Chapter 82: Collaborators

Miyazaki’s toy company, officially registered as “MIKI,” was an abbreviation derived from the Romanized spelling of “Miyazaki.”
Anna had been promoted from the manager of the toy factory to the general manager of the toy company.

The first batch of ten vending machines sent by Koei Company was placed in the red-light district.
At first, Seiko thought the market would need some time to adapt to this new product.
However, she discovered that the market accepted the new product very quickly.
Except for the first two days, the daily sales volume of each machine exceeded 20,000 yen, and there was a trend of continued growth.

“After all, this is the red-light district.”

After school that day, Seiko accompanied the MIKI company team to inspect the installation of the new machines.
Anna gave this explanation while watching the workers move another new machine down from the truck, her tone somewhat complex.

“Aside from personal use, those toys can also be used as props, or for performances for guests. Once one shop prepares such toys, other shops must follow suit, otherwise, their guests will be attracted away.”

Anna clearly understood the situation in the red-light district better than Seiko.
Brothels would also copy the innovations of their competitors.
This was a situation Seiko had not anticipated beforehand.
It seemed that “micro-innovation” wasn’t an innovation unique to the Penguin alone.

“Some sisters working in the red-light district asked us if we could sell condoms in the vending machines.”

Anna paused for a moment, then tried to propose the idea to Seiko.

“Their demand is quite large. Whether they go to a convenience store often or buy in bulk, they always get strange looks from the clerks. So, if they could buy from a vending machine, they would be more willing to choose the machine.”

“That works,” Seiko nodded and said. “You can first find a brand to partner with, such as Okamoto or Sagami. We can act as their distributor first. Once the company’s toy business stabilizes, we will develop our own brand of safety products…”

Seiko was just about to explain to Anna in detail how to develop their own safety product brand when a silver Corolla suddenly stopped beside the company truck, interrupting their chat.
At first, Seiko thought the other party was just passing by.
However, the person walked hurriedly toward her, having been blocked by the truck.
Saori had gone back, but Sakura was by Seiko’s side.
Seeing this, Sakura stepped sideways to block Seiko, looking suspiciously at the newcomer.

“Miss Yamagami, is there something I can talk to you about?”

Asano Kumiko was blocked, but she didn’t care; she just stared at Seiko and spoke.
Seiko looked Asano Kumiko up and down with a strange expression.
Asano Kumiko was wearing only her police uniform trousers, not the uniform jacket.
Moreover, she had come alone and wasn’t driving a police car.
Seiko couldn’t figure out what game she was playing.

“Officer Asano, if you want to question me, according to police regulations, you need at least one partner; you must work in a pair.”

Seiko held up two fingers and kindly reminded her.

“Acting alone is a serious violation. If I let my lawyer file a complaint against you, you might be suspended for investigation.”

Being reminded by a suspected Yakuza boss that she might be suspended for investigation…
Asano Kumiko felt truly conflicted.
But after hesitating for a long time, she grit her teeth and said:

“I don’t want to interrogate you, but… I have something I want to cooperate with you on.”

Asano Kumiko had been blocked yesterday when she wanted to check Eguchi Fumiko’s file at the Community Safety Division.
She tossed and turned all night, finally waiting until the next day.
After all the colleagues in the Community Safety Division had arrived at work, she went to inquire about the case again.

This time, she found the officer specifically responsible for the case.
However, Asano Kumiko was rejected once again, for reasons similar to yesterday—Why are you asking so many questions about a case that has nothing to do with you?

Asano Kumiko tried to use criminal investigation theory to explain to that officer that the wounds on Eguchi Fumiko were suspicious, and that some of them couldn’t have been self-inflicted.
However, the officer insisted on shaking his head, indicating that although you understand criminal investigation theory, you don’t understand Eguchi Fumiko; that old woman has hysteria and will do anything to file a false report.

“Even defy science?” Asano Kumiko questioned.

“Even defy science?” The officer actually nodded.

Asano Kumiko was fuming with rage and went to state the matter to her mentor, Kihara Shin’ichi.
She originally thought that her mentor, who adhered to the concept of justice, would support her.
Unexpectedly, after looking at Asano Kumiko for a long time, Kihara Shin’ichi actually said:

“Don’t meddle in the affairs of different departments. You are indeed wrong in this matter. The First Investigation Division and the Community Safety Division are equal departments. You are just a patrol officer, and he is a Sergeant. How could a Sergeant from the Community Safety Division listen to a patrol officer from the Investigation Division? The more you say he is wrong, the more he cannot admit it.”

New to the workplace, and even more so to bureaucracy, Asano Kumiko couldn’t understand her mentor’s words.
In a fit of anger, she simply got off work early again and drove home early.

On the way home, Asano Kumiko was still brooding over the negligent attitude of her colleagues, and she kept thinking about the lady who insisted her husband wanted to kill her.
Coincidentally, she spotted the familiar figure of Seiko on the side of the road.

The Investigation Division had already listed Seiko as a key target of interest.
Kihara Shin’ichi suspected that this girl was the third-in-command within the Yamagami-gumi, second only to Yamagami Nobuo and Murakami Reihu, or possibly even a second-in-command on par with Murakami Reihu.

Usually, Asano Kumiko had no goodwill toward such Yakuza elements, even if the other party was just a minor girl.
But today, Asano Kumiko suddenly had a different thought—she couldn’t find Eguchi Fumiko on her own, so could she cooperate with the Yamagami-gumi?

Once this thought was born, it was hard to suppress.
If anyone knew the situation in Urawa better than the police, it might only be the Yamagami-gumi.
Police officers were frequently transferred and would eventually retire, but Yakuza usually worked in one territory for a lifetime; asking them to help find someone was very appropriate.
Moreover, if the Mayor could cooperate with the Yakuza, why couldn’t she…

Harboring such thoughts, Asano Kumiko turned the steering wheel and drove her car right up to Seiko.

“Cooperate with the Yamagami-gumi?”

Seiko stared into Asano Kumiko’s eyes for a long time, then suddenly smiled and said with interest:

“Sure. But what remuneration can you pay?”

For some reason, Asano Kumiko felt inexplicably nervous being stared at by Seiko.
She couldn’t help but swallow her saliva and asked back:

“What does the Yamagami-gumi want? Let me say this first, I am just a small police officer; I have no power, no influence, and not much money. I can’t afford a high fee.”

“Rest assured, when our Yamagami-gumi handles matters for the police and officials, the fees are always very cheap.”

Seiko smiled and held up one finger.

“You just need to owe us a favor.”