Chapter 70 - Light and Shadow 49 {Combined 56/57} (238-240, 241-243 Takagaki's Investigation Cooperation Part 1)
"However, the event that finally made me resolve to quit the Tozai Shinbun happened consecutively the following year. This is, hmm... it might not be easily believed... Well, if you don't believe it, you don't have to, but in 1978, a criticality accident actually occurred at Kanto Electric Power's Futaba Power Plant!"
"A criticality accident?"
Naturally, it was a term not well understood without knowledge related to nuclear energy. Takeshita had heard of it, but he didn't have a solid understanding of the content.
"A criticality accident is, simply put, when a chain reaction of nuclear fission occurs outside of a nuclear reactor or a proper facility. Since it generates 'neutrons,' the most dangerous type of radiation, it's an extremely dangerous situation. That was happening secretly back then."
"I've never heard of the existence of such an accident until now?"
Takeshita showed a natural reaction.
"Especially in Japan, which has a nuclear allergy, nuclear power plants continue to be built based on an unfounded 'safety myth.' Needless to say, if such a dangerous thing were happening, it wouldn't be socially permitted. Naturally, it wasn't made public."
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On March 22, 2007, a shocking fact was made public. Nearly 30 years prior, in 1978, what is thought to be Japan's first criticality accident had occurred at Tokyo Electric Power's Fukushima Daiichi NPS Unit 3. Because a control rod inside the reactor had slipped out, criticality had occurred for nearly seven hours while out of control. At the time, it wasn't reported because there was no obligation to report to the government, but it's said the information wasn't even shared with people inside the nuclear plant. It was an accident that can be called evidence that Fuku-ichi and Tokyo Electric Power already had 'that' kind of disposition long before the meltdown caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. Reference: http://www.asyura2.com/07/genpatu4/msg/133.html
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"I see... So how were you involved with that accident, Takagaki-san?"
Takeshita sought more information.
"I told you at Charmant the other day, but I'm from a rural part of Fukushima, specifically a place called Haramachi City (now the Haramachi district of Minamisoma City). Both my old man and old lady were born in the coastal region of Fukushima, what locals call 'Hamadori,' so the majority of my relatives live around there... Among them, I had a cousin who worked at Kanto Electric Power's Futaba plant, which is also in Hamadori. He's like an older brother figure about ten years older than me. In April 1978, I got a 'tip-off' from that cousin, who said, 'A terrible accident happened, but no information is coming out in the media at all,' to me, who was a newspaper reporter. Since it was information from a relative who knew the inner workings, needless to say, the degree of certainty was high. Naturally, I negotiated with the City News Desk to make it a scoop. However, just as the Desk was about to make it an article, pressure was applied from the upper management. In the end, it never became an article."
The expression on Takagaki's face as he said that again took on the appearance of a Shura. It must have been the state of mind where his "bowels were boiling" (T/N: idiom for extreme rage).
"Why was the scoop crushed?"
At Yoshimura's question, Takagaki now wore an expression of regret and said,
"You might not know, but the founder of the Tozai Shinbun was a man named Shoda Umetarou, who was a high-ranking bureaucrat before the war. He established the Tozai Shinbun Company after quitting as a bureaucrat due to a scandal before the war. I learned various things after quitting about how it was actually a quite suspicious newspaper company from the point of its establishment, but well, that doesn't matter. So. This Shoda was also a person who was quite involved in the spread and promotion of post-war nuclear power generation in Japan along with the Minyu Party. You know the Tozai Shinbun is leaning toward the ruling Minyu Party, but on top of that, negative information regarding nuclear power was a matter you 'mustn't defy'... In the end, I was told by the City News Manager, 'It's a shame, but we can't put this out,' and it was erased without ever seeing the light of day. My cousin was also forced to leave Kanto Electric Power after some faults were found with him, but most likely the fact that he gave me information leaked from the Tozai Shinbun to the Minyu Party, and then to Kanto Electric Power... I did a bad thing to my cousin. Fortunately, he seems to have been leading a fulfilling life at his new job, but at the time I couldn't face him..." he recounted.
"Did that directly trigger your resignation..."
