Chapter 11: Shocking the Police Station for a Whole Year (Part 1)

April passed, May arrived, and Tokyo had completely shaken off the bleakness of winter and the season of cherry blossoms; the spring sunshine was brilliant.

Having solved the Ishizaka couple's double-suicide case last time, Uesugi Muneyuki was much more relaxed; after all, the police station didn't have cases and corpses needing help every single day, so during this period, Uesugi Muneyuki focused his attention on professional knowledge in forensic medicine.

Having experienced this series of events, Uesugi Muneyuki gradually realized that although autopsies could be solved by relying on his Psychic Ability, if he truly had to perform a dissection, the problem of him not being skilled in medicine would be exposed. If it were just an autopsy, Uesugi Muneyuki could rely on rote memorization combined with what the Dead Soul itself described to reconstruct a perfect sequence of events and theoretical basis; however, if Uesugi Muneyuki were truly put on the dissection table, he would be out of his depth.

Fortunately, whether Professor Okochi felt he was young and unreliable, or felt that letting a novice participate directly in a dissection did not currently conform to procedure, the dissection work was still being done by Professor Okochi and his small team, which to a large extent avoided the problem of Uesugi Muneyuki's own professional knowledge not being solid enough, as he was only good at "Autopsy."

The arrival of a new month also meant one good thing.

That is, payday!

Japanese people have an inexplicable obsession with this aspect; although salaries can be paid directly via bank transfer, everyone still likes them to be issued directly. The salary is sealed inside a thick envelope, and the solid feeling of holding it in one's hand is enough to make every worker excited, especially low-level workers like Uesugi Muneyuki; the few days each month when salaries are paid are the most exciting times for these physicians and Intern Physicians.

Uesugi Muneyuki also received his salary. With a slight squeeze of his hand, the heavy feeling of the banknotes came through, bringing a smile to Uesugi Muneyuki's face.

This is Tokyo; if you want to live here, you can't do it without money!

Especially since he was still living in an apartment arranged by his family; not asking for anything else, he planned to at least strive to live a moderately well-off life in Tokyo through his own efforts. He didn't ask for great wealth or status, but at least he didn't want to eat half-price bento every day, waiting for the supermarket to put half-price, 40% off, 30% off, or 20% off labels on fresh food at night before going to checkout.

At least he should be able to eat a Makunouchi Bento every day and go to a Yakiniku restaurant on weekends, right?

However, now that he had awakened his ability, Uesugi Muneyuki's goal had changed.

Draping a kasaya over himself was the righteous path.

Having received his salary envelope, the several Regular Employees and doctors nearby were already discussing where to go have fun tonight. On the other side, the nurses, nursing assistants, and those Dispatched Employees were in much lower spirits.

In Japan, wages are divided into three components: Title Wage + Seniority Wage + Bonus. Among them, Title Wage and Bonus are easy to understand, but the Seniority Wage needs a little explanation.

Seniority Wage can be simply understood as extra wages paid based on the number of years of employment, and this wage gradually increases with the length of time worked.

A more typical example is Tanaka Laodeng. According to what he told Uesugi Muneyuki, the monthly salary of an Assistant Police Inspector is about 320,000 yen, and then calculated based on the police's seventeen-month salary system, he should get 5.4 million yen in hand per year (actually including taxes and Welfare Pension, it is about 7 million). However, many Career Track Assistant Police Inspectors in their twenties at the Metropolitan Police Department, even though their police rank is one level higher than his, cannot get such a high salary as Tanaka Laodeng (generally over 4 million in hand), simply because this old guy has a long seniority time and a high Seniority Wage.

In his past life, Uesugi Muneyuki was initially dismissive of the Seniority Wage, feeling that although it would give employees a sense of belonging to the unit or enterprise, it would also lead to a large amount of wages supporting idlers and slackers, with the money all going to senior management, which would make young people lack initiative.

Japan has a 66 law, which is that 60% of the wealth is concentrated in the hands of 60-year-old seniors, and 60% of senior management positions are held by people over 60.

But now he has a neutral attitude toward the seniority system, because only when the whip hits one's own body does it hurt. This system well guarantees employees' expectations and sense of belonging to the future; no one is afraid of being "optimized" by the enterprise at 35. Stability and having hope for the future allow one to focus on work.

