Chapter 235: Could It Be That I Should Take Him Out?

On the other side, Akiwara Yuto, accompanied by his bodyguard, finished a detailed examination at the hospital.

According to the scan results, the doctor stated that there was bruising and hematoma on his chest due to the impact, and he only needed to apply hot and cold compresses for a few days.

Besides that, for the wound cut by the knife, he was also scheduled for a tetanus shot.

After everything was done, nearly three hours had passed, and the sky outside the window had turned completely dark.

Akiwara Yuto took his bodyguard to have a meal directly at the hospital cafeteria, then prepared to go to the parking lot to drive away.

Just as they reached the business car, the bodyguard Hatanaka suddenly stopped and knelt on the ground in a seiza position.

"Akiwara-sensei, this was my negligence, please forgive me!"

After finishing this sentence, Hatanaka Takeru added: "I hereby submit my resignation to you. As for the follow-up personnel, I will request the company to arrange a replacement for you."

In Hatanaka Takeru's view, letting his employer get injured was undoubtedly a grave dereliction of duty!

If it weren't for the stab-proof vest, Akiwara Yuto might have been killed on the spot this time!

If that had happened, he probably wouldn't be able to survive in this line of work anymore.

Akiwara Yuto looked at Hatanaka Takeru kneeling on the ground and revealed a helpless expression.

He felt that this matter really couldn't be blamed on Hatanaka Takeru, as he had been performing his duties diligently all along.

It was just that Onuki Masakazu was too cunning, actually hiding in a bathroom stall to carry out the assassination.

Unlike some brainless thugs who would just grab a knife and attack in a public space.

Akiwara Yuto thought for a while and felt that having a bodyguard was still necessary; after all, even if he changed to another one, there was no guarantee the next person would be as dedicated.

With this in mind, Akiwara Yuto lowered his stance and offered some kind words of persuasion, finally getting Hatanaka Takeru to stand up and tearfully promise that he would continue to work diligently.

After this interlude, the two took the business car to the Metropolitan Police Department and began to cooperate with the police's routine questioning.

……

"Excuse me, are you Akiwara-sensei?"

After Akiwara Yuto and his bodyguard arrived at the First Investigation Division office, a thin, gaunt man walked up and asked politely.

Akiwara Yuto nodded and introduced the bodyguard's identity.

Upon confirming their identities, the thin man's attitude became even more amiable; he stepped forward to shake hands and introduced himself.

"I am Assistant Inspector Soma Daiyu of the First Investigation Division. I am truly sorry to trouble you to come over so late, thank you for your hard work."

"Not at all, it is we who should apologize, after all, we are making you work overtime so late."

One does not strike a smiling face; seeing the other party's polite attitude, Akiwara Yuto also replied very courteously.

"You are too kind. We at the Metropolitan Police Department take the taxpayers' money, so naturally, we must perform our duties diligently." Soma Daiyu exchanged a few more pleasantries, then gestured with his hand, signaling for Akiwara Yuto and his bodyguard to leave with him.

But just then, others in the office noticed them.

A man wearing glasses took the initiative to ask: "Are you the author of *Furuhata Ninzaburo*, Akiwara-sensei?"

Akiwara Yuto did not expect this surprise, but he admitted it quite readily.

Upon hearing the confirmation, everyone in the office exclaimed, then one by one took out paper and pens and swarmed over.

"Akiwara-sensei, I am a fan of *Furuhata Ninzaburo*, I hope you can give me an autograph!"

"Akiwara-sensei, why did you voluntarily give up the Uemura Prize?"

"What will your next work be about?"

"Akiwara-sensei, you..."

Facing the enthusiastic members of the Metropolitan Police Department, Akiwara Yuto was stunned for a moment, momentarily thinking he was at a book signing event rather than at the Metropolitan Police Department to assist with an investigation.

But he didn't think too much about it and readily signed autographs and answered questions one by one.

Soma Daiyu felt a bit embarrassed, so he led Akiwara Yuto and Hatanaka Takeru away.

The three arrived at a room with a sofa and sat down at Soma Daiyu's invitation.

Akiwara Yuto looked around the room in confusion and asked curiously: "This isn't an interrogation room, is it?"

According to standard procedure, as a person involved in the case, he should have been taken to an interrogation room to fill out forms and answer questions related to the case.