"Exactly, Takeshita-san! I finally got fed up with being a servant. In a world where reporting is twisted by interests... After resigning, my first and foremost thought was to somehow bring that story to the public stage, but I ended up realizing the sheer power of a large corporation like Kanto Electric Power. After all, every publisher is afraid of defying Kanto Electric Power. Since Kanto Electric Power, which pours a massive amount of 'funds' into publishing and media relations, is a valued customer, they don't want to lose that. I was told I could put an article in a monthly underground magazine called 'Dangerous Truth,' which is somewhat famous and you might have heard of, but since it mostly contains content close to gossip magazines, I didn't think it was good to have the credibility drop by being mixed in with those. In the end, to this day, this story hasn't leaked out to the world at all."
Takagaki had become relatively matter-of-fact in his tone here, but his face full of anger remained the same.
"So there was such a background to you becoming a free journalist, Takagaki-san... This might be rude to say, but is it that such a grudge has been driving you and produced those numerous books?"
At Takeshita's impression,
"Umu... I don't want to admit it, but I might not be able to deny that aspect..."
He now wore a slightly sad expression.
"Your story is very heavy, Takagaki-san. However, there's no direct connection between those events and this case, is there? It's just that the Tozai Shinbun is easily influenced by various external pressures."
Nishida said that to Takagaki once the talk had reached a break, but it seemed to sound like a frivolous impression to the other man.
"Don't you understand yet!? Even though that happened nearly 20 years ago, Okinawa is still plagued by base issues and the Status of Forces Agreement! For the two months since the assault incident occurred, I've completely stopped knowing what I've been involved in this work for all these long years... And what is this farce you guys just played out in front of me!? It should be a major incident that affects society, but from what I've heard, it's about to be crushed by police power and political power, isn't it? And on top of that, you say those bastards at the Tozai Shinbun are involved as usual! I've never once wanted to cooperate for the sake of the police's face! The reason I came all the way to Kitami wasn't just for the title of cooperating with the police, but because I thought I could be useful in uncovering the truth, satisfy my own curiosity, and take back my own 'failure'! And then what's this mess! Having to see you guys show such a 'wimpy' attitude in front of me! Having come this far, in order to find meaning in the life I've led as a mere scrap of a journalist, I consider it most important to break through this situation, whether I side with the police or whatever, rather than being anxious about maintaining a trivial 'anti-authority' policy! Do you understand? My current feelings!"
The sheer intensity was so great that the four detectives were reflexively overwhelmed and recoiled. Even for detectives who face violent criminals, Takagaki's "menace" at this time was something they had, in a sense, never experienced. They had felt an indescribable sense of intimidation or greatness from Motohashi, but Takagaki's "passion" dynamically far surpassed that. Conversely, without this level of fierce temperament, one likely couldn't survive in that industry as a lone wolf. Regardless of whether his political stance as a person matched theirs as police officers, it was a force that made them want to ask themselves if they could take such a "posture" of pursuing the truth to this extent.
"Your spirit has certainly been conveyed, Takagaki-san. However, even if it's to scout the movements of the Tozai Shinbun, providing investigation information is undoubtedly too high a hurdle for us."
Nishida made an excuse.
"Since I've been in this industry for a long time, including my time as a reporter, I've built personal connections not just with the Tozai Shinbun, but in all directions. I'm sorry to say, but the probability of me getting information on the inner workings around politics, the bureaucracy, and their periphery is on a different level from you local police officers. For gathering information on this entanglement of politics, the National Police Agency, and the Tozai Shinbun, I would be far more suitable. However, without knowing the background of the case, it's hard to guess where else to investigate besides the Tozai. My acquaintances at the Tozai probably don't know everything either, and there will be things that are hard to say."
"I see... However, as I said, from our perspective, it's no exaggeration to say you're in an adversarial position, Takagaki-san. Showing our hand is quite dangerous."
Nishida did not abandon his cautious stance.
"You know the phrase 'enemies in the same boat' (T/N: Gouetsu Doushuu) from Sun Tzu, right?"
"Of course I know it."
Nishida felt bad as if he were being mocked, but he endured it and answered so.
"It means that for one important matter, even enemies cooperate. In other words, it's the same as 'discarding small differences to join in a great cause.' For this matter, any decent person should realize that the question is what constitutes the great cause and what constitutes the small differences, shouldn't they?"
