"I bet it's not just my port," Ueda Hanon said, not believing him, but his words were more comforting, so her face softened a lot.

Aoyama Xiu Xin chuckled lightly and said with utter seriousness, "I'm a battleship, an aircraft carrier! So my draft is deeper; other ports are too shallow. Unless it's high tide, I would easily run aground on a normal day, but mooring at your port is just right anytime."

"Get lost," Ueda Hanon said emotionlessly, listening to his double entendre and shooing him away.

"Hey!" Aoyama Xiu Xin amicably smiled, waved goodbye, and turned to leave.

Ueda Hanon called out to Aoyama Xiu Xin's retreating back, "A port needs regular maintenance too; otherwise, don't come back next time."

"Alright, next time I'll bring some oil for maintenance, wax a little, paint a bit, and trim the weeds while I'm at it," Aoyama Xiu Xin said without turning around.

His response was a coffee cup flying at him.

He dodged it skillfully, and it smashed to the ground.

"Boss," Jin Yucheng respectfully bowed and opened the car's back door as soon as he saw him come out.

"My Dian Wei!" Looking at Jin Yucheng, who had stood guard all night outside while he and Ueda Hanon played games and was still full of vigor, Aoyama Xiu Xin patted his shoulder appreciatively before getting into the car, "To headquarters."

"Hey!"

The car started, and Aoyama Xiu Xin finally had time to unfold the newspaper he held and started reading.

The headline, of course, was about himself rescuing Miyashita Ritsuki from kidnappers in Asahikawa last night. In addition, there was a less noticeable section reporting that the police headquarters had made initial progress in their crackdown on gun trafficking.

Last night two groups involved in gun trading were arrested, thirty handguns were seized, and one of the participants involved in the trade was an executive from Yatada Financial Corporation. The police would conduct a thorough investigation on this.

"Nakamura Shinichi is still handling things efficiently."

Aoyama Xiu Xin knew right away it was Nakamura Shinichi's doing, but was curious about how he found the transaction site of Yatada Financial Corporation and the clients to catch the crime and retrieve the goods in such a short time.

Curious about this, Aoyama Xiu Xin called Nakamura Shinichi into the office to get to the bottom of it once he arrived at headquarters.

Nakamura Shinichi's answer was: entrapment law enforcement.

Aoyama Xiu Xin suddenly realized, patted his shoulder, and said, "Shinichi, oh Shinichi, you really are too wicked! Tell me, haven't you learned anything noble and upright from being with me for so long? Always using crooked means; who did you learn that from, picking up only the bad things!"

"I'm so ashamed!" Faced with Aoyama Xiu Xin's teaching and regret, Shinichi bowed his head deeply in shame, fearing he might see the twitching corner of his mouth.

"Stick to the right path!" Aoyama Xiu Xin earnestly instructed, then added, "Bring the report up quickly; I'm off to report the good news to the old lady."

"Hey!" Nakamura Shinichi turned and left, and within a little over an hour, he had delivered the report to his hands.

Aoyama Xiu Xin took the report and went to find Zhongshan Junmei.

As he passed Habamoto Youko's office, he casually glanced inside, then backtracked, seeing the office next to Zhongshan Junmei's was entirely made of glass walls, everything visible if the blinds weren't drawn.

At that moment, Habamoto Youko, graceful in her police uniform, was on the phone with a happy, sweet smile on her face. She leaned on her desk, her body constantly twisting in place, occasionally kicking one foot gently then setting it back down. Something the person on the other end said made her burst into laughter, covering her mouth as she laughed uncontrollably, her ample bosom swaying with the motion.

Definitely talking to her fiancé.

That was what Aoyama Xiu Xin guessed, and for some reason, he suddenly felt Habamoto Youko looked even more charming.

Just then, Habamoto Youko noticed him with a quick glance, her face changed immediately, and she quietly ended the call with her fiancé, then hung up and was internally panicking. It's all over, it's all over; Aoyama Xiu Xin must have seen how lovey-dovey she just looked, there goes her image, how could she seduce him with her charms now!

