Tokyo Three Generations

“However, I didn’t expect you to find me so quickly… Who betrayed me? Was it Ono, Nagasaki, or someone else?” Kuroshima Kazuo asked rhetorically.

Before anyone could answer, he chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Forget it, what's the point of asking now? They just want to live. I'm already like this, nothing matters anymore. Let's see how their luck is. I hope they survive."

"You seem to have a very open-minded attitude." Kenji Sakura's words sounded both admiring and sarcastic.

Then, he changed the subject, "Our gentleman has something to say to you."

After saying that, without waiting for Kuroshima Kazuo's agreement or not, he waved his hand, signaling the people following behind him to leave the living room. Then he took out his phone from his pocket and started a call on a dedicated app.

"Sir, the person has been found."

After the call was connected, he first reported it, and then gestured for Kazuo Kuroshima to come and take the call.

Kazuo Kuroshima did not resist. Due to the effects of alcohol, his body was trembling slightly, but he still managed to struggle to stand up from the chair and then took the phone.

"Kuroshima, this time, you've disappointed us greatly." Soon, Takasaki Hiroshi's voice came through the phone, his tone icy. "You've been in this line of work for so many years, how could you make such a serious oversight that the District Public Prosecutor's Office has come knocking on your door?"

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry." Kazuo Kuroshima hung his head, only able to apologize repeatedly. "It was our mistake. Our financial transactions were monitored by prosecutors from the Special Investigation Department. They acted quickly and caught us off guard. However, please rest assured, our core data has not been leaked. I have been destroying various data these past few days. Although some ordinary customers may be found, they will not be able to trace any VIP customers... Please don't worry."

Hearing such assurances from the other party, Takasaki Hiroshi's tone gradually softened.

"If that's really the case, then considering the years of service I've provided, I might put in a good word for you. However..."

He suddenly changed the subject, "To make up for your mistake, you should offer the proper apology. If you do, we will let bygones be bygones."

His response was silence from Kazuo Kuroshima.

He knew that at this point, there was no point in defending himself; only if he was confirmed dead could these VIP clients behind the scenes feel at ease.

"Kuroshima, stop overthinking and come to your senses—" Seeing that he didn't answer, Takasaki Hiroshi continued to urge, "Since you started in this line of work, how much money have you made each year? Five hundred million? A billion? Or more? I don't care how much it is, but in short, you've made enough. We haven't done anything to wrong you. It's your mistake that caused trouble for everyone."

Hiroshi Takasaki continued coldly, "Since you've earned more money than most people could in several lifetimes, shouldn't you be prepared to face the consequences?"

“I’ve always had this awareness.” Kazuo Kuroshima paused for a moment, then smiled bitterly. “The reason I came here is simply to finish my last few things undisturbed, and then take on the responsibilities I should bear.”

"What is it?" Hiroshi Takasaki asked alertly.

"Ha... Don't worry, I won't implicate anyone. Apart from destroying evidence, I'm just busy with my own affairs." Kazuo Kuroshima answered the question with an unusual calmness. "I left some money in an overseas account, which I intended to give to my wife and children. This money is something the District Attorney's Office can't trace no matter what. I hope that after everything is over, they can retrieve this money and live without any harassment or restrictions. I only have this one request, please be sure to grant it."

Without any hesitation, Takasaki Hiroshi agreed immediately, "Don't worry, as long as you show the necessary awareness, we will never make things difficult for your family."

The reason why Hiroshi Takasaki agreed so readily was not because he was a gentleman, but because it was a tacit "rule" that had been in place for many years—after something was exposed, as long as someone was willing to commit suicide to take the blame, everything that had happened before would be forgiven, and their family would never be held accountable.

If he doesn't keep his promise, then next time something happens, no one will be so "enlightened".

"Thank you, then I have no regrets." After receiving Takasaki Hiroshi's assurance, Kuroshima Kazuo's expression became more relaxed. "Don't worry, I'll leave right away. I wish you all the best in the future."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone call; clearly, Hiroshi Takasaki was also feeling a pang of sadness at the departure of his "old friend."

