"Good afternoon, everyone. I am Zhongshan Junmei, the newly appointed Director of the Hokkaido Police Headquarters. Today, I have just taken office, and I am honored to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the people of Hokkaido. From now on, I will strive to maintain public order in Hokkaido and live up to the public's trust."

"Next, I would like to invite the reporters to ask any questions they might have regarding the Mitsuo Mutou case. Thank you." As Zhongshan Junmei finished speaking, she bowed calmly and composedly.

It was like casting a handful of fish food onto a calm surface of water; the splashes immediately began to churn, as one fish after another leaped out in a frantic struggle for the feed.

"Director Zhongshan, informants have revealed that this morning's massive deployment of police was to close roads for your arrival. Is that true?"

"The police have tightened the net around Mitsuo Mutou's actions, is it because they were reallocating officers to welcome you that he managed to escape? Is that so?"

"Do you think the shooting of Mayor Miyashita by Mitsuo Mutou has anything to do with you..."

One confrontational and skeptical question after another was hurled at Zhongshan Junmei.

Each one more pointed than the last.

Had it been a greenhorn facing the world for the first time, they would likely already be sweating profusely and at a loss in the face of this onslaught.

But Zhongshan Junmei, having been pushed up by men along the way, naturally had extraordinary resilience. Moreover, she was well prepared for this, so she answered some of the questions selectively without any sign of panic.

"The department did indeed deploy officers to close roads to welcome me, but I was not informed in advance."

"I'm deeply sorry about the shooting of Mayor Miyashita. Fortunately, he is not in critical danger, and Mitsuo Mutou has been arrested, which can be considered a stroke of luck amid the misfortune."

"To prevent such incidents, I will implement rigorous gun control throughout the entire prefecture, and intensify efforts to eradicate the influx of illegal firearms onto the market..."

"A bunch of sanctimonious nonsense; if you listen closely, it's all dog fart." The next morning, a civilian watching Zhongshan Junmei speaking on the news could not help but curse dismissively.

Hokkaido News: New Director Zhongshan Junmei admits to redeploying police for road closures to welcome her to the station, expressing regret over Mitsuo Mutou's escape and the shooting of Mayor Miyashita...

Taking quotes out of context has always been a strong suit for the media.

"Idiot, sending a woman here, how can she possibly manage Hokkaido's security well? She's just arrived and already caused trouble; this will be a disaster!"

"Exactly, would the headquarters even consider dispersing police forces to close roads to welcome her if not for her request?"

"Reporters caught on camera—she scorned those who came to greet her at the airport, refusing to get into the car until a large convoy had been gathered."

"Because of her, Mitsuo Mutou escaped the encirclement and wounded the mayor, and this old lady still has the nerve to speak at the press conference on the case!"

In just a day, Zhongshan Junmei, the new director who had just arrived in Hokkaido, had already left a bad impression with all the citizens, questioning her competence.

While at work, Hashimoto Youko could feel the strange glances from other police officers directed at her and Zhongshan Junmei; even though they were outwardly respectful, she could sense their deep-seated disdain and mockery, which frustrated her, leaving her no way to vent.

After following Zhongshan Junmei into the office, Hashimoto Youko finally vented her discomfort, "Auntie, I think all the cops here in Hokkaido are cut from the same cloth—completely rotten. Just look at those people's expressions along the way; they were obviously laughing at us. Not one of them is any good."

She was at an age where she abhorred evil.

Like somebody armed with a hammer, seeing everyone as a nail.

"Isn't that precisely because this place is rotten to the core that they sent me here to be the director?" Zhongshan Junmei said, sitting in her office chair with a nonchalant response, and she added, "Moreover, their understanding of me is limited to the news reports, and at present, all the media coverage of me is negative, so it's natural for them to have a negative view of me."

"But, Auntie, they..."

"Knock knock knock!"

Hashimoto Youko wanted to say more but was interrupted by the abrupt knocking at the door, swallowing her words.

"Come in," Zhongshan Junmei called out loudly.

Aoyama Xiu Xin entered, holding a newspaper with a dark expression, furiously tossing it onto the desk and rebuking, "This is outrageous! The media is writing nonsense! They'll stop at nothing for attention, for sales! Director Zhongshan, you mustn't take it to heart; it's not worth damaging your health over."

Hashimoto Youko clenched her fists; this bastard seemed to be expressing solidarity, but in reality, he was there to deliberately aggravate Aunt Zhongshan in person, a despicable and shameless villain.

Wasn't the media chaos a result of your machinations behind the scenes?

Crying over spilled milk while feigning compassion.

"Thank you, Minister Aoyama, for your concern. I've lived through rough times in my life; I'm not so fragile as to be easily upset by this. Rest assured, I won't take these rumors seriously," Zhongshan Junmei said with a hearty laugh, full of openness, and even picked up Aoyama Xiu Xin's newspaper to glance at it, "I'm getting old; I'm not photogenic anymore!"

"Indeed, it was an overreaction on my part. Director Zhongshan is a worldly person; it's actually me who is making too much fuss, prompting a laugh from you," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a sheepish smile, then continued, "By the way, Deputy Director Yamashita has made arrangements regarding the assignments of your three staff members. Please check if it's suitable for you, and if not, there's still time to make changes."

"Please go ahead," prompted Zhongshan Junmei, raising her hand for him to proceed.

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