Tokyo Wingman King

Chapter 518, Section 95: Joining the Team and Becoming an Undercover Agent (Happy Birthday, Futami Tsukimi)
Thursday, January 9, 22 a.m.

The rain that was foretold by yesterday's sunrise is only now falling.

The rumble of thunder could be faintly heard in the southern suburbs of Tokyo.

Beyond the chaotic residential area, there are rows of small factories lining the banks of the Arakawa River.

Sumida Ward has been a hub for small workshops since the Edo period, and for over a century it has been renowned for its "Made in Sumida" products. Even as industry continues to relocate to the outskirts of the city, it remains home to numerous small companies and artisans in industries such as leather, glass, cotton textiles, metal molds, bedding, and paper crafts.

The six-story building next to the factory not far ahead should be the location of Takishima's location.

It had been just 8 minutes since Asama hung up the phone, and they were already 13 kilometers away from the apartment of Shinazugawa's agent—Asama Shizumi was running even faster than before.

He glided through the last 2 kilometers using the accumulated water, estimating his speed at 110 km/h. He could sense that [Personality Possession - Maodun's Feigned North] still had enormous potential for development, and perhaps also more serious side effects.

Standing on the edge of the building's rooftop, Takishima, holding an umbrella in one hand, was not surprised by Asama's early arrival.

The young mercenary wearing the BoJack Horseman mask smiled and waved.

Behind him, the southern sky was gloomy, with silver snakes occasionally darting through the gaps in the continuous black clouds.

"So soon, did [the lantern bearer] bring the Great Teacher here?"

With a blank expression, Asama climbed from the ground to the rooftop in seven steps, flipped over the 60cm high rooftop railing, and landed on the mottled rooftop tiles that were already flooded.

"[Farewell Lantern]? If you're referring to the ghost stories here, that thing only makes people get lost. If you encounter a strange guide on a rainy day, it should be [Farewell Paddlewood]."

"I think that no matter what kind of strange creature it is, it would be willing to serve someone like Hachiman. After all, whether it is the King of a Hundred Demons who can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk [Shuten-dōji], or the Lord of the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons who wins people over with virtue [Nurarihyon], they would all have to admit defeat compared to Hachiman."

Takishima offered sincere compliments, like a loyal steward, holding the umbrella over Asama's head.

But Asama did not grant him his wish.

Asama brushed his rain-soaked hair back and said,

"There's no need for sarcasm. I have neither the interest of Shuten-dōji in swindling noble ladies, nor will I imitate Nurarihyon by pretending to be some important person and going to other people's homes to freeload."

Takishima reluctantly put away his umbrella and got soaked in the rain with Asama.

He did hope that Asama could quickly take over and resolve some problems from the top down.

A bottom-up revolution. In this country, such a thing has never succeeded [a nation's past is its future]—numbness has penetrated every aspect of the people's lives. It is impossible to rely on them. They already have nothing, so how can they have any anger about being deprived?

Takishima knew that his expectations had been dashed several times by the Great Teacher, and that it was wrong to continue to wallow in this futile anxiety and worry.

The rain was light near the banks of the Arakawa River.

For the two people standing in the rain, the raindrops were like the sea breeze, the air, and the sunshine—an integral part of their environment.

Takishima tilted his head slightly, letting the fine raindrops hit the horse's face and fall into the gaps between the eyes and mouth of the horse head mask.

The rain was too light to make him feel refreshed or clean.

"Does Mr. Hachiman know so much about Japanese monsters? Did you do some research when you were making up ghost stories at school?"

"I heard it at the forest school."

At the end of July, at the forest school, Asama mastered at least 70 ghost stories at the ghost story gathering at the bonfire campsite by Lake Towada.

The "Farewell Lantern" and the other "Seven Mysteries of Honjo" in Sumida Ward were told to him by Majima—she used to enjoy reading romance novels with supernatural themes for a while.

The anecdote about [Shuten-dōji using the contrasting trope of an ordinary boy transforming into a handsome boy to capture all the noble girls from the Shōnagon, Chūnagon, and Dainagon families] was told to him by Shinazugawa.

If Horikita hadn't been too tired at the time, giving Asama the opportunity to cancel the ghost story convention, he felt he could have compiled a collection of 200 ghost stories.

"Speaking of the forest school, although Hachiman isn't interested in supernatural things, he remembers every single word that Futami-san and the others said, right?"

"Stop talking like Komaba, you sound too much like a dog."

Takishima smelled the cuffs, their color now stained dark by the rain.

"Strong dog smell? That's a good thing!"

Asama shook his head and walked down from the rooftop.

"That inspector must be from the Nijo family, right? Didn't you say the investigation was over?"

