Chapter 628

With Uesugi Muneyuki's report, equivalent to a "scientific death penalty verdict," now released, CIA official A. 0. Smith remained silent for a long time, fully accepting Uesugi Muneyuki's judgment.

Having come this far, let's eat first.

The CIA immediately informed the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office that it would "not intervene in Japan's internal affairs" (in reality, abandoning Akimoto).

"Depart!" Tokyo Chief Prosecutor Nishikawa Takahiro, as if hearing heavenly music, slammed his palm hard on the table: "Charge the duck!!!"

"Charge the duck!!!" Dozens of prosecutors from the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Unit, already prepared, mobilized en masse under the leadership of Kirekawa Buchou and Prosecutor Shinbayashi.

"Follow the prosecutors! Follow the prosecutors!!!" Watanabe Eiji's order was equally swift: "Full cooperation! Quick!"

"Mobilize! Everyone mobilize!" Sakuradamon immediately erupted, countless Toyota Crowns rushing to the scene.

Meanwhile, on the cabinet side, Prime Minister Oowada acted with astonishing speed.

Cabinet Secretary Onoda Kimiaki immediately convened an emergency press conference, his face bearing an agonized expression, as if he shared an irreconcilable enmity with Akimoto: "In light of the extremely serious nature of the incident involving former Foreign Akimoto Daijin Shin'ichirō, which has severely damaged national credibility and public trust in politics, the cabinet, after solemn deliberation, has decided to fully support judicial authorities in conducting an independent and fair investigation! For all consequences resulting from the personal conduct of former Akimoto Daijin, the cabinet expresses deep regret and will take this as an opportunity to deeply reflect, tighten discipline!"

This speech, righteous in appearance, packaged "cutting ties" and "kicking someone when they're down" as "righteousness overriding kinship" and "self-renewal," full of the black humor unique to politicians.

Without the CIA's invisible protection, Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office Special Investigation Unit Chief Kirekawa Ryoichi and the iron-fisted Prosecutor Shinbayashi, like tigers released from their cages, led a massive investigative team, under the full support of the Metropolitan Police Department (at this moment cooperating with extraordinary enthusiasm, almost with a sense of avenging shame), unleashing a violent investigative storm!

Office of the Foreign Minister, Nagatacho: Plainclothes prosecutors' administrative officials and detectives, expressionless, surged in, while provincial officials watched in shock, sealing all of Akimoto Daijin's file cabinets, computers, even not overlooking the trash bins. The room once symbolizing the peak of power now held only chaos and a killing atmosphere.

Akimoto Daijin's official residence was similarly occupied by investigators, his exquisite courtyard filled with police cars and prosecutor's vehicles, surrounded three layers inside and three outside, large groups of suit-clad teams and forensic personnel rushing in, furniture moved, floors tapped to check for hidden compartments, family members isolated for questioning, utter chaos.

Several private residences of the Akimoto family and multiple properties under relatives' names were naturally not overlooked; public security police finally played their role, these locations simultaneously subjected to raid searches, seeking possible hidden illicit funds, secret ledgers, and evidence of improper dealings with the CIA or other forces.

This scene was no longer merely an investigation, but more like a reckoning and conquest in a power transition.

Seeing him build high towers, seeing him entertain guests, seeing his towers collapse.

What a vast, white, pure land!

But this is politics!

However, whether prosecutors, public security, or detectives, none found Akimoto Daijin himself.

Yet under such a massive search, unless he could use prism-refraction leap technique, he truly could not fly away.

Night fell, lights began to glow.

In the high-end private office in Minato Ward (his last stronghold he tried to retain), Akimoto Shin'ichirō sat alone behind a large desk.

Outside the window was Tokyo's bustling nightscape, brilliantly lit, yet now unrelated to him.

He could hear noisy, increasingly close footsteps from the hallway outside, and the icy, unquestionable "Open the door! According to the search warrant!" shouts of prosecutor's administrative officials.

This sound contrasted cruelly with the countless times he had heard subordinates respectfully call him "Minister."

