Chapter Two: The Ruthless President Crushes the Bloom

Nightfall draped itself over the city, and the Sapporo Prefecture police station shone brightly, the atmosphere at once tranquil and tense. Inside the interrogation room, Chief Inspector Akita Ono sat at one end of a broad table, his gaze sharp as a hawk, fixed upon the man opposite him—a seemingly elegant, but inwardly fearful and anxious figure: Nagahara So. Nagahara So, president of the renowned local aquaculture company, Sanyo Consortium, was preparing to run for the next prefectural council election. His future should have been radiant, yet now he found himself entangled in a bizarre murder case.

"President Nagahara, I expect you to answer my questions truthfully," Chief Inspector Akita Ono’s voice was low and commanding, breaking the silence of the room. In his hands, a folder contained all the evidence related to the murder of Yumi Ito, and every clue pointed to Nagahara So.

Nagahara forced a thin smile, attempting to mask his inner panic with his usual confidence. "Of course, Inspector. I will fully cooperate with the investigation. But I must reiterate—I barely knew Miss Yumi Ito, and her death has nothing to do with me."

Chief Inspector Akita Ono let out a cold laugh, withdrawing a document from the folder and placing it lightly on the table. "Then please explain this. On the day Miss Yumi Ito died, phone records indicate you spoke with her several times. Furthermore, according to the Maritime Agency’s GPS monitoring, your private yacht appeared repeatedly in the waters where her body was found during the week before the incident. What do you have to say to that?"

Nagahara’s face turned instantly pale; he trembled as he pointed at the document, unable to utter a single word.

The clock rewound to months earlier, when Nagahara was still basking in the joy of his imminent council candidacy. Yet a woman named Yumi Ito hovered over his world like a shadow. Yumi Ito, a beautiful and intelligent broadcaster, met Nagahara at a charity sponsorship event. Her allure and sensuality captivated him, and soon, the two were entangled in a passionate affair.

But the idyll was short-lived. As Nagahara resolved to run for office, he realized this clandestine relationship might become a stumbling block in his political career. He broke things off, offering her financial compensation. This was not enough for Yumi Ito; she demanded five percent of his aquaculture company’s shares as a breakup fee—a demand Nagahara found utterly impossible to accept.

Rage and fear intermingled in his heart, and he began to plot—a plan that would exploit his knowledge of marine life to fabricate what appeared to be an accident. He knew that recently, the waters off Sapporo were teeming with lion’s mane jellyfish, creatures both aggressive and highly venomous. He decided to use this to lure Yumi Ito to her doom.

In the following days, Nagahara frequently visited the area, scattering dead fish to attract the jellyfish. Meanwhile, he monitored Yumi Ito’s movements, searching for the perfect opportunity. Finally, on a dark, moonless night, he managed to lure her to those waters, witnessing firsthand as she was attacked by the jellyfish. He did nothing to save her, fleeing the scene by boat.

Back in the interrogation room, Chief Inspector Akita Ono pressed his questioning. He knew Nagahara would not confess easily, so he had to push relentlessly, waiting for the man to slip.

"President Nagahara, I know you are an intelligent man. But let me remind you—no matter how meticulous your plan, there will always be flaws. For example, Miss Yumi Ito’s psychological therapy records reveal she cannot swim and is profoundly afraid of the sea. How, then, did she end up in the water, encountering lion’s mane jellyfish?"

Chief Inspector Akita Ono’s words pierced Nagahara’s defenses like a dagger. His pallor deepened, and his attempts at deceit grew ever more feeble. At last, he was compelled to admit his relationship with Yumi Ito and his murderous plot.

"Yes, I admit it—I killed her," Nagahara’s voice was hoarse and trembling. "I just didn’t want her to ruin my campaign; I never truly meant to kill her."

Chief Inspector Akita Ono was unmoved by his excuses, understanding that under the lure of power, the ugliest sides of human nature often emerge.

As the investigation deepened, more and more evidence surfaced. In addition to phone records and GPS logs, the police found receipts for Nagahara’s purchase of dead fish, traces of Yumi Ito’s DNA aboard his yacht, and online searches detailing the habits of lion’s mane jellyfish. The mountain of evidence rendered Nagahara’s defenses utterly futile.

On the eve of the trial, Nagahara was held in a dim cell. Curled in a corner, his vacant eyes stared at the ceiling, memories replaying—meeting Yumi Ito, falling in love, then turning against her. He regretted it all—the crime committed for selfish desire, the impending destruction of his life by the law.

Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Akita Ono worked late at the station, meticulously preparing materials for the next day. He understood that this case was not only about Yumi Ito’s innocent life, but about the triumph of justice and fairness. He had to ensure every detail would withstand scrutiny, that the truth would be revealed.

The following day, the courtroom was solemn and heavy with tension. Nagahara was led in, his face haggard and eyes full of despair. Chief Inspector Akita Ono stood to one side, his gaze unwavering.

At the judge’s command, the trial commenced. The prosecution presented each piece of evidence—phone records, GPS logs, receipts for dead fish, DNA traces aboard the yacht—each like a sharp blade thrust into Nagahara’s heart.

Faced with overwhelming proof, Nagahara at last gave up his resistance. Bowing his head, his voice trembling, he confessed: "I... I admit I killed Yumi Ito. I used lion’s mane jellyfish to fabricate an accidental death, trying to evade the law. But now I know I was wrong, terribly wrong."

The judge, after a brief silence, pronounced sentence with solemnity: "Nagahara So, you are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for premeditated murder, deprived of political rights for life. You have not only taken an innocent life, but sullied the dignity of the law and the moral bottom line of humanity. May you reflect deeply on your crimes in prison and pay the price for your actions."

With the judge’s declaration, a wave of sighs swept the courtroom. Nagahara was escorted away, his figure lonely and desolate. Yumi Ito’s family embraced each other in tears; though nothing could restore their lost loved one, at least justice had been served.

This trial was not only a punishment of Nagahara, but a warning to society as a whole. It reminded everyone that regardless of status or position, those who cross the red line of the law will inevitably face appropriate retribution. It urged people to cherish life, respect the law, and uphold justice, working together to build a harmonious, safe, and fair society.