November 6th, evening.

Inside a private room of a bar in Sapporo, it was packed with people.

Aoyama Xiu Xin sat in the middle of the sofa.

A group of burly American youths, either black or white, stood across the table in front of him. Those who didn't know might have thought he was selecting male models.

Everyone stared at Aoyama Xiu Xin with fervent eyes, puffing up their chests to show their best side.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Minister Aoyama Xiu Xin I was telling you about. Don't be fooled by Minister Aoyama's youth—hE has significant authority. All the police in Hokkaido report to him, and moreover, he has a fortune in millions, his brother is a National Member of Parliament, and his grandfather is a Cabinet Minister. In the future, hE will surely be a famous politician not only in Japan but around the world."

James pointed at Aoyama Xiu Xin and went on a tirade of praise.

"Minister Aoyama!"

His group of comrades saluted in unison.

"Too kind, too kind. Relax a bit, aren't you Americans naturally easy-going?" Aoyama Xiu Xin shook his head. Was he referring to a relaxed sense of humor? H lifted his hand, pointed at James, and said with a laugh, "Don't listen to this guy's flattery. I'm not that impressive. Right now, I am just a modest Director of the Criminal Affairs Department. Alright, James, go ahead and introduce your comrades. They all seem like outstanding people, and I can't wait to meet them."

"Hey! Mr. Aoyama, I'll start the introductions from here." After bobbing his head and bowing, James ran to the leftmost side of the group, pointed to the first somewhat chubby white young man, and said, "Tom, the deputy battalion major and now my assistant. He's an extremely lazy, gluttonous, lascivious, and reckless fellow..."

"Oh shit! Shut up!" Tom couldn't help but interrupt James, and began to promote himself with a grin, "Dear Minister Aoyama, please don't listen to this guy's nonsense. He's just jealous of my handsomeness. In fact, I am an upright and brave soldier. I've long heard of your great reputation, and I am honored to meet you. I sincerely hope to become friends with you."

"I think we will. I like making friends," said Aoyama Xiu Xin with a shrug and a wave of his hand. "James, please continue."

"Hey! This person is named..." James introduced the names and military ranks of everyone.

It was just him, a lieutenant colonel, plus Tom and six other majors; the rest were captains and lieutenants.

That was his cunning, not introducing people with ranks higher than his own to Aoyama Xiu Xin, to avoid threatening his own position in Aoyama Xiu Xin's eyes.

But this suited Aoyama Xiu Xin just fine; he didn't need those with too high a rank—they were harder to control.

"Great, since James brought you all to meet me, I know you must be friends and subordinates he trusts, and that makes you my friends too. Now please, take your seats. Tonight, we're not going home until we're drunk."

Aoyama Xiu Xin stood up and raised his glass.

After a brief silence, following James' lead, the previously solemn atmosphere in the room instantly dispersed, and everyone started to liven up.

Tonight, Aoyama Xiu Xin directly indulged them with fine wine, American dollars, and beautiful women, leading them into a drunken stupor.

Under the influence of alcohol, the American men who initially wanted to maintain a good image in front of Aoyama Xiu Xin all let loose, and the scene became rather indecent.

Aoyama Xiu Xin stood in the corner with his glass, watching the scene and shaking his head. He couldn't write about this; if he did, it would be banned. These people really knew how to let go.

That made even someone as twisted as him feel a bit reserved.

For the next two days, Aoyama Xiu Xin spent his time entertaining these people with food, drinks, and leisure activities, deepening their friendship, while occasionally offering vague promises, hinting that he was willing to provide any help as long as they got along well in the future.

At least a year and a half would pass before he did some unsightly dirty work for them, after which Aoyama Xiu Xin would burst gold coins to get these people promoted, otherwise for what reason?

As for James, he was different.

The first one is always different.

He was the bait Aoyama Xiu Xin threw out to fish for other US Army officers, an example he had set.

Two days later, after James and others left, Aoyama Xiu Xin welcomed a new visitor, Asahara Shoko.