However, his sigh lasted only for a moment.

"Well then, have a safe journey." After a brief farewell, he hung up the phone and handed the scene over to his men.

After the call ended, Kenji Sakura put his phone away and calmly looked at Kazuo Kuroshima, his eyes seemingly urging him on silently.

Kazuo Kuroshima didn't hesitate either. He strolled leisurely to a corner of the living room and then reached out to open a door.

Kenji Sakura and Jun Takasaki looked inside and found that a rope loop was hanging from the ceiling of the room, with a chair placed below it.

"I've already made all the preparations, so you don't need to trouble yourselves," Kazuo Kuroshima said to Kenji Sakura with a drunken smile.

"Have you prepared your will as well?" Kenji Sakura asked. "Should we write one now?"

Kazuo Kuroshima didn't answer, but instead gestured with his lip. Kenji Sakura looked closely and noticed that there was already a page of paper on the table next to him.

He walked over and saw that it simply read, "Entangled in countless affairs, I have lost all interest in life. I have decided to end my life in accordance with my own will. I am very sorry for the regrets I have caused the world so far! Thank you to everyone who has cared for me. See you in the next life."

After reading it, Kenji Sakura was very satisfied.

The suicide note was brief and clearly stated the intention to die; most importantly, it did not reveal any unnecessary information.

So he nodded to Kazuo Kuroshima, silently approving of the other's "enlightenment".

Kazuo Kuroshima ignored him and focused all his attention on the rope loops in the room.

He wobbled as he climbed onto the chair, then watched helplessly as the rope circle drew ever closer.

As they drew closer, his gaze became clouded, revealing a deep longing and reluctance to part.

There is terror in the space between life and death. No matter how enlightened one is, when the final moment truly arrives, there will inevitably be some hesitation...

Kenji Sakura was not surprised by his hesitation at all; instead, he showed an expression of "I knew it."

Then he'll have to lend a hand.

He stepped forward, then suddenly hugged Kuroshima Kazuo's body and put the rope around his neck.

Kazuo Kuroshima initially struggled instinctively, but quickly seemed to regain his composure, closed his eyes with relief, and then kicked over the chair beneath him.

Next, the human body floating in the air, under the pressure of suffocation, instinctively trembled violently. The smell of alcohol mixed with a pungent stench quickly filled the air, but soon everything returned to calm.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the waves gently lapped against the rocks, as if Death were tenderly guiding a soul that had just left its body toward the underworld.

23. Heavily indebted

Jun Takasaki stood aside, watching Kazuo Kuroshima walk towards the end of his life, watching him go from struggling to accepting his fate, until everything fell silent.

The dead, no longer struggling, swayed gently in the air like willow branches in the wind. The ropes creaked against the roof, and a pungent odor filled the air, making Jun Takasaki's face even more pale.

In those few short minutes, he witnessed death firsthand and experienced for the first time the stark reality that "someone died because of us."

Shame? Regret? Pity?

He had none of these symptoms; aside from slight physical discomfort, he was actually calmer than he had expected.

He dislikes seeing blood, but since it is something that is "necessary" to do, he will do it without any hesitation.

Seeing his young master's expression, Kenji Sakura knew what Jun Takasaki was thinking. He smiled apologetically, then stepped forward, enduring the stench, to confirm Kazuo Kuroshima's presence.

“He’s dead!” Then, he turned to Jun Takasaki and said. “Young master, let’s go. Someone else will take care of the cleanup at the scene. We’re not needed here anymore… Kazuo Kuroshima is so considerate, which saves us a lot of trouble.”

Jun Takasaki nodded silently, no longer glancing at the ashen-faced corpse, and turned to leave with Kenji Sakura.

That night, Jun Takasaki, who had already returned to Tokyo, took Kenji Sakura and went to the apartment in Nagasaki where the mother and daughter were hiding.

