After being elected as the governor of Tokyo, he will debut as a band!

Because of Aoyama's special status, and because police officers' cell phone privacy is not well protected due to their profession, Itokko's phone did not have Aoyama's cell phone number recorded, and he could not possibly know who was calling him before answering the call.

"I am Aoyama Xiang."

A series of crashing sounds came from the other end of the phone. Aoyama could even tell that it was the sound of Itokozuke falling off his chair and knocking over a large pile of clutter on his desk.

About five seconds later, Keisuke Itokozuke seemed to have just gotten out of the pile of debris that had hit him, and replied somewhat nervously.

"Excuse me, I didn't know it was you. What brings you here? If you're calling about Toyokawa Kiyoko, he just finished dinner and is reading a book on his bed in the detention center. The book is called 'The Count of Monte Cristo'."

Is he watching "The Count of Monte Cristo"? Is this guy planning to escape from prison and take revenge on the fraudster who swindled him out of 168 billion yen, his father-in-law who kicked him out, and the masterminds behind Shimakaze Financial?

Yes, dreams are beautiful, but you're not Edmund Dantes; no old cellmate will give you their life savings as start-up capital for a comeback.

“No, I’m not here to ask about Toyokawa Kiyoko,” Aoyama said directly, stating what he wanted to ask. “Do you know that the Tokyo police have been ordered to investigate a bowl of… cucumber miso soup?”

"Cucumber... miso soup? Hmm, when the takeout home-cooked meals ordered by my colleagues at the Metropolitan Police Department arrived, they were showing the delivery guy a picture on their phone and asking him about cucumber miso soup. They said their chief had eaten cucumber miso soup at a certain restaurant once and couldn't forget it, but he couldn't remember the name of the restaurant, so they asked them to help them find out."

What the heck? A police chief in the Metropolitan Police Department is using police resources to reminisce about the past? What, a Qianlong Emperor's journey to the south of the Yangtze River, Tokyo version?

The photos on those Metropolitan Police Department officers' phones must be the photos I took today while holding the bowl up to my face, right?

"Did you see what that photo looked like?"

"I did see it, but it was just a photo taken with the small soup bowl next to it, and it was taken vertically downwards. Apart from the white rim of the bowl, you can't even see any patterns on the bowl. The food presentation was also unremarkable. I can't see anything that could make the Metropolitan Police Department's chief linger."

With such detailed features, that photo is indeed the one I took.

But how did this happen? How did a casual photo of a dish, taken by someone imitating a high school girl, become a delicacy that a high-ranking police officer couldn't forget?

Aoyama's confusion lasted only a moment before he quickly understood the crux of the matter.

I suspect that some high-ranking official from the Metropolitan Police Department saw the photo I took somewhere, and then made up some excuse to get his subordinates and other lower-level departments to help investigate the origin of the cucumber miso soup in the photo.

My whereabouts have indeed been uncertain for the past few months, and the Metropolitan Police Department's Special Division is responsible for investigating espionage activities.

You've started to have doubts, so you want to find out where you went when you were acting alone, right?

This explains what the two patrol officers meant by "cucumber slice miso soup being linked to a corruption case." These people in the Special Department like to use the excuse of "investigating a corruption case" when investigating high-ranking officials in the Japanese public sector, both to outsiders and to their subordinates.

Let's confirm this first.

"Did Inspector Itoko and the people from the Metropolitan Police Department mention any connection between the cucumber miso soup and a certain corruption case when they questioned them?"

"Huh? How could cucumber miso soup be related to an embezzlement case? This kind of simple and cheap food, even a poor guy like me could easily drink it until I was stuffed. How could those rich and powerful corrupt officials like to drink this? Of course, if it's cucumber miso soup from a famous kaiseki restaurant like Kikunoi Akasaka, that doesn't count," Inspector Itokozuke seemed a little unconvinced by Aoyama's words, letting out a loud, silly laugh on the other end of the phone. "Let me tell you quietly, Aoyama-sama, I suspect that the head of the Metropolitan Police Department was just putting on an act when he said he liked cucumber miso soup. Everyone knows the Metropolitan Police Department is rich and powerful... Not to mention, the takeout meals those colleagues from the Metropolitan Police Department just ordered were all from famous restaurants—large bowls of eel rice! Served in black square lacquerware, a bowl costs 3700 yen!"

Aoyama said: Inspector Itokori, your knowledge is still too limited. So what if the Superintendent likes to drink cucumber miso soup? There are also people who eat hand-pulled noodles three times a day.

However, it's fair to say that the Metropolitan Police Department is financially powerful...

