Tokyo Three Generations

This question made Nagasaki Motoyo suddenly realize something.

Actually, the young lady was a little concerned, but she couldn't say it outright, so she could only ask in this roundabout way.

Of course, she wouldn't tell the truth. She simply responded with a smile, "We're quite close... My mother did a lot for Councilor Takasaki before, and she was only spared this time because of your help."

Although it's not a lie, it's quite different from the truth.

But Toyokawa Shoko was unaware of the inside story. She simply blinked slightly and quickly regained her composure.

"I see... no wonder."

After she finished speaking, she took a closer look at Nagasaki Motoyo.

"Nagasaki-san is really cute, so it's only natural that she's valued..." Suddenly, she sighed. "From now on, let's become friends!"

"Huh?" Nagasaki Motoyo was a little confused.

Toyokawa Shoko stopped and then solemnly explained to Nagasaki Motoyo.

"To be honest, I was a little reluctant to be asked to take care of you all of a sudden. But wouldn't it be despicable to get angry or take it out on others just because you don't get what you want? It's not your fault who you're friends with. Rather, Nagasaki-kun must have some special qualities to be considered a friend by Jun... So, I think it's good to have another friend like that."

At this point, she laughed again, "Of course, I'm not without a bit of competitiveness, but I'm not the kind of person who would bully others by virtue of my power, and I certainly won't consider myself your benefactor just because I helped you... Rather than all that, I prefer to present myself honestly and uprightly. From now on, let's get along well as classmates and friends!"

26, Seeking help again

With the help of Toyokawa Shoko, Nagasaki Motoyo successfully completed the leave of absence procedures and returned to school life.

However, the "Black Island Incident" has already brought about earth-shattering changes in her life, and it is not yet completely over.

At this moment, in the Special Investigation Department of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, there is another prosecutor who is working tirelessly on this matter.

After receiving news of Kazuo Kuroshima's death, the forensic pathologist routinely examined the scene and concluded that the deceased had indeed committed suicide, and the suicide note was in his own handwriting, making it a clear case of suicide.

Although everyone knows that Kazuo Kuroshima did not commit suicide out of fear of punishment, but was forced to take his own life under pressure from certain behind-the-scenes figures, the facts cannot be changed.

Everyone on the investigation team, including Hideki Saito himself, knew that the case was coming to an end.

The dead are merely tools. As long as those behind the scenes remain unaffected, nothing will change; it's just a matter of changing the tools.

Nothing will change, but it's enough to "get by".

Judging from the current "performance", Hideki Saito has arrested several people and frozen and recovered a lot of illicit funds. Even if he were to be directly brought to court for prosecution in the current state, Hideki Saito would have already completed the department's task, and could at least be considered "neither merit nor demerit".

However, he personally did not feel satisfied.

Those arrested so far are all small fry and cannot reveal enough inside information. Before committing suicide, Kazuo Kuroshima deliberately destroyed a large amount of data and evidence.

In other words, his investigation has almost come to a standstill, and it is difficult to uncover any further clues.

Moreover, he also found it difficult to get more support from within the organization.

From the very beginning, he keenly sensed a resistance behind him, and this resistance became even clearer after Kazuo Kuroshima's suicide. His superior, the chief prosecutor, even hinted to him in person that he hoped the case would be closed as soon as possible so that he could focus his energy on other cases.

Is this the end of the story?

This was not the first time Saito Hideki had encountered a similar situation. He understood that no matter how "powerful" he appeared on the outside, he was still a small and powerless existence in the face of the organization, merely an insignificant cog in the national machine.

Even knowing this, he still hoped to do his best to uncover more criminal facts before the final moment arrived.

Even if we can't eliminate the conspiracy, we can at least inflict some more harm and deterrence on them.

With this in mind, he continued his efforts to investigate information about the Kuroshima Office, until one day he received news that Nagasaki Chizuru, an important executive of the Kuroshima Office, had returned to Tsukimori Academy after a short leave of absence.

Upon receiving the message, he almost immediately hung up his fieldwork, left the office, and went alone to Tsukimori Academy, intending to question the girl thoroughly.

However, he also knew that Tsukimori was a prestigious girls' school with many young ladies from high society, and even as a prosecutor, he couldn't act recklessly.

Moreover, Nagasaki Motoyo is not a suspect, and he cannot even apply for a search warrant. He can only question a witness to obtain evidence, which does not have legal force.

