Chapter 573: Wish to Be River Water, to Meet You Again!

PS: This chapter is 4200 characters, plus the previous chapter's 3900 characters, making it a combined double chapter, so Tenshi previously owed 3 chapters, now only owes 2, oh yeah~

When he heard the news that Okada's father might be promoted to Vice Minister of Finance, Kai Toru swallowed hard.

The position of Vice Minister of Finance is actually one level lower compared to the previous Financial Services Agency Commissioner.

As mentioned earlier, the Vice Minister and the Superintendent General are theoretically the same rank, both belonging to the Vice-Ministerial level, so Kai Toru's father, Vice Minister of Justice Kai Mineaki, and Watanabe Eiji are theoretically peers, while the Police Commissioner and Financial Services Agency Commissioner are clearly one level higher, i. e., the Ministerial level.

Therefore, Okada Masahide's move doesn't look like a promotion, but a demotion! Demoted from Commissioner to Vice Minister!

However, in reality, the position of Vice Minister of Finance is practically an absolute "king" beneath the Cabinet Ministers!

His actual influence and political status completely crush the Police Commissioner! Even the Environment Minister, Education Minister, and Land Minister ranked behind him are inferior when they see the Vice Minister of Finance.

Because the Ministry of Finance is the number one "Ministry among Ministries" under the Japanese system, controlling the "money bags" of all ministries through compiling the national budget and controlling national tax revenue.

And the Vice Minister of Finance is directly responsible for handling the budget compilation and fiscal approval of all major ministries; all of the country's core policies, especially economic, tax, and social security, require fiscal support, and the Vice Minister of Finance is the key senior bureaucrat with the most interaction between the major ministries and the Prime Minister's Office, his opinion often directly deciding whether a project passes and determining the direction of national policy.

Translated to the country across the sea, the position of Vice Minister of Finance corresponds to the Director of the National Development and Reform Commission.

Therefore, although the Vice Minister of Finance is the same rank as the Superintendent General, not to mention the Superintendent General, even the Police Commissioner, Chief Prosecutor, and even the State Ministers ranked lower are slightly shorter by half a head.

And this is already after stripping away supervisory authority; in earlier years, the Ministry of Finance's predecessor, the Ministry of Finance (Okura-sho), was the most powerful, longest-lasting, and most core department in Japanese history, known as the "Immovable Ministry."

Just now, in front of the Cabinet Ministers, Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Foreign Minister, and Defense Minister, you called me Okada Vice Minister, I didn't mind; now what do you call me?

Answer: Chief Budget Officer (honorific face-to-face), Ministry of Finance Mainstream (internal reference), Ministry of Finance Official (behind-the-back discussion).

And the important reason Okada Masahide was able to win out in this country's most intense, most vacant, most critical position was his son Okada Masayoshi's magnificent performance of sacrificing himself, heavily injured, to save a nursery school girl on a nationwide live broadcast!

This earned him huge image points; as long as he's mentioned, everyone immediately thinks of his son, and from his son's performance naturally feels this Financial Services Agency Commissioner is trustworthy, of upright character, with excellent upbringing.

Kai Toru thought the Special Mission Unit truly has crouching tigers and hidden dragons!

Hmm, me too—

"Then I'll be going." Kai Toru saw the time was about right and took his leave.

"I'm about ready to pull out too." Date Nagamune also stood up after shipping off his stickers, butterfly knife, and glove weapons one by one.

Happy times, about to begin!

Meanwhile, in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, a quiet private room in a certain high-end ryotei "Matsuo."

Bamboo blinds hung low, shutting out the clamor of the outside world.

Inside, only the elegant scent of incense and the faint sound of spring water striking rocks. Superintendent General Watanabe Eiji and Financial Services Agency Commissioner Okada Masahide, soon to be promoted to Vice Minister of Finance, sat facing each other, both having shed the gravity of the official residence, dressed in casual clothes, the atmosphere seemingly leisurely, but the topic gradually turning to official business.

"Watanabe-kun, it's been nothing but trouble lately." Okada Masahide sipped his sake, bringing it up seemingly casually; his temples were slightly white, but his eyes were extremely sharp, the insight honed from long controlling the nation's financial lifeline and serving as Financial Services Agency Commissioner: "The family extermination case, the bulletproof vest corruption case, the explosion case, the kidnapping murder case, cases one after another, the newspapers are full of headlines every day."

Watanabe Eiji poured sake for Okada, responding steadily: "Thanks to the active efforts of the Metropolitan Police Department and the Cabinet's full support, they've all had very good results in the end."

"Indeed, on this point, your performance leaves nothing to be said." Okada Masahide nodded, lowering his voice: "Actually, the Cabinet is already discussing a possibility: to effectively respond to this kind of wide-area, serial crime wave, perhaps a higher-level command mechanism needs to be established."

