoshige’s only son has been sentenced to death, he now has no ties, no limits to his capacity for wrongdoing. Those powerful people will have to protect him if they don’t want to be dragged down with him."
Panasonic Toyoshige always maintained his noble and dignified persona, and the news of his illegitimate child was well-hidden. Aside from his son, Panasonic Hideyoshi, who had been sentenced to death, nobody else knew.
So to outsiders, he had only one son, Panasonic Hideyoshi, his wife had passed away long ago, and now, betrayed by his son and facing death penalty, he appeared to be an invincible lonely old man.
Compared to protecting him, Aoyama Xiu Xin murmured indifferently, "Those powerful people probably prefer him dead."
If the case hadn’t caught the police’s attention, then everything would be fine, and the powerful elite would enjoy a stable source of organs for themselves or their family mbers, arranging surgeries whenever necessary. But once the police got wind of it, those who had undergone transplant surgeries would wish for Panasonic Toyoshige’s imdiate disappearance.
Because self-defense claims of ignorance regarding organ origins will never convince the public, and Panasonic Toyoshige must undoubtedly have kept evidence of their knowledge.
Fujimoto Takayoshi exhaled, "But Panasonic Toyoshige is no fool; he surely has a contingency plan to avoid being silenced, such as the spreading of incriminating evidence upon his death, which those powerful people are aware of and fear, hence their reluctance to let him die."
"Just wait and see, as soon as we start investigating Panasonic Toyoshige, pressure from all sides will inevitably follow, as countless powerful forces try to covertly hinder our efforts."
He had encountered such situations many tis before and had always made the right choices and handled them correctly; otherwise, he wouldn’t be the one sitting in his current position.
"So, what you’re suggesting is that we either investigate Panasonic Toyoshige or we don’t?" inquired Aoyama Xiu Xin tentatively.
After pondering for a mont and ntally wrestling with past experiences, Fujimoto Takayoshi slowly said, "Let’s start investigating. We have to at least give it a try, and even if it turns out to be impossible, we need to present ourselves as unrelentingly thorough to the public. Additionally, if soone wants us to cease the investigation, they’ll need to offer substantial benefits."
"After all, the kidney that fell out during that car accident has made the entire nation aware of the possible organ trafficking in Sapporo, and the dia is still focusing on the issue. If we abandon the investigation, it would damage the police’s reputation; there must be so form of compensation."
His rationale was very practical, considering the police’s best interests, with no consideration for concepts of justice or the like.
Speaking up to this point, Fujimoto Takayoshi paused and then added, "Aoyama-kun, realistically speaking, you will still be the one in charge of overseeing the whole case, but let’s officially hand it over to a section chief for the ti being. Have him explain the police’s actions at the food factory to the public and the dia at the upcoming press conference."
"That way, if we are forced to drop the investigation due to pressure, it won’t tarnish your reputation of never failing to solve a case. After all, it wouldn’t be your case to handle; but if we need to pursue it to the end and we do make significant progress, then you can step in, replacing him, and declare your personal oversight due to the gravity of the case."
"Sir! I’m extrely grateful for the Chief’s consideration," said Aoyama Xiu Xin, his face filled with gratitude.
Fujimoto Takayoshi chuckled, "After all, there hasn’t been a case you couldn’t crack yet, and that impeccable reputation must be preserved at all costs, for even a small crack can lead to the peeling away of the entire gold plating."
"Sir! Then I will get to work," said Aoyama Xiu Xin, bowing solemnly before turning to leave.
As he left the office, closing the door behind him, his expression was extrely grave. Although he had just agreed to Fujimoto Takayoshi’s plan, he had already decided that this case had to be investigated to the very end. He wasn’t concerned about those powerful figures who had received organ transplants; Panasonic Toyoshige had to die!
After all, he was the one who had sent Toyoshige’s son to hell.
Now, he had disrupted his organ trafficking operation.
How could Toyoshige not harbor resentnt towards him?
Toyohei’s ruthless act of parricide showed his extre calm and cunning, and his orchestration of the organ trafficking business revealed his brutal nature. Against such an enemy, one had to seize the opportunity to ensure he could never rise again.
Otherwise, he would undoubtedly be the one to suffer in the future.
...
Although Fujii had been hit with an ashtray to the mouth during the arrest, the officer had been careful not to hit too hard, only causing so minor lip lacerations. After brief treatnt, it didn’t hinder his ability to speak.
Nakamura Shinichi conducted a normal interrogation of Fujin.
Sitting in the interrogation room, Fujin, with his swollen lips, closed his eyes without saying a word, as if he were asleep.
"Fujin, do you know what will be the outco for you if you take the bla all by yourself? The death penalty is inevitable, but if you honestly reveal the mastermind behind all this, you can go from being the principal offender to an accessory, and considering the rits of your cooperation, plus a reduced sentence, you could be out in a decade."
