Chapter 15 Section Thirteen

It was dark outside the window. Even if you go to the second floor, you have to take another staircase to go to the police department.The red carpet extends from the entrance of the building to the staircase, turns right on the second floor, and then extends all the way to the adjacent secretarial department and the public security committee room. Mikami pushed open the door of the secretarial class, and met Aiko Toda who was sitting outside.Ishii was not in the section head's seat. "Where's the head teacher?" "In the reception room." Mikami glanced at the door on the wall to the right.The "reception room" mentioned by the class members refers to the "secretary class room" used for secret talks.

"I'll wait for him." Stepping on the carpet, Mikami walked to the sofa in the middle of the secretarial class and sat down.The material and the feeling of sitting are different from the sofa in the advertising room.There are also potted foliage plants around the sofa that can block the outside line of sight. As long as you choose the right angle, you don’t need to meet the line of sight of any classmate. very quiet.Although the secretarial class was originally so quiet, such quietness made him restless.His eyes naturally glanced to the left rear of the office.The two doors with very bright wood patterns are the entrances to the minister's room, and the lights in the "in room" are on.The class members worked with tense nerves as usual.But even if it is the signal of "absence", they will rarely relax and be lazy.The deputy head, the director, and even the general staff are all respectful and impeccable, and they are not inferior to the secretaries of the county hall.

The feeling of being out of place is nothing more than that.Although the offices are not together, Mikami is also a member of the secretary class.It can be said that it is the only and absolute task of the secretary class to welcome the chief from the police department, protect him, and then send him back to Tokyo "unscathed". Toda came over with tea. "Will it be long?" Mikami asked in a low voice, Toda shook his head to express his ignorance. "But the headmaster has been in for a long time." "Who else is in there?" "Second Du Investigator."

Mikami stopped breathing until Toda left. The slowly exhaled breath carried heat.This was already the second time today that Erdu had passed by at close range, and it would be deceiving to say that it was a coincidence.He came to Ishii for the chief's inspection or something related to 64 - it should be natural to think so. Mikami stared at the door of the other room, as if he could see a thin figure through the door, like a deep outline carved with a utility knife.Sharp and intelligent eyes... No, it was the other set of eyes that was imprinted on the retina. On a distant summer day, while offering a towel with both hands, the eyes staring at Mikami are vivid but indescribable.

They are in the same high school, in the same grade, and even members of the same kendo club.In the last county competition of the third grade, Mikami was the main player in the team competition, and Erdu was the alternate.His kendo is not very good, and because of his bad luck, the classmates and juniors he met were all elites from the kendo field in the town.In the first game, Mikami used his proud "strike body" to defeat the main general of the opponent school in one fell swoop.When he was sweating profusely and returned to the corridor of the lounge in high spirits, he couldn't find the towel that the first-year students should have prepared in advance.It turned out that the bus for the cheerleaders was late, so the juniors all ran to help unload the luggage.Mikami looked around impatiently, and found that Erdu was within his line of sight.He couldn't remember what happened at that time at all, he probably signaled Erdu with his eyes to "bring the towel here"!

Erdu got up immediately, walked around the auditorium from behind, and came back with an ice bucket in a short while, took out a towel from inside and silently handed it to Sankami, and also followed the rules of the Kendo Club, posing as offering it with both hands.But there was nothing subservient in his manner.Erdu looked directly at Sankami, his eyes were weird, without brilliance, and without any will or emotion, they looked like just two black holes.The seventeen-year-old Erdu restrained himself, strangled his will and emotion, even the humiliation, anger, and unwillingness that must have been surging deep in his heart were all restrained by him.