He first approached Chizuru Nagasaki alone, and then got straight to the point.

“We have found Kazuo Kuroshima. He committed suicide out of guilt.”

After he finished speaking, Kenji Sakura took out his phone and showed Chizuru Nagasaki the state of Kazuo Kuroshima's death.

Seeing the boss's face contorted and twitching, Nagasaki Chizuru couldn't help but cover his mouth, almost vomiting.

She knew in her heart that the other party was not only confirming her former boss's death, but also using the manner of his death to frighten her.

—If you dare to act recklessly, you'll be next.

This is an unmistakable hint.

The thought of her boss, with whom she had worked for so long, turning into a corpse in an instant filled her with a sense of sorrow, like the plight of a rabbit mourning the death of a fox.

But amidst the fear and sorrow, she also felt a little bit of secret relief.

The only people who could hold evidence against her, besides herself, were her boss. Now that her boss is dead, as long as she doesn't fall into the hands of the District Prosecutor's Office, with the existing evidence, neither the prosecutor nor the court can convict Nagasaki Chizuru. In other words, as long as she weathers this storm, she can regain her freedom.

In many countries, prosecutors do not have independent investigative powers; they only have the power of prosecution, meaning they can decide whether to prosecute based on materials submitted by the police.

However, Japan is different. According to the law, the district public prosecutor's office has the independent right to file cases, investigate, and prosecute, so the prosecutor's power is much greater than in many countries.

Even with such a strong stance, the District Public Prosecutor's Office is still bound by the legal system, the most fundamental of which is the principle of "double jeopardy." In other words, once the "Kuroshima money laundering case" is adjudicated, Nagasaki Chizuru, who was not prosecuted for it, will not be prosecuted again for the same case.

In other words, the Kuroshima case had nothing to do with her.

Therefore, Nagasaki Chizuru only needs to lay low for now, wait for the case to be decided, and then hide for another year or two before he can "make a full recovery" and return to social activities with a clear conscience.

Although she had a good plan, her beautiful wish was soon shattered by Jun Takasaki.

"Ms. Nagasaki, as initially agreed, we spoke well of you, and the others agreed to spare your life. However, compensation is unavoidable, as your mistake has caused losses for all of us, and this is a matter of sincerity that must be shown. Your assets and the overseas accounts you handed over will be included in the clients' compensation. In addition, you must give us an extra fee for your persuasion and a sum of sympathy as compensation for emotional distress—"

Chizuru Nagasaki's mood suddenly sank.

Judging from the other person's expression, they were definitely not joking.

How much...?

Jun Takasaki held up three fingers. "3 million. This is the number the gentleman himself said. Don't try to bargain!"

Upon hearing this enormous number, Nagasaki Chizuru's pupils contracted slightly.

But she did not resist or refute.

She was quite open-minded; when you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head, and she didn't have any leverage to bargain.

Besides, it's already a stroke of good luck that both mother and daughter survived. What are these mere material possessions worth?

Three hundred million is indeed a huge sum of money, but it's only the price of a luxury house in Hong Kong. Since I was able to earn it back then, I can earn it again in the future.

So, she gritted her teeth and agreed.

"Okay, I agree, but you have to protect me for two years. Once the case is closed and things have calmed down, I'll make it all back for you! Then we'll be even!"

"It's good that you're aware of this." Jun Takasaki nodded, agreeing to the condition. "You've been here for too long. Sooner or later, you'll be tracked down. We're going to move you soon. Pack your things now."

After explaining things to Chizuru Nagasaki, Jun Takasaki went to see Motoyo Nagasaki.

“Miss Nagasaki, you and your mother may have to live separately for a while from now on.”

Although he spoke calmly, Nagasaki Motoyo immediately became anxious. "What do you mean by this? Didn't I say I would live and die with my mother? If you're going to take someone away, take me with you!"

She misunderstood, thinking the person on the other end was going to kill her mother, which is why she was so panicked.