However, not everyone can enjoy the seniority system. In hospitals, staff are divided into "Regular Employee" and "Dispatched Employee." The former are regular staff who have signed formal employment contracts with the hospital, while the latter are just dispatched employees from labor dispatch companies. They not only cannot enjoy the seniority system, but they really might be "optimized." Generally speaking, these Dispatched Employees sign contracts every four or five years. If they sign twice in a row, they would be considered to have been converted to regular employees, so the hospital always replaces them every term and never gives them the chance to be converted.

Even if Dispatched Employees do the exact same work, they cannot hold their heads high in front of Regular Employees, and they can only receive 65%-70% of the wages of Regular Employees.

Whether one is a Regular Employee is also one of the core competitive advantages in the Japanese matchmaking market (whether one is the eldest son, whether one is a Regular Employee, whether one is tall, etc.).

Uesugi Muneyuki himself is a Regular Employee. Although his Seniority Wage is 0, he gets more than those Dispatched Employees, and his status is higher.

Why did his family not have much opinion about him working in forensics? It's because he is a Regular Employee. Being a second son, he doesn't need to inherit the family business; being able to steadily become a Regular Employee is seen by the family as having completed his life's mission.

Opening the envelope, Uesugi Muneyuki counted the banknotes slightly, and his eyebrows arched.

How come there's an extra 30,000?

Before he could ask, a staff member trotted over: "Dr. Uesugi, Director Ukai wants you to go to his office."

Director Ukai, the current Division Director of the Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, is a round-headed, middle-aged man with a smile always on his face. In his slightly narrowed triangular eyes, a hint of shrewdness occasionally flashes through the turbidity. His waist and back are slightly hunched, and his shoulders are very broad.

When Uesugi Muneyuki knocked on the door of the director's office, standing behind the desk with his back to the door and his hands behind his back, Director Ukai turned around, turning around amidst the two rows of award and trophy display cabinets: "Please come in."

"Director!" Uesugi Muneyuki bowed slightly to salute: "Did you look for me for something?"

"Oh! Uesugi, long time no see!" As soon as Director Ukai saw Uesugi Muneyuki, his face was immediately filled with smiles, and the wrinkles deepened: "How is it, are you used to being transferred to the Forensic Pathology Department?"

Having been transferred for only a month, Uesugi Muneyuki's mental state had changed significantly. His figure had become more upright, and although there were no major changes in his facial features, after a few subtle adjustments in expression, Uesugi Muneyuki's appearance became increasingly cold and handsome, even giving people a sense of sacred majesty. That pair of eyes was like a scalpel on the operating table, precise and sharp, as if it could see through the human heart.

Uesugi Muneyuki's tone and way of speaking were also slightly different; he was now brimming with strong self-confidence.

How did this guy get so confident from performing an autopsy?

Director Ukai was puzzled in his heart, but it didn't show on his face at all.

"I'm getting used to it. Professor Okochi takes good care of me, and changing to a new environment has also allowed me to find a new goal." Uesugi Muneyuki paused slightly before saying slowly: "As of now, I am very satisfied."

"As long as you're satisfied, as long as you're satisfied." Director Ukai clapped his hands with a smile: "You, you've performed a meritorious service. Otsuka Station has nothing but praise for you... However, you're not used to coming into contact with corpses often, right? So I gave you an extra 30,000 as a Special Fee from my Special Medical Fund. Everyone has it; you have it, and Professor Okochi has it too."

"I am deeply grateful!" Uesugi Muneyuki understood; he knew his father had looked for Director Ukai.

Normally, a Division Director would not communicate directly with an Intern Physician like him, unless his father, Uesugi Hironori, had taken the initiative to greet Director Ukai.

"Since you're going to do it, then do it to the best of your ability. Keep it up, Uesugi-kun, I have high hopes for you!" Director Ukai patted Uesugi Muneyuki on the shoulder, signaling that he could get lost.

After Uesugi Muneyuki left, Director Ukai stood in front of the window for a long while before slowly picking up the Forensic Autopsy Report again.

"A genius, or a tengu? Is he a reckless man who likes to guess blindly, or an ambitious man full of vigor?" Director Ukai narrowed his eyes slightly: "Let's spend some more time and observe him carefully!"

