CHAPTER 778: CHAPTER 637: THE GATHERING ON THE GUNBOAT, AN IMPERFECT RETURN

Two months ago, the case of the Takahashi couple’s murder was solved, proving Aoyama Xiu Xin’s investigative abilities were still far ahead, and Kiyohiro Tobita’s arrest at Hatanaka Zizi’s home showed Aoyama Xiu Xin still upheld justice fearlessly.

The citizens all love to praise Aoyama Xiu Xin.

But some of those in power are really disgusted.

Even within the Liberal Democratic Party, many people dislike Aoyama Xiu Xin’s disregard for his seniors and disrespect for authority. Because of Yanchuan Shilang, no one dares to openly criticize him, but privately, they don’t hesitate to belittle him in gatherings. Those non-Liberal Democratic Party old masters even openly say Aoyama Xiu Xin is the most loyal dog of the Yanchuan Family, bullying others under the master’s influence without consideration.

After all, despite conflicting interests and ideals with Hatanaka Zizi, fundamentally, they share the same identity as the ruling class. Aoyama Xiu Xin’s intrusion into the Hatanaka family to arrest someone is not just an affront to Hatanaka Zizi but an offense to their entire collective.

If all young people were like this, where would it lead?

It’s no exaggeration to say that among the seven hundred or so members of parliament, at least six hundred and fifty have issues with Aoyama Xiu Xin’s actions. So, nowadays, anyone with a little insight in Japan can see that if the Yanchuan Family doesn’t collapse, Aoyama Xiu Xin might barely make it to the cabinet, but if the Yanchuan Family does fall, he might not only fail to enter the cabinet but be thrown into prison immediately.

He might even go straight to the grave.

Of course, that’s the attitude of the upper-class masters.

But in the eyes of lower-level bureaucrats, Aoyama Xiu Xin undoubtedly remains an object of envy and admiration for them.

So even though it’s not Aoyama Xiu Xin’s intention,

it indirectly explains one truth.

Those truly liked by the lower-class people can’t possibly be liked by the upper-class rulers simultaneously.

Luckily, as an aspiring rebel seeking revolution, Aoyama Xiu Xin never cares about the attitude of the parliamentary masters. When he needs support from them, no words are needed; the muzzles of the warships and tanks will speak for him.

At this moment, he is floating above the vast sea.

Sitting beneath him is a large patrol ship from the Maritime Security Bureau, with cannons overhead, and in his arms are two young women with short hair, fair skin, and wearing Maritime Security Bureau uniforms. At this moment, their uniforms are a bit disheveled, with the stockings snagged.

They’re wearing white uniforms, akin to the color of the waves, pure and full of vitality, with flushed cheeks and shy eyes that evoke a desire for conquering.

This vessel set sail under the guise of patrol.

But now, the ship is filled with mid-to-high level leaders from the Maritime Security Bureau and youthful, pretty female subordinates, drinking and making merry.

The patrol ship, meant for maintaining maritime security, is filled with the scents of fruits, alcohol, and women, with officers dedicated to naval affairs showing their flair.

Aoyama Xiu Xin has been cooperating with the Maritime Security Bureau in smuggling for over a year now, and both parties have profited immensely, deeply binding them together; one falls, the other joins in burial. So this kind of entertainment is trivial as long as the reporters don’t capture them.

"Come, come, I propose we all raise our glasses to Mr. Aoyama. Without his support back then, how would our Maritime Security Bureau enjoy such heavenly days now? I think even the Sea Guard can’t compare to us!"

A man in his forties, fat-headed and big-eared, wearing a suit and sporting a beer belly, stands up, draping an arm around a young female subordinate, raising a glass with the other hand.

He is Oda Seisui, director of the Maritime Security Bureau.

"That’s right, to Minister Aoyama! Minister Aoyama is practically the rebirth parent of our Security Hall."

"The money from the Ministry of Finance allocated yearly is for the Security Hall, but the money Minister Aoyama helped us earn goes straight into our own pockets. Grateful to Minister Aoyama!"

Others also join in, vigorously flattering Aoyama Xiu Xin, after all, he is now the adopted grandson of the Prime Minister with a brother holding a cabinet position.

"Hahaha, you’re all too kind, so very kind. Between me and the Maritime Security Bureau, there’s no talk of anyone looking out for anyone else; it’s mutual accomplishment." Aoyama Xiu Xin pushes the two women aside, stands up, raises his glass, laughing heartily as he responds, and after downing it, he walks over to warmly embrace Yagyu Tomon, now the Minister of the Security Hall’s Police Rescue Department, saying, "I’d say we should toast Mr. Yagyu; he’s the bridge between me and the Security Hall. Without him, we wouldn’t have the friendship we boast today, would we, Mr. Oda?"

"Indeed! Indeed!" Oda Seisui laughs heartily.

After much liveliness and several rounds of toasting, the vessel becomes considerably quieter, with individuals engaged in their own tasks, laughing and chatting in groups of three or five.

Aoyama Xiu Xin stands at the foremost part of the ship, feeling the sea breeze on his face, while two female members of the Security Hall, uniforms half undone, kneel before him competing to feast, blushing, either nibbling lightly or devouring voraciously.

Behind him is a crowd of people playing boisterously.

This is what contemporary young people’s relaxation is truly about.

"President." Yagyu Tomon walks over, gratefully saying, "Thank you, President, for your earlier favor."

He understands that Aoyama Xiu Xin intentionally brought him up earlier to let others also owe him a favor.

