Chapter 1003

This case first went viral not because of anyone else, but because of Asō Kōta.

After the trial ended, Uesugi Muneyuki was interviewed by a few media outlets, and when asked "How was the execution process of this evidence collection completed?" he did not take all the credit for himself, but naturally shifted some of the glory to the young man behind him: "Regarding the specific sample collection and submission process, it was carried out by Patrol Officer Asō Kōta of our unit. He is just a newcomer, but he did very well. I arranged the process for him, and he implemented every step without omission. I am very pleased that he did not, like some people, fear Park Yoo-chun's massive fanbase and public opinion pressure!"

After this interview aired, Japanese media quickly dug up the resume of this "unassuming short young man."

Asō Kōta, graduated from a third-rate diploma mill, was transferred for unknown reasons to the Criminal Investigation Department's Special Mission Division as a patrol officer, with less than half a year on the job, short in stature and ramrod straight in posture, previously having no notable achievements.

But deeper background checks left both Japanese and Korean media silent for a moment: Asō Kōta is a close relative of the Asō family, his great-uncle being a former Prime Minister who left a heavy mark in Japanese politics.

The Asō family is undoubtedly right-wing and hawkish on the political spectrum, and Asō Kōta's actions toward Koreans immediately drew countless condemnations, with many, especially many left-wingers at Kyoto University, believing this move would severely damage the fraternal diplomatic relations between Japan and Korea, casting a shadow over the future prospects of two developed nations.

However, as soon as this was said, it immediately provoked fierce rebuttals from other right-wing factions; the Asō family had to personally step in, while other factions immediately came to its defense, and moreover Park Yoo-chun did indeed use drugs, leaving even left-wing forces with nothing to say, as in Japan and South Korea, anti-drug policies are uncontroversial political correctness.

Asō Kōta successfully attracted all attention.

This is where his current greatest value lies.

The day after the verdict, Park Yoo-chun released a video statement through his legal team.

He sat alone in a windowless conference room, the wall behind him a monotonous light gray.

This former Asian Heavenly King wore a black turtleneck sweater, his complexion even paler than in court that day, the blue-gray under his eyes as thick as indelible ink.

He faced the camera silently for a few seconds, slowly stood up, pondered for a long time before speaking: "I…… apologize to everyone. To my fans, to my family, to all who believed in and supported me, I apologize."

"I have betrayed your trust, I am sorry."

Afterwards, Park Yoo-chun lowered his head, paused for a moment, reorganized his words, then raised his head again, his eye sockets reddening: "I…… cannot give up what I now possess. Those applause, those cheers, those moments on stage…… I am too afraid to lose them. So at the worst possible time, I chose the wrong way to escape pressure. I carelessly came into contact with drugs, I thought I could control it, could avoid detection…… but I was wrong. Terribly wrong."

When he said the words "cannot give up," he indeed showed a truly painful expression.

TVXQ debuted too smoothly.

His first half of life, though extremely hard, was undoubtedly wrapped in flowers and applause.

The company indeed acted improperly in exploiting workers and slave contracts, infamous for the 9-10 split, albums needing to sell 100,000 copies to generate income, debuting already owing the company several billion won, all clothing and staff expenses deducted from members' income, sleeping only two hours a day, constantly drinking red ginseng soup and iced coffee to stay alive, flying back and forth between Japan and Korea five times a week is also a fact.

However, the company indeed has unique skills in artist management, as groups like SJ, Girls' Generation, and others basically never had serious problems, becoming long-lasting acts.

But when Park Yoo-chun, Kim Jae-joong, Kim Junsu, and others went solo, their sky-high income and complete loss of control over their private lives ultimately led everything to spiral out of control.

This is just like many former Japanese idols who, while in groups, had agents interfering, with body control barely passable, but once graduated, they immediately ballooned like inflating balloons.

Afterwards, he softly repeated "sorry" several times, then the screen cut to black.

Within hours of the video's release, views surpassed ten million, but the comment section showed a subtle split, with a few die-hard fans still saying "Knowing your mistake and correcting it is fine," "Come back," "Why are Japanese people so evil?"

However, in reality, the vast majority of danmaku were just two words.

"Mom."

"Char Supreme Commander!"

"Did I become weak because of Hana?"

"Park Yoo-chun is the new Hathaway of the era! Mouth full of righteousness, heart full of Cosette, mouth full of revolution, heart full of Kira, Tomino understands these left-wing youths!"