————I am the dividing line for observing carefully————

"So, I drove to work this morning, and I even saw a Corolla on the way!"

"Oh hahahaha~"

"Then I stopped and bought a Costa coffee!"

"Ahehehehehe~"

"As a result, I found that Starbucks is better~"

"Oh hohohohohoho~"

In the evening, when Uesugi Muneyuki was preparing to get off work, several female nurses who were getting off work walked past him, laughing and talking, saying inexplicable topics and making inexplicable laughter.

That's why I don't plan to find a girlfriend here.

Uesugi Muneyuki himself was speechless at this kind of strange, awkward chatting and the collective laughter of Japanese girls trying to force themselves into the environment. But in Japanese schools and workplaces, one must join such small groups, otherwise, one will be isolated and bullied. And for Japanese people, the most terrifying thing is not being able to find people to form a team for class activities, which is tantamount to telling everyone that you have no friends and can be bullied at will.

For example, Haibara Ai in Detective Conan is actually out of place among elementary school students, and because she is beautiful and has excellent grades, she is the easiest target for bullying and isolation. But because those guys in the Detective Boys pulled her directly into their small group and admired her, Haibara is actually the least likely to be bullied.

"Look, it's Uesugi! Wow, so handsome!"

"How come I feel that after going to the Forensic Medicine Department, Uesugi-kun seems to have become even more handsome?"

"What a pity, after going to a place like the Forensic Medicine Department, Uesugi-kun has already 'downed'! Not considering it. I think rather than doing forensics, it's better to go to Johnny's to participate in the audition! Isn't that right?"

"That's right~~~"

Dragging out a long tone, the several female nurses left happily. Today is payday, and they are going to a host club in Shinjuku Kabukicho to have a wild time.

And Uesugi Muneyuki also planned to go out tonight to have a little fun.

What kind of Peerage are you if you haven't been to Yoshiwara?

Ever since he awakened his new ability, he has wanted to play Princess Connect every time he finishes an autopsy; it has almost become a habit.

Should he find a steady girlfriend?

The casual partners Uesugi Muneyuki had always chosen were young women who had come to Tokyo alone from other places, emphasizing mutual benefit—physical without emotional attachment—and generally, he paid for the meals, hotel rooms, and gifts.

Young, good-looking, articulate, and gentle in personality, many women had hinted that they were willing to take things further, but perhaps because Uesugi Muneyuki lacked a sense of immersion in this world, he himself remained only at a superficial level regarding relationships between men and women.

But the situation is different now; first, there is the strong need for connection brought about by the Contract, and second, he has begun to have a sense of immersion in this world.

Who should he choose?

Uesugi Muneyuki thought to himself that he would first rule out women who had come to Tokyo alone from the countryside.

Unless it were his senior Mai, whom he could still consider.

Hmm, he must choose someone who likes wearing silk stockings—black, white, flesh-toned, gray, or colored, long stockings, garters, or pantyhose, he would arrange them all, and the funding would come from the extra 30,000 Special Fee given by Director Ukai!

While he was still scrolling through his contacts to choose someone, he immediately saw Tanaka Laodeng and Police Sergeant Kuwabara standing in front of a police car in their suit jackets under the setting sun.

Seeing Uesugi Muneyuki come out, Tanaka Laodeng revealed an awkward yet polite smile: "Little Brother Uesugi, we were just looking for you."

"Please, Tanaka-san, Kuwabara-san, today is payday!" Uesugi Muneyuki didn't know whether to cry or laugh: "You shouldn't be here to ask me to go to an izakaya for skewers, right?"

Japanese people have a tradition of going to an izakaya for a meal on payday, and many salarymen get drunk and return home on this day because it is the only day of the month they can control their own salary, after which the salary must be handed over to their wives for household expenses.

Men work outside, women manage the home, and handing over the salary is a tradition in this country, though after the arrival of the internet age, this tradition has also undergone some changes; some men are unwilling to continue being providers and choose to manage their own money, and after the bubble burst, sometimes one salary from the man is not enough, which leads to the woman also having to go out to work.

"There is a situation, Little Brother Uesugi, we have to trouble you and Professor Kawachi again." Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka signaled for Uesugi Muneyuki to get in the car quickly.