The situation, truly, took a sudden turn for the worse!

"Judgment always comes faster than imagined." Akimoto Shin'ichirō recalled his favorite film, *The Shawshank Redemption*, whose character he had liked most was the warden.

I, after all, became you.

He held in his hand a photo taken years ago with a senior CIA official in Washington, both smiling brightly, symbolizing a close alliance.

He once thought that by trading so much internal information about Japan's political and business circles to the CIA, he had helped push multiple policies aligned with U. S. strategic interests.

He once thought that by establishing N-net to serve so many dignitaries and esteemed Americans and certain-country people, hello I hello everyone hello, he could also enable women needing money to earn sufficient extra income.

This was as reliable as "thighs" to guarantee him lifelong wealth and peace.

Never did he expect to ultimately fall into the hands of a Showa-era old-timer and his own son!

Shōta! You damned brat, dragging me down like this!!!

Indeed, when the news broke, besides the U. S., a certain security bureau in HK also sent a message, outright refusing to acknowledge Akimoto and telling him to "scram, loser."

"Hehe————hahaha————" he emitted a low, bitter laugh, full of self-mockery and endless loss.

"When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked————ancient sages never deceived me." He realized that before greater interests and colder games, he, this "loyal dog," after causing irreparable trouble, was mercilessly abandoned. Those chips he thought were valuable might, in their eyes, have long since depreciated.

Day ni ma! Refund the money!

The knocking sound turned into an impact, the door panel violently vibrating, as if it would shatter in the next second.

He last glanced at that photo, then casually tossed it into the trash bin.

He adjusted his suit and tie, maintaining the last trace of a politician's dignity, and slowly walked toward the inner rest room of the office.

He too had his own dignity!

When Kirekawa Buchou and Prosecutor Shinbayashi personally led the team, finally smashing through the sturdy oak door and charging into the office, the interior was empty of anyone.

They cautiously pushed open the rest room door—what lay before them made Kirekawa and Shinbayashi instantly widen their pupils!

Before their eyes hung Akimoto Shin'ichirō's corpse from the beam, swaying slightly with the airflow.

His face was bluish-purple, eyes wide open, seemingly still retaining shock, unwillingness, and utter despair; he had used the most traditional, also most resolute, means to evade the impending judicial trial and more humiliating political purge.

The swaying corpse and tightly shut eyes told them one thing.

No one can judge me!

Not even the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office!

The prosecutors and senior officers present, gazing at this body that not long ago held supreme power, felt complex emotions.

There was the satisfaction of finally dragging the powerful down from their horses, the relief of legal dignity being upheld, but more so, a heavy, fated emptiness of mutual harm.

No matter how illustrious in life, the final outcome could actually end a life so tragically.

The bell of Shōen Shōja rang, speaking of the impermanence of worldly affairs.

The Sala twin trees lost their color, the flourishing turning to decay like vicissitudes.

Extravagance and lust do not last long, just like a spring night's dream.

Tyranny and oppression ultimately collapse, like dust raised in the wind.

"Call the forensic pathologist and forensic division." Kirekawa Buchou waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of fatigue, "Seal the scene, proceed according to procedure."

Follow-up handling plan swiftly formulated:

Announce externally, in the phrasing "former Akimoto Daijin Shin'ichirō died by suicide during the investigation, specific cause under further investigation," to handle discreetly, avoid overstimulating society and unnecessary speculation.

The investigation will target allegations of corruption and abuse of power by the Akimoto family; this aspect will not cease due to his death, but continue to pursue legal responsibility of family members and related liable parties.

Political purges of the Cabinet and ruling party will swiftly launch internal procedures, thoroughly eliminating Akimoto's political legacy, making a deep break with him, and introducing a new "reform" image to regain public support.

A massive uproar triggered by a bomb explosion, ultimately ending in a controversial death, swept across the entire nation in an instant!

At this moment, Uesugi Muneyuki sat in the Lexus preparing to go home, glancing from afar at the brightly lit Nagatacho.

Matters have come to this point—let's eat first!

Heading home!

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