Turning from his emotion-filled words and actions, his tone was now calm, but the detectives felt the degree of provocation had rather increased.
"I can understand what you're saying, but our positions are different! We are an organization, you are an individual! If people within an organization start moving on their own, things will become uncontrollable. Unfortunately, we aren't in a position where we can move based on individual intentions!"
Nishida tried to counter-argue testily, but Takagaki provoked him further.
"Then let me ask! What is the purpose of the police organization? Is it merely the maintenance of the power structure? No, no, I asked a boorish thing. Indeed, the police are fine as long as they can maintain the power structure. I forgot you're dogs of the organization. My bad!"
He sneered.
"The maintenance of public order and ensuring the safety of the citizens is our purpose!"
Nishida flared up at that.
"I can't think so! You just said the logic of the organization is important. The reality is that the logic of the organization often goes against justice. Which one is your true feeling? And where does justice lie this time?"
Nishida was at a loss for an answer. To be honest, he had a faint inkling it would come to this, but he couldn't help but let out a stopgap emotional argument against Takagaki's persistent "sound argument." Takagaki didn't change his expression while watching this, but he didn't pursue it further either. It was likely because he was simply confident in the "victory" of his side logically. The logic of a lone wolf and the logic of an organization clashed in the small space of the meeting room, and a heavy atmosphere dominated.
However, the one who first cut through that atmosphere was, as expected, Takeshita.
"Team Leader, I say this, but I think you know that if I had to say, I'm the type on Takagaki-san's side..."
"Yeah, I know!"
Nishida responded unpleasantly.
"What do you think? How about we just say I personally joined Takagaki-san's side?"
He didn't change his expression, but he couldn't have failed to understand that it was a quite dangerous statement.
"Takeshita, are you sane?"
"Of course. I'll take the responsibility myself. ...No, that said, it'll be unavoidable that the responsibility will extend to my superior, the Team Leader... I'm sorry about that, though."
Since he made a truly apologetic face, it likely wasn't just lip service, but it was also a declaration of intent that he would see it through even if it meant involving people other than himself. While calm and collected, his boldness was as usual. No, for Nishida, it could be rephrased as being outrageous.
"If 'I'm sorry' was enough, we wouldn't need the police! If it only ended with you taking responsibility, I'd let you do as you like, but setting me aside, it could end up involving Section Chief Sawai, Station Chief Makita, and even Kitami (Regional HQ) or HQ (Prefectural Police HQ)! There's a limit to being selfish..."
He spoke dismissively with a self-deprecating joke as if giving up, but at the same time, since Takeshita had gone this far, he also had the conviction that changing his mind would likely be impossible.
"I'm sorry. But it can't be helped!"
He apologized, but this time Takeshita's face was different from the previous apology; it was the face of someone who had made up his mind. Even the light in his eyes was different. Nishida overlapped Takeshita's figure with a boxer on the verge of a technical knockout who had regained his spirit and taken a fighting pose.
At the same time, Nishida began to hesitate here. Either way, the fact remained that Takeshita's actions would fall on him as sparks if anything happened. If that were the case, he felt there wasn't much difference between being punished while submitting to the logic of the organization or being punished after breaking it, though the degree of punishment might vary.
As a practical matter, if it came to that, even if he pretended not to know, there was a high probability it would be impossible to remain in the police afterward. At nearly 50, he might be able to somehow resign himself to a "publicly" voluntary resignation as a result, but at his current age of under 40, since he still wanted to build a career in the police, it was undoubtedly a completely involuntary resignation.
On the other hand, in this series of investigations, he had resolved to cross a dangerous bridge several times before. Regardless of the degree, his feelings toward the investigation at those times were never lies.
Hypothetically, if he were made to take responsibility for the result of Takeshita's "recklessness" through "voluntary resignation" while claiming he "didn't know," then compared to being forcibly retired after going reckless for the sake of the investigation along with Takeshita—though there would be differences in retirement pay and subsequent re-employment—it could be said there was no essential difference in the point that it was a result Nishida did not want.
If so, then following his conviction of "for the sake of the investigation" to the end was also one conclusion that wasn't so wrong. It didn't take as much time as he himself was surprised by for Nishida's thinking, having gotten on such a "path" of thought, to change 180 degrees from before.