Takishima shrugged and hurried to Asama's side to lead the way.
"The Vietnamese man died six hours ago."

"."

The lives of insignificant people are lighter than raindrops outside; their burial won't even make a sound.

"His superior is definitely not Miefune. Does Hachiman know how he died?"

Takishima's tone carried a hint of resentment.

"Suicide out of fear of punishment?"

Asama guessed.

"As expected, everything was within Teacher Da's calculations."

"This movement is far too rough."

"When they can swat the mosquitoes off their arms immediately, they won't waste time getting insecticide."

So, what is Takishima doing now?

To continue upholding his sense of justice? To thoroughly investigate the human organ trade?

Or is it that he wants to find out what role his future father-in-law's family plays in the organ trade through that police inspector who also belongs to the Nijo family's faction?
The two entered a room on the fourth floor that smelled of mildew from the rainy season.

The unfortunate police inspector was sitting on a stool in the middle of the room with his head down, his hands and feet tied to the back of the chair, his whole body in a strange inverted C shape.

No one died.

Asama could hear his faint breath and heartbeat.

"You're in a private torture chamber in Tokyo?" Asama asked, looking around the room.

"Of course not, this place belongs to him."

"The Crime Control Department's base?"

"No, he said it was his own, so it can't be fake."

Takishima seemed quite certain that everything he had pried out of the unconscious police inspector was the truth.

Asama stared at the top of the policeman's head for a moment.

"So, is the crackdown on organ trafficking a scheme orchestrated by the Nijo family?"

As soon as Asama finished speaking, he heard a heartbeat that seemed to speed up.

Having also realized this, Takishima knocked the feigning-sleepy inspector unconscious again, shaking his head and saying,
“This inspector is merely an investigator, not a monitor who has mastered the entire process of [upper-level symbiotic crime].

"What do you mean?"

"He has been tracking organ trafficking for three years, and he can guarantee that it is someone at the level of superintendent or higher who is tacitly allowing it to happen. This person has information on all the beneficiaries of the surgeries, which means that he is managing a growing [hostage group] on behalf of some big shots."

"Who is this person at the level of Superintendent General or higher? Who are those important figures? Is there a more specific indication?"

"No."

"He said he could guarantee it, but where's the evidence?"

"He has no evidence." "What are your plans next? Is this inspector willing to cooperate with your continued investigation?"

"For him, the matter is over. As Komaba said, the Nijo family only wanted a handle in this matter and didn't care about so-called justice. Our actions just brought their plans forward by a few months."

Takishima took off his hood and sighed.

"So you're planning to arrest everyone at the level of Superintendent of Police or higher and interrogate them one by one?"

"Does Teacher Da also think it's feasible?"

Takishima revealed an expression that indicated he was thinking the same thing.

"Why don't you just kidnap a few of the old men from the Five Regents' families and threaten them?"

"Yes, it's recorded in Journey to the West that even if you kill a monster with a powerful background, Sun Wukong can't do anything to those with such a background. Kidnapping the heads of the Five Regents is something I can't do. Would you be willing to help me, Master?"

I'm not as powerful as you think.

Even if the Five Regiments Offenders agree, others will find ways to continue this practice. Prohibition in the US didn't eliminate alcohol; instead, it created a more dangerous bootlegging market controlled by criminal groups. Unless there's a major breakthrough in artificial organ technology, there will always be people willing to take the risk for this demand.

Takishima smiled and crumpled the rubber horse-head mask into a ball.
"I don't entirely agree with what Teacher Da said. If the opportunity cost for wrongdoers isn't increased, how can they be expected to give up wrongdoing?"

“You’re absolutely right. But I’ve always believed that everything is in motion and changing, and the best way to deal with this kind of thing is to follow the dynamic principle of ‘prevention is worse than cure.’”

"It's better to guide than to block. Komaba once asked a question: [Will the increase in sales of masturbation toys reduce the number of prostitutes in Okubo Park?] What does Mr. Ookubo think?"

"This is not true; the overlap in customers between the two is very low."

But the direction is correct: advanced, realistic, affordable, and comfortable virtual reality devices could very well make real-world prostitution disappear.

In my opinion, the best way to eliminate a need is to replace it, just as streaming media replaced DVDs, cars replaced sedan chairs, and mobile phones replaced wallets.

Only easier, more convenient, and more rewarding alternatives can fundamentally make old needs lose their appeal.

However, to date,
The best way to eliminate landlords is to turn them into capitalists; the best way to eliminate industrial capitalists is to turn them into financial capitalists.
The path of pursuing profit keeps changing, but the exploiting class has never been eliminated. Therefore, the needs of each generation bring with them the moral dilemmas created by that generation.

Only by constantly creating and building new things can you approach your [justice].