Clearly, she didn't realize that her demeanor while on the phone just now was more enticing than any deliberate flirtation she could muster up in front of Aoyama Xiu Xin, whether it be ten times or a hundred.

She opened her door and walked out with feigned composure, bowing, "Minister Aoyama, are you looking for Director Zhongshan?"

"Is she here?" Aoyama Xiu Xin asked, eyeing Hashimoto Youko with a cluck of his tongue and a leering grin, "Damn, she's stunning."

"Hi! Please follow me." Hashimoto Youko acknowledged and led the way to the door of Zhongshan Runmei's office, knocking and announcing, "Director Zhongshan, Minister Aoyama is here."

"Please come in," Zhongshan Runmei said politely.

After helping him open the door and waiting for Aoyama Xiu Xin to enter, Hashimoto Youko followed closely behind, playing the role of the dutiful secretary, and prepared two cups of coffee.

"Does Minister Aoyama have some business?" Zhongshan Runmei asked with a pleasant expression as she looked at Aoyama Xiu Xin.

"I've come to report some good news to the Director," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with a smile, handing over the report in his hands, "Ever since you declared the crackdown on gun trafficking, our Criminal Department has been strictly implementing your guidance. We've achieved initial results and will continue to execute with vigor!"

"Yoish, very good, I saw something about this case in the report this morning. The Criminal Department has done well, and so have you, Mr. Aoyama," Zhongshan Runmei praised with a chuckle as she glanced over the report.

On the issue of curbing the spread of guns, her interests were aligned with those of Aoyama Xiu Xin, and choosing this issue as her foothold in Hokkaido was indeed the right move.

Aoyama Xiu Xin laughed heartily but humbly responded, "All thanks to your excellent leadership."

Soon, Hashimoto Youko approached with coffee, saying, "Director Zhongshan, Minister Aoyama, please enjoy your coffee."

"Thank you, Secretary Youko," Aoyama Xiu Xin said, picking up a cup and sniffing it, speaking with the levity of a frivolous heir, "It smells delightful, just like Secretary Youko. I just wonder how it tastes."

In the presence of her son-in-law, Zhongshan Runmei snorted coldly in her heart at the disrespect shown.

Hashimoto Youko, true to character, flashed a momentary look of vexation across her pretty face, bit her soft red lip, and glared at him as she responded, "Try it, Minister Aoyama, and you'll know."

"Well then," Aoyama Xiu Xin said, beaming a smile, sipping the coffee while his gaze remained fixed on Hashimoto Youko. Though he was apparently tasting the coffee, it seemed as if he was tasting her, slowly commenting, "Smooth on the palate, rich and soothing to the throat, simply an endless delight."

Hashimoto Youko immediately felt a chill crawl over her scalp and uncomfortable all over, as if his gaze had violated her.

"Ahem!" Afraid that Hashimoto Youko might lose her temper, Zhongshan Runmei quickly added, "If Minister Aoyama likes this flavor, I have some beans brought from Tokyo that I could give you."

"Director Zhongshan's beans I'll pass, but I do like Miss Youko's beans," Aoyama Xiu Xin laughed, setting down his half-cup of coffee and striding away.

"Thank you for the coffee, Director. I'll be taking my leave."

"Bang!" The sound of the closing door echoed.

Zhongshan Runmei, fuming with anger, slammed her coffee cup onto the table, causing some of the liquid to splash out.

"Idiot! Such an impudent and shameless person!"

To think he would even flirt with an old woman like her.

.........

In the afternoon, after work, Aoyama Xiu Xin drove home.

On the way, he received a call from his sister-in-law.

"Xiu Xin, how long until you get home?"

"What's up?" Aoyama Xiu Xin asked, and without waiting for a response, he joked, "Miss me, did you?"

Aoyama Haruko ignored his jest and, glancing at the guest seated on the sofa, said, "There's someone here to see you. They insist on waiting until you return and refuse to leave. Moreover, they brought many gifts with them."

"Oh?" Aoyama Xiu Xin raised an eyebrow. This was quite unexpected, someone delivering gifts to his house, "I'll be there soon."

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