Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries - Minister's Office.
As the administrative vice-minister, Akira Fukuda had just set down the documents when Daichi Fujiwara pushed the door open.
"Minister, has the Cabinet meeting concluded?"
Hearing Akira's question, Daichi Fujiwara hung his suit jacket on the coat rack while muttering:
"Yes, the Cabinet's interrogation of me is finally over."
"Honestly, why is it me being grilled when it's the Shinomiya family's eldest son who made the mistake?"
Daichi Fujiwara massaged his neck to relax the muscles as he walked to his seat. After sitting down, he couldn't help but complain:
"What on earth is the Prime Minister thinking?"
"I only have some slight personal acquaintance with that person from the Hidden Management Department. How could they think he'd tell me everything?"
"Minister, are you not aware yet?"
Akira Fukuda looked at Daichi Fujiwara with some surprise upon hearing this.
"Aware of what?" Daichi Fujiwara asked, puzzled.
At this, Akira said calmly:
"There's actually a small team within the Cabinet Direct Unit that's been discreetly monitoring the Hidden Management Department's perimeter."
"And many of their reports contain sightings of Miss Chika."
"Presumably that's why the Cabinet misunderstood your relationship with Director Luo Shu?"
"I wish it weren't a misunderstanding." Daichi Fujiwara removed his glasses and rubbed between his brows. "But that child Chika has been going over there these days entirely for that virtual game SDS is developing."
"Ah, when did that girl develop this personality where games are more important than boys?"
"When I was with her mother, I didn't want to be apart for even a minute."
Hearing this, Akira Fukuda couldn't help but rub his ears, relieving them from yet another recitation of the minister's well-worn love story.
Just as Daichi Fujiwara muttered about continuing his rich romantic history, Akira calmly changed the subject:
"What about the Shinomiya family's eldest son, Mr Oko Shinomiya?"
"What else?"
Daichi Fujiwara countered, then couldn't help but give a dry chuckle and shake his head:
"Refusing to admit guilt, of course."
Akira looked surprised: "I heard the evidence was quite substantial?"
Daichi Fujiwara started: "Who told you that? The Cabinet documents shouldn't have reached you yet."
Akira remained perfectly calm: "Your driver. He said he heard it from the Prime Minister's driver."
Hearing this, Daichi Fujiwara no longer found it strange:
"Oh, him. Then it's not surprising, because sometimes I learn about things through him too."
The speed at which Cabinet ministers receive confidential information depends on when their drivers hear about it. This statement isn't entirely accurate, but it's about 90% true.
After all, although drivers are strictly selected professionals well-versed in confidentiality protocols, when a group of professionals gathers, confidentiality applies only externally.
Just like now, knowing Akira had already heard the news, Daichi Fujiwara spoke without reservation about the Cabinet's discussions:
"Though we don't know which kind soul did the deed."
"However, the evidence of Oko Shinomiya's contact with the Desire Faction of Truth Astronomy, testimonies and eyewitness reports of their attempts to approach Luo Shu, along with the investigative report on the hotel where Luo Shu was attacked, have all been presented to the Prime Minister."
"The evidence has always been substantial. Even though the Minister of Internal Affairs accidentally lost it twice, someone couldn't wait to resubmit it."
"Sigh, right now it's only Oko Shinomiya stubbornly refusing to confess that's holding up progress. While that makes things easier in some ways, it's certainly made my job harder."
Lowering his voice, Daichi Fujiwara muttered:
"Actually, many in the Cabinet suspect Oko Shinomiya's refusal to confess means he has the Prime Minister's backing."
Akira Fukuda asked curiously: "So has the Prime Minister been supporting Mr Oko Shinomiya then?"
"Of course he has." Daichi Fujiwara sighed. "When everyone suspects it, the Prime Minister has to play along; otherwise, wouldn't he be framed for nothing?"
After wiping his glasses and putting them back on, Daichi Fujiwara frowned and continued:
"Though the excuse we're using for Oko Shinomiya's refusal to confess is that the Cabinet wants to annex the Shinomiya family's assets to cover financial shortfalls."
"Truth be told, Oko Shinomiya probably has no idea what consequences his stubbornness will bring."
Akira Fukuda wasn't particularly surprised:
"But if he confesses, wouldn't the SDS hold the Shinomiya family accountable and seal his fate anyway?"
"Whether for saving face or making an example of him, the SDS would undoubtedly deal severely with Oko Shinomiya if he admitted to the assassination attempt."
"At that point, not only would the Shinomiya family be lost, but Oko Shinomiya himself probably wouldn't survive either?"
"That's exactly why the Prime Minister keeps trying to get information from me about their stance."
Daichi Fujiwara propped his forehead in frustration before continuing helplessly:
"Is the SDS pursuing accountability or helping Oko Shinomiya clear his name?"
"What exactly is their position regarding the Shinomiya family?"
"Until their stance becomes clear, the Cabinet can't take decisive action against the Shinomiya family."
"Of course, the Prime Minister has undoubtedly leaked information to Gan'an Shinomiya through various channels, waiting for him to cut his losses to survive. But whether this plan will succeed remains uncertain."
Hearing this, Akira Fukuda looked surprised: "So even you can't get any information from the Hidden Management Department?"
"It's not that there's no information at all. At least Chika confirmed that Luo Shu is safe and unharmed. The key issue is that he was indeed attacked."
Daichi Fujiwara spread his hands with an innocent expression:
"As I said earlier, the chain of evidence for the assassination is complete because Oko Shinomiya was indeed involved—perhaps unintentionally and indirectly, but he played a significant role nonetheless."
"That's why the Prime Minister is in such an awkward position now, since he's the one hoping Oko Shinomiya could be cleared of responsibility."
"As for the Hidden Management Department, someone must have already delivered the relevant information to them."
"Now we're just waiting to see what their stance will be, and how much of the Shinomiya family they intend to consume."
As Daichi Fujiwara spoke, the view outside his window seemed to foreshadow an approaching storm.
A piece of fat had not only attracted hyenas but also drawn the attention of a tiger.
Moreover, the crux of the matter was that the hyenas had just presented the tiger with a substantial offering, Chiba.
The current situation had become quite troublesome for everyone, and it was likely that many were already entertaining thoughts of Oko Shinomiya meeting an early demise.
'Let's hope that eldest son of the Shinomiya family holds firm and doesn't confess!'
'After all, I'd hate to see this Cabinet dissolved and forced to step down due to excessive deficits...'
...
Just as Daichi Fujiwara was having these thoughts.
Inside the detention cells at Metropolitan Police Department headquarters.
Oko Shinomiya, dressed in a suit that made him look anything but a prisoner yet slightly dishevelled, raised his head to gaze at the tall woman standing before him. With her sharp bob cut, piercing eyes, and imposing stature, she seemed to be looking down at him.
Upon seeing her, Oko Shinomiya felt a flicker of surprise.
"It appears introductions won't be necessary."
Ryōko Yakushiji stepped into the cell, the corners of her lips curling into a cold smile.