Chapter 153: Hiding

To hear their conversation clearly, Lei Yin channeled his inner energy to his ear veins.

“Officers, you really can’t go in right now. Tonight is the birthday party for Governor Ikeyama, and several important figures are inside, including Congressman Fukuda, Minister Yokoyama, Congressman Tachibana, and other distinguished guests. There are also people from various circles and the business world. If you rush in now, you will disturb them. So, please wait until the banquet is over to conduct your search,” the hotel manager said firmly, blocking the entrance.

“But I’ve received orders from higher-ups saying that a fugitive has infiltrated. If there are casualties because of this, who will take responsibility? Please don’t make it difficult for us,” the middle-aged police officer negotiating with the hotel manager insisted.

“A fugitive? Didn’t the officer just say the infiltrator was just a thief? How did it suddenly become a fugitive?” Upon hearing that the infiltrator was a fugitive, the hotel manager’s expression changed dramatically.

“Which officer told you it was a thief?”

“It was the officers stationed at the back door of the hotel,” the hotel manager replied.

The middle-aged officer cursed inwardly. He couldn’t understand how the office-bound old men issued their orders. They were pushing him and the local Shinjuku police officers to catch someone, yet they hadn’t even coordinated their external statements.

He was also confused—while they were there to apprehend someone, he hadn’t even seen what the suspect looked like. He was simply following the temporary orders of Officer Yamada to surround the area.

“Anyway, we need to go in right now, but we won’t enter the hall. We’ll just secure the perimeter and try to avoid disturbing the other guests,” the middle-aged officer cleared his throat and said.

“But…” The hotel manager didn’t know what to do. If so many officers in uniform entered, it would be impossible not to disturb those important people, and it would hurt the hotel’s reputation. But if the fugitive really had infiltrated and something went wrong, no one could take responsibility for any casualties.

Just as the hotel manager was hesitating, a luxury police car drove up.

When the car stopped, two men got out.

“Good evening, Superintendent Matsuyama,” the middle-aged officer immediately saluted one of the men. He hadn’t expected the police chief to show up.

“How’s the situation?” The man in his fifties, Matsuyama, the police chief, asked.

“Report, Superintendent. We’ve surrounded the hotel completely with Shinjuku officers.”

“Then why haven’t you gone in to search?” Superintendent Matsuyama seemed a bit displeased.

The middle-aged officer wanted to say that he hadn’t even seen the criminal’s appearance, but he felt that would make him sound ridiculous, especially with the hotel manager standing next to him. He couldn’t exactly say that he had surrounded the area impulsively after receiving the orders from above, even though it was true.

So, he expressed the hotel manager’s concerns instead.

“This is troublesome. I didn’t realize Congressman Fukuda and Mr. Yokoyama are inside,” Superintendent Matsuyama began to hesitate. These were people he couldn’t afford to offend.

Superintendent Matsuyama suddenly turned to the man beside him and said, “Mr. Chiyama, do you think we can wait until the banquet is over to search?”

The middle-aged man in the black coat asked the middle-aged officer, “Where is Mr. Yamada?”

“Mr. Yamada is at the back door of the hotel, coordinating with the Shinjuku officers,” the middle-aged officer replied.

“Go notify him to come here.”

“Yes.” The officer saluted and immediately pulled out his walkie-talkie.

“Superintendent Matsuyama, since there are so many congressmen inside, let’s wait until the banquet ends to search,” the man named Chiyama said to the police chief.

“Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Chiyama,” Superintendent Matsuyama said, deeply grateful, and bowed to him.

The middle-aged police officer who had just finished speaking on the walkie-talkie couldn’t help but look at the mysterious man with surprise. Though he didn’t know who this man was, seeing the respect Superintendent Matsuyama showed him, the officer realized that this person must be someone of great importance. However, judging by his appearance, he didn’t look like a congressman or a high-ranking police official, and the officer couldn’t figure out his identity.

In contrast to the officer’s confusion, Lei Yin, who had been watching the whole process from the balcony, knew exactly who the man named Chiyama was. *

So, even this guy got involved. I wonder who they’re after? Lei Yin thought, surprised to see him here. Who would have guessed that, after two years, I would run into him again here? Seems like a case of fate bringing enemies together. Lei Yin sneered coldly.

It looks like the real show won’t begin until the banquet is over. Lei Yin decided not to watch any longer and turned to return to the banquet hall.

As Lei Yin approached the dining table and was about to continue eating, Takeda hurried over.

“Masashi, what did you say to Haruko earlier? Why does she look so angry?”

“Where’s Yoshikawa?” Lei Yin asked, looking up.

“He went out with Haruko.”

“Takeda, as a friend, I want to advise you. That girl isn’t right for you. Don’t waste your time.”

“What do you mean by that? Did something happen between you and Haruko earlier?”

“It’s nothing. I just cleared things up with her,” Lei Yin answered lightly.

His response was exactly what Takeda had suspected.

“Masashi, do you really have no feelings for Haruko at all?”

“Takeda, let me ask you, what do you like about Haruko? Don’t tell me it’s just her looks.”

