Chapter 83: The Transaction is Completed

Asano Kumiko had never heard the saying that “free things are often the most expensive,” but the vague concept of “owing a favor” still made her feel uneasy.

However, Asano Kumiko didn’t have the chance to withdraw.
Just as she was hesitating and struggling with the decision, Seiko had already set the Yamagami-gumi in motion to find the person.
Moreover, they located the target with astonishing speed.

The only accurate information Asano Kumiko had was the name “Eguchi Fumiko.”
But based on Asano Kumiko’s description of Eguchi Fumiko—a middle-aged woman over fifty-five, stout, dressed plainly, and carrying an old handbag—Seiko guessed that such a woman would likely take the bus to the police station.

There was only one bus stop at the entrance of the Urawa Police Station, and only four routes passed through that stop.
Consequently, the Yamagami-gumi Yakuza found the drivers of these four bus lines to inquire about the situation, and they actually found “eyewitnesses.”

Eguchi Fumiko had been coming to the police station frequently in recent times, so at least two drivers had a strong impression of her.
One of the drivers even remembered the stop where Eguchi Fumiko frequently disembarked.

Since Eguchi Fumiko was injured multiple times, she inevitably needed to buy medicine and treat her wounds.
Therefore, the Yamagami-gumi focused their investigation on the pharmacies, clinics, and hospitals around that bus stop.

Finally, in a small clinic, the Yamagami-gumi found Eguchi Fumiko’s medical records, along with her home address and contact information.

“Is this the place?”
Ishiwata Takashi led several subordinates to an old-style apartment building according to the address provided by the clinic.

“That’s right. I don’t know what the Young Head wants us to find by dragging us out all night.”
A subordinate complained casually.

It was still early morning; the Yamagami-gumi members had been tossing and turning all night, and the sky outside was just beginning to brighten.

“Idiot,” Ishiwata Takashi scolded. “I ask you to do a little work and you start whining. I think you lot have been living too comfortably lately. Anyone who talks more trash can go collect parking fees at the parking lot!”

The subordinates immediately shut their mouths.

In the past, collecting parking fees wasn’t considered a hard job for the Ishiwata group, whose main business was debt collection.
But compared to Oshin-ya, the few paid parking lots they controlled seemed too sunny, too tiring, and lacked profit.

At Oshin-ya, they didn’t have to fight or chop people up, yet considerable cash flowed in like a river.
One could only say that the Ishiwata group’s life had indeed been too comfortable recently.

Climbing the stairs up to the fifth floor, Ishiwata Takashi soon found the apartment with the nameplate “Eguchi” hanging by the door.

A subordinate stepped forward first and knocked on the door, banging hard for a long time, but no one opened it.

“It’s early in the morning, what’s with the noise? Can’t you let people…“

The next-door neighbor yanked his door open with a clang, ready to curse.
However, the moment he opened his eyes, he saw a group of crooked-looking Yakuza.

“Sorry to disturb you. Goodnight.”
The neighbor slowly backed away, wanting to close his door again.

“Wait a minute!”
Ishiwata Takashi grabbed the neighbor’s door.

“I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have slept in! Please let me off this time!”
Seeing Ishiwata Takashi’s scarred face, the neighbor’s knees went soft, and he almost knelt.

“Stand straight!” Ishiwata Takashi said impatiently. “I’m asking you something!”

“What… what is it?” the neighbor asked nervously.

“Where did this family go?” Ishiwata Takashi asked, pointing at the Eguchi family’s door.

“Aren’t they home?” the neighbor asked strangely. “I clearly saw Eguchi Koichi come back yesterday. He even asked me if anyone came to collect rent during the day, and I told him they had already been.”

Ishiwata Takashi waved his hand to interrupt the neighbor.
“What about Eguchi Koichi’s wife? Is she home too?”

The neighbor glanced at the Yakuza with a strange expression.
He suspected in his heart, could it be that Eguchi Koichi owes too much external debt, and the Yakuza are going to take his wife to pay it off?

But that’s unlikely… Mrs. Eguchi is over fifty years old. There probably aren’t many people besides me who like mature women in their fifties…

Although his mind was running wild, the neighbor answered honestly:

“She should be home, right? I heard them arguing last night, and it was quite a fierce argument.”

Ishiwata Takashi exchanged glances with his subordinates and quickly made a decision.

He shouted: “Ali!”

“Yes!”

A Yakuza with a body like a monkey stepped forward.

Ishiwata Takashi pointed at the Eguchi family’s door and ordered:
“Open it.”

The Yakuza named Ali immediately revealed an excited smile.
Saying “No problem,” he pulled out his lock-picking tools.

These tools were often used when the Ishiwata group collected debts.
As the Ishiwata group’s debt collection business became less and less important, Ali thought his craft was about to decline.

He didn’t expect to be able to put it to use in front of the boss today.

Accompanied by a click, Ali unlocked the apartment door in just a few seconds.

As soon as they entered the Eguchi apartment, the Yakuza, who were usually accustomed to fighting and killing, all sniffed the air in unison, then frowned.

“This is… the smell of blood.“

Ishiwata Takashi immediately made a judgment and ordered:

“Search the whole house!”

“Yes!”

About half an hour later, the sky was finally fully bright.

Seiko and Asano Kumiko arrived at the Eguchi apartment.
Ishiwata Takashi personally led the two to the apartment’s bathroom.

He lifted the shower curtain slightly to let them take a quick look.

With just one glance, Asano Kumiko hurriedly covered her mouth, almost vomiting.

Ishiwata Takashi quickly pulled the shower curtain back shut.

“This lady was likely hacked to death with an axe. The murder took place in the bedroom; there’s the most blood there.“

Ishiwata Takashi pointed to a short-handled hatchet in the corner and gestured at his own neck.

“After killing her, the murderer probably wanted to dismember the body, but he gave up halfway through.”

“Since he wanted to dismember the body, why did he give up?”
Asano Kumiko forced down the grief and anger in her heart, barely stabilizing her emotions.

Wanting to display her professionalism as a detective, she habitually began to analyze the killer’s psychology.

“Could it be that the murderer still felt guilt toward the victim?”

Ishiwata Takashi was stunned for a moment before offering a speculative answer:

“Uh, that’s probably because dismemberment is really hard physical labor. If it’s a fifty-something-year-old company employee, just moving the deceased from the bedroom to the bathroom would have been exhausting enough.”

“Moreover, he didn’t have handy tools. The deceased was quite large; the fat on the stomach and thighs is very thick, so the blade gets stuck easily when cutting. And blood with high lipids clogs the drains easily…”

“Urgh…”

In front of the veteran Yakuza, Asano Kumiko, who was as tender as a pure university student, finally couldn’t hold it back.
She crouched by the toilet, hugged the bowl, and vomited, tears and snot streaming down her face.

Seiko bent down and patted Asano Kumiko on the back with concern, saying:

“Officer Asano, our transaction is complete. Don’t forget our remuneration.“