After Yanchuan Shilang was assassinated, Vice Prime Minister Yamahana Shigeru announced that he would temporarily take over the Prime Minister’s responsibilities and urged the police to quickly uncover the truth about the shooting.
Sitting in the Police Headquarters office, glancing at his watch from time to time, Xiu Xin felt he could not just sit and wait for his fate; he had to take action. Official source is novelFɪre.net
He called Yoshikai Youzai, tasking him with investigating the identity of the lead surgeon who operated on Yanchuan Shilang. After finding it out, he instructed him to arrange for a nurse to enter the operating room and deliver a message to the lead surgeon.
That afternoon, after a surgery lasting several hours, Yanchuan Shilang was finally brought out of critical condition from the emergency room. The doctors stated that the surgery was very successful and would not leave any aftereffects but would require two months of recovery to gradually return to work.
This news relieved all the Yanchuan Faction bureaucrats. As long as he was alive and could recover without affecting his work, the position of Prime Minister would still belong to Yanchuan Shilang, and Yamahana Shigeru was just an interim.
However, the bureaucrats opposing Yanchuan Shilang were greatly disappointed, cursing the heavens for protecting such a national traitor who brings chaos to the country, and some even shed tears in lament.
But no one knew that on the night of the surgery, the doctor was brought before Xiu Xin.
The meeting place was in a remote field far from the bustling city.
Weeds grew thick all around, with no buildings nearby to obstruct the view. The headlights of three cars provided the scant lighting. Xiu Xin stood smoking, while Jin Yucheng, together with Yoshikai Youzai and four other plainclothes police officers, stood a few meters away on alert.
"Director Aoyama! I’ve done as you asked, please don’t hurt my daughter."
As soon as he got out of the car, the middle-aged, bald doctor crawled and staggered, throwing himself at Xiu Xin’s feet, clutching his calves, sobbing and begging incessantly.
During the surgery, a nurse suddenly came in with a tray and replaced one of the assisting nurses. After the surgery ended, this nurse conveyed Xiu Xin’s message and threatened that if he didn’t do as instructed, his daughter who just started high school might encounter misfortune.
So, as soon as he came out of the operating room, he followed Xiu Xin’s instructions and told everyone that Yanchuan Shilang just needed two months of recovery to return to work.
When he returned to his office to try and contact his daughter, he realized he couldn’t reach her.
"Yu Cheng, help Doctor Musashi up."
Xiu Xin ordered calmly.
Jin Yucheng stepped forward and pulled him up.
Xiu Xin looked at Doctor Musashi with a warm smile and said, "Don’t worry, I occasionally keep my word. Since you’ve done what I asked, your daughter is safe and sound. You’ll see her waiting at home when you return later."
As he spoke, he gestured for Yoshikai Youzai and the other four officers to move further away.
Those who came tonight are the ones he could trust with his life.
But some things would only harm them if they heard it.
"Thank you, Director Aoyama! Thank you for your mercy, Director Aoyama." Doctor Musashi repeatedly bowed, his head bobbing up and down like a sunken guest, deeply grateful. As a well-known doctor in Japan, he was usually a welcome guest wherever he went, but in front of Xiu Xin, he was as meek as a grandchild.
Of course, he must have some resentment in his heart.
But since his daughter was not yet out of harm’s way,
he dared not reveal it.
Xiu Xin asked, "Please tell me the real situation, what exactly is the Prime Minister’s condition?"
"Two months should be enough time to recover to the point of resuming work, but...there are severe aftereffects. He cannot withstand long-term high-intensity work," Doctor Musashi said cautiously.
He knew well the consequences if this news got out. Yanchuan Shilang’s condition would not allow him to continue working, and if the real state of his health were exposed to the public, someone in the parliament would indeed demand a reelection of the Prime Minister on these grounds.
Xiu Xin nodded, straightening his collar, and said, "You won’t speak of this, will you?"
"No, no, never. I won’t tell anyone," Doctor Musashi shook his head vigorously like a rattle drum, repeatedly promising to keep silent.
"Good," Xiu Xin smiled slightly, patting his shoulder, "Take Doctor Musashi away."
"No need, I drove here..." Doctor Musashi was about to refuse when suddenly a rope tightened around his neck from behind. He immediately widened his eyes in violent struggle, instinctively reaching for the rope at his throat to no avail, opening his mouth to speak but only managing muffled sounds.
Xiu Xin just stood there face-to-face watching him struggle, exhaling a puff of smoke at him, saying calmly, "For the sake of the nation not falling into chaos again, we can only sacrifice you. Rest assured, your daughter will be fine; rest easy on your way, Doctor Musashi."
He had planned several contingencies.
If Yanchuan Shilang hadn’t been saved, there’d be nothing to say. If saved but turned into a vegetative state, he would use Musashi to buy time, at least a couple of days; if saved but requiring a long recovery, or never working again, he would use Musashi’s fake prognosis to buy two months’ time.
No matter which earlier scenario occurred,
Musashi wouldn’t need to die.
But now that Yanchuan Shilang survived and could return to work in two months, albeit unable to engage in long-term high-intensity work, as long as this point remained hidden, Yanchuan Shilang could continue serving as Prime Minister.
Therefore, Musashi had to die. Once he left and leaked this information, the parliament would immediately call for a reelection on grounds that Yanchuan Shilang’s health couldn’t endure the work demands.
Although his mysterious disappearance would surely arouse suspicion, as long as he couldn’t appear to overturn his post-operation statement and with Yanchuan Shilang waking up smoothly, everything would be fine.
As for the concern about Yanchuan Shilang’s incapacity affecting national development and causing detriment, was that the sort of thing someone like Xiu Xin should worry about?
He only needed Yanchuan Shilang alive and continuously serving as Prime Minister; national benefits were irrelevant as long as it benefited him personally.
Moreover, with this maneuver, once Yanchuan Shilang woke up, he’d have to be especially thankful to him.
"Heee—heee—" Musashi’s eyes bulged, making huffing sounds with his mouth agape, his legs drumming against the ground, full of pleading in his eyes, until ultimately breathless.
Xiu Xin stubbed out his cigarette, walked up to him, manually closing the eyes that refused to rest in peace, "Clean up the scene and the body, handle that nurse too, and find a way to provide their families with some financial compensation."
Everyone who knew the true state of Yanchuan Shilang’s health had to die, as it concerned whether the political situation could remain stable and his luxurious life and high position could remain secure.
He steadily became less human because of power.
"Yes!" Yoshikai Youzai replied respectfully.
Xiu Xin got into the car and left, leaving the cleanup work to Yoshikai Youzai and the other four officers.
Investigating cases, they were professionals.
Equally, they were professionals in committing them.