“Hey, that’s a bit too direct. Haruko is great. She’s so beautiful, has a good figure, and great presence. Everyone likes girls like that, right? Let me ask you, what’s wrong with Haruko? Why don’t you like her?” Takeda retorted.

“Forget it. Young people need to experience some setbacks to grow. Just keep dreaming, but if you get dumped later, don’t come crying to my apartment,” Lei Yin gave up on offering any more advice.

“You actually wish for me to get dumped? Bastard!” Takeda yelled, hopping up angrily.

“If you keep shouting, you might get thrown out,” Lei Yin warned.

Takeda glanced around at the well-dressed high society guests, immediately lowering his voice. “If I’d known this, I should’ve just left with Haruko and not let that bastard Yoshikawa get her.”

Lei Yin ignored him and continued picking food from the table.

But just five minutes into eating, his meal was interrupted again.

“Gennai-san, weren’t you with Haruko earlier? Why are you here alone now?” Miyu Himeko walked over and asked.

“It seems she had to leave for something,” Lei Yin replied helplessly, setting down his plate.

“That’s too bad. I was really hoping to have a good chat with her,” Miyu Himeko said, intentionally pushing out her prominent chest as she spoke.

Seeing the deep cleavage visible through her low-cut dress, Takeda nearly had his eyes pop out.

“Since Haruko left, how about you dance with me, Gennai-san?” Miyu Himeko gazed at him with eyes that seemed to spark with electricity.

Hearing her, Takeda seethed with resentment. First Haruko leaves, and now this one shows up. Do these beauties all have a thing for teasing men? What’s so great about this guy?

“Himeko, where did you go? I told you to wait for me there!” At that moment, the student council president hurried over.

Miyu Himeko’s expression darkened, and she coldly responded, “President, didn’t you see I was talking to someone else?”

“Himeko…” The student council president seemed lost for words. He had never seen Himeko with such a look.

Miyu Himeko ignored him and continued sweetly smiling at Lei Yin. “Gennai-san, let’s go dance.”

Looking at the student council president, who was glaring at him with anger, Lei Yin felt it was time to end this farce.

“Sorry, just like how most people don’t like to eat unwashed fruit, I’m not used to dancing with strangers. Excuse me.” With that, Lei Yin took his plate of food and walked away on his own.

The student council president and Takeda watched him leave in surprise. Miyu Himeko’s expression was even more dramatically revealing.

※※※

“This is unbelievable! Who’s the shameless guy who ate the whole plate of tuna sushi?”

“No way?”

“It’s true. That plate of sushi was super expensive. The manager of the catering department is throwing a fit, saying they’ll find the person who snuck a bite. If they do, they’ll definitely be fired.”

“I bet it was Koji. That guy’s always sneaking food.”

“He wouldn’t be that bold. If it was just a little nibble, it wouldn’t matter, but this time, the entire plate was eaten.”

As Lei Yin came out of the restroom, two waiters passed by him.

Hearing their conversation, Lei Yin’s interest was piqued. Not wanting to return to the hall just yet, he leisurely walked in the direction of the kitchen.

Though the banquet was already in full swing, the kitchen staff hadn’t relaxed. Some desserts and snacks were still being sent out from the kitchen.

Lei Yin didn’t enter the kitchen but instead walked around nearby rooms like the electrical room and the storage room.

He took a moment to adjust his breathing and heartbeat, then listened carefully to the sounds from the rooms.

After a while, when he was sure no one was around, he gently turned the handle of a storage room and walked inside.

Once the door was shut, he didn’t immediately turn on the light but instead moved quietly to the center of the room.

“Come out. I know you’re hiding in here. I’m not a cop, maybe I can help you.” Lei Yin’s voice slowly resonated in the dark.

The silence continued.

Maybe I’m overdoing it, Lei Yin thought, beginning to hesitate about whether to just leave and pretend he knew nothing.

But in the end, he decided to stay. He was curious to see who Chiyama Genjiro was personally coming to catch. After all, that guy wasn’t a good person, and if he could somehow get involved with him, Lei Yin was more than willing to do so.

“Hey, I’ll say it again. If you don’t come out, I’ll come get you myself.”

Still, there was no response from the storage room.

Looks like I’ll have to do this myself. But if I were in his position, I wouldn’t just come out after two lines of dialogue either. Those were just greetings, Lei Yin thought. He wasn’t worried the person had a gun. If they did, the police outside wouldn’t be so calm, waiting for the banquet to end before coming in to catch him.

Stepping closer to the corner filled with junk, Lei Yin could hear the person’s breath quicken as he got closer. Looks like I’m not very welcome.

When he was about two or three meters away, suddenly, a figure jumped out of the darkness and lunged at him.

Prepared, Lei Yin swiftly dodged to the side, then used his right hand to sweep the person to the ground.

As the person tried to get up to attack, Lei Yin twisted his right arm behind his back and pressed him down onto the floor.

“Alright, game’s over.” The opponent’s attack was much weaker than Lei Yin had expected.

When he saw the person under him, he couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly.

He never imagined that the person Chiyama Genjiro personally came to catch would be a young teenager.

“Let go of me, you bastard!” the boy yelled loudly.

* Chiyama appeared in Chapter 57