Before being elected Governor of Tokyo, Aoyama served as a member of parliament on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Special Committee. He was very familiar with the annual funding situation of the Metropolitan Police Department. In addition to the funding from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Metropolitan Police Department, a local police agency in Tokyo, also has businesses all over Japan, including hotels, training centers, resorts, pawn shops, etc. It's pretty outrageous.

In comparison, despite Kanagawa Prefecture being right next to Tokyo, the treatment of the prefectural police is far worse than that of the Metropolitan Police Department.

In any case, Itokaki's answer resolved one of Aoyama's questions. The so-called "embezzlement case" was meant for the lower-level police officers who were directly handling the case. These people are not tight-lipped. If they were questioned by reporters, they could come up with a reasonable excuse. Otherwise, would they just answer "for the minister's appetite"? Then the minister would be criticized in the newspapers the next day.

After briefly thanking Keisuke Itokogiri, Aoyama, still feeling quite wealthy, suggested that he could also order a large bowl of eel rice for his work dinner tonight, and that Chief Prosecutor Mitsurugi would pay for it (Mitsurugi Reiji: Using my money to treat, what kind of wealthy person are you?).

After hanging up the phone, Qingshan thought for a while and realized that his act of playing in a band while concealing his identity did make him seem unpredictable to certain special departments. It might be okay in the short term, but it could easily cause problems in the long term.

I need to find a way to file a record there—not to make it public for now, but to declassify it after I retire.

Otherwise, if I follow the series of strategies I have planned, it is very likely that people in those departments will think that I am on good terms with the people next door.

Try to talk to Professor Ogikubo when you have some free time.

Isokachi Music Awards: 040 Minami Mori's On-Screen Maternal Love

In addition to filing the record, Aoyama also needs to confirm how the photo of the cucumber miso soup he took was leaked.

The Metropolitan Police Department's Special Division may not be able to handle the situation themselves for the time being, but they can still properly clean up the people around them, as well as the people around them.

She only sent the photos to Suzumiya Hyakubi and her father, Aoyama Yukio. Suzumiya Hyakubi has been busy arranging sound and stage equipment for the "Gigocho Cup" lately, and the message she sent him was still unread until she asked him to send a car over just now... Her father not only saw it, but also replied, "I want to eat it too."

After confirming that the photos had been leaked from Aoyama Yuki, Aoyama called his father and asked how he had handled the photos of the home-cooked dishes he had sent him.

"After seeing the photo you posted, I also felt like eating this kind of home-style cooking. However, my stomach hasn't been feeling well these past few days, so I can't really eat fried pork chops, croquettes, or potato stew. The only thing I really like is clam and cucumber miso soup. So I showed the chef my phone and asked him to make it for me."

After answering, Aoyama Yuki seemed to realize something, paused for a moment, and then asked.

"Ah Xiang, what happened?"

"It's not certain yet... but your father's chef may have intentionally or unintentionally leaked the photo of the cucumber miso soup you showed him."

“That guy, Adai… I’ll have someone drag him over and question him right away.”

Aoyama Yukiko didn't know what problems a leaked photo of a dish would cause, but he didn't want to cause trouble for his son because of his or his subordinates' carelessness.

His chef is named Miyazaki Hideyo. In her youth, she worked as a host at a nightclub under the protection of the Tojo Clan. Because she liked to trick people in board games, she was disfigured by a knife from Hei Dao. She then inherited the family business and became a chef. Now she works as a private chef for a group of people, including Aoyama Yuki and Dojima Daigo.

Aoyama never liked this man's cooking. A former gigolo—who knows what his fingers have been picking at… Ugh…

"Forget it, there's no need for that... Adai was probably placed there by the Metropolitan Police Department's Special Unit. After all, our family has that kind of history, so it's understandable that they would try to infiltrate and supervise us. Besides, this matter isn't necessarily entirely Adai's fault. The people who buy and transport the ingredients and clean the kitchen are all suspects. Dad, keep an eye on them and gradually replace them."

The Aoyama family had a distinguished past. During the reign of Tokugawa Ieyoshi, the 5th Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate, a member of the family served as a Kanto County Magistrate (equivalent to a prefectural governor). After all, the Aoyama family was a hereditary noble family of the Edo Shogunate. Of course, compared to Aoyama Tadanari, who was number one in the fifth volume of Taiko Risshiden, they were considered a minor family. However, they were still a background that the gentlemen of Chiyoda-cho could accept.

When my grandfather was young, he committed a crime and was expelled from his home. He made a living by singing opera (called Noh in Japan) for some disgraced Manchu people next door. Later, he died under mysterious circumstances. When it came to Aoyama Yukio's generation, Aoyama Yukio had to earn money to support his son and also wanted to find his father's killer. That's how he became a member of the Tojo Clan, which can be considered as a complete fall from social class.