"I can't possibly be satisfied, but I've understood your resolve too... If it's found out, whether I go along with it or not, I'm going to be involved either way, so I might as well! It's hell if I move forward, hell if I retreat... Once we've come this far, you could say there isn't much difference in the result, to an infuriating degree... Fine! If it's come to this, I guess I have no choice but to board the ship with you and run wild!"
Hearing that sudden change of heart, Takagaki said,
"What on earth happened? Changing your attitude so suddenly? No, but the reason doesn't matter! That's more like it! But I still don't understand why you suddenly changed your attitude."
He smiled and asked with interest, despite having just denied needing to hear the reason for Nishida's change of heart.
"It's just the story that it's the same either way regarding not being able to stay in the police! Whether I get kicked out directly or take a form where I leave of my own will publicly... Setting aside the retirement pay, in terms of whether I fulfill my duty or not, that's the extent of the difference. If I'm going to be involved against my will, then isn't it an option to dare to follow my will and get involved myself... It's just a story of having reached that thought just now."
To Nishida's crisp answer,
"To end up causing trouble for someone with a family..."
Takeshita had returned to a truly apologetic expression again.
"I'm sorry to interrupt while you're getting fired up, but even if it's fine for you two, what are we supposed to do? It's a problem if we're just left out."
Yoshimura, who had been listening silently the whole time, cut in with an obviously dissatisfied tone.
"You guys are fine! You don't hold any official positions. It shouldn't become a big deal. You didn't know about our side of things—that'll be enough."
Nishida said so, but as expected, they naturally looked anxious.
"To be honest, my true feeling is that I don't want to get involved in trouble, but it also grates on me to have the case left in limbo like this. I don't know what it is, but it's certain that no matter which way we go, nothing good will come of it. What a load of crap!"
Kurosu was irritated by the irrational development. Even as subordinates, there was no doubt it was a thorny path for both.
"However, if your feelings have switched that much, then there's that."
Takagaki spoke without reading the room.
"What is it?"
Takeshita confirmed.
"You two are going to cooperate with me, right? If you're going to say that much, could you tell me the full picture of this case, not just an overview? From what I've heard, whether you do that or not, the result is the same in terms of disadvantage for a police officer, right?"
"...That's true, but..."
Nishida also had no way to directly deny it. The result would be the same whether they defied while leaking part of the information or defied while leaking all of it. If so, it might be smarter to disclose everything and think of countermeasures. However, while he had said "overview" until just now, now that it was "full picture," the opponent's demands were clearly escalating. No matter what is said, the "desires" of this kind of person are never-ending. It was obvious that the danger would increase if they responded to every single one.
"However, if we're to tell you everything, just doing it by word of mouth won't get through to you, Takagaki-san, will it? If that's the case, I think it'll be necessary to show you the investigation materials so far. But then, this time we'd have to show you the materials at the Engaru Station, and no matter how I think about it, I think we'd need Section Chief Sawai's permission. I don't think Section Chief Sawai would give permission, though?"
Regardless of where Takeshita's true intention lay, once it was said, the concern hit the mark even before the danger and such.
"As expected, that's impossible for various reasons."
Before Nishida could speak, Yoshimura announced the conclusion.
"Unfortunately, that's the reality."
He used Yoshimura's words, but Nishida had exactly the same thought. It was a problem before the increase in danger, nothing more and nothing less.
"I see, understood... I'll give up on that point for now..."
As expected, he didn't push for more impossible things, but Takagaki must have known that pushing would be meaningless if there was no feasibility.
"Well then, there are various things we have to do, but shall we completely finish up the article-related matters first... Let's leave the fine details for later."
Saying so, Nishida decided to have him give a statement about the state of Kuriyama and Tanabe when Takagaki interviewed them in Kitami.
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The essence of the problem was truly who Takagaki's interview subjects were, and since it was clear that most of the content of the interviews was false, the statement was finished without taking much time. What was truly important was the transmission of investigation information from here on.
They entered the task of conveying the investigation information of the incidents so far to Takagaki, but because the case was complex, explaining it only by mouth was something they could manage from the side that knew, but it was a different matter whether the side listening could understand it as is.