"Hey! Don't compare this poisonous dog to us! We don't recognize Kora!"

If Japanese netizens were just playing memes, then Korean netizens were even more merciless, with high-liked comments on Naver writing:

"Meth plus Mom, magic power infinite!"

"Get lost to your Japan! Uesugi Hasutian! You'll never wash clean in this lifetime! "

"We, the Confucian state, produced someone like you, simply disgracing the entire nation, you are not the descendant of our two-class nobility! "

"What use is crying while apologizing? When you cried and called Mom, didn't you think of the consequences? "

"When will Mr. Park Yoo-chun retire from the entertainment industry as promised? The money you've earned is enough to squander for several lifetimes, hurry up and call your Mom!"

Normally, Japanese people would sympathize with losers, then redirect anger at Uesugi Muneyuki for not showing any mercy, after all Japan and Korea differ, the two-class nobility always play family elimination games together, but Japanese culture rarely involves relentless pursuit demanding extermination, Tokugawa Ieyasu winning the Battle of Sekigahara only killed Ishida Mitsunari, Anikuni Megumi, and Konishi Yukinaga—three people only.

But no matter what, this is a victory for the Japanese system and the Metropolitan Police Department! It is Uesugi Muneyuki's victory!

And in another direction of this public opinion storm, Hanzawa Naoki was in the Prime Minister's Office looking at the front-page photo on the newspaper, while Cabinet Secretary Onoda Kimiaki sat in the court gallery whispering to Watanabe Eiji.

In the photo, Onoda appeared composed, his suit and tie impeccable, his glasses reflecting light under the lamps, looking like a statue sitting calmly in the storm's center. Hanzawa put down the newspaper, leaned back in his chair, and lightly tapped his fingers twice on the desk.

He felt something was off.

Shouldn't this achievement be his?

Why is everyone reporting on Onoda?

He spent a few seconds recalling yesterday's cabinet meeting timeline, then another few seconds confirming that everyone's attention had been diverted by that court confrontation.

He turned his head to the secretary beside him and said: "……At the official residence, did Minister Onoda go to court yesterday? "

"Yes. He attended the entire trial as an observer, and after it ended, he spoke with the prosecution for a few minutes." The secretary said.

Hanzawa fell silent for a moment, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

Tch, it seems I was played!

He originally thought this event could be used to demonstrate his "decisive handling ability" as acting Prime Minister, after all, when public opinion runs high, it's a good time to make a public statement, but the news footage repeatedly showed Onoda seated in the observer seats.

As acting Prime Minister, it's indeed inappropriate for him to show up personally, resulting in Onoda stealing all the spotlight and influence!

As for the National Diet, he originally planned to submit the national debt replacement bill when public opinion peaked, but now the heat has shifted direction, with everyone discussing the "Mom meme."

He has already missed the best opportunity!

The true enemy has always been in Nagatacho, inside the Prime Minister's Office!

Onoda, you also want to come seize the top position?!

Acting Prime Minister Hanzawa gritted his teeth.

Then come on!

……………………

And while public opinion outside was still discussing Park Yoo-chun's apology and the "Mom meme," another piece of news suddenly floated up from academia's corner, then exploded like a McDonald's dip sauce McSpicy Big Four thrown into hot oil!

After Uesugi Muneyuki's great victory, Tokyo University officially announced, awarding the Chief Medical Examiner of the Metropolitan Police Department's Special Mission Division, Uesugi Muneyuki, the position of Associate Professor of Forensic Medicine in the Medical Department.

The appointment takes effect from May 1st!

This news appeared on the bulletin board of the University of Tokyo's official website, and initially it did not attract much attention.

There was no way, forensic medicine is too niche, and the University of Tokyo Medical School is too difficult to get into.

After thousands of troops and horses crossed the single-log bridge, if someone came to report for forensic medicine, it would purely be a brain problem.

However, Fuji TV again ate black traffic.

When Fuji TV, on the morning news, had Banana Man's Shitara Osamu personally announce the congratulations on Uesugi Muneyuki's promotion to associate professor, the entire nation's talent pool became aware.

Uesugi Muneyuki this bastard, got promoted to associate professor?!

The repost volume and discussion volume grew exponentially within a few hours.

The comments in the comment area that swiped the screen were full of incredibility.