So, after driving to the school gate, he found the security guard, showed his identification and purpose, and then asked the school to let him speak with Nagasaki Motoyo alone.

============================

Soon, Nagasaki Motoyo learned from her homeroom teacher that a prosecutor was outside requesting to see her.

Although I was mentally prepared, my heart was still filled with turmoil.

She had made up her mind that she must not reveal her mother's whereabouts, and even less betray the Takasaki family.

However, she also knew that she was inexperienced and had no experience dealing with prosecutors, and she was instinctively afraid of the state apparatus. She was not confident that she could remain completely undetected in front of the prosecutors.

Fortunately, she is not alone now, but has someone to ask for help.

Because she had this in mind, she didn't go to the school's visitor reception room immediately, but instead took out her phone without hesitation.

She first found Jun Takasaki's number and left a message. "A prosecutor is looking for me now, but I will keep it a secret and explain in detail to you later."

After leaving her message, she took advantage of the break between classes to walk towards Toyokawa Shoko's classroom.

When Nagasaki Motoyo came to see Toyokawa Shoko for the second time, the atmosphere was no longer as awkward as the last time, but she still felt a little guilty.

If someone has helped you once, asking for help again now seems a bit shameless, doesn't it?

However, now was not the time to be concerned about saving face, so she could only keep her shame to herself and then approach Miss Toyokawa.

"Toyokawa-kun, I'm so sorry to bother you again. I... I have something very important to ask you, could you please help me?"

Toyokawa Shoko was somewhat surprised, but seeing Nagasaki Motoyo's serious expression, she did not refuse and nodded gently.

"Okay, let's go outside and talk."

Under the curious gazes of others, the two walked out of the classroom together and came to the deserted staircase next to them.

"Is there anything I can help you with, Nagasaki-san?" Toyokawa Shoko asked gently.

“Now, a prosecutor wants to see me. If I’m not mistaken, he wants to ask me about my mother.” Nagasaki Motoyo said the words she had already prepared. “But, for my mother’s sake, I can’t reveal anything, so… so I hope you can lend a hand, at least help me get through this difficult time.”

As she spoke, Toyokawa Shoko quietly observed her.

"If the prosecutor is involved, then it must be a very serious situation... Nagasaki-san, although I don't know the details, based on what you said before, your mother is facing great difficulties. Perhaps seeking help from the government in this situation wouldn't be a bad choice?"

If she were to ask the government for help, that would be the death of her… Nagasaki Motoyo became even more anxious.

“No, this is the only thing I absolutely cannot do…” She shook her head fiercely, “I must protect Mom.”

From Nagasaki Motoyo's resistant attitude and hesitant words, Toyokawa Shoko finally understood.

Nagasaki Motoyo's mother must have done something illegal, and her daughter is trying to protect her.

But why is Chun also trying so hard to cover it up for her?

That means their whole family did it too.

Although Toyokawa Shoko was inexperienced in the ways of the world, with her intelligence, she could easily understand such a simple logical deduction.

No wonder he asked me to help take care of her...

That makes sense...

"Is it related to Jun's family too?" After a moment of silence, Toyokawa Shoko asked.

This question left Nagasaki Motoyo unsure how to answer. She didn't want to lie to Toyokawa Shoko, but she also didn't want to tell the truth, so she closed her eyes and responded with silence.

"So that means you were an accomplice?" Toyokawa Shoko pressed.

That doesn't seem to make a problem... Nagasaki Motoyo thought to herself. So she kept her eyes closed and didn't answer.

“I see…” Toyokawa Shoko nodded gently. “Then I won’t press you further. I understand; you must have had many difficulties. Nagasaki-san, you yourself weren’t involved, were you?”

Nagasaki Motoyo quickly shook her head.

"Then I'm relieved." After a moment of silence, Toyokawa Shoko's tone suddenly became lighter. "Nagasaki-san, don't worry, I won't let them do anything to you."

Nagasaki Motoyo looked up and noticed that the young lady Toyokawa in front of her suddenly seemed to have gained a lot of confidence and charisma.

She had never seen such a dignified demeanor on any of her other classmates.

Of course, she had no idea what Toyokawa Shoko had gone through not long ago—for someone who had just led a "family coup," the current situation was indeed just a minor skirmish.