After having lunch once, around 2:00 PM, Nishida began to feel the need to return to the Investigation Headquarters soon. Takagaki, for his part, was in a state of being considerably surprised by the fact that the origin of the incident traced back to the pre-war era, and also felt anger that the shadow of politics extended behind Motohashi's crime, but as expected, there were parts where the reality didn't sink in with just a verbal explanation. Without the deed of Sada Toru or the handwritten letter explaining the situation, that was also unavoidable.
"Takagaki-san, you must be tired from listening to the story all this time, right? It's impossible to explain everything at once, so let's call it a day here and go back to the hotel to rest."
Nishida informed him while glancing at his wristwatch.
"I don't want to admit it, but that might actually be better... I want to organize things in my head a bit."
Takagaki didn't act tough either, but said,
"What I can likely cooperate with at this point is, after all, as I said at the beginning, investigating what kind of intervention there was in the National Police Agency and what kind of flow the Tozai Shinbun article came out in, and providing that to you guys. Regarding the old stories I just heard, nothing much comes to mind. As for the Aoi-ikka and the Hakozaki Faction, it seems you've already been properly lectured on information from the Osaka Prefectural Police's Organized Crime Department, so it's not my turn to step in."
He spoke about the role he should fulfill while standing up from the chair and making a gesture of stretching his back.
"Can you do it?"
"Don't make me say it over and over! Even if I'm a lone wolf, I have hidden sympathizers within the industry. I hold decent sources. There are plenty of people still at the Tozai Shinbun who have various feelings. Information comes in quite a bit from those people! More than that, hearing that big shots of the Minyu Party and our Shiino are involved again has gotten my fighting spirit up. Those guys are no good!"
Takeshita hadn't confirmed in a skeptical sense, but Takagaki spoke with confidence about the backing for those words and showed his anger again.
"We're counting on you as our last resort, so please."
When Nishida said that too,
"Since I've had you guys make up your minds, I intend to move with resolve on my end too... However, let me leave the investigation of what kind of instructions were given to Weekly FREE alone. Even without that, they're already suspicious because the serialization was stopped, and if there's any movement, there's a possibility it'll be conveyed to the dangerous side that we've completely noticed. Besides, the result is already almost clear, so there's no need to rush that side."
He spoke.
"Understood. I'll leave that point to you, and setting aside Takagaki-san, as the police, we don't need those fine details as you said, so it's fine. Well then, Takeshita and Kurosu, take him back to the hotel! We should get back to the Headquarters soon and report the results of the statement."
"No, no, it's not a great distance, I can go back to the hotel on my own feet!"
Takagaki was sullen (Author's Note: daring to use it incorrectly) at Nishida's talk, but when Takeshita said,
"We aren't formal members of the Investigation Headquarters, so we aren't busy; please let us take you," he reluctantly accepted.
Watching them go, Nishida nodded to Takagaki and left the small meeting room with Yoshimura.
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Returning to the Investigation Headquarters at the Kitami Station, he finished reporting orally to Otomo, Kurano, and Hiruma. However, setting aside the "misconduct" of requesting investigation cooperation after leaking information to Takagaki, he also lied about the point that Takagaki's statement itself had already been completed. That was because a reason was needed for Takagaki to stay in Kitami for a while.
"There's a possibility that the person from the construction industry might also be a yakuza, so I'm thinking of asking about that as well from now on, while I'm at it. Since the person who was posing as a yakuza associate was identified relatively quickly, we have some leeway in the schedule."
Nishida said so and didn't mention the story of Tanabe of the Souryuu-kai, who had posed as a construction associate, which had already been revealed by Takagaki's testimony. He remembered that when he spoke with Kurano on the phone earlier, he had said, 'As a result of the identification, he was found to be an executive member of the Souryuu-kai,' but hadn't said a word about 'both the yakuza associate and the construction associate being identified,' so he utilized that well.
"Ah, if there's time, you should have him do it! Well, if that ends up being in vain, I'll feel bad for you and that Takagaki fellow, but we just have to do what we can..."
Otomo was moving his mouth as if talking to himself rather than conveying it to Nishida. Depending on how you took it, he might have been suffering from the need to watch over the investigation below while worrying about those above.