A few months later, Mikami applied for the police academy on the recommendation of a senior who graduated from the Kendo Club.When he saw Erdu in the examination room, he was stunned. "I think it's good to be a civil servant." This was the only sentence that came out of his mouth.Until now, he still couldn't figure out why Erdu chose to become a policeman.The kendo club is the epitome of society. Amid the fearful spirit that one cannot become a player unless one compares himself to his peers, Mikami never puts Erdu in his eyes, who holds a bamboo sword for the first time after joining the club.Erdu really worked hard, never missed practice, and never heard him complain, at least not someone who would drag others behind their backs.But that might just be a superficial impression, anyway, the memory is very vague, and all I can remember are "Yes." "Yes." "That's right." This kind of extremely monotonous answer.In my high school days when I was wild physically and mentally, I never cared about this silent and uninteresting Wannian bench player, and there was nothing between the two that could make people feel like spending their youth with each other. dramatic events.Although he spent three years in the same school and the same club, Mikami didn't know Erdu at all.

Mikami graduated from the police academy with the third place.When he learned that the first place was Erdu, the shock he received was something he will never forget.However, there was something that surprised him even more.Erdu passed the promotion exam after pass after pass, and he rose to the top in no time.Affiliated to the police department, he is particularly proficient in personnel affairs. He was promoted to the police department at the age of forty, setting a record for the youngest policeman in D county to be promoted to the police department, and this record has not been broken so far.Since then, Erdu has been sitting at the core of the organization's operations for seven consecutive years, firmly sitting on the throne of the investigator of the police department.Because of this, the reputation of "ace" spread like wildfire.In addition, he was highly valued by the special examination team, and it is said that even the draft of cadres and personnel was handled by him alone, making him the confidant of successive ministers of police.Now, as the "Minister of Underground Personnel", Er Du is already an inviolable existence.

Not a police dog.Mikami has already formed the habit of belittling Erdu like this whenever he appears in his sight.It wasn't that he was unconvinced, but that the criminal policeman's ego and exclusive consciousness made him say so.At that time, he had left the deployment of competing for the number of stars on the collar patch, and found a place in a very simple and clear world where the number of villains who were brought to justice had as many say.Even if the "existing convictions" will not disappear, he has also handed over his grades to overcome them.Always be needed, always respond to the expectations of others.He was already standing in a place where Erdu's "personnel clutches" could not reach.He had never doubted this reality until...

Perhaps he was simply put together. He tried his best not to let himself think about this question, because as long as he thought about it, he would start to become suspicious.This will make me lose even the place where I live and work as a broadcaster, and lose my peace of mind.Because he didn't want things to turn out like this, Mikami never faced this problem squarely. Is "Mikami Public Reporter" really a personnel matter decided by Akama alone...? It happened to be this time last year, and it was reported that Mikami was about to be transferred to the Criminal Bureau of the National Police Agency.Powerful, almost final... whispers like this abound.However, when the final answer was revealed, it was not the same thing.Yasuo Maeshima, who became the same period, was promoted to police inspector and went to Tokyo.By convention, the person who goes to the Police Department is the candidate for the future minister.Mikami's ticket was confiscated and his eligibility to stand out was disqualified just before boarding the train.If that was the case, he could still say bravely that he didn't want to go to a place like the police station!He used to be proud of himself for not being so disappointed.However, the personnel changes that Akama told him next made Mikami feel horrified.At that time, it wasn't just the word "existing convictions" that flashed through my mind, but I also saw those two black holes that had no light or emotion in that summer for a moment.

