[Chapter 432: The Bronfman Family's Reaction]
The news of Edgar Bronfman Jr.'s death traveled back to the United States via the American Embassy in Japan, eventually reaching Montreal, Canada.
Edgar Bronfman Sr., the patriarch of the family and Edgar Jr.'s father, was so stunned by the news that he fainted. After emergency treatment from the family doctor, Edgar Sr. slowly came to, his heart burning with rage.
"Rahm, contact General Hanger at the Pacific Command. Arrange for a military transport plane -- I'm going to Tokyo myself. I want to find whoever killed Edgar and make them pay. Also, send my orders to Haig. Gather the 60 best operatives, armed and ready, to come with me."
"Sir, are you sure your health can handle this? Maybe young Schaif could go instead," the butler Rahm cautiously advised, noticing Edgar's trembling state.
"Rahm, do you think sending Schaif or anyone else will help? Will they be as committed as I am?"
Rahm thought about the reckless behaviors of the younger generations in the Bronfman family and couldn't find any argument to counter Edgar's resolve.
"Rahm, make the arrangements as I said. Also, inform the lady of the house and the children at home -- we're having a family meeting in half an hour."
"Very well, sir."
---
As Rahm left, Edgar's grief welled up inside him. Soon after, his wife stumbled out of the backyard, crying hysterically. "Edgar, what happened to our little Edgar?"
One by one, other family members -- sons, daughters-in-law, daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren -- gathered in the living room, their cries filling the air.
What hurt Edgar the most was that, although everyone seemed deeply saddened, not a single one mentioned going to Tokyo to investigate and seek revenge.
He even caught a look of schadenfreude on the faces of his sons and daughters. Their darting eyes gave away their true thoughts -- they might be hoping to seize control of the family fortune.
How could a lifelong hero end up raising such useless heirs? Didn't they understand the precarious state of their empire? With their capabilities, how could they possibly manage the family affairs? If everything was left to them, it wouldn't take two years before their subordinates would strip the family bare.
Thinking about losing his only capable son fueled Edgar's hatred toward the murderer even more. He wondered who would carry on the family legacy.
Amidst the sorrow, he instructed his wife to prepare for Edgar Jr.'s funeral and ordered all family members not at home to return immediately.
---
Five hours later, at the Montreal military airport, a huge military transport plane took off, heading for Tokyo.
After a 14-hour flight -- arriving at 2 p.m. the day after Edgar Jr.'s death -- the plane landed at Yokota Air Base.
Over seventy people then boarded vehicles arranged by the U.S. military base in Japan, heading toward the city center. In the Minato district, near the American Embassy, General Hanger had arranged for them to stay in a hotel entirely booked for their use.
...
Once settled, Edgar refused to rest despite his jet lag. Accompanied by his butler and bodyguards, he drove straight to the U.S. Embassy to inquire about the investigation's progress.
The embassy was taking the case very seriously.
They couldn't do otherwise -- the ambassador had already received dozens of calls from prominent figures back home, all demanding pressure on the Japanese government to swiftly solve the case and catch the culprit.
To expedite the process, a dedicated team was assigned to follow the case, and embassy staff were embedded within the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's investigation unit.
Despite the Tokyo police department's all-out efforts -- working around the clock for nearly 30 hours after the incident, turning the city upside down -- there were no leads in Edgar Bronfman Jr.'s murder.
Employees and guests at the Four Seasons Hotel had been interrogated, and the Yamaguchi gang's Tokyo operations were nearly shattered. The police's temporary detention centers were overflowing.
But the case remained unsolved.
Under Edgar Sr.'s insistence, the embassy's lead investigator accompanied him to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police headquarters. After hearing a briefing from Chief Inspector Kazuo Hata, Edgar expressed severe dissatisfaction with the lack of progress and sharply criticized the department.
The senior officers of the police force bowed and apologized repeatedly.
Edgar then demanded permission for his own personnel to join the investigation team -- a clear violation of police protocol, considering the enforcement authority involved.
Yet the embassy staff supported Edgar's firm stance. Under pressure, Hata reluctantly agreed, but only two personnel could be assigned, and both had to carry official ID badges granting temporary working status with the Tokyo police, essentially hired as temporary civilians to avoid legal complications.
Edgar immediately sent two bodyguards waiting downstairs to process the temporary work permits.
Hata was speechless -- these Bronfmans had come prepared. It was impossible to deny.
He had to approve the arrangements immediately.
...
But Edgar's real goal was not to have bodyguards join the task force.
With embassy personnel involved, any further staff he sent would be pointless. He wanted enforcement authority.
From the briefing earlier, Edgar had sensed that the negotiation team from Matsushita Electronics and Linton's entourage were prime suspects, yet the police had only given them cursory questioning.
Since suspects were identified, the solution was clear.
If the police wouldn't take firm action, Edgar's own 60 elite armed operatives would.
If granted enforcement power, the next day they would legally arrest the Matsushita negotiation team and Linton's group, take them to the hotel Edgar was staying at, and interrogate with every possible method. Any suspicion, no matter how slight, would not be overlooked.
As for consequences -- such as protests from the Matsushita family or Linton being an American citizen -- Edgar no longer cared.
If his methods were too aggressive, would the Japanese dare punish him? He could always apologize later.
...
After processing the temporary permits for his bodyguards, Hata escorted Edgar to the morgue to see Edgar Jr. and the others' bodies.
Seeing his son cut in half filled Edgar Sr.'s eyes with tears of rage.
"Edgar, I swear, I will find your killer, tear them apart, and bring their entire family down with them."
...
After leaving the morgue, it was already evening, but Edgar insisted on seeing the murder scene.
Hata reluctantly accompanied him to the Four Seasons Hotel to inspect Edgar's presidential suite.
---
Their high-profile arrival triggered Linton's senses.
Linton had anticipated the Bronfman family wouldn't sit still. He expected elite forces to come to Tokyo to hunt for the killer, but he hadn't expected them to arrive so soon -- just a short time after Edgar's death, traveling all the way from Canada across the Pacific.
What shocked him even more was that Edgar Bronfman Sr. personally came along.
Since Edgar came, he would surely bring the majority of the elite forces, leaving their home base vulnerable.
This was an unexpected boon for Linton. All he had to do was eliminate these forces.
David would take down their stronghold in Montreal.
Shortly after, Hillary would kick off the asset division plan -- nothing, then, would stand in their way.
It seemed fate itself was determined to bring down the Bronfman family.
*****
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