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Having finished the report to the upper management, Nishida now headed toward Kosaka. He thought he would convey their internal "declaration of war" to Kosaka alone. Kosaka seemed quite busy as usual as the Team Leader in charge of the jurisdiction. However, he thought he likely hadn't heard yet from Otomo or Kurano about the "interference" in the investigation. He thought that Kurano and the others probably hadn't had time to talk to Kosaka, who was constantly commanding at the Investigation Headquarters. He timed it and spoke to him.
"Kosaka-san, did you hear about this morning's article from Kurano-san or Otomo-san?"
He tried a light probe.
"Yeah, I heard."
Since he admitted it so simply, Nishida was taken aback.
"Eh? You'd already heard?"
"Just now. During lunch."
In his tone, which contained no emotion, Nishida felt rather that his anger had reached its peak.
"What do you think?"
"A repeat of eight years ago. That's all."
With those words, it seemed he was already prepared for this investigation to end in limbo too.
"We have to make sure it doesn't turn out like that."
Kosaka stared intently at Nishida's face as he said that. And then,
"The Satchou is moving this time. It's not the HQ (Prefectural Police HQ)! It's the Satchou! The level is different! The opponent is serious. Unless there's evidence that 'that guy' is clearly involved... If the raid on Hamana was also blocked because of the article, then identifying the perpetrator Abe is the only clue, but can we even share the matter of the tape with the entire Investigation Headquarters from now on? After receiving such pressure?"
He asked Nishida while breathing heavily. No, rather than asking, it must have been a rhetorical meaning of "Can we? There's no way we can, right?" He was confirming after having already understood the conclusion to some extent.
"I know that. However, Takeshita intends to fight even if he gets disciplined. I'm not necessarily willing, but I've been involved too."
When he said that, Nishida reflexively gave a wry smile, but the face of Kosaka, who heard it, stiffened in contrast.
"Takeshita!? That guy is a daredevil after all..."
After saying that, he showed a bewildered attitude.
"You probably know, but it seems he was influenced by that free journalist person, Takagaki, whom we brought from Tokyo. It happened that he ended up hearing me and Kurano-san talking about 'the current story,' and he was furious."
"Furious?"
"Yes. Asking if the police being allowed to lose to such pressure is acceptable... I tried to argue back somehow, but well, it was exactly a 'forced argument,' and I was refuted in no time."
"So that's how it is... Well, if it's Takeshita, he would side with that..."
Kosaka made a face as if it were only to be expected, but from the perspective of the person who had pointed out that Takeshita might quit the police, it might be a perfectly natural turn of events.
"And so, that Takagaki person says he'll cooperate in investigating what happened regarding the pressure from the Tozai Shinbun and the Satchou. Setting aside the details, it's also true we have a general guess... And that became the final push for Takeshita's change of heart."
"Cooperation, huh... Can you really expect much from the level of a mere individual free journalist? He's someone outside of the major media."
"It seems free journalists have their own sources in their own way. I'm not an industry person, so I don't know."
"In the first place, you'd have to give him our investigation information too, wouldn't you?"
Kosaka had read through Takagaki's demands.
"Well, that's how it is..."
Nishida hesitated, but,
"Depending on the degree, is he trustworthy enough to stay silent even if you give it to him straight? It just doesn't seem trustworthy..."
Kosaka only tilted his head.
"It's too late. I've already spoken the majority of the series of incident information."
When he confessed that,
"Hah?"
Kosaka unintentionally let out a loud voice, resulting in the gazes of the other investigators at the Investigation Headquarters gathering on him at once. After confirming that the investigators' attention had dispersed, Nishida proposed,
"Let's step outside for a bit."
And they headed toward the break area.
"The die has already been cast. That's all."
He said softly while inserting coins into the vending machine in the break area. Kosaka didn't react to that at all, blinking his eyes rapidly. And then,
"What about Section Chief Sawai in Engaru?" he confirmed.
"Naturally, he doesn't know."
At Nishida's immediate answer while popping the pull-tab of a canned coffee,
"Absolute idiots..."
He cursed softly and clicked his tongue, but then the direction of the talk suddenly changed.
"Did you only speak the investigation information? Can he understand without seeing all the materials?"
"No, I haven't shown them. I know it would be better to show them if we're going to do this, but no matter how I think about it, we can't show them, can we, on our own discretion... Not without the Section Chief's approval... Even if it's part of it, taking everything out without the Section Chief's permission is just... Even if we're going to cause trouble, it's bad if we put him in a position where he's held more responsible, rather than taking a form where the Section Chief didn't know anything at all..."
