booktalesy Chapter 42 Abandoned Child
Chapter 42 Abandoned Child
In April 1987, the night wind in Meguro Ward carried the smell of dry dust.
Two o'clock in the morning.
This famous upscale residential area in Tokyo has long since fallen asleep. On the construction site of "Seibu Forest Park," which is covered by tall fences, only a faint light comes from the distant neon lights.
Work was halted due to a dispute, leaving the area without nighttime lighting, with only dozens of yellow heavy machines silently lurking in the shadows.
The barbed wire fence that divides the construction site in two stands alone in the weeds.
It was so thin, just a layer of galvanized iron wire.
But it was such an eyesore, it forcefully blocked the torrent of tens of billions of yen from the Seibu Group.
"Sizzle—"
Three gray Toyota Hiace vans without license plates, their headlights off, slid in through the side gate of the construction site like ghosts.
Before the car had even come to a complete stop, the side door was pulled open.
A dozen or so men dressed in dark blue overalls and wearing masks jumped down. They were carrying huge hydraulic wire cutters, iron bars, and even several plastic buckets filled with liquid.
The bald man leading the group spat out his cigarette butt, his eyes fierce.
These are a bunch of hyenas who do things for money.
The task was simple: cut down this damn net, pull up the boundary marker, and then pour the gasoline from those plastic buckets onto the weeds and set them on fire.
If a fire were to "accidentally" break out, this area would be completely transformed. By tomorrow morning, bulldozers would be able to legitimately drive in and "clean up the fire."
"Hurry up."
The bald man lowered his voice and growled, "Leave no trace."
"Click."
The cold jaws of the wire cutters snapped into the first wire.
……
In the shadows, fifty meters away from the barbed wire fence.
Several black sedans formed a guard formation around a black Nissan Presidential limousine. They were parked quietly behind a pile of precast concrete slabs, their bodies covered with a thin layer of dust, blending perfectly into the night.
The lights inside the car were not on.
Satsuki sat on the spacious back seat, a Scottish cashmere blanket covering her legs. She held a thermos in her hand, from which wisps of steam rose.
She looked out the window at the figures bustling around the barbed wire fence like rats. Although it was expected, she couldn't help but show a hint of disgust.
"That's so dirty."
Satsuki said softly, her tone as indifferent as if she were commenting on a bag of trash on the roadside.
Having spent her past life on Wall Street, she preferred to crush her opponents with economic means. Although she sometimes resorted to force, not just anyone was qualified to cooperate with her.
Fujita, gripping the steering wheel tightly, frowned. "Young Miss, these people are most likely yakuza... The Seibu Group is desperate and trying to create a fait accompli. Of course, it's also possible that Gonda acted on his own. Should I send the guards...?"
Fujita gestured as if he were to stick his hand out of the window.
"No, what I want is his act of taking matters into his own hands."
Satsuki took a sip of hot tea.
"If he weren't Quan Tian, I wouldn't have deliberately provoked him like this."
Upon hearing this, Fujita withdrew his hand.
"Young Miss, what do you mean?"
"Fujita, are you familiar with the anchoring effect in behavioral economics?"
"When processing information or making decisions, the human brain tends to rely excessively on the first piece of information it receives, known as the 'anchor.' This initial information sets a framework for subsequent thinking, and even after acquiring new information, it's difficult to completely escape the influence of this 'anchor.'"
"When dealing with various disputes, Quan Tian has become accustomed to using 'power' to intimidate people. When things cannot be resolved, he tends to use forces outside the rules. This is his mindset, which is his 'anchor'."
She put down her cup and picked up the heavy Motorola mobile phone from the seat next to her.
"Normally this is perfectly acceptable; it's a choice made to maximize efficiency. But if he can't distinguish who to use this method on and continues to be influenced by his previous 'anchors,' then we have room to maneuver."
Satsuki pulled out the antenna and skillfully dialed a number.
It's not 110.
"Beep—beep—"
The phone was answered after only two rings.
A young woman's voice came from the other end of the line. Although she sounded sleepy from being woken up, her tone remained well-mannered.
"The Aesop House".
"Reiko."