In his twenty-eight years of police career, he always believed that personnel affairs were "God's will".This is also the self-hypnosis he used to drive away the shadow of his previous convictions.This was the first time he felt the operation of "human" in this personnel matter.If it's just to strengthen the strategy for dealing with reporters, Maejima can also be appointed as the broadcasting officer.He, like Mikami, had come all the way up from the criminal department.Since he has a long experience in the rapist search unit, if you look at the "household registration effect" alone, he is even more calm than Mikami, so people can't help but suspect that there is a ghost inside.The relationship between Erdu and Maejima has always been very good, plus they used to be roommates in the dormitory of the police academy, and they may still have a deep friendship beyond police and criminal... There is movement.Mikami glanced at the door of the other room.The door was pushed open, and Er Du and Ishii came out side by side. The eyes met immediately. "Oh!" Er Du greeted first.The style of the elite is now getting brighter and brighter.The weak candidate who could knock him out of the water even if he slashed a hundred times at the beginning no longer exists. On the contrary, Mikami was a little worried about whether he could make his usual voice. "I heard you called me this morning?" Erdu nodded slightly. "The headmaster told me just now." The implication is that the call was indeed to ask about Ayumi.Is it based on the friendship of the same period?Or is it a necessary confirmation for the position of investigator of the Police Division? Great!Erdu continued to signal with his eyes, but he quickly left the secretary class without putting it into words.At first glance, I thought it was a businessman flying around overseas.Although Mikami really wanted to rush forward and ask him why he intervened in the 64 case?What is the Koda Notebook?But he couldn't take a step out.After knowing that the call was to ask about Ayumi, his momentum was weakened.No, they were forced to see the disparity in combat power between each other, so they flinched.This is the dowager of the police department, and the collision with a so-so mood is not even called sumo wrestling. "Come and sit, brother Sankami." Ishii, who had returned to the other room, stretched out his hand to beckon him over. "What is Erdu here for?" Sanshang sat down on the sofa while asking. "Oh, it's for the reconstruction of the government building! Because the construction will start next summer, I will almost have to start looking for a place to live temporarily. It is imperative to disperse it by then, but in this way, You have to decide where to put the big head first, after all, the place where there is the head is the location of the D county police!" Ishii is a man who can't lie.If you were talking with Er Du about 64 in secret just now, there is absolutely no way for you to have a fluent conversation like this now.In other words, this is an order that Chima skipped over Ishii and gave Erdu directly!In terms of their personalities, it is indeed more natural. "I was about to call you. What did the victim's family say? Has a consensus been reached?" Being asked by Ishii, Mikami finally returned to reality. An ugly daughter-in-law always wants to see her in-laws.Mikami sat up straight and said in a low voice: "I will continue to follow up on this matter tomorrow, but the club is more difficult." "How to say?" There was a look of fear in Ishii's eyes. "That's the anonymous question, they said they were going to file a protest against the minister." "To the Headquarters!" Ishii's face turned livid. "Is this a joke?" "no……" "Stop joking, absolutely not! They must not be allowed to do this!" "The club has already decided." "Don't embarrass me. What kind of protest text! This is absolutely unacceptable, you must find a way to settle it." Looks like a child who can't ask for something.Ishii looked like he was about to cry. "As long as the real name of the housewife is released, they will stop - that's what they said." "That, that is impossible, the minister will not agree." "It's better than asking them to hand over the protest document to the minister! Maybe it will affect the inspection by the chief." "That's true, but the person who decided not to name it was the minister himself." Minister decided?The car accident happened within the jurisdiction of Department Y, so Mikami always thought that Department Y decided not to release the name. "Mr. Sakaba called to ask for instructions, and then the minister decided not to publish his name." That's how it is, that's what happened. Director Y, Sakaniwa, is Ishii's predecessor, and until this spring he served as the head of the secretary section.As long as he is a member of the headquarters, no one does not know him.Because he was willing to let Akama order him around and tried his best to flatter and flatter him, he was not only promoted, but also parachuted into the 130-strong Y police station as the chief of the police station by "jumping a grade".In other words, Sakaba did not dare to make a judgment in his capacity as director, and thought that reporting to his superiors in advance was the best way to protect himself, so he came to Akama for instructions. If this is the case, then things are really difficult.Once Akama decides something, it cannot be changed with a