"No, bro? He just graduated with a doctorate, right? "

"Doctorate graduation directly to associate professor? No RA? No lecturer? No assistant professor? Directly associate professor? Rely on background! You're joking, right? "

"When did the title promotion at the University of Tokyo become this easy? "

"Although we all know forensic medicine lacks personnel, but just how lacking is forensic medicine? "

"What exactly is this person's background? Covered by the National Police Agency, supported by Fuji TV, and now even the University of Tokyo has taken him in? "

"Too dark, Japan, too dark, Uesugi, too dark, black-clothed police organization, black-clothed court, black-clothed prosecution office, this time, let Koreans see our Japan's darkness! "

"We demand disclosure! The reason why the University of Tokyo violated general promotion rules to appoint Uesugi Muneyuki! "

"Disclose what? All the things that should be disclosed, haven't they been out in the open these years? "

Uesugi Muneyuki himself only saw the message about an hour and a half after the announcement was posted.

His phone was flooded with messages from various channels, he completely missed all notifications, just set his phone to silent mode, and then walked out of the office.

He came to the obstetrics ward of the University of Tokyo Hospital.

When he pushed open the door, Ishihara Mikoto was lying on the bed, she was wearing a pure white hospital gown, hearing the sound of the door opening, Mikoto slightly turned her head, that face had clear contours, clean lines, a full forehead, the curvature of the lips when viewed from the side had a just-right thickness and fox-like charm, the whole person looked like a tree quietly growing in the corner of the courtyard, not showy but firmly rooted, one hand supporting her own belly, the small life inside was already ten months old.

Uesugi Muneyuki's daughter——Uesugi named her Uesugi Chisaki, was already ready to be born.

Mikoto's gaze carried a kind of habitual focus and seriousness, seeing the visitor was Uesugi Muneyuki, she slightly tilted her head: "Muneyuki? How did you come over? Is Park Yoo-chun's case over? "

"Did you see the news, Mikoto-nee?" Uesugi Muneyuki sat by the bedside, lowered his voice and smiled: "The University of Tokyo just issued an announcement. Starting May 1st, I am promoted to associate professor, Department of Forensic Medicine."

"Congratulations, Muneyuki!" Mikoto wiped the dust off her hands, casually replied: "Oh? Congratulations, you don't have to start from RA anymore. "

Then Mikoto realized what had happened, she quickly added: "Lecturer? Or directly associate professor? "

"Directly associate professor. Forensic medicine lacks personnel, there are no competitors." Uesugi Muneyuki smiled and said.

Ishihara Mikoto fell silent for a moment, turned her head to look at him, her eyes showed a change, she faintly realized: "So what? You came to find me, it shouldn't just be to make me say 'congratulations', right? "

Uesugi Muneyuki looked at her, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepened slightly: "Mikoto-nee, you know, after I officially take office, I still need an assistant professor! "

"................" The ward fell silent for a moment.

Ishihara Mikoto leaned against the hospital bed, her whole body frozen at that moment.

She opened her mouth, her lips moved a little, but for a moment no sound came out.

Assistant professor?

She jumped straight from RA to assistant professor?

She is thirty-three years old this year, only joined the University of Tokyo over two years ago!

The normal path at the University of Tokyo should be RA → lecturer → assistant → associate professor, each step averaging three to five years of grinding.

She still needs at least fifteen years to reach that position.

And now, Uesugi Muneyuki stands before her, having graduated with a doctorate less than a month ago, received the appointment letter for associate professor, and then lightly said to her: You come be my assistant professor.

Ishihara Mikoto slowly put her hand down from the cabinet door handle, as if needing to find something to support herself. "... You're serious? "

"I'm serious. The class schedule I haven't sorted yet, lab management I can't handle alone, need manpower. And, you are the most suitable person. Every instrument you know how to use, every experimental procedure you can operate with your eyes closed, your passion for this field is purer than mine, if it's you, you can cut off fifteen years, leapfrog to a place only one step from the mountain peak, why wait?" Uesugi Muneyuki smiled and said: "Once, you delayed seven years because of me, now, I return it all to you, Mikoto-nee!"

"I say what I do!"

Ishihara Mikoto lowered her head, gently touched her belly, and remained silent for a good while.

When she raised her head again, her eye sockets slightly reddened, she did not speak again.

Choosing to come back was right!

Choosing Uesugi was right!

Choosing to give birth to his child was right!

"...... Good. I'll be your assistant professor! "

Uesugi Muneyuki showed a smile: "Thank you, Mikoto-nee~"

"Oh no, it should be, thank you, Mom!"