Aoyama Xiu Xin, composed and serene, says, "In our circle, we’re all brothers and sisters, all family, helping each other is natural; why be so polite? Besides, what I said is genuine truth. Without you, the ties between me and the Maritime Security Bureau wouldn’t exist, much less in-depth collaboration."

By saying this, he makes it sound like his cooperation with the Maritime Security Bureau is purely out of consideration for Yagyu Tomon’s sake.

As a result, Yagyu Tomon feels not only proud but deeply moved.

Aoyama Xiu Xin glances sideways, noting his slight facial expression change into his eyes, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

The Sea Guard is different from the Land Guard; the Sea Guard is too wealthy.

It’s too difficult to bind with the Sea Guard in the same way as the Land Guard, so Aoyama Xiu Xin never entertained the idea of winning over the entire Sea Guard. He only needed to maintain friendly relations with Sea Guard Major Yagyu Jie Cheng and at the same time tie closely to his youngest son, Yagyu Tomon.

He and Yagyu Tomon are mutually dependent, and if he were to stage a coup, Yagyu Tomon and the Maritime Security Bureau would certainly participate. Unless Yagyu Jie Cheng completely abandoned his son, he would be forced onto the ship, affecting some of the Sea Guard officers’ decisions.

Having control over the entire Land Guard, most of the police, and the Maritime Security Bureau, plus a small portion of the Sea Guard, the probability of success in a sudden initiative was already very high.

"Hey!" Yagyu Tomon responded with his head bowed.

Aoyama Xiu Xin shook slightly as the two women kneeling finished cleaning and zipped him up. Holding a glass of wine, he turned with a graceful smile towards the crowd, "Come, come, let me propose another toast to you all."

Yagyu Tomon looked at Aoyama Xiu Xin’s back full of admiration. Although they were peers, he felt there were many areas where he was inferior to him. He glanced at the two female subordinates with glistening lips; at least, he couldn’t hold out for so long before releasing.

From daytime into night, the patrol ship was filled with song and dance, drunken stupor, dazzling lights, and using guns to fish. If justice-minded Japanese people saw this scene, they would likely feel the sky was falling.

At eleven o’clock, the patrol ship began its return voyage.

Inside the cabin, Aoyama Xiu Xin, with lipstick all over his face, exhaled tiredly. As a person who is upright and keeps to himself, he disliked such settings.

But for his grand plan, he had to keep socializing with different groups. Not being able to blend in with everyone usually and suddenly expect them to carry guns for a coup is not realistic.

Binding interests through money and power, deepening relationships through luxury and pleasure is very common, and those who are lured are a bunch of wealth-hungry, lustful people. But Aoyama Xiu Xin didn’t want to revive the country; he just wanted to disrupt it to satisfy his ambition and selfish desires.

Having such a group of parasites was already enough.

After all, those truly capable and idealistic people couldn’t possibly be attracted by him, let alone follow him in a coup. Instead, they’d be the first to report him.

"Mr. Aoyama, the director has urgent business to discuss."

The General Affairs Department Minister of the Security Hall, looking serious, walked through the drunken crowd to Aoyama Xiu Xin.

"What happened?" Seeing his expression wasn’t right, Aoyama Xiu Xin immediately got up and followed him outside.

"You’ll know when you get there."

Aoyama Xiu Xin frowned and, full of doubts, followed the General Affairs Department Minister into the cockpit.

Several people were already inside.

They were all the key top officials of the Maritime Security Bureau.

On the ground was a young man kneeling, his hands cuffed behind him, beaten with bruises, wearing a Security Bureau uniform.

"Mr. Aoyama."

"Minister Aoyama."

Everyone greeted Aoyama Xiu Xin.

"What happened?" Aoyama Xiu Xin asked.

Oda Seisui spat and kicked the kneeling young man down to the ground, gritting his teeth with a dark face, "This kid has been secretly taking photos all along."

"Minister." Yagyu Tomon handed over a small digital camera to Aoyama Xiu Xin.

Aoyama Xiu Xin took it silently and flipped through the photos inside, all showing today’s gathering.

They were unsightly and would make major news if leaked.

Estimating that Yanchuan Shilang, the newly-appointed prime minister, would be implicated and forced to resign and apologize.

"Baka." He cursed under his breath, smashed the camera directly, and asked, "How was he discovered?"

"Reporting to Minister, I discovered it." A Security Bureau member raised his hand, looking at the ambivalent young man on the ground, "We both work in the cockpit, but I noticed he kept finding excuses to leave his post. I got curious, followed secretly, and found him sneaking photos, then reported him."

"Well done, Mr. Nobita, such promising young talent should be rewarded." Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded in appreciation and somewhat dissatisfied, snorted coldly, and asked, "Didn’t everyone boarding pass inspection? Why didn’t you notice he brought a camera aboard?"

"Mr. Aoyama, I apologize; that’s our dereliction of duty." The Security Bureau Assistant Director, Matsushima Yu, bowed slightly and confessed, "This kid was originally one of the drivers on the ship, probably hid the camera in advance. I’ll ensure the entire ship is thoroughly inspected with machines in the future."

Aoyama Xiu Xin nodded without saying anything, then walked to the kneeling young man, "Tell me why you did this? Dissatisfied with your share of the money?"

"I spit!" The young man defiantly spat at Aoyama Xiu Xin, filled with hatred, "Why? Do you need a reason? Any upright patriotic Japanese seeing the true faces of you corrupt officials would expose you!"

"Money? Who cares about your filthy money! I haven’t spent a dime of that money and am waiting to submit it as evidence on a fine day! With such parasites like you, no wonder the economy is in such a bad state!"