"Use your class as an excuse to stall for time. I'll bring over one of my family's private lawyers. She can handle the prosecutor. Just listen to her no matter what."

Then she continued to explain, "Well, she was a lawyer we trusted very much, and also a good friend of my mother's. I've always thought of her as an aunt..."

=============================

Saito Hideki, who had been waiting in the reception room, gradually became anxious. He urged them several times, but the staff brushed him off each time with the excuse that "that student is still in class."

After all, it was a prestigious academy for young ladies from wealthy families, so he didn't dare to be too forceful and could only hold his breath and sit on the sofa waiting.

Fortunately, the long wait has finally come to an end.

The door opened, and a girl in a school uniform walked in slowly.

Wait, there's more than one?

Saito Hideki looked up and noticed that there was another person following behind the girl.

This is a middle-aged woman around 40 years old. She has regular features and looks like she takes good care of herself, so her fair face only has a few crow's feet. She is wearing a black business suit and pencil skirt, as well as a white lace shirt. Her hair is styled in a bun, making her look very capable.

Of course, that's not important. What's important is that she has the Libra Sunflower Badge of the Japan Bar Association pinned to her neckline.

This is bad.

Saito Hideki's heart sank suddenly.

He didn't expect that Nagasaki Motoyo would take advantage of this time to "call for help" and summon his lawyer.

However, he couldn't say anything, since it was someone else's legal right.

There was no other way but to try and gather as much information as possible, whenever possible.

So he could only force a smile and ask the girl, "Excuse me, are you Ms. Nagasaki Motoyo?"

Nagasaki Motoyo bowed slightly and then replied, "Yes, that's me. May I ask, Prosecutor, what can I do for you?"

"I'd like to ask you about your mother. Where is she now?" Saito Hideki asked directly.

“I don’t know.” Nagasaki Motoyo immediately frowned and answered expressionlessly.

"You really don't know?" Saito Hideki's expression also turned serious. "According to the surveillance footage we found in the apartment building where you and your mother lived, you left home together that day. You hurriedly boarded the subway and then headed to Itabashi Ward together..."

Despite being mentally prepared, Nagasaki Motoyo still found herself struggling to cope with the prosecutor's questioning.

But she still mustered her willpower and answered firmly.

"Sorry, I don't know."

Hideki Saito kept a close eye on Motoyo Nagasaki's reaction. He didn't care how she answered; he only needed to observe her subtle changes in expression and movement. "How did you leave the safe house you were hiding in? Who took you away?"

The unexpected problem caused Nagasaki Motoyo's breathing to become increasingly rapid. If she hadn't recently developed a strong mental fortitude under immense pressure, she probably would have lost her composure by now.

Fortunately, she had help.

“Prosecutor, you can’t keep ignoring me.”

A casual remark from the side suddenly interrupted the invisible pressure Saito Hideki felt.

Her voice was gentle and intellectual, yet it also held a sharp edge.

Hideki Saito, who was interrupted, glared at the lawyer, but the female lawyer was completely unaware.

She stood silently between the two people, as if protecting Nagasaki Motoyo behind her.

"Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Shirasawa Tsubaki, and I am a practicing lawyer." With a formulaic smile, she said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Currently, I am Ms. Nagasaki's representative."

Saito Hideki was very unhappy about being interrupted during his interrogation, but he couldn't say anything, since it was a right guaranteed by law.

"I just wanted to ask her a few questions."

"Then do you have a search warrant or an arrest warrant?" Bai Zechun replied.

"...This is just a routine investigation and questioning, not an interrogation. These formalities are unnecessary." Faced with the other party's subtle gaze, Saito Hideki could only reply.

"In other words, you only want to question Ms. Nagasaki as a witness." Tsubaki Shirasawa still smiled. "Then you should know that she has the right to remain silent. If you continue to use the same leading questioning approach as before, we can file a complaint against you for improper interrogation. Please be careful."

27, Collapsed Justice

"If you continue to use the same approach to lead and question us, we can file a complaint against you for improper interrogation. Please be very careful."

Faced with the other party's words, which were both soft and firm, Saito Hideki couldn't help but frown again.

Based on his experience as a prosecutor over the past few years, he could tell that this lawyer was definitely not someone to mess with, and was rather difficult to deal with.

Nagasaki Chizuru's assets have been frozen. Can she really afford a lawyer of that caliber? He couldn't help but wonder.