"Officer, Hayashi's here," Detective Samezaki said. "Why don't I take him inside to investigate? If Ichiro Ito's really innocent, we can resolve this peacefully tonight. If he's guilty, we'll figure out our next move."
"It's our only option," Officer Odagiri said, nodding reluctantly. "Just make sure he's safe."
"Yes, sir!"
Saluting, Samezaki approached Shuichi to relay the plan. "Hayashi, we're counting on you. Don't worry about the yakuza—I'll go in with you."
Earlier, Shuichi had hesitated to join Megure, concerned for his safety. But with so many police on the scene, the yakuza would have to be insane to start trouble. Reassured, Shuichi agreed without objection.
They headed toward the nightclub's entrance, with Officer Megure volunteering to tag along.
At the door, blocked by yakuza, Samezaki said sternly, "Step aside. If you're so sure Ito's innocent, let us in to investigate."
"Cops can enter," said a yakuza underboss with a diagonal scar across his face, eyeing Shuichi suspiciously. "But who's this kid in pajamas? He's not police, is he?"
"He's a consultant for Division One," Samezaki replied coldly.
"Heh, Division One's hiring teenagers now?" Scarface sneered. "No wonder you incompetent cops think Ito's a murderer."
"You—" Samezaki's face darkened with anger.
Fearing an argument, Megure quickly pulled him back.
"Hey, big guy," Shuichi interjected with a cheeky grin, "are you really Ito's right-hand man?"
Scarface puffed up proudly. "I've shared sake with Ito—been with him nearly twenty years!"
"Twenty years, and you're still just an underboss?" Shuichi said, feigning shock. "No wonder you'd want to frame him!"
"What'd you say, kid? Frame Ito? Never!" Scarface roared, lunging for Shuichi's collar.
"If it's not you, why block us from going in?" Shuichi dodged behind Megure, continuing, "The police are willing to investigate—that's already a concession. But you're standing in the way. Looks like you don't want your boss cleared."
"If Ito goes down, do you take his place?"
Shuichi's voice carried, loud enough for the yakuza crowd to hear. His words struck a chord, and their gazes turned suspicious, fixed on Scarface.
"You little punk, slandering me!"
The distrust in his crew's eyes made Scarface flush red. He rolled up his sleeves, ready to teach Shuichi a lesson.
"Enough, Takigawa!" other underbosses shouted, holding him back. "He's right. The priority is clearing this up. You want the boss locked up?"
"I…" Scarface, cornered, had no defense. If he kept resisting, he'd look like the traitor. Gritting his teeth, he stepped aside.
"Thanks," Shuichi said politely, strolling into the nightclub. Samezaki and Megure hurried after him.
As they passed, Scarface, barely containing his rage, growled, "What's your name, kid?"
"Megure Juzo," Shuichi said with a smile. "Why do you ask?"
"Megure Juzo, if you can't prove Ito's innocent, I won't let you off!" Scarface threatened.
Megure, hearing this, looked utterly helpless.
"And if I prove your boss didn't do it?" Shuichi shot back.
"I'll bow and apologize!" Scarface declared, dead serious.
What a blockhead. No wonder he's still an underboss after twenty years.
Shuichi smirked and stepped inside.
"Hayashi, if Ito's guilty, that guy might actually come after you," Megure said, worried.
"That's the police's problem," Shuichi said casually. "Locking up a yakuza shouldn't be hard for you, right?"
Megure paused, then muttered, "We need evidence to arrest someone. We can't just grab people."
Seeing his genuine concern, Shuichi dropped the teasing. "Relax. From what we know, Ito's probably been framed. We just need to figure out the truth."
"Why do you say that?" Samezaki asked, frowning. "You haven't even seen the scene."
"A yakuza boss like Ito doesn't need to dirty his hands to kill," Shuichi explained. "He'd send a lackey. Even if he slipped up and killed someone, he'd intimidate the witness to change their story or pin it on a fall guy."
"Calling his crew to blockade the club makes me think he genuinely believes he's been set up. He's afraid if the police take him in, he'll be framed for good and die in custody. Making a scene ensures the media's watching. Without solid evidence, the police can't touch him, and even if they detain him, they'll have to keep him safe to avoid public backlash."
"You're saying some cops are in bed with the yakuza?" Megure asked, bristling. "Isn't that a bit—"
"He's right, Megure," Samezaki said, patting his shoulder. "It's no secret in the department that some Division Four officers have ties to the yakuza."
"What? How can that be?"
As a rookie, Megure was visibly shaken.
Their conversation carried them to the nightclub's dance hall.
The place was nearly deserted. The yakuza had already sent the patrons home—Megure had slipped out with the crowd earlier.
Fewer than thirty people remained, mostly staff, gathered in the spacious hall. Mr. Sada, who'd visited the izakaya, was among them.
Officers guarded both entrances.
As Shuichi, Samezaki, and Megure entered, a man in his fifties, short and dressed in blood-stained clothes, stood on stage, belting out a song into a microphone.
A few burly yakuza in suits, tattoos visible, sat below, clapping and cheering.
Officer Matsumoto leaned against a wall, his face grim. Spotting the trio, he hurried over.
"What's the situation?" Samezaki asked.
"The crime scene and murder weapon are secured. No issues there," Matsumoto reported.
"That's the suspect, Ichiro Ito?" Shuichi nodded toward the singing man.
"Yeah," Matsumoto confirmed. "We have Sada's testimony, and Forensics' Tome found only Ito's fingerprints on the weapon. But something feels off, like we're being played."
"Walk me through it," Shuichi said, taking a seat.
"We got a call at 11:30 PM about a death here," Matsumoto recounted. "We arrived just before midnight."
"The crime scene's the bathroom behind the dance hall. According to Sada, he was heading to the restroom when he opened the door and saw Ito holding a bloody dagger, standing over a man's lifeless body."
"Was the dagger definitely the murder weapon?" Samezaki asked.
"Tome matched the wounds to the blade," Matsumoto nodded. "The victim was stabbed with that dagger."
"With an eyewitness and only Ito's prints on the weapon, that's ironclad," Samezaki said, frowning. "Why do you think something's wrong?"
"I interrogated Ito," Matsumoto explained. "He says he was knocked out earlier. When he came to, he was in the bathroom, holding the dagger, with a bloody stranger dead at his feet."
"He was still dazed when Sada walked in."
"I checked his head—there's a clear mark of an attack."
"Plus, the bathroom scene feels off, but I can't pinpoint why."
As they spoke, the man on stage finished his song. Amid his crew's enthusiastic applause, he strolled over. "Well, if it isn't Officer Samezaki. We've met before, haven't we?"
Samezaki gave a curt nod. Unfazed, the man continued, "Your Division One officers are getting worse. This is an obvious frame job, and yet Officer Matsumoto here wants to drag me to headquarters!"
"If it's a setup, who's behind it?" Samezaki countered.
"Who else? The Nisen-kai, obviously," the man scoffed. "Unlike our three established syndicates, those upstart Nisen-kai are hungry to expand. Take me out, and they've got a shot at Mihama."
Noticing Shuichi in his pajamas, the man squinted. "You… I've seen you on TV. Damn, getting old—my memory's slipping."
(End of Chapter)
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/TripleCrown07
If you guys wanna check it out.