Tokyo: My Superpower Refreshes Every Week-Chapter 464 - 462 Chitose Tries to Knock on Kochou_1

Chapter 464: Chapter 462 Chitose Tries to Knock on Kochou_1

A single sentence plunged the office atmosphere into a solemn silence, and pressure surged in like a tide from all directions.

Charles did not immediately erupt in anger.

He was supposed to be angry, but his anger couldn’t be the kind that betrayed an attempt to cover something up.

There are many ways to express anger.

Choosing which state to vent one’s anger is also an art.

If he dared to dream of inheriting the position of Director of Intelligence, he naturally had that ability.

Charles pursed his lips, his eyes fixed directly on Morimoto Chiyoda’s, his calm demeanor concealing a fiery rage as he said in a low voice, "I have worked in the Intelligence Section for thirteen years, and I have never done anything negligent throughout my career. Director Morimoto, I hope you take back the insulting words you just said."

Seeing the air fill with the smell of gunpowder, Jack hurriedly tried to smooth things over. Although he truly was annoyed with Charles, he didn’t believe that Charles was the one who stole the Mount Fuji deployment map.

He laughed, "Haha, don’t be angry, Chitose just spoke casually. Those in intelligence always have to doubt others constantly."

At this point, he made a discreet signal to Morimoto Chiyoda, suggesting she casually gloss over it to avoid hurt feelings.

Morimoto Chiyoda sighed internally. Jack’s soft character makes it convenient for people below him to manipulate, but it also makes it hard for him to establish authority, especially when dealing with insatiable subordinates. Jack’s personality can’t control the situation or command respect. Moreover, it’s clear that Charles isn’t very pleased with me becoming the Director of Intelligence. Whether it’s true or not is beside the point; the key is for me to diminish his arrogance.

It was precisely these methods of managing subordinates that led Morimoto Chiyoda to realize that this man was definitely not innocent.

The reason is simple: Charles’s anger is too direct, unlike someone who could learn that his position as Director of Intelligence had been taken and still congratulate the new appointee with deep reserve. It seems he’s eager to clear himself of any suspicion, she thought.

"Okay, I may have been overly suspicious. Perhaps Mr. Charles isn’t that type of person," Morimoto Chiyoda conceded, emphasizing the "perhaps," then scanned the room before continuing, "Let’s go to Intelligence Section Headquarters to meet the others."

"Hmm," Charles responded. This new female superior is a very tough adversary, he realized.

「...」

The Intelligence Section Headquarters was located in a twenty-three-story commercial building in the Port District.

Every company registered inside, without exception, belonged to the CIA’s Intelligence Section. They simply adopted disguises for the outside world.

Charles led Morimoto Chiyoda inside the building and took the elevator directly to the top floor.

"The entire building is the Intelligence Section’s base," Charles explained to Morimoto Chiyoda.

Outside the elevator doors was a large office, with rows of orderly equipment, where agents sat monitoring intelligence from all over Japan.

Unlike the task force’s selective monitoring, this place monitored all intelligence.

Every post made by someone in Japan online and every domestic phone call was under surveillance.

Barring specific targets, no one could escape.

"Every single call from the embassy, external contacts, and even the Prime Minister and Ministers are all under our surveillance. You can review any call they’ve made at any time, and any browsing record online," Charles said.

Morimoto Chiyoda was astonished by the CIA’s frenzied approach to information gathering. "Even ordinary citizens?"

Charles smiled slightly. "As long as they are connected to the internet and use the phone, even the lonely old folks in Hokkaido, you can find all records of their phone usage and internet browsing here. We store vast amounts of information here. Regardless of its usefulness, we store it first, as you never know when it might become useful."

"You’re just using that excuse to request funds, aren’t you?" Morimoto Chiyoda retorted.

Monitoring civilian calls would generate a massive amount of redundant information, useless for the Intelligence Section’s work, but it would allow the Intelligence Section to request more funds from higher-ups. The whole Intelligence Section appears vast and busy, but by my estimate, cutting down ninety percent of the staff wouldn’t be a problem, she thought.

After some thought, Morimoto Chiyoda inquired, "How many people are in the Intelligence Section?"

Charles replied, "Just 7,653 people."

"Is that so? Then summon the senior assistants to meet me first," she directed.

"Alright, here is your office." Charles stopped at the door of the office marked "Director of Intelligence" and gently pushed open the slightly ajar door.

Inside was a spacious area with a floor-to-ceiling window offering a view of the embassy exterior.

There were potted plants, fish tanks, leather sofas and side tables, and an elegant, antique-style desk that looked expensive, along with its chair.

Classic novels were arranged on the bookshelf against the wall.

Morimoto Chiyoda glanced around the office, then sat down in the chair and said, "Go call those people here, and bring me the communication and browsing records of the six major financial groups. I want to find out who they’ve been in contact with."