"Don't overthink it," Jun Takasaki couldn't help but laugh. "Your mother is embroiled in a case, but she's mostly safe now. She just needs to hide for a while, and then she'll be able to see the light of day again. As for you, you can't hide with her, nor do you need to. You can live your life normally and finish your studies—"

"Academics..." Nagasaki Motoyo recalled her time at school. Although only a few days had passed, it felt like a lifetime had gone by. "That kind of thing doesn't matter anymore..."

"Of course it matters. I went to great lengths to find someone to help you keep your student status. How dare you not cherish it? Wouldn't that be a waste of my favor?" Takasaki Jun scolded with a stern face. "Listen, in a few days, I'll send you back to school. After that, you'll just live your original life obediently and don't say a word to anyone else. With Miss Toyokawa around, no one will do anything to you."

"How do I know you didn't kill Mom..." Nagasaki Motoyo almost blurted out the words "kill her" in her haste.

"Being separated by distance doesn't mean we'll never see each other again. You can keep in touch regularly." Jun Takasaki shrugged dismissively. "Don't worry, we still need her. After she regains her freedom, she'll have to pay back the debts we owe..."

Although he spoke harshly, Nagasaki Motoyo felt a sense of comfort.

Although she didn't know exactly what had happened, with her intelligence and observation skills, she could certainly tell that after the incident, the young master had been working hard for his and his daughter's safety. Now that they had arrived safely in this way, it should be considered a kind of luck.

"How much money does Mom owe you?" she asked cautiously.

“Three hundred million,” Jun Takasaki replied.

Nagasaki Motoyo gasped in shock, as the number was beyond her capacity to handle.

But soon, as if she had made up her mind, she bowed deeply to Jun Takasaki.

"I'm so sorry to have troubled you all so much... Although this debt is huge, I will bear it with my mother. After I finish my studies, I will pay it off together with you. Whether I work as a maid or a secretary, ten or twenty years is fine, I will definitely help her pay it off!"

Her firm stance surprised Jun Takasaki.

It's only 300 million. It's not like your mom can't earn that much. Don't underestimate your mom!

However, he was very happy to have this sense of gratitude.

"There's no need to work so hard." His tone softened considerably, and he even patted the girl's shoulder lightly when he felt like it. "Study hard, and don't go down the wrong path like your mother. People aren't always lucky."

=====================================

After giving his instructions, Jun Takasaki asked Kenji Sakura to move the mother and daughter from Nagasaki away.

He stayed a few more minutes to check if the mother and daughter had left any fatal evidence in the room.

Although he felt that neither the mother nor the daughter would do anything so foolish as to cause unnecessary trouble, it was always better to be cautious.

A dozen minutes later, he walked downstairs with a sense of relief. It was drizzling outside, and the cool breeze mixed with raindrops pattered against his body, bringing a chill, but he didn't care. He walked along the street into an empty alley and disappeared into the night sky.

At the same time, several government vehicles were slowly making their way through the streets and alleys of Itabashi Ward, heading towards the apartment where the Nagasaki mother and daughter were hiding.

The person in charge was none other than Hideki Saito, a prosecutor in the Special Investigation Department of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office.

He belongs to the Finance and Economics Department, which is responsible for money laundering cases, and the current money laundering case of the Black Island Office is one of the cases he is in charge of.

He is in his early thirties, still a young man, but he appears much older than his actual age due to his long tenure as a prosecutor.

Of course, being mature doesn't mean being old-fashioned. Like most civil servants in the country, he wore a black suit and a black tie. His square, fair face was full of seriousness, and his short hair was neatly combed, making him look capable and energetic.

Like most government agencies, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's Special Investigation Department is also divided into two distinct strata: career and non-career.

Career refers to "bureaucrats" in the true sense, specifically prosecutors at the level of prosecutor or deputy prosecutor, as well as higher-level cadres. These individuals are elites who have passed the national civil service examination (legal affairs department) and the judicial examination. They are the management level responsible for the operation of the entire institution, making decisions or issuing orders, and they are also in the priority sequence for internal promotion.