After waiting for a while, Police Sergeant Kuwabara brought Professor Kawachi out, and the group drove toward the distance under the golden twilight of the setting sun.

In the car, Professor Kawachi was closing his eyes to rest, and Uesugi Muneyuki took the initiative to ask: "What kind of case is it this time?"

"The renovation and repainting project of Eiraku Bridge in Bunkyo Ward is halfway through, and the workers found a corpse under the bridge arch!" Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka said seriously: "The corpse is completely dehydrated, and the deceased's expression looks very painful; we suspect this is a case, so we hope you can come and take a look."

"A corpse found under the bridge arch?" Uesugi Muneyuki thought for a moment and asked: "Is it an old person or..."

"It is a middle-aged man."

Uesugi Muneyuki frowned; if it were the corpse of an old person, the scope of the investigation would be greatly reduced, but if it were the corpse of a middle-aged man, then the possibilities would be much greater.

The golden sunset outside the window gradually fell, and smoke rose from the detached houses on both sides of the road; Uesugi Muneyuki could vaguely smell the scent of cooked rice mixed with the smell of exhaust fumes, eaves passing over eaves, until the sun completely sank below the eaves, and for that one split second, darkness descended here, representing the arrival of night.

Before Uesugi Muneyuki could enjoy a moment of tranquility, the streetlights turned on, and Tokyo under the sunset immediately turned into a colorful neon world; as if in the time of a heartbeat, this city revived again, with its bright lights and bustling crowds, shedding the beauty of the sunset, the brilliant and flashy world was even more desirable, and the light halos of the shops, archways, and high-rise buildings on the street were even more eye-catching, as if the heart of the entire country were beating here.

What a fascinating city; here, half is a paradise for pleasure-seekers, and half is a hell for laborers, but regardless, this place is frantically devouring the souls and flesh of young people from all over Japan, nourishing the soil here, and providing for it to continue to grow.

Interesting.

Soon, they arrived at the place.

The area around the arched bridge pier was surrounded by police cars, at least ten police officers were lined up in two rows to protect the scene, yellow tape was pulled up around it, police sirens were wailing, the crowd was discussing what had happened in a hubbub, and several construction workers were being questioned.

"Thank you for your hard work!" Assistant Police Inspector Tanaka was the first to get out of the car; he gripped his suit with both hands and shook it, and said to the police officers maintaining order at the scene with an imposing manner: "I have brought the person."

"Thank you for your hard work!" The group of Patrol Officers around immediately bowed, and the scene was quite grand for a moment.

Does this old guy think he looks cool? Uesugi Muneyuki thought to himself from behind.

What kind of bird-brained official rank is Assistant Police Inspector anyway? Even the fish in Tokyo Bay are fewer than this rank.

Carrying his case, under the bridge pier, Uesugi Muneyuki saw a corpse.

The corpse was about 170cm long, and the whole body was covered with a thick layer of yellowish-brown; there were many dark brown wounds on the surface of the corpse, and the whole body was dehydrated, but even so, the face of the middle-aged man was still vaguely visible.

Uesugi Muneyuki began the autopsy, and Tanaka Laodeng and Police Sergeant Kuwabara looked at each other, feeling slightly relieved.

It was indeed not very good to force people to work overtime on payday, but their own KPI was definitely more important! They would just have to report a bit more overtime pay for Little Brother Uesugi... and for themselves.

"We have to trouble you again this time, Little Brother Uesugi; look and see if this is suicide or murder, could it be a misstep..." Before Tanaka Laodeng finished speaking, Uesugi Muneyuki had already spoken.

His voice was sharp and fast, carrying an unquestionable certainty.

"This is not a recent corpse; this person has been dead for several years!"

"Immediately investigate the historical weather records here, and check which years had particularly low rainfall during the winter period from the last time the bridge pier was repaired until now! Especially years with strong winds."

"Then, immediately investigate in the surrounding community to see if there are any family members who went missing in those years, aged 30-35, male, with intellectual disabilities, who liked narrow and dark places, and who went missing in winter! And were wearing pajamas!"

"Go now!"

Some people ask why there hasn't been any interaction with beautiful girls yet; I can only say how could there be daily life right from the start? There has to be some foreshadowing and some content, and besides, the protagonist needs a reasonable reason to be liked.

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(End of this chapter)