As for the Shoe Sect Leader, of course, he couldn't be entertained in public, it would be over if someone snapped a photo.

Aoyama Xiu Xin made the appointment at a private club.

The first time he met the Shoe Sect Leader, Aoyama Xiu Xin was surprised, not the gloomy and cold figure he had imagined, but rather fair-skinned, refined, and of a gentle demeanor.

Like an artist or a liberal arts teacher.

Indeed, if the Shoe Sect Leader was gloomy and cold, how would he beguile his followers?

"Mr. Aoyama, we have finally met."

Without waiting for Aoyama Xiu Xin to speak, Asahara Shoko gave a slight smile and spoke as if facing an old friend.

"Asahara Sect Master is truly distinguished, hardly seeming mundane, no wonder so many followers pursue him," Aoyama Xiu Xin stood up to greet him, seriously saying as he pointed at a chair, "Please, have a seat."

Asahara Shoko laughed loudly, donned in a robe he flung his sleeves revealing his hands, and walked over to sit down without any reservations, "Mr. Aoyama flatters me, compared to me, it is you who are distinguished and possess an extraordinary demeanor, I wonder if Mr. Aoyama has heard about my Aum Shinrikyo?"

"Asahara Sect Master, you're not specifically here to preach to me, right? Forget it, I only believe in Amaterasu," Aoyama Xiu Xin pointed upwards as he spoke.

The whole Aum Shinrikyo spiel was just nonsense to fool idiots, talking about the end times and how they could save the world, only absolute fools would believe such extremism.

"Well then, since that's the way it is, I won't compete with the Almighty for followers," seeing the firm attitude of Aoyama Xiu Xin, Asahara Shoko also gave up on blowing his own "end times" trumpet, it was easy for him to discern who could be swayed and who couldn't, he directly started from the Imperial Pole Society, which brought the two into contact, "The incident with the Imperial Pole Society gave me quite the shock, Mr. Aoyama, killing off more than a dozen people just like that, they say I am the head of the Shoe Sect, but in the face of your methods, even I must admit defeat."

"I don't have the grand enlightenment of saving mankind like the Sect Master, I just want to protect my family, whoever threatens my family, I'll eliminate," the words of Aoyama Xiu Xin were simple but carried weight, after all, the Imperial Pole Society with more than a dozen lives bore him testimony.

Asahara Shoko shook his head and said, "Mr. Aoyama's views and mine are actually similar, I just treat all of humanity as my family, hence the desire to save them before the end times, but alas, there are few believers, betraying my earnest efforts!"

Aoyama Xiu Xin's mouth twitched slightly, this scam you've been pulling for so long, you believe it yourself, don't you?

"Nevertheless, as for the Imperial Pole Society, I owe the Sect Master a favor, if in the future there's any place where the Sect Master's great salvation operations could use someone like me, I wouldn't mind pitching in for humanity."

Eliminating your Shoe Sect is pitching in for humanity.

Asahara Shoko laughed heartily, pouring himself a drink, "On behalf of all humanity, I thank Mr. Aoyama."

"Please!" Aoyama Xiu Xin also laughed heartily.

Asahara Shoko's trip to Sapporo this time was mainly to meet and chat with Aoyama Xiu Xin, this friend he had gained through sacrificing the Imperial Pole Society, to deepen their relationship, without much else requiring his assistance.

At their first meeting, the two enjoyed a delightful conversation.

.........

"Ring, ring! Ring, ring!"

The next morning, Aoyama Xiu Xin was awakened by the phone.

"Mosi Mosi," he answered groggily.

"It's me," came the jubilant voice of Asai Ayumi from the phone, "My sister-in-law has given birth..."

"It's early, isn't it?" Xiu Xin was a bit confused.

Hadn't he already talked about this with Asai Ayumi?

"It's my sister-in-law!" Asai Ayumi realized Xiu Xin had misunderstood and said cheerfully, "My elder brother's wife, Iihara Nishi gave birth to a boy last night."