However, twelve years ago, after Aoyama Muto was admitted to Princeton University, the Aoyama family invited him and his father back. As Aoyama Muto's status rose rapidly, Aoyama Yuki's status in the Aoyama family also rose accordingly. After the previous head of the family suffered a stroke and was hospitalized, Aoyama Yuki naturally became the head of the Aoyama family.

However, a high social status now does not mean that past experiences no longer exist, so the Metropolitan Police Department's Special Division still needs to place its own personnel there.

Incidentally, when Aoyama Mukai wiped out the Tojo Clan, he swept away all the documents related to Aoyama Yukio, so no one can find any substantial evidence that Aoyama Mukai has any connection with the underworld.

In short, Aoyama Yuki knew that he had caused trouble for his son due to his carelessness, and he felt quite embarrassed. So, after finishing their business, he asked about his son's recent life, as if trying to ease the awkwardness.

“Ah Xiang, your Uncle Jiang told me before that you’ve been doing a lot of things you love to do lately, and you’re very happy.”

"Ah."

Although Suzumiya Takumi is Aoyama Yukio

He was a trusted confidant, but also absolutely loyal to Aoyama Yukito, so he didn't tell Aoyama Yukito about his involvement in the band. He simply used a reassuring excuse that would put Aoyama Yukito, as a father, at ease.

However, Aoyama Yuki, who became the chairman of Higashiyama Holdings Group, was no fool. He could guess what Aoyama Muto was doing. There was still some tacit understanding between father and son.

"So, how is your mental state...?"

Aoyama Yuki asked again.

Aoyama knew what Aoyama Yuki wanted to ask.

When he first transmigrated, the two souls in his body didn't merge well, and his perception of the outside world was very chaotic. Later, with the help of Ichiji Hoshika, the two souls resonated through music, and he gradually returned to normal.

During those years, Aoyama Yuki was busy fighting and killing, and had no idea about Aoyama Kou's mental state. Later, he vaguely learned the general idea and knew that Aoyama Kou had "cured" himself by playing in a band. Now that he saw him playing in a band again, he was a little worried that his old problems had relapsed and that he was trying to save himself by playing in a band again.

"I'm fine."

This was, of course, the only answer Aoyama could give.

After fifteen years of immersion in music, his two souls have long since merged into one, inseparable. One soul possesses musical genius, focus, and insight, while the other has extensive knowledge and the memories of a time traveler. The strengths of both sides have combined to form the outstanding and powerful personality he is today.

……

After the call ended, the car sent by Suzumiya Hyakubi arrived. Aoyama returned to his personal office in Roppongi, worked for a while under the supervision of his personal assistant and physician, and then went to bed.

The next morning, as Aoyama was eating, reading documents, and listening to the morning program, he discovered that some people were already trying to capitalize on the popularity of cucumber miso soup.

The morning news crew filmed actress Minami Mori at her home, showing her preparing a nutritious and delicious breakfast for her daughter.

"While being a famous actress, I will not neglect my responsibilities as an excellent mother."

On the television screen, Minami Nami smiled radiantly.

Aoyama found this quite funny. Which of these famous actors doesn't have a chef at home? Yet they're acting as if they cook every day.

Well, pursuing entertainment value is understandable.

"Today's nutritious breakfast is salt-baked tilefish, shrimp and perilla salad, and cucumber and tofu miso soup."

"The cucumber in the miso soup is freshly picked from Shizuoka Prefecture and delivered within three hours. It's incredibly delicious..."

"As a loving mother, I use only the best ingredients to prepare food for Xiaomu. I would never dare to use ingredients of unknown origin; I would throw them away if I saw them at home."

After Senmina finished speaking, the camera turned to Xiaomu's face.

The girl stared at the miso soup in front of her, her eyes somewhat unfocused.

……

Dear readers, please vote for me these next few days so my total number of votes can exceed 1,000!

Isogachi Music Awards: Episode 041 - It's time for the Metropolitan Police Department to get busy!

"Tsk."

Watching Minami Mori's performance on the screen, Aoyama couldn't help but let out a soft hum.

"First-rate actors are Capitol Hill, second-rate actors are UFC, and third-rate actors are Hollywood." This saying applies not only to Milley but to most democratic countries. When politicians are putting on a show, there's no director yelling "cut," and their audience won't sit quietly and watch their performance, nor will they be pelted with boots.

In conclusion, this famous actor's acting skills are solid, but his understanding of the art of acting is too limited.

If she said, "The miso soup is made with cucumbers that Mutsu grew herself. She is in charge of taking care of the garden at school. Everyone else grows flowers, but she likes to grow cucumbers because I like cucumbers," and then acted out a touching mother-daughter scene with Mutsu, it would probably help her build a good mother image—even if the cucumbers were directly supplied from an organic farm in the suburbs and never passed through Mutsu's hands, or if Mori Minami herself doesn't like cucumbers at all.

