But no one dared to close the door.

Because Aoyama Xiu Xin hadn't arrived yet.

"Hass~" Those who had come early had already been sitting here for half an hour, their faces pale with cold, shoulders hunched and trembling, constantly breathing into their hands for warmth.

There were even people whose teeth had started to chatter.

Even though they harbored complaints in their hearts, no one dared to show it, much less speak out, for who knew if a few words of complaint would reach Aoyama Xiu Xin's ears.

All they could do was to glance at the clock hanging on the wall from time to time to see how much longer until three o'clock.

But in fact, Aoyama Xiu Xin had arrived long before, he was deliberately leaving these people out in the cold, at that moment he was enjoying a leisurely soak in a bath in another private room, enveloped in steam, covered in petals, with teas, sweets, and fresh fruit arranged nearby, served by two beautiful women wearing white wraps on the left and right.

The woman on the left was slightly older, a mature beauty with charm to spare, and on the right was a young, pretty girl—none other than Mrs. Qingshui and Nagano Piao Xue, both different in charm, but equally beautiful and sexy.

Their white wraps struggled to contain their ample assets, seeming ready to break free at any moment, and after soaking in the water, they became somewhat transparent, their allure tantalizingly hinted at.

Aoyama Xiu Xin lay back comfortably on the edge of the bath, eyes closed in repose, his sturdy back and chest muscles carved with lines that made it difficult for the two women to look away, their eyes brimming with mist.

"Minister, it's three o'clock."

Mrs. Qingshui reminded him gently.

Aoyama Xiu Xin opened his eyes and rose, accompanied by the sound of splashing water, he stepped out of the bath completely naked; Mrs. Qingshui and Nagano Piao Xue followed closely, one handing him a towel to dry the droplets on his body, the other holding a kimono at the ready.

After drying off, they meticulously helped him dress in a black kimono embroidered with cloud patterns, which, matched with his tall and robust physique, exuded an imposing presence, giving a sense of overwhelming pressure.

Once clothed, Aoyama headed out.

Mrs. Qingshui followed with her head down, rushing ahead to place a pair of wooden clogs at the foot of the steps by the door.

Aoyama Xiu Xin stepped into the clogs and walked out briskly; Nakamura Shinichi, standing at the door, bowed and opened an umbrella to follow, while Mrs. Qingshui and Nagano Piao Xue kneeled at the doorway, bowing in farewell until the sound of footsteps faded, only then did they slowly rise.

They exchanged glances, both feeling relieved.

Serving Aoyama Xiu Xin was a great psychological pressure.

"Tap~Tap~Tap~"

Hearing the footsteps, the stiff people in the hall all looked towards the door to see Aoyama Xiu Xin, clad in a black kimono, walking solemnly, with Nakamura Shinichi carrying a black umbrella closely behind.

Everyone rose at once, bending over in a bow.

"Minister!"

Aoyama Xiu Xin did not respond, simply walking through the central aisle towards the seat of honor, while everyone else maintained the bowing posture, not daring to utter a sound.

"Sit," Aoyama Xiu Xin said after taking his seat.

"Hi!" Everyone quickly sat down. Despite the freezing wind, everyone sat up straight, hands resting on their knees, their posture impeccably proper.

The door remained ajar, and Aoyama Xiu Xin, one stage higher than everyone else, looked down upon them as if a king overseeing his subjects during a royal court session, and spoke in a deep voice, "The reason for convening everyone today concerns the case of Zhongshan Tetsu and his three comrades. Do you know what the main cause of this tragedy was?"

The crowd first exchanged glances, then the chief of the Hakodate City Police bowed and said, "Please enlighten us, Minister."

The others also bowed to Aoyama Xiu Xin.

"The reason is quite simple. It's because the Asahikawa Police Chief and a group of high-ranking officials have been withholding the bonuses that should have been distributed to officers like Zhongshan Tetsu. When Zhongshan Tetsu confronted his immediate superior to ask for his dues, he was beaten and eventually dismissed. He felt that I, as the head of the Hokkaido police, was responsible for lax supervision, and took out his anger on me, which led him to commit a major crime in extorting me."

Aoyama Xiu Xin's tone was calm, but like thunder to the ears of those present because not a single person there had been truly distributing money to their subordinates according to the rules; it was merely a matter of how greedy they were.

Everyone suddenly felt immense pressure.

"If the subordinates work hard but do not get the money they deserve, they will harbor resentment. They will not uphold the collective, they will hate me, blame me, thinking that I've pocketed all the money. Hah, they are trying to dig out my foundation," said Aoyama Xiu Xin, his expression a mix of smile and non-smile.

In an instant, everyone was sweating profusely, their heads bowed so low that they hardly dared to breathe.

"Slap!" Aoyama Xiu Xin suddenly struck the table with force.

Everyone jolted in response.

"A bunch of short-sighted fools!" Aoyama Xiu Xin suddenly elevated his voice and sharply chided, "The rule that Director Fujimoto established is for everyone to earn and benefit from this collective. Naturally, they would protect it with all they have. If we continue like Asahikawa Police Station, we will eventually reap what we sow! His greed knows no bounds, and if he seeks his own demise, I cannot intervene. But to involve me, to involve all of you, I cannot tolerate. What do you think, gentlemen?"

"Yes! We support the Minister! The Asahikawa Police Station's excessive greed and draining of resources has led to such a serious case; they must be severely punished to serve as a warning to others."

"That's right! Punish them without mercy! Punish them without leniency!"

Everyone began criticizing the Asahikawa Police Station in a flurry of indignant remarks, declaring the need for harsh retribution.

"Good! It looks like you all are wise indeed. We certainly cannot let one bad apple spoil the whole barrel," Aoyama Xiu Xin said with satisfaction, nodding as he looked up and called out, "Bring the man in."

All eyes subconsciously turned to the door.

The Asahikawa Police Chief and Kato Gen, looking disheveled, were escorted in by four plainclothes officers.

"Minister, spare my life! Please, spare my life! It was all the Chief, he forced me, it has nothing to do with me, nothing!" the moment he crossed the threshold, Kato Gen was crying and kneeling, bowing his head repeatedly to beg for mercy and pushing all the blame onto the Chief to distance himself.

"Humph! Despicable vermin! A disgrace!" The Chief, however, still maintained his composure, casting a disdainful glance at Kato Gen with a sneer of contempt.

It wasn't until his knee was kicked that his body involuntarily knelt down; the moment his knee touched the ground, he immediately tried to stand, but the officer behind him pressed down on his shoulder, rendering him immobile.

In the end, he had to give up struggling, raising his head to look up at Aoyama Xiu Xin above him, he bellowed, "I'm not the only one who's embezzled and skimmed off the top! Look at this full hall of dignitaries; which one of them is clean? Why punish only me?"

With that remark, the place erupted into chaos.

"Idiot! Nonsense! What are you babbling about? Do you have any evidence that we are also like you? Minister, this is pure slander!"

"He did the misdeed, and yet he dares to drag us down with him. Minister, this man must be severely punished!"

With fury, everyone was cursing and shouting, initially feeling some sorrow for the Asahikawa Police Chief who was like a trapped animal, but now they could not wait for him to meet his demise.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.