few words from the people below.Even if he is asked to choose the lesser of two evils, he may be in danger of committing a crime. That being the case, Mikami had no choice but to come up with the compromise he had just thought of on the way here. "Then what if you don't write a statement and give your name to the reporters in an informal way?" This is what I am talking to myself... This is an idiomatic sentence that criminal police used to tell reporters. Mikami first stated that he was talking to himself, and then verbally told the reporter the name of Kikunishi Hanako.Although it is a roundabout way, at least it is not a "submission", and it can barely be counted as "acting according to convenience".It can not only save the face of the organization, but also because he is talking to himself, so there will be no evidence in black and white, nor will it become an example to follow in the future... "I personally think it's a good idea, but I don't know what the minister will say?" Ishii sighed softly. "In short, try to help me talk to the minister first." "I will do my best, but today the minister went out because a guest came from Tokyo. When is the deadline for the answer given by the club?" "Tomorrow at four o'clock in the afternoon." "Understood. I will tell the minister tonight or early tomorrow morning, but I don't know what the result will be, so you must hold down the club! Even if it really turns into a protest situation, you must It's up to you or me to block it!" Beads of sweat appeared on Ishii's forehead. "Really please, this is not an ordinary person in our family." Even though Ishii said so, the image of Headquarters that came to mind was very vague.Of course he knew that the minister was not an "ordinary person".Tsujiuchi Kinji, forty-four years old, is two years younger than Mikami.After serving as the accounting section chief of the police agency, he was transferred to the D prefectural police.If all goes well, I will go back to be the head of the personnel department next spring.Not just the police, but all organizations.As long as you control people and money, you can climb to a high position.Tsujiuchi is currently seen as the closest person to the chief of the National Police Agency during the same period. If this candidate for chief executive is surrounded by young reporters who have just left the society, and let the reporters stuff protest papers into his arms...it's too ugly, and this kind of thing must not be allowed to happen. "what's so funny?" Mikami was startled and raised his head.Ishii in front of him pouted in dissatisfaction. "what?" "You were just laughing!" He didn't smile. "Be serious with me. If you don't do it well, the consequences will be very serious." Mikami nodded perfunctorily and left the other room. The "in room" light was still on. He didn't realize it until he was in the corridor. It's too ugly to let this happen—he's laughing at himself who really thinks so. Ishii Natoku and Director Y Sakaba were basically printed from the same mold.Selling his soul to Tsujiuchi and Akama, dreaming of being promoted in the next year or the year after, while avoiding the most important ones to deal with daily official duties, what he fears is never failure but the failure judged as a failure by his superiors.What Mikami was laughing at was himself who was sitting on the same sofa as this guy, seeking a solution with the same thinking. Mikami walked down the gloomy corridor. A member of the police department, a member of the secretarial section——I really think so.He has been in the management department for more than half a year. Just like the skin absorbs molecules invisible to the naked eye, the cells in his body have already inhaled the air of the management department unconsciously.It shouldn't be like this, I really want to reform the Guangbao class.He once swore to himself that he must make a difference in the past two years.So, where did this sense of powerlessness come from?This is more physically exhausting and mentally exhausting than bringing murderers and corrupt officials to justice in a world where there are no murderers and corrupt officials. Mikami shuddered.Erdu has been here for twenty-eight years.During the long time when Mikami was still a criminal policeman and greedily breathed with his lungs, Erdu continued to breathe with his skin day and night, day and night, in this closed world.What does that entail?And what was buried?Contribute to what?Just imagining it made his hair stand on end.The man who never wielded a bamboo sword in an official competition in high school, what kind of principle is built under his thin chest? Monsters of the same kind... It's almost the same as myself.Once upon a time, he had put on his police uniform, saying that it was only temporary and that he could take it off whenever he wanted, while continuing to put his hands in the sleeves.No one can guarantee whether it will become irrelevant to one's own will in the end, just mechanically put on one uniform after another.In the end, the clothes become a part of the skin, which I can never get rid of in this life. My heart is filled with the urge to shout. A face came to mind.At times like this, Ayumi's smiling face will definitely come to mind.That gentle smile can be said to be a device to stabilize the heart, it is always floating in the mind, until Mikami calms down.

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