Conan: Rice Flower Spring

Chapter 219 213. Sakata's Gift

"Boss, Officer Dalong from the First Investigation Division has an important situation to report." A criminal police officer hurried to Toyama Ginjiro with a cell phone in hand.

After staring at the burning warehouse for a few seconds, Ginjiro Toyama finally looked away and took his cell phone.

The fire in the warehouse could suddenly grow to this extent, it was obvious that Sakata had made a lot of preparations in advance.

This kind of fire would be so severe that even if someone accidentally walked into it, they would probably not be able to get out, let alone someone who was seeking death.

The fire alarm was called, and the Satoshi family was also working on the fire-fighting facilities in the manor. Toyama Ginjiro walked aside with the phone.

"Moses, Moses, I am the distant mountain."

"Bullfighter, I'm Dalong from the Investigation Division. The search team found something in the hut near Minoo Falls, and I felt it necessary to tell you."

The voice of Officer Dalong sounded on the other end of the phone, and it didn’t seem like a trivial matter to hear his voice.

Toyama Ginjiro immediately thought of what Sakata had said to him before he set himself on fire, a parting gift.
"Dalong, where exactly did you find it in the cabin?" Toyama Ginjiro did not ask what they found.

Since the thing has been found, it makes no difference whether you know it a few seconds earlier or a few seconds later.

"It was under the floorboards in the cabin. One of the guys noticed that the color of the floorboards was a little off. He opened it and found some information."

"Information? What information?"

"It's information about corruption by the township councillor."

Six years ago, Osaka Prefectural Assembly member Sotaro Goji was exposed for corruption and bribery, and the prosecutor's office immediately intervened in the investigation.

But after investigation, all the evidence of Sotaro Goji's corruption and bribery pointed to his secretary and driver, who were also the two victims in this serial murder case.

It may sound dramatic that a secretary and a driver conspired to take bribes on behalf of their boss, but it has happened.

Because all the evidence could not be linked to Sotaro Goji, the prosecution could only declare that the charges of corruption and bribery against Sotaro Goji were not established.

His secretary and driver were also eventually sent to jail for this crime.

After being released from prison, Sotaro Goji's secretary and driver became a convenience store manager and a taxi driver respectively.

These two people seemed to be ready to start a new life, but from the documents under the floor of the cabin, it was discovered that both the secretary and the driver of the township councilor had received a huge severance pay when they left their jobs.

How can I put this money? This huge severance pay is enough for Goji's secretary and driver to buy a house in Osaka with a little surplus.

Obviously, the purpose of this severance pay is to keep the secretary and the driver quiet. Of course, it doesn't mean that the township councilor is so kind.

Because the information found in the cabin, in addition to the sources of the huge severance pay for the secretary and the driver, also included two other documents.

To be precise, there should be two pieces of evidence.

The evidence directly pointed out that Osaka Prefectural Assembly member Sotaro Satoshi used his driver and secretary to commit corruption and bribery.

It tells how Goji used his driver and secretary to accept bribes on his behalf, and how the driver and secretary transferred the black money they received to Goji Sotaro.

There was even a money laundering channel for Sotaro Goji - Sotaro Goji was indeed very cautious at the beginning.

But as time went on, these shady matters were assigned to Sotaro Goji's driver.

The driver was responsible for collecting and laundering money, while the secretary was responsible for doing things under the name of Goji Sotaro. The process of collecting money and doing things was done in one go, and even had a sense of assembly line.

In short, the driver collected the money, and the secretary did the work under the banner of the township councillor. If something went wrong, the blame would naturally fall on the secretary and the driver. As for our township councillor, he knew nothing, so how could he be responsible?

He is clearly the victim.

The secretary and driver of the township government are not stupid. It is inevitable that they will get their feet wet if they often walk by the river.
Moreover, the township official's actions showed that he was ready to clear himself at any time. The secretary and the driver were naturally uneasy.

But since the township councillors are their bosses, they cannot say they will not do this.

So, although the secretary and the driver had to do it, they also left enough evidence.

This is also why the two were able to receive such a large severance pay as compensation from the township councilors after returning from prison.

As the people who handled the money, they knew very well how much money the township councillors had received over the years.

At the same time, the fact that they did not ask for "severance pay" in prison or before going to prison is also a symbol of their rationality.

If they did something like this in prison, the township councillor might be so cruel as to let them die in prison forever.

On the contrary, if you wait until you are released from prison before asking for it, Sotaro Goji will be more cautious.

Because they still have reason, they are not greedy, although the money they want is a huge sum for them and ordinary people.

But for Councillor Goji, a member of the Osaka Prefectural Assembly (note: it is the Osaka Prefectural Assembly, not the Osaka City Assembly), it is not a big deal at all.

It’s a bit of an exaggeration to say it’s a drop in the bucket, but it’s worth spending the money to keep two people completely silent.

Goji also knew that his secretary and driver were both sensible people. In fact, their behavior after receiving the severance pay proved this.

Although they suddenly received a large sum of money, neither of them went out to spend it on wine and women and live a life of luxury.

Instead, they all honestly found jobs and started their daily lives. This not only made the secretary and the driver feel at ease, but also made Sotaro Goji feel relieved.

For him, things that can be solved with money are really not a big deal.

Unfortunately, they met Sakata.

It was bad luck for them that Sakata arrested Kiichiro Numabuchi in his jurisdiction, and Numabuchi immediately recognized Sakata's face which looked very similar to that of his former driving school instructor.

Then Kiichiro Numabuchi was imprisoned by Sakata, and then tortured to reveal the truth and accomplices of that year.

During the process of revenge, Sakata discovered evidence of corruption and bribery by Councillor Goji, and used this evidence to force Goji to come to the warehouse of the manor.

After shooting Goji, Sakata left the evidence to Ginjiro Toyama and then set himself on fire.

The reason why the evidence was left to Ginjiro Toyama was very simple. As an Osaka Prefectural Police officer, his shooting of a congressman would naturally lead to difficulties for the Osaka Prefectural Police officer by the parliament.

The evidence of Goji's bribery was the backup plan left by Sakata for Toyama Ginjiro. What kind of person are you to defend a corrupt congressman like this?

Do you want us from the Osaka Prefectural Police to ask someone to help investigate you?

Prosecutors can investigate corruption and bribery by members of parliament, and so can our public security police. Coincidentally, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has its own Public Security Department, and so does our Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters.

In short, no matter what, Sakata finally achieved his goal, which can be regarded as another form of asking for benevolence.

(End of this chapter)