Chapter 89: Aoki Joe Sparks a Dispute

Aoki Joe donned his gloves and stepped forward to examine the body. He inspected the gunshot wound in the ronin’s chest, then the one on his arm. Damn it, this shot was off—if only it had been straighter, or better yet, if that shot hadn’t been fired at all!

Next, Aoki Joe continued his investigation, scrutinizing the ground, the walls, nearby trees, leaves, the road surface, and the angle of a nearby two-story building.

“You,” he ordered, “go ask that place when the people upstairs usually go to bed, and if they heard any noises around 10 PM last night.”

“You, that one!”

“And you, the three-story building over there!”

He directed three former military academy comrades accordingly, then turned to Watanabe Wataru. “This isn’t the primary battlefield. From what I understand, the ronin from the Togo family all train in the Shimazu school of Shigen-ryu swordsmanship. In combat, the Shigen-ryu’s signature move is a powerful descending strike from a height—it’s the best way to start a fight.”

“But clearly, there are no signs anyone stood up in these trees. More importantly, where is the samurai’s sword? A sword is a samurai’s second life! Without it here, and with only two gunshot wounds on his body and no other injuries, it doesn’t add up.”

“Given these facts and the fact that Togo disappeared for over ten days, I have reason to suspect he was captured and detained, and when the captors found no intelligence value in him, they shot him. The first shot was blocked by his arm, the second went straight to his heart.”

“What kind of situation could lead a skilled imperial samurai to be shot through the heart without a chance to defend himself, shattering like jade?”

“I have reason to believe Togo died inside the police station. Watanabe-kun! Report this to Lord Aoi at the consulate and issue a diplomatic note demanding the Municipal Council provide a reasonable explanation!”

“Understood!”

Chen Jiehua spoke these words to Watanabe in Chinese, but they were also meant for the onlookers nearby and, ultimately, for the informants and the British “experts” still investigating.

You claim you can catch communists? Then catching Japanese ronin should be no problem! No reason? How do we know your reasons? Togo was sent from headquarters on an important mission, yet now he has nothing on him—not even his sword.

Soon, the three comrades sent out returned empty-handed; none of the three places reported hearing any noise or seeing any vehicles last night.

“Watanabe-kun, before sending the diplomatic note, I need to enter the police station and search. Maybe Togo’s sword is still inside.”

“Search the police station? Absolutely impossible! The chief inspector would never allow it!” the informant quickly responded.

“That’s not your call!”

“Watanabe-kun, return quickly to send the diplomatic note! Murata-kun, you and Takeda-kun go to District HK and gather all the ronin groups you can find! The more, the better! I’ll wait here and won’t leave!”

Chen Jiehua’s meaning was clear: he was staking his claim, applying pressure both diplomatically and militarily. Either provide a reasonable explanation, allow the search, or face a diplomatic incident. He intended to escalate the matter.

The three immediately left in two vehicles, while other Japanese soldiers, at Aoki Joe’s signal, drew their guns, loaded them efficiently, ready to protect Colonel Aoki.

The spectators scattered when guns were drawn, fleeing quickly. The informant also hurried away to report to the chief inspector. It was over—no resolution here.

Chen Jiehua assigned a soldier to guard the ronin’s body to prevent it from being taken by the police. As for any forensic examination—who said you could conduct one? Did I agree to that? It was impossible! If they did, the whole act would fall apart.

Chen Jiehua got into a car and drove to the police station’s main entrance. While waiting, he quietly spoke to Mio, “Once inside, control your emotions and confirm which one is our comrade who was captured.”

Aoki Joe, accompanied by Fujiwara Mio, waited over an hour before Murata arrived with a truckload of Japanese ronin; Takeda was still gathering more, and a second vehicle was expected soon. The diplomatic note was probably still at the Municipal Council, where the British were notoriously slow.

“Murata-kun, take a team to guard the police station’s rear entrance to prevent anyone from escaping with evidence.”

“Matsukata family, go check the alley and confirm the identity of the corpse—is it Togo Naotada?”

After the Matsukata ronin confirmed the body, the second group of ronin arrived.

Inside, the chief inspector of the police station was growing restless. If a fight broke out, it would be bad for his side. Japanese ronin fear nothing, but British police fear death—they were here to make money in the East, not to die.

“Shit! How did we get mixed up with these Japanese? Such a young colonel—a reckless rookie!”

The chief inspector stepped between the opposing sides, demanding to negotiate with Aoki Joe.

“Our demand is simple! Let us search! Denying us means you’re hiding something.”

After repeated tug-of-war, the police station finally relented, allowing the search but forbidding any swords inside and requiring their officers to accompany the search party.

“Matsukata family, each of you lead a team to separately search assigned areas thoroughly. The priority is to find Togo’s sword. After each search, cross-check results.”

“One team, come with me to the cells and interrogation rooms—I want to inspect personally. The others guard Togo’s body outside. And I invite the chief inspector to accompany us,” Aoki Joe generously offered. “If you don’t come along, how can you prove our innocence?”

“I rushed out this morning without my officer’s sword, and I’m not carrying a gun either. Would you like to inspect?” Aoki Joe opened his uniform and twisted his body, flexing his legs and feet—no way to hide a long Japanese sword. The young woman behind him moved nimbly, clearly not concealing a blade either. Still, his heart pounded fiercely. The British chief inspector began to feel uneasy.

Leading the way was an informant; Aoki Joe conversed amiably with the chief inspector in fluent English. In the gloomy environment, Fujiwara Mio grew nervous, clutching Aoki Joe’s arm tightly.

“I told you not to come in, but you insisted on satisfying your curiosity. Scared now, aren’t you?” Aoki Joe whispered in Japanese to Mio.

Passing cell after cell, Aoki Joe personally inspected each one. The cells were dark and poorly lit, so he examined carefully. The chief inspector covered his nose and stayed at the door; Mio only stuck her head inside, too afraid to enter.

At the fifth cell door, Aoki Joe caught a glimpse of Mio blinking rapidly.

He shielded his body, quickly drawing his tachi, “Senjuin Nagayoshi.” After gauging the light angle, he leaned into the shadows by the wall, everything as usual.

Chen Jiehua’s team found nothing as they emerged from the interrogation and cell area, just as the first team finished a fruitless search upstairs.

“Go back in and search the interrogation room and cells again. We’ll check upstairs.”

As Chen Jiehua’s group completed a thorough search of the second floor and prepared to descend, a commotion erupted from the basement cells!