But there's nothing that can be done about it. Actors can usually only perform according to the script given to them by the director. It's too much to ask them to capture the emotions on the spot like outstanding politicians and to do high-level improvisation.

Perhaps because Aoyama had glanced at Minami Mori on screen a few more times, even stopping his meal, his personal assistant, who was waiting for instructions, suddenly stepped forward as if understanding, and bowed to ask Aoyama's questioning gaze:

"Your Excellency, should we contact Minami Mori's agency?"

"?"

Why do you ask so suddenly?

Aoyama looked at him with surprise.

The assistant realized what was happening, a hint of panic flashing across her face.

"I apologize, Your Excellency, I misspoke."

Their job is to make Aoyama's work and life comfortable, but sometimes they tend to go too far, leading to farcical situations like, "I just complimented the appearance of the morning exercise program host in the morning, and that host showed up in my room that evening."

It's pretty outrageous anyway.

Building a strong team is a long and arduous task.

Aoyama gave this assistant a slightly below-average score in his mind, then waved for him to leave and replaced him with another assistant.

In Aoyama's personal office, there are usually five personal assistants on duty during the day and three at night. They are generally handsome men and beautiful women who graduated from prestigious universities, and of course, there are also middle-aged people with extremely strong work ability and extensive connections.

For example, the Nakamoto Itsuki who replaced that hothead had previously served as the deputy editor-in-chief of Bungei Natsufumi magazine, one of the five major literary magazines in Japan. Because he chose the wrong side in the power struggle at the top, he was directly exiled from the Tokyo headquarters to the countryside in Yamanashi Prefecture.

Fortunately, Nakamoto Itsuki was friends with Iwasaki Taketa, the head of the economic reporting section of the Asazuki Shimbun, and Iwasaki Taketa was an important writer for Aoyama Mukoto's faction. So he recommended Nakamoto Itsuki to Aoyama Mukoto's personal agency. This way, Nakamoto Itsuki could continue to stay in the bustling city of Tokyo, with a salary no lower than when he was the deputy editor-in-chief, and even closer to the center of power... except that there was not much room for promotion.

Besides handling his daily work, another responsibility of Nakamoto Itsuki was to help Aoyama develop connections with writers.

In Japan, serious literary writers hold a very high status and have long been regarded as "national teachers."

For example, Aoyama's predecessor, a certain die-hard right-wing idiot Ishihara Taro, was a so-called great writer. With this background, he amassed political capital and not only established his own party, but also served four consecutive terms as the Governor of Tokyo.

Strictly speaking, Ishihara's status as a great writer was not the decisive factor in his election. In that era, the zaibatsu needed a die-hard right-wing figure like him to help them solidify their class barriers.

In contrast, in recent years, the way the US has been behaving in Japan has been so ugly. The once powerful chaebols have been driven to desperation. If they don't elect a capable and hardworking governor of Tokyo soon, they might end up like the chaebols in South Korea, nominally chaebols, but after a year of hard work, they end up giving 90% of their money to their American "daddy."

After Nakamoto Itsuki came in, Aoyama first asked him about the writer's appointment for this week, and then asked him to turn on the PAD for a video conference with Utsunomiya Takuya.

Good morning, Zhi

"Your Excellency, did you sleep well last night?"

Takuya Utsunomiya was already sitting in his office, dressed neatly. As a secretary, no matter how high his rank, he couldn't be as free as a real person in power.

Of course, the prime minister is not included in this category... As the top official, the prime minister needs to sit in an office.

However, the Prime Minister's Office (Prime Minister's Official Residence) is only one street away from the Prime Minister's Residence (home), so there is not much difference between staying in the office and staying at home.

However, the Prime Minister cannot live in four houses like Aoyama Mukodo. He usually has to stay in the official residence or government residence. After all, he is under strict protection. The Prime Minister's official residence and government residence are equipped with strong security facilities and underground bunkers, which can effectively deal with the highest level of sudden attacks and terrorist activities. If the Prime Minister goes back to his own house for a couple of days when he has nothing to do, what if the General of Japan next door decides to carry out a special military operation on a whim, or incites Koreans in Japan to launch a terrorist attack and directly "decapitate" Japan? Then he would be finished.

"Not bad. How about Secretary Utsunomiya?"

"Sigh, youth is wonderful. I'm suffering from insomnia... and there's also my wife and her wicked daughter. Every single thing is a worry."

Takuya Utsunomiya sighed, a hint of weariness in his eyes.

"It must be tough, but let's stop complaining here. I'm contacting you because I have something important to tell you."