"Oh?!" Watanabe Eiji's eyebrows twitched slightly, thinking: Here it comes!

The rumors heard before weren't fake!

"For example, granting a temporary title, such as 'Kantou Region Police Integration Superintendent,' to integrate the police forces of the one metropolis and six prefectures of Kantou, for unified mobilization and command, with the Superintendent General serving as Headquarters Chief, each Prefectural Police Chief as members, ensuring smooth cooperation, valid for one year, extendable as needed, but requiring regular evaluation and Cabinet approval renewal, how about that?" Okada Masayoshi stated the Cabinet's discussion direction blandly.

"If it can be like that, then nothing could be better." Watanabe Eiji was deep-minded, neither rushing to agree nor feigning modesty, but his gaze fixed tightly on Okada's reaction.

Watanabe Eiji knew that any concept involving cross-departmental matters and potentially increasing the budget would be impossible to advance without this "Ministry of Finance Head Shopkeeper's" tacit consent, let alone support.

The air fell silent for a moment.

Okada Masahide did not respond immediately; his fingers lightly tapped the desk surface, as if weighing pros and cons. Suddenly, he changed the subject, his tone carrying a rare, near-private warmth.

"Watanabe-kun, let's put official business aside for now." He raised his eyes, his gaze turning complex: "That good-for-nothing son of mine — Masayoshi has recovered and returned; he hasn't caused you and Sakura-mon any trouble lately, has he?"

Watanabe Eiji immediately grasped the deep meaning in this.

"You're too polite, Okada-san." Watanabe Eiji showed a sincere smile: "Masayoshi-kun is an outstanding Career Track elite, exceptionally capable, full of drive; under my daughter Minami, his performance has been very active. More importantly—"

He deliberately paused, giving the next words more weight: "Following Minami and Muneyuki, he has participated in and solved several tough major cases; not to hide it from you, the title of 'Case-Solving Machine' that Uesugi has, half the credit belongs to excellent executors and assistants like Masayoshi-kun by his side."

"Masayoshi-kun's merits are written clearly in the files!"

Once Watanabe Eiji said this, Okada Masahide, despite utmost restraint, couldn't help but curve his lips slightly, his eyes brightening considerably; his only son, not relying on his shadow, but in the system of his rival (in his view), through his own efforts and "correct" following, achieved tangible accomplishments. This made him, this stubborn old father, feel more relieved and proud than if his son had risen smoothly in the Ministry of Finance.

"This is all thanks to Watanabe-kun's cultivation and arrangement, and also thanks to Watanabe-kun willing to give my unworthy son a chance, the opportunity to act alongside Uesugi-kun and your daughter; I toast you!"

"Not at all, not at all; to have such an outstanding and upright subordinate as your son, with the magnificent feat of sacrificing his life to save a girl moving the whole nation, my daughter and my son-in-law are equally honored!"

After hearing Watanabe Eiji's words, Okada Masahide took a deep breath, raised his cup, and drained it in one gulp: "That Masayoshi has today's growth, thanks to Superintendent Minami Watanabe's guidance, and Doctor Uesugi's patronage. This point, I, Okada, — will keep engraved in my heart."

To a certain extent, Uesugi Muneyuki and Watanabe Minami saved Okada Masayoshi's life, in that matter of his daughter-in-law.

That daughter-in-law is a pain in his and his son's hearts; Eiji also very tactfully doesn't mention that matter.

He looked at Watanabe Eiji again, his eyes regaining the sharpness of the Financial Services Agency Commissioner, but with a few more points of tacit understanding: "Regarding the concept of 'Kantou Region Police Integration Superintendent,' I think it's very necessary. Facing the current complex crime situation, breaking administrative barriers and concentrating superior police force conforms to the principle of efficiency. On the Ministry of Finance side, regarding necessary budget and coordination — I will pay attention to it."

"As for Masayoshi's side, the Special Mission Unit has already proven it can fight and win against any challenge; such a powerful and effective department should be adjusted; your daughter is still in a promotion freeze period, but she can act as interim for now." Okada Masahide brought up the old topic again.

Stop letting your daughter block my son's promotion path!

Hurry up and upgrade the Special Mission Unit to Special Mission Division! Let Masayoshi promote to Police Management Officer; your daughter can't promote to Police Superintendent yet, but she can serve as Acting Special Mission Division Chief first! Once the freeze ends, promote directly to Police Superintendent, don't let my son face possible murder case adventures anymore! He's already been heavily injured once!

A stone in Watanabe Eiji's heart fell to the ground.

He knew this was not just an approval on official business, but a trust based on a private level.