"Think about your wife and children, and then think about your elderly parents. Do you have the heart to leave your parents without soone to see them off, to leave your wife and children without support?"
Nakamura Shinichi, uncharacteristically, did not resort to violence or threats but instead tried to patiently persuade Fujin.
"Officer, are you an idiot? It’s precisely because I’ve thought about my family that I can’t possibly say anything. I am the mastermind, so you should judge however you want to," Fujin said as he opened his eyes.
Was he not afraid of death? Of course, he was afraid of death!
But having been caught red-handed by the police, he knew there was no escaping punishnt. All he could hope for was that once he was gone, his family might have it a bit better.
As long as he took all the bla, Panasonic Toyota would naturally take care of his family from outside. But if he betrayed Panasonic Toyota and the latter got caught, leading to more people being implicated, those involved would surely beco furious and harm his family out of spite.
Different criminals required different tactics. Nakamura Shinichi knew that re violence could not open the hearts of those with grave and heinous cris; he suppressed his impatience and said, "If you are worried about the safety of your family, there is no need. We have already arranged for the police to protect your relatives."
"Can your police stand guard for my family for a lifeti?" Fujin asked, and without waiting for Nakamura Shinichi to answer, he laughed mockingly, "Even your Police Departnt Director doesn’t get such treatnt. Don’t waste your effort on . Apart from admitting my own cris, I won’t say anything."
"Idiot!" Nakamura Shinichi could no longer contain his frustration. He cursed, slamd his hand on the table, stood up, and scolded Fujin, "You damned bastard, don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit! Are you really demanding that I get tough with you?"
"Knock, knock, knock!" A knocking sound arose, and an officer opened the door and said, "Detective Nakamura, Fujin’s lawyer is here and demands to see him imdiately."
Fujin lifted his head to reveal a defiant smile, then shrugged his shoulders, "Sorry, it seems I’ll have to excuse myself for a mont."
"Hmph!" Nakamura Shinichi’s face twitched slightly with rage as he glared at Fujin, then stord out the door.
As soon as he stepped out, an officer hurried up to him and said gravely, "Detective, we found out that the last call Fujin made was with a phone belonging to Director Panasonic of Hokkaido University Hospital."
Nakamura Shinichi muttered a curse under his breath and then ran off to report this to Aoyama Xiu Xin.
Fujin was led to a eting room, and upon entering, he saw a man in his forties, with a very scholarly appearance and wearing black-frad glasses, seated inside.
"Good day, President Fujin. I am the private lawyer for Director Panasonic," the middle-aged man said as he rose to shake Fujin’s hand, then gestured for him to sit down.
Fujin nodded several tis and, after sitting down, said eagerly, "Please tell the Director that I won’t say anything, and to please take good care of my family..."
"President Fujin, is your case connected to the Director?" The lawyer interrupted Fujin with a severe tone.
It then occurred to Fujin that the eting room was under surveillance. He pursed his lips and said, "No, of course not. What I ant was, I am grateful that he lent a lawyer considering our past relationship after I got into trouble. Please tell him that there’s no way out for my case, and I fear I will disappoint his kindness."
The implication was that he was ready to take on everything and accept the role of the principal offender in a legal trial.
And that he would accept any judgnt that ca as a result.
Therefore, he did not need a lawyer to defend him.
"If Mr. Fujin has made up his mind, then I will convey your words to him," the lawyer said while dipping his finger in water and writing a character on the table.
"Death".
Although Director Panasonic’s original ssage was for Fujin to commit suicide if he wasn’t confident he could withstand the interrogation, the lawyer didn’t bring this up, fearing Fujin might overestimate his ability to endure the questioning, so he simply directed him to take his own life.
Fujin’s face instantly paled, and he looked up sharply.
He understood what the character ant; it was an instruction to commit suicide. He might be able to accept a death sentence, but that did not an he had the courage to kill himself! That required a lot of determination.
"This is the Director’s wish. He will look after your family," the lawyer said in a soft and gentle voice.
Fujin clenched his fists. The threat implicit in the lawyer’s words angered him; he had made all the preparations to take the fall, yet Panasonic Toyota still could not rest assured and insisted on his imdiate death!
Even using his family as leverage.
This was going a bit too far!
But looking into the lawyer’s calm eyes, his anger rapidly receded, and with a deep breath, he forced out one word through clenched teeth, "Fine."
As long as he still cared for his family, he had no choice.
"I want to see my family one last ti," Fujin agreed, then made this additional request.
The lawyer found the request reasonable, considering it would be a final goodbye, and agreed, "I will arrange it."
Fujin nodded his head but did not utter any thanks.
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