Chapter Fifty: I Have No Patience for Your Hollow Apologies

Police Station, several officers stood in the surveillance room, watching the footage from the three interrogation rooms.

“We’ve found some records. This boy is currently an orphan; his adoptive guardian was Yoshiko Uta, who passed away eight years ago. The girl was adopted by Yuko Matsushima. As for this Kayako...”

Gazing at the monitor, the officers saw the delicate young woman facing interrogation. Though terrified to the point of trembling uncontrollably, silently weeping with her head bowed, she bit her lip stubbornly, refusing to utter a word.

“We contacted their parents, but… one showed complete indifference, telling us to find her father, while the other was drunk and treated her like a stranger.”

“Continuing this kind of interrogation isn’t the solution either; it will only leave psychological scars on the child…”

A subordinate’s voice conveyed sympathy. Toshifuku Asahi folded his arms, rubbed his forehead, and sighed heavily as he looked toward the interrogation room, then glanced at the frightened, helpless, and pitiable Kayako.

“Three lives lost, three fugitives involved, and suddenly they started killing each other… How can we close this case without getting to the bottom of it?”

Rubbing his forehead, Asahi didn’t want to subject a fragile girl to such intense questioning, but the matter was far too serious.

After responding briefly to his subordinate, Asahi turned his gaze to the other two interrogation rooms.

In one, Kayo Uta cooperated fully, exchanging words with the officers. In another, Fujiang answered questions reluctantly, coaxed by two policemen.

Asahi frowned deeply and looked at his subordinate beside him.

“Yoshida and Tomoyoshi, stay focused. This is work, not a game!”

“Got it!”

But just after Asahi issued this order, a man in a suit, Takakazu Arima, accompanied by his secretary, burst in.

“Governor Takakazu, what brings you here?”

Asahi knew Arima well; as the head of Osaka Prefecture, it was impossible not to.

“So you’re Director Asahi? Thank you for your hard work.”

“That’s our duty.”

After a brief greeting, Arima smiled lightly at Asahi.

“The reason I’m here is to check on the investigation’s progress. If everything’s in order, I’d like to take Miss Fujiang and the others with me.”

Asahi was taken aback, frowning slightly as he glanced at the subordinate who had been investigating their backgrounds.

Under Asahi’s questioning gaze, the subordinate looked confused and aggrieved.

“Um, I’m afraid that won’t be possible. These individuals are involved in a very…”

Before he could finish, someone entered from outside.

“Director, there’s a phone call.”

“Excuse me, Governor Arima, I need to take this call.”

Arima smiled gently, motioning for Asahi to proceed.

A minute later, Asahi returned.

“So now, may I release them?”

“Of course.”

Asahi said, quickly turning to his subordinate.

“Director, they…”

“Release them!”

The subordinate’s hesitation was met with Asahi’s stern command. Arima patted him on the shoulder and walked to the interrogation room door.

“You’ve done well.”

Fujiang emerged from the room, glanced at the respectful Arima, and frowned slightly.

“Kayo?”

At that moment, Kayo Uta smiled, bidding farewell to the two officers inside before stepping out.

“Your Excellency, Governor.”

“No need for formalities, just call me Arima.”

Kayo glanced at Fujiang.

“In that case, I’ll call you Brother Arima.”

Arima smiled warmly. Just as he was about to exchange pleasantries with Kayo, Fujiang’s harsh voice interrupted.

“Did they torture you?”

The two men turned to look at Kayako, tears streaming down her face. Kayo stepped forward, comforting her tenderly.

“Don’t be afraid. It’s alright now.”

Still trembling from fear, Kayako’s hands clenched nervously over her abdomen. Fujiang’s gaze turned icy as she looked at the two officers who had come out of the interrogation room.

“Governor Arima, I recall that if the police use torture during interrogation, they must bear responsibility, correct?”

“Yes, if illegal methods are employed, they will be punished.”

Arima looked at Fujiang’s chilling expression, then at Asahi, who gave him a subtle nod. Receiving the signal, Asahi immediately ordered his subordinates to apologize to Kayako.

Yet, instead of apologizing, the two officers began to defend themselves.

“We did not use any illegal methods on Miss Kayako. It was a normal inquiry, and she said nothing… it’s just that Miss Kayako was overly nervous.”

“Nervous?”

Fujiang gave Asahi a sardonic look, then turned to Arima with a mocking tone.

“Governor Arima, do I look like a fool to you?”

Arima’s heart skipped a beat at Fujiang’s expression.

“Rubbish! If you hadn’t used those methods, how could Miss Kayako be like this? Apologize immediately!”

Before Arima could finish, Asahi, noticing Fujiang’s likely complex background, snarled at his subordinates.

The two officers looked at Asahi with grievance, thinking, wasn’t it you who told us to break this girl?

“We sincerely apologize, we…”

“No need!”

Fujiang raised her hand to cut them off before they could finish their apology.

“I have no patience for your insincere words, nor do I wish to see you.”

With that, Fujiang took the tearful Kayako by the hand and pulled Kayo Uta along as they left.

Arima hesitated, glanced at the two junior officers and Asahi nearby, who patted their shoulders.

“Find them a quiet place to go…”

Before Asahi could respond, Arima swiftly turned and followed after them with his secretary.

Not far from the police station, in a park, Fujiang arranged for Arima to take the camping gear back to Kayo’s house, while she and Kayo stayed with Kayako on a bench.

Watching Kayako slowly relax under Kayo’s comforting presence, Fujiang asked,

“You didn’t say anything out of fear, did you?”

Kayako shook her head vigorously.

“No, I… I didn’t say anything…!”

Fujiang rubbed her forehead.

“You didn’t say a single word the whole time?”

Kayako nodded.

“Fujiang told me not to speak…”

“...”

“You could have said a little something…”

Kayako shook her head firmly.

“No, I can’t… they would arrest Fujiang…”

Fujiang looked at this one-sided Kayako with a mix of helplessness and amusement.

She told you not to blabber, not to keep silent altogether.

Well, perhaps those two officers were unfairly judged. Faced with such a suspect who wouldn’t say a word, some mental strain is understandable.

But it doesn’t matter now. Misjudgment or not.

Fujiang looked at Kayako, her eyes reddened with tears, thinking to herself: this one’s a fool too...