Satsuki's voice was very calm, even colder than when she was at school meetings.
"I am Satsuki."
Upon hearing that name, the breathing on the other end of the phone instantly became clearer.
"President?"
There was no hint of impatience in Reiko Isokawa's voice; instead, it conveyed an unconscious obedience. Within the "Rose Society" of Seika Academy, Satsuki Saionji's will was the absolute command.
"I'm sorry to bother you so late. But there's something I feel I need to deal with right now."
Satsuki looked out the window at the dark figures frantically destroying the barbed wire fence, her fingers lightly tapping the leather armrest.
"A bunch of rats have gotten into my land in Meguro Ward."
"Someone from the Seibu Group?" Reiko reacted quickly.
"To be precise, it's a group of yakuza armed with iron bars and gasoline cans," Satsuki said calmly. "They're cutting my barbed wire and planning to set it on fire."
"How rude of me."
Reiko snorted coldly.
Although the Takeshita faction could be said to be in cahoots with Tsutsumi Yoshiaki, such behavior was indeed a bit excessive, and she didn't mind giving Satsuki a clear answer.
"It seems that some of Chairman Tsutsumi's subordinates don't quite understand the rules."
"Since he doesn't understand the rules, let's teach him."
Satsuki's voice was flat, as if she were instructing the vice president to arrange tomorrow's tea and snacks.
"Reiko, the person you mentioned last time—Grandpa's former secretary—isn't she just promoted to head of the Metropolitan Police Department's Security Bureau?"
"Yes, Uncle Onodera. He visited us last week."
"Call him."
"Tell him that a group of violent gangs is attacking the Saionji family's private property and attempting arson. Instruct him to mobilize a mobile search team to clear the area immediately."
"Furthermore," Satsuki paused, a cold glint flashing in her eyes, "I want all these people in jail, to be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. Even if the Seibu Group comes to bail them out, they are not to be released."
"In return, my father will cooperate with your grandfather on one of his operations with the House of Nobles."
"…...clear."
After a moment's thought, Reiko quickly weighed the pros and cons in her mind and then answered.
"Anyone who dares to touch the president's things is slapping the Rose Society in the face. I'll take care of it right now."
"The police car will arrive in five minutes."
"Thanks for your hard work."
The phone hangs up.
Satsuki casually tossed the heavy mobile phone onto the seat next to her with a thud.
She picked up the teacup again and gently blew away the foam.
Throughout the entire process, she didn't even flinch. Her composure in controlling the situation instilled a sense of awe in Fujita, who was sitting in the front row.
"Grandpa Fujita, please close the car windows tightly."
Satsuki leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and a playful smile curved her lips.
"It'll be very noisy later."
……
In the center of the construction site.
The bald man had already cut a large gash in the head.
"All of you, hurry up!" He kicked one of his henchmen carrying a gasoline can. "Go, pour the gasoline on the grass! Light it and get out of there immediately! Anyone who's slow and gets burned to death, don't blame me!"
"Brother, this place is a bit eerie," the younger brother said, sounding a little scared. "Why isn't there even a doorman?"
"It's good that there's no gatekeeper! That Saionji family is just a bunch of cowards, actually thinking that putting up a sign can stop the Seibu Group..."
The bald man hadn't finished speaking.
Sudden.
A blinding beam of light shone from the construction site entrance, instantly enveloping the group in a white halo.
"Who?!"
The bald man instinctively raised the iron rod in his hand to shield his eyes.
Followed by.
"Waaaaah—waaaah—"
It wasn't an ordinary siren, but a deeper, more urgent, and oppressive buzzing sound.
The red police lights flashed in the night, turning the dark sky blood red.
One, two, five...
Eight dark blue, masked police cars (plainclothes police cars) roared into the construction site like a pack of sharks hunting. Following closely behind were two fully armed armored vehicles from a mobile search team.
There was no routine announcement.
Before the car had even come to a complete stop, dozens of special police officers wearing tactical vests and carrying long batons and riot shields jumped out.
Their movements were perfectly synchronized; the rigorously trained machine of violence bared its fangs at this moment.
"Everyone down!"
"Slay any who resist!"