Nishida made a gesture as if it were out of the question and took a sip of the coffee.
"It's impossible to explain with just word of mouth in that state, isn't it?"
"Well, the fine details... For now, he says he'll investigate the movements of the political world regarding this pressure."
"I don't think the result would have changed much even if you hadn't spoken about the investigation details so far for something like that, would it?"
"That's... He seemed to know about the story of the Hakozaki Faction and the Aoi-ikka that Oshima belongs to, but we'd already gotten information on that from the Prefectural Police, so it was meaningless."
At Nishida's statement, Kosaka looked as if he were throwing up his hands in exasperation, but then he said,
"If there's anything we can have that Takagaki fellow cooperate with, it would be meaningful to have him investigate information the police don't have or information at a level we can't even guess, but is there anything?"
"What could there be... Well, he claimed to be more knowledgeable about politics and the bureaucracy than the police, and I think that's a fact, not a bluff. If there's any other story he could scrub for us there."
"Well, looking at his background, I don't think there's a lie in that..."
Kosaka took out a cigarette and was about to light it, but he suddenly stopped moving and said something unexpected.
"It's different from information, but can't we get that?"
"Even if you say 'that'..."
Just as Nishida was about to say that,
"Fingerprints, fingerprints! Oshima's fingerprints!"
He said it several times as if in a panic. Now that he mentioned it, if they could obtain "Oshima Kaiji's" fingerprints, they could be compared with the thumbprint in the name of "Kuwano Kinya" on the deed. And if they matched, they could determine he was the same person scientifically, not just through the flow of family registers. The past "story" that was the premise of the series of crimes would be proven there.
"That's the direction... Honestly, I hadn't even thought of it. However, it's already extremely difficult for even the police to obtain Oshima's own things because of the fear of pressure, so I don't know if that person can procure them..."
"It's various kinds of impossible for the police due to the pressure. If so, I'd like to expect something from an alternative route, but does he have connections that reach the political world because he's an outsider? Well, maybe it's impossible for an anti-establishment type..."
Kosaka bit his cigarette regretfully and busily turned the flint of his lighter.
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Takeshita and Kurosu, who already had nothing more to do in Kitami that day, were sent back to Engaru, and in the evening, Nishida and Yoshimura attended the day's summary meeting at the Investigation Headquarters. Even during the meeting, no talk regarding the pressure from the Satchou came from the "leaders." The clues to the top-secret "Abe" had still not been grasped by Kurano and the others, and the general investigators had not reached the point of grasping information on the shooter.
However, regarding the information that the "Souryuu-kai," which has deep ties with the Isaka Group, was involved in this incident in a "remote" way, which Nishida had grasped this time, Kurano reported it to the investigators as a whole. There was no particular need to hide the reasons such as the weekly magazine article for it turning out that way, but since talking in detail would lead in various troublesome directions, he only explained that "because Isaka Daikichi and the Isaka Group were involved in the murder of Sada Minoru eight years ago, the Souryuu-kai, which has ties to them, is also under suspicion."
From some of the investigators, the question arose that "there shouldn't have been clear investigation information that the Souryuu-kai itself was involved in the murder of Sada Minoru eight years ago," but he pushed it through as "just in case."
Even for the Investigation Headquarters as a whole, there was a growing sense that something was being hidden regarding the sharing of information, and after that "excuse," a hazy atmosphere continued to prevail for a while.
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The meeting finished unusually earlier than he had thought, around 7:00 PM. Since he had the chance, Nishida invited Kosaka and decided to have a drink along with dinner with Takagaki. Takagaki also accepted the invitation this time. The fact that Nishida said he wanted him to meet other investigators was likely the reason. Naturally, it wasn't for the purpose of recreation, but with the aim of seeing if any useful information exchange for the investigation could be done. He took Takagaki to the shop where he had previously talked with Kosaka about Takeshita on the day before the Isaka Group canvassing. He hesitated about whether to bring Yoshimura "considering the members," but since a person who wouldn't drink and would drive the car back to Engaru was necessary, he decided to bring him on the condition that "he doesn't drink alcohol."