"Ah! Oh, right," Xiu Xin took a moment, realizing that Iihara Nishi's due date was indeed this month.

He felt somewhat conflicted because he had long suspected that Iihara Nishi was carrying his child.

Asai Ayumi was still unaware that both her sister-in-laws had been unfaithful, bearing children from those affairs, and continued happily, "Hehe, I can't believe I'm an aunt now."

"Congratulations," Xiu Xin responded perfunctorily.

Sensing something off in his tone, Asai Ayumi asked puzzledly, "Aren't you happy to be an uncle?"

"Happy, very happy," Xiu Xin forced a laugh. What's there to be happy about being an uncle?

What if his nephew didn't consider him the uncle?

"Comprehend none of it, you," Asai Ayumi huffed, "This is a joyful occasion, you should come back."

"Of course, I'll come back," Xiu Xin replied without hesitation. That might be his son, after all.

He had to go back and see him.

It was a good time since things were slow at headquarters lately.

Ever since he had taken control and ceased creating crimes, Hokkaido had become much safer and the police headquarters had naturally been quieter, with the unknowing public attributing the improved safety to Xiu Xin.

Well... in a way, they weren't wrong.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they both hung up.

Without delay, Xiu Xin called Yamashita Kogoro to inform him that he would return to Tokyo for two days.

Having watched him end the call, the already awake Aoyama Haruko then asked, "Has Xizi given birth?"

Iihara Nishi's due date was close to hers.

"Yes, I have to go back. You'll have to take care of our child on your own these two days," Xiu Xin turned and gave his sister-in-law a gentle smile.

Aoyama Haruko watched the baby sleeping soundly in the crib next to her and smiled, "Okay, don't worry."

After getting up and washing, Xiu Xin dressed himself properly and kissed his sister-in-law and the sleeping child before heading out.

By noon, the esteemed Minister Aoyama safely arrived in loyal Tokyo.

He headed straight to the hospital with Jin Yucheng.

Upon reaching the hospital, just as the elevator doors were about to close, Jin Yucheng quickly darted forward and stuck his hand into the closing gap, causing the doors to slowly reopen.

"Mrs. Tanaka?"

In the elevator, Xiu Xin immediately spotted Tanaka Naoko, who was holding a folder and clad in a white nurse's outfit, her figure voluptuous and her demeanor gently elegant.

"Minister... Minister Aoyama."

Surprised to see Xiu Xin, Tanaka Naoko quickly recalled their last encounter in the elevator, blushed deeply, and took a step back to allow him in.

"Thank you," Xiu Xin said.

Standing in front of Tanaka Naoko and with others present in the elevator, which made it inappropriate to make any advances, Xiu Xin did not flirt with her.

He casually asked, "How is Tanaka?"

"Still the same," Tanaka Naoko replied with a bitter smile, shaking her head as she mentioned her comatose husband.

Xiu Xin actually knew the likelihood of a comatose patient waking up was almost zero and had merely asked out of habit, "With a wife like you taking such meticulous care, he must recover."

"Ah! Thank you, Minister Aoyama, I hope so as you say," sighed Tanaka Naoko deeply. Over a year had passed, and she had long given up hope.

"Ding~"

The elevator stopped, and Tanaka Naoko bowed slightly, "This is my floor, Minister Aoyama. Take your time."

"Take care, I will visit Tanaka later," Xiu Xin said with a slight smile.

With blushing ears and biting her red lips, Tanaka Naoko mumbled an acknowledgment, her toes nearly bursting through her stockings in her flat shoes, aware that she would be toyed with again.

After watching the elevator doors close, she turned and entered her husband's ward. Lost and distraught at the doorway for a while, she sighed before approaching her husband's bed.

Approaching the bedside, she frowned.

Tanaka's feet were sticking out from the blanket.

"Who could be so careless?" she muttered to herself, assuming a colleague had been negligent during rounds and not giving it much thought.

After properly covering her husband with the blanket, she absently picked up the cup from the bedside table and paused upon seeing the water level, "I swear there was more water left. Could I be remembering wrong?"

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