The roar from the loudspeaker was deafening.
The bald man was completely dumbfounded.
He was just here to demolish an illegal building, at most it would be considered a disturbance, so why did it attract the anti-terrorism force?! What does "kill without mercy" mean?!
"Run! Run!"
The bald man roared and turned to run towards the wall.
But he had only taken two steps.
"Bang!"
A tear gas canister exploded at his feet.
White smoke instantly filled the air, choking him and making his eyes water and his breathing difficult. Before he could react, a heavy police baton had already slammed into the back of his knee.
"what!"
The bald man screamed and fell to his knees in the mud.
With a "click," the cold handcuffs bound his hands behind his back.
In just two minutes.
Those dozen or so burly men who had been so arrogant just moments before were now lying neatly pressed down in the mud like a pile of dead pigs, their faces pressed against the cold ground.
The henchman carrying the gasoline can was pinned down by two policemen, and gasoline spilled all over the ground, mixed with the smell of mud.
At the entrance to the construction site.
A black Toyota Crown slowly drove in.
A middle-aged man in a trench coat got off the car.
He is the superintendent of the Metropolitan Police Department's Fourth Investigation Division (which is specifically responsible for countering yakuza groups).
He received a direct order from the police chief in the middle of the night, saying that "a violent gang attempted to attack the private property of an important person, which is extremely serious." He was so frightened that he rushed over without even changing out of his uniform.
"The fourteen administrators have all been brought under control."
A team leader ran over to report.
Investigate! Investigate thoroughly!
The manager glanced at the gasoline cans on the ground, his face turning ashen.
"They had gasoline; this is attempted arson! Find out who's behind them! Tell that person that if they don't give us an explanation, I'll bring men and raid their office tomorrow!"
"yes!"
After dealing with the scene, the manager straightened his collar and turned to look at the Nissan President in the shadows in the distance.
He knew who was in that car.
Although it wasn't explicitly stated above, the implication was clear: that was someone even the bigwigs of Nagata-cho had to give face to.
The manager took a deep breath and jogged to the car.
He didn't knock on the window, but instead bowed deeply from a meter away.
"I'm sorry to have startled you."
The car window slowly rolled down halfway.
Satsuki's delicate yet aloof profile was revealed.
She didn't even glance at the officer; her gaze only swept over the thugs being put into the police cars.
"Thanks for your hard work."
Satsuki's voice was very soft.
"However, I want to offer a word of caution. These people are just knives."
"The person holding the knife is still sleeping."
The manager paused for a moment, then understood what she meant.
"Please rest assured. The Metropolitan Police Department will investigate this thoroughly. No matter who is involved, we will not tolerate anyone who breaks the law."
Although it was just polite talk, it carried extra weight given the scale of the event tonight.
"That's good."
Satsuki turned her head and finally took a look at the administrator.
"Tell the people from Seibu."
A cold smile curved her lips.
"Next time you want to enter my garden, remember to knock first. Otherwise, the consequences won't be as simple as ending up in jail."
"……yes."
The manager felt a chill run down his spine.
He bowed again.
The car window rolled up.
"Go home, Grandpa Fujita."
Satsuki pulled the blanket up a little.
"The show is over."
The convoy of black cars started up, their engines emitting a deep roar, and slowly drove away from the messy construction site.
Along the way, all the police officers consciously made way for them, watching them leave, and privately speculating which big shot could have arrested them in the middle of the night to work.
Meanwhile, at the Seibu Group headquarters a few kilometers away, Gonda had just received a call from the police station.
The message coming through the receiver caused him to drop the expensive glass of whiskey in his hand onto the carpet with a "thud".
It wasn't because those dozen or so thugs were arrested.
It was because the manager who personally led the arrest team said coldly at the end of the phone call:
"Vice Minister Gonda, Representative Isokawa's office just inquired about this case. You'd better take care of yourself."
Aesop River.
He knew it was truly over this time.
The Saionji family not only owned land, but also wielded considerable power.
Moreover, the Seibu Group would never choose to fight against its allies in order to save him; in fact, a top-down purge would come quickly.
He has become, in fact—
Abandoned pawn.