"Thank you very much for your understanding and support, Okada-san." Watanabe Eiji raised his cup solemnly: "For the security of the Kantou region, and to not let those outstanding young people, including your son's talent, be buried, the Metropolitan Police Department will spare no effort."

Two cups clinked lightly together, making a crisp sound. This sound not only finalized an important decision that could affect the Kantou security landscape, but also maintained a silent understanding and gratitude between two fathers at the top of the pyramid, regarding their children's futures.

"Hehehe, with the Emperor and Imperial Household Agency's invitation, your precious son-in-law seems to need no help anymore." When he spoke again, the bureaucratic detachment in his voice had faded considerably.

"Foreign Minister, you still have to thank Muneyuki!" Watanabe Eiji also said with a meaningful expression: "He wanted to pressure the District Prosecutors Office, but Chief Prosecutor Nishikawa scolded Akimoto-san for being sick, said if it gets any darker he'll leak it to the National Police Agency."

"Hahahahaha ah hahahahahaha~"

"Hmph hmph hmph hmph hmph~"

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes, Okada Masahide and Watanabe Eiji looked at each other satisfied, finally unable to hold back and bursting into loud laughter. In the laughter was the ease of a thousand sails passed, gratitude for mutual support, even more endless hope for the future, and even more a spectator's mindset toward the various big messes about to happen next.

Wish to be river water, to meet you again!

Forming a cruel contrast with the leisure in the ryotei was the air inside the Prime Minister's Official Residence, almost stagnant.

Akimoto Shin'ichirō Daijin could no longer maintain his usual composure; his face was ashen, his eyes deeply shadowed, and he almost anxiously glanced at the Yamada Prime Minister sitting opposite, sipping tea leisurely.

"Prime Minister! You must help me!" Akimoto's voice carried a plea he himself hadn't noticed, "That madman Sumikawa is spouting nonsense in front of the media! Now public opinion is turning against me! But—but what exactly did Shōta do? I truly don't know! Those who know—secretary and driver—"

He couldn't continue; that explosion had taken not only his son but also the key figure who might have known the inside story.

He felt bitter inside! Before, his subordinates, eager to please him, always handled Shōta's "minor matters" "spotlessly," never letting those sordid details sully his ears.

He only knew his son occasionally caused "minor troubles," needing him to use his influence to "soothe" things—who would have thought he'd accumulated such a deep, bloody feud?

Yamada Prime Minister slowly set down his teacup, letting out a meaningful, prolonged sigh: "Akimoto-kun—your feelings, I fully understand. An old man sending off a young man—life's greatest pain."

He shifted his tone, his voice turning as cold as a surgical scalpel: "But precisely because we hold high office, we must be ever more careful in speech and conduct, and restrain those around us. The so-called 'cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, bring peace to the world'—this order must not be disrupted."

Akimoto Shin'ichirō's heart sank sharply.

Yamada continued, his tone filled with "regret" and "helplessness": "Now public opinion is in an uproar, the people's will is paramount. As representatives of the people, we must never at any time stand opposed to public sentiment. For the Cabinet's stability, for our shared national policy to proceed smoothly—sometimes, necessary sacrifice is unavoidable."

He stood, walked to the window, his back to Akimoto Daijin, his expression indifferent: "Has it not always been this way? Subordinates' achievements belong to superiors! Superiors' faults are borne by subordinates!"

"Akimoto-san, you surely aren't hiding something from me, are you?" Yamada Prime Minister, facing the scenery outside Nagatacho, spoke meaningfully.

The Foreign Minister did not answer, or rather, dared not answer.

"Akimoto-kun, I hope you will put the nation first and take care of yourself. The subsequent investigation, the Cabinet will maintain close watch', ensuring everything proceeds according to law and regulation." Seeing the Foreign Minister not answer, Yamada Prime Minister understood, and his attitude grew even colder.

Akimoto Shin'ichirō collapsed onto the sofa, as if drained of all strength.

He understood.

Yamada's words, translated, meant: Your son died and deserved it; you caused this mess, you bear it alone, don't drag me and the Cabinet down—I won't protect you, and may even "lawfully" step on you.

Earlier, the two had tacitly discussed how to "sacrifice" Shōta; now, he himself had become the object of that discussion. The irony and coldness made him feel as if plunged into an ice cellar.

He gazed at Yamada's "great, bright, and proper" back, feeling anger: he thought he controlled everything, yet didn't even know what his own son had done; he thought he was the player, only to discover he was merely a pawn about to be sacrificed in a larger game.

Yamada! Yamada!

You bastard, have you forgotten our close-knit days of running for office together and forming the cabinet?

Now comes justice cutting?!

Fine, Yamada, if I fall, you won't get off easy either!

Akimoto Daijin's inner madness and distortion turned into a rolling storm!

May I be the broth, flowing with you!

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