"Yes." Charles’s expression was respectfully subdued. Good, there’s nothing suspicious about the six major financial groups and the Phoenix Academy in these records, he thought, breathing a slight sigh of relief internally. If I were to leave such obvious clues, I wouldn’t need anyone else to do the deed; I’d take care of myself. That’s what I get for being so foolish.

Morimoto Chiyoda watched Charles’s expression and noticed a slight relaxation in his demeanor, which further confirmed her internal conviction that he was definitely the one who stole the deployment map.

Whether it’s true or false, I’ll soon find out, she thought. I don’t wish to keep an unstable element by my side. I want to stay as hidden as possible, so that foreign intelligence agencies cannot figure out what kind of person the new Director of Intelligence is. In the field of intelligence, the more concealed you are, the better. I hope to continue maintaining my only public identity, that of Police Director. I have no desire to announce to the world that I am the newly appointed Director of Intelligence.

「...」

Soon after, Charles arrived with the other senior assistants.

There were a total of forty-one senior assistants in the Intelligence Section, including Charles.

These forty-one individuals were supported by five hundred and seventy-six junior assistants.

Morimoto Chiyoda briefly reviewed the personnel structure of the Intelligence Section. Just as I thought, the personnel structure is excessively bloated, she confirmed. No wonder they monitor the lives of ordinary citizens. Without surveillance, most members of the Intelligence Section could be considered idle.

"Director, good morning!" the senior assistants said, bowing in unison. Their voices were in perfect harmony, as if rehearsed.

From their expressions, there were no signs of insubordination.

Morimoto Chiyoda knew this was just an illusion. This is just an illusion, she thought. She opened the roster and began to call names.

The senior assistants whose names were called responded aloud.

She noted each one, and after reading through the list, she closed the roster and said, "From today onward, you are my subordinates. I have a different management style from the previous Directors of Intelligence. I do not like to be conspicuous or engage in social pleasantries. I prefer to work discreetly. Lately, you must be aware that the government has been promoting capable individuals and dismissing those who are not."

She intentionally mentioned this, knowing that the best way for a new superior to assert authority was to instill the anxiety of demotion in her subordinates. "The former Director of Intelligence and his assistant Kovala just vanished from the eyes of the Intelligence Section. Did they commit crimes worth fleeing from?"

This question plunged the senior assistants present into silence, unclear why she would suddenly ask.

They were shrewd, understanding that how they answered their superior’s question was not important. The key was to figure out why the superior asked the question in the first place. What was she seeking to achieve with it?

Seeing their silence, Morimoto Chiyoda turned to Charles and asked, "How is the security detail for the Director of Intelligence?"

Charles answered, "There are elite agents guarding the Director around the clock, and they monitor all phone calls and internet browsing records at any location the Director visits. They check the background of everyone around to ensure no agents from other intelligence organizations are lurking nearby."

"With such strict measures, the Director of Intelligence and his assistant vanished. What exactly were those assigned to protect them doing?"

A senior assistant stepped forward, his face flushed, and explained, "Director, there’s nothing wrong with the guards. It was the Director of Intelligence himself who dismissed his personal security. This can’t be blamed on us. You know, sometimes, the Director of Intelligence doesn’t like to have people around him at all times."

Morimoto Chiyoda glanced at him and said with a smile, "I see, then I have no doubts. You may leave now but don’t go far from the door. Charles, stay. I want to listen carefully to the communication records of the six major financial groups and the Phoenix Academy."

This made the other senior assistants even more puzzled. They exchanged looks but said nothing, obediently leaving the office, leaving only Charles behind.

He stepped forward and placed the relevant surveillance records on Morimoto Chiyoda’s desk.

As Morimoto Chiyoda plugged the USB drive into her computer and put on the headphones, she said, "First, I’ll listen to all the conversations and network logs of the Mitsui Family."

Charles stood aside. The office was very quiet, with only the sound of fingers tapping on the desk echoing in his ears.

Charles realized this was a form of psychological pressure on him. He tried to ignore the sound of tapping fingers, yet in this silent space, the noise constantly entered his ears.

After listening, Morimoto Chiyoda would say whose communication records she wanted to hear next and watch Charles’s expression.

When she came to the Phoenix Academy’s records, the sound of Morimoto Chiyoda’s fingers tapping suddenly stopped.

Charles started and almost instinctively looked up, meeting her probing gaze.

"Charles, it turns out you were in cahoots with the Phoenix Academy."

"No, I did not conspire with them against the Director of Intelligence!!" Charles retorted loudly.

Morimoto Chiyoda said with a chuckle, "Heh, you don’t need to be so nervous. I’m not interested in avenging my predecessor or in any sort of justice. What I want is loyalty, absolute loyalty, do you understand?"

Charles knelt immediately and said, "Director Morimoto, I yield. I swear to be utterly loyal to you from now on!"

"Good, tell the people outside to disperse." Morimoto Chiyoda waved her hand. Now, how can I deal with Kochou and make her behave? she wondered.