But this room had a sofa and a coffee table, and they had just been served black coffee by a receptionist; no matter how one looked at it, it seemed like a reception room.

Hearing this question, the corners of Soma Daiyu's mouth twitched.

People involved in cases are indeed taken to interrogation rooms, but that only applies to ordinary citizens.

But as a public figure, Akiwara Yuto naturally could not be subjected to such treatment.

Furthermore, his *Furuhata Ninzaburo* series was very popular, even among the police inspectors, let alone his colleagues.

Not only that, but after he was stabbed, some well-informed media had already quickly taken notice and contacted the Metropolitan Police Department.

It is estimated that by tomorrow, related reports will appear in the news sections.

By then, more reporters will likely be paying attention.

Since that is the case, he naturally cannot neglect Akiwara Yuto, who is involved in the case; after all, if the other party were to say two bad words about the Metropolitan Police Department, all the blame would fall on him.

"Akiwara-sensei, the interrogation rooms are occupied. I just need to ask a few questions here."

Soma Daiyu put down the coffee in his hand, his attitude very polite, "Could you tell me about the specific conflict between you and that suspect?"

Akiwara Yuto pondered for a while, then recounted the cause and effect of the incident.

From the press conference to receiving the death threat letter, to this attack, and the role Hatanaka Takeru played in subduing the other party, he told them everything.

These contents were basically favorable to him, so there was no need to hide anything.

Soma Daiyu recorded everything in his notebook and then began to ponder.

Compared to what he already knew, the content was almost the same, nothing more than two people developing a grudge, followed by one issuing a death threat and carrying out an assassination attempt.

"Akiwara-sensei, could you let me see the hospital's medical report?" Soma Daiyu made another request.

Akiwara Yuto complied and had his bodyguard hand over the report.

After reading it, Soma Daiyu found that these knife wounds were basically no more than 8 centimeters, which at best could only be considered minor injuries.

Akiwara Yuto noticed that Soma Daiyu's expression was off, so he asked, "Assistant Inspector Soma, may I know what the results of the Metropolitan Police Department's interrogation of Onuki Masakazu are?"

Generally speaking, even if the victim wants to know the situation, the Metropolitan Police Department would refuse to disclose it based on confidentiality principles.

But Akiwara Yuto saw the Metropolitan Police Department's attitude, so he asked this slightly over-the-line question.

Soma Daiyu hesitated for a moment, but still said, "I hope you can keep the following content confidential."

Immediately after, he informed him of the interrogation results regarding Onuki Masakazu.

Akiwara Yuto frowned as he listened.

During the interrogation, Onuki Masakazu was very uncooperative, often using rhetoric to cleverly brush things off, and for many questions, he only had one answer.

For example, when asked about his motive and intent for the crime, he would repeat the same sentence over and over: "Akiwara Yuto ruined me."

As for some key methods, he remained silent and refused to cooperate at all.

After Akiwara Yuto was silent for a while, he asked the question he most wanted to ask.

"Assistant Inspector Soma, if it goes to trial, what kind of sentence will the court give?"

"Akiwara-sensei, it might disappoint you." Soma Daiyu said seriously, "Although it is attempted murder and intentional injury, your wounds can only be considered minor injuries. So it will likely only be a sentence of 3 to 5 years."

He paused, then added: "If the other party has a good attitude during the trial and is willing to plead guilty, they might even be given a suspended sentence for a certain period."

Hearing this answer, Akiwara Yuto's hands clenched tightly.

This time, he had truly tasted the feeling of death, and he did not want to try it again.

He could not forget the ferocious smile Onuki Masakazu gave him when he was being put into the police car.

But according to this assistant inspector, even if he is sentenced, it probably won't be for long.

The best case is a 5-year sentence, and then the other party might still attack him after being released from prison.

The worst case is a suspended sentence; as long as the other party avoids police surveillance, they can still launch an attack.

If it comes to that, does he have to have a bodyguard follow him to the bathroom from now on?

What if Onuki Masakazu feels that attacking him is too difficult and sets his sights on Asano, Satake, Toyama, and the others instead?

Akiwara Yuto closed his eyes, thinking in his heart about a question he had never considered before.

Should he find a desperate Yakuza to eliminate this future trouble?

If he doesn't do this, what other means does he have?