Takishima was silent for a moment, then asked,
"Master, do you think that [simple justice] is an outdated game?"

Asama shook his head.
"Of course not. But what I just said was indeed too simplistic. The answer to the question of justice cannot be reduced to [that all social problems can be solved through technological or managerial innovation]."
The New Testament says, "For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away." As long as it aligns with the principle of "fighting for those who [have not], those who have been taken away, and challenging the rule itself that [has]," then such justice is not meaningless, nor can it be an outdated game.

"Since Teacher Da agrees with my sense of justice, why does he always treat [some] as a system instead of pointing to a specific group of people?"
I've also read Tocqueville's *The Old Regime and the Revolution*, which you mentioned earlier. The nobles of our country are just like the French lords in the book who, despite losing administrative power, enjoy various privileges. Their existence severely hinders the establishment of a fair and efficient government in their jurisdictions.

The nation consists only of reinforced concrete and a populace as passive and unresponsive as reinforced concrete, while the unwavering, ignorant beliefs of the populace constantly safeguard the interests of the nobility.

Asama also heard from Takishima that he was both compassionate and distrustful of the people.

I wonder if it was caused by his experiences in the Middle East.
Asama put aside these distracting thoughts and answered,

"So if all actions are only directed at the nobility, rather than mobilizing the people, the nobility will still emerge in droves with the support of the people."

If the villagers are all piloting mechs, why should they fear narratives like "[the dragon-slaying boy eventually becomes a dragon]"?

"The matter of enlightenment is left to the head teacher."

“Enlightenment in the modern era is not something I can accomplish. This age does not expect missionary-style, universal teachings that appeal to the wise and the foolish.”

I do not expect to become a promoter of symbolic violence, nor do I fantasize about being an absolutely rational and absolutely correct preacher.

I don't even understand myself. All I can do is express my thoughts and think about them with those who are willing to—this is by no means enlightenment.

Upon hearing this, Takishima put on the horse-face hood again, solemnly donning a steel helmet like a knight.

"In any case, I will trim the dragons' nails while the villagers are drawing up their plans, and protect them from being disturbed."

Asama sighed and nodded.

"I will join your team if necessary."

Takishima paused, then turned the horse's head towards Asama, and asked in surprise,
"Wasn't Teacher Hachiman joking just now?"

"Can't you have some self-awareness and review all our conversations? You've always been the one making jokes."

"When is it necessary?"

"When necessary, that is, when it is necessary."

"Why does Hachiman imitate Jiro Koizumi's way of speaking? Is it an escapist writing style typical of political families?"

"I just want to say that when you're uncertain, you must express uncertainty."

“That’s right~ Speaking in a general’s style suits Teacher Da better.”

"."

"By the way, Teacher Da, here's your invitation."

I received a letter briefly, signed by [Shinichiro Kondo].

"Kids from the Kujo family, has Hachiman figured out which children are illegitimate?"

"not yet."

"So, even if you know the outcome will eventually come, you still need time to wait for it."

Takishima looked into the distance again and said something inexplicable.

After dealing with the police inspector, the two went to Miefuneki's residence in Koto Ward.

They were the second group to visit the room in Miefune, which had been searched by police 12 hours earlier.

The room's owner is still in detention.

"There are no new discoveries regarding the people Miefune contacted. We arrested almost all of them yesterday. We can only wait until he is released."

Takishima shrugged after prying open the ceiling and floor to inspect them.

"Ah."

Asama found a notebook that was thicker than a dictionary.

In his notes, Miefune focused on several topics, including "building a new type of juvenile prison without walls to facilitate the smooth reintegration of juvenile offenders into society" and "the necessity of increasing the length of community service during the probationary period."

The brick-like notebook wasn't taken away. Perhaps its dull and boring content failed to attract the attention of the police.

Judging from the contents of the notes, it is difficult to associate the owner of the notes with the words "legal wolves".

Asama still couldn't understand why this lawyer, who was full of warmth towards juvenile delinquents, would suggest that Mie Aki sell his organs.

Turning to the middle, Asama made a new discovery.

"Sending the disciplined person to KKIS was the right choice. At least two suicides occurred in KKIS last year, but no news came out. Today, we are lending 120,000 yen to the disciplined person."

Each record is both a diary and an account book.

Mie Aki's older brother, the discipline officer who died tragically in KKIS, was actually Mie Funaki's assistant investigator.

On the surface, he was building connections at the prestigious school to revive his family, but in reality, he was an undercover agent in KKIS to help Miefune collect various pieces of evidence.

Asama finished reading the record; the last page contained only one sentence—

"Ji Lu You Ren failed to keep his promise. Today, we received a repayment of 24 yen from Ji Lu You Ren."

(End of this chapter)