Chapter 1046

Uesugi Muneyuki's bow had not yet fully straightened, and the reporters in the press hall were still bowing their heads, organizing notes, confirming recordings, and flipping through the official bulletin just released.

Uesugi Muneyuki even almost habitually said: "Red Bean Paste Private Mosaic!"

But after thinking carefully, I've solved the case, haven't I? It's not like I haven't solved a case—what's there to apologize for?

The air carried a sense of relief after a major event had been settled.

Today there's enough big news to report, right?

Police Commissioner Watanabe Eiji and Superintendent General Shinzou Kamiya also let out a sigh of relief, and just as they were about to announce the closure of the Hirate case—

Nango Yui came running in from the side door!

This famous member of the Special Mission Division's Four Heavenly Kings is now the only one left unscathed from the Vikram apprehension case!

Like Shiratori Sho, Nango Yui was never good at melee combat and tended to slack off, but his current state is clearly different—his pace is much faster than usual, a fine layer of sweat beads on his forehead, and his shirt collar is pulled askew.

Something happened! A big something!!!

The Special Mission Division inspector walked past the side of the press section's aisle and headed straight toward where Watanabe Eiji and Shinzou Kamiya were standing.

"Commissioner, Director General, an emergency situation has occurred!!!"

"Just now, a report came in from Shibuya, Tokyo—Akasa Slope 46 top member Aika Shida was found dead in a high-end nightclub in Shibuya. The scene shows signs of struggle, and preliminary judgment indicates homicide. Specific details are still being confirmed, but we've already notified Investigation Division 1 and Forensic Identification Division."

"What the hell???" Shinzou Kamiya's face instantly turned as white as snow.

The Hirate case isn't closed, and now the Shida case has erupted?!

No way, man—is this Superintendent General position really a sinecure? I feel like I'm sitting on a bomb!

Watanabe Eiji's expression in that instant was as if someone had doused him with ice water—his hand shot out of his pocket, his body straightened slightly, and his gaze suddenly tightened.

Shinzou Kamiya's expression changed even more visibly—on that face, usually calm as a compacted stone from years of Public Security work, a visible crack appeared. The lid of his teacup clicked against the rim with a "clack," tea splashed out, a few drops landing on his suit pants, and he didn't bother to wipe it off.

Uesugi Muneyuki had already walked to near the side door. He noticed Nango Yui's expression and the two commissioners' reactions, his steps paused for a moment, then he turned and walked back.

He stood beside Nango Yui, lowered his voice, and asked: "What's going on?"

"Uesugi-san, Aika Shida of Akasa Slope 46 is dead!" Nango Yui told Uesugi Muneyuki what had happened.

Aika Shida also died?!

Uesugi Muneyuki's pupils contracted sharply.

Hirate died! Earlier, Sakura mentioned being crushed by a steel coil, and he thought it was an accident, but now Aika Shida has died too!

"Why did Aika Shida die in a high-end nightclub?" Uesugi Muneyuki pressed: "Is there a conclusion yet?"

Aika Shida, one of the founding members of Akasa Slope 46, wasn't the most outstanding center in the group, but she had consistently been a stable, top-tier popularity member—short-haired, capable, refreshing, with many female fans.

Aika Shida—is she a good girl?

"What else could it be? Making money, of course." Nango Yui laid out the situation.

After the Hirate case broke out, Aika Shida disappeared from public view as the group halted activities—anyway, during this period all Akasa Slope 46 members were "on leave" or "under investigation," and Aika Shida didn't stand out.

But according to information from the scene, it turns out Aika Shida didn't actually go home to loaf around like the Second Young Lady after resting—instead, she went to a certain high-end nightclub, the kind that's membership-only, not open to the public, and only receives familiar faces from the business and political circles and entertainment industry.

Yes, just like the kind of high-end members-only club Uesugi Muneyuki has visited before.

What for?

Of course, she couldn't possibly be there to enjoy herself—she was there to pour drinks.

A former national idol, after losing fixed income when the group halted activities, chose this way to maintain her livelihood in Tokyo.

"Indeed, former national idols working as hostesses naturally earn more—because so many people want to specifically request them." Uesugi Muneyuki felt no surprise: "Just like in hostess clubs, if someone has truly filmed adult videos, their price is at least 30% higher than other hostesses—usually 50%! As Maeda said."

"Muneyuki!" Watanabe Eiji barked impatiently: "Get to the point!"

Nango Yui couldn't help but suppress a laugh, thinking Uesugi-san saying this in front of his father-in-law was indeed somewhat—although if he had actually gone to the Ginza Special Hostess Bath and specifically requested it, the Metropolitan Police Department would probably still reimburse him eight or nine times out of ten.

"Continue, Nango-kun." Shinzou Kamiya immediately said, while also gesturing for Uesugi Muneyuki to shut up.

"Uesugi-san is correct—her hostess fee at that club is three times that of a regular hostess, and her commission from pouring drinks is also higher—so she's already been working there for nearly a month, earning nearly 5 million yen."

Watanabe Eiji and Shinzou Kamiya both nodded, feeling no surprise.

According to a Tokyo University sociology survey, female idols who've had a hit typically have monthly expenses of at least 500,000 to 700,000 yen for rent, wardrobe, food, beauty, fitness, and social engagements.

Young women in Tokyo living in that circle, once accustomed to this spending level, can't downgrade their lifestyle.

After the group's activities were suspended, Aika Shida lost her fixed income, but her expenses didn't decrease at all.

Hostessing is the only way she could earn in the short term several times what a regular part-time job would bring.

"Last night, she seemed to have a conflict while drinking with a customer. The details are still unclear, but when Forensic Identification Division arrived, she already had no vital signs." Nango Yui said solemnly.

The reporters in the press hall had already begun noticing the commotion from the side door direction.

Someone turned their head and saw Nango Yui's anxious expression and the grim faces of Watanabe and Shinzou, the two commissioners.

Some reporters whispered among themselves, while others had already pulled out their phones and were frantically recording the new news!

Another death! Another member of Akasa Slope 46!

My goodness gracious! Oh my heavens!

"Who discovered her?"

"The nightclub's mamasan. She went in to deliver alcohol and saw Aika Shida collapsed beside the sofa in the private room, with ligature marks on her neck. The customer had already left. The nightclub said that customer was a recent regular, but the registered name is fake, and the contact information is temporary." Nango Yui said.

Uesugi Muneyuki didn't ask further.

He leaned against the side door frame, arms crossed over his chest.

He mentally linked this incident with the Hirate case—two members of Akasa Slope 46, one died from being crushed by a wheel and violence, the other died from a conflict at a hostess venue.

One was strangled after being crushed by a wheel in a wasteland in Nagoya Port Ward, the other was strangled in a high-end nightclub in Shibuya.

Both died this summer.

So the question arises.

In Akasa Slope 46, are there any good girls at all?

Hirate Sarina herself thought highly of herself, despised her idol identity, and under the influence of hallucinogens told a stranger racist remarks.

After the Aika Shida group went on hiatus, she relied on hostess work to maintain her consumption lifestyle in Tokyo, and ultimately died in a nightclub.

What about the others?

For example, Date Nagamune's underground girlfriend, Deputy Captain Second Young Lady Moriya Akane?

Is she a good girl?

Earlier, I seemed to have heard from Sohō Hinata's side that besides a few key people, the other female idols were just randomly assigned——

Hmm, I'm temporarily in Mongolia!

At this moment, the journalists in the briefing hall finally could no longer contain themselves.

"Watanabe Commissioner! Is the Hirate case really over? Why has another homicide occurred?"

"Uesugi Chief, please tell me if Vikram is truly the culprit? If he is, then why?"

"How exactly did Aika Shida die? Was it an accident or homicide? Please give us an explanation!"

"What on earth is going on with this Red Slope 46 group?!"

All the journalists' voices were filled with uncontainable excitement over another explosive news story, just as the Hirate case briefing had just concluded this afternoon, in a certain high-end nightclub in Shibuya!

Shinzou Kamiya finally stood up from his seat: "Everyone, we have also just received the news, the situation is still unclear at present, we need to first understand the situation——"

He adjusted the hem of his suit jacket, walked to the side door, and exchanged a brief glance with Watanabe Eiji.

This matter must be handled immediately!

Then he said to Uesugi Muneyuki: "Uesugi-kun, would you go take a look?"

"The Special Mission Division has no one left, Kai is hospitalized, Meng Shao Zhi is hospitalized, Maeda Date——Eirina's wrist is injured. Going to Shibuya alone would be meaningless." Uesugi Muneyuki frowned and said: "Minami is pregnant, Mikoto-nee is about to give birth——"

"Then aren't Okada and Nanxiang still around?" Kamishiro Soukan also looked somewhat embarrassed: "If you need anyone's help within the Metropolitan Police Department, I will have personnel coordinate there, please."

"The capable bear more burden." Watanabe Eiji also frowned, he said in a low voice: "Moreover, taking advantage of the current Beiyìn all-out war, if we can resolve it in one push forward, it would be better!"

"Alright, today let the Forensic Identification Division preserve the scene, I will officially take over tomorrow." Uesugi Muneyuki nodded, and finally still agreed to take on this case.

After the briefing dispersed, Uesugi Muneyuki immediately called Date Nagamune: "Regarding Aika Shida, Date, what do you know?"

"I also just saw the news——" Date Nagamune couldn't help but feel guilty.

"Speak!" Uesugi Muneyuki intensified his tone.

"Alright, alright——actually Moriya Akane told me that Aika Shida actually had a boyfriend, and moreover, after she joined the group, she has actually always been doing hostess work." Date Nagamune said in a low voice: "Because——the National Idol Group's Top Tier, hostess work pays triple the salary!"

"Moreover, Shida likes to go to host clubs in Shin Kabukichō——the money she earns is not little——"

"Hah?!" Uesugi Muneyuki was stunned.

"Having a boyfriend within the group? The group has always been doing hostess work? And even seeking hosts?"

"Hmm, previously Shida wasn't there a period when she suddenly took a break due to poor health? Actually, that was because——she stayed overnight with her boyfriend and Nagahama from the group in Niigata Prefecture late at night——this was photographed by Weekly Bunshun, so she had no choice but to announce a break, to lay low——" Date Nagamune laughed embarrassedly: "This is also what Moriya Akane told me——but you can rest assured, Moriya Akane is not that kind of person——uh, should perhaps maybe roughly possibly——in any case, Uesugi Chief, are you going to take on this case? I have a feeling——"

"Hah???" Uesugi Muneyuki was completely speechless.

What about the neruneru matter? She wasn't also on the Hand of God variety show as a placard girl and became famous for her divine responses?

This one thing after another——in this Red Slope 46 group, are